EP0819543A1 - Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes - Google Patents

Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0819543A1
EP0819543A1 EP96111570A EP96111570A EP0819543A1 EP 0819543 A1 EP0819543 A1 EP 0819543A1 EP 96111570 A EP96111570 A EP 96111570A EP 96111570 A EP96111570 A EP 96111570A EP 0819543 A1 EP0819543 A1 EP 0819543A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
characters
attributes
display
dot pattern
data
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96111570A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Nicholas James Hastings
Ian Morgan George
Martin Christopher Edwards
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Esselte NV
Original Assignee
Esselte NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Esselte NV filed Critical Esselte NV
Priority to EP96111570A priority Critical patent/EP0819543A1/fr
Publication of EP0819543A1 publication Critical patent/EP0819543A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4075—Tape printers; Label printers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B1/00—Machines for printing and issuing tickets
    • G07B1/02—Machines for printing and issuing tickets employing selectable printing plates
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B1/00—Machines for printing and issuing tickets
    • G07B1/08—Machines for printing and issuing tickets portable

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to label printing devices and in particular the creation of a dot pattern to control the display device, if small characters with added attributes.
  • EP-A-0 656 594 (Brother KK) discloses a label printing device in which it is intended to use typed characters like this display as they do in printed form on a label tape appear.
  • the size of the characters is variable, so it may be necessary to be relatively small Play characters on the display device.
  • the characters attributes like add shaded, bold, italic, etc. If the little ones Characters are provided with attributes, it can be under Circumstances because of the limited resolution of the display device not be able to display them the way they do to be printed. To solve this problem, means for Distinguish whether an effective display of small characters is possible or not, suggested. In the second Fall they are without attributes or in any other form (e.g. with overlaid strikethrough or flashing).
  • the manufacture of the sent to the display device Dot pattern is in several Steps taken.
  • a first step it will Characters read from a font memory and stored in a working memory in dot pattern form.
  • the routine is added the attribute simply omitted or alternatively a difference point pattern is created (e.g. for the overlay strikethrough).
  • a label printing device proposed according to the teaching of claim 1.
  • the basic idea is the display dot pattern generating means -
  • the display means with the one to be displayed Apply dot pattern - to apply character data, which are the final attributes ie. the finally also appear to already include.
  • the display dot pattern in just one step and thus generated faster than in the prior art.
  • the means of decision decide whether the character with the added Attribute can be displayed; and if not the case is the corresponding attribute from the means of transmission to transfer the character data to the display dot pattern generating means simply not sent, but removed. The display dot pattern will then made accordingly.
  • An advantage of the first aspect of the invention is that that the generation of the display dot pattern much faster than is done in the prior art.
  • the transmission means decide which of the attributes of the Character data that the display dot pattern generating means be sent, be removed.
  • an attribute e.g. shaded
  • a second added attribute such as bold to indicate. This allows a higher information content of the advertisement and avoids the unnecessary suppression of information at the stand of the technique.
  • a scaling factor to produce a display dot pattern can apply; second storage means for storage display dot pattern data in bitmap form; and sizing agents to decide if the size with which each of the characters entered must be displayed larger than is a predetermined size; the display dot pattern generating means the dot pattern for the display dot pattern memory according to the decision of the size decision means each by retrieving data from the first Generate storage means or the second storage means.
  • the character data in the first storage means is preferably Bezier data, the Bezier points for lines and Define curves of the character.
  • the attributes can be a choice of bold, narrow, italic, shaded, underlined, or outlined.
  • FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of a tape printing device 1.
  • the tape printing device 1 comprises a keyboard 4.
  • the keyboard 4 has a variety of data entry keys and includes especially a variety of with numbers, letters and Punctuation mark provided keys 3 for entering data, which are to be output as a label, as well as function keys 4 to change the entered data. These function keys 4 serve e.g. to change the size or font of the entered data.
  • the function keys also enable 4 u.a. Underline and framing a label.
  • the keyboard 2 further includes a push button 5, the is pressed to print a label.
  • the keyboard 2 also has an 'off' button 6 for the tape printing device 1 on and off. A cursor can be shown on the display 8 can be moved by cursor keys 11.
  • An input (return) Key is identified by reference number 13.
  • Associated Enter keys 3,4 of keyboard 2 can be added of attributes can be used.
  • an attribute entry key 7 may be provided to users of the tape printing device 1 the production of labels with characters with attributes to enable. The attribute input key 7 activates a menu with which the user enters the entered Characters can assign the desired attributes.
  • the tape printing device 1 also has a liquid crystal display (LCD) 8, which displays the entered data.
  • LCD liquid crystal display
  • the display 8 allows the user to print all or part of the printout Look at labels before printing what that changing of the label before printing.
  • the display can show 8 messages to the user, e.g. Error messages or an indication that pushbutton 5 is pressed has been.
  • the display 8 is operated by a display driver 28 controlled, which is shown in Figure 3.
  • a cassette storage room On the underside of the tape printing device 1, which is shown in Figure 2 is a cassette storage room. He includes a thermal print head 42 and a platen roller 46, that work together and define a pressure zone P. Of the Printhead 42 is pivotally mounted about a pivot point 48, so that it can be brought into contact with the pressure roller 46 and can be moved away from it to take out a cassette 10 and to be able to replace.
  • One in the cassette recording room 2 inserted cassette is with the reference number 10 Mistake.
  • the cassette 10 contains a supply roll 12 Image receiving tape 14 comprising an image receiving layer which by means of an adhesive layer on a removable backing layer is attached. The image receiving tape 14 is through a guide mechanism, not shown, through the cassette 10 out and leaves them shortly after the pressure zone P.
  • the same cartridge 10 also contains a ribbon supply roll 16 and a ribbon take-up reel 18.
  • the ribbon 20 is from the ribbon supply roll 16 through the printing zone P performed and wound on the ribbon take-up reel 18.
  • the ribbon 14 to be printed runs together with the ink ribbon 20 the printing zone P, with its image receiving layer in There is contact with the ribbon 20.
  • the pressure roller 46 is driven by a motor 31 (see FIG. 3), e.g. a DC motor or a stepper motor, driven, so that it rotates and the image receiving tape 14 in one running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the image receiving tape 14 Spends direction through the pressure zone P.
  • a motor 31 e.g. a DC motor or a stepper motor, driven, so that it rotates and the image receiving tape 14 in one running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the image receiving tape 14 Spends direction through the pressure zone P.
  • a motor 31 e.g. a DC motor or a stepper motor, driven, so that it rotates and the image receiving tape 14 in one running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the image receiving tape 14 Spends direction through the pressure zone P.
  • the cutting zone C is on the wall of the cassette 10 provided near the pressure zone P.
  • the part of the wall the cassette 10 defining the cutting zone C is through the reference numeral 22 marked.
  • a slot 24 is in included this section 22 of the wall.
  • the tape printing device 1 comprises a cutting mechanism 26 which a cutter support 28 which carries a blade 30.
  • the blade 30 cuts the image receiving tape 14 and kicks then in the slot 24.
  • the image receiving tape 14 becomes continuous transported through the printing zone P during the printing process.
  • the backing roller 46 rotates in embodiments in which a stepper motor is used step by step to the image receiving tape 14 in individual steps successively through the printing zone P during the printing process to move.
  • Printhead 42 is a thermal printhead that has a variety comprises printing elements arranged in a row.
  • the printhead 42 is preferably only one pressure element wide and Row extends in an orthognal to the longitudinal direction of the Image receiving belt 14 extending direction.
  • the high of Row of printing elements is preferably equal to the width of the image receiving tape 14 used in the tape printing device 1 shall be. If image receiving bands 14 different Width to be processed is the height of the row of printing elements of printhead 42 is generally one of the largest Width of the image receiving belt 14 have a corresponding height.
  • An image is placed on the image receiving belt 14 row by row printed by the print head 42. It should be mentioned that an image on the image receiving tape 14 over the ribbon 20 can be printed. Alternatively, a picture can be taken directly applied by thermal print head 42 to image receiving belt 14 without using a ribbon 20 if that Image receiving belt 14 from a suitable, thermally sensitive Material exists.
  • the cassette receiving space 10 designed in this way be that a separate image receiving tape cassette and a separate ribbon cassette can be inserted, which are carried out in this way are that the ink ribbon and the image receiving tape 14 one above the other be led through the pressure zone.
  • This special cassette arrangement is e.g. in our older European patent application No. 578372, the content of which is described by reference is incorporated therein.
  • Another suitable arrangement to provide a stock of image reception tape 14 may of course be used in embodiments of the present Invention find use.
  • Figure 3 shows the basic control circuit for control of the tape printing device 1 from Figures 1 and 2. It is a microprocessor chip 40 present, which has a read-only memory (ROM) 41, a microprocessor 44 and freely accessible storage capacity, which is reproduced by a RAM 41. The microprocessor 44 is executed by programs stored in the ROM 41 controlled.
  • the microprocessor chip 40 is with the keyboard 2 connected to receive label data inputs.
  • the microprocessor chip 40 provides data for driving the display 8 from the display driver chip 38 to print one Label (or part thereof) and / or a message or Display instruction to the user.
  • the microprocessor chip 40 still data to drive the printhead 42, which prints an image on the image receiving tape 14, to make a label.
  • the microprocessor chip 40 can also control the cutting mechanism 26 to cut lengths of the Image receiving tape 14 cut after an image on it was printed on.
  • the tape printing device 1 enables using the various Keys to enter labels and on the display 8 display.
  • the ROM 41 stores information, relating to alphanumeric characters and the like, related to the corresponding keys 3, and functions associated with the function keys 4.
  • a key 4 will have data corresponding to the corresponding one Characters or the like correspond, taken from the ROM 41 and then stored in RAM 43.
  • the contained in RAM 43 Data can be in the form of an identifier identifying the character Codes.
  • the microprocessor 44 generates accordingly
  • the data stored in the RAM 43 are pixel data which are arranged in rows Shape on printhead 42 and (in another, described below Form) are transferred to the display 8.
  • data relating to a function key can be selected are removed from the ROM 41 if one or more of the Function keys 4 are pressed. This data can Take the form of a flag.
  • the microprocessor 44 generates pixel data sent to the printhead 42 and the like Display 8 take into account data relating to one or more Obtain functions stored in RAM 43.
  • the buttons 3 and 4 of the keyboard 2 have defined, assigned functions, which require that set, with this function associated data are taken from the ROM 41. Amongst other things the user can use these keys to enter entered To add character attributes such as bold, narrow, italic, underline, shaded, outline print, or a combination any of these attributes.
  • the input buffer 49 is physically on Part of RAM 43 is shown schematically. It contains the entered characters to which their assigned format information preceded by line or page breaks are separated from each other.
  • the format information defines that Format (i.e. size, font, attributes, etc.), with which the characters are printed.
  • the line breaks determine the position at which a new one is to be printed Line begins.
  • a page break defines a new block, that have a different number of lines than the previous block can.
  • the first page consists of two lines, whereby the first line is 'XYQAWG' and the second line is 'Zabq'.
  • the second page contains the characters 'ef'.
  • Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment of a routine to generate the dot pattern of the entered characters on the display 8.
  • the display 8 consists of a high Number of points arranged in two dimensions.
  • the displayed images are controlled by an appropriate control which creates dots.
  • step 51 determined which font attribute for the one to be displayed Character was selected. That means that examined whether the user is the character to be printed an attribute like bold, narrow, italic, underlined, shaded, outline print, or a combination of them added Has. The determination of the selected attribute will by reading the assigned format information in the input buffer 49 performed.
  • the next step 52 involves determining the size, with which the characters are to be printed. It is necessary, since the display 8 is a real WYSIWYG display device which is essentially a representation of the characters provides the same look with which it is printed will. Therefore, the sizes of the displayed and the printed characters are related to each other.
  • the size of the characters can be defined by the user be, or automatically based on the number of lines and the Width of the tape (which is entered by the user or automatically by examining the tape Cassette or the tape as such can be determined) be determined.
  • the character size can continue to depend on the length of the label if the length of the label was specified by the user and that Printing device the length of the printed images by scaling adapts to the size of the characters.
  • the finding the size of the characters is determined by means of the input buffer 49 stored format information performed, some additional calculations may be necessary to determine the character size.
  • the size is then in a later step with the smallest readable Size compared and can be needed in units Points are calculated
  • step 53 is a determination of the smallest recognizable size of the character with the selected attribute. As already described it is - because of the limited Display 8 resolution - not possible, very small Characters with added attributes effectively on the Display 8 because such characters are not appealing appearance. For this reason, step 53 is carried out to get the minimum readable size.
  • the finding The minimum readable size can be determined using a table done or character attribute data added be. The latter means that a Information is stored which is the minimum size for one includes special attribute.
  • This table is a typical example and can be used to determine the minimum number of points that a character is required with the added Represent attributes in an acceptable manner.
  • step 54 relates to a comparison of whether the character size determined in step 52 is larger than the minimum size. If not step 55 follows. Since the respective character is not is effectively displayable, an attribute is removed in step 55, to get a displayable character. Because it it is possible for a character to have more than one attribute a preference table is used to first remove the least important attribute.
  • the Preferred table in a preferred embodiment has the Invention the same order as that shown above Table with the number of acceptable to display Characters with added attributes additionally required Points. The attributes are in the in this table reproduced order dropped, started with bold and consecutively until underlined. After the removal of the first attribute, the procedure goes to step 53 further, in which the minimum legible size was determined again becomes. It should be noted that of course only the attributes can be removed, also selected by the user and that in previous explanations of step 55 removed attributes cannot be removed again. The distance the attributes are only for the purposes of display, but not for printing.
  • step 54 ie. Whether the in Step 52 determined size of the character to be displayed larger than the minimum readable size
  • step 56 it is examined whether the Character size larger than a specified size of 8 x 8 points, for example. If not If so, step 57 follows, in which for display purposes Dot pattern is created using a bitmap font. This Bitmap font contains no attributes by definition. If, on the other hand, the size of the character to be displayed is larger than the specified size, the dot pattern by using expandable typesetting data, e.g. of a Bezier font. The typesetting data is out taken from the ROM 41 and by means of a scaling factor Control of the display 8 used.
  • Step 56 This can depend on the type of EP-A-0 574 225, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference is incorporated. That generated in steps 57 and 58, respectively Dot pattern is then sent to the display driver chip 38 Display 8 sent.
  • the reason for the distinction in Step 56 is that by the scaled Bezier font generated dot patterns only then an attractive appearance on the display 8 shows if the size of the dot pattern is exceeds specified size; otherwise it sees something distorted out.
  • the bitmap font is only for Control of the display 8 is used, but not for Control of the print head that has a higher resolution.
  • step 59 follows, the one Return to step 50 means where the next Characters for producing a dot pattern for the Display is examined.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
EP96111570A 1996-07-18 1996-07-18 Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes Withdrawn EP0819543A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96111570A EP0819543A1 (fr) 1996-07-18 1996-07-18 Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96111570A EP0819543A1 (fr) 1996-07-18 1996-07-18 Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0819543A1 true EP0819543A1 (fr) 1998-01-21

Family

ID=8223003

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96111570A Withdrawn EP0819543A1 (fr) 1996-07-18 1996-07-18 Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0819543A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0574225A1 (fr) * 1992-06-11 1993-12-15 Esselte Dymo N.V. Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes
EP0651347A2 (fr) * 1993-11-02 1995-05-03 King Jim Co., Ltd. Appareil de présentation par affichage pour appareils d'impression à ruban capable d'afficher plusieurs lignes à haute vitesse
EP0652109A2 (fr) * 1993-11-09 1995-05-10 King Jim Co., Ltd. Appareil et méthode pour l'impression de caractères sur un ruban
EP0661649A2 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-07-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif pour l'impression de ruban
JPH07251533A (ja) * 1994-12-01 1995-10-03 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0574225A1 (fr) * 1992-06-11 1993-12-15 Esselte Dymo N.V. Appareil d'impression d'étiquettes
EP0651347A2 (fr) * 1993-11-02 1995-05-03 King Jim Co., Ltd. Appareil de présentation par affichage pour appareils d'impression à ruban capable d'afficher plusieurs lignes à haute vitesse
EP0652109A2 (fr) * 1993-11-09 1995-05-10 King Jim Co., Ltd. Appareil et méthode pour l'impression de caractères sur un ruban
EP0661649A2 (fr) * 1993-12-29 1995-07-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif pour l'impression de ruban
JPH07251533A (ja) * 1994-12-01 1995-10-03 Brother Ind Ltd テープ印字装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 95, no. 010 *

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE69331607T2 (de) Etikettendruckgerät
DE69621295T2 (de) Drucker
DE69534606T2 (de) Streifendruckvorrichtung
DE69530135T2 (de) Zeicheninformationsprozessor zum Drucken von Zeichen
DE69521496T2 (de) Zeicheninformationsprozessor mit funktion zur darstellung
DE69320115T2 (de) Streifendrucker
DE69331491T2 (de) Streifendrucker
EP0816105B1 (fr) Imprimante d'étiquettes
DE69300915T2 (de) Banddrucker mit Linienverstärkungsfähigkeit.
DE60104910T2 (de) Druckeinrichtung
DE69723397T2 (de) Banddruckgerät
DE69719725T2 (de) Streifendrucker
DE69901750T2 (de) Streifendrucker
DE3714145A1 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung zum automatischen auslegen einer kennzeichnung
DE29602534U1 (de) Banddruckgerät mit der Fähigkeit zum Drucken von Strichcodes
DE69212028T3 (de) Banddruckvorrichtung zum Drucken einer Mehrzahl von benachbarten Drucklinien über die Breite des Bandes
DE69319672T2 (de) Streifendrucker
DE60216488T2 (de) Zeichenketteneditiergerät und zeichenketteneditierprogramm
EP0821314A2 (fr) Dispositif d'impression de bandes pour imprimer des cadres de formes différentes
DE602005000067T2 (de) Banddrucker und Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Bandes
EP0816106A2 (fr) Imprimante pour étiquettes avec modes d'affichage différents
DE60127222T2 (de) Etikettendrucker
DE69430613T2 (de) Banddruckvorrichtung
DE60005265T2 (de) Ein Drucker für Hintergrundbilder
DE69422858T2 (de) Textverarbeitungsgerät

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Free format text: AL;LT;LV;SI

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19980130

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Withdrawal date: 19980424