Abstract: A printing and display device comprising: a data connection for receiving print data from a computer; a flat panel display for displaying images received from a computer; a printer, the printer including a printhead for printing onto paper on the basis of the print data; and a data connection hub configured to allow connection of at least one data-receiving device to the printing and display device, enabling the data-receiving device to receive data from the computer.

Abstract: If a density adjustment command is applied to a control apparatus in a printing system having a plurality of printers, each of the printers outputs sheets of density adjustment paper on which has been recorded identification information (a color) indicating which printer produced the output, and a color for performing a density adjustment. Any one of the sheets of density adjustment paper is set in a densitometer. The identification information and the density-adjustment color on the set density adjustment paper are read by the densitometer and applied to the control apparatus. Density adjustment data obtained from the density-adjustment color is transmitted to a printer specified by the identification information of the density adjustment paper. The printer that has received the density-adjustment data performs a density adjustment based upon the density adjustment data. Density can be adjusted appropriately even though the system includes a plurality of printers.

Abstract: With conventional analog printers, ordinary users are experienced in the subtract color mixture for adjustment of image colors. Therefore, when adjusting the colors in an image displayed on a monitor of a video player and set by the additive color mixture, a user has difficulty if not familiar with the complementary relation between colors. The present invention proposes a printer and color adjusting method in which images of which a designated portion changed in color balance using a gamma (&ggr;) data table in an image processor are printed in one printing paper and the user is prompted to select one of the images for storage in the printer. Thus, the user can select an image having colors he desires from images actually used and set the selected data into the printer. Thus, after the color adjustment, a desired print whose set colors are automatically stored can be provided.

Abstract: A print apparatus having a spell checking feature has a processor and a memory for storing a spell checking program. A computer coupled to the print apparatus may be used to instruct the print apparatus to spell check a document file before printing the document file. The print apparatus incorporates the results of the spell check into the printed document by highlighting, bolding or underlining the misspelled words. Alternatively, the print apparatus operates like a network server to provide spell checking services to the computer and/or to a plurality of computers coupled to the print apparatus via a computer network.

Abstract: To accurately setting a print charge on the basis of a color which is used actually at a stage to print data consisting of a mixture of color data and monochromatic data. It is possible to judge a color designated for printing by detecting color information from drawing processing information converted from the data and storing color designation information on the basis of the detected color information. Accordingly, a printing system is capable of setting a print charge accurately on the judged color.

Abstract: The CMY axes are taken radialy about an origin on a plane. By this plane, a color represented using two colors among CMY can be expressed. A space is generated by adding a K axis perpendicular to the CMY plane. The color in this space is a color having black added to the color of the generated CMY plane. The required color is covered in this space. Color conversion is conducted with a table in which a point on this space and the L*a*b* space are set in correspondence.

Abstract: In a printer having a function of automatically finding out a paper feeder satisfying the condition that the paper size specified in print data and the paper size set in the printer match and then printing, if they match and it is made impossible to find out any paper feeder in which paper remains although print data processing is not complete (paper error state), the user can change the paper size set in the printer and if the paper size is changed to the correct size (print enable state), the printing is continued.

Abstract: A mobile telephone (1) may act as a base station for a machine readable code sensor pen (62) to enable connection of the pen (62) with a computer system. The telephone (1) may also include a sensor (80) for sensing the machine readable code and/or a printer (12), for mobile printing of coded substrates.

Abstract: When printing materials are supplied from a printhead, which is used to supply a plurality of types of printing materials having the same color and different densities on the basis of CD and printing OD value values obtained from image data, onto each pixel to print an image including a plurality of pixels expressed by combinations of the plurality of types of printing materials on a printing medium, a table storing pieces of ink information #1 to #8 representing combinations of inks in correspondence with pieces of address information A1 to A16 representing the positions of a plurality of pixels for the respective CD values ranging from 0 to 4096 with respect to the respective CD and OD values is looked up, combination information of inks to be used to print a target pixel is acquired on the basis of the CD and OD values and address information A1 to A16 of the target pixel, and the target pixel is printed by supplying inks from a printhead onto the target pixel on the basis of the combination inform

Abstract: Since both an output setting value and an output subject identifier, which are contained by a setting program, are stored as one record into a drawing table, an output condition such as a layout of image data which is designated when a printing operation is carried out can be previously set before the printing operation is carried out. Since photograph numbers of image data stored in a memory card are defined in relation to output subject identifiers, such image data to be printed out can be designated.

Abstract: A schedule view is displayed in a print server. In the schedule view, print-jobs are displayed with rectangular shapes having lengths corresponding to printing time and color (or pattern) corresponding to its state, and the print-jobs are arranged and displayed in the order of prints to which the print-jobs are allocated. It is possible to intuitively grasp relative magnitude of a load of each printer by the length of a job graph, and an absolute amount of the load of each printer converted into a printing time by a displayed time scale. In addition to this, details of a job which is being processed, details of a selected job, and a state of each printer are also displayed.

Abstract: In a print service method for a printing system, text data contained in a mail received by a mobile phone owned by a user, and attachment file data attached to the received mail are downloaded into the printing system from the mobile phone. Application software corresponding to the attachment file data is selected from application software stored in the printing system, thereby opening the attachment file data by using the selected application software. The text data and the attachment file data opened by the selected application software are printed onto a printing medium.

Abstract: A method for the transformation of digital print data streams, in which an input print data stream (2) is read in, this is analyzed by means of a parser (4) for graphically representable objects (5, 5a) and is split up into these graphically representable objects (5, 5a), and the graphically representable objects (5, 5a) are stored in a memory (6) in an object-oriented format, and the graphically representable objects (5, 5a) stored in the memory (6) in an object-oriented format are transformed into a format for the control of an output device (9), preferably a printer, and the objects thus transformed are combined into an output print data stream (10) and are output, graphically representable objects (5, 5a) being stored in the memory (6) in an object-oriented format, to which at least one stored script (5a) is assigned, which is executed in the cases defined in the script (5a).

Abstract: A printer attached to a computer using a driver routine includes an appropriate interface configured to receive, from the computer, an intermediate, device non-specific code such as a Page Description Language (PDL) message generated by an active printer driver routine and provide a corresponding bitmap. The computer may be a standalone workstation connected to the printer or a server providing printer services to a network of users. The printer also has a print engine configured to print an image corresponding to the bitmap. A communications interface is connected to receive a latest version of the printer driver routine which is then stored in a local memory that is part of the printer. The printer further includes a local processor for selectively supplying the computer with the latest version of the printer driver routine from the local memory. The local printer processor may be responsive to a version designation of the active printer driver routine (i.e.

Abstract: The printer having the mail-bin feature, at a time when the output for all the print jobs addressed to the same user, an output completion notice is transmitted to the particular user. When, in such a state that the previously discharged printed matter for a certain user (user D) still remains in any bin (bin 1), an attempt is made to process a print job for another user (user A) which designates the same bin as the discharge destination, an output completion notice is transmitted to the user (user D) the printed matter for whom still remains in the same bin before the print job is processed and the output completion notice is transmitted to the other user (user A).

Abstract: A printing system includes a plurality of networked printers where macro data can be stored efficiently and quickly in selected printers. First, a host computer reads macro data stored in a HDD of a predetermined printer and displays the macro data on a CRT display. Then, upon the user's selection of macro data to be copied and the IP addresses of destination printers, the selected macro data is transmitted to each of the destination printers. Each of the destination printers receives the selected macro data and stores it in its HDD.

Abstract: In a rotary press intended to perform the synchronous control of driving means with high precision, quickly stabilize rotation, and reduce spoilage caused by phase shifts, comprising a plurality of printing mechanisms in which driving means M rotate N turns while plate cylinders P rotate one turn, so that printing images can be printed on a paper web sequentially passing through each printing mechanism in such a manner that the printing images are matched with a predetermined reference, in which a control section 3 replaces the rotational phase of the plate cylinder with the rotational phase of the driving means M corresponding to that rotational phase so as to match the printing images with a predetermined reference, converts a shift between the rotational phase of the driving means M for matching and the rotational phase of the driving means M in a normal state into the number of outputs of the first pulse signals, set it as a correction value, and obtains a virtual feedback value by shifting the rotational

Abstract: A calendar selling system comprises a server that stores information of a plurality of pictures and a terminal that receives information of the plurality of pictures from the server and shows the information to a user, and the user selects pictures for a calendar from the plurality of pictures according to the information with the terminal to order the calendar. The calendar selling system also comprises a printing office that receives information of the pictures selected by the user from the server, prints the calendar with the pictures selected by the user and dates set by the user or automatically set according to the date of the order, delivers the calendar to the user and bills the user. Therefore, the desired calendar can be purchased all through the year and delivered to the user quickly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a thermosensitive line printer, wherein a heating element array of a thermal head is pressed on a thermosensitive recording paper at a distance L2 from a nipping position by a pair of conveyer rollers, and is driven to record an image frame line by line from a print starting end, as the recording paper is conveyed by the conveyer rollers in a direction from the thermal head to the conveyer rollers. Based on image data of an upper zone of an image frame that is to be recorded around the distance L2 from the print starting end if the image frame is recorded from its top side, an image analyzer calculates a first estimation value that represents conspicuousness of potential density deviation in the upper zone that could be caused by a thermal deformation of the thermosensitive recording paper at the print starting end if the image frame is recorded from the top side.

Abstract: A maskable drive signal generator selectively generates one of n types of maskable drive signals for each main scan pass, and a drive signal masking section generates a drive signal to be supplied to ink-expulsion drive elements of a print head by masking the maskable drive signal according to a print signal. The printing of ink dots on each raster line is completed in n×m main scan passes while employing each of the n types of maskable drive signals m times on each raster line.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for printing a document from a computer workstation to a multifunction peripheral. Upon receiving a print command, the computer workstation determines whether the multifunction peripheral prints pages in a face-up or a face-down configuration. If the multifunction peripheral prints pages in a face-down configuration, the workstation invokes a printer driver to send the pages of the document to a print controller in reverse order. The print controller processes an initial portion of the document and sends the initial portion to the multifunction peripheral for printing. The multifunction peripheral prints the initial processing portion of the document while the controller processes the remainder of the document.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention is specifically configured to allow a printer's or a user's account to accumulate a credit balance and for all or a portion of this balance to be presented to the corresponding user or users as a collection of “points”. If the printer account has a credit balance, then the corresponding points may be redeemed by the user or users for particular products or services. Users thereby learn to associate fee-earning activities in relation to the printer, such as the printing of advertising and online purchasing, with the accumulation of points, thus maximising the likelihood that a particular printer will not become a cost burden to its provider.

Abstract: An information technology network comprises a plurality of printers and at least one computing entity which serves as a print manager. The print manager is adapted to process print jobs by distributing the ripping process between two or more different printers, and then returning disparately ripped data to a single printer for physical marking of documents with indicia in accordance with the ripped data.

Abstract: A status data transmission control apparatus and method reduces the buffer size needed for transmission and significantly reduces the communication load by storing the most recent status data (of continuously generated status data) and a history of status data changes in a dedicated buffer. The most recent status data and the history of changes leading up to the most recent status data are sent to the host.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for setting and adjusting a print location for printing by a printer, by which the information about the print location where a print will start is set by the user as an option and a printer is controlled such that an image or text, etc. to be printed is printed out at a desired position on a paper, is provided. Printing is executed by first setting the print location for printing by a printer set directly by the user and then determining a print starting location considering the set print location information and margin information related to a document. Thus, a document having the same margins can be printed for various applications. Furthermore, a desired portion of text or image data, for example, can be printed out at a designated position on a printing paper by scaling up or down a document.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system of capturing a destination address from a label print stream in a data processing system which is capable of supporting an object oriented programming environment. The method begins with the initiation of a print stream from a label application. A virtual driver is selected as the intended destination device of the print stream. The virtual driver directs the print stream to a print intercept automation server (PIAS). The PIAS causes the system to display on a monitor a print field selection. The system operator selects an envelope print field from the print intercept automation server. The envelope print field is a set of objects established in the object oriented environment and comprises a mailpiece OCX and an indicia printing control object. The print stream is then parsed to extract a set of address data defining a destination address from the print stream by the print automation server.

Abstract: A method of producing a label for a mailpiece having a postal indicium printed thereon including the following steps: (i) providing a user with a label stock including a plurality of labels; (ii) prompting the user to provide an input of a label position indicator corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of labels; (iii) feeding the label stock through a printer; and (iv) printing the postal indicium on the selected label.

Abstract: A calendar selling system comprises a server that stores information of a plurality of pictures and a terminal that receives information of the plurality of pictures from the server and shows the information to a user, and the user selects pictures for a calendar from the plurality of pictures according to the information with the terminal to order the calendar. The calendar selling system also comprises a printing office that receives information of the pictures selected by the user from the server, prints the calendar with the pictures selected by the user and dates set by the user or automatically set according to the date of the order, delivers the calendar to the user and bills the user. Therefore, the desired calendar can be purchased all through the year and delivered to the user quickly.

Abstract: A thermal label printer includes an actuation mechanism and follower for facilitating loading of stock (e.g., label stock). A pivotable printer head pressure plate includes the actuation mechanism which cooperates with the follower coupled to a peeler roller. As the pressure plate is moved from a closed position proximate a platen to an open position for loading of stock or for cleaning the printer head, the peeler roller is automatically translated from the platen. The resulting roller gap and displaced printer head provide unrestricted access for threading of the printer. The printer also includes a programmable device in the printer electronics for reconfiguring the printer to accommodate a variety of thermal print mechanisms.

Abstract: In a printer system comprising a plurality of printers, a printer in an output-impossible state can specify and confirm a backup printer. Each of the printers comprises display means, data storage means, printer information obtaining means, backup printer determining means, and data transfer means. One of the printers in output-impossible state stores output data in the data storage means and displays an error-state display in a status display unit thereof. The printer obtains information of the other printers via the printer information obtaining means. The backup printer determining means of the printer determines a backup printer based on a predetermined condition and displays which is the backup printer on the backup printer display unit thereof. At the same time, the printer reads the output data from the data storage means and transfers the data to the backup printer via the data transfer means.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and apparatus for identifying a media type to be printed upon and communicating the identification to a printer. The method includes the steps of: reading data printed on a leading edge of the media to at least identify the media type; storing the data and employing information from the data to establish printer control parameters; removing the leading portion of the media which contains the data and thereafter printing on the media, as required. Upon occurrence of a later event, data identifying the media is reprinted on a leading edge of the media, which data is derived from data that was stored when the data from the media was initially read. The data printed on the leading edge, in addition to identifying the media type, preferably indicates a remaining length of media available for printing.

Abstract: A printer receives image information from a host computer and performs printing based on the image information. When an optional unit is newly attached to the printer, the printer changes the device ID which is selected from an ID ROM in accordance with the optional unit. Then output from an interface circuit is changed so that the host computer detects the change of the output from the interface circuit. The host computer makes a device-ID request to the printer to obtain the device ID corresponding to the optional device. Then the host computer determines whether or not a printer driver which is currently operative corresponds to the printer with the newly-attached optional device.

Abstract: Ink jet printing apparatus for forming a borderless image on a receiver in response to a digital image file having a digital image and the desired size of the image to be formed, including an ink jet print bar for delivering ink to the receiver and disposed at an image transfer position. The apparatus moves the receiver along a path onto a platen past the ink jet print bar at the image transfer position; a receiver detector unit disposed adjacent to the path for detecting the leading edge of the receiver prior to its moving to the image transfer position; a receiver cutter for cutting the receiver to an appropriate size; and control circuitry responsive to the digital image file for determining the appropriate size of the borderless image on the receiver and for actuating the ink jet printer to cause an ink image to be formed on the receiver as it moves past the image transfer position and for actuating the receiver cutter to cut the receiver so a borderless image is formed on the receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape printing device for printing a desirable series of characters on a tape and cutting the tape to a label of a desirable length, and also a tape cartridge used in the tape printing device. The tape cartridge has a characteristic element readably storing specific information on the tape such as a width of the tape. The tape printing device reads the characteristic element to control printing conditions according to the type of the tape cartridge. More specifically, the tape printing device determines a variety of parameters including a number of lines and character sizes of the character series printed on the tape as well as lengths of left and right margins. When a tape of a relatively large width is set in the tape cartridge, the device increases a rotation torque of a platen for feeding the tape.

Abstract: A printer, in which nozzles for printing dots are positioned in a zigzag formation, has a simple circuit for sending to these nozzles printing data that has been expanded into a bit-map image. When sending data to a print head in which odd-numbered nozzles and even-numbered nozzles are alternately positioned, the bit data of string n+l and the bit data of string n that correspond to respective nozzles inside image buffer 20 are converted from parallel to serial before being sent. Odd-numbered bit data and even-numbered bit data are then selected from the bit data using divided clock signals, and are converted from serial to parallel for printing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new printing apparatus and process for inkjet printers which incorporates spectral modeling of ink mixing and the technology of halftoning in device-independent color space. In addition no colormap building or color mapping processing is necessary, because color correction is conducted in device-independent space and is built into the halftoning process. also disclosed is an automatic self-calibration by the printer without user intervention or user preferences by using an optical sensing unit on the printer. The procedure corrects for print cartridge to print cartridge variance, and variance of print cartridges over time and also provides for faster processing of color images.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a cache based scan matrix keyboard controller system. The cache based scan matrix keyboard controller system includes a plurality of keys on a keyboard adapted to signal when a key is activated. The cache based scan matrix keyboard controller system also includes a cache memory component and a state machine. The cache memory component stores information regarding the keys for a period of time. The state machine is adapted to interpret the information in the cache memory component to efficiently control said keyboard in a manner that minimizes reliance on CPU processing and reduces expenditure of design, manufacturing and operating resources.

Abstract: The invention is a system and method for producing a mail piece wherein the system includes at least one printer for printing documents and envelopes in response to signals generated by a host computer under control of an application program. In addition, the system includes: a mail finishing unit which forms the mail piece from the envelopes and documents; and, a control unit which controls the finishing unit to form each individual mail piece within the set of produced mail pieces. Each individual mail piece is comprised of attributes specific to that mail piece. The control unit receives signals generated by the host computer, parses the signals received therefrom, and extracts control signals embedded therein by the host computer. The control signals identify the individual attributes associated with each individual mail piece. The control unit responds to the extracted control signals by generating finishing control signals for the finishing unit to create the individual mail piece.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape printing device for printing a desirable series of characters on a tape and cutting the tape to a label of a desirable length, and also a tape cartridge used in the tape printing device. The tape cartridge has a characteristic element readably storing specific information on the tape such as a width of the tape. The tape printing device reads the characteristic element to control printing conditions according to the type of the tape cartridge. More specifically, the tape printing device determines a variety of parameters including a number of lines and character sizes of the character series printed on the tape as well as lengths of left and right margins. When a tape of a relatively large width is set in the tape cartridge, the device increases a rotation torque of a platen for feeding the tape.

Abstract: A print control method capable of reducing power consumption of an information apparatus is performed between the information apparatus for transmitting print data and a printer receiving the print data for image forming in accordance with the print data which are connected by wireless communication. The print control method includes the steps of: calculating a first period of time it takes before it becomes ready to receive the print data by the printer; notifying the information apparatus of the first period of time by the printer; determining if the first period of time is elapsed by the information apparatus; and transmitting the print data to the printer by the information apparatus when the first period of time is elapsed. It is noted that a printing system using the print control method is also claimed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tape printing device for printing a desirable series of characters in a preferable balance on a tape through a simple operation. The tape printing device of the invention is used for printing text data in a plurality of lines along a width of the tape and in a plurality of `paragraphs` along a predetermined length of the tape. The `paragraph` in the tape printing device is different from a paragraph in a word processor and includes a fixed number of lines. Even when text data in a certain line of a paragraph is deleted, the certain line is kept in the paragraph as a vacant line. In another application, the tape printing device of the invention includes a predetermined menu for printing text data in a plurality of lines. The plurality of lines are arranged in a good balance when the user selects one of possible choices for each required information in the predetermined menu.

Abstract: Each of record information blocks in various modes is divided into predetermined information units each having a head indicator indicating a head of respective one of the predetermined information units. An information recording apparatus, to which the record information blocks are inputted in time sequence for each of the modes, is provided with: an emulation device for emulating the predetermined information units one after another; an indicator memory device for temporarily storing the head indicator in a current information unit, which is one of the predetermined information units and is currently emulated by the emulation device, for a time duration while the current information unit is emulated; an update device for updating the head indicator, each time when an emulation for the current information unit is completed by the emulation device; and an error judgment device for judging whether or not an error is generated during the emulation for the current information unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape printing device for printing a desirable series of characters on a tape and cutting the tape to a label of a desirable length, and also a tape cartridge used in the tape printing device. The tape cartridge has a characteristic element readably storing specific information on the tape such as a width of the tape. The tape printing device reads the characteristic element to control printing conditions according to the type of the tape cartridge. More specifically, the tape printing device determines a variety of parameters including a number of lines and character sizes of the character series printed on the tape as well as lengths of left and right margins. When a tape of a relatively large width is set in the tape cartridge, the device increases a rotation torque of a platen for feeding the tape.

Abstract: Output apparatus and method of a printer, a display, or the like for receiving a group of commands from a host computer and for changing subsequent data processes. The output apparatus comprises: a substituting circuit for substituting another discrimination information for discrimination information to be changed in accordance with an input of instruction information to instruct a change in discrimination information stored; and an executing circuit for executing a predetermined operation shown by the discrimination information before it is substituted by the substituting circuit in accordance with an input of the discrimination information substituted by the substituting circuit. A command table of an output unit is rewritten by a special command from the host computer, thereby enabling a desired outputting process to be selectively executed while the host computer easily discriminates the output unit.

Abstract: A tape printer includes a keyboard (4) that inputs character strings to be printed on each printed block that is defined in a label tape or a label tube and inputs control commands by which an output format of the character strings is controlled; a display portion (10) that displays the character strings and the control commands that have been input, a memory portion (8) that stores the character strings and the control commands that have been input; a thermal head (13) for printing the character strings stored in the memory portion on each block of the label tape or the label tube on the basis of the control commands stored in the memory portion; a memory (58) that registers printing data that is displayed on the display portion in correspondence with a specific key; and a CPU (7) that causes the printing data registered by the memory to be displayed following an end of the character strings displayed on the display portion and, at the same time, storing the printing data in the memory portion by operating t

Abstract: A printing apparatus for medicine bags includes storage means having stored print data responsive to differences among individual drugs and patients. Reading means reads corresponding print data from the storage means based on prescription data. Printing means prints the print data read by the reading means on a medicine bag or the like in a specified format.

Abstract: A processor for a tape printer enables user-generated characters each formed by dot patterns in four sizes (16.times.16 dots, 24.times.24 dots, 32.times.32 dots, 48.times.48 dots). The user generates the dot pattern of the smallest size (16.times.16 dots) and the processor automatically enlarges the generated dot pattern to tentative dot patterns in the three larger sizes which can then be modified in turn by the user. Upon completion of the modification of the second size pattern (24.times.24 dots) the processor enlarges the completed second size dot pattern to a substitute fourth size tentative dot pattern (48.times.48 dots) to incorporate the modifications of the second size dot pattern into the fourth size dot pattern and thus reduce the user modifications to the fourth size dot pattern.

Abstract: Electronic equipment of the invention includes a keyboard for inputting character data, a memory for storing the character data input from the keyboard, a printer for printing the character data stored in the memory, and a display for displaying the memory contents. The memory consists of a buffer for temporarily storing the character data, a cursor pointer indicating a cursor position on the display, an end pointer indicating a position immediately succeeding the position of the last character input from the keyboard, and a head pointer indicating the printing head position of the printer. The keyboard includes a relocation key in addition to various character input keys. When the relocation key is depressed, the cursor is moved to a position indicated by the cursor pointer, and when depressed again, the cursor is moved to the position indicated by the end pointer, thus facilitating correction of input errors.

Abstract: A franking machine stores first data relating to a first impression second data relating to a second impression. Printing of both impressions or omission of the first impression and printing of only the second impression may be selected by a user. When both impressions are to be printed, the printing means is controlled to print the first impression in a first location on a mail item and to print the second impression in a second location on the mail item adjacent said first location. When omission of printing the first impression is selected the printing means is controlled to print the second impression in the first location.

Abstract: A module is disclosed for use with a franking machine for the entry of data into the machine. The module includes a memory and security means operative in response to an interrogation signal from the franking machine to return a signal to the franking machine that the module is authorised for use with the franking machine for the input of data thereto.