Typewriting machines – Sheet or web – For feeding web record-medium
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-20
2004-01-13
Nolan, Jr., Charles H. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Sheet or web
For feeding web record-medium
C400S061000, C400S070000, C400S076000, C400S621000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06676314
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a tape printing apparatus and method which is capable of producing a tape strip having a desired tape length by printing on a tape while feeding the tape and then cutting the tape at a trailing end of a printed portion thereof.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a tape printing apparatus has been proposed which is capable of generating print data based on characters, such as letters, symbols, and so forth, input by a user, effecting printing on a tape based on the print data, and then cutting the tape at the trailing end of the printed portion thereof such that the printed portion has a length calculated based on the print data, to thereby produce a tape strip (label) having a desired length. In the tape printing apparatus of this type, a cutting position for cutting a tape and a position of an exit via which a cut-off strip of the tape is discharged out of the tape printing apparatus are arranged at locations as close to each other as possible, so as to ensure reliable discharge (natural drop) of the cut-off tape strip.
However, depending on the case, it is necessary to set a length or distance between the cutting position and the exit position to a predetermined length so as to ensure structural safety (i.e. to prevent a cutter blade from being exposed to the outside of the apparatus). Let it be assumed that the length or distance between the cutting position and the exit position is equal to 9 mm as shown in
FIGS. 14A
to
14
C. In this case, when a tape length tp calculated based on print data is large to some degree as shown in
FIG. 14A
, a cut-off tape strip can be discharged from the apparatus without any problem (with reliability). However, when the calculation tape length tp is short as shown in
FIG. 14B
, a cut-off tape strip remains in the apparatus without being discharged therefrom. In this case, if a tool, such as a pair of tweezers, for pinching the tape strip by the leading end is provided at hand, the user can pull it out manually by using the tool. However, when the tape tp is excessively short as shown in
FIG. 14C
, it is impossible to pull out the tape strip. Further, in the latter case, the leading end portion of the tape is difficult to hold or retain in the apparatus, and hence the tape cannot be cut properly, which causes tape jamming at the cutting position.
Similarly, a so-called handy type tape printer having been developed recently as an apparatus which can be used readily anytime and anywhere cannot avoid the above problem related to tape discharge, which causes great inconvenience. Further, when the handy type tape printer is used by a worker working at a high place e.g. for electric work, the worker has to hold the leading end portion of a cut-off tape strip between his/her fingers to prevent the tape strip from falling off. However, if the leading end portion of the cutoff tape strip is too short to be held between the user's fingers as shown in
FIG. 14B
or
14
C, the printer is practically unusable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a tape printing apparatus and method that enables reliable discharge of a cut-off tape strip from the apparatus.
To attain the above object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a printing apparatus that is capable of producing a tape strip having a desired tape length by printing on a tape while feeding the tape and then cutting the tape at a trailing end of a printed portion thereof,
the tape printing apparatus comprising:
tape feed means for feeding the tape;
printing means for printing on the tape;
print data input means for inputting print data to be printed by the printing means;
tape length-calculating means for calculating a calculation tape length tp (tp>0) based on the print data input via the print data input means;
tape length-setting means for setting a tape length t based on the calculation tape length tp calculated by the tape length-calculating means;
cutter means for cutting the tape to the tape length t set by the tape length-setting means; and
determining means for determining whether the calculation tape length tp is smaller than a length (a+x) obtained by adding a predetermined length x (x≧0) to a length a (a≧
0
) between a cutting position at which the tape is cut through by the cutter means and a position of an exit via which a cut-off strip of the tape is discharged out of the tape printing apparatus,
wherein if the determining means has determined that the calculation tape length tp is smaller than the length (a+x), the tape length-setting means sets the tape length t such that the tape length t becomes equal to or larger than the length (a+x), whereas if the determining means has determined that the tape length t is not smaller than the length (a+x), the tape length-setting means sets the tape length t to the calculation tape length tp.
Further, to attain the above object, according to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a tape printing method for a tape printing apparatus that is capable of producing a tape strip having a desired tape length by printing on a tape while feeding the tape and then cutting the tape at a trailing end of a printed portion thereof,
the tape printing method comprising the steps of:
inputting print data to be printed;
calculating a calculation tape length tp (tp>0) based on the input print data;
determining whether the calculation tape length tp is smaller than a length (a+x) obtained by adding a predetermined length x (x≧0) to a length a (a≧0) between a cutting position at which the tape is cut through and a position of an exit via which a cut-off strip of the tape is discharged out of the tape printing apparatus;
setting the tape length t such that the tape length t becomes equal to or larger than the length (a+x) if it is determined that the calculation tape length tp is smaller than the length (a+x), and setting the tape length t to the calculation tape length tp if it is determined that the calculation tape length tp is not smaller than the length (a+x); and
cutting the tape to the set tape length t.
According to the tape printing apparatus and method, it is determined whether or not the calculation tape length tp (tp>0) calculated based on the input print data is smaller than the length (a+x) obtained by adding the predetermined length x to the length a between the cutting position at which the tape is cut through and the exit position for discharging the cutoff strip of the tape from the apparatus, and when it is determined that tp<(a+x) holds, the tape length t is changed such that tp≧(a+x) holds. Therefore, the tape length t is always set to a length equal to or larger than the length obtained by adding the predetermined length x to the length a between the cutting position and the exit position. In short, even when the calculation tape length tp calculated based on the print data is small, the tape length t is changed such that t≧(a+x) holds, so that during cutting operation, the leading end portion of the tape is held in a state exposed at least by the length x, which ensures reliable discharge of a cut-off tape strip from the apparatus.
Preferably, the print data input means is capable of inputting the print data formed of character data to be printed, leading margin data indicative of a length of a leading margin of the tape strip, and trailing margin data indicative of a length of a trailing margin of the tape strip.
According to this preferred embodiment, it is possible to input characters to be printed and the lengths of leading and trailing margins of a tape strip. In other words, not only characters, but also the lengths of leading and trailing margins can be set as a user desires. It should be noted that characters include letters, symbols, figures and decorations.
Alternatively, the print data input means is capable of inputting character data to be printed, and the print data is formed of the ch
Ogawa Kiyoshi
Ono Hiroshi
Tanaka Seiji
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Nolan, Jr. Charles H.
Seiko Epson Corporation
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