Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Emulation or plural modes
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-01
2001-08-21
Popovici, Dov (Department: 2622)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Emulation or plural modes
C358S001140, C358S001150, C358S001180
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a character information processor having a printing function. The present invention is preferably applicable particularly to a tape printing apparatus adapted to print an input character string having one or more lines on a tape.
2. Description of the Related Art
A tape printing apparatus is designed to enable the user to easily prepare a label originated by the user which is to be adhered on, for example, the spine cover of a document file.
A conventional tape printing apparatus has an operation key or the like provided on an operator panel and adapted to input characters so that a desired character string can be input by operating the operation key. Also, the tape printing apparatus has a tape feeding mechanism so that a tape can be fed and discharged through a tape discharging outlet. Further, the tape printing apparatus has a printing mechanism, including a thermal head, and a tape cutting mechanism provided in this order in the path of the tape being fed.
In the tape printing apparatus, when a print operation key is operated, under the control of control means, the tape is fed at a predetermined speed by the tape feeding mechanism, and a previously inputted character string is printed by the printing mechanism on the tape thus fed. Also, when printing the character string is completed, under the control of the control means, the tape feeding mechanism is further controlled to continue to feed the tape (i.e., to feed the tape without performing printing on the tape) until the printed portion of the tape is positioned outside the tape printing apparatus.
After feeding of the tape is completed, the tape is cut by the user with the tape cutting mechanism or by the action of an automatic cutting mechanism so that a label originated by the user having thereon a desired character string can be obtained.
Meanwhile, in a tape printing apparatus, as in the other information processors having a printing function, the user can specify printing on a plurality of labels so as to obtain a plurality of labels each having thereon the same character string. When printing must be performed on a considerably large number of labels with the tape printing apparatus, all the desired number of labels must be subjected to printing with the tape printing apparatus, unlike the case of the other character information processors. Specifically, in the case of the other character information processors, the user can obtain the plurality of print mediums by performing printing on only one print medium with the character information processor and repeatedly copying the one print medium with a copy machine so as to obtain the duplicates thereof. In contrast, in the case of the tape printing apparatus, the print medium (label) cannot be subjected to copying with a copy machine, and accordingly all the copies (labels) must be subjected to printing with the tape printing apparatus. Under the above circumstances, there is a strong need to equip a tape printing apparatus with an enhanced function of consecutively performing printing on a plurality of copies (labels) (hereinafter the function consecutively performing printing on a plurality of copies will be often referred to as “consecutive-print function”.)
However, the conventional consecutive-print function has the following problems.
First, when the user needs to continue preparing the same labels until the loaded tape is used up, the conventional consecutive-print function fails to satisfy such user's need. This is because the user can only set a fixed value.
Secondly, when the user uses up the loaded tape stock before the number of labels on which printing is completed (hereinafter, often referred to as “printed number”) reaches a maximum number for specification which the tape printing apparatus allows (hereinafter often referred to as “limit number”), the user may have difficulty in resuming the consecutive-print processing. Specifically, even though the user sets the number of labels to be printed to the limit number, the loaded tape may be used up before the printed number reaches the limit number depending on the length of the label stock. In such a case, the user must load a substitute tape, set again a remaining number (a number obtained by deducting the printed number from the limit number), and then resume the consecutive-print processing.
Thirdly, under the conventional consecutive-print function, the user must always specify a desired number of labels on which printing is to be performed before starting consecutive-print processing, that is, he cannot specify the desired number while the consecutive-print processing is being performed, so that it takes a long time for him to complete the consecutive-print processing.
The above-mentioned problems arise not only in the tape printing apparatus but also in the other character information processors having a printing function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is accomplished in view of the above-mentioned problems. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a character information processor having an enhanced consecutive-print function and enhanced utility.
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a character information processor having a function of printing an input character string on a print medium, the processor including: (1) print-instruction issuing means for issuing a print-halt-instruction-waiting consecutive-print instruction during repeatedly printing a same character string on the print medium until a print halt instruction is issued; (2) printing means for repeatedly printing the same character string on the print medium when the print-halt-instruction-waiting consecutive-print instruction is issued; (3) print-halt instruction issuing means for issuing a print halt instruction of halting the repeated printing conducted by the printing means; and (4) print halting means for halting the repeated printing conducted by the printing means when the print halt instruction is issued.
It should be noted that in the present invention the term “character” refers to all print data including special characters, such as symbols and illustrations, and ornamental data, such as frames, ruled lines, and ground marks. Also, the term “character string” refers to a character string including these print data.
In the character information processor of the present invention, the print-instruction issuing means issues a print-halt-instruction-waiting consecutive-print instruction of repeatedly printing a same character string on the print medium until a print halt instruction is issued; printing means repeatedly prints the same character string on the print medium when the print-halt-instruction-waiting consecutive-print instruction is issued; print-halt-instruction issuing means issues a print halt instruction of halting the repeated printing conducted by the printing means; and print halting means halts the repeated printing conducted by the printing means.
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Aida Chieko
Hosokawa Takeshi
Kameda Takanobu
Kurashina Hiroyasu
Shimmura Tomoyuki
King Jim Co. Ltd.
Lorusso & Loud
Popovici Dov
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