Abstract: As a server computer receives, in a communication portion, data on an appearance of a custom-made product, such as a stamp, from a purchaser computer, a preview image creating portion creates smaller-sized preview image data than normal image data to be used when a stamp is produced by a stamp producing device connected to a supplier computer. The created preview image data is transmitted from the communication portion to the purchaser computer and the supplier computer, as required, and displayed on respective browsers. Therefore, the purchaser of the custom-made product can be promptly view the preview image of the custom-made product.

Abstract: As a server computer receives, in a communication portion, data on an appearance of a custom-made product, such as a stamp, from a purchaser computer, a preview image creating portion creates smaller-sized preview image data than normal image data to be used when a stamp is produced by a stamp producing device connected to a supplier computer. The created preview image data is transmitted from the communication portion to the purchaser computer and the supplier computer, as required, and displayed on respective browsers. Therefore, the purchaser of the custom-made product can be promptly view the preview image of the custom-made product.

Abstract: Templates common to stamp suppliers are stored in a common template database and stamp supplier's original templates are stored in an original template database. Templates offered in common to the stamp suppliers and the original templates of a stamp supplier stored in the original template database are seamlessly displayed together on Web browsers of purchaser computers. Therefore, the suppliers who open virtual stores in an electronic shopping mall can readily construct the virtual stores, and further be differentiated from other suppliers.

Abstract: Distinction data for distinguishing handling products of a stamp supplier from products offered to the stamp supplier is stored in a handling product database. An information image data creating portion extracts the handling products from all products, based on the distinction data. Only the extracted products are displayed as products that the stamp supplier handles, on a Web browser of a purchaser computer. Therefore, a purchaser can readily buy a product that the purchaser desires in, for example, an electronic shopping mall using the Internet.

Abstract: A stamp making apparatus of the invention makes a stamp plate on a stamp material by applying light thereto through a draft sheet. The stamp making apparatus includes an attachment that can be attached to and removed from a predetermined position facing the draft sheet and has a mounting hole where a holder having a stamp material can be inserted into and removed from. A plurality of mounting holes are formed in the attachment so that the holders having various types and shapes can be inserted into and removed from directly or via an auxiliary attachment. Further, the attachment includes a first adjusting device, which moves the mounting hole in a longitudinal direction of the draft sheet (in the Y direction), and a second adjusting device, which moves the mounting hole in a lateral direction (in the X direction), so that the position of the mounting hole in the attachment can be finely adjusted.

Abstract: A customer computer sends a customer ID to a server that sells, over a transmission network such as the Internet, stamps, business cards, or other products that indicate unique information. Based on the received customer ID, the server extracts customer information from a customer database. A preview image preparation portion of the server uses the extracted information to prepare a preview image of a stamp that the customer ordered in the past. The server transmits the preview image to the customer computer, which displays the preview image using a browser.

Abstract: A stamp device including a stamp body including a grip portion at an upper end thereof and a base portion at a lower end thereof; an ink impregnated body impregnated with ink and attached to the base portion of the stamp body; a thermal stencil sheet disposed on the stamp body so as to cover the ink impregnated body; a skirt member fitted around the lower end of the stamp body; and a mechanism for maintaining intimate contact between the thermal stencil sheet and the stamp body.

Abstract: A perforating device used by a stamp unit for perforating a desired character string pattern on a print face portion of the stamp unit which incorporates an ink impregnation member covered with heat sensitive stencil paper including a thermoplastic film. The perforating device includes: a thermal head having a plurality of heating elements selectively powered and heated to reach a first temperature to melt the thermoplastic film and perforate the heat sensitive stencil paper based on the character string pattern. A moving mechanism moves the thermal head and the print face portion relative to each other after the thermal head has performed the perforation. A head driving circuit powers the heating elements to reach a second temperature lower than the first temperature while the thermal head and the print face portion are being moved by the moving mechanism relative to each other.

Abstract: In the stencil-producing apparatus of the present invention, both the stencil production and the thermal printing are possible. In the apparatus, a thermal head performs stencil production by forming dot-shaped perforations in a heat-sensitive stencil medium and prints images by forming dot-shaped images in a heat-sensitive imaging medium by heating a plurality of thermal elements aligned in a main scanning direction. During thermal printing, the pitch of the relative movement between the heat-sensitive medium and the thermal element in the auxiliary direction is set to a minimal. During stencil production, heat drive of the thermal elements is selectively precluded in the main scanning direction. Heat drive of the thermal elements is selectively precluded also in the auxiliary scanning direction. Or otherwise, the pitch of the relative movement between the thermal head and the heat-sensitive stencil medium in the auxiliary scanning direction is increased to a pitch longer than the pitch during printing.

Abstract: A stamp apparatus prevents a used stencil plate from being used again for making a plate. The apparatus includes a reflective photo sensor that determines if thermal paper of the currently set stencil plate is colored from a past plate-making process. On detecting the colored thermal paper, the sensor prompts an LCD to give an alarm display warning the user of the used stencil plate. Alternatively, a retractable projection interferes with insertion of a used stencil plate. In both cases, the stamp apparatus remains disabled until the used stencil plate is removed. This protects the stamp apparatus from getting soiled or damaged by spilled ink from the used stencil plate set inadvertently by the user.

Abstract: To eliminate wasteful use of thermal stencil paper and thereby provide an inexpensive stamp device, a single thermal head is employed for both the thermal recording on a reversible thermal recording sheet for confirmation of a stamp image and the thermal perforation through the thermal stencil paper for creation of a stamp original. The stamp image is first thermally recorded on the reversible thermal recording sheet; the stamp image thus recorded is then confirmed; and the thermal stencil paper is thermally perforated in accordance with the stamp image to create the stamp original.

Abstract: In a stamping device, a stamping stencil is produced and used which does not require manual application of ink to the stencil. Data concerning an image, which may include character, figure and/or symbol data, is input by a input unit, a thermal head generates heat on the basis of the data and transmits the heat to the thermal stencil paper disposed at the printing position. As a result, a corresponding pattern of pores is produced, by the heat of the thermal head, in the thermal stencil paper. Ink is supplied to the pores by an ink supply unit at an ink supplying position when pressure is applied to the back of the ink supply.

Abstract: A stencil making device capable of controlling numbers of perforations formed by a thermal head. A perforated image is formed by the thermal head in a heat sensitive stencil sheet. An ink in an ink pad passes through the perforated image for providing an inked image on a print sheet. If perforations are densely formed, excessive ink may pass through the perforations. Therefore, the numbers of the perforations are controlled or reduced at a thick character portion. A control unit is provided for changing ON dot area to the OFF dot area of the thermal head if the ON dot area are densely provided.

Abstract: A stamp device is capable of selecting a current supply time for use by a thermal head in accordance with an ink temperature detected by a temperature sensor so as to control the size of perforations to be formed on a heat sensitive stencil paper by the thermal head. Therefore, the stamp device can form uniform images even when there is a variation in the viscosity of ink caused by changes in the evironmental temperature of the stamp device.

Abstract: A compact portable stamp device which can prevent the ink stains on an operator and his/her clothes and the occurrence of nonuniform printing and, further, simplifies the operation of changing the color of the ink. The stamp device comprises a heat sensitive stencil paper fed between first and second rollers. The heat sensitive stencil paper has a laminate structure including a thermoplastic film layer and a porous carrier layer.