Printing device

Abstract

To enable contents printed in a plurality of printing sub areas and the printing sub area receiving input of characters to be confirmed more intuitively.SOLUTION: A printing device 100 comprises a display part 1 that displays an input screen UI. The input screen UI has a first character input area IA1 and a second character input area IA2. The first character input area IA1 receives input of characters which are printed in a first printing sub area La and displays the characters. The second character input area IA2 is arranged in parallel to the first character input area IA1, in the same direction as directions of the first printing sub area La and of a second printing sub area Lb, and receives input of characters which are printed in the second printing sub area Lb and displays the characters.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device, and more particularly to a printing device that prints characters and the like on a sheet of paper having a printing area in which a plurality of printing sub-areas are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there are known printing devices that print predetermined characters or the like in each printing area on paper (e.g., label sheets) that has a single printing area or multiple printing areas that are mutually partitioned. Some of these printing devices are capable of printing characters or the like in each printing sub-area on label sheets that have a printing area that further has multiple printing sub-areas (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this printing device, when inputting characters, etc. to be printed in each printing sub-area, a screen for accepting input of characters, etc. to be printed in each printing sub-area is displayed on the display unit of the printing device. This screen is provided with a display area that accepts and displays input of characters, etc. from the input device, and tabs that determine for which of the multiple printing sub-areas input is being accepted. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4330359 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above screen displayed on conventional printing devices has only one display area that accepts and displays character input, and switching tabs switches which printing sub-area in that display area receives and displays characters. Therefore, with conventional printing devices, while entering characters into one printing sub-area, it is not possible to check the contents of characters in the other printing sub-areas. Furthermore, when switching by tab, it is not intuitively clear which printing sub-area is receiving character input.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that prints characters and the like on a label sheet having a printing area in which multiple printing sub-areas are arranged in a predetermined direction, whereby the content of the characters and the like to be printed in the multiple printing sub-areas can be confirmed more intuitively and simultaneously, and the input of characters and the like into which printing sub-area is being accepted can be more intuitively recognized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A printing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a printing device that prints in a printing area in which a first printing sub-area and a second printing sub-area are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction, and the printing device includes a display unit that displays an input screen that simulates the printing area.

[0008] The input screen displayed on the display unit of the printing device has a first character input area and a second character input area. The first character input area accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area of ​​the printing area. Note that "characters" here is not limited to common characters such as kana, kanji, and alphabets, but also refers to characters that can be printed by the printing device, such as alphanumeric characters, numbers such as Arabic numerals, and various symbols. The second character input area is arranged next to the first character input area in the same predetermined direction as the first printing sub-area and second printing sub-area in the printing area, and accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the second printing sub-area.

[0009] In the above-described printing device, an input screen for inputting characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area and the second printing sub-area is displayed on the display unit. This input screen is provided with a first character input area that accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area, and a second character input area that accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the second printing sub-area. This allows the content of the characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area and the content of the characters to be printed in the second printing sub-area to be simultaneously confirmed on the input screen.

[0010] Furthermore, on the input screen, the first character input area and the second character input area are arranged side by side in the same direction as the arrangement of the first print sub-area and the second print sub-area in the print area. In other words, the first character input area and the second character input area are arranged on the input screen to correspond to the arrangement of the first print sub-area and the second print sub-area in the print area. This allows characters entered in the first character input area and the second character input area to be intuitively confirmed on the input screen in a form similar to the state in which the characters are printed in each print sub-area in the print area.

[0011] In the above printing device, the input screen may have a first tab and a second tab. The first tab is connected to the first character input area and is activated when character input into the first character input area is permitted. The second tab is connected to the second character input area and is activated when character input into the second character input area is permitted. This allows a user to more intuitively recognize which printing subarea is accepting input of characters to be printed.

[0012] In the above-described printing device, the print layout of the characters printed in the first print sub-area and the second print sub-area may be changeable. In this case, the display layout of the characters in the first character input area and the second character input area may be constant regardless of the print layout in the print sub-area. This makes it easier to check the content of the characters entered in the character input area.

[0013] In the above-described printing device, when converting a character input into either the first character input area or the second character input area, the character conversion candidate display area that displays character conversion candidates may be displayed so as to overlap the other character input area, thereby allowing the character input into one character input area and its conversion candidates to be checked simultaneously.

[0014] In the above-described printing device, when a character input into either the first character input area or the second character input area is reflected in the other, the tab connected to the other character input area may be deactivated. This allows the user to intuitively recognize in which character input area a character can be input when a character input into one character input area is reflected in the other character input area.

[0015] In the above-described printing device, a frame may be provided at the boundary between the first character input area and the second character input area, thereby making it easy to identify each character input area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] On an input screen for inputting characters to be printed in multiple printing sub-areas of a printing area, the contents of the characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area and the second printing sub-area can be intuitively confirmed at the same time, and it is possible to more intuitively recognize which printing sub-area the input of characters to be printed in is being accepted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a label sheet. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the control configuration of the printing device. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of an input screen. [Figure 6] 6 is a flowchart showing the label sheet printing operation. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a layout selection screen. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display state of a character conversion candidate display area. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen in which characters input in one character input area are reflected in the other character input area. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen UI after tab switching is performed. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a print layout display screen. [Figure 12] 12 is a diagram showing a character input state on the input screen when the print layout display screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] 1. First embodiment (1) Printer configuration The printer 100 according to the first embodiment will now be described. The printer 100 is capable of printing characters on multiple labels L (an example of a printable area) arranged on the same surface of a label sheet LS, as shown in FIG. 1, with the labels L separated from one another. Each label L on the label sheet LS has a first printable sub-area La and a second printable sub-area Lb. The first printable sub-area La is located at the top of the label L and is surrounded by a first printable area border La1. The second printable sub-area Lb is located below the first printable sub-area La and is surrounded by a second printable area border Lb1. The printer 100 can print characters separately in the first printable sub-area La and the second printable sub-area Lb of the label L. A label L configured as described above is called an "index label." FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a label sheet.

[0019] Each label L can be separated from the label sheet LS. The label L separated from the label sheet LS can be attached to a location where the label L is desired to be used.

[0020] In addition, the printing device 100 is capable of printing "characters" managed by various character codes in the printing sub-area, not limited to common characters such as kana, kanji, and alphabets, but also numbers such as alphanumeric characters, Arabic numerals, and various symbols (for example, symbols with numbers written inside a circle).

[0021] The configuration of the printing device 100 will be described below with reference to Figs. 2 to 4. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the printing device. Fig. 3 is a top view of the printing device. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the control configuration of the printing device. The printing device 100 comprises a display unit 1, an input unit 3, a sheet supply port 5, a printing unit 7, and a control unit 9.

[0022] The display unit 1 is provided on top of the main body B of the printing device 100. The display unit 1 displays an operation screen for operating the printing device 100. As will be described later, when entering characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area La and the second printing sub-area Lb of the label L, an input screen UI (FIG. 5) that resembles the label L is displayed on the display unit 1 as the operation screen. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the display unit 1 has a rectangular display area, but it has a certain degree of dimension not only in the left-right direction but also in the up-down direction, and has a larger display area than conventional devices. The display unit 1 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display.

[0023] The input unit 3 is located below the display unit 1 in the main body B and accepts operations for the printer 100. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the input unit 3 is composed of multiple keys. Specifically, the input unit 3 mainly has character input keys 3a for inputting characters and other operation keys. The input unit 3 mainly has, as operation keys, an execution key 3b for confirming and executing an operation, a tab switching key 3c for switching tabs (described later), cursor keys 3d for moving the cursor, a preview key 3e for displaying the print layout display screen PR (FIG. 11), a print key 3f for printing on the label sheet LS, and a relabel key 3g for moving the label L. The input unit 3 also has, as operation keys, keys for issuing commands for other functions that can be executed by the printer 100.

[0024] The sheet supply port 5 is located below the input unit 3 in the main body B. Label sheets LS to be printed are supplied to the sheet supply port 5. A pair of paper guides 5a are provided at the sheet supply port 5. The distance between the pair of paper guides 5a can be adjusted by moving them closer or farther apart. This allows the sheet supply port 5 to supply label sheets LS of various sizes.

[0025] The printing unit 7 prints on the labels L of the label sheet LS. The printing unit 7 has a printing mechanism 7a and a sheet transport mechanism 7b. The printing mechanism 7a is a mechanism that prints on the labels L, for example, by thermal transfer. The sheet transport mechanism 7b transports the label sheet LS supplied to the sheet supply port 5 to the printing mechanism 7a and discharges the label sheet LS printed by the printing mechanism 7a to the outside.

[0026] The control unit 9 has a CPU 9a, a storage device 9b such as RAM and ROM, and an input / output interface 9c, and controls the printing device 100. The CPU 9a executes various information processes. The storage device 9b stores programs executed by the CPU 9a, character data, parameters necessary for controlling the printing device 100, etc. The input / output interface 9c inputs and outputs signals and data between the CPU 9a, the storage device 9b, the display unit 1, the input unit 3, and the printing unit 7. The control unit 9 controls the printing device 100 by the CPU 9a executing programs stored in the storage device 9b. Note that part of the control of the printing device 100 may be realized by hardware constituting the control unit 9.

[0027] The control unit 9 may be realized by a computer system having a CPU 9a, a memory device 9b, and an input / output interface 9c as separate devices, or may be realized by an SoC (System on Chip) that integrates these components on a single chip.

[0028] (2) Input screen Next, the configuration of the input screen UI displayed on the display unit 1 when inputting characters to be printed on the label L will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the input screen. As shown in FIG. 5, the input screen UI has an appearance that imitates the label L. Furthermore, the input screen UI makes it easy to recognize which printing sub-area of ​​the label L the characters are being input into. Specifically, the input screen UI has a first character input area IA1, a second character input area IA2, a first tab T1, and a second tab T2.

[0029] The first character input area IA1 is arranged in the upper half of the input screen UI so as to correspond to the arrangement position of the first print sub-area La on the label L. The first character input area IA1 accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the first print sub-area La. A first character input area frame line FL1 is provided at the boundary of the first character input area IA1, making the first character input area IA1 easily recognizable.

[0030] The second character input area IA2 is arranged in the lower half of the input screen UI to correspond to the position of the second print sub-area Lb on the label L. In other words, the second character input area IA2 is arranged next to the first character input area IA1 in the downward direction. The second character input area IA2 accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the second print sub-area Lb. A second character input area frame line FL2 is provided at the boundary of the second character input area IA2, making the second character input area IA2 easily recognizable.

[0031] In this way, the input screen UI is provided with a first character input area IA1 for inputting characters to be printed in the first print sub-area La, and a second character input area IA2 for inputting characters to be printed in the second print sub-area Lb. This makes it possible to simultaneously check the content of the characters to be printed in the first print sub-area La and the content of the characters to be printed in the second print sub-area Lb on the input screen UI.

[0032] Furthermore, on the input screen UI, the first character input area IA1 and the second character input area IA2 are arranged side by side to correspond to the arrangement of the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb on the label L. For this reason, the input screen UI has an appearance that imitates the label L. Since the input screen UI has an appearance that imitates the label L, characters entered in the first character input area IA1 and the second character input area IA2 can be intuitively confirmed on the input screen UI in a form that is close to the state in which the characters are printed in each print sub-area on the label L.

[0033] The first tab T1 is connected to the first character input area IA1 and is located on the side of the first character input area IA1. The first tab T1 has the words "A screen input" written on it. The first tab T1 is activated when character input into the first character input area IA1 is permitted.

[0034] The second tab T2 is connected to the second character input area IA2 and is located on the side of the second character input area IA2. The second tab T2 has the words "B screen input" written on it. The second tab T2 is activated when character input into the second character input area IA2 is permitted.

[0035] In this embodiment, when a tab is "activated," for example, the text attached to the tab and the border of the text input area connected to the tab are displayed in a darker color and / or a thicker color. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the first tab T1 is activated. A cursor CU1 is displayed in the text input area where text input is permitted. Alternatively, the text attached to the tab and the border of the text input area connected to the tab may be displayed in different colors depending on whether the tab is activated. For example, when a tab is activated, the text attached to the tab and the border of the text input area connected to the tab may be displayed in blue, and when the tab is deactivated, the text attached to the tab and the border of the text input area connected to the tab may be displayed in gray.

[0036] By activating the tab linked to the character input area in which character input is being accepted, it is possible to more intuitively recognize in which printing subarea the input of characters to be printed is being accepted.

[0037] 5, a display showing the status of the printing device 100 is displayed on the side of the input screen UI. Specifically, the input screen UI displays a label type indicator D1, a label number indicator D2, a superscript / subscript indicator D3, a character alignment indicator D4, a character style indicator D5, a character size indicator D6, a font indicator D7, an input conversion indicator D8, a print direction indicator D9, and a remaining battery level indicator D10.

[0038] The label type indicator D1 indicates the type of label sheet LS to be printed on. The label number indicator D2 indicates the number of the label L for which characters are currently being input. The superscript / subscript indicator D3 indicates whether the input characters will be superscripted or subscripted. The character alignment indicator D4 indicates the alignment of the characters in the printing sub-area. The character style indicator D5 indicates the character style applied to the input characters. The character size indicator D6 indicates the character size in the printing sub-area. The font indicator D7 indicates the font of the characters printed in the printing sub-area. The input conversion indicator D8 indicates the currently set character conversion mode. The printing direction indicator D9 indicates the direction of the characters printed in the printing sub-area. The battery level indicator D10 indicates the remaining battery level.

[0039] (3) Operation of the printing device The operation of printing a label sheet LS in printer 100 will be explained below with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of printing a label sheet. The following explanation will take the operation of printing a new label sheet LS as an example.

[0040] When a new printing operation is started in printer 100, the type of label sheet LS to be printed is specified in step S1. In this case, a label sheet LS having an index label such as that shown in Figure 1 is specified.

[0041] After specifying the type of label sheet LS, in step S2, the print layout for the label L is specified. Specifically, the control unit 9 displays a layout selection screen LO, as shown in Figure 7, on the display unit 1 and accepts the selection of the print layout from the input unit 3. Figure 7 shows the layout selection screen.

[0042] The printing device 100 allows selection from seven print layouts LO1 to LO8 as shown in Fig. 7. The selectable print layouts are broadly divided into print layouts LO1 to LO4 that print the same characters in the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb, and print layouts LO5 to LO8 that print different characters in the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb.

[0043] You can also select either a print layout in which characters are written horizontally (print layouts LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO7, LO8) or a print layout in which characters are written vertically (print layouts LO2, LO6).You can also select a print layout in which characters are written in opposite directions in the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb (print layouts LO3, LO4, LO7, LO8).

[0044] On the layout selection screen LO, for example, the print layout can be specified by using the cursor key 3d to move the cursor CU2 to the display portion of the desired print layout, and then pressing the execute key 3b. Note that the print layout can also be changed while entering characters in the first character input area IA1 or the second character input area IA2 on the input screen UI.

[0045] After the print layout is selected, in step S3, the control unit 9 displays an input screen UI as shown in Fig. 5 on the display unit 1. At this time, the control unit 9 determines whether to allow character input into the first character input area IA1 or the second character input area IA2 of the input screen UI, and activates a tab linked to the character input area for which character input has been determined to be allowed. In this way, by activating a tab linked to a character input area for which character input is allowed, the user can intuitively recognize which character input area is allowed to input characters into.

[0046] 5, character input into the first character input area IA1 is permitted, but by pressing tab switching key 3c after the input screen UI is displayed, the character input area into which character input is permitted can be switched to the second character input area IA2. Also, by pressing tab switching key 3c, the character input area into which character input is permitted can be switched again from the second character input area IA2 to the first character input area IA1. Switching the character input area into which character input is permitted can be done at any time while the input screen UI is displayed.

[0047] In step S4, the control unit 9 accepts character input for one of the character input areas in which character input is permitted, from the character input keys 3a of the input unit 3. The control unit 9 displays the character input using the character input keys 3a in the character input area in which character input is permitted.

[0048] When a character is input into one of the character input areas, in order to convert the input character (for example, converting kana characters into kanji characters), a character conversion candidate display area CD that displays character conversion candidates for the character is displayed overlapping the other character input area, as shown in Fig. 8. Note that character conversion of the input character can be performed, for example, by pressing a conversion key included in the input unit 3.

[0049] In the example shown in Fig. 8, the kana character "ai" is input into the first character input area IA1, and when converting this kana character, a character conversion candidate display area CD displaying conversion candidates "ai, ai, ai, ai, ai" is displayed overlapping the second character input area IA2. Note that when characters are input into the second character input area IA2, the character conversion candidate display area CD is displayed overlapping the first character input area IA1. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the display state of the character conversion candidate display area.

[0050] In this way, when converting characters input into one character input area, the character conversion candidate display area CD is displayed overlapping the other character input area, allowing the user to simultaneously check the characters input into one character input area and the conversion candidates for that character. As a result, character input into the character input areas can be performed efficiently.

[0051] After character input into either the first character input area IA1 or the second character input area IA2 is completed, the control unit 9 determines in step S5 whether the same character should be printed in both the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb. Specifically, if the print layouts LO1 to LO4 are specified as the print layouts in step S2, the control unit 9 determines that the same character should be printed in both the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb.

[0052] If the same characters are to be printed in the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb ("Yes" in step S5), in step S6 the control unit 9 reflects the characters entered in one character input area in the other character input area. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the characters entered in one character input area are copied as is and displayed in the other character input area. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the characters "aiueokaki" (letter characters) are entered in the first character input area IA1, and the characters are reflected in the second character input area IA2. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an input screen in which the characters entered in one character input area are reflected in the other character input area.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 9, when characters input in one character input area are reflected in the other character input area, a cursor is not displayed in the other character input area, and the tab connected to the other character input area is deactivated. In a tab in the "deactivated" state, for example, the characters attached to the tab and the border of the character input area connected to the tab are displayed in a light color and / or a thin line. In the example shown in Fig. 9, characters input in the first character input area IA1 are reflected in the second character input area IA2, so a cursor CU1 is displayed in the first character input area IA1 and the first tab T1 is activated, while a cursor CU1 is displayed in the second character input area IA2 and the second tab T2 is deactivated.

[0054] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, on the input screen UI, the character attached to the activated tab (first tab T1 in FIG. 9) connected to the character input area where character input is permitted is attached to the tab (second tab T2 in FIG. 9) connected to the character input area where the input character is reflected (second character input area IA2 in FIG. 9).

[0055] In this way, when characters entered in one character input area are to be reflected in the other character input area, by deactivating the tab connected to the other character input area, it is possible to intuitively recognize in which character input area characters can be entered.

[0056] On the other hand, if different characters are to be printed in the first print sub-area La and the second print sub-area Lb ("No" in step S5), when the tab switching key 3c is pressed to issue a command to switch tabs in step S7, the control unit 9 executes tab switching. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the character input area in which character input is permitted is switched, a cursor CU1 is displayed in the new character input area in which character input is permitted, and the tab linked to that character input area is activated.

[0057] In the example shown in Fig. 10, when tab switching is performed from the first tab T1 to the second tab T2, the character input area in which character input is permitted switches from the first character input area IA1 to the second character input area IA2. As a result, a cursor CU1 is displayed in the second character input area IA2, and the second tab T2 is activated. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the input screen UI after tab switching is performed.

[0058] After the tab switching, in step S8, the control unit 9 accepts character input into the character input area where character input is newly permitted from the character input keys 3a of the input unit 3. The control unit 9 displays the characters input using the character input keys 3a in the character input area where character input is newly permitted.

[0059] When the preview key 3e of the input unit 3 is pressed while the characters to be printed on the label L are being input by executing steps S4 to S8 above, the control unit 9 causes the display unit 1 to display a print layout display screen PR for the label L as shown in Fig. 11. The print layout display screen PR shows how the characters input using the input screen UI will be printed on the label L.

[0060] The print layout display screen PR shown in Fig. 11 is displayed when the vertical print layout LO6 is selected in step S2, and the characters "aiueokaki" are entered in the first character input area IA1 of the input screen UI, and the characters "ABCDEFG" are entered in the second character input area IA2, as shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the print layout display screen. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the character input state on the input screen when the print layout display screen shown in Fig. 11 is displayed.

[0061] 11 and 12, the print layout specified in step S2 is reflected on the print layout display screen PR, while the characters in the first character input area IA1 and the second character input area IA2 are always displayed horizontally and are not inverted vertically regardless of the specified print layout. In other words, the display layout of the characters in the first character input area IA1 and the second character input area IA2 is constant regardless of the specified print layout. By keeping the display layout of the characters in the character input areas constant, the characters displayed in the character input areas are easier to see, making it easier to check the content of the characters entered in the character input areas.

[0062] After the character input in the character input area is confirmed (finished), step S2 is executed on the print layout display screen PR to display characters according to the designated print layout.

[0063] Furthermore, on the input screen UI, the size of the characters displayed in the first character input area IA1 and the second character input area IA2 is fixed and does not change depending on the number of characters entered. On the printed label L and on the print layout display screen PR, the size of the characters is adjusted according to the number of characters to be printed in the print sub-area, so that all characters fit within the print sub-area.

[0064] If a large number of characters are entered in the character input area and all of them cannot be displayed, only some of the characters entered will be displayed in the character input area. The characters that are not displayed can be displayed, for example, by moving the cursor CU1.

[0065] In this way, by fixing the size of the characters displayed in the character input area, the characters displayed in the character input area become easier to see, making it easier to check the content of the characters entered in the character input area.

[0066] After steps S2 to S8 have been executed to specify the print layout and input the characters to be printed in each sub-printing area for one label L, if the new label key 3g is pressed to command a move to another label L ("No" in step S9), the printing operation returns to step S2, and the above steps S2 to S8 are executed again. That is, for the other label L after the move, the print layout is specified and the characters to be printed in each sub-printing area of ​​that label are input.

[0067] On the other hand, if the print key 3f is pressed to command printing on the label sheet LS ("Yes" in step S9), the control unit 9 starts printing on the label sheet LS in step S10. Specifically, the control unit 9 controls the sheet transport mechanism 7b to transport the label sheet LS supplied to the sheet supply port 5 to the printing mechanism 7a. The control unit 9 also controls the printing mechanism 7a to print the input characters on the labels L to be printed. After printing on all of the labels L to be printed, the control unit 9 controls the sheet transport mechanism 7b to discharge the label sheet LS to the outside.

[0068] Furthermore, after executing steps S2 to S8 and completing the specification of the print layout and input of the characters to be printed in each sub-printing area for one label L, the specified print layout for that label L and the characters input for that label L can also be saved in the memory device 9b.

[0069] (4) Common features of the embodiments The first embodiment has the following common configurations and functions. A printing device (e.g., printing device 100) is a printing device that prints on a printing area (e.g., label L) in which a first printing sub-area (e.g., first printing sub-area La) and a second printing sub-area (e.g., second printing sub-area Lb) are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction. This printing device includes a display unit (e.g., display unit 1) that displays an input screen (e.g., input screen UI) that simulates the printing area.

[0070] The input screen displayed on the display unit of the printing device has a first character input area (e.g., first character input area IA1) and a second character input area (e.g., second character input area IA2). The first character input area accepts input of characters to be printed in the first print sub-area of ​​the print area and displays them. The second character input area is arranged next to the first character input area in the same predetermined direction as the first print sub-area and second print sub-area in the print area, and accepts input of characters to be printed in the second print sub-area and displays them.

[0071] In the above-described printing device, an input screen for inputting characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area and the second printing sub-area is displayed on the display unit. This input screen is provided with a first character input area that accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area, and a second character input area that accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the second printing sub-area. This allows the content of the characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area and the content of the characters to be printed in the second printing sub-area to be simultaneously confirmed on the input screen.

[0072] Furthermore, on the input screen, the first character input area and the second character input area are arranged side by side in the same direction as the arrangement of the first print sub-area and the second print sub-area in the print area. In other words, the first character input area and the second character input area are arranged on the input screen to correspond to the arrangement of the first print sub-area and the second print sub-area in the print area. This allows characters entered in the first character input area and the second character input area to be intuitively confirmed on the input screen in a form similar to the state in which the characters are printed in each print sub-area in the print area.

[0073] (5) Other embodiments Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. In particular, the multiple embodiments and modifications described in this specification can be arbitrarily combined as necessary.

[0074] (A) The processing content of each step in the printing operation described with reference to FIG. 6, the processing order of each step, etc. can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0075] (B) The label sheet LS does not necessarily have to have the first print area border La1 and the second print area border Lb1.

[0076] (C) The printing device 100 can also print on a label sheet having labels different from the label L shown in FIG.

[0077] (D) On the print layout display screen PR, when a large number of characters are displayed in each print sub-area, the characters may be displayed as a graphic such as a "■" (black square). In this case, the part displayed by the "■" may be enlarged so that the content represented by the "■" can be confirmed.

[0078] (E) When printing multiple label sheets LS, a sheet print layout display screen that shows the print status of the entire label sheet LS may be displayed on the display unit 1 for each label sheet LS that is printed. Specifically, after printing of the first label sheet LS is complete, the sheet print layout display screen for the second label sheet LS is displayed on the display unit 1, and after checking the print status of the second label sheet LS using this print layout, printing of the second label sheet LS can begin.

[0079] (F) On the print layout display screen PR, it may be possible to set the number of prints for the label L whose print layout is displayed. For example, an interface for setting the number of prints may be provided on the print layout display screen PR, and the number of prints for the label L displayed on the print layout display screen PR may be set using this interface. [Industrial Applicability]

[0080] The present invention can be widely applied to printing devices that print characters and the like on paper having a printing area in which a plurality of printing sub-areas are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 100 Printing device 1 Display 3 Input section 3a Character input key 3b Execution key 3c Tab Switching Key 3D cursor keys 3e Preview Key 3f Print Key 3g modified label key 5 Sheet supply port 5a Paper guide 7 Printing section 7a Printing mechanism 7b Sheet transport mechanism 9 Control Unit 9a CPU 9b Storage device 9c Input / Output Interface B body UI input screen FL1 First character input area border IA1 First character input area FL2 Second character input area border IA2 Second character input area T1 Tab 1 T2 Second tab CU1, CU2 cursors CD Character conversion candidate display area D1 Label Type Indicator D2 Label Number Indicator D3 Superscript and Subscript Indicators D4 Character Alignment Indicator D5 Text Style Indicator D6 Character Size Indicator D7 Font Indicator D8 Input Conversion Indicator D9 Print direction indicator D10 Battery Level Indicator LS Label Sheet L Label La 1st printing sub-area La1 First print area border Lb 2nd printing sub area Lb1 Second print area border PR print layout display screen LO Layout Selection Screen LO1~LO8 Print layout

Claims

1. A printing device that prints in a printing area in which a first printing sub-area and a second printing sub-area are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction, a display unit that displays an input screen that simulates the print area; The input screen includes: a first character input area that accepts and displays input of characters to be printed in the first printing sub-area; a second character input area arranged next to the first character input area in the predetermined direction, and configured to accept and display input of characters to be printed in the second printing sub-area; a first tab connected to the first character input area and activated when character input into the first character input area is permitted; a second tab connected to the second character input area and activated when character input into the second character input area is permitted; and In a deactivated tab of the first tab and the second tab, the characters attached to the tab and the border of the character input area connected to the tab are displayed in a lighter color and / or thinner than those of the activated tab. Printing device.

2. a print layout of characters printed in the first print sub-area and the second print sub-area is changeable; The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the display layout of characters in the first character input area and the second character input area is constant regardless of the print layout.

3. 3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein when converting a character input into either the first character input area or the second character input area, a character conversion candidate display area that displays character conversion candidates is displayed overlapping the other character input area.

4. 4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein when a character input into one of the first character input area or the second character input area is reflected in the other, a tab connected to the other character input area is deactivated.

5. 5. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein a border is provided at a boundary between the first character input area and the second character input area.

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