Facsimile and static presentation processing – Static presentation processing – Attribute control
Patent
1998-04-22
2000-10-31
Coles, Edward L.
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Static presentation processing
Attribute control
358 117, 358 118, 400237, G06F 1500
Patent
active
061411159
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a storage medium storing a program for realizing the printing method. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for printing a color image with an ink ribbon on which inks for three colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C), are repeatedly arranged in the lengthwise direction.
BACKGROUND ART
A tape printer which can print images, corresponding to character data or symbol data, on a tape for labels, to be stuck on cassette tapes or files, has been conventionally in practical use. Also a color tape printer which can print color images on a tape has been used practically of late.
Such a color tape printer uses an ink ribbon on which are repeatedly arranged inks for three colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M) and cyan (C), each of which has a constant length. In the color tape printer, a thermal head is heated and driven in accordance with print data to sequentially transfer the inks for the three colors held by the ink ribbon to the tape, so that the transferred inks are overlapped. Thus, a color image is printed on the tape. When this color tape printer prints an image with the colored ink, the tape and the ink ribbon are carried in the same direction, then only the tape is carried in the reverse direction before the image is printed using the next ink color so that the print start position is adjusted. In this color tape printer, the color tape printer carries the ink ribbon in one direction.
The maximum length of the color printing accomplished by the color tape printer (hereinafter referred as the maximum print length) during one printing operation (the transference of the inks for three colors, Y, M and C, are performed once, respectively) corresponds to the length of each of the colored inks. That is, if the inks for Y, M and C are repeatedly arranged on the ink ribbon at intervals of 10 cm, the maximum length of the color printing for one printing operation is 10 cm.
When the length of an image, corresponding to print data prepared with the tape printer, to be printed on the tape in the lengthwise direction equals the length of each of the inks arranged on the ink ribbon, the image corresponding to the print data can be printed while using the inks for Y, M and C so that unused inks do not remain.
However, when the length of an image to be printed is shorter than the maximum print length, the colored inks on the ink ribbon are only partially used because the ink ribbon is carried in the one direction. As a result, unused inks remain on the ink ribbon. Especially when the tape printer prints many short images, the quantity of unused inks remaining on the ink ribbon increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus and a printing method for printing color images while using inks repeatedly arranged on an ink ribbon so that unused inks do not remain, and a storage medium storing a program for realizing the printing method.
To accomplish the above object, a printing apparatus, according to the first aspect of the present invention, for printing an image by sequentially transferring inks for a plurality of colors, which are repeatedly arranged on an ink ribbon and which each has a predetermined length, to an elongated recording sheet so that the transferred inks are overlapped, is characterized in that the printing apparatus comprises: images to be printed; the images to be printed in response to the plurality of data items input through the data input means; the data input means; print length, calculated by the print length calculation means from the plurality of data items stored in the data storage means, does not exceed the predetermined length; and items obtained by the group calculation means by sequentially transferring the inks for the plurality of colors to the recording sheet so that the transferred inks are overlapped.
According to this printing apparatus, the group calculation means obtains the group of th
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Casio Computer Co. Ltd.
Coles Edward L.
Wallerson Mark
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