Abstract: A tape-shaped label printing device for use with a plurality of freely detachably mountable ribbon cassettes each housing a different color ink ribbon for printing serially on a tape in a plurality of print colors, the label printing device including: an input unit for inputting characters, symbols, and a variety of commands; a data memory unit for storing input text data; a tape/ink ribbon movement mechanism for feeding in a feeding direction the tape and, in synchronization with the tape, an ink ribbon of a mounted one of the ribbon cassettes; a print unit including a print head for printing on the tape via the ink ribbon; a color range setting unit for setting, to text stored in the data memory unit, a printing target range for each of the print colors: print control unit for controlling drive of the tape/ribbon movement mechanism and the print unit to print, on the tape, each printing target range set by the color range setting unit; and an idle feed control unit for, after each printing target range set

Abstract: A document processing device including a keyboard for inputting various data and instructions, a print mechanism for printing on a print medium dot pattern data which are developed in a print data buffer, a memory for storing input data of characters and symbols, and a controller for controlling the keyboard, a display and the print mechanism, a block indication unit for inputting, from the keyboard, block indication data which are indicated as a block for each array of plural characters and symbols at a data input time, and storing the block indication data into the memory with the data of the plural characters and symbols of the block, and a block border ruled line data preparing unit for calculating a block size for each block using the data of the memory, and developing the ruled line data of a rectangular block border into the print data buffer.

Abstract: When an enlargement print key is pressed, a label producing apparatus enters a mode for setting the enlargement magnification used for enlargement printing. Next, a number key is operated to actually set the enlargement magnification. After the creation of print image data, respective data are taken from a table in which the respective data about widths of printing tapes, the number of printing tape segments based on width of tape and enlargement magnification, and "an enlargement start bit position," "an enlargement end bit position," "an enlargement work start bit position 1," "an enlargement work start bit position 2" and "the number of shifts for adjustment" with respect to each tape width which have been specified to thereby create one-dot string data. When it is desired, for example, to scale up and print data associated with a 12-mm tape width in 3.times. magnification, the enlargement print data is printed on the corresponding printing tape by being divided into three at 12-mm width intervals.

Abstract: When a character key is operated, the apparatus reads display character size data for the inputted character, which corresponds to a selected print character size, in S40. Display dot pattern data corresponding to the starting character code in a text memory is then read out. The thus read out data is stored in the location designated by a display position pointer value of a display data buffer in S42. The print fullwidth data for the inputted character code is then read out in S43 so as to calculate the display fullwidth data for display in S44. The display fullwidth data is added to the display position pointer value to determine the next display position pointer value in S45. The display dot pattern data corresponding to the next character code is placed into the location designated by the next display position pointer value in S42.

Abstract: A character string and data characters for printing a bar code are first input, and a print key is operated. When the data read from a text memory of the apparatus are character data, the apparatus creates dot pattern data for printing the character string as per the character size selected. When bar code starting data are read, the data following the characters are read out and converted into bar code data. After the data representing a left-hand side margin of the bar code are generated, dot pattern data constituting the bar code are created in accordance with the height of the character size selected. Then, a right-hand side margin of the bar code is generated.

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus having a detection member which detects movement of a tape cutter to its tape cutting direction. A control system is provided for stopping tape feeding and tape printing operation when the detection member detects the movement of the tape cutter for preventing the print tape from being entangled with an internal mechanical component. Printing operation for one train of dots read from a print buffer is performed when a print key is operated and the count value of a tape feed counter is incremented by 1 dot. Such steps are repeatedly performed if no cutting operation is made by means of a cutting control button and If tape feed count value is not coincident with cut position data, and if a sequence of printing processes have not yet been completed. On the other hand, if the cutting control button is operated while a printing operation is being performed, the printing operation and tape feeding operation are stopped.

Abstract: When a tape cassette having a special tape, such as a lettering tape, is mounted into a tape printing device, which normally permits user set margins, for printing image data on a tape by driving a thermal head and a tape feed motor until all image data is printed out, the user set margin is disregarded and the tape is automatically fed for predetermined amount for setting a predetermined rear margin behind the print end portion. The tape is then automatically fed further for the same amount prior cutting the tape, at the rear end of the margin by driving a tape cutter mechanism. Thus, a rear margin is provided for the cut tape and a front margin established before the next print start portion. The amount the tape is fed is an amount that is long enough to hold the lettering tape when an image printed on the tape is transferred onto the image receiving medium.

Abstract: The document data of a plurality of blocks are input and an auto size is set. After this, when a print key is operated, the data concerning the width of a tape is read out by a cassette distinction sensor. Then, the block number is calculated based on the document data stored in the text memory, and further, the linage of the first block is calculated. The print size is calculated based on the size table corresponding to the tape width data and the linage to be printed. The base line position of each print line is calculated based on the print size, the document data, the tape width data and the linage. The dot pattern data in each line which is formed based on the print size and the document data is developed into the print buffer based on the base line position. When the processing in each block is completed, the print processing is executed. Thus, various blocks of print on the tape may be set to different sizes.

Abstract: An operator inputs characters from a keyboard. The characters are stored in the form of character codes. The operator sets an overall frame and a partial frame to decide characters to be enclosed in the frames by editing character codes symbolically displayed on the liquid crystal display. In this process, both ends of the frames are also encoded into character codes. After the operator enters an execution key, the character codes are converted into bit image data by means of a character generator. The image data for characters, the overall frame and the partial frame are combined on the image buffer. When the image data is ready, the image data is transferred to the thermal head via a driving circuit, and the printing process is executed on a printing medium. An array of printing mechanisms substantially extending across the width of the tape printing medium allow the printing device to execute the whole printing process while sending the medium in one direction.

Abstract: After an operator inputs text data and presses the print execution key, a console for setting the size of characters appears on the display. Setting auto-mode in this step initiates the process of data examination. If the whole text consists of code data for capital alphabets and numerals, the control unit calculates the magnification power Q for magnifying original characters to maximum characters, and the printing device prints the text in maximum size.

Abstract: A printing device capable of printing a plurality of characters/symbols in a plurality of lines on a tape. The device determines the size of the characters/symbols to be printed on the tape based upon the number of lines to be printed and upon the number of characters/symbols to be printed within a predetermined area.