Abstract: An image-forming method and device and an electronic apparatus incorporating the device are provided. At least one line of a character string is input by using letter/symbol characters respectively representative of characters including letters symbols and a space, and a ruled line character which designates, by its position in the character string, a position where a ruled line should be drawn in a manner connectable to other ruled lines. An image is formed which includes images of the characters represented respectively by the letter/symbol characters, and an image of the ruled line drawn at the position.

Abstract: There is provided an image printing method and device which is capable of easily printing a bar code image having colors conforming to a bar code print quality standard. A bar code pattern defining the arrangement of bars of two kinds in a bar code is set. The bars of two kinds include at least one bar of a first kind and at least one bar of a second kind. The at least one bar of the first kind are different in optical reflectance from the at least one bar of the second kind. A first bar color is set which defines a printing color of the at least one bar of the first kind. A second bar color is set which defines a printing color of the at least one bar of the second kind, based on a predetermined bar code print quality standard which defines conditions concerning the optical reflectance of the bars of two kinds, such that a combination of the first bar color and the second bar color conforms to the predetermined bar code print quality standard.

Abstract: A printer controller analyzes the job language section of the print job supplied from the host computer to see if the calibration stop command set by the host computer is included in this job language section. When it judges that the calibration stop command is included in the job language section, the controller sets a flag, which indicates whether or not to allow the execution of calibration, to a content specifying the prohibition of the calibration. In the subsequent processing of print data, the flag set in this way can prevent the calibration from being executed even when a calibration request is made. As a result, in a print system comprising a host computer and a printer, it is possible to prevent unnecessary calibration from being executed and thereby deal properly with the user requirements in terms of the execution of calibration.

Abstract: There are provided a tape printing apparatus and a tape length-setting method which permits the user to set a desired tape length quickly and reliably, without requiring troublesome operations before printing. The tape printing apparatus is capable of printing a character string on a tape as a medium to be printed upon over a desired tape length. A character string including at least one character is input via a keyboard. A minimum tape length is calculated over which the input character string can be printed, before a print command is generated. A plurality of candidate tape lengths are displayed over which the input character string can be printed, dependent on the minimum tape length. A tape length is selected from the plurality of candidate tape lengths displayed. The input character string is printed over the selected tape length in response to the print command.

Abstract: A method and system for printing a customer image order containing at least one image captured underwater. A digital record of a customer image order containing at least one image captured underwater is obtained. The image captured underwater is determined and a level of correction is also determined. The digital record of the underwater captured image is modified in the determined manner. The determination of the existence of an image captured underwater may be provided by analyzing the image record or obtained by reading information received from the customer image order. Thereafter modified image may be printed and/or displayed.

Abstract: A banner page outputting method, at a printer which is connected to a network and is used by plural users in common, in which in case that plural print jobs of a user are outputted in succession and after the plural print jobs a print job of another user is outputted, the banner pages of users are printed out every user, is provided.

Abstract: A method apparatus for printing a customer image order containing at least one image captured underwater. A digital record of a customer image order containing at least one image captured underwater is obtained. The image captured underwater is determined and the digital record of the underwater captured image is modified in a predetermined manner. The determination of the existence of an image captured underwater may be provided by analyzing the image record or obtained by reading information received from the customer image order. Thereafter modified image may be printed and/or displayed.

Abstract: Printing apparatus and print control method for efficiently utilizing buffer memories. In a case of performing printing operation by controlling scanning of a printhead and four buffer memories where K, C, M and Y color image data are temporarily stored respectively, the color component data is inputted to the buffer memories while monitoring the data storage, and based on the monitoring result, discrimination is made as to whether or not at least one of the buffer memories has become full. Also, a print width, a conveyance amount of a print medium, and color component data to be cleared upon printing are dynamically determined based on a printable width of the printhead and the contents of the inputted color component data (monochrome image, color image, mixture of monochrome and color image).

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: A plurality of patterns respectively having different area factor of dot formation area are formed by forward and reverse scanning printing of a print head, and then optical characteristics of the plurality of formed patterns are measured. A function representing the relationship between the printing position offset between the forward and reverse printings is determined from the optical characteristics. Then, respective pattern having a predetermined area factor of dot formation area is formed by means of forward and reverse scanning where the speed is differentiated according to the mode of a printing apparatus, and then the optical characteristics of this pattern is measured. By applying this measured optical characteristics to the function, an adjustment value of the dot formation position conditions between the forward and reverse scans is obtained for each mode.

Abstract: A portable printer is provided which provides active cooperation between a computer and the portable printer unit. A number of different features are introduced into the printing unit which allow greater responsiveness from the computer responsive to actions taken at the printer unit.

Abstract: A printing system for printing application data instructed to be printed from an application at a printer, which comprises first intermediate data preparation means for preparing first intermediate data from the application data, second intermediate data preparation means for preparing second intermediate data having the same data format as the first intermediate data from the first intermediate data, and print data preparation means for preparing print data that can be processed at the printer from the second intermediate data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing system comprising a primary system and a printer connected thereto. To enhance the usability of a sorting operation for printed matters, the primary system includes a sorting instructing means for transmitting, to the printer, an instruction regarding contents of printing job separation marks for indicating a separation between jobs before printing job data; and the printer includes a means for analyzing a sorting instruction supplied from the primary system, and a means for executing a sorting operation in accordance with the analyzed result.

Abstract: There are provided an image-printing method and device for enabling a more attractive print image to be obtained, even when a basic image is printed which is formed by changing the size of a whole image including image elements formed based on outline fonts or dot matrices. The image-printing method and device print an image on a printing object, while causing a print head and the printing object to move in a predetermined direction to effect relative motion between the print head and the printing object, to thereby form a printed image t. A high-density printing basic image is formed by increasing a dot size in the predetermined direction of a basic image created by arranging at least one image element therein, by a factor of m (m is a natural number equal to or larger than 2).

Abstract: A sheet having at least one self-adhesive special purpose label arrangement set having a postage indicia label, an addressee label, and a sender label, wherein the maximum printable area of the sheet is made available for the labels, and a process for printing these special purpose label arrangement sets. In the process, a computer system with a printer is provided. A postage computer program for preparing and printing the labels is provided, and information concerning the addressee, the sender, and a mail piece to be mailed and how it is to be mailed is inputted into the postage computer program. The postage computer software will interface with and direct the printer to print the label set with the postage indicia, the addressee information, and sender information, preferably in a single pass through the printer. The postage value can be obtained via the Internet or in other manners.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a printer apparatus connected to a host computer, in such a manner that permits bidirectional communication, has a nonvolatile memory that allows its contents to be rewritten and read from the host computer. Allocated to the nonvolatile memory is an area for retaining a plurality of types of information for identifying the printer apparatus. Each piece of information comprises a key for identifying the type of information and a terminator indicating the end of the information. Thus, efficiently storing a plurality of pieces of information regarding the printer apparatus in the nonvolatile memory permits flexible change or addition of information.

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: Print data is stored into a spool device and a predetermined number of copies are printed. A size (ADsize) of print data is compared with a memory capacity (SDsize) of the spool device. When the size of print data exceeds a capacity of the spool device, the print data is divided into a plurality of print jobs on a page unit basis so that the print data lies within the memory capacity. The number of copies is designated for each of the divided print jobs, the print jobs are sequentially stored into the spool device, and the designated number of copies of each print job are printed, respectively.

Abstract: A method for controlling the flow of paper objects in a paper processing system (PPS), having a main copier and/or printer unit with an output accessory manager (OAM) and at least one paper object processing device (POPD1, POPD2, . . . POPDn). The method is carried out by the following steps: generating a paper object header (POH) for each paper object (PO) in the output accessory manager (OAM); sending the paper object header (POH) to downstream paper object processing devices (POPDs) prior to the arrival of a paper object (PO) at the specific paper object processing device (POPD), wherein the paper object header (POH) is updated and modified by each paper object processing device (POPD); absorbing the paper object header (POH) in the last paper object processing device (POPD) in the route and generating in the last paper object processing device (POPD) a paper object header response (POHR) and sending the paper object header response (POHR) to the output accessory manager (OAM).

Abstract: In a camera system comprising an image sensor device for sensing and storing an image; a processing means for processing the sensed image; a print media supply means provided for the storage of print media; a print head for printing the sensed image on print media stored internally to the camera system; a first button and second button each interconnected to the processing means; a method is disclosed of operation of the camera system comprising utilizing the first button to activate the image sensor device to sense an image; and utilizing the second button to activate the print head to print out a copy of the image on the print head. Preferably, the utilization of the first button also results in the printing out of the sensed image on the print media using the print head.

Abstract: A skipping (draft) printer driving method is proposed for a line dot printer whose head bank (which executes shuttle action in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction) is provided with printing pins which are arranged in the shape of saw blade. In the saw blade printing pin arrangement, a printing pin group having L (L: 2, 3, 4, . . .) printing pins for executing dot printing for 1st through L-th dot printing rows respectively is repeated in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction. According to the skipping printer driving method, on each stroke (a to-action or a fro-action) of the head bank, one or more printing pins selected from the L printing pins of the printing pin group are assigned to execute dot printing during the stroke, and the printing pins that have been assigned to execute dot printing during the stroke are driven by a driving circuit of the line dot printer during the stroke so as to execute dot printing of part of a desired dot pattern to be printed on paper.

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: An interface system transmits printing data from a computer to a stencil printer and transmits status information on the stencil printer to the computer. A previously-transmitted status information memory stores status information on the stencil printer which has been previously transmitted to the computer. Status difference information which represents difference of the updated status information, as transmitted from the stencil printer, from the previously status information stored in the memory is generated and transmitted to the computer on request from the computer.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a printer in communication with a host computer through a bidirectional data transfer connection. A first processing time predicting section is capable of predicting first data processing time taken for the host computer to generate bit image data from print data. A second processing time predicting section is capable of predicting second data processing time taken for the printer to generate bit image data from print data. A transfer time predicting section is capable of predicting data transfer time taken for the data transfer connector to transfer data. A distribution controlling section determines distribution of data processing needed to generate bit image data from print data based on combination of the first and second data processing times predicted and the transfer time predicted to provide shortest time data processing distribution plan.

Abstract: This invention relates to provide a label printer which prints by using data recorded in a recordable/reproducible disc and forms a label for the disc. The printer is capable of creating labels to affixed to various portions of the disc and a disc cartridge of the disc by easy operations, and at a time. Further, irrespective of the size of contents of the disc, the printer can create a label from which contents of the disc are grasped at a glance.

Abstract: A process is described for printing a print image on a continuous support material relative to a pre-set position in an electrophotographic printer in which a stepper motor controlled by an electric impulse sequence drives a transport device.

Abstract: An adjustment value for printing deviation between forward and reverse printing passes is set for each width of printing paper. The printing deviation is adjusted by, for example, varying, in the main scanning direction, the frequency of the drive clock signal applied to the print head. The drive clock signal frequency is individually set for each of a plurality of regions into which the main scanning range is divided.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a paper card with printed graphics and a magnetically encoded stripe in an in-line process. The printed graphics information is synchronized with the magnetically encoded information to provide a card with information targeted to a particular customer.

Abstract: A printer for forming images in accordance with print jobs from computers connected to a network, and which discharges the sheets bearing the formed image to a plurality of bins per job. A printer which outputs to a computer a signal warning that sheets have not been removed at a specific event of turning ON the power source of a computer or power source of a printer, or canceling a sleep mode when paper has been forgotten and remains in a bin.

Abstract: Print media drying time need not be set to an artificially high "worst case" drying time. Instead a reliable drying time is estimated based upon factors, such as temperature, humidity, media type, print quality and ink drop volume. When the estimated drying time is undesirably slow, the estimated and actual drying time is reduced by altering the ink composition of the image to be printed. One technique is to over-print or under-print with composite black rather than a true pigment black. Another technique is to deplete the black ink used throughout the image.

Abstract: A print system is disclosed which comprises a printer; a setting device for receiving a setting value specifying a print mode which is entered by a user; a storage device for storing the setting value determined by the setting device; a selector for selecting the setting value selected by the user from the existing setting values stored in the storage device; and a printer controller which processes a document through use of the setting value selected or newly entered by the user to thereby produce print data and which supplies the produced print data to the printer.

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 serial printer apparatus comprises a print heat for printing on a medium according to a received character signal, a carrier on which the print head is provided and which runs the print head over an unprintable region and a printable region, and a control circuit for monitoring the running speed of the carrier and controlling the speed of the carrier by accelerating or decelerating the carrier while suppressing the amount of fluctuation of the speed at least in the printable region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing digital graphic images directly onto a bottle. First, an electronically storable and retrievable digital image is generated. Next, the digital image is transferred to a printing site. Finally, the digital image is digitally printed directly onto bottle at the printing site. The step of digitally printing the digital image directly onto packaging material can include digitally printing the digital image directly onto a preformed bottle, such as a PET bottle. The ink can be provided as a UV-reactive ink, in which instance the UV-reactive ink, after the step of printing, can be cured by exposure to UV light. The present invention allows for full color digital graphic images to be printed directly onto the surface of a bottle.

Abstract: A printing apparatus, a control method therefor, and a medium on which the control method is stored, enable selection of a resume operation to be performed when the printing apparatus resumes operation following an off-line state. The resume operation to be performed after an off-line state is determined by a command received from a host device according to the cause for the off-line state. The resume operation thus determined is performed when the printing apparatus goes on-line again following the off-line state. A marker indicating a particular location in a continuous data stream can be set. If the marker is placed at the beginning of a particular data stream, printing can be resumed from the beginning of the data stream after recovery from an off-line state. By also storing various printer definitions (settings) when a marker is set, the printing apparatus can also be restored to the printer definitions in use when the printer went off-line.

Abstract: There are provided a print image-forming device and device for forming print images and a printing apparatus incorporating the device. A basic image is created which has a plurality of elementary images including at least one fixed-sized elementary image and at least one variable-sized elementary image. A reduced image of the basic image is formed as the print image by reducing at least one of the at least one variable-sized elementary image of the basic image, when the basic image cannot be printed as the print image within the printing area.

Abstract: A printer 80 integrally comprises a printing section 81 for printing on a recording medium such as a cut sheet S and continuous paper L2 based on printing data transmitted from an external host unit H, a control panel 70 containing an indicator section for indicating operating states of the printing section 81, a display panel 60 for displaying data transmitted from the host unit H to the printing section 81 and instructed to be displayed, an interface 86 for transmitting/receiving signals between the host unit H and the printing section 81 and interfaces 87 and 62 for transmitting/receiving signals between the printing section 81 and the display panel 60. It is possible to securely prevent disagreement of printed content and displayed content and to realize down-sizing and simplification of the system structure by constructing a printer as described above.

Abstract: A serial recording apparatus is disclosed which is capable of continuously printing even if a dot-forming element (or elements) of the element array of the recording head is defective, by substituting for the defective dot-forming element, a substitution dot-forming element. The serial recording apparatus also automatically detects a defective dot-forming element of the element array of the recording head. In operation, print data of the defective dot-forming element, which loses its dot-forming function, is saved in a second print-data storing device, and a first printing pass is carried out. In the second printing pass, a normal dot-forming element is moved to a location on a recording sheet which would otherwise be subjected to printing by the defective dot-forming element, and reads out the print data from the second print-data storing device to print it on that location.

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: A printing apparatus which can improve a print throughput in consideration of a color processing mode suitable for print data is provided. The color processing mode is decided on the basis of information of color attribute included in the print data and added to output data, the resultant data is transferred to the printing apparatus, and further, the color processing mode is decided by a page unit.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus includes an edge detection unit that detects the positions of pixels in one pixel line in which data changes from 0 to 1 in accordance with the data serially converted from ORed data in a state where the data representing OR of each recording data on each ink color, and a discharge control data formation unit that forms fixing process driving data including data 1 at a given ratio to AND data obtainable by operating AND between the serially converted data from the ORed data and the detection output from the edge detection unit.

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: There are provided a method and apparatus for printing a print image on a print material by using a print head based on dot information of the print image by causing at least one of the print head and the print material to move to thereby effect relative motion between the print head and the print material at a relative speed dependent on a rotational speed of a DC motor as a drive source. Driving of the DC motor and the print head is controlled for printing of the print image. A distance from a predetermined length start position selected from a front end position, a print start position, and a print end position of the print material to a predetermined length end position at which the relative motion is to be terminated, is set to a predetermined length. Braking of the DC motor is controlled by varying a braking load on the DC motor in dependence on the relative speed and the predetermined length so as to terminate the relative motion at the predetermined length end position.

Abstract: A method of controlling a speed of a print medium through a printer includes the step of providing a print medium transport assembly with a range of print medium transport speeds between a minimum print medium transport speed and a maximum print medium transport speed. A print engine is provided with a print engine speed. The range of print medium transport speeds is divided into subranges of print medium transport speeds. A requested speed is provided to the print medium transport assembly which corresponds to the print engine speed. For each subrange, an acceleration profile control equation, a constant speed control equation, and a deceleration profile control equation is determined. The constant speed control equation is dependent upon the requested speed. One of the subranges of print medium transport speeds is identified which encompasses the requested speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing control apparatus for controlling a printing process performed on recording media according to printing information input from a data processing apparatus via a particular communication medium, the recording media being fed one by one to a printing mechanism and ejected out of the main part of a printer. The apparatus has a variably setting unit for variably setting the resolution of the printing mechanism; a calculator for calculating the time required for the printing process on a recording medium until ejecting the recording medium out of the main part of the printer, depending on the resolution variably set by the variably setting unit; a time measurement mechanism for measuring an elapsed time; and a judgment unit for judging whether a recording medium has been ejected on the basis of the elapsed time measured by the time measurement mechanism and also on the basis of the time calculated by the calculator.

Abstract: A printing method for producing a print having large visual effects mat processing the surface of a print made by an ink ribbon and a thermal transfer head. The images of color components of yellow, magenta, and cyan 52 are sequentially formed on a printing paper 23, and thereafter, a lamination film 53 is stuck to the entire image face in the same process. At this time, a silk texture or random concave-convex pattern is formed on the lamination film 53 and the mat processing having the large visual effects is performed.

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.

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 printing system in which print data created by an application program and transferred to a printer is stored and managed in a print data storage device, providing that the print data is authorized for reprinting. A printer monitor is provided to constantly monitor the printer for a request to retransmit data that has already been printed. When such a retransmission request from the printer is detected, the print data requested for retransmission is specified in the print data storage device and is transmitted to the printer for reprinting.

Abstract: A printer allows changing the number of images printed on a single sheet of said recording medium, changing the layout of the print images, and changing the size of the print images. Said printer is provided with a means for determining whether or not each printed image size is larger or smaller than a predetermined size by comparing the size of a print image with a predetermined size. High quality print images are obtained by accomplishing image processing for contrast emphasis when an image is small than a predetermined size, and accomplishing image processing for edge emphasis when an image is larger than a predetermined size.