Patents by Inventor Hiroyasu Kurashina

Hiroyasu Kurashina has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6293717
    Abstract: In a tape printing apparatus, a tape width of a tape is detected, and a reduced tape width is calculated by reducing the detected tape width at a predetermined reduction ratio. At the same time, a character string is also reduced at the predetermined reduction ratio, whereby a reduced character string is produced. Then, a pair of parallel lines indicative of the reduced tape width and the reduced character string are printed on the tape in a manner such that a positional relationship between the pair of parallel lines and the reduced character string agrees with a positional relationship between the tape and the character string in normal print.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Kurashina
  • Patent number: 6278525
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor having a function of printing an input character string on a print medium. The character information processor of the present invention includes print-instruction issuing unit for issuing a print-halt-instruction-waiting consecutive-print instruction of repeatedly printing a same character string on the print medium until a print halt instruction is issued, and printing unit for repeatedly printing the same character string on the print medium when the print-halt-instruction-waiting consecutive-print instruction is issued. Also, the processor includes print-halt-instruction issuing unit for issuing a print halt instruction of halting the repeated printing conducted by the printing unit, and print halting unit for halting the repeated printing conducted by the printing unit when the print halt instruction is issued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6276851
    Abstract: There are provided a tape printing apparatus and a tape length-setting method which permits the user to set a desired tape length quickly and reliably, without requiring troublesome operations before printing. The tape printing apparatus is capable of printing a character string on a tape as a medium to be printed upon over a desired tape length. A character string including at least one character is input via a keyboard. A minimum tape length is calculated over which the input character string can be printed, before a print command is generated. A plurality of candidate tape lengths are displayed over which the input character string can be printed, dependent on the minimum tape length. A tape length is selected from the plurality of candidate tape lengths displayed. The input character string is printed over the selected tape length in response to the print command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Kurashina
  • Patent number: 6270269
    Abstract: When stoppage of printing on a tape is commanded, an automatic non-printing feed of the tape equal to the distance between the print head and a cutter is performed to enable cutting of the tape with minimum waste. Additionally the forming of leading and trailing margins on a printed tape less than the distance between the print head and cutter is enabled by providing deceleration and acceleration coupled with print pulse width variation corresponding to tape movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6259535
    Abstract: There are provided a print image-forming method and device. Print image data of a dot matrix is formed in which print portions are represented by positive dots and blank portions are represented by negative dots. Basic image data formed in a manner such that when the basic image data is developed into a dot matrix, a group of image pixels formed by one of a set of positive dots and a set of negative dots is capable of representing a basic image, is read from a memory device. Developed image data item representative of the basic image is formed by developing the basic image data read from the memory device into a dot matrix which is smaller in size than the dot matrix of the print image data in at least one predetermined direction of a vertical direction and a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Chieko Aida
  • Patent number: 6146034
    Abstract: A tape printing device includes a key input for inputting characters and symbols, a memory for storing data representing the input characters and symbols, a tape-width detector for detecting width of a loaded tape, an enlargement printing command receiver for receiving command information concerning an enlargement printing mode. In the enlargement printing mode a pseudo label, whose size is N times that of a label in a normal printing mode, is obtained when arranging tape-sections widthwise of the tape in such a manner as to join, after dividing the printed tape into N tape length sections, wherein N is an integer of at least two. A computer determines the printing attribute for each of the N tape sections in accordance with the characters and symbols stored in memory and tape width detected by the tape-width detector. A printer serially prints on the end character-string portions in the manner determined by the computer for the respective tape length sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6142685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character printing apparatus in which an input character string is printed on a plurality of print mediums loaded in the apparatus and having a transversal dimension, on which limitation is imposed, and different longitudinal dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., LTD, Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6134016
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information printing apparatus for printing a previously inputted character string on a print medium in which at least a transversal dimension is fixed. The apparatus is adapted to introduce instruction information as to a special printing in which, when X print medium portions on which printings are completed are arranged contiguously in the longitudinal and transversal directions thereof, one quasi print resultant having a dimension X times that of each of the print medium portions is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6120200
    Abstract: For printing a label with user desired margins, a tape printer determines a first region in which a character string is to be printed, and determines a second region encompassing the first region and in which an array of dots is to be printed. The array of dots with the character string superimposed thereon is printed onto the tape. This array of dots is used as a reference to guide cutting of the tape to form a label with user desired margins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6089771
    Abstract: A character string including one or more full-width characters and one or more half-width numerical characters is input and printed on a tape. The half-width characters are input by a symbol entering mode and have widths which are one-half the widths of ordinary characters. Two half-width numeric characters to be printed consecutively are developed in a font development area corresponding to that required for one full-width character so that the two half-width numeric characters can be handled as a single character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6072584
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor in which limitation is imposed on an allowable number of a character string to be printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6064802
    Abstract: A character information processor which can be applied to a tape printing device. The character information processor is provided with a read-only memory in which a table containing the levels of alternatives of a menu hierarchical structure set correspondingly to each edition function is stored. When an edition level is selected by an operator by keying, only edition operations, which are available at the selected edition level, are displayed on the screen of a display unit as choices. An example of the function of editing a character string is a function for enabling the restoration of a text, on which an edition operation such as an input operation and a deleting operation has been once performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6050734
    Abstract: The present invention aims to produce a label which has a size, margins and a character arrangement as a user desired, and aims to reduce a wasteful consumption of tape.In a tape printing device of the present invention, there is established an enlargement printing mode in which a large pseudo label, whose width is wider than the width of tape, can be obtained when the tape is divided into division portions in the longitudinal direction of the tape and when the division portions are arranged in the direction of the width of the tape. When printing in this mode, the tape printing device prints not only a character string but a marker which indicates the dividing positions in the longitudinal direction of the tape, with the intention of improving the quality of the pseudo label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Yoshiya Toyosawa, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6045277
    Abstract: A tape printing apparatus selects one of a plurality of kinds of print formats as a designated print format. Characters entered are arranged to form a character string. Print image data is formed by editing the character string based on the designated print format. Printing is carried out on a recording medium in the form of a tape being fed, based on the print image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Chieko Aida
  • Patent number: 6007262
    Abstract: A tape printing apparatus is provided. Document data including character data, line feed data and division break-inserting data is input. An editing document formed of the document data is displayed. A position within the editing document is designated. A selected one of registered documents stored is called and inserted into the editing document as document data forming a new division of the editing document, at a predetermined one of a forward position immediately before a desired division within the editing document and a backward position immediately after the desired division, the desired division containing the designated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Kurashina
  • Patent number: 5993086
    Abstract: The character printing apparatus according to the present invention, in which an input character string is printed on a print medium, includes: eligible-subject-component-character displaying means for displaying an eligible subject component character; subject-component-character selecting means for selecting a desired subject component character out of the eligible subject component characters; display control means for storing the desired subject component character, and causing a display portion to display a control symbol representing that the desired subject component character is inputted and an input position for an object component character in such a manner that the input position for an object component character is located immediately after the control symbol; judging means for judging, when a character to be combined with the subject component character is inputted, whether or not the input character is a character allowed to be combined with the subject component character; composing means for p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5984545
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor having a function by which the user can obtain a character to be inputted by inputting a code corresponding to the character.The character information processor of the present invention includes: code input means through which the code is inputted; and a plurality of code-character conversion tables which are associated with different code systems and each of which contains relationships between codes and their corresponding characters under the code system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5975779
    Abstract: A character information processor for carrying out the processing for printing an input character string, includes: a contact-command receiving section for receiving a contact command which commands to print at a character pitch of 0 between the adjacent two characters; and a printing control section for causing to print two characters, which are defined by the contact command, at a character pitch of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Hitoshi Hayama, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5961232
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a character information processor which can operate either in an ordinary state in which ordinary operations are performed or in a demonstration state in which demonstrating operations, including demonstration display and demonstration printing, are performed. The character information processor according to the present invention includes: a first operation state switch for switching the ordinary state to the demonstration state when receiving operation signals of a first number during the ordinary state; and a second operation state swtich for switching the demonstration state to the ordinary state when receiving operation signals of a second number during the demonstration state, the second number being smaller than the first number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignees: King Jim Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Watanabe, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Takanobu Kameda, Chieko Aida, Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 5947619
    Abstract: A background pattern print image-forming method and device are provided. A plurality of kinds of unit background pattern image data formed of a dot matrix which defines a group of image-forming dots representative of a unit printing portion of a background pattern to be printed on a printing object are stored in a memory device. One kind of unit background pattern image data from the plurality of kinds of unit background pattern image data stored in the memory device is selected as a unit background pattern tile. The selected unit background pattern tile is read from the memory device, and modified to thereby form a different kind of unit background pattern image data from the selected one kind of unit background pattern image data. The different kind of unit background pattern image data is arranged in a manner such that the background pattern is formed, to thereby form background pattern print image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation, King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Kurashina, Takeshi Hosokawa, Kenji Watanabe, Takanobu Kameda, Tomoyuki Shimmura, Chieko Aida