JP7775971B2 - Printing device, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a control method , and a program.

Printers are known that use tape as a printing medium to create strips of printed material (hereafter referred to as labels) with information such as text and graphics printed on them. Such printers are also called label printers or label writers.

In label printers, both the print head and the cutter are located on the tape transport path, but due to spatial constraints, the cutter is located downstream of the print head in the transport direction and at a certain distance from the print head. For this reason, when the platen roller rotates only in the forward direction, the difference between the print position and the cut position within the label printer results in wasted space at the leading edge of the tape, the length of which corresponds to the distance between the print position and the cut position.

Technology related to this issue is described, for example, in Patent Document 1. The label printer described in Patent Document 1 can reverse the tape feed by rotating the platen roller in the opposite direction before the print head starts printing, thereby reducing wasted white space.

JP 2012-179882 A

However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 cannot be applied to label printers that can only transport labels in the forward direction. Therefore, there is a need for technology that can be applied to any label printer and that can reduce the wasted white space that occurs depending on the distance between the printing position and the cutting position.

Note that while the above explanation uses a label printer with a cutting device as an example, the same problem occurs in label printers without a cutting device. In label printers without a cutting device, the user manually cuts the tape discharged from the outlet using scissors or similar tools. In this case, a wasted margin of tape is created at the end of the tape, the length of which corresponds to the distance between the printing position and the outlet.

In light of the above situation, one object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a new technology that reduces the wasted white space that occurs at the leading edge of a print medium.

A printing device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a control means for creating preliminary print data so that the length of the print content on the print medium is a predetermined length, and for causing printing of the preliminary print data to be executed continuously after printing of the current print data, wherein the predetermined length is set to a length corresponding to the distance between the position where the print content is printed on the print medium by the print head and the position where the cutting means cuts the print medium , and when creating the preliminary print data, the control means predicts the print content that is likely to be printed next based on the print content in the current print data, and sets this predicted print content as the print content in the preliminary print data, thereby creating the preliminary print data so that the print content in the preliminary print data changes depending on a predetermined difference in the print content in the current print data, and when the print content in the preliminary print data matches the beginning of the print content in the next print data, controls so that printing of the beginning-matched print content is omitted when printing the next print data .

A control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method executed by a printing device, and includes a control process for creating preliminary print data so that the length of the print content on the print medium is a predetermined length, and for printing the preliminary print data consecutively after printing the current print data, wherein the predetermined length is set to a length corresponding to the distance between the position where the print content is printed on the print medium by the print head and the position where the cut is made on the print medium by a cutting means, and when creating the preliminary print data, the control process predicts the print content that is likely to be printed next based on the print content in the current print data, and sets this predicted print content as the print content in the preliminary print data, thereby creating the preliminary print data so that the print content in the preliminary print data changes depending on a predetermined difference in the print content in the current print data, and when the print content in the preliminary print data matches the beginning of the print content in the next print data, control is performed so that printing of the beginning-matched print content is omitted when printing the next print data .

A program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as a control means for creating preliminary print data so that the length of the print content on the print medium is a predetermined length, and for causing printing of the preliminary print data to be executed continuously after printing of the current print data, the predetermined length being set to a length corresponding to the distance between the position where the print content is printed on the print medium by the print head and the position where the cutting means cuts the print medium, and when creating the preliminary print data, the control means predicts the print content that is likely to be printed next based on the print content in the current print data, and sets this predicted print content as the print content in the preliminary print data, thereby creating the preliminary print data so that the print content in the preliminary print data changes depending on a predetermined difference in the print content in the current print data, and controls so that if the print content in the preliminary print data matches the beginning of the print content in the next print data, printing of the matching beginning of the print content is omitted when printing the next print data .

The above aspect makes it possible to reduce the unnecessary margin that occurs at the leading edge of the printing medium.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing device 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tape cartridge 30 housed in the printing device 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cartridge storage unit 14 of the printing device 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printing device 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a printing device. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the state of a print medium M at each stage of print control in a conventional printing device. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a print control method performed by the printing device 1. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing the state of the print medium M at each stage of the print control shown in FIG. 7 in the printing device 1. 10 is a flowchart showing another example of a print control method performed by the printing device 1. 10A to 10C are diagrams showing the state of the print medium M at each stage of the print control shown in FIG. 9 in the printing device 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example in which the second information matches the preliminary information in a prefix-matching manner. 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a modified example of preliminary printing in the printing device 1. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system including a printing device 100 and an information processing device 200. FIG.

[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The printing device 1 is a thermal printer using a thermal transfer method, and also a label writer that creates labels by printing information such as text on a print medium, namely, tape. However, the printing method of the printing device 1 is not limited to the thermal transfer method. The printing device 1 may be a thermal printer using another method, such as a thermal method that uses thermal tape. Furthermore, the printing device 1 is not limited to a thermal printer, and may also be, for example, an inkjet printer.

In this specification, tape refers to a long, thin member made of plastic, paper, or any other material. Tape typically has an adhesive layer and is stickable. However, tape does not have to have an adhesive layer. Furthermore, a label refers to tape on which some information is printed, using tape as a printing medium. A label is typically a portion (of tape) on which information is printed, separated from a portion (of tape) on which information is not printed. However, labels are not limited to cut labels.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 comprises a device housing 2, an input unit 3, a display unit 4, and a lid 5, and further comprises a cartridge storage unit 14 inside the device housing 2. The input unit 3, display unit 4, and lid 5 are arranged on the top surface of the device housing 2. In addition, although not shown, the device housing 2 may also be provided with a power cord connection terminal, an external device connection terminal, a storage medium insertion port, etc.

The input unit 3 includes various keys such as input keys, a directional pad, a conversion key, and a confirmation key. The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The display unit 4 may also be provided with a touch panel unit, in which case the display unit 4 may be considered part of the input unit 3.

The lid 5 is positioned on top of the cartridge storage section 14 so that it can be opened and closed. The lid 5 is opened by pressing a button 5a. A window 5b is formed in the lid 5 so that it can be visually confirmed whether or not a tape cartridge 30 (see Figure 2) is stored in the cartridge storage section 14, even when the lid 5 is closed. In addition, an ejection port 2a is formed on the side of the device housing 2. Printing media M printed on inside the printing device 1 is ejected from the device through the ejection port 2a.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tape cartridge 30 stored in the printing device 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cartridge storage unit 14 of the printing device 1. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the printing device 1. The tape cartridge 30 shown in Figure 2 is detachably stored in the cartridge storage unit 14 shown in Figure 3. Figure 4 shows the tape cartridge 30 stored in the cartridge storage unit 14. Below, an example of the internal mechanism of the printing unit 23 (see Figure 5) of the printing device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

As shown in Figure 2, the tape cartridge 30 has a cartridge case 31 that houses the print medium M and the ink ribbon R. The cartridge case 31 is provided with a tape core 32, an ink ribbon supply core 34, and an ink ribbon take-up core 35. It also has a thermal head insertion portion 36 and an engagement portion 37.

The print medium M is wound in a roll around a tape core 32 inside the cartridge case 31. The print medium M is, for example, a tape having a substrate with an adhesive layer and a release paper removably attached to the substrate so as to cover the adhesive layer. The thermal transfer ink ribbon R is wound in a roll around an ink ribbon supply core 34 inside the cartridge case 31, with its leading end wound around an ink ribbon take-up core 35.

As shown in Figure 3, the cartridge storage section 14 of the device housing 2 is provided with multiple cartridge holders 15 for supporting the tape cartridge 30 at a predetermined position. Each cartridge holder 15 is also provided with a tape width detection switch 19 for detecting the width of the tape (printing medium M) housed in the tape cartridge 30.

The tape width detection switch 19 is a switch used to detect the width of the printing medium M based on the shape of the tape cartridge. Multiple tape width detection switches 19 are provided in the cartridge storage section 14. Tape cartridges with different tape widths are configured to press multiple tape width detection switches 19 in different combinations. This allows the processor 21 (see Figure 5), described below, to identify the type of tape cartridge from the combination of pressed tape width detection switches 19 and detect the width (tape width) of the printing medium M.

The cartridge storage section 14 also contains a thermal head 10, which is a print head that has multiple heating elements 23a (see Figure 5) and prints on the print medium M, a platen roller 16, which is an example of a transport section that transports the print medium M, a tape core engagement shaft 17, and an ink ribbon winding drive shaft 18. A thermistor 11 is embedded in the thermal head 10. The thermistor 11 measures the temperature of the thermal head 10.

When the tape cartridge 30 is stored in the cartridge storage section 14, as shown in Figure 4, the engagement section 37 of the cartridge case 31 is supported by the cartridge receiving section 15 of the cartridge storage section 14. The thermal head 10 is inserted into the thermal head insertion section 36 formed in the cartridge case 31. The tape core 32 of the tape cartridge 30 engages with the tape core engagement shaft 17, and the ink ribbon take-up core 35 engages with the ink ribbon take-up drive shaft 18.

When a user operates the input unit 3 to input label creation instructions (print commands) into the printing device 1, the print medium M is unwound from the tape core 32 by the rotation of the platen roller 16. At this time, the ink ribbon take-up drive shaft 18 rotates in synchronization with the platen roller 16, unwinding the ink ribbon R from the ink ribbon supply core 34 along with the print medium M. As a result, the print medium M and the ink ribbon R are transported in an overlapping state. Then, as the ink ribbon R passes between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 16, it is heated by the thermal head 10, causing the ink to be transferred to the print medium M and printing to occur.

The used ink ribbon R that passes between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 16 is wound onto the ink ribbon take-up core 35. Meanwhile, the printed print medium M that passes between the thermal head 10 and the platen roller 16 is cut by the half cutter 12 or full cutter 13 and discharged from the discharge port 2a. The half cutter 12 and full cutter 13 are examples of cutting devices that cut the print medium M, and as shown in Figure 4, they are each located downstream of the thermal head 10 in the transport direction of the print medium M.

Figure 5 is a block diagram of the printing device 1. As shown in Figure 5, the printing device 1 includes one or more processors 21, one or more storage devices 22, a printing unit 23, an input device 24, a display device 25, and a communication device 26, which are connected via a bus 27.

Each of the one or more processors 21 is hardware that includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and executes a program 22a stored in the storage device 22. The one or more processors 21 are an example of a controller for the printing device 1 that controls at least the platen roller 16 and the thermal head 10.

Each of the one or more storage devices 22 is a non-transitory computer-readable medium and is an example of a storage unit of the printing device 1. The one or more processors 21 and the one or more storage devices 22 constitute the computer of the printing device 1. At least one of the storage devices 22 stores a program 22a. The one or more processors 21 are controllers that execute the program 22a stored in the storage devices 22, thereby executing the printing control method described below, and the printing unit 23 prints on the print medium M to create a label.

The printing unit 23 is configured to print on the print medium M using the thermal head 10. The input device 24 and display device 25 may be the input unit 3 and display unit 4 described above, respectively. The communication device 26 is, for example, a wireless communication device such as a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) module or a BLE module, but may also be a wired communication device.

The following describes a printing control method performed by the printing device 1 configured as described above to reduce the wasted white space at the leading edge of the printing medium M.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the state of the print medium M at each stage of print control in a conventional printing device. Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a print control method performed by the printing device 1. Figure 8 is a diagram showing the state of the print medium M at each stage of print control shown in Figure 7 in the printing device 1. First, with reference to Figure 6, we will explain the margin that occurs at the leading edge of the print medium M in a conventional printing device, and then with reference to Figures 7 and 8, we will specifically explain the print control method according to the first embodiment of the printing device 1.

In conventional printing devices, when printing of information in response to a print command is completed by the thermal head 10, transport of the print medium M continues until the printed area of the print medium M passes the full cutter 13, which is located downstream of the thermal head 10, and the print medium M is then cut by the full cutter 13. In this way, in conventional printing devices, transport without printing occurs after printing of information in response to a print command. For this reason, when a series of print controls including printing and transport performed in response to a print command is completed, a wasted margin that cannot be printed is created between the leading edge of the print medium M (full cutter 13) and the thermal head 10, as shown in Figure 6(a).

When printing control is then initiated in response to a new print command, as shown in Figure 6(b), some of the wasted margin at the leading edge of the print medium M is utilized as the necessary margin (leading margin) between the leading edge of the newly created label (the cut made by the half cutter 12) and the printed information, but much of the remaining margin remains as wasted margin. Specifically, when printing in response to the print command is completed and the printed area passes through the full cutter (see Figure 6(c)), the print medium M is cut (see Figure 6(d)), and printing control ends, but the only necessary portion of the created label (strip of tape TP) is the portion behind the cut made by the half cutter 12; the portion ahead of the cut is wasted.

In order to reduce such waste of print medium M, the printing device 1 performs the print control shown in Figures 7 and 8. Note that Figure 8 illustrates the situation when a new tape cartridge 30 is inserted into the printing device 1 with the leading edge of the print medium M pulled out to the full cutter 13, and then a print command is input for the first time. Below, we will explain an example where a print command (first print command) instructing the printing of information "ABCDEF" is input. Note that the information "ABCDEF" is an example of first information, and the print command is an example of a first print command.

When a user inputs a print command into the printing device 1 using the input unit 3, the processor 21 starts the print control shown in Figure 7. First, the processor 21 controls the platen roller 16 to start transporting the print medium M from the state shown in Figure 8(a) (step S1). Next, the processor 21 controls the thermal head 10 to start printing corresponding to the print command (step S2). Note that the processes of steps S1 and S2 may be executed in parallel, or step S2 may be started after step S1 depending on the print information specified by the print command.

Then, during printing, the processor 21 controls the half cutter 12 to make a cut at the front of the printing area, as shown in Figure 8(b), and when all of the information "ABCDEF" specified in the print command has been printed, as shown in Figure 8(c), the thermal head 10 ends printing corresponding to the print command.

After printing corresponding to the print command, the processor 21 again controls the thermal head 10 to perform preliminary printing, printing the information "AB" on the print medium M based on the information "ABCDEF" specified in the print command, as shown in Figure 8(d) (step S3), and then controls the platen roller 16 to finish transporting the print medium M (step S4).

That is, when a first print command instructing printing of the first information (information "ABCDEF") is input, the processor 21 controls the thermal head 10 to perform preliminary printing based on the first information after the thermal head 10 has printed the first information and before the platen roller 16 has finished transporting the print medium M. Note that the information "AB" is an example of preliminary information. More specifically, as shown in Figure 8(d), the processor 21 performs preliminary printing in the area of the print medium M that remains between the full cutter 13 and the thermal head 10 at the end of transport, i.e., in an area that would be wasted white space in a conventional printing device.

Note that the preliminary printing in step S3 is performed based on the first information. More specifically, the processor 21 may create preliminary information based on the first information, for example, as shown in FIG. 8(d), so that the first information (information "ABCDEF") matches the beginning of the preliminary information (information "AB") to be printed in the preliminary printing. Note that "matching the beginning" means that a word or phrase whose beginning matches the search term is found as a result of the search.

Then, as shown in Figure 8 (e), the processor 21 may further control the full cutter 13 to cut the printing medium M between the information "ABCDEF" (first information) specified in the print command and the preliminary information "AB," thereby creating a piece of tape TP (label) on which the information specified in the print command is printed.

As described above, by performing the printing control shown in Figure 7, the printing device 1 can perform preliminary printing after printing in response to a print command and before transport is completed. The printing device 1 cannot print on areas of the print medium M that have progressed downstream of the thermal head 10, but by performing preliminary printing, it is possible to print in advance on areas of the print medium M that will have progressed downstream of the thermal head 10 before transport is completed. Therefore, by printing useful information in preliminary printing, it is possible to reduce wasted white space. Furthermore, by performing preliminary printing based on the first information, it is possible to increase the likelihood that useful information will be printed compared to haphazard printing. Therefore, it is possible to reduce wasted white space with a high probability.

In particular, the printing device 1 can perform preliminary printing on the area of the print medium M that remains between the full cutter 13 and the thermal head 10 when transport is complete. This makes it possible to reduce wasted white space that may occur at the leading edge of the print medium M due to structural constraints of the printing device.

In general, when a certain piece of information is printed on a printing device, there is a high probability that the next piece of information to be printed will be the same information. In the printing device 1, preliminary information is created so that the first information matches the beginning of the preliminary information. This makes it possible to reduce the wasted white space that can occur at the leading edge of the print medium M when consecutively printing the same information, which is generally likely to be printed. More specifically, because the leading edge of the information to be printed next can be printed in advance during preliminary printing, the area printed during preliminary printing can be used as part of the label to be created with the next print command.

In the printing device 1, the preliminary information is printed in an area that would otherwise be discarded as wasted white space. Therefore, even if the preliminary information printed in the preliminary print is different from the leading portion of the information printed in the next print and cannot be used as part of the label created with the next print command, there is no disadvantage such as more wasted white space than before.

Second Embodiment
Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing another example of a print control method performed by the printing device 1. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the state of the print medium M at each stage of print control shown in Fig. 9 in the printing device 1. Below, a print control method according to the second embodiment of the printing device 1 will be specifically described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the printing device 1 determines whether preliminary printing can be effectively utilized based on the print command input after preliminary printing, and performs processing according to the determination result.

Note that, similar to Figure 8, Figure 10 illustrates the situation when a new tape cartridge 30 is inserted into the printing device 1 with the leading edge of the print medium M pulled out to the full cutter 13, and then a print command is input for the first time.

When the processor 21 starts the print control shown in FIG. 9, it first determines whether a print command has been input (step S11). If it determines that a print command has not been input (step S11: NO), the processor 21 further determines whether an instruction to end printing has been input (step S12). If an instruction to end printing has not been input (step S12: NO), the processor 21 repeats the processing of steps S11 and S12 until a print command is input.

When a print command is input (step S11: YES), processor 21 compares the print information, which is the information for printing instructed by the print command, with the preliminary information, which is the information preliminarily printed in the previous printing (step S13). Processor 21 then compares the print information with the preliminary information and determines whether the print information matches the preliminary information at the beginning (step S14). Note that the print information is, for example, the information "ABCDEF." Furthermore, when printing is performed for the first time, no preliminary information exists. Therefore, in this case, processor 21 determines that the print information does not match the preliminary information at the beginning (step S14: NO).

If it is determined that the leading edges do not match (step S14 NO), the processor 21 controls the platen roller 16 to start transporting the print medium M from the state shown in FIG. 10(a) (step S17), and controls the thermal head 10 to print the print information from the beginning (here, "A") (step S18). Then, when the leading edge of the print information printed on the print medium M reaches the position of the full cutter 13, the processor 21 controls the full cutter 13 to cut the print medium M ahead of the print information (step S19). This cuts off the unnecessary margin (tape piece TP1), as shown in FIG. 10(b). Note that the cutting in step S19 may be performed using the half cutter 12 instead of the full cutter 13.

After that, as shown in FIG. 10(c), when printing of the print information instructed by the print command is completed, the processor 21 controls the thermal head 10 to perform preliminary printing, which prints preliminary information based on the print information (step S20). Here, the processor 21 may, for example, similarly to the first embodiment, create preliminary information based on the print information so that the print information (information "ABCDEF") matches the prefix of the preliminary information (information "AB"), and as shown in FIG. 10(d), preliminary printing may be performed based on the created preliminary information.

Once the preliminary printing is complete, the processor 21 controls the platen roller 16 to end the transport of the print medium M (step S21). After the transport is complete, the processor 21 may control the full cutter 13 to cut the print medium M as shown in FIG. 10(e) and create a label (tape piece TP2) on which the print information is printed.

When the series of print control operations associated with the print command is completed, processor 21 again monitors the input of a print command (step S11). Then, when a new print command is input, processor 21 compares the new print information with the preliminary information printed in step S20 (step S13) and determines whether the print information matches the preliminary information in the beginning (step S14).

If the new print command specifies the information "ABCDEF" as the print information, that is, if the same print information as the previous time is specified, the print information matches the preliminary information at the beginning (YES in step S14). In this case, the processor 21 controls the platen roller 16 to begin transporting the print medium M from the state shown in Figure 10(e) (step S15), and controls the thermal head 10 to start printing from the middle of the print information (here, "C") (step S16). As a result, as shown in Figure 10(f), the information "AB" printed in the preliminary printing can be used as part of the label, making it possible to create a new label while reducing wasted white space.

On the other hand, if a new print command specifies, for example, information "123456" as the print information, i.e., if print information completely different from the previous command is specified, the beginning of the print information does not match the preliminary information (step S14 NO). In this case, the processor 21 controls the platen roller 16 to start transporting the print medium M (step S17) and controls the thermal head 10 to print the print information starting from the beginning (here, "1") (step S18). Then, when the front of the print information (information "123456") reaches the position of the full cutter 13, the processor 21 controls the full cutter 13 to cut the print medium M ahead of the print information (step S19). In other words, the processor 21 controls the full cutter 13 to cut the print medium M between the preliminary information and the print information, as shown in FIG. 10(g). This removes the portion (tape piece TP3) on which the information (preliminary information) that cannot be effectively used is printed from the print medium M. This allows a label to be created with the correct print information even if completely different print information is specified from the previous time, as shown in Figure 10(h).

As described above, by performing the printing control shown in FIG. 9, the printing device 1 allows the processor 21 to control the thermal head 10 so that when a print command (second print command) is input after a print command (first print command), if the information to be printed (second information) specified in the other print command does not match the beginning of the preliminary information printed in the preliminary printing of the previous print, the processor 21 controls the thermal head 10 to print the information to be printed (second information) from the beginning. On the other hand, if the information to be printed (second information) matches the beginning of the preliminary information, the processor 21 controls the thermal head 10 to print the information to be printed (second information) from the middle.

As a result, if the preliminary information printed on the print medium M can be used, the printed preliminary information is used to create the label. As a result, wasted white space can be reduced. Furthermore, if the preliminary information printed on the print medium M cannot be used, the information to be printed is reprinted starting from behind the preliminary information. As a result, even if the wasted white space cannot be reduced, the information to be printed can be printed correctly to create a label. In this way, the printing device 1 can contribute to reducing wasted white space while correctly creating labels regardless of the information to be printed.

Furthermore, by performing the printing control shown in FIG. 9, the printing device 1 controls the full cutter 13 or half cutter 12 so that when a print command (second print command) is input after a print command (first print command), if the information to be printed (second information) specified in the other print command does not match the beginning of the preliminary information printed in the preliminary printing of the previous print, the processor 21 cuts the print medium M between the area on the print medium M where the preliminary information is printed and the area on the print medium M where the second information is printed.

This allows for the preliminary information that cannot be effectively used to be separated from the label on which the printed information is printed. Therefore, even if the preliminary information cannot be used, it is possible to prevent disadvantages such as requiring the user to perform additional work to remove the preliminary information.

Therefore, by performing the print control according to this embodiment, the printing device 1 can reduce the wasted white space that occurs at the leading edge of the print medium, just as it does when performing the print control according to the first embodiment.

The above-described embodiments are illustrative examples provided to facilitate understanding of the invention. The present invention is not limited to these embodiments and should be understood to encompass various modifications and alternative forms of the above-described embodiments. For example, it will be understood that each embodiment can be realized by modifying its components without departing from its spirit and scope. It will also be understood that various embodiments can be implemented by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that various embodiments can be implemented by deleting some components from all of the components shown in the embodiments or by adding some components to the components shown in the embodiments. In other words, the printing device, control method, and program can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims.

In the above-described embodiment, an example was shown in which wasted white space was reduced when the same information was printed, but the reduction of wasted white space can be achieved in cases other than when the same information is printed. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, even if a print command to print the information "ABCDEF" is first input and then a print command to print the information "ABABA" is input, a label can be created using the information "AB" printed in preliminary printing. In this way, as long as the information printed after preliminary printing matches the prefix of the preliminary information, the preliminary information can be effectively used, thereby reducing wasted white space.

In addition, while the above-described embodiment illustrates an example in which the preliminary information uses information from the beginning of already printed print information, the preliminary information may be created in a different way. The processor 21 may predict the information (second information) to be printed in the next print command (second print command) based on the information (first information) that has already been printed, and create the preliminary information based on the prediction result. For example, if the information "ABCDEF" is printed in the first print command, there is a possibility that the alphabet will be printed in order. Therefore, it may be possible to predict that the next print command will instruct to print "GHIJK..." and print the information "GH" as preliminary information, as shown in FIG. 12. This can also contribute to reducing wasted white space, just as when preliminary information is created based on a prefix match.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a printing device 1 equipped with an input unit 3 and a display unit 4 is exemplified, but the printing device is not limited to a so-called standalone type printing device equipped with an input unit 3 and a display unit 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, it may be a printing device 100 that prints according to a print command issued from an information processing device 200.

In addition, while the above-described embodiment illustrates a printing device equipped with a cutting device, a cutting device is not necessarily required. By performing the above-described print control on a printing device that does not have a cutting device, it is possible to reduce wasted white space.

In this specification, the expression "based on A" does not mean "based only on A," but rather "based on at least A." In other words, "based on A" may also mean based on B in addition to A.

In this specification, the use of terms such as "first," "second," etc. to modify a noun does not limit the quantity or order of the elements described by the noun. These terms are used to distinguish between two or more elements, not less, not more. Thus, the specification of a "first" and a "second" element does not imply that the "first" element precedes the "second" element, nor does it negate the existence of a "third" element.

The inventions described in the claims of the present application as originally filed are as follows:
[Appendix 1]
a conveying unit that conveys the print medium;
a print head that prints on the print medium;
a controller that controls the transport unit and the print head,
A printing device characterized in that, when a first print command instructing printing of first information is input, the controller controls the print head to perform preliminary printing based on the first information after the print head has printed the first information and before the transport unit has finished transporting the printing medium.
[Appendix 2]
2. The printing device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a cutting device that is disposed downstream of the print head in a transport direction of the print medium and that cuts the print medium;
The printing device is characterized in that the controller performs the preliminary printing on an area of the print medium that remains between the cutting device and the print head when the conveyance is completed.
[Appendix 3]
3. The printing device according to claim 2,
When a second print command instructing printing of second information is input after the first print command, the controller
controlling the print head to print the second information from the beginning when the second information does not match the preliminary information printed in the preliminary printing;
a printing device that controls the print head so that, when the second information matches the preliminary information at a beginning, the second information is printed from the middle of the second information;
[Appendix 4]
4. The printing device according to claim 3,
A printing device characterized in that, when the second printing command is input after the first printing command, the controller controls the cutting device so that, if the second information does not match the beginning of the preliminary information, the printing medium is cut between the area of the printing medium where the preliminary information is printed and the area of the printing medium where the second information is printed or will be printed.
[Appendix 5]
5. The printing device according to claim 1,
The printing device is characterized in that the controller creates the preliminary information based on the first information so that the first information matches the preliminary information printed in the preliminary printing in a prefix-matching manner.
[Appendix 6]
5. The printing device according to claim 1,
The controller
predicting second information to be printed in a second print command following the first print command based on the first information;
A printing device that generates preliminary information to be printed in the preliminary printing based on the prediction result.
[Appendix 7]
A control method for a printing device having a transport unit that transports a print medium and a print head that prints on the print medium, comprising:
When a first print command instructing printing of first information is input, the transport unit is controlled to transport the print medium, and the print head is controlled to print the first information;
A control method comprising controlling the print head so that preliminary printing based on the first information is performed after printing the first information and before transportation of the print medium is completed.
[Appendix 8]
A computer of a printing device including a transport unit that transports a print medium and a print head that prints on the print medium,
When a first print command instructing printing of first information is input, the transport unit is controlled to transport the print medium, and the print head is controlled to print the first information;
A program that executes a process for controlling the print head so that preliminary printing based on the first information is performed after printing the first information and before transport of the print medium is completed.

1, 100 Printing device 10 Thermal head 12 Half cutter 13 Full cutter 16 Platen roller 21 Processor 22 Storage device 22a Program M Printing medium TP Tape piece

Claims (4)

a control means for creating preliminary print data so that the length of the content to be printed on the print medium will be a predetermined length, and for causing printing of the preliminary print data to be executed successively after printing of the current print data;
the predetermined length is set to a length corresponding to the distance between a printing position of the print content on the print medium by the print head and a cutting position of the print medium by the cutting means,
When creating the preliminary print data, the control means estimates print content that is likely to be printed next time based on the print content of the current print data, and sets this estimated print content as the print content of the preliminary print data, thereby creating the preliminary print data so that the print content of the preliminary print data changes depending on a predetermined difference in the print content of the current print data ;
When the print content of the preliminary print data matches the print content of the next print data in a prefixed manner, control is performed so that printing of the print content that matches the prefixed manner is omitted when printing the next print data.
A printing device characterized by: When the print content of the preliminary print data does not match the beginning of the print content of the next print data, the control means controls the cutting means to separate the portion printed with the preliminary print data from the portion printed with the next print data.
2. The printing device according to claim 1. A control method executed by a printing device, comprising:
A control process is included in which preliminary print data is created so that the length of the content to be printed on the print medium is a predetermined length, and printing using the preliminary print data is executed continuously after printing using the current print data,
the predetermined length is set to a length corresponding to the distance between a printing position of the print content on the print medium by the print head and a cutting position of the print medium by the cutting means,
When creating the preliminary print data, the control process estimates print content that is likely to be printed next time based on the print content of the current print data, and sets this estimated print content as the print content of the preliminary print data, thereby creating the preliminary print data so that the print content of the preliminary print data changes depending on a predetermined difference in the print content of the current print data;
When the print content of the preliminary print data matches the print content of the next print data in a prefixed manner, control is performed so that printing of the print content that matches the prefix is omitted when printing the next print data.
A control method comprising: Computer,
Preliminary print data is created so that the length of the content to be printed on the print medium will be a predetermined length, and the control unit functions as a control unit that executes printing using the preliminary print data after printing using the current print data.
the predetermined length is set to a length corresponding to the distance between a printing position of the print content on the print medium by the print head and a cutting position of the print medium by the cutting means,
When creating the preliminary print data, the control means estimates print content that is likely to be printed next time based on the print content of the current print data, and sets this estimated print content as the print content of the preliminary print data, thereby creating the preliminary print data so that the print content of the preliminary print data changes depending on a predetermined difference in the print content of the current print data;
When the print content of the preliminary print data matches the print content of the next print data in a prefixed manner, control is performed so that printing of the print content that matches the prefix is omitted when printing the next print data.
A program characterized by: