Typewriting machines – Including control of format and selection of type-face by... – Separate interrelated programs
Patent
1995-11-15
1996-10-08
Hilten, John S.
Typewriting machines
Including control of format and selection of type-face by...
Separate interrelated programs
400 61, 395116, B41J 530
Patent
active
055623514
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a printer for continuously printing out essentially identical images with partial differences added thereto. More particularly, the invention relates to a printer incorporating improvements for performing such printing at higher speed.
BACKGROUND ART
There exist conventional label printers that print out continuously onto labels essentially identical images with partial differences added thereto. One such label printer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,468. FIG. 8 shows typical labels issued by the disclosed label printer. As illustrated, essentially identical images with partial differences, i.e., "PRINTER 001," "PRINTER 002," "PRINTER 003," etc., are printed on labels 101.sub.1, 101.sub.2, 101.sub.3, etc.
FIGS. 9(A), 9(B) and 9(C) depict typical storage areas adopted by conventional label printers for printing out essentially identical images with partial differences. The storage area is generally constituted by a RAM (random access memory), and includes a storage area 105 for constant data 103 shown in FIG. 9 (A) and a storage area 106 for variable data 104 depicted in FIG. 9(B). The storage area 105 for the constant data 103 comprises an update field 109 that selectively accommodates one of variable data 104.sub.1, 104.sub.2, 104.sub.3, etc. In the example of FIGS. 9(A) through 9(C), the storage area 105 stores "PRINTER" as the constant data 103 and the storage area 106 contains "001," "002," "003," etc., as a plurality of variable data 104.sub.1, 104.sub.2, 104.sub.3, etc. FIG. 9(C) shows image buffers furnished in the storage areas. In these image buffers, the constant data 103 is combined with the variable data 104.sub.1, 104.sub.2, 104.sub.3, etc., to generate image data 102.sub.1, 102.sub.2, 102.sub.3, etc., representing "PRINTER 001," "PRINTER 002," "PRINTER 003," etc. Generation of the image data 102 is effected through data processing by microcomputer.
FIGS. 10(A) through 10(G) show steps to generate through an image buffer arrangement the image data for continuously printing out essentially identical images with partial differences. To execute the steps in FIGS. 10(A) through 10(G) requires providing two image buffers 107 and 108. The steps of image data generation will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 through 10. Initially, the constant data 103 is read from the storage area 105 and placed in the first image buffer 107 (see FIG. 10(A)). The first variable data 104.sub.1 is then read from the storage area 106 and placed into the update field 109 within the constant data 103 placed in the first image buffer 107 (FIG. 10(B)). This generates first image data 102.sub.1 "PRINTER 001" in the first image buffer 107. After the first image data 102.sub.1 is copied to the second image buffer 108 (FIG. 10(C)), the data in the update field 109 is erased from within the constant data 103 placed in the second image buffer 108 (FIG. 10(D)). The update field 109 in this state then accommodates second variable data 104.sub.2 "002" read from the storage area 106 (FIG. 10(E)). In this manner, the image data 102.sub.1 "PRINTER 001" and the image data 102.sub.2 "PRINTER 002" are generated in the first and the second image buffer 107 and 108, respectively.
In parallel with the data updating steps of FIGS. 10(C) through 10(E) performed in the second image buffer 108, the image data 102.sub.1 generated in the first image buffer 107 is printed out. The print-out operation issues the first label 101.sub.1 having an image "PRINTER 001" printed thereon as shown in FIG. 8.
The step of FIG. 10(E) is followed by an update of the first image buffer 107, effected by copying thereto the image data 102.sub.2 from the second image buffer 108 (FIG. 10(F)). Thereafter, the data in the update field 109 is erased from within the constant data 103 placed in the second image buffer 108 (FIG. 10(G)). The update field 109 in this state then accommodates third variable data 104.sub.3 "003" read from the storage area 106. That is, a process equivalent to the steps of FIGS. 1
REFERENCES:
patent: 5156468 (1992-10-01), Uematsu
patent: 5401110 (1995-03-01), Neeley
Hilten John S.
Kabushiki Kaisha TEC
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