TAPE PRINTING SYSTEM AND TAPE PRINTING METHOD

• US 20110236106A1
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Tsuji, Akinori
• Granted Patent: US 8,743,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers

Abstract

A tape printing system includes a control apparatus and a tape printer, wherein the control apparatus includes an image data generating section generating character strings and/or image data, and an image data transmitting section transmitting the generated character strings and/or image data to the tape printer, and the tape printer includes a processing pattern storing section storing a processing pattern for each tape type, the processing pattern of processing the character strings and/or image data to printing image data, a tape type determining section determining the tape type of a printing tape, an image data receiving section receiving the character strings and/or image data from the data transmitting section, a printing image data generating section generating printing image data by processing the received character strings and/or image data based on the processing pattern, and a tape printing section printing the generated printing image data on the printing tape.

Claims

1. A tape printing system comprising a control apparatus generating character strings and/or image data and a tape printer which are connected to each other, wherein

the control apparatus includes:

an image data generating section generating the character strings and/or image data, and

an image data transmitting section transmitting the generated character strings and/or image data to the tape printer, and

the tape printer includes;

a processing pattern storing section storing a processing pattern for each tape type, the processing pattern of processing the character strings and/or image data to printing image data,

a tape type determining section determining the tape type of a printing tape placed in a tape receiving section,

an image data receiving section receiving the character strings and/or image data from the data transmitting section,

a printing image data generating section generating printing image data by performing, on the received character strings and/or image data, processing based on the processing pattern according to the tape type, and

a tape printing section printing the generated printing image data on the printing tape.

2. The tape printing system according to claim 1, wherein

the printing image data generating section generates the printing image data by performing, on the received character strings and/or image data, processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer.

3. The tape printing system according to claim 2, wherein

the tape type determining section determines whether or not the tape type of the printing tape placed in the tape receiving section is a “

transfer tape”

which transfers the printing image data printed on the printing tape to another member, and

when the tape type is determined to be a “

transfer tape”

, the printing image data generating section performs, as the processing pattern according to the tape type, processing to flip the character strings and/or image data vertically.

4. The tape printing system according to claim 3, wherein

when the tape type of the printing tape is determined to be a “

transfer tape”

, the printing image data generating section performs, as the processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer, processing to add a margin region having a length set for each tape printer to front and back parts of a printing region in a tape length direction, the printing region based on the character strings and/or image data.

5. The tape printing system according to claim 2, wherein

processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer includes one or more of processing according to the feed rate of the printing tape, processing according to the pressure applied by a print head, and processing according to a head/cutter distance which is a distance between a tape cutter which cuts the printing tape and the print head.

6. A tape printing method of a tape printing system including a control apparatus generating character strings and/or image data and a tape printer which are connected to each other, the method comprising:

allowing the control apparatus to generate the character strings and/or image data;

allowing the control apparatus to transmit the generated character strings and/or image data to the tape printer;

allowing the tape printer to receive the character strings and/or image data from the control apparatus,

allowing the tape printer to determine the tape type of a printing tape placed in a tape receiving section;

allowing the tape printer to generate printing image data by performing, on the received character strings and/or image data, processing based on a processing pattern according to the tape type; and

allowing the tape printer to print the generated printing image data on the printing tape.

7. The tape printing method according to claim 6, wherein

allowing the tape printer to generate the printing image data by performing, on the received character strings and/or image data, processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer.

8. The tape printing method according to claim 7, wherein

allowing the tape printer to determine whether or not the tape type of the printing tape placed in the tape receiving section is a “

transfer tape”

which transfers the printing image data printed on the printing tape to another member, and

allowing the tape printer to performs, as the processing pattern according to the tape type, processing to flip the character strings and/or image data vertically, when the tape type is determined to be a “

transfer tape”

.

9. The tape printing method according to claim 8, wherein

allowing the tape printer to performs, as the processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer, processing to add a margin region having a length set for each tape printer to front and back parts of a printing region in a tape length direction, the printing region based on the character strings and/or image data, when the tape type of the printing tape is determined to be a “

transfer tape”

.

10. The tape printing method according to claim 7, wherein

processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer includes one or more of processing according to the feed rate of the printing tape, processing according to the pressure applied by a print head, and processing according to a head/cutter distance which is a distance between a tape cutter which cuts the printing tape and the print head.

11. A tape printing method comprising:

allowing a tape printer to receive character strings and/or image data from a control apparatus,

allowing the tape printer to determine the tape type of a printing tape placed in a tape receiving section;

allowing the tape printer to generate printing image data by performing, on the received character strings and/or image data, processing based on a processing pattern according to the tape type; and

allowing the tape printer to print the generated printing image data on the printing tape.

12. The tape printing method according to claim 11, wherein

allowing the tape printer to generate the printing image data by performing, on the received character strings and/or image data, processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer.

13. The tape printing method according to claim 12, wherein

allowing the tape printer to determine whether or not the tape type of the printing tape placed in the tape receiving section is a “

transfer tape”

which transfers the printing image data printed on the printing tape to another member, and

allowing the tape printer to performs, as the processing pattern according to the tape type, processing to flip the character strings and/or image data vertically, when the tape type is determined to be a “

transfer tape”

.

14. The tape printing method according to claim 13, wherein

allowing the tape printer to performs, as the processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer, processing to add a margin region having a length set for each tape printer to front and back parts of a printing region in a tape length direction, the printing region based on the character strings and/or image data, when the tape type of the printing tape is determined to be a “

transfer tape”

.

15. The tape printing method according to claim 12, wherein

processing according to the characteristics of the tape printer includes one or more of processing according to the feed rate of the printing tape, processing according to the pressure applied by a print head, and processing according to a head/cutter distance which is a distance between a tape cutter which cuts the printing tape and the print head.