Abstract: The invention refers to a tape printing apparatus (2) used with tape cassettes (20, 220, 243, 260, 443). In order to make insertion and removal easier, the tape cassette is provided with a surface controlling the position of a printhead (22, 222, 322, 422) and/or a platen. When the cassette is inserted, printhead and platen are automatically separated such that the tape (24) can be introduced between them, and afterwards moved in the operative position. Further, an over center mechanism is proposed for moving printhead and platen. The tape cassette (443) can provide a 90.degree. bend in the tape (24) upstream the printing position, and the motor (42) can be located besides the zone for accommodating the image receiving tape (24). The cassette can be made attachable to other cassettes, and the means for attaching can guide and hold the cassette in the tape printer.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus for printing characters on a label. The apparatus includes a controller operable to perform various functions, such as (1) recalling stored common font data for each character selected and being operable to apply a scaling factor to the font data to produce print pixel data for printing the character; (2) deriving characters from the font data to determine sequentially intersections of lines and/or curves of the character with a print line extending heightwise to generate therefrom a set of pixel data for directly printing a column of dots corresponding to the set of pixel data defined at that print line; and/or (3) implementing a preview function which enables all characters of an entire label to be displayed at one time on a display even when the length of the label is greater than the size of the display.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a binding apparatus for the binding of paper piles, comprising a punching unit for the punching of holes in a paper pile and a binding unit for the closing of a wire ring binder having a plurality of teeth which engage in the holes of the paper pile in a binding position. The punching unit comprises a movably arranged perforator plate having a plurality of punches and a counterplate that is rigidly connected to the housing of the binding apparatus and includes openings into which the punches engage in punching position, and the binding unit comprises of two clamping plates in an essentially parallel arrangement to each other.

Abstract: A tape printing device which receives a tape cassette that accommodates a printable tape. The tape cassette includes a housing having a wall portion which is arranged to support the tape during a cutting operation which is performed with a cutting mechanism of the tape printing device. To align the cutting mechanism with the cassette during cutting, the wall portion of the cassette housing is arranged for interacting with a guide mechanism that connects the cutting mechanism and the wall portion during cutting and aligns the cutting mechanism with the wall portion.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism having a movable carriage and two cutters. Each cutter has an anvil that opposes a blade, and one of these is a roller that rolls against the other for progressively biasing material against the blades, producing cuts through the material. The rollers are rotatably mounted to the carriage, which is mounted to a lead screw that controls the position of the carriage. As the carriage moves across the material, the rollers roll, and the material is cut. The space between the anvil and the blade of at least one of the cutters can be varied to disengage that cutter so that the rolling of the roller will not cut the material. The engagement and disengagement of the cutter is dependent on the position of the carriage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for opening a binding element for receiving perforated sheets, the binding element comprising a spine and a plurality of relatively spaced ring elements arranged side by side, with the free ends of the ring elements resiliently engaging the binder spine when closed. A low-cost device for opening a binding element is provided. The device includes a front section, a rear section having at least the same length as the binding element and being dimensioned such that, when the device is inserted into the binding element, the ring elements successively come into contact with the outer areas of the rear section, and that the free ends of the ring elements are spaced at least up to a specified distance from the spine, and a curved surface area provided at least in the rear section and being partly engaged by the inner surfaces of the ring elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for limiting the force exerted on an actuating mechanism for a binding device and/or a perforating/punching device, with the actuating mechanism being comprised of a rotary shaft coupled to the corresponding movable part of the binding and/or perforating/punching device, such that a rotary motion of the shaft is converted into a translational motion of the corresponding movable part of the binding and/or perforating device. There; is provided in the actuating mechanism a coupling mechanism which performs a decoupling function automatically when the force exerted on the actuating mechanism exceeds a maximum permissible value.

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus arranged to be used with a tape holding case. The case holds a first supply of image receiving tape and a second supply of laminating tape. An opening is provided between the first and second tape supplies. A printing mechanism is arranged to print an image onto the image receiving tape as it traverses the opening. A cutting location is provided where the image receiving tape is cut after an image has been printed thereon. The cutting location and printing mechanism lie on opposite sides of the first and second tape supplies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a label printer that has a plurality of keys for defining a label to be printed. Such keys include keys for defining the format of the label. The label printer also includes a display for displaying an image of the label, a printing unit for printing the label and a control unit for controlling the label printer to operate in a layout mode. In the layout mode, the control unit causes the display to display an image of the label in a selected label format and a plurality of layout parameters for defining the label format. Each of the layout parameters is alterable. Thereby, the label image displayed on the display alters with each selection of one of the layout parameters by actuating the format keys.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus having an input device for determining a predetermined label length and selecting one or more of plurality of characters for composing a label having one or more lines of characters in the length; a memory for storing font data defining the plurality of characters; a display for displaying the characters selected at the input device; a printer for printing the selected characters on an image receiving tape to produce a label; and a controller operable to determine an appropriate character size such that the number of characters selected by a user can be accommodated on the predetermined length of tape, wherein the controller is operable to apply a scaling factor to the font data according to the appropriate character size to optimize the size of the characters within the predetermined label length.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a label printing apparatus for printing image data onto a tape. The label printing apparatus has a memory for storing image data to be printed onto the tape, a print head for recording the image data dot wise onto the tape in subsequent printing cycles, a platen for conveying the recording medium relative to the print head and means for determining the number of dots to be activated in each printing cycle. In order to obtain high print quality, a speed adjuster is provided to control the speed of the platen in response to the number of image data stored in the memory and the number of dots to be activated in the present printing cycle. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the platen and the print head to avoid misalignment of subsequent printing lines, when the platen must stop due to lack of data in the memory.

Abstract: A label printer having a plurality of input keys for inputting data defining a label image to be printed on an image receiving medium. The input keys include a plurality of data entry keys for entering character data and a plurality of function keys for use in controlling printing of the character data. The label printer includes a display area for displaying information relating to a label image to be printed, a printing unit for printing the label image and a controller for controlling operation of the label printer and including addressing unit for addressing the display area. The display area comprises first and second display zones, each being selectively addressable by the addressing unit to display information relating to the label image. The first display zone is addressable to display a plurality of editing options in relation to each function key.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a label printer that has a plurality of keys for defining a label to be printed. Such keys include keys for defining the format of the label. The label printer also includes a display for displaying an image of the label, a printing unit for printing the label and a control unit for controlling the label printer to operate in a layout mode. In the layout mode, the control unit causes the display to display an image of the label in a selected label format and a plurality of layout parameters for defining the label format. Each of the layout parameters is alterable. Thereby, the label image displayed on the display alters with each selection of one of the layout parameters by actuating the format keys.

Abstract: A tape holding case is described for use with a thermal printing device which allows for more efficient cutting and feeding of tape. The cassette has a slot into which a cutting blade can pass which avoids the use of an anvil for cutting. Moreover, the cassette can have a stepped portion for providing a so-called "peel cut" at the end of the tape.

Abstract: A method of recalling stored labels is disclosed in which target data is provided by a user so that only labels having label data matching the target data are displayed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a label printing method and apparatus which includes a housing providing a zone for receiving printing tape on which an image is to be printed, a data input device for inputting information defining the image to be printed as a label, a printing mechanism including a group of printing elements to which pixel data defining the image to be printed is passed sequentially on a group-by-group basis by a printhead controller and a motor operable to drive the printing tape past the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A printing device (2) for printing an image receiving medium has a printing mechanism and a keyboard (4) having a plurality of data entry keys (6) for entering data for controlling the printing mechanism and a user key (16). Storage means for holding data accessible in response to the data entered at the keyboard (4) is provided. A controller defines an image to be printed on an image receiving medium in dependence on the data accessed in response to the data entered at the keyboard (4) so that the controller operates selectively in one of a plurality of modes of operation. The modes of operation include a normal mode of operation in which at least some of the keys (6) have predetermined functions associated therewith to access predetermined data associated with the predetermined functions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clamping device for positioning of a sheaf of documents during the heating and/or cooling phase in a thermal binding apparatus, whereby the thermal binding apparatus at its (upper) cover portion is provided with an opening which extents into the interior of the thermal binding apparatus and which consists of a base plate, two side walls and at least one front and/or rear wall. One of the clamping elements is provided having an at least partially curved surface, the clamping element is designed in such a way that clamping area of its curved surface is in contact with the sheaf of documents during the working phase and presses it against the rear and/or front wall of the opening and that it at least partly covers the base plate of the opening during the stand by phase of the binding apparatus.

Abstract: A printing device (2) for printing an image on an image receiving medium which includes a controller for generating a control signal defining the value of at least one parameter for controlling the device which has at least one characteristic in accordance with which a desired value of the parameter is selected. A keyboard matrix having a plurality of key connectors arranged in rows and columns with keys (6) arranged at intersections of the rows and columns is provided. The keys (6) can be actuated by a user to input to the controller data for controlling the printing device. Intersections each have an activated state when the associated key (6) is actuated and an inactive state when the associated key (6) is not actuated. An addiitional connector is provided which defines a set of intersections with said rows or said columns of key connectors so that at least one of said set of intersections is maintained in an activated state.