Printer, label forming method, and program

Abstract

To provide a printer, a label forming method, and a program capable of forming a label for assisting a user to stick labels at desired intervals.SOLUTION: A printer 1 comprises: a printing unit that prints an image to be printed on a printing medium; a cutting unit that cuts the printing medium; and a control unit 201 that controls the printing unit or the cutting unit to execute one of formation of a sticking auxiliary label for assisting sticking of the printing medium by executing sticking assistant printing on the printing medium and formation of a sticking auxiliary label by cutting sticking assistant cutting on the printing medium on the basis of the sticking intervals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device, a label creation method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a print label producing device in which a specific type of cartridge having a cartridge memory that stores processing setting information is detachably mountable to a cartridge holder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-161856 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Printed labels can be produced by the print label production device described in Patent Document 1. When a user creates multiple labels and attempts to align and stick the created multiple labels, it is difficult to visually stick the created labels at the intervals desired by the user, and there is a problem that the labels cannot be properly stuck or other tools such as a ruler are required.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide a printing device, a label creation method, and a program that are capable of creating labels that assist users in applying labels at desired intervals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the printing device of the present invention is characterized by comprising a printing unit that prints an image to be printed on a print medium, a cutting unit that cuts the print medium, and a control unit that controls the printing unit or the cutting unit to perform either of the following: acquiring an attachment interval that indicates the interval at which the print medium is attached, and performing attachment assist printing on the print medium based on the attachment interval to create an attachment assist label that assists in attaching the print medium, or performing attachment assist cutting on the print medium to create the attachment assist label. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing device, a label creation method, and a program that are capable of creating labels that assist a user in attaching labels at desired intervals. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top view showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a tape storage unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a tape cassette according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display unit of the embodiment, which prompts the user to input whether or not an attachment assist label needs to be created. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen displayed on the display unit of the embodiment, which prompts the user to input information for setting the interval at which labels are attached. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of labels created by the printing device according to the embodiment through attachment assist printing. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example in which a label main body and an application auxiliary label created by application auxiliary printing performed by the printing device according to the embodiment are applied to a mount. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of labels created by the printing device according to the embodiment after performing an auxiliary cutting step for application. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example in which the printing device according to the embodiment performs application auxiliary cutting to apply a label main body and an application auxiliary label that are created, and then applied to a backing sheet. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart of a process for creating an attachment assist label executed by the printing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart of a pasting auxiliary printing process executed by the printing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart of a pasting assist cutting process executed by the printing device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A printing device 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Identical or corresponding parts in the drawings are designated by the same reference numerals. The printing device 1 according to the embodiment is a label printer that creates labels by printing a print pattern including pictures and characters on a long print medium.

[0010] 1, the printing device 1 includes a housing 100, an input unit 101, a display unit 102, an opening / closing cover 103, and a tape storage unit 104 covered by the opening / closing cover 103. The housing 100 has the input unit 101, display unit 102, and opening / closing cover 103 exposed to the outside formed therein, and includes the tape storage unit 104 inside. The housing 100 may include a connection terminal for connecting to an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a smartphone, an insertion port for inserting a storage medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or memory card, and a power terminal for connecting a power cord, but these are not shown in the figure.

[0011] The input unit 101 is an input device that accepts user inputs, including turning the power of the printing device 1 on and off, inputting data (print data), and making selections and decisions. The input unit 101 supplies the input instructions or data to a control unit 201, which will be described later. The input unit 101 may include, but is not limited to, keys and a touchpad. The display unit 102 is a display device that displays, including text and images, to the user. The display unit 102 may include, but is not limited to, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panel.

[0012] The open / close lid 103 is a lid that covers the tape storage section 104 so that it is not exposed to the outside. The open / close lid 103 is configured to be openable and closable, and when it is open, the tape cassette 105 can be attached to and detached from the tape storage section 104, and when it is closed, the open / close lid 103 covers the tape storage section 104. The tape storage section 104 shown in Figure 2 is capable of storing the tape cassette 105. Inside and around the tape storage section 104, there are formed a tape printing mechanism 106, a cassette receiving section 107, an alignment shaft 110, a ribbon winding shaft 111, a tape feeding section 114, a full-cutting mechanism 115, a half-cutting mechanism 116, and a cassette type detection section 123.

[0013] 3, the tape cassette 105 is a cassette that includes a tape 112, which is a print medium and is composed of a print tape and a release tape, and an ink ribbon 113. The tape cassette 105 further includes a cassette case 117, a tape core 118, a ribbon supply core 119, a ribbon take-up core 120, a head placement portion 121, and an engaged portion 122.

[0014] The tape printing mechanism 106 prints on the tape 112 using an ink ribbon 113. The tape printing mechanism 106 includes a thermal head 108 that performs thermal transfer printing, and a platen roller 109 that sandwiches and transports the tape 112 and ink ribbon 113 between the thermal head 108 and the tape printing mechanism 106. The cassette receiving portion 107 is a jig that holds the tape cassette 105 in a predetermined position. The positioning shaft 110 and the ribbon take-up shaft 111 engage with the tape cassette 105 to position it. The ribbon take-up shaft 111 rotates the ribbon take-up core 120 to take up the ink ribbon 113 after printing.

[0015] The tape feeding section 114 is an opening for feeding the printed tape 112 out of the printing device 1. A full-cut mechanism 115 and a half-cut mechanism 116 are formed around the tape feeding section 114. The full-cut mechanism 115 is a cutter that cuts both the printing tape and the release tape that make up the tape 112. The half-cut mechanism 116 is a cutter that cuts only the printing tape, but not the release tape. The cassette type detection section 123 is composed of multiple switches formed on the cassette receiving section 107. When the tape cassette 105 is stored in the tape storage section 104, the cassette type detection section 123 comes into contact with the unevenness formed on the engagement section 122 of the cassette case 117. The cassette type detection section 123 detects the type of tape 112 stored in the tape cassette 105, including its width and color, based on which switch is pressed by the engagement section 122.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 3, the cassette case 117 is a case body that contains therein the tape 112, the ink ribbon 113, a tape core 118, a ribbon supply core 119, and a ribbon take-up core 120. The tape core 118 is a core around which an unused tape 112 is wound. The ribbon supply core 119 is a core around which an unused ink ribbon 113 is wound. The ribbon take-up core 120 is a core around which the used ink ribbon 113 is wound.

[0017] A head placement section 121 is provided between the cassette case 117 and the tape 112 and ink ribbon 113, where the thermal head 108 is placed when the tape cassette 105 is stored in the tape storage section 104. An engaged section 122 is formed in the cassette case 117. Concaves and recesses are formed in the engaged section 122 in an arrangement according to the type, including the width and color, of the tape 112 stored in the tape cassette 105.

[0018] Before printing, the tape cassette 105 is stored in the tape storage unit 104. When the tape cassette 105 is stored in the tape storage unit 104, the cassette type detection unit 123 reads the unevenness of the engaged portion 122 to detect the type of tape 112 stored in the tape cassette 105. Printing is performed by the platen roller 109 transporting the tape 112 and ink ribbon 113 and the thermal head 108 generating heat to print a pattern on the tape 112. After printing, the full cut mechanism 115 and half cut mechanism 116 cut the tape 112 in the tape feed unit 114. The ribbon take-up shaft 111 rotates the ribbon take-up core 120, thereby winding up the ink ribbon 113 after printing.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 4, the printing device 1 includes a control unit 201, a head drive circuit 202, a roller drive circuit 203, a cutter drive circuit 204, a display drive circuit 205, a flash memory 206, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 207. The control unit 201 is a processing device including a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 201 is connected to each unit of the printing device 1 via a bus, and controls the printing device 1 by executing a program stored in the flash memory 206. Note that, although each unit is connected only to the control unit 201 in Fig. 4, it is also possible for each unit to exchange data via the bus.

[0020] Based on data of an image to be printed that the user desires to print, the control unit 201 generates print data that controls the head drive circuit 202 to print the image to be printed on the tape 112 and cut the tape 112, transport data that controls the roller drive circuit 203, and cut data that controls the cutter drive circuit 204. The control unit 201 acquires, via the input unit 101, an instruction from the user as to whether or not to create an application assistance label 302. The application assistance label 302 is a label that assists the user in applying multiple labels at desired intervals. When an instruction to create the application assistance label 302 is issued, the control unit 201 acquires, via the input unit 101, an input from the user setting the interval at which the labels should be applied.

[0021] When the control unit 201 obtains an input for setting the label pasting interval, it determines whether to perform auxiliary printing for pasting or auxiliary cutting for pasting. The control unit 201 compares the set label pasting interval s with the width w of the tape 112. When the label pasting interval is smaller than the width of the tape 112, that is, when s < w, it determines to perform auxiliary printing for pasting. When the label pasting interval is abnormal with respect to the width of the tape 112, that is, when s ≥ w, the control unit 201 determines to perform auxiliary cutting for pasting. In the example of the label 300 shown in FIG. 7, the image to be printed is the character "ABC". As shown in FIG. 7, when auxiliary printing for pasting is performed, before the image to be printed is printed, an auxiliary line a, which is a line indicating the pasting position of the label 300, is printed at a position separated by the pasting interval s from the upper side of the label 300. After the auxiliary line a is printed, the tape 112 is half-cut at the half-cut position h1, the image to be printed is printed, and the tape 112 is fully cut to create the label 300. The label 300 includes a label body 301, which is the portion where the image to be printed is printed, and a pasting auxiliary label 302, which is the portion where the auxiliary line a is printed. In the example of the label 300 shown in FIG. 8, three labels 300 are printed and pasted on the mount 400 side by side from top to bottom. As shown in FIG. 8, after the user pastes the label body 301, the user then pastes the pasting auxiliary label 302 continuously to the pasted label body 301. Thereafter, by pasting the label body 301 of the next label 300 in accordance with the auxiliary line a printed on the pasting auxiliary label 302, the label body 301 can be pasted at the desired pasting interval s.

[0022] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, when auxiliary cutting for pasting is performed, before the image to be printed is printed, a half-cut is performed at the half-cut position h2, which is separated by the pasting interval s from the left side (end portion) of the label 300. After the half-cut is performed, the tape 112 is further half-cut at the half-cut position h1, the image to be printed is printed, and the tape 112 is fully cut to create the label 300. The label 300 includes the label body 301, a pasting auxiliary label 302, which is the portion from the left side of the label to the half-cut position h2, and a margin 303, which is the portion from the half-cut position h2 to the half-cut position h1.

[0023] 10 , after attaching the label main body 301 to the backing paper 400, the user rotates the attachment auxiliary label 302 by 90 degrees and attaches it next to the attached label main body 301. Then, by attaching the label main body 301 of the next label 300 in line with the edge of the auxiliary label, the label main body 301 can be attached at the desired attachment interval s. When the control unit 201 determines that attachment auxiliary printing should be performed, it adds print data, transport data, and cut data for printing the print image on the tape 112 and cutting the tape 112 to the print data, transport data, and cut data for printing the auxiliary line a on the tape 112 and cutting the tape 112, respectively.

[0024] When the control unit 201 determines to perform auxiliary cutting for label application, it adds transport data and cut data for cutting the tape 112 to create an auxiliary label indicating the label application position to the transport data and cut data for printing the print image on the tape 112 and cutting the tape 112. Returning to Fig. 4, the control unit 201 outputs print data for controlling the head drive circuit 202, transport data for controlling the roller drive circuit 203, and cut data for controlling the cutter drive circuit 204 to the head drive circuit 202, the roller drive circuit 203, and the cutter drive circuit 204, respectively.

[0025] The head drive circuit 202 controls the drive of the thermal head 108 during printing. The head drive circuit 202 receives print data output from the control unit 201 and controls the energized dots of the thermal head 108. As a result, the head drive circuit 202 causes the thermal head 108 to generate heat and print the pattern indicated by the print data. The head drive circuit 202 or the thermal head 108 functions as a printing unit. The roller drive circuit 203 controls the drive of the platen roller 109 during printing. The roller drive circuit 203 receives transport data output from the control unit 201 and drives a stepping motor (not shown) that drives the platen roller 109. The roller drive circuit 203 determines the amount of rotation of the stepping motor by counting the number of pulses of the drive signal output to the stepping motor.

[0026] The cutter drive circuit 204 controls the driving of the full cut mechanism 115 and half cut mechanism 116 during printing. The cutter drive circuit 204 receives cutting data output from the control unit 201, controls the full cut mechanism 115 and half cut mechanism 116, and performs full or half cut of the tape 112. The cutter drive circuit 204, full cut mechanism 115, or half cut mechanism 116 functions as a cutting unit. The display drive circuit 205 drives the display unit 102 and presents it to the user. The display drive circuit receives display data output from the control unit 201, and causes the display unit 102 to display the image to be printed, the input screen, etc.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 5, display drive circuit 205 drives display unit 102 to display a screen that prompts the user to input an instruction indicating whether or not an application assist label is required. When the user operates input unit 101 to input an instruction indicating whether or not an application assist label is required, control unit 201 acquires a signal indicating the instruction. As shown in Fig. 6, display drive circuit 205 drives display unit 102 to display a screen that prompts the user to input an instruction to set the interval between label applications. When the user operates input unit 101 to input the interval between label applications, control unit 201 acquires a signal indicating the interval between applications.

[0028] The flash memory 206 stores the programs and data executed by the control unit 201. The flash memory 206 supplies the stored programs and data to the control unit 201. The flash memory 206 includes, as data used when the control unit 201 executes printing processing described later, pattern data including characters, symbols, logos, characters, marks, map data, and facility data including the names and coordinates of facilities. The flash memory 206 functions as a storage unit. The RAM 207 stores the data supplied from the control unit 201 and supplies the stored data to the control unit 201. The RAM 207 functions as a work memory of the control unit 201. That is, the control unit 201 reads the program stored in the flash memory 206 into the RAM 207 and executes the read program to perform processing. Hereinafter, the creation process of the auxiliary label for pasting will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11.

[0029] When the creation process of the auxiliary label for pasting is started, the control unit 201 of the printing apparatus 1 generates print data, conveyance data, and cut data based on the data of the image to be printed (step S101). When the print data, conveyance data, and cut data are generated, the control unit 201 acquires an input of an instruction on whether to create the auxiliary label for pasting 302 (step S102). If the auxiliary label for pasting 302 is not created (step S102: NO), the creation process of the auxiliary label for pasting is terminated.

[0030] When the auxiliary label for pasting 302 is to be created (step S102: YES), the control unit 201 acquires the pasting interval s of the label (step S103). When the pasting interval of the label is acquired, the control unit 201 determines whether the pasting interval s of the label is smaller than the width w of the tape 112 (step S104). If the pasting interval s of the label is smaller than the width w of the tape 112 (s < w) (step S104: YES), the auxiliary printing process for pasting (step S105) is executed, and the creation process of the auxiliary label for pasting is terminated. If the pasting interval s of the label is greater than or equal to the width w of the tape 112 (s ≧ w) (step S104: NO), the auxiliary cutting process for pasting (step S106) is executed, and the creation process of the auxiliary label for pasting is terminated.

[0031] 12 is started, the head drive circuit 202 of the printer 1 drives the thermal head 108 to print one line of auxiliary line a on the tape 112 (step S201). After the head drive circuit 202 has printed one line of auxiliary line a, the roller drive circuit 203 drives the platen roller 109 to feed the tape 112 by one line (step S202). After the roller drive circuit 203 has fed the tape 112 by one line, the head drive circuit 202 determines whether all of the auxiliary line a has been printed (step S203). If it determines that the auxiliary line a has not been printed (step S203: NO), the process returns to step S201. If it determines that the auxiliary line a has been printed (step S203: YES), the head drive circuit 202 drives the thermal head 108 to print one line of the image to be printed on the tape 112 (step S204).

[0032] After the head drive circuit 202 prints one line of auxiliary line a, the cutter drive circuit 204 determines whether the tape 112 is at the full cut position (step S205). If it is determined that the tape 112 is not at the full cut position (step S205: NO), the process proceeds to step S207. If it is determined that the tape 112 is at the full cut position (step S205: YES), the cutter drive circuit 204 drives the full cut mechanism 115 to perform a full cut of the tape 112 (step S206). After the tape 112 has been fully cut, the cutter drive circuit 204 determines whether the tape 112 is at the half cut position (step S207). If it is determined that the tape 112 is not at the half cut position (step S207: NO), the process proceeds to step S209.

[0033] If it is determined that the tape 112 is at the half-cut position (step S207: YES), the cutter driving circuit 204 drives the half-cut mechanism 116 to half-cut the tape 112 (step S208). After the cutter driving circuit 204 has half-cut the tape 112, the roller driving circuit 203 drives the platen roller 109 to feed the tape 112 by one line (step S209). After the roller driving circuit 203 has fed the tape 112 by one line, the head driving circuit 202 or the cutter driving circuit 204 determines whether printing of the image to be printed, full cutting, and half cutting are all complete (step S210). If it is determined that the processes are not complete (step S210: NO), the process returns to step S204. If it is determined that the processes are complete (step S210: YES), the attachment auxiliary printing process ends.

[0034] 13 starts, the head drive circuit 202 drives the thermal head 108 to print one line of the image to be printed on the tape 112 (step S301). After the head drive circuit 202 prints one line of the auxiliary line a, the cutter drive circuit 204 determines whether the tape 112 is at the full cut position (step S302). If it is determined that the tape 112 is not at the full cut position (step S302: NO), the process proceeds to step S304. If it is determined that the tape 112 is at the full cut position (step S302: YES), the cutter drive circuit 204 drives the full cut mechanism 115 to perform a full cut of the tape 112 (step S303).

[0035] After the tape 112 has been fully cut, the cutter driving circuit 204 determines whether the tape 112 is at the half-cut position (step S304). If it is determined that the tape 112 is not at the half-cut position (step S304: NO), the process proceeds to step S306. The half-cut position may include the end of the application auxiliary label 302 and the start of the label main body 301. The end of the application auxiliary label 302 and the start of the label main body 301 may be the same. If it is determined that the tape 112 is at the half-cut position (step S304: YES), the cutter driving circuit 204 drives the half-cut mechanism 116 to half-cut the tape 112 (step S305). After the cutter driving circuit 204 has half-cut the tape 112, the roller driving circuit 203 drives the platen roller 109 to feed the tape 112 by one line (step S306).

[0036] When the roller driving circuit 203 has transported the tape 112 by one line, the head driving circuit 202 or the cutter driving circuit 204 determines whether printing of the image to be printed, full cutting, and half cutting are all complete (step S307). If it is determined that they are not complete (step S307: NO), the process returns to step S301. If it is determined that they are complete (step S307: YES), the application auxiliary cutting process ends.

[0037] With the above configuration and by performing the application assist label creation process, the printer 1 according to the embodiment can create labels that assist the user in applying labels at desired intervals. By applying the application assist labels 302 printed by the printer 1 alongside the label bodies 301, the user can easily apply multiple labels 300 in parallel at the desired intervals and at equal intervals.

[0038] Because there is a distance between the thermal head 108 that performs thermal transfer printing and the full-cut mechanism 115, there is a margin between where the tape 112 is cut when one label 300 is produced and where printing starts on the tape 112 when the next label 300 is produced, resulting in wasted tape 112. By performing the auxiliary application cutting process in the printing device 1 according to the embodiment, the margin can be used as an auxiliary application label 302, reducing wasted tape 112.

[0039] (Variation) Although the above-described embodiments have been described, the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the scope of application of the present invention is not limited thereto. In other words, the embodiments of the present invention are applicable to various applications, and all embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. While the printing device 1 has been described as a thermal printer equipped with a thermal head 108, this is not a limitation. For example, any printing device, including an inkjet printer or a laser printer, may be used. Furthermore, although the printing device 1 has been described as equipped with a tape storage unit 104, this is not a limitation. The printing device 1 may not be equipped with a configuration for printing an image to be printed on the tape 112 including the tape storage unit 104, but may be a processing device that performs printing processing by controlling an external printing device equipped with a configuration for printing an image to be printed on the tape 112.

[0040] Although the printing device 1 has been described as including an input unit 101 and a display unit 102, this is not limited to this. The printing device 1 may be connected to an external input device or display device, and these devices may be used to accept information input from the user or to present information to the user. Although the tape cassette 105 has been described as including an ink ribbon 113, this is not limited to this. The tape cassette 105 may not include an ink ribbon, but may instead include a heat-sensitive tape that changes color when heated.

[0041] Although it has been assumed that the platen roller 109 is driven by a stepping motor, it is not limited thereto. The platen roller 109 may be driven by a motor that operates continuously. Such a motor can be controlled by an encoder, and the length of the conveyed tape 112 can also be managed by the encoder. The control unit 201 compares the set label attachment interval s with the width w of the tape 112, and determines that auxiliary printing for attachment is to be performed when the label attachment interval is smaller than the width of the tape 112, that is, when s < w, but it is not limited thereto. A threshold value t smaller than the width w of the tape 112 may be set, and it may be determined that auxiliary printing for attachment is to be performed when the attachment interval s is smaller than the threshold value t, that is, when s < t.

[0042] When the attachment interval s is greater than or equal to the threshold value t and less than or equal to the width w of the tape 112, the display drive circuit 205 may drive the display unit 102 to display a screen prompting the user to input an instruction for selecting a method for creating an auxiliary attachment label. When the user operates the input unit 101 to input an instruction for selecting a method for creating an auxiliary attachment label, the control unit 201 may acquire a signal indicating the instruction and determine to perform either auxiliary printing for attachment or auxiliary cutting for attachment based on the instruction. If auxiliary cutting for attachment is performed when the attachment interval s is small, the created auxiliary attachment label 302 may become thin, and it may become difficult to attach the auxiliary attachment label 302 itself. By setting the threshold value t and performing auxiliary printing when s < t, it is possible to prevent the auxiliary attachment label 302 from becoming thin.

[0043] In addition to being able to be provided as a printing apparatus provided in advance with a configuration for realizing the functions according to the present invention, an existing information processing apparatus or the like can also be made to function as the printing apparatus according to the present invention by applying a program. That is, by applying a program for realizing each functional configuration of the printing apparatus 1 illustrated in the above embodiment so that a CPU or the like that controls an existing information processing apparatus or the like can execute it, it can be made to function as the printing apparatus according to the present invention. Further, the label creation method according to the present invention can be implemented using a printing apparatus.

[0044] Furthermore, such a program may be applied in any manner. The program may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium, such as a flexible disk, a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or a memory card. Furthermore, the program may be superimposed on a carrier wave and applied via a communication medium such as the Internet. For example, the program may be posted and distributed on a bulletin board system (BBS) on a communication network. The program may then be started and executed under the control of an OS in the same manner as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-described processing to be performed. While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and the present invention includes the inventions set forth in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1...printing device, 106...tape printing mechanism, 112...tape, 115...full cutting mechanism, 116...half cutting mechanism, 201...controller, 302...attachment auxiliary label

Claims

1. a printing unit that prints an image to be printed on a print medium; a cutting unit that cuts the print medium; a control unit that controls the printing unit or the cutting unit to perform one of the following: acquiring an attachment interval indicating an interval at which the print medium is attached, and performing attachment auxiliary printing on the print medium based on the attachment interval to create an attachment auxiliary label that assists in attaching the print medium, or performing attachment auxiliary cutting on the print medium to create the attachment auxiliary label; Printing device.

2. the printing unit acquires print data and performs printing based on the print data; the control unit executes an operation of performing the pasting auxiliary printing or the operation of performing the pasting auxiliary cutting in a margin portion between the end of printing based on the print data and the start of printing based on the next print data, The printing device of claim 1 .

3. the attachment auxiliary printing includes printing an auxiliary line by the printing unit at a position spaced apart from one side of the print medium by the attachment interval; The printing device of claim 1 .

4. the attaching assist cut includes the cutting unit making a half cut at a position spaced apart from the edge of the print medium by the attaching interval.

3. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the control unit performs the auxiliary cutting when the joining interval is equal to or greater than the width of the print medium.

3. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. the control unit performs the attachment auxiliary printing on the print medium when the attachment interval is smaller than the width of the print medium or when the attachment interval is smaller than a threshold value. The printing device according to claim 5 .

7. the control unit acquires an instruction to perform either the attachment auxiliary printing or the attachment auxiliary cutting when the attachment interval is equal to or greater than a threshold value and smaller than a width of the print medium, and performs either the attachment auxiliary printing or the attachment auxiliary cutting on the print medium based on the instruction. The printing device according to claim 5 .

8. an attachment interval indicating the interval at which the print medium is attached is acquired, and based on the attachment interval, a printing unit that prints an image to be printed on the print medium or a cutting unit that cuts the print medium is controlled to perform either of the following: performing attachment auxiliary printing on the print medium to create an attachment auxiliary label that assists in attaching the print medium; or performing attachment auxiliary cutting on the print medium to create the attachment auxiliary label; How to create a label.

9. On the computer, acquires an attachment interval indicating an interval at which the print medium is attached, and controls a printing unit that prints an image to be printed on the print medium or a cutting unit that cuts the print medium to perform either of the following: performing attachment auxiliary printing on the print medium based on the attachment interval to create an attachment auxiliary label that assists in attaching the print medium, or performing attachment auxiliary cutting on the print medium to create the attachment auxiliary label; program.

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