Abstract: The present invention provides a consumable goods management tag, comprising: a rewritable memory for storing remaining quantity data representing a remaining quantity of consumable goods, and a rewrite controlling unit for controlling a rewrite of the remaining quantity data stored in the memory on the basis of a remaining quantity data writing request inputted from outside, carrying out the rewrite of the remaining quantity data responding to increase of the remaining quantity only when a predetermined rewrite condition is fulfilled, and carrying out the rewrite of the remaining quantity data responding to decrease of the remaining quantity even when the rewrite condition is not fulfilled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a consumable goods management tag, comprising: a rewritable memory for storing remaining quantity data representing a remaining quantity of consumable goods, and a rewrite controlling unit for controlling a rewrite of the remaining quantity data stored in the memory on the basis of a remaining quantity data writing request inputted from outside, carrying out the rewrite of the remaining quantity data responding to increase of the remaining quantity only when a predetermined rewrite condition is fulfilled, and carrying out the rewrite of the remaining quantity data responding to decrease of the remaining quantity even when the rewrite condition is not fulfilled.

Abstract: An image medium is attached in an image input unit of a printing system, and an image to be printed and its number of prints are set through an operation panel. As contents of an order is determined, a credit card is inserted in an ID reading unit, and the printing system identifies a customer, and registers the order, then settles a payment. If the payment is done in cash, the printing system issues a magnetic card and the like on which a number is recorded for the customer to verify. The printing system has a plurality of container boxes for storing the printed material related to the customer's order by separating and keeping the printed material for each customer. A host unit verifies the properness of the person who comes to receive the prints by his/her credit card or the magnetic card and the like, and opens a corresponding outlet among the container boxes, so that the customer can receive his/her prints.

Abstract: According to the present invention, light of a color specified by the color data corresponding to the hierarchy level to which the selected attribute item belongs is emitted to the display unit. Users can thus recognize from this color, the hierarchy level of the attribute item displayed on the display unit. That is, without using an expensive display unit such as one that can display complicated images including diagrams as described in the conventional example, even an inexpensive display unit such as one that can provide character display of the attribute item allows users to recognize the hierarchy level only by an inexpensive light source capable of emitting a plurality of colors of light. Moreover, unlike the conventional example, it is no longer necessary to provide the display unit with an area for displaying a hierarchical structure, thereby preventing the display unit from increasing in size.

Abstract: A thermal printer is used with a thermosensitive recording sheet, and records an image on the recording sheet. A predetermined discernment code is provided for the recording sheet. A code reader inputs the predetermined discernment code. A system control block stores reference code, and checks the predetermined discernment code with reference to the reference code to judge whether the recording sheet is acceptable or unacceptable. If the recording sheet is unacceptable, printing operation is inhibited and/or an alarm signal is generated.

Abstract: A roll thermosensitive recording material is wound about a winding core, which has a hole code disposed in an end surface. The end surface has a black color. The hole code includes plural holes formed in the end surface at a regular depth, and has a hole base face with a white color. In a code reader, a code detecting photo sensor is set so as to adapt a detection distance thereof to the hole base face, and detects the white color from the hole base face, to read the holes. A code inspecting photo sensor is set so as to adapt a detection distance thereof to the end surface, for inspecting the end surface. The winding core is detected unacceptable if the code inspecting photo sensor detects the white color from the end surface.

Abstract: A line printer including a device for receiving gradation scale values of pixels for one line to be printed, and a plurality of tables for correcting a density variation caused by common resistance unevenness. The line printer further includes a device for arithmetically obtaining a number of printing elements to be operated for each gradation scale for printing from the gradation scale values of the pixels for one line received by the receiving device, and a device for retrieving an optimal table from the plurality of tables on the basis of the number of printing elements obtained by the arithmetic device.

Abstract: A line printer including a device for receiving gradation scale values of pixels for one line to be printed, and a plurality of tables for correcting a density variation caused by common resistance unevenness. The line printer further includes a device for arithmetically obtaining a number of printing elements to be operated for each gradation scale for printing from the gradation scale values of the pixels for one line received by the receiving device, and a device for retrieving an optimal table from the plurality of tables on the basis of the number of printing elements obtained by the arithmetic device.

Abstract: A direct color thermal printing method supplements coloring density in a print start area for each color frame of a full-color image to be printed in a three color sequential fashion. A color thermosensitive recording sheet has cyan, magenta and yellow thermosensitive coloring layers formed on a base in this order. The heat sensitivities of the coloring layers become the lower the nearer to the base. Since the coloring density tends to be insufficient in the beginning of printing due to the temperature of the thermal head, supplementary drive pulses for supplementing coloring density is applied to each heating elements in addition to drive pulses for coloring. The supplementary heat energy is predetermined to be lower, the higher the line number from a print start position of the print area, and the higher the heat sensitivities of the thermosensitive coloring layers.

Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head, which includes plural heating elements arranged in a main scanning direction. The heating elements are driven while the thermal head and a color thermosensitive recording sheet are moved relatively in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The heating elements apply bias heat energy and image heat energy to the recording sheet, thermally to record an ink dot on the recording sheet. The bias heat energy is determined to heat the recording sheet substantially to a temperature at which the recording sheet starts being colored. The image heat energy is determined in accordance with image data of a halftone image. Density correcting heat energy is additionally applied to the recording sheet through heating elements located in end positions in the thermal head. The heating elements of the end positions are so located that heat escapes therefrom fastest of the plural heating elements.

Abstract: A color thermosensitive recording sheet is formed by sequentially laying a cyan thermosensitive coloring layer, a magenta thermosensitive coloring layer, and a yellow thermosensitive coloring layer on a base. On this color thermosensitive recording sheet, a color image is printed with a thermal head by a three-color image sequential printing method. Each thermosensitive coloring layer develops color by a bias heating and an image heating. A bias heat energy slightly short of the coloring of a thermosensitive coloring layer to be colored and an image heat energy corresponding to the coloring density are used. A blank area is formed in the background of a binary image such as characters and line drawings. A blank frame is formed surrounding a half tone image area, Rearing elements facing such a blank area and a blank frame make a bias heating at a heat energy approximate to the magenta bias heat energy, for printing to the lowermost cyan thermosensitive coloring layer.

Abstract: A video printer is supplied with image information, which represents a halftone image having an aspect ratio of 4/3. A rotationally converting section in IC converts the image information so that orientation of the image makes one fourth rotation. A size reducing section in IC processes the image information to reduce a size of the image. A thermal recording head is supplied with the image information after the reduction and the rotational conversion, and records the image on a color thermosensitive recording sheet, which has an aspect ratio of 4/3. The image is recorded in an upper half of the recording sheet. A phrase memory stores phrase information. A synthesizing circuit combines the phrase information with the image information after the reduction and the rotational conversion. The phrase is preferably recorded in a lower half of the recording sheet and outside the image.

Abstract: A detecting and monitoring device which observes a detected object, includes a video camera with a solid state image pickup device including elements divided into two lines corresponding to an actuating timing of each line, a still video recorder for frame recording a picture image signal in an odd number field and picture image signal in a successive even number field as a picture image signal for one scope, a monitor, an emitting device for emitting a flash, and a strobo synchronizer so as to control the emitting device for emitting the flash in the even number field after an external trigger is input. The still video recorder records the odd field picture image signal and the even field picture image signal including the picture image illuminated under the flash. Thereby, the brightness of the picture image signal in the odd number field and the even number field are substantially equal to prevent flickering from occurring.