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US 10,661,582 B2Granted
Tape, printer and printer system
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kiasha
InventorsHarumitsu Inoue, Shimako Nakai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tape has one or more first areas and one or more second areas. One of the second areas is connected to each of the first areas, and is shorter than the first areas in a direction. A control unit controls to print on a first area of the tape and to cut a second area. In some examples, the tape is divided into two portions by pre-cut contours. A control unit controls to divide one of the portions into two parts and to print on at least one of the parts. Additionally or alternatively, a tape may include a first sheet and a second sheet. The second sheet pasted on the first sheet, is divided into a first area and a second area by a slit, and has a perforation line. A control unit controls to print on the second sheet, and to cut partially through the tape.
Claims14
A tape comprising:
- a plurality of first areas and a second area, the second area having a first end in a first direction and a second end in the first direction, wherein the first end of the second area is connected to one of the first areas and the second end of the second area is connected to another one of the first areas,
- each of the plurality of first areas having a respective pre-formed line at a respective middle portion thereof, at least a part of the pre-formed line having a different thickness than a remainder of the corresponding first area,
- the second area being shorter than each of the first areas in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and
- an entirety of the second area having a same thickness in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions,
- wherein the first areas are positioned between a pair of pre-cut lines spaced apart from each other in the second direction, the pair of pre-cut lines extending in the first direction, a dimension of each of the first areas in the second direction being defined by a distance between the pair of pre-cut lines in the second direction, and
- wherein the second area is positioned between another pair of pre-cut lines spaced apart from each other in the second direction, the another pair of pre-cut lines extending in the first direction, a dimension of the second area in the second direction being defined by a distance between the another pair of pre-cut lines in the second direction.
3 more elements
A printing system comprising:
- a tape including:
- a plurality of first areas and a second area, the second area having a first end in a first direction and a second end in the first direction, wherein the first end of the second area is connected to one of the first areas and the second end of the second area is connected to another one of the first areas,
- each of the plurality of first areas having a respective pre-formed line at a respective middle portion,
- the second area being shorter than each of the first areas in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and an entirety of the second area having a same thickness in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions,
- wherein the first areas are positioned between a pair of pre-cut lines spaced apart from each other in the second direction, the pair of pre-cut lines extending in the first direction, a dimension of each of the first areas in the second direction being defined by a distance between the pair of pre-cut lines in the second direction, and
- wherein the second area is positioned between another pair of pre-cut lines spaced apart from each other in the second direction, the another pair of pre-cut lines extending in the first direction, a dimension of the second area in the second direction being defined by a distance between the another pair of pre-cut lines in the second direction;
- and
- a printer including:
- a conveyor configured to convey the tape;
- a print head configured to print on the first areas of the tape;
- a cutting unit configured to cut the tape in the second area in the third direction along the second direction;
- and
- a controller configured to control at least one of the conveyor, the print head, and the cutting unit.
10 more elements
A tape comprising:
- a plurality of first areas and a second area, the second area having a first end in a first direction and a second end in the first direction, wherein the first end of the second area is connected to one of the first areas and the second end of the second area is connected to another one of the first areas,
- each of the plurality of first areas having a respective pre-formed line at a respective middle portion thereof, at least a part of the pre-formed line having a different thickness than a remainder of the corresponding first area,
- the second area being shorter than each of the first areas in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and
- an entirety of the second area is not cut in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions,
- wherein the first areas are positioned between a pair of pre-cut lines spaced apart from each other in the second direction, the pair of pre-cut lines extending in the first direction, a dimension of each of the first areas in the second direction being defined by a distance between the pair of pre-cut lines in the second direction, and
- wherein the second area is positioned between another pair of pre-cut lines spaced apart from each other in the second direction, the another pair of pre-cut lines extending in the first direction, a dimension of the second area in the second direction being defined by a distance between the another pair of pre-cut lines in the second direction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.