Printer system

• US 20010006586A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 07/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DYMO BVBA (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Esselte (Esselte Group Holdings SA)
• Inventors: Woodward, Adrian Michael, Heyse, Geert, Sims, Charles Robert, Day, Robert Charles Lewis, Woodman, Michel, Kemp, Jonathan, McCleve, Chris, Archard, Lawrence, Gibbs, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 6,367,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/36 for portability , i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers B41J3/4075 takes precedence

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.

Claims

1. A printer adapted for communication with a host computer, the printer comprising:

communication means for receiving printing data to be printed from the host computer while a communication link exists between the printer and the host computer, said printing data defining a sequence containing a plurality of images to be printed;

a data path for conveying data received at the communication means to storage means for holding said data;

a printing mechanism for printing said data, the printing mechanism having a housing defining a print location;

a user input means for instigating a print command; and

a controller connected to the storage means and to the printing mechanism and operable to allow the printing mechanism to print the plurality of successive images in the sequence at a plurality of respective print locations remote from the host computer with the communication link broken, each successive image being printed responsive to a user instigated print command.

2. The printer of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a display for displaying a version of the image to be printed; and

at least one scroll button for scrolling through the plurality of stored images,

wherein the image printed responsive to a user instigated print command is the image represented in the display. P 7, lines 10-17.

3. A printing system comprising:

a printing unit; and

a computer connectable to the printing unit and configured to execute a printing application for generation of printing data for transmission to said printing unit for printing,

wherein the printing system includes;

a memory which holds a plurality of default printing data options each having associated therewith a time activation period, and

means within the printing system for determining the time at which the printing application is initiated,

and wherein the printing application includes a default output sequence for generating one of said default printing data options in accordance with the detected time of initiation of the printing application.

4. The printing system of

claim 3

wherein the printing unit comprises a portable housing defining a print face and a print head which is movably mounted along both a write axis and an indexing axis within the portable housing, the print head being selectively operable at a plurality of locations within the print face to print images.

5. The printing system of

claim 3

wherein the means within the printing system for determining the time is located within the computer.

6. A method of printing a series of images comprising:

establishing a communication link between a printer and a host computer;

transferring printing data defining a plurality of said images from the host computer to the printer;

breaking the communication link and moving the printer unit to a first location removed from the host computer,

at the first remote location, printing a first image in the sequence responsive to a user instigated print command at the printer unit;

moving the printer to a second remote location; and

at the second remote location, printing a second image in the sequence responsive to the user instigated print command.

7. The method of

claim 6

wherein the printer comprises a portable housing defining a print face and a print head which is movably mounted along both a write axis and an indexing axis within the portable housing, the print head being selectively operable at a plurality of locations within the print face to print images.

8. The method of

claim 6

further comprising:

at a remote location, displaying a display version of the image to be printed on a display integral to the printer;

activating at least one scroll button for scrolling through the plurality of stored images, thereby scrolling through the plurality of images,

wherein the image printed at that remote location, responsive to the user instigated print command, is the image represented in the display.

9. A method of printing a series of images comprising:

establishing a communication link between a printer and a host computer, the printer including user input means for instigating a print command and having a housing defining a print location; and

successively transferring printing data defining each image in the sequence from the host computer to the printer and, responsive to a user instigated print command at each print location, printing said each image within the housing and at a respective print location.

10. A printing system comprising:

a printing unit including user input means for instigating a print command;

a base station configured to receive the printing unit when not in use;

a computer connected to the base station and configured to execute a printing application for generation of printing data for the printing unit, the computer comprising a keyboard; and

wherein execution of the printing application is interrupted by operation of a key on the keyboard of the computer.

11. The printing system of

claim 10

wherein execution of the printing application is interrupted by operation of any key on the keyboard of the computer.

12. The printing system of

claim 10

wherein execution of the printing application can also be interrupted by operation of the user input means on the printing unit.