Label printer

Abstract

To provide a label printer that can resume continuous printing with simple operation even when the continuous printing is interrupted.SOLUTION: A mobile printer includes a print head, a roller that conveys a tape, a display, an input unit, and a control unit. The control unit drives the print head and the roller on the basis of print data and performs continuous printing on the tape. In a case where the continuous printing is resumed after interruption of the continuous printing, the control unit displays, on the display, a value corresponding to the number of finished printing that has been finished at the time of the interruption, as an initial value of the number of resume (S29), and receives designation of the number of resume through the input unit (S30). The control unit drives the print head and the roller on the basis of the print data and resumes the continuous printing from the number of resume (S45 after S30).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a label printer. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional printing device has a built-in dry cell or rechargeable battery as a power source, and includes a control means, a storage means, an input means, a display means, and a printing means. The printing device determines the printing conditions and sets an operating reference voltage based on the determined printing conditions. When printing is performed, the printing device compares the detected battery voltage with the set operating reference voltage, and when the battery voltage is lower than the operating reference voltage, causes the display means to notify the user of a low battery voltage. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-194853 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned conventional printing device, if a voltage shortage occurs during continuous printing, the continuous printing may be interrupted, the power of the printing device turned off, and the battery replaced. When the power is turned on after replacing the battery to resume continuous printing, the user must specify from where to resume printing. The task of checking how far printing has been completed in order to resume continuous printing is cumbersome.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a label printer that allows continuous printing to be resumed with a simple operation even if continuous printing is interrupted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A label printer according to one aspect of the present invention has a print head, a roller for transporting a tape, a display, an input unit, and a control unit, and the control unit executes a continuous printing process that drives the print head and the roller based on print data to perform continuous printing on the tape, a restart number reception process that displays a value corresponding to the number of printed pages already printed at the time of interruption on the display as an initial value of the restart number when the continuous printing process is interrupted and receives a designation of the restart number via the input unit, and a print restart process that drives the print head and the roller based on the print data to restart continuous printing from the restart number. Since the label printer displays a value corresponding to the number of printed pages on the display as an initial value of the restart number, the user can designate the restart number while referring to the initial value. Therefore, the label printer contributes to restarting continuous printing with easier operations than before, even when continuous printing is interrupted. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a label printer 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the label printer 1 with the rear cover 5 open. [Diagram 3] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the roller holder 27 seen from the rear in a state Q1 in which the rear cover 5 is closed and in a closed position, and a partial cross-sectional view of the roller holder 27 seen from the rear in a state Q2 in which the rear cover 5 is open and in an open position. [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the label printer 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the transition of screens displayed on a display 21 in a specific example. FIG. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart of a main process. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart of a normal mode process executed in the main process. [Figure 8] 11 is a flowchart of a label printing process executed in each of a normal mode process and a continuation mode process. [Figure 9]13 is a flowchart of a continuation mode process executed in the main process. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart of a normal mode process executed in the main process of a modified example. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart of a continuation mode process executed in the main process of a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The up-down direction and the left-right direction in Fig. 1 respectively correspond to the up-down direction and the left-right direction of a label printer (hereinafter referred to as "printer") 1. However, the up-down direction and the left-right direction of the printer 1 are defined for the sake of convenience, and the printer 1 is not necessarily in the position shown in Fig. 1.

[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the printer 1 is a portable label printer capable of printing an image on a tape M pulled out from a cassette 17 to create a label. The printer 1 can use a cassette 17 that accommodates various types of tape, such as a receptor type, a thermal type, a laminate type, and a tube type. The tape M is, for example, one of a single-sided adhesive tape, a thermal paper tape, a double-sided adhesive tape, a film tape, and a tube tape. The cassette 17 has an indicator portion 16 on the right side thereof that indicates the type of tape M. The indicator portion 16 includes at least one hole portion provided in a specified pattern according to the type of tape M. The printer 1 can print images such as characters and figures on the tape M.

[0010] The printer 1 comprises a housing 10, a display 21, an input unit 22, and an operating lever 23. The housing 10 is a vertically long box shape, and comprises a main body 4, a back cover 5, a lower cover 6, and a bulge 14. The main body 4 is box-shaped with an opening at the back. The back cover 5 is removably attached to the main body 4. An exhaust port 19 that penetrates in the vertical direction is formed on a top surface 15 of the housing 10. The lower cover 6 is box-shaped with an opening at the top. The lower cover 6 is removably attached to the main body 4, and protects the bottom end of the main body 4. The bulge 14 is a portion that bulges to the left and is provided at the top end of the left surface 13 of the housing 10. The top of the bulge 14 is open.

[0011] The display 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and can display various information. The display 21 is provided at a position above the approximate center in the up-down direction on the front surface 11 of the housing 10. The input unit 22 accepts input of various information by user operation. The input unit 22 is provided on the front surface 11 of the housing 10 below the display 21. The input unit 22 includes a plurality of switches including a print button, a Shift key, and an Esc key. The operating lever 23 is rotatably supported within the housing 10, and a lower portion is covered by the bulging portion 14. The portion of the operating lever 23 exposed to the outside of the housing 10 moves in and out of the housing 10 through the opening of the bulging portion 14 in response to a user operation.

[0012] The printer 1 includes a cassette mounting section 24, a battery housing section 25, a print head 28, a temperature sensor 35, a drive mechanism 18 (see FIG. 4), a roller holder 27, and a cutting mechanism 20 inside the housing 10, more specifically, inside the main body 4 and in front of the rear cover 5. The cassette mounting section 24 detachably mounts the cassette 17. The cassette mounting section 24 is a recessed portion provided above the center in the vertical direction of the main body 4 of the housing 10 and recessed forward. The battery housing section 25 houses the battery 31. The battery housing section 25 is a recessed portion provided below the center in the vertical direction of the main body 4 of the housing 10 and recessed forward. When the rear cover 5 is removed from the main body 4, the cassette mounting section 24 and the battery housing section 25 are exposed to the outside of the printer 1. A user can replace the cassette 17 and the battery 31 with the rear cover 5 removed from the main body 4.

[0013] The print head 28 is a thermal head configured to print on the tape M. The printer 1 unwinds and transports the tape M from the cassette mounting section 24 by driving the roller drive shaft 29. The printer 1 prints on the tape M by heating the ink ribbon with the print head 28 and transferring ink from the ink ribbon to the tape M. The temperature sensor 35 is provided in the surrounding space including the print head 28. In this embodiment, the temperature sensor 35 is provided in front of the print head 28 and detects the temperature of the print head 28. The drive mechanism 18 includes a motor 41, a roller 26, a roller drive shaft 29, and a ribbon take-up shaft 30. The roller drive shaft 29 rotates the roller 26 by the power of the motor 41, and pulls out and transports the tape M in the cassette 17. The ribbon take-up shaft 30 rotates by the power of the motor 41, pulls out the ink ribbon in the cassette 17, and further winds up the ink ribbon that has passed through the print head 28.

[0014] The roller holder 27 extends in the vertical direction to the right of the cassette mounting portion 24. The roller holder 27 is supported at its lower end rotatably about a rotation shaft 45 extending in the front-rear direction. The roller holder 27 supports the platen roller 47 and the tape sub-roller 46 rotatably in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the rear. The platen roller 47 is provided to the right of the print head 28. The tape sub-roller 46 is provided to the right of the roller drive shaft 29 and in the vicinity of the upper side of the platen roller 47. The roller holder 27 has a cassette sensor 32 disposed between the platen roller 47 and the rotation shaft 45 in the vertical direction. The cassette sensor 32 includes a plurality of detection switches 36 that detect the presence or absence of each hole of the indicator portion 16 provided on the right side of the cassette 17. Each of the plurality of detection switches 36 extends in the left-right direction. A spring (not shown) biases roller holder 27 to rotate to the right around pivot shaft 45. When rear cover 5 is closed with cassette 17 attached to printer 1, roller holder 27 is pressed to the left and rotates to the left against the biasing force of the spring (not shown).

[0015] As shown in state Q1 of FIG. 3, when the rear cover 5 is closed with the cassette 17 attached to the printer 1, the cassette sensor 32 is disposed near the cassette 17 due to the rotation of the roller holder 27 to the left. When the cassette sensor 32 is disposed near the cassette 17, the multiple detection switches 36 of the cassette sensor 32 are selectively pressed by the index portion 16 of the cassette 17. The cassette sensor 32 outputs a detection signal based on the combination of on / off of the multiple detection switches 36 at this time. As shown in state Q2 of FIG. 3, when the rear cover 5 is opened or the cassette 17 is not attached, the cassette sensor 32 is separated from the cassette 17 due to the rotation of the roller holder 27 to the right. When the cassette sensor 32 is separated from the cassette 17, none of the multiple detection switches 36 of the cassette sensor 32 is pressed by the index portion 16 of the cassette 17, and therefore the cassette 17 cannot be detected.

[0016] The cutting mechanism 20 is provided below the discharge opening 19. The cutting mechanism 20 is equipped with a cutting blade 43 (see FIG. 4) consisting of a movable blade 49 and a fixed blade 48. The operating lever 23 is pressed diagonally downward to the right and pushed into the inside of the housing 10, thereby operating the movable blade 49 of the cutting blade 43 and cutting the tape M. The tape M cut by the cutting blade 43 is discharged from the discharge opening 19 to the outside of the housing 10.

[0017] The electrical configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the printer 1 includes a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a CGROM 93, a RAM 94, and a non-volatile memory 99. The ROM 92, the CGROM 93, the RAM 94, and the non-volatile memory 99 are each electrically connected to the CPU 91.

[0018] The ROM 92 stores various programs and the like required for controlling the printer 1. The CPU 91 performs various calculations based on these programs. The CGROM 93 stores print dot pattern data for printing various print objects, classified by format and size, and associated with code data. Therefore, the printer 1 can specify the size of the print object once the character, format, and size are determined. The RAM 94 is provided with multiple storage areas, such as a text memory and a print buffer. The text memory stores data of the print object input from the input unit 22. The print buffer stores the print dot pattern of the print object.

[0019] The non-volatile memory 99 includes an interruption information storage area 81 and an other storage area 82. The interruption information is information that is stored when the continuous printing process is interrupted, and in this embodiment, the interruption information includes at least one of the number of printed pages and an initial value, print data, and print settings. The other storage area 82 stores, for example, the relationship between the signal detected by the cassette sensor 32, the type of cassette 17, and the width and length of the tape M contained in the cassette 17.

[0020] The printer 1 further includes sensors 32 to 35, an input unit 22, a liquid crystal drive circuit (LCDC) 95, and drive circuits 96 to 98. The sensors 32 to 35, the input unit 22, the LCDC 95, and the drive circuits 96 to 98 are each electrically connected to the CPU 91. The cassette sensor 32 inputs a detection signal corresponding to the type of the cassette 17 to the CPU 91. The sensor 33 is a sensor that outputs a detection signal corresponding to the voltage applied to the print head 28. The CPU 91 determines whether a sufficient voltage is applied to the print head 28, that is, whether the remaining charge of the battery 31 is sufficient, based on the detection signal of the sensor 33. The sensor 33 may be, for example, a battery remaining charge meter IC of any of a voltage measurement type, a coulomb counter type, a battery cell modeling type, and an impedance track type. The sensor 34 inputs a detection signal indicating whether the movable blade 49 of the cutting blade 43 is at the origin (a position where the movable blade 49 is fully opened relative to the fixed blade 48) to the CPU 91. The sensor 34 is, for example, a sensor switch disposed at a position where the movable blade 49 of the cutting blade 43 comes into contact with the movable blade 49 when the movable blade 49 is at the origin. The temperature sensor 35 inputs a detection signal corresponding to the temperature of the print head 28 to the CPU 91. The drive circuit 96 is an electronic circuit for driving the print head 28. The drive circuit 97 is an electronic circuit for driving the motor 41 that rotates the ribbon winding shaft 30 and the roller drive shaft 29. The drive circuit 98 is an electronic circuit for driving the motor 42 that operates the movable blade 49 of the cutting blade 43 that cuts the tape M to be discharged outside the printer 1. The motors 41 and 42 are stepping motors. The type of the motors 41 and 42 can be changed as appropriate, and for example, a DC servo motor can also be used. The LCDC 95 is an electronic circuit for displaying images such as various icons and a preview of the label to be printed on the display 21 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0021] The main process of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 9. The main process shown in FIG. 6 is started when the power is turned on in the label printer 1, and is executed by the CPU 91 according to the program stored in the ROM 92. Data obtained during the process is appropriately stored in the RAM 94. As specific examples 1 and 2, a case will be described in which the print target T is a six-letter alphabet, and the characters arranged downstream in the conveying direction are updated in alphabetical order for each print target, such as the first one being "ABCDEF" and the second one being "ABCDEG". In specific examples 1 and 2, the print target T is the same, but the instructions input via the input unit 22 after interrupting the continuous printing process are different from each other. The main processes of specific examples 1 and 2 are executed at different times, but in the following, for simplicity of explanation, the main processes of specific examples 1 and 2 will be described in parallel.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 91 refers to the interruption information storage area 81 of the non-volatile memory 99 and determines whether interruption information is stored (S1). If interruption information is not stored (S1: NO), the CPU 91 performs normal mode processing (S3). As shown in FIG. 7, in normal mode processing, the CPU 91 displays the reception screen G1 of FIG. 5 on the display 21 (S11). The reception screen G1 includes columns 51 and 52. The column 51 displays the print target specified by the user. The column 52 displays the remaining charge of the battery 31. The user operates the input unit 22 to input the print target in the column 51. The CPU 91 determines whether an editing operation of the print target has been detected based on the detection result of the input unit 22 (S12). In the specific examples 1 and 2, if an editing operation to continuously print six alphabetical characters is detected (S12: YES), the CPU 91 edits the print data according to the editing operation and updates the column 51 as shown in the reception screen G2 (S17). A field 51 on the reception screen G2 displays the print target T and a size Q of the print target T. The size Q of the print target T is expressed as "(width of tape M) mm x (length of tape M in the feed direction) mm." On the reception screen G2, the vertical length corresponds to the width of tape M, and the horizontal length corresponds to the length of tape M in the feed direction. The width of tape M is specified based on the detection signal output from the cassette sensor 32. The length of tape M in the feed direction is calculated based on the print target T and a margin. The margin may be set in advance or by the user. The CPU 91 returns the process to S11.

[0023] If no editing operation is detected (S12: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether a signal indicating that the Print button has been selected alone has been detected (S13) based on the detection result of the input unit 22. If no selection of the Print button is detected (S13: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether a signal indicating that the Shift key and the Print button have been selected simultaneously has been detected (S14) based on the detection result of the input unit 22. If no signal indicating that the Shift key and the Print button have been selected simultaneously is detected (S14: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S11.

[0024] In the specific examples 1 and 2, when a signal indicating that the Shift key and the Print button are selected simultaneously is detected (S14: YES), the CPU 91 displays a print option reception screen G3 on the display 21 and receives the setting of the print option (S15). The print option received in the process of S15 may be set appropriately. The printer 1 of this embodiment receives the setting of five types of print options, Copies, Page, Order, Invert, and Mirror, as print options. Copies sets the number of prints of the print target. Page sets whether to print a specific page or all pages when printing a print target that spans multiple pages. Order sets the print order when printing multiple print targets. Invert sets whether to invert black and white. Mirror sets whether to invert the print target horizontally or vertically. In the print option reception screen G3, 99 is set to Copies, All is set to Page, Sort is set to Order, OFF is set to Invert, and OFF is set to Mirror. In concrete examples 1 and 2, the user changes Copies from 99 to 198, sets the print options, and then selects the Print button.

[0025] If a signal indicating that the print button has been selected alone is detected (S13: YES), or following S15, the CPU 91 executes a label printing process (S16). As shown in Fig. 8, the CPU 91 deletes the interruption information from the interruption information storage area 81 of the non-volatile memory 99, and sets the start number to the variable N (S50). In specific examples 1 and 2, no interruption information is stored in the interruption information storage area 81 of the non-volatile memory 99, so the interruption information is not deleted in S50. If a print option is not set, the start number is 1. If a print option is set, the start number is a number according to the setting of the print option, which is 1 in specific examples 1 and 2.

[0026] The CPU 91 drives the drive circuits 96, 97 in accordance with the print data to start printing the Nth label (S51). If N is 1, the CPU 91 displays the progress J of the continuous printing of labels on the display 21, as shown in screen G4. The progress J is displayed in the format of "current number of prints / total number of prints". The CPU 91 determines whether the remaining charge of the battery 31 is equal to or greater than a first threshold based on the detection result of the sensor 33 (S52). The CPU 91 of this embodiment determines whether the remaining charge of the battery 31 is equal to or greater than a first threshold based on the voltage applied from the battery 31 detected by the sensor 33. If the remaining charge of the battery 31 is equal to or greater than the first threshold (S52: YES), the CPU 91 determines whether an error or an instruction to cancel printing has been detected (S53).

[0027] The type of error detected in S53 and the method of detecting the error may be appropriately determined. The CPU 91 of this embodiment detects the following four types of errors. First, the CPU 91 detects an error when an operation on the cutting blade 43 is detected based on the detection result of the sensor 34. Second, the CPU 91 detects an error when the cassette sensor 32 does not detect the cassette 17 during continuous printing. The cassette sensor 32 of this embodiment is disposed near the cassette 17 by the roller holder 27 to detect the cassette 17 when the cassette 17 is attached to the cassette mounting portion 24 and the rear cover 5 is attached to the main body portion 4. The cassette sensor 32 is separated from the cassette 17 by the roller holder 27 and does not detect the cassette 17 when the rear cover 5 is removed from the main body portion 4 and when the cassette 17 is not attached to the cassette mounting portion 24. Third, the CPU 91 detects an error when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 35 during continuous printing exceeds a threshold value based on the temperature sensor 35. The threshold value may be set appropriately in consideration of the type of tape M, the normal temperature when the print head 28 is heated, and the like, and is set to 80° C. in this embodiment. Fourth, the CPU 91 detects as an error a case where the remaining amount of tape M becomes less than the threshold value during continuous printing processing. The threshold value may be set appropriately, and may be set in advance, may be automatically set according to the length of the print target in the transport direction, or may be set by the user. The CPU 91 obtains an initial value of the length of tape M based on the detection result of the cassette sensor 32. The CPU 91 calculates the remaining amount of tape M by subtracting the amount of tape M used from the initial value of the length of tape M. An instruction to cancel continuous printing is obtained via the input unit 22.

[0028] If no error is detected and no instruction to cancel printing is detected (S53: NO), the CPU 91 judges whether printing of the Nth label has been completed (S54). If printing of the Nth label has not been completed (S54: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S52. If printing of the Nth label has been completed (S54: YES), the CPU 91 judges whether the remaining charge of the battery 31 is equal to or greater than the second threshold based on the detection result of the sensor 33 (S52). The CPU 91 of this embodiment judges whether the remaining charge of the battery 31 is equal to or greater than the second threshold based on the voltage applied from the battery 31 detected by the sensor 33. The second threshold is greater than the first threshold. That is, in S55, a case is detected in which the remaining charge of the battery 31 is greater than that in S52. If the remaining charge of the battery 31 is equal to or greater than the second threshold (S55: YES), the CPU 91 judges whether there is a next label to be printed (S56). If there is a next label to print (S56: YES), the CPU 91 increments N by 1 and returns the process to S51. If there is no next label to print (S56: NO), the CPU 91 sets the label printing process as described above and returns the process to the normal mode process from which the label printing process was called, or to the continuation mode process.

[0029] In specific examples 1 and 2, when N is 50, if the remaining charge of the battery 31 is less than the first threshold value (S52: NO), or if an error or an instruction to cancel printing is detected (S53: YES), the CPU 91 controls the drive circuits 96, 97 to interrupt the ongoing continuous printing (S57). In this case, the continuous printing is interrupted in the middle of printing the 50th label. The CPU 91 displays a screen G5 on the display 21 that includes a message urging the user to replace the battery 31. The CPU 91 displays the screen G5 on the display 21 for a predetermined period of time, and then displays a reception screen G6, which is similar to the reception screen G2, on the display 21.

[0030] The CPU 91 determines whether the remaining number of prints is 1 or more (S58). When continuous printing is interrupted in the middle of printing the Nth label, whether the Nth label is considered to have been printed or not may be set appropriately. In the present embodiment, when continuous printing is interrupted in the middle of printing the Nth label, the CPU 91 determines that the Nth label is not printed, so the remaining number of continuous printing is always 1 or more (S58: YES). In this case, the CPU 91 stores at least one of the initial values ​​of the number of printed labels and the number of resumed labels, and the print data as interruption information in the interruption information storage area 81 of the non-volatile memory 99 (S59). In the present embodiment, when a print option is set, the CPU 91 also includes the print option in the interruption information. The initial value of the resume number is a value displayed on the display 21 as a resume number that indicates from where to resume continuous printing when it is resumed, and a value according to the number of printed labels already printed when continuous printing was interrupted in S57 is set as the initial value of the resume number. The value according to the number of printed copies may be the number of printed copies itself, or may be a value obtained by adding or subtracting a predetermined value from the number of printed copies. The CPU 91 sets the label printing process as described above, and returns the process to the normal mode process or the continuous mode process.

[0031] If the remaining charge of the battery 31 is less than the second threshold (S55: NO), the CPU 91 interrupts the ongoing continuous printing (S57). In this case, the continuous printing is interrupted after the Nth label is printed and before printing of the (N+1)th label begins. If the number of labels remaining in the continuous printing is 1 or more (S58: YES), the process of S59 is performed. If the number of labels remaining in the continuous printing is 0 (S58: NO), or following the process of S59, the CPU 91 sets the label printing process as above and returns the process to normal mode processing or continuous mode processing.

[0032] In the specific examples 1 and 2, after S16 in Fig. 7, the CPU 91 ends the normal mode process and returns the process to the main process. In the main process in Fig. 6, after S3, the CPU 91 determines whether to turn the power OFF (S4). If the CPU 91 does not turn the power OFF (S4: NO), the process returns to S1. The CPU 91 determines to turn the power OFF if an instruction to turn the power OFF is detected based on the detection result of the input unit 22, or if continuous printing is interrupted during label printing processing because the remaining amount of the battery 31 is less than the first threshold value or less than the second threshold value. If the power is to be turned OFF (S4: YES), the CPU 91 performs a termination process and then ends the main process.

[0033] In the label printing process of the specific examples 1 and 2, if the user replaces the battery 31 and turns on the printer 1 after the continuous printing is interrupted because the remaining charge of the battery 31 is less than the second threshold, the CPU 91 determines that interruption information is stored in S1 (S1: YES) and executes the continuation mode process (S2). As shown in FIG. 9, in the continuation mode process, the CPU 91 reads out the interruption information stored in the interruption information storage area 81 of the non-volatile memory 99 to the RAM 94 (S21). Based on the interruption information read out in the process of S21, the CPU 91 displays on the display 21 a restored screen G7 that is a restored version of the reception screen G6 that was displayed before the continuous printing was interrupted (S22). Based on the detection result of the input unit 22, the CPU 91 determines whether an operation to edit the print target T displayed on the restored screen G7 has been detected (S23). If an operation to edit the print object T is detected (S23: YES), the CPU 91 does not execute processing to resume the interrupted continuous printing, but executes normal mode processing similar to S3 in FIG. 6 (S41), and returns the processing to the main processing.

[0034] If an operation to edit the print target T is not detected (S23: NO), the CPU 91 judges whether a signal indicating that the print button has been selected alone has been detected based on the detection result of the input unit 22 (S24). In specific example 1, if the selection of the print button is detected (S24: YES), the CPU 91 displays a restart confirmation reception screen G8 on the display 21 and receives an instruction to restart continuous printing (S25). The restart confirmation reception screen G8 includes "Yes" and "No" as answer options P for whether to restart continuous printing, and a cursor K that displays the selected option P in black and white inverted. The restart confirmation reception screen G8 shows a state in which "Yes" has been selected. The user inputs "Yes" or "No" by moving the cursor K up and down and selecting the OK button.

[0035] The CPU 91 waits until any key is selected based on the detection result of the input unit 22 (S26), and when any key is selected, it judges whether the selection of "Yes" is detected (S27). In the specific example 1, when the selection of "Yes" is detected (S27: YES), the CPU 91 sets the initial value of the restart number based on the interruption information read out in S21 (S28). The CPU 91 displays the restart number selection screen G9 including the initial value of the restart number set in S28 on the display 21 (S29). The user checks the initial value of the restart number displayed on the restart number selection screen G9, and updates the restart number as necessary to set the restart number (S30). The CPU 91 executes the label printing process to resume the continuous printing from the restart number set in S30 based on the print data included in the interruption information (S45). In the label printing process executed in S45, the restart number set in S30 is set to the variable N in S50. When N is 51, the CPU 91 displays the progress status J of the continuous printing of labels on the display 21, as shown in screen G10, and updates the progress status J according to the number of labels printed.

[0036] If the selection of "Yes" is not detected (S27: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether the selection of "No" is detected (S42). If the selection of "No" is detected (S42: YES), the CPU 91 executes the label printing process based on the print data included in the interruption information read out in S21 (S45). In this case, the label printing process sets the variable N to a value according to the print option included in the interruption information. If the selection of "NO" is not detected (S42: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether the selection of "Esc" is detected (S43). If the selection of "Esc" is detected (S43: YES), the CPU 91 returns the process to S22. If the selection of "Esc" is not detected (S43: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S26.

[0037] If selection of the Print button is not detected (S24: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether a signal indicating that the Shift key and the Print button have been selected simultaneously has been detected (S32) based on the detection result of the input unit 22. If a signal indicating that the Shift key and the Print button have been selected simultaneously has not been detected (S32: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S22. In specific example 2, if a signal indicating that the Shift key and the Print button have been selected simultaneously is detected (S32: YES), the CPU 91 displays the resume confirmation acceptance screen G8 on the display 21, as in S25, and accepts an instruction as to whether to resume continuous printing (S33).

[0038] The CPU 91 waits until any key is selected based on the detection result of the input unit 22 (S34), and when any key is selected, judges whether the selection of "Yes" is detected (S35). If the selection of "Yes" is detected (S35: YES), the CPU 91 sets the initial value of the restart count based on the interruption information read in S21 (S28), and performs the processes of S29, S30, and S45 in the same manner as when the selection of the print button described above is detected.

[0039] If the selection of "Yes" is not detected (S35: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether the selection of "No" is detected (S36). If the selection of "No" is detected (S36: YES), the CPU 91 displays an option reception screen G11 on the display 21 (S38) and accepts the setting of print options as in the process of S15 (S39). The CPU 91 executes a label printing process (S45) that prints according to the print data included in the interruption information read in S21 and the print options set in S39. In this case, the variable N is set to a value according to the print option set in S39. If N is 1, the CPU 91 displays the progress J of the continuous label printing on the display 21, as shown in screen G12.

[0040] If the selection of "NO" is not detected (S36: NO), the CPU 91 determines whether the selection of "Esc" is detected (S37). If the selection of "Esc" is detected (S37: YES), the CPU 91 returns the process to S22. If the selection of "Esc" is not detected (S37: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S34. After S45, the CPU 91 ends the continuation mode process and returns the process to the main process of Fig. 6. If the power is not turned off after S2 (S4: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S1, and if the power is turned off (S4: YES), the main process ends.

[0041] The main process of the above embodiment may be modified as appropriate. For example, the printer 1 may set the normal mode process executed in the main process to the normal mode process of the modified example shown in FIG. 10, set the continuation mode process executed in the main process to the continuation mode process of the modified example shown in FIG. 11, and not accept the setting of the print option. In FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the same step numbers are given to the processes similar to those of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, in the normal mode process of the modified example, the processes of S14 and S15 are omitted, and if the input of the print button is not detected (S13: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S11. As shown in FIG. 11, in the continuation mode process of the modified example, the processes of S32 to S39 are omitted, and if the input of the print button is not detected (S24: NO), the CPU 91 returns the process to S22.

[0042] In the above embodiment and modified examples, the label printer 1, the cassette 17, the display 21, the input unit 22, the cassette mounting unit 24, the roller 26, the print head 28, the battery 31, the cassette sensor 32, the temperature sensor 35, the cutting blade 43, the CPU 91, and the non-volatile memory 99 are examples of the label printer, the cassette, the display, the input unit, the cassette mounting unit, the roller, the print head, the battery, the cassette sensor, the temperature sensor, the cutting blade, the control unit, and the non-volatile memory of the present invention, respectively. The process of S51 executed in S16 is an example of the continuous printing process of the present invention. The processes of S29 and S30 are an example of the restart number receiving process of the present invention. S51 of S45 after S30 is an example of the print restart process of the present invention. The process of S57 is an example of the interruption process of the present invention. S51 of S45 after S39 is an example of the print control process of the present invention. The setting of the print option is an example of the print setting of the present invention. The process of S59 is an example of the storage control process of the present invention. The processes of S38 and S39 are an example of a print resetting reception process of the present invention. The process of S11 is an example of a first display process of the present invention. The process of S22 is an example of a second display process of the present invention.

[0043] The printer 1 of the above embodiment has a print head 28, a roller 26 for transporting the tape M, a display 21, an input unit 22, and a CPU 91. The CPU 91 drives the print head 28 and the roller 26 based on the print data to perform continuous printing on the tape M (S51 executed in S16). When the continuous printing is interrupted and then resumed, the CPU 91 displays a value corresponding to the number of printed pages already printed at the time of interruption on the display 21 as an initial value of the restart number (S29), and accepts a designation of the restart number via the input unit 22 (S30). The CPU 91 drives the print head 28 and the roller 26 based on the print data to resume the continuous printing from the restart number (S51 executed in S45 after S30). The printer 1 displays a value corresponding to the number of printed pages on the display 21 as an initial value of the restart number, so the user can designate the restart number while referring to the initial value. Therefore, even if continuous printing is interrupted, the printer 1 contributes to restarting continuous printing with a simpler operation than before.

[0044] If the remaining charge of the battery 31 supplying power to the printer 1 falls below a threshold during the continuous printing process (S52: NO, S55: NO), the CPU 91 interrupts the continuous printing process (S57). The printer 1 can automatically interrupt the continuous printing process when the remaining charge of the battery 31 supplying power to the printer 1 falls below a first or second threshold. The printer 1 of this embodiment detects the remaining charge of the battery 31 in two stages using a first threshold and a second threshold, thereby reducing the possibility that the continuous printing will be interrupted in the middle of printing the Nth print target T, and can continue printing as long as possible using the power of the battery 31.

[0045] The printer 1 is equipped with a cutting blade 43 that cuts the tape M. When an operation on the cutting blade 43 is detected (S53: YES), the CPU 91 interrupts the continuous printing process (S57). When an operation on the cutting blade 43 is detected, the printer 1 can automatically interrupt the continuous printing process.

[0046] The printer 1 includes a cassette mounting portion 24 that detachably supports the cassette 17, and a cassette sensor 32 that detects the cassette 17 attached to the cassette mounting portion 24. The tape M is stored in a cassette 17 that is detachably attached to the cassette mounting portion 24. If the cassette sensor 32 no longer detects the cassette 17 during continuous printing (S53: YES), the CPU 91 interrupts the continuous printing process (S57). The printer 1 can automatically interrupt the continuous printing process when the cassette sensor 32 no longer detects the cassette 17.

[0047] The printer 1 is equipped with a temperature sensor 35 that detects the temperature of the print head 28. If the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 35 during continuous printing exceeds a threshold value (S53: YES), the CPU 91 interrupts the continuous printing process (S57). The printer 1 can automatically interrupt the continuous printing process if overheating of the print head 28 is detected.

[0048] If the remaining amount of tape M becomes less than a threshold during the continuous printing process, the CPU 91 interrupts the continuous printing process (S57). The printer 1 can automatically interrupt the continuous printing process when it detects a situation in which continuous printing on the tape M cannot be continued.

[0049] The printer 1 includes a non-volatile memory 99. When the CPU 91 interrupts the continuous printing process, it stores at least one of the number of printed pages and the initial value, and the print data as interruption information in the non-volatile memory 99 (S59). The CPU 91 executes the processes of S29 and S30 based on the interruption information stored in the non-volatile memory 99. The printer 1 can execute the process of accepting the resume number through a relatively simple process based on the interruption information stored in the non-volatile memory 99.

[0050] The printer 1 includes a non-volatile memory 99. When the CPU 91 interrupts the continuous printing process, it stores at least one of the number of printed pages and the initial value, the print data, and the print settings in the non-volatile memory 99 as interruption information (S59). The CPU 91 executes the processes of S29 and S30 based on the interruption information stored in the non-volatile memory 99. In S51, which is executed in S45 after S30, the CPU 91 drives the print head 28 and the roller 26 based on the print data, and resumes continuous printing from the resume number with the print settings stored in the non-volatile memory 99 as interruption information. The printer 1 executes a process of accepting the resume number with a relatively simple process based on the interruption information stored in the non-volatile memory 99, and can resume continuous printing with the print settings before the interruption.

[0051] After the continuous printing process is interrupted, the CPU 91 displays the print settings at the time of interruption on the display 21 and accepts resetting of the print settings via the input unit 22 (S38, S39). The CPU 91 drives the print head 28 and the roller 26 based on the print data, and prints with the reset print settings (S51 of S45 after S39). The printer 1 can resume continuous printing with the reset print settings.

[0052] When the CPU 91 receives a reset of the print settings via the input unit 22, it drives the print head 28 and roller 26 based on the print data and prints with the reset print settings (S51 of S45 after S39). When the CPU 91 does not receive a reset of the print settings, it drives the print head 28 and roller 26 based on the print data in a print resumption process and resumes continuous printing from the resume number with the print settings stored in the non-volatile memory 99 as interruption information (S51 of S45 after S30). The printer 1 can switch between resuming continuous printing based on the print data and printing based on the print data, depending on whether a reset of the print settings has been received.

[0053] When the power supply of the printer 1 is turned on and interruption information is not stored in the non-volatile memory 99, the CPU 91 displays on the display 21 a reception screen G1 for receiving the designation of print data (S11). When the power supply of the printer 1 is turned on and interruption information is stored in the non-volatile memory 99, the CPU 91 displays on the display 21 a restoration screen G7 in which an image representing the print data stored in the non-volatile memory 99 as interruption information is added to the reception screen (S22). The printer 1 can switch between executing a process to display the reception screen G1 and a process to display the restoration screen G7, depending on whether interruption information is stored in the non-volatile memory 99.

[0054] The label printer of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be made as appropriate. The present invention can be carried out in various forms, and may be realized in the form of, for example, a printing program executed by controlling a label printer, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a printing program, and a printing method executed by controlling a label printer.

[0055] (A) The configuration of the printer 1 may be changed as appropriate. The printer 1 may not include at least one of the cassette sensor 32, the temperature sensor 35, and the cutting blade 43, and the arrangement and configuration may be changed as appropriate. For example, the cassette sensor 32 may be capable of detecting the cassette 17 when the rear cover 5 is removed from the main body 4. The cutting blade 43 may not include the fixed blade 48, and may be configured to cut the tape M by moving the movable blade 49 and pressing the movable blade 49 together with the tape M against a receiving member. The cutting blade 43 may be capable of cutting at least manually or automatically. The configuration of the sensor 34 may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the cutting blade 43. The input unit 22 may be a switch, a keyboard, a touch panel, a mouse, a joystick, or the like. The type of cassette 17 that can be attached to the printer 1, and the type and configuration of the tape M that can be accommodated may be changed as appropriate. The printer 1 may be a device that can print on a tape M that is not accommodated in the cassette 17. The printer 1 may be a label printer that is placed on a desk.

[0056] (B) A program including commands for executing the main process may be stored in a storage device before the CPU 91 of the printer 1 executes the corresponding program. Therefore, the method and route for acquiring the program and the device for storing the program may each be changed as appropriate. The program executed by the CPU 91 may be received from another device via a cable or wireless communication and stored in a storage device such as a memory unit. The other device may include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network.

[0057] (C) In the continuation mode process, the CPU 91 may omit the processes of S33 to S37, and execute the process of S38 when a signal indicating that the Shift key and the Print button are selected simultaneously is detected (S32: YES). Similarly, in the continuation mode process, the CPU 91 may omit the processes of S25 to S27, S42, and S43, and execute the process of S28 when a signal indicating that the Print button is selected is detected (S24: YES). In S33, the CPU 91 may display a screen different from the process of S25 and receive an instruction to set a print option. In the continuation mode process, after setting the print option (S39), the CPU 91 may execute the processes of S28 to S30 in response to a user's instruction or automatically, and resume continuous printing with the setting of the print option set in S39. The types and number of print options as print settings that can be set in the printer 1 may be changed as appropriate. The relationship between the type of key on the input unit 22 and the type of instruction corresponding to the key may be changed as appropriate.

[0058] The condition for automatically interrupting the continuous printing process may be changed as appropriate. For example, the CPU 91 may omit at least one of the processes of S52 and S55 during the continuous printing process, and may continue the continuous printing without interrupting the continuous printing process when the remaining amount of the battery 31 that supplies power to the printer 1 falls below a threshold value. The CPU 91 may continue the continuous printing without interrupting the continuous printing process when an operation on the cutting blade 43 is detected. The CPU 91 may continue the continuous printing without interrupting the continuous printing process when the cassette sensor 32 no longer detects the cassette 17. The CPU 91 may continue the continuous printing without interrupting the continuous printing process when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 35 during the continuous printing exceeds a threshold value. In this case, the CPU 91 may not be provided with the temperature sensor 35. The CPU 91 may continue the continuous printing without interrupting the continuous printing process when the remaining amount of the tape M falls below a threshold value during the continuous printing process. In this case, the CPU 91 may not acquire the remaining amount of the tape M. The type and number of errors detected in S53, the method of detecting errors, and the threshold used for detecting errors may each be changed as appropriate.

[0059] If the printer 91 has a volatile memory that can be energized during the replacement of the battery 31, the CPU 91 may store the interruption information in the volatile memory instead of the non-volatile memory 99. The interruption information may include at least one of the number of printed pages and the initial value, and the print data, and may be changed as appropriate. Specifically, the interruption information may include the number of printed pages and not the initial value of the resumed number. The interruption information may not include the number of printed pages and may include the initial value of the resumed number. The interruption information may include both the number of printed pages and the initial value of the resumed number. The interruption information may not include the print setting. In this case, when resuming printing, the CPU 91 may accept new print settings and resume continuous printing based on the set print settings, or may resume continuous printing with default print settings. The CPU 91 may not need to switch between resuming continuous printing and starting new continuous printing without resuming continuous printing depending on whether the printer 1 has accepted a reset of the print settings. The printer 1 may not need to switch the reception screen depending on whether the interruption information is stored in the non-volatile memory 99 when the printer 1 is turned on.

[0060] The above-mentioned modified examples may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause any contradictions. In addition to the combinations exemplified in the claims, the applicant intends to obtain patent rights for aspects that are combined with each other within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention and does not cause any contradictions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 1: label printer, 17: cassette, 21: display, 22: input section, 24: cassette mounting section, 26: roller, 28: print head, 31: battery, 43: cutting blade, 91: CPU, 99: non-volatile memory

Claims

1. The printer includes a print head, a roller for transporting a tape, a display, an input unit, and a control unit. The control unit is a continuous printing process for driving the print head and the roller based on print data to perform continuous printing on the tape; a restart number reception process for receiving a restart number when the continuous printing is resumed after the continuous printing process has been interrupted, the restart number reception process displays a value corresponding to the number of printed sheets already printed at the time of the interruption on the display as an initial value of the restart number, and receives a designation of the restart number via the input unit; a print restart process for restarting continuous printing from the restart number by driving the print head and the roller based on the print data; A label printer comprising:

2. The control unit is 2. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein when a remaining charge of a battery supplying power to the label printer falls below a threshold during the continuous printing process, an interruption process is executed to interrupt the continuous printing process.

3. Further comprising a cutting blade for cutting the tape, The control unit is 2. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein an interruption process is executed to interrupt the continuous printing process when an operation on the cutting blade is detected.

4. The label printer a cassette mounting portion for detachably supporting a cassette; a cassette sensor for detecting a cassette mounted in the cassette mounting portion; Further comprising: the tape is stored in the cassette that is detachably attached to the cassette attachment portion, The control unit is 2. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein when the cassette sensor no longer detects the cassette during continuous printing, an interruption process is executed to interrupt the continuous printing process.

5. a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the print head; The control unit is 2. The label printer according to claim 1, further comprising an interruption process for interrupting the continuous printing process when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor exceeds a threshold value during continuous printing.

6. The control unit is 2. The label printer according to claim 1, further comprising an interruption process for interrupting the continuous printing process when the remaining amount of the tape becomes less than a threshold value during the continuous printing process.

7. Further comprising a non-volatile memory, The control unit is a storage control process is further executed to store, in the non-volatile memory, at least one of the number of printed pages and the initial value and the print data as interruption information when the continuous printing process is interrupted; 2. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein the restart count reception process is executed based on the interruption information stored in the non-volatile memory.

8. Further comprising a non-volatile memory, The control unit is a storage control process is further executed to store, in the non-volatile memory, at least one of the number of printed pages and the initial value, the print data, and the print settings as interruption information when the continuous printing process is interrupted; Executing the restart number reception process based on the interruption information stored in the non-volatile memory; 2. The label printer according to claim 1, wherein, in the print resumption process, the print head and the roller are driven based on the print data, and continuous printing from the resume number is resumed with the print settings stored in the non-volatile memory as the interruption information.

9. The control unit is a print resetting reception process for displaying the print settings at the time of interruption on the display and receiving a reset of the print settings via the input unit when the continuous printing process is to be resumed after the continuous printing process has been interrupted; a print control process for driving the print head and the roller based on the print data and printing with the reset print settings; 9. The label printer according to claim 8, wherein the label printer executes the steps of:

10. The control unit is When a reset of the print settings is accepted via the input unit, the print control process drives the print head and the roller based on the print data and prints with the reset print settings; 10. The label printer according to claim 9, wherein, when reconfiguration of the print settings is not accepted, in the print resumption process, the print head and the roller are driven based on the print data, and continuous printing from the resume number is resumed with the print settings stored in the non-volatile memory as the interruption information.

11. The control unit is a first display process for displaying, on the display, a reception screen for receiving designation of print data if the interruption information is not stored in the non-volatile memory when the label printer is turned on; a second display process for displaying, on the display, a restored screen in which an image representing the print data stored in the nonvolatile memory as the interruption information is added to the reception screen when the power supply of the label printer is turned on and the interruption information is stored in the nonvolatile memory; 11. The label printer according to claim 7, further comprising:

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