Abstract: An external character creating method is provided for an image forming apparatus having a display screen. The external character creating method includes the steps of displaying at least a portion of image data in a specifying area on the display screen, displaying a dot-shaped cursor on the display screen, and creating an external character on the displayed image data using the cursor. The cursor is fixed at a position in the specifying area, so that the image data is scrolled in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction to create an external character.

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.

Abstract: A peeling device according to one aspect of the invention peels off part of a peel-off paper from a peel-off paper-backed adhesive tape which is a laminate of a substrate tape having a surface coated with an adhesive and a peel-off paper affixed to the substrate tape via the adhesive. A rotational member is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a drive source. On an end face of the rotational member there are arranged a peeling projection rotated to be brought into contact with a substrate tape-side surface of an end of the peel-off paper-backed adhesive tape to carry out a bending releasing action on said end portion of the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape is guided toward the peeling projection when it is inserted and part of the end portion other than a free end brought to the peeling projection is held.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing character information to be formed on a seal, restricted size label, or other printing medium provides for recognizing character string lengths exceeding a threshold length determined from the printing medium when an instruction for development is made. The character string is divided into two lines and developed on the printing medium. The character string is divided equally, at a mode change, or into lines with the first line being longer than the second line. Over-limit characters are displayed in a different manner distinguishing from in-limit characters.

Abstract: There is provided a stamp-making method and apparatus therefor for making a square or circular stamp which can be accurately imprinted with reference to a top-indicating mark provided thereon, without discriminating the orientation of the stamp image engraved on the stamp surface thereof. There is formed first direction-oriented image data having each of a plurality of component elements of plate-making image data oriented in a first direction. When it is detected that it is difficult to discriminate orientation of the stamp body having the mark without reference to the mark, an instruction is given for arranging the image data in a manner oriented in a second direction. According to the instruction, the first direction-oriented image data is converted to a second direction-oriented image data in which the component elements of the plating-making image data are oriented in the second direction. A stamp body is engraved by the use of the second direction-oriented image data to thereby make a stamp.

Abstract: A stamp-making apparatus is provided in which a transparent presser plate is arranged such that the presser plate is parallel with a stamp-making object material, an ink ribbon having a stamp image formed thereon is urged against the stamp-making object material via the presser plate, and exposure of the stamp-making object material to light is carried out via the ink ribbon as a mask. A ribbon feeder rolls out an ink ribbon wound around one end portion thereof to a position facing the stamp-making object material, and then rolls up the ink ribbon around another end portion thereof. A relative translation of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material is made toward each other by moving at least one of the presser plate and the stamp-making object material to thereby urge the ink ribbon against the stamp-making object material. Guide means guides the ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is fed, to space between the presser plate and the stamp-making object material.

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.

Abstract: A tape processing device has a feed device, a cutter assembly, and a coating device. The feed device feeds a tape having a layer of an adhesive. The cutter assembly has at least one cutting blade and cuts the tape. The coating device applies an adhesion-preventing liquid on the at least one cutting blade of the cutter assembly to thereby prevent any of the tape and the adhesive of the tape from adhering to the at least one cutting blade of the cutter assembly.

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.

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.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus for printing on a continuous tape. When a portion of a continuous tape having passed a thermal head is cut at a predetermined cutting position, a stepping motor is caused to stop driving the platen roller for rotation to stop feeding of the tape, and then the tape is cut off. During tape-cutting operation, the stepping motor is held in an energized state. When the printing operation is resumed after stopping the feeding and printing of the tape, the thermal head is caused to print on a portion of the tape printed by an immediately preceding printing operation by the thermal head, in an overlapping manner, by the use of identical printing data or printing data for a next line of dots.

Abstract: A stamp image forming method and apparatus and a stamp-making apparatus using same are provided. Previously stored relief data represents an image of a stamp of interest in the form of positive dots corresponding to protrusions and blank portions of the image in the form of negative dots corresponding to recesses. The relief data is read to generate intaglio data representing the image in the form of negative dots and the blank portions in the form of positive dots based on the relief data. In place of the relief data, relief basic data may be stored which represents an image of a stamp of interest in the form of positive dots corresponding to protrusions and blank portions of the image in the form of negative dots corresponding to recesses.

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.

Abstract: There are provided a printing method of printing an image of characters, figures or the like on a plate-making surface of a plate-making sheet, and an apparatus therefor. The apparatus feeds a plate-making sheet by a predetermined amount assigned to a forward end of the plate-making sheet when the forward end is detected by a sensor. When a mark for detection provided on the plate-making sheet is detected during the feeding of the plate-making sheet by the predetermined amount assigned to the forward end, the apparatus further feeds the plate-making sheet by a predetermined amount from a position of the plate-making sheet where the mark for detection is detected, to thereby locate the start of an image-forming area of the plate-making sheet. On the other hand, when the mark for detection is not detected, the apparatus continues feeding of the plate-making sheet.

Abstract: A tape end trimming apparatus for appropriately cutting and shaping the ends of plural tapes of different widths without wasting the tape and without requiring replacement of the cutting blade is provided. The tape end trimming apparatus comprises cutting for trimming the corners of the end member of a tape. A guide member comprises tape insertion path for guiding an inserted tape to the cutting apparatus. An end position regulator regulates the insertion position of the tape end. The cutting apparatus comprises cutting blade for cutting the end corners at the sides of tape with the position of one side thereof regulated by one tape side position regulator and the position of the end thereof regulated by end position regulator, and the position of the other side thereof regulated by the other tape side position regulator and the position of the end thereof regulated by end position regulator.

Abstract: On printer (20), tape cartridge (4) is detachable relative to mounting unit (5). Mounting unit (5) is covered by cover (22). When cover (22) is closed, its protrusion (51) rotates rotary component (54), and its operating edge (54b) moves moving component (55). When operating edge (54b) moves over the top edge of surface A of guiding surface (55a) of the moving component, the cover is completely closed. Subsequently, rotary component (54) is guided to surface B, where it is held in a coupled state. In conjunction with moving component (55), head carrier component (59) rotates, and head (6) located at the tip of the head carrier component becomes fixed at the print position. In the condition in which a print position is formed, rotary component (54) is off from protrusion (51) of the cover. Therefore, no load acts from the side of head (6) onto the side of cover (22).

Abstract: A tape printing apparatus prints at least one line of a character string formed of characters on a tape. The at least one line of the character string is/are entered. At least one character size rank is/are designated respectively for the at least one line of the character string. The at least one character size rank designated are converted to at least one numerical value, respectively, to thereby determine at least one line-by-line relative character size corresponding respectively to the at least one character size rank. At least one line-by-line absolute character size corresponding respectively to the at least one line-by-line relative character size is/are determined based on a total absolute size corresponding to a tape width of the tape. At least one line of the character string on the tape is/are printed based on the line-by-line absolute character size.

Abstract: A character input apparatus determines a state of an input character string to control the functions performed by operation of any of a plurality of cursor moving keys. The last entered character is displayed in the last position of a six character display and is displayed as flashing, negative or positive indicating an undetermined state, tentatively determined state or determined state of the character string. In a determined state, operation of a cursor moving key results in corresponding movement of the cursor. In the undetermined state, successive operation of the rightward key results in extraction and display of successive candidate characters previously selected and stored by an association with the character in the sixth display position. In the tentatively determined state, successive operation of the upward key results in successive extraction and display of successive kanji characters previously selected and stored by association with tentative determined kana character or characters.

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.

Abstract: A peeling device according to one aspect of the invention peels off part of a peel-off paper from a peel-off paper-backed adhesive tape which is a laminate of a substrate tape having a surface coated with an adhesive and a peel-off paper affixed to the substrate tape via the adhesive. A rotational member is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a drive source. On an end face of the rotational member there are arranged a peeling projection rotated to be brought into contact with a substrate tape-side surface of an end of the peel-off paper-backed adhesive tape to carry out a bending releasing action on said end portion of the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape is guided toward the peeling projection when it is inserted and part of the end portion other than a free end brought to the peeling projection is held.