Patent Publication Number: US-11034162-B2

Title: Printing apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-068958, which was filed on Mar. 30, 2018, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The following disclosure relates to a printing apparatus. 
     Description of Related Art 
     There is known a printing apparatus configured to print characters such as letters and symbols on a medium in which a format indicating printing regions are printed in advance. The printing apparatus prints the characters in the printing regions of the medium. When such a known printing apparatus performs printing on a printed sheet on which printing has been already performed, the printing apparatus determines, by referring to a printing mode in a print-item data file, whether the current printing is to be performed with respect to non-printed regions in which the characters are not yet printed. In the case where the current printing is to be performed with respect to the non-printed regions, those non-printed regions are identified and the current printing is then performed based on print data. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some cases, the known printing apparatus performs printing by using the medium in which the format indicating the printing regions are printed in advance, such that the characters are printed in only a part of the printing regions. When printing is thus performed, the printing regions other than those in which the characters are printed remain unprinted or unused, undesirably producing a large amount of blank space in the medium. Further, in the case where the printing apparatus prints characters on a blank portion of the medium different from the printing regions indicated by the format, the size of the blank portion that can be used for printing the characters is limited if the medium has a predetermined constant size. 
     Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a printing apparatus configured to create a label, using a medium in which a format indicating specific printing regions are printed in advance, such that characters are appropriately printed in both the specific printing regions and other printing region different from the specific printing regions. 
     In one aspect of the disclosure, a printing apparatus includes: a conveyor configured to convey, in a predetermined conveyance direction, a medium including a printing surface; a print head configured to perform printing, at a first position, on the medium conveyed by the conveyor; a cutter configured to cut the medium at a second position located downstream of the first position in the conveyance direction; and a controller configured to control a printing operation based on print data of a label image including at least one first character and second characters, wherein the printing surface includes a plurality of first printing regions arranged parallel to the conveyance direction and a second printing region different from the plurality of first printing regions, wherein the controller is configured to: perform, as the printing operation, causing the print head to print of one of the at least one first character in each of at least one of the plurality of first printing regions and to print the second characters in the second printing region while causing the conveyor to convey the medium, so as to print the label image on the medium and causing the cutter to cut the medium on which the label image is printed, so as to create a label, wherein the medium on which the label image is printed includes: a first end which is an upstream end of a tail printing region in the conveyance direction, the tail printing region being one of the plurality of first printing regions in which one of the at least one first character is lastly printed; and a second end which is an upstream end of a tail character in the conveyance direction, the tail character being the most upstream one of the second characters in the conveyance direction printed in the second printing region, and wherein the controller is configured to: cause the cutter to cut the medium at a first cutting target position located upstream of the first end in the conveyance direction in the case where the first end is located more upstream than the second end in the conveyance direction; and cause the cutter to cut the medium at a second cutting target position located upstream of the second end in the conveyance direction in the case where the second end is located more upstream than the first end in the conveyance direction. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects, features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of the present disclosure will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of one embodiment, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a printing apparatus in a state in which a top cover unit is closed; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the printing apparatus in a state in which the top cover unit is open; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational view in vertical cross section of the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view and a rear view of a tape; 
         FIG. 6  is a part of a flowchart indicating a main process; 
         FIG. 7  is another part of the flowchart indicating the main process; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  respectively illustrate a label  91  and a label  92  which are created by the printing apparatus; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  respectively illustrate a label  93  and a label  94  which are created by the printing apparatus; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are front views of a tape according to a first modification; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are front views of a tape according to a second modification; and 
         FIG. 12  is a front view and a rear view of a tape according to a third modification. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     There will be hereinafter described one embodiment by reference to the drawings. The drawings that are referred to are for explaining technical features employable in the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the configuration illustrated in the drawings does not limit the present disclosure but is only one example. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a printing apparatus  1  according to one embodiment will be explained. In the following explanation, a lower left side, an upper right side, an upper left side, a lower right side, an upper side, and a lower side in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are respectively defined as a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side, an upper side, and a lower side of the printing apparatus  1 . The printing apparatus  1  is a label printer configured to create a label by printing, on a long-length tape  30 , various characters such as letters, numerals, symbols, and figures. 
     The printing apparatus  1  includes: a housing  2  having a front panel  6  and a top cover unit  5 . The top cover unit  5  is configured to rotate about a rotation shaft portion  2 A ( FIG. 3 ) provided at a rear end portion of the housing  2 , so as to be opened and closed relative to the housing  2 . Release tabs  17  are respectively provided on a right side and a left side of the housing  2 . When the release tabs  17  are pushed up, locking of the top cover unit  5  to the housing  2  is released, so that the top cover unit  5  can be opened. 
     The top cover unit  5  includes a touch panel  51 , a substantially rectangular liquid crystal panel  52 , and an operation button portion  53 . The touch panel  51  is provided on an upper surface of the top cover unit  5 . A user can input various sorts of information (e.g., a label image including various characters to be printed) by a touch operation on the touch panel  51 . The liquid crystal panel  52  is provided rearward of the touch panel  51  and displays various sorts of information. The operation button portion  53  is provided at a front end portion of the upper surface of the top cover unit  5 . The operation button portion  53  includes a power button, a status button, a feed button, etc. 
     A first discharge opening  6 A and a second discharge opening  6 B are formed in the front panel  6 . The second discharge opening  6 B is located below the first discharge opening  6 A. In a state in which the top cover unit  5  is closed relative to the housing  2 , the first discharge opening  6 A is defined by a front-surface-side upper peripheral portion of the housing  2  and a front-surface-side lower peripheral portion of the top cover unit  5 . A cutter  8  is disposed inward of the lower peripheral portion of the top cover unit  5  near the first discharge opening  6 A, so as to face downward. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the printing apparatus  1  includes a roll accommodating portion  4  in the form of a recess at a rear portion of an inner space of the housing  2 . The roll accommodating portion  4  is configured to accommodate a roll  3  formed by rolling the tape  30  for label printing. A center axis (winding center) of the roll  3  accommodated in the roll accommodating portion  4  extends in the right-left direction, and the roll  3  is rotatable about the center axis. A plurality of support rollers  55  are provided on a bottom surface of the roll accommodating portion  4 . When the platen roller  66  is driven and rotated, the support rollers  55  come into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the tape  30  drawn from the roll  3  and are rotated by rotation of the platen roller  66 . 
     Two surfaces of the tape  30  are a printing surface  30 A and a reverse surface  30 B ( FIG. 5 ). The printing surface  30 A includes a printing area  40  ( FIG. 5 ) in which characters are to be printed. The reverse surface  30 B includes a plurality of reference portions  31  ( FIG. 5 ) for identifying a position of the printing area  40 . The roll  3  is formed by rolling the tape  30  into the roll form such that the printing surface  30 A faces radially inward. 
     A pair of guides  20 A,  20 B are provided in the roll accommodating portion  4  so as to face each other in the right-left direction. The guide  20 A is plate-like member contactable with a right end face  3 R of the roll  3  accommodated in the roll accommodating portion  4 . The guide  20 B is a plate-like member contactable with a left end face  3 L of the roll  3  accommodated in the roll accommodating portion  4 . The guides  20 A,  20 B are movable toward and away each other in the right-left direction. The positions of the guides  20 A,  20 B in the right-left direction are adjusted in accordance with a width of the roll  3  accommodated in the roll accommodating portion  4 , namely, a width of the tape  30 . In this configuration, the guides  20 A,  20 B guide, in the width direction, the tape  30  drawn from the roll  3  while sandwiching the roll  3  accommodated in the roll accommodating portion  4  from both the right side and the left side. 
     A print head  61  is disposed on an underside of a front end portion of the top cover unit  5 . The print head  61  of the present embodiment is a thermal head configured to perform monochrome printing on the tape  30 . The platen roller  66  is disposed at an upper portion of a front end portion of the housing  2  so as to face the print head  61  in the up-down direction. A roller shaft  66 A of the platen roller  66  is rotatably supported by brackets  65  provided at both ends of the roller shaft  66 A in the axial direction. A gear (not shown) for driving the platen roller  66  is fixed to one end of the roller shaft  66 A. 
     When the top cover unit  5  is closed relative to the housing  2 , the tape  30  on a conveyance path is nipped by and between the print head  61  and the platen roller  66 , so that the print head  61  can perform printing on the tape  30 . Further, the gear fixed to the roller shaft  66 A is brought into engagement with a gear train (not shown) provided in the housing  2 , so that a conveyance motor  214  ( FIG. 4 ) which is a stepping motor enables the platen roller  66  to rotate. It is noted that a position at which the print head  61  performs printing on the tape  30  is referred to as a head printing position P 1  ( FIG. 5 ). The head printing position P 1  is one example of a first position. 
     A separating plate  58  is disposed forward of the platen roller  66 . In the case where the tape  30  is a label tape having a three-layer structure that includes a printing layer, an adhesive layer, and a release layer, the separating plate  58  can peel off the release layer from the printed tape  30 . A pinch roller  59  is disposed below the platen roller  66 . The release layer which is folded back downward by the separating plate  58  is nipped by and between the pinch roller  59  and the platen roller  66 . 
     In a state in which the top cover unit  5  is closed relative to the housing  2 , the user instructs a start of printing through the touch panel  51 . When the conveyance motor  214  drives and rotates the platen roller  66 , the tape  30  is drawn from the roll  3  while being guided by the guides  20 A,  20 B. The print head  61  performs printing on the tape  30  drawn from the roll  3 , and the printed tape  30  is discharged outside the housing  2  from the first discharge opening  6 A via the separating plate  58  (as indicated in the long dashed short dashed line  62  in  FIG. 3 ). The printed tape  30  is cut by the cutter  8 . In the present embodiment, the printing apparatus  1  is configured to perform full cut in which the tape  30  is cut across the thickness direction of the tape  30 , in other words, the tape  30  is fully cut in the thickness direction, and half cut in which the tape  30  is cut partly in the thickness direction of the tape  30 . Here, a position at which the cutter  8  cuts the tape  30  is referred to as a cutter cut position P 2  ( FIG. 5 ). The cutter cut position P 2  is one example of a second position. 
     In the case where the tape  30  is the label tape, the release layer can be peeled off from the printed tape  30  by the separating plate  58 . The peeled release layer is discharged by the pinch roller  59  outside the housing  2  from the second discharge opening  6 B (as indicated by the dashed line  63  in  FIG. 3 ). The printing layer and the adhesive layer of the tape  30  are discharged outside the housing  2  from the first discharge opening  6 A and cut by the cutter  8  (as indicated by the long dashed short dashed line  62  in  FIG. 3 ). In the present embodiment, an example is illustrated in which the tape  30  as the label tape is discharged outside the housing  2  from the first discharge opening  6 A without the release layer being peeled off by the separating plate  58 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a reflective sensor  100  will be explained. The reflective sensor  100  is disposed in a sensor mount portion  102  in the form of a recess formed between the platen roller  66  and the roll accommodating portion  4 . A reflective surface  101  is provided on a lower surface of the top cover unit  5  on a downstream side of the print head  61  in the conveyance direction. The reflective surface  101  is a surface portion in a specific color (e.g., black). When the top cover unit  5  is closed relative to the housing  2 , the reflective sensor  100  and the reflective surface  101  face each other with the conveyance path of the tape  30  interposed therebetween. 
     Like a known reflective sensor, the reflective sensor  100  includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion (both not shown). The light emitting portion emits detection light toward the reflective surface  101 . In the case where the tape  30  is present on the conveyance path, the emitted detection light is reflected by the tape  30  and the reflected light is received by the light receiving portion. In the case where the tape  30  is not present on the conveyance path, the emitted detection light is reflected by the reflective surface  101  and the reflected light is received by the light receiving portion. The amount of the reflected light received by the light receiving portion changes depending upon by which one of the tape  30  and the reflective surface  101  the detection light is reflected and depending upon the color of the portion of the tape  30  to which the detection light is applied. 
     A CPU  201  ( FIG. 4 ) of the printing apparatus  1  is configured to detect the reference portions  31  in accordance with the results by the reflective sensor  100  and to execute various print controls based on the detected reference portions  31 . The CPU  201  is configured to identify, based on the detected reference portions  31 , positions in the printing area  40  at which characters are to be printed. For instance, the CPU  201  is configured to identify positions of first printing regions  41  ( FIG. 5 ) corresponding to the respective reference portions  31 , so that a character is printable in each of the identified first printing regions  41 . The CPU  201  is configured to identify, based on the detected reference portions  31 , positions in a second printing region  42  ( FIG. 5 ) at which respective characters are to be printed, so that characters are printable at the identified positions. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 4 , an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus  1  will be explained. The printing apparatus  1  includes the CPU  201  configured to control the printing apparatus  1 . The CPU  201  is connected to a ROM  202 , a flash memory  203 , a RAM  204 , a CGROM  205 , a communication I/F  206 , drive circuits  209 - 212 , an output circuit  213 , and the reflective sensor  100 . The ROM  202  stores programs executed by the CPU  201 . The flash memory  203  is a nonvolatile memory and stores various sorts of information. The RAM  204  stores temporal data including various variables which will be later explained. The CGROM  205  stores dot pattern data for printing the characters on the tape  30 . 
     The drive circuit  209  is an electronic circuit for driving the print head  61 . The drive circuit  210  is an electronic circuit for driving the conveyance motor  214 . The drive circuit  211  is an electronic circuit for driving a cutter motor  215  configured to operate the cutter  8 . The drive circuit  212  is an electronic circuit for driving the touch panel  51 . The output circuit  213  is an electronic circuit for executing displaying control of the liquid crystal panel  52 . 
     The tape  30  of the present embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5 . A lengthwise direction of the tape  30  is parallel to the conveyance direction of the tape  30 . A short-side direction of the tape  30  is parallel to a width direction of the tape  30 . In the reverse surface  30 B shown in  FIG. 5 , a plurality of first printing regions  41  provided on the printing surface  30 A are indicated by the dotted line.—(The first printing regions in  FIG. 12  that will be later explained are also indicated by the dotted line.) 
     A major surface of the tape  30  is the printing surface  30 A which is one surface of the printing layer. The printing surface  30 A includes the printing area  40  in which characters are printable. The printing area  40  includes the plurality of first printing regions  41  arranged parallel to the conveyance direction and the second printing region  42  different from the first printing regions  41 . The printing surface  30 A further includes a plurality of intermediate regions  43  each of which is disposed between adjacent two of the first printing regions  41 . In the present embodiment, the first printing regions  41  are disposed so as to be shifted from a widthwise center of the tape  30  toward one end side in the width direction of the tape  30 , i.e., toward a lower side in  FIG. 5 , and are arranged in the conveyance direction so as to be equally spaced apart from one another. 
     In each of the first printing regions  41 , a region marker  41 A is printed in advance in a color different from the color (black) in which characters are printed by the print head  61 . The region marker  41 A is an image indicating a region in which a first character (which will be explained) is allowed to be printed. In the present embodiment, the region marker  41 A is a rhombic frame. The outline of the region marker  41 A is red, and an inner region defined by the outline is white. In other words, in the printing area  40 , regions at which the region markers  41 A are disposed correspond to the first printing regions  41 . Each of the intermediate regions  43  is a space interposed between corresponding two of the first printing regions  41  that are arranged next to each other in the conveyance direction. The second printing region  42  is a region in the printing surface  30 A except the plurality of first printing regions  41  and the plurality of intermediate regions  43 . 
     A length in the conveyance direction of each first printing region  41  (i.e., a length in the conveyance direction of each region marker  41 A) is a length L 1 . In the present embodiment, the length L 1  is smaller than a reference distance L 0 . The reference distance L 0  (as one example of a second distance) is a distance between the head printing position P 1  and the cutter cutting position P 2  in the conveyance direction. A length L 2  is a distance between an upstream end of a downstream one of two of the plurality of first printing regions  41  which are next to each other in the conveyance direction and a downstream end of an upstream one of the two of the plurality of first printing regions  41 . In other words, the length L 2  is a length of each intermediate region  43  in the conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, the length L 2  is smaller than the length L 1 . A length in the conveyance direction obtained by adding the length L 1  and the length L 2  is a length L 3 . The length L 3  (as one example of a first distance) is equal to a distance between an upstream end of an upstream one of two of the plurality of intermediate regions  43  which are next to each other in the conveyance direction and an upstream end of a downstream one of the two of the plurality of intermediate regions  43 . In the present embodiment, the length L 3  is equal to the reference distance L 0 . 
     The back surface of the tape  30  is the reverse surface  30 B which is one surface of the release layer. The reverse surface  30 B includes the plurality of reference portions  31  arranged parallel to the conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, the reference portions  31  are provided at the widthwise center of the tape  30  and are arranged in the conveyance direction so as to be equally spaced apart from one another. The number of the reference portions  31  is the same as the number of the first printing regions  41 . Each reference portion  31  is a rectangular black mark that is elongate in the width direction of the tape  30 . The reference portions  30  are printed on the reverse surface  30 B in advance. The position of a downstream end of each reference portion  31  in the conveyance direction is the same as the position of a downstream end of the corresponding first printing region  41  in the conveyance direction. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a main process executed in the printing apparatus  1  will be explained. When the user instructs the printing apparatus  1  to start label editing, the CPU  201  reads out the program stored in the ROM  202  and executes the main process. As shown in  FIG. 6 , there is executed an initialization process similar to that known in the art (S 11 ). For instance, the CPU  201  initializes flags and initial values of variables stored in the RAM  204  and performs operation checking of the print head  61 , the reflective sensor  100 , and so on. There are set, in the RAM  204 , default values of a letter font, a letter size, a label length, etc. The default values of the letter font, the letter size, the label length, etc., set in the RAM  204  can be freely changed by the user in a label editing process explained below. 
     Subsequently, the label editing process is executed (S 13 ). In the label editing process, the user operates the touch panel  51  to edit a label image to be printed on the tape  30 . In this instance, the user sets at least one character (each as a first character) to be printed in at least one of the plurality of first printing regions  41  and sets characters (as second characters) to be printed in the second printing region  42 . In other words, the user designates, among the plurality of first printing regions  41 , at least one first printing region  41  (each as a printing target region) in each of which the corresponding first character is to be printed. The label image edited in the label editing process is stored in the RAM  204 . 
     In examples shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the user sets, in the label image, four first characters  71 - 74  respectively for four first printing regions  41  arranged in the conveyance direction. Each of the first characters  71 - 74  is a symbol image that can be printed within the region marker  41 A of the corresponding first printing region  41 . The user sets, in the label image, a text  81  constituted by the second characters (such as letters, symbols, and figures) for the second printing region  42 . 
     Subsequently, it is determined whether execution of printing is instructed (S 15 ). In the case where the user operates the touch panel  51  and instructs execution of printing of the edited label image, it is determined that the execution of printing is instructed (S 15 : YES). On the other hand, in the case where the execution of printing is not instructed (S 15 : NO), it is determined whether editing of the first printing regions  41  is performed, as shown in  FIG. 7  (S 31 ). In the case where any of the first printing regions  41  is edited in the label editing process, it is determined that the editing of the first printing regions  41  is performed (S 31 : YES). 
     In this case, first-region editing information is obtained (S 33 ). The first-region editing information is information indicating contents of edition performed on the first printing regions  41 . For instance, the first-region editing information indicates positions and the number of the first printing regions  41  in each of which the corresponding first character is set, contents of the set first characters, etc. Subsequently, in the label image stored in the RAM  204 , data of the currently edited first printing regions  41  is updated based on the obtained first-region editing information (S 35 ). 
     On the other hand, in the case where the editing of the first printing regions  41  is not performed (S 31 : NO), it is determined whether editing of the second printing region  42  is performed (S 37 ). In the case where the second printing region  42  is edited in the label editing process, it is determined that the editing of the second printing region  42  is performed (S 37 : YES). In this case, second-region editing information is obtained (S 39 ). The second-region editing information is information indicating contents of edition performed on the second printing region  42 . For instance, the second-region editing information indicates positions, sizes, contents, etc., of the second characters set for the second printing region  42 . Subsequently, in the label image stored in the RAM  42 , data of the currently edited second printing region is updated based on the obtained second-region editing information (S 41 ). 
     After S 35  or S 41 , a label-length comparison process is executed (S 43 ). In the label-length comparison process, it is determined which one of an upstream end (hereinafter referred to as a first end) of a tail printing region and an upstream end (hereinafter referred to as a second end) of a tail character is located more upstream in the conveyance direction, in the label image stored in the RAM  204 . The tail printing region is the most upstream first printing region  41  in the conveyance direction among the first printing regions  41  in each of which the corresponding first character is set. The tail character is the most upstream second character in the conveyance direction among the second characters set in the second printing region  42 . One of the first end and the second end that is located more upstream in the conveyance direction is set as a label-length setting reference. 
     Next, it is determined whether the label length needs to be changed (S 45 ). Specifically, it is determined whether an upstream end portion of the label image stored in the RAM  204  is present in a cutting target region. The cutting target region is one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream of the label-length setting reference explained above. In the case where the upstream end portion of the label image is not present in the cutting target region, it is determined that the label length needs to be changed (S 45 : YES). 
     In this instance, it is determined whether the first end is located more upstream than the second end (S 47 ). In the case where the label-length setting reference set at S 43  is the first end, it is determined that the first end is located more upstream than the second end (S 47 : YES), and a first label-length changing process is executed (S 49 ). In the first label-length changing process, the label length of the label image stored in the RAM  204  is changed such that the upstream end portion of the label image is set in the cutting target region (i.e., the first end). Thus, the upstream end portion of the label image being edited is set in one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream of the first end. 
     On the other hand, in the case where the label-length setting reference set at S 43  is the second end, the first end is not located more upstream than the second end (S 47 : NO), and a second label-length changing process is executed (S 51 ). In the second label-length changing process, the label length of the label image stored in the RAM  204  is changed such that the upstream end portion of the label image is set in the cutting target region (i.e., the second end). Thus, the upstream end portion of the label image being edited is set in one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream of the second end. 
     In the case where the second end is located more upstream than the first end, there may be an instance in which at least one non-used first printing region  41  for each of which the corresponding first character is not set is present in the label image being edited. In such an instance, the user may input, in the label editing process (S 13 ), a blackening designation to designate blackening of the at least one non-used first printing region  41 . The blackening designation indicates each position of the at least one non-used first printing region  41  to be blackened out. The blackening designation is stored in the RAM  204 . 
     After S 51 , in the case where the blackening designation is stored in the RAM  204 , the blackening designation in question is obtained (S 53 ). In this instance, the label image that is stored in the RAM  204  and that is being currently edited is updated such that the at least one non-used first printing region  41  is blackened out based on each position indicated by the blackening designation (S 55 ). After S 49  or S 55 , the control flow returns to S 13 . In the case where the blackening designation is not stored in the RAM  204 , S 53 -S 55  are skipped, and the control flow returns to S 13 . In the case where the editing of the second printing region  42  is not performed (S 37 : NO), the control flow returns to S 13 . In the case where the label length need not be changed (S 45 : NO), the control flow returns to S 13  without changing the label length of the label image stored in the RAM  204 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , in the case where the execution of printing is instructed (S 15 : YES), a printing process is executed (S 17 ). At S 17 , print data of the label image stored in the RAM  204  is created, and a printing operation described below is performed based on the print data. That is, an image is printed on the tape  30  at the head printing position P 1  while the tape  30  is conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction by forward driving of the conveyance motor  214 . In this instance, the print head  61  prints the label image stored in the RAM  204  on the printing surface  30 A from a downstream end portion of the tape  30  toward the upstream side. The corresponding first character is printed in each of the at least one first printing region  41  each designated as the printing target region for any first character, and the second characters are printed in the second printing region  42 . As described above, the printing apparatus  1  identifies positions in the printing area  40  at which the characters are to be printed, based on the reference portions  31  detected by the reflective sensor  100 . 
     When the label image is printed, printing performed last on a tail printing region among the at least one first printing region  41  for each of which the corresponding first character is set, and a tail character is printed last among the second characters included in the second printing region. Each first character is printed so as to be disposed inside the region marker  41 A of the corresponding first printing region  41 . That is, the size of each first character to be printed is smaller than or equal to a size of the corresponding first printing region  41  in which the first character is to be printed. The tape  30  on which the label image is printed is stopped being conveyed and cut when the cutting target region reaches the cutter cutting position P 2 . In the present embodiment, the tape  30  is cut along the width direction so as to pass a center in the conveyance direction of the intermediate region  43  as the cutting target region. In this way, the label on which the label image has been printed is created and discharged through the first discharge opening  6 A. Thus, the printing operation for one label is completed. 
     In the present embodiment, the cutter  8  performs the full cut of the tape  30 . The cutter  8  may perform the half cut of the tape  30 . In the case where the user instructs printing of a plurality of labels, the printing operation is executed until the instructed number of the labels are created (S 19 : NO, S 17 ). When printing of all of the labels is completed (S 19 : YES), the main process is ended. 
     In the example of  FIG. 8 , an upstream end of the first printing region  41  (as the tail printing region) in which the first character  74  is set corresponds to the first end, and an upstream end of a tail character  82  included in the text  81  corresponds to the second end. In the example of  FIG. 8A , the first end is located more upstream than the second end in the conveyance direction (S 47 : YES). In this case, a cutting target region C is set at one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream of the first end (as one example of a first intermediate region), and the label length is accordingly changed (S 49 ). After the label image is printed on the tape  30 , the tape  30  is cut at the cutting target region C (as one example of a first cutting target position) along the width direction, whereby a label  91  is created (S 17 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 8B , the second end is located more upstream than the first end in the conveyance direction (S 47 : NO). In this case, the cutting target region C is set at one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream of the second end (as one example of a second intermediate region), and the label length is accordingly changed (S 51 ). In the example of  FIG. 8B , there exist three non-used first printing regions  41  between the first end and the cutting target region C (as one example of a second cutting target position). In the case where the blackening designation is not input, the tape  30  on which the label image is printed is cut along the width direction so as to pass the cutting target region C. As a result, a label  92  is created in which the three non-used first printing regions  41  are indicated as they are (S 17 ). 
     In the example of  FIG. 9A , there exist three non-used first printing regions  41  as in the example of  FIG. 8B , and the blackening designation for those three non-used first printing regions  41  is input (S 53 , S 55 ). In this instance, in the printing operation of the label image, solid printing in black is performed to cover the non-used first printing regions  41 , and thereafter the tape  30  is cut along the width direction so as to pass the cutting target region C. As a result, a label  93  is created in which is printed a covering image  80  that covers the non-used first printing regions  41 . 
     In each of the labels  91 - 93 , the label image is formed to have a minimum label length that enables printing of all of the first characters and the second characters included in the label image. It is thus possible to reduce, in each of the labels  91 - 93 , an unnecessary margin at a tail portion thereof not used for printing of the characters. As described above, the length L 3  is equal to the reference distance L 0  in the present embodiment. Accordingly, when the tape  30  is stopped being conveyed and is fully cut in the thickness direction at the cutter cutting position P 2  (the full cut), one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream in the conveyance direction with respect to the cutter cutting position P 2  is located at the head printing position P 1  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     In this instance, the printing apparatus  1  starts printing a next label image while conveying the tape  30  by a distance corresponding to the length L 3  toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction without winding back the tape  30 . Thereafter, the printing apparatus  1  stops conveying the tape  30  and performs the half cut of the tape  30  at the cutter cutting position P 2 . (See the dotted line HC in  FIG. 9B .) Further, the printing apparatus  1  performs printing while conveying the tape  30  until printing of the label image is completed. Thereafter, the printing apparatus  1  stops conveying the tape  30  and performs the full cut of the tape  30  at the cutting target region C. (See the solid line FC in  FIG. 9B .) In this way, a margin present at a head portion of the tape  30  (hereinafter referred to as a “head margin” where appropriate) corresponding to the length L 3  is demarcated or delimited, and the label image is successively printed without winding back the tape  30 , so that a plurality of labels are created. In the example of  FIG. 9B , a label  94  in which a label image similar to that of the label  91  is printed can be created without winding back the tape  30  after preceding label printing has been performed. 
     The printing apparatus  1  of the present embodiment includes the conveyance motor  214  (as one example of a component of a conveyor), the print head  61 , the cutter  8 , and the CPU  201  (as one example of a controller). The conveyance motor  214  conveys the tape  30  including the printing surface  30 A in the predetermined conveyance direction. The print head  61  performs printing, at the head printing position P 1 , on the tape  30  conveyed by the conveyance motor  214 . The cutter  8  cuts the tape  30  at the cutter cutting position P 2  located more downstream than the head printing position P 1  in the conveyance direction. The CPU  201  controls the printing operation based on the print data of the label image including the at least one first character and the second characters. 
     The printing surface  30 A includes the plurality of first printing regions  41  arranged in the conveyance direction and the second printing region  42  different from the plurality of first printing regions  41 . The CPU  201  performs, as the printing operation, causing the print head  61  to print one of the at least one first character in each of at least one of the plurality of first printing regions  41  and to print the second characters in the second printing region  42  while causing the conveyance motor  214  to convey the tape  30 , so as to print the label image on the tape  30 , and causing the cutter  8  to cut the tape  30  on which the label image is printed (S 17 ), so as to create the label. 
     The tape  30  on which the label image is printed includes the first end and the second end. The first end is the upstream end of the tail printing region which is one of the plurality of first printing regions  41  in which one of the at least one first character is lastly printed. The second end is the upstream end of the tail character which is the most upstream one of the second characters printed in the second printing region  42 . In the case where the first end is located more upstream than the second end, the CPU  201  causes the cutter  8  to cut the tape  30  at the intermediate region  43  that is located upstream of the first end (S 47 : YES, S 49 , S 17 ). In the case where the second end is located more upstream than the first end, the CPU  201  causes the cutter  8  to cut the tape  30  at the intermediate region  43  that is located upstream of the second end (S 47 : NO, S 51 , S 17 ). 
     In this configuration, one of the first end and the second end of the label image that is located more upstream in the conveyance direction is set as the label-length setting reference, and the tape  30  is cut at a position located upstream of the label-length setting reference in the conveyance direction. As a result, the labels  91 - 94  can be created in each of which all of the first characters and the second characters are appropriately printed. Further, because the tape  30  is cut at the intermediate region  43  that is immediately upstream of the label-length setting reference, the created labels  91 - 94  have a reduced margin at a tail portion thereof (hereinafter referred to as a “tail margin” where appropriate) which is not used in printing of the characters. Thus, the printing apparatus  1  is capable of creating the label in which the characters are appropriately printed both in the first printing regions  41  and the second printing region  42  using the tape  30  on which a format indicating the first printing regions  41  is printed in advance. 
     The printing surface  30 A includes the plurality of intermediate regions  43  each of which is located between adjacent two of the plurality of first printing regions  41 . The printing apparatus  1  cuts the tape  30  at one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located upstream of the label-length setting reference (the first end or the second end) in the conveyance direction, so as to prevent the tape  30  from being cut at any of the first printing regions  41 . 
     The plurality of intermediate regions  43  include the downstream intermediate region and the upstream intermediate region as the two intermediate regions  43  arranged adjacent to each other with a corresponding one of the first printing regions  41  interposed therebetween. The distance between the upstream end of the downstream intermediate region and the upstream end of the upstream intermediate region in the conveyance direction is equal to the length L 3 . The distance between the head printing position P 1  and the cutter cutting position P 2  in the conveyance direction is equal to the reference distance L 0 . The length L 3  and the reference distance L 0  are equal to each other. In the period in which the printing operation is being performed, the CPU  201  causes the cutter  8  to cut the tape  30  at the most downstream one of the intermediate regions  43  in the conveyance direction (S 17 ). Thus, the printing apparatus  1  is capable of creating the label  94  having a smaller head margin at a head portion thereof which is not used in the printing of the characters, without winding back the tape  30  after preceding label printing has been performed. 
     Each of the first printing regions  41  includes the region marker  41 A which is an image indicating a region of the printing surface  30 A in which one of the first characters is allowed to be printed. The region markers  41 A have a color different from colors of the first characters and the second characters to be printed by the print head  61 . Thus, the printing apparatus  1  is capable of creating the labels  91 - 94  which are good in design by printing the first characters based on the region markers  41 A. 
     The plurality of first printing regions  41  have mutually the same length L 1  in the conveyance direction. The size of each of the first characters to be printed is smaller than or equal to the size of a corresponding one of the plurality of first printing regions  41  in which each of the first characters is to be printed. Thus, the printing apparatus  1  can appropriately print the first characters in the respective first printing regions  41 . In the period in which the printing operation is being performed, the CPU  201  causes the print head  61  to print the covering image  80  that covers at least one non-printed region (e.g., three in the example of  FIG. 9A ), among the plurality of first printing regions  41 , in each of which any first character is not printed. Thus, the printing apparatus  1  is capable of creating the label  94  in which the at least one non-used first printing region  41  is covered and which has good viewability. 
     The CPU  201  is configured to receive a printing-target-region designating instruction which designates, among the plurality of first printing regions  41 , at least one printing target region in each of which the first character is to be printed (S 13 ). When the CPU  201  receives the printing-target-region designating instruction, the CPU  201  causes the print head  61  to print, in the period in which the printing operation is being performed, the first character in each of the at least one designated printing target region (S 17 ). Thus, the printing apparatus  1  is capable of creating the labels  91 - 94  in each of which the corresponding first character is printed in each of the at least one designated first printing region  41  among the plurality of first printing regions  41 . 
     In the case where the user sets, upon input of the printing-target-region designating instruction, the first characters whose number is smaller than that of the first printing regions  41  included in the label image, the user may specify a position of alignment of the first characters with respect to the first printing regions  41 , namely, the user may select one of a downstream-side alignment, a center alignment, and an upstream-side alignment, for instance. Specifically, when the user selects the downstream-side alignment, the input first characters are automatically set for the downstream-side first printing regions  41  of the label image in the conveyance direction. When the user selects the center alignment, the input first characters are automatically set for the central first printing regions  41  of the label image in the conveyance direction. When the user selects the upstream-side alignment, the input first characters are automatically set for the upstream-side first printing regions  41  of the label image in the conveyance direction. 
     It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the details of the illustrated embodiment but may be embodied otherwise. For instance, the tape  30  may be a tape constituted by a single printing layer without including the adhesive layer. In the illustrated embodiment, the region markers  41 A of the respective first printing regions  41  are mutually the same. A plurality of kinds of region markers  41 A which are different in shape or size may be alternately or randomly printed. The length L 2  of each intermediate region  43  in the conveyance direction may differ among the plurality of intermediate regions  43 . The label may be created such that the tape  30  is cut upstream of one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream of the label-length setting reference. The color of the region markers  41 A may be the same as the colors of the characters to be printed by the print head  61 . In the illustrated embodiment, each region marker  41 A has a frame-like shape having the colored outline and the white inner region defined by the outline. Each region marker  41 A may be an image which is entirely printed in halftone (gray) or entirely shaded. As long as each first printing region  41  has a size that allows the region marker  41 A to be disposed within the first printing region  41 , each first printing region may have any size. As long as each first character to be printed has a size that allows the first character itself to be disposed within the corresponding first printing region  41  as the printing target region of the first character, the size of each first character may be larger than that of the region marker  41 A. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 10-12 , there will be explained tapes according to modifications. In the printing surface  30 A shown in each of  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the plurality of reference portions  31  provided on the reverse surface  30 B are indicated by the dotted line. In the following explanation, the same reference numerals as used for the tape  30  in the illustrated embodiment are used to identify the corresponding components, and main points of difference between the illustrated embodiment and the modifications will be explained. In the illustrated embodiment, there has been explained one example of a control for positioning a leading end of the tape  30  (leading-end positioning control) in an arrangement in which the length L 3  and the reference distance L 0  are equal to each other. In an arrangement in which the length L 3  and the reference distance L 0  differ from each other, however, the leading-end positioning control differs from that in the illustrated embodiment. 
     A tape  130  according to a first modification shown in  FIG. 10  includes the plurality of first printing regions  41  shaped like an oval whose major axis extends in the conveyance direction. In each first printing region  41 , the region marker  41 A shaped like an oval and having a red outline and a white inner region is printed in advance. In this first modification, the length L 3  is larger than the reference distance L 0 . A difference between the reference distance L 0  and the length L 3  is equal to a length D 1 . As shown in  FIG. 10A , the printing apparatus  1  creates a label by fully cutting the tape  130  in the thickness direction (the full cut) at the cutter cutting position P 2 , and thereafter conveys the tape  130  toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction without winding back the tape  130 . Thereafter, the printing apparatus  1  starts printing the label image from a position to which the tape  130  is conveyed by a distance corresponding to the length D 1  as shown in  FIG. 10B . 
     When the tape  130  is conveyed from the state shown in  FIG. 10A , by the distance corresponding to the length L 3 , the printing apparatus  1  stops conveying the tape  130  and performs the half cut of the tape  130  at the cutter cutting position P 2 . Thus, the tape  130  is partly cut in the thickness direction along the width direction at one of the intermediate regions  43  that is located immediately upstream of and adjacent to a top one of the first printing regions  41  in the tape  130 . Further, the printing apparatus  1  performs the printing while conveying the tape  130  until the printing of the label image is completed. Thereafter, the tape  130  is stopped being conveyed and is fully cut in the thickness direction at the cutting target region. The head margin corresponding to the distance (length) L 3  as measured from the leading end of the tape  130  is demarcated or delimited by the half cut, so that the label image is successively printed without winding back the tape  130  to create a plurality of labels. 
     A tape  230  according to a second modification shown in  FIG. 11  includes the plurality of first printing regions  41  which are similar to but different from the first printing regions  41  of the tape  30  in that the length L 3  is smaller than the reference distance L 0 . A difference between the reference distance L 0  and the length L 3  is equal to a length D 2 . As shown in  FIG. 11A , the printing apparatus  1  fully cuts the tape  230  in the thickness direction (the full cut) at the cutter cutting position P 2  so as to create a label. Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 11B , the tape  230  is wound back, by a distance corresponding to the length D 2 , toward the upstream side in the conveyance direction by reverse driving of the conveyance motor  214 , whereby the tape  230  is positioned with respect to the head printing position P 1 . The printing apparatus  1  subsequently prints the label image while conveying the tape  230  toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction, then stops conveyance of the tape  230 , and finally cuts the tape  230  fully in the thickness direction (the full cut) at the cutting target region. By thus winding back the tape  230  by the distance corresponding to the length D 2 , the label image is successively printed so as to create a plurality of labels without producing a relatively large head margin in the tape  230 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the length L 2  of each intermediate region  43  is larger than zero. The length L 2  may be substantially zero as described below. A tape  330  according to a third modification shown in  FIG. 12  includes the plurality of first printing regions  41  each having a substantially rectangular shape that is elongate in the conveyance direction. The first printing regions  41  are arranged in the conveyance direction with no space interposed between adjacent two of the first printing regions  41 . In this arrangement, each of the plurality of intermediate regions  43  corresponds to a boundary line that defines a boundary between corresponding adjacent two of the first printing regions  41  and extends in the width direction of the tape  330 . In each of the first printing regions  41 , there is printed in advance the region marker  41 A shaped like a generally rectangle and having a red outline and a white inner region defined by the outline. In this modification, the length L 1  and the length L 3  are equal to the reference distance L 0 . Accordingly, a difference between the reference distance L 0  and the lengths L 1 , L 3  is substantially zero. When the tape  330  is cut, the cutter  8  may cut the tape  330  so as to pass the intermediate region  43 , as in the illustrated embodiment. 
     In the label editing process (S 13 ) of the illustrated embodiment, the CPU  201  may receive a cutting-position designating instruction which designates, as a position at which the tape  30  is to be cut, one of candidate regions among the plurality of intermediate regions  43  that is located more upstream than the first end in the conveyance direction. The cutter  8  may cut the tape  30  at the designated candidate region so as to create the label (S 17 ). In this arrangement, when the first end is located more downstream than the second end in the label image, the length in the conveyance direction of the text  81  set for the second printing region  42  exceeds a length in the conveyance direction from the leading end of the tape  30  to the designated candidate region, namely, exceeds the label length. In this case, the CPU  201  may automatically adjust the size of the second characters of the text  81  to be printed such that, in the label image stored in the RAM  204 , the text  81  is disposed within the label length. Accordingly, the printing apparatus  1  is capable of creating the label on which the characters are appropriately printed in both the first printing regions  41  and the second printing region  42  with the label length desired by the user. 
     In the illustrated embodiment and modifications, in the case where the head margin of the tape is demarcated by the half cut, the length of the head margin in the conveyance direction is not limited to the length L 3  but may be longer than the length L 3 . For instance, the head margin of the tape may have a length corresponding to a plurality of units according to a user&#39;s instruction, each one unit being constituted by the length L 3 . As the control for positioning the leading end of the tape, there are illustrated two controls, namely, the control for demarcating the head margin of the tape by the half cut and the control for winging back the tape such that the leading end of the tape returns to the head printing position P 1 . The user may select one of the controls. In the former control, the tape need not be wound back, thus enhancing the throughput in the printing operation. In the latter control, the head margin of the tape is not substantially produced, enabling an effective use of the tape. Like the control for demarcating the head margin of the tape by the half cut, a control for demarcating the tail margin of the tape by the half cut may be executed.