Label printing apparatus with character string matching

• US 5,816,717 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DYMO BVBA (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Esselte (Esselte Group Holdings SA)
• Inventors: Bridle, Paul Robert, Beadman, Michael Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, Eugene H.
• Application Number:
  US08/797,323
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 400/83, 400/63, 400/70, 400/615.2, 400/621, 400/88, 271/111, 382/102, 382/229, 101/21, 101/93, 101/40, 101/288, 395/145, 395/800, 395/148, 364/401
• US Class Current: 400/83
• 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 method of recalling stored labels is disclosed in which target data is provided by a user so that only labels having label data matching the target data are displayed.

Claims

1. A label printing apparatus for printing a label on an image receiving tape comprising:

a bay for receiving a cassette holding a supply of the image receiving tape;

input means for selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

display means for displaying the characters selected at the input means, the input means and display means cooperating to enable a label to be composed by a user;

storage means for storing the composed label as label data defining the label, wherein a plurality of composed labels can be stored in the storage means;

recall means operable to recall the stored label in response to target data provided by a user at the input means, the recall means being operable to compare label data of each of the stored labels to the target data, and then to provide for display only labels that contain label data matching the target data, wherein the target data comprises at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

printing means arranged at a print zone for printing a composed label on the image receiving tape as it passes through the print zone; and

cutting means for separating a printed label from the supply of image receiving tape in the cassette.

2. The label printing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a scroll key enabling a user to scroll through the labels provided for display by the recall means.

3. A method of locating and printing a stored label from a plurality of different stored labels, the stored labels including a plurality of characters representative of each entire label and being stored as label data, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching together an input device, a display, a printer, a memory, an electronic recaller, and a cutter to provide a self contained label printing and cutting apparatus;

retrieving from the memory the label data for each of the plurality of stored labels;

operating the electronic recaller to compare the label data of each of the plurality of stored labels with target data input through the input device by a user, said target data comprising at least some of the selected characters present in at least one of the stored labels stored as label data;

displaying on the display displayed labels including only said labels which contain label data matching said target data;

printing one of said identified stored labels on an image receiving tape with the printer; and

separating the printed label from a supply of image receiving tape by cutting the tape with the cutter.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the recaller is operated to compare the target data with all data in the label data of each of the plurality of stored labels.

5. A method of printing a label on an image receiving tape, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

(b) displaying the selected characters to enable a label to be composed by a user;

(c) storing the composed label as label data defining all characters of the label, the composed label being one of a plurality of stored composed labels;

(d) operating an electronic recaller to compare the label data of each of the plurality of stored labels with target data input by the user, the target data comprising at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

(e) displaying displayed labels including only those labels containing label data matching the target data;

(f) printing a composed label on the image receiving tape in a print zone, the label being printed as the image receiving tape moves through the printing zone; and

(g) cutting and separating the printed label from the supply of image receiving tape;

wherein steps (a)-(g) are carried out in a self-contained label printing and cutting apparatus.

6. A label printing apparatus for printing a label on an image receiving tape comprising:

a bay for receiving a cassette holding a supply of the image receiving tape;

input means for selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

display means for displaying the characters selected at the input means, the input means and display means cooperating to enable a label to be composed by a user;

storage means for storing the composed label as label data defining the label, wherein a plurality of composed labels can be stored in the storage means;

recall means operable to recall the stored label in response to target data provided by a user at the input means, the recall means being operable to compare label data of each of the stored labels to target data, and then to provide for display only labels that contain label data matching the target data, wherein the target data comprises at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

printing means arranged at a print zone for printing a composed label on the image receiving tape as it passes through the print zone; and

a scroll key enabling the user to scroll through the labels provided for display by the recall means to permit one of the labels containing target data to be selected by the user.

7. A label printing apparatus for printing a label on an image receiving tape comprising:

a bay for receiving a cassette holding a supply of the image receiving tape;

input means for selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

display means for displaying the characters selected at the input means, the input means and display means cooperating to enable a label to be composed by a user;

storage means for storing the composed label as label data defining the label, wherein a plurality of composed labels can be stored in the storage means;

recall means operable to recall the stored label in response to target data provided by a user at the input means, the recall means being operable to compare label data of each of the stored labels to the target data, and then to provide for display only labels that contain label data matching the target data, wherein the target data comprises at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

selecting means for selecting for printing one of the recalled stored labels;

printing means arranged at a print zone for printing the selected label on the image receiving tape as it passes through the print zone; and

cutting means for separating the printed label from the supply of image receiving tape in the cassette.

8. The label printing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the input means allows the user to modify the recalled label prior to printing.

9. In combination a label printing apparatus for printing a label on an image receiving tape and a cassette holding a supply of image receiving tape, the label printing apparatus comprising:

a bay in which the cassette is received;

input means for selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

display means for displaying the characters selected at the input means, the input means and display means cooperating to enable a label to be composed by a user;

storage means for storing the composed label as label data, defining the label, wherein a plurality of composed labels can be stored in the storage means;

recall means operable to recall the stored label in response to target data provided by a user at the input means, the recall means being operable to compare label data of each of the stored labels to the target data, and then to provide for display only labels that contain label data matching the target data, wherein the target data comprises at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

printing means arranged at a fixed print zone for printing a composed label on the image receiving tape as it passes through the print zone; and

cutting means for separating a printed label from the supply of image receiving tape in the cassette.

10. A self-contained label printing and cutting apparatus for printing a label on an image receiving tape comprising:

a cassette bay configured for receiving a cassette holding a supply of the image receiving tape;

an input device operable by a user for selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

a display for displaying the characters selected at the input device, the input device and display cooperating to enable a label to be composed by a user;

a memory for storing the composed label as label data defining all characters of the label, wherein a plurality of composed labels can be stored in the memory;

an electronic recaller operable to recall the stored label in response to target data provided by a user at the input device, the recaller being operable to compare label data of each of the stored labels to the target data, then to provide for display displayed labels including only those labels that contain label data matching said target data, wherein the target data comprises at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

a print head arranged at a print zone for printing a recalled, composed label on the image receiving tape as it passes through the print zone; and

a cutter for separating the printed label from the supply of image receiving tape in the cassette.

11. In combination, a label printing apparatus for printing a label on an image receiving tape and a cassette holding a supply of image receiving tape, the label printing apparatus comprising:

a cassette bay in which the cassette is arranged;

a keyboard for selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

a display for displaying the characters selected at the keyboard, the keyboard and display cooperating to enable a label to be composed by a user;

a memory for storing the composed label as label data defining the label, wherein a plurality of composed labels can be stored in the memory;

recall means operable to recall the stored label in response to target data provided by a user at the keyboard, the recall means being operable to compare label data of each of the stored labels to the target data, then to provide for display only labels that contain label data matching said target data, wherein the target data comprises at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

a print head arranged at a print zone for printing a composed label on the image receiving tape as it passes through the print zone; and

a cutter for separating the printed label from the supply of image receiving tape in the cassette.

12. The label printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is self-contained.

13. The label printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cassette bay is attached with the input device.

14. The label printing apparatus of claim 11, wherein the cutter is mounted with the printer.

15. A desktop label printing apparatus for printing an image on a receiving tape comprising:

a bay for receiving a cassette holding a supply of the image receiving tape;

input means for selecting characters for composing a label to be printed on the image receiving tape;

display means for displaying the characters selected at the input means, the input means and display means cooperating to enable a label to be composed by a user;

storage means for storing the composed label as label data defining the label, wherein a plurality of composed labels can be stored in the storage means;

recall means operable to recall the stored label in response to target data provided by a user at the input means, the recall means being operable to compare label data of each of the stored labels to the target data, and then to provide for display only labels that contain label data matching the target data, wherein the target data comprises at least some of the selected characters present in the composed label;

printing means arranged at a print zone for printing a composed label on the image receiving tape as it passes through the print zone; and

cutting means for separating a printed label from the supply of image receiving tape in the cassette.