Tape printing apparatus

• US 20040179212A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Kurashina, Hiroyasu
• Application Number:
  US10/742,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20040179212A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.7
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/46 Printing mechanisms combined with apparatus providing a visual indication

Abstract

A tape printing apparatus includes: a print unit for printing on a printing tape; a support information storage region which stores in advance multiple pieces of support information about the tape printing apparatus itself and the printing tape; a selection key for selecting any one piece of support information from the multiple pieces of support information stored in the support information storage region; a display screen for displaying the support information; and a control unit. The control unit reads the one piece of support information, which is selected by the selection key, from the support information storage region and causes the read information to be displayed on the display screen.

Claims

1. A tape printing apparatus comprising:

support information storage means for storing in advance multiple pieces of support information about the tape printing apparatus itself and a printing tape;

selection means for selecting any one piece of support information from the multiple pieces of support information stored in the support information storage means;

display means for displaying the support information; and

first control means for reading the one piece of support information, which is selected by the selection means, from the support information storage means and causing the display means to display the read information.

2. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiple pieces of support information include at least one or more of telephone numbers and addresses to make inquiries about the tape printing apparatus itself and the printing tape.

3. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

print means for printing the support information; and

second control means for reading any one piece of support information, which is selected by the selection means, from the support information storage means and causing the print means to print the read information.

4. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the multiple pieces of support information include support information that cannot be displayed all at once by the display means.

5. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when a predetermined key operation is performed, the second control means reads the telephone number to make inquiries from the support information storage means and causes the print means to print the telephone number.

6. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

test print image storage means for storing in advance a test print image for specifying a cause of printing failure,

wherein the second control means reads the test print image from the test print image storage means by a predetermined key operation and causes the print means to print the test print image.

7. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

tape width detection means for detecting a width of the printing tape,

wherein each piece of the support information includes one or more of detailed data information which are prioritized beforehand for printing and, when causing the print means to print the support information, the second control means selects one or more of detailed data information to be printed from the detailed data information included in the support information, based on a detection result of the tape width detection means and the priorities.

8. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a printer case which forms an external shape of the tape printing apparatus itself and has an attachment region capable of attaching the printed tape therein,

wherein the second control means sets a print region where the print means prints the support information so as to fit in the attachment region.

9. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

annunciation means for announcing an error when the width of the mounted printing tape is wider than that of the print region.

10. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, when the width of the mounted printing tape is wider than that of the print region, the second control means causes the print means to print an indicator of the width of the print region together with the support information.

11. The tape printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising information update means for updating the support information stored in the support information storage means.