Tape printer apparatus and control method

A method of controlling a printer which prints on tape, comprising the steps of:

• a) beginning a printing process comprising the steps of (i) printing a dot string on said tape, (ii) advancing said tape by means of a tape transport mechanism, and (iii) repeating steps (i) and (ii);
• b) suspending said printing process;
• c) operating said tape transport mechanism in a reverse direction so that slack is created in said tape;
• d) cutting said tape at a predetermined position after step (c);
• e) operating said tape transport mechanism in a forward direction to advance said tape by an amount less than or equal to the amount reversed in step (c);
• and
• f) resuming said printing process.

A method of controlling a printer which prints on tape, said printer having a tape transport mechanism and an edit buffer, comprising the steps of:

• a) creating a bit-mapped representation of said edit buffer contents;
• b) beginning a printing process comprising the steps of (i) printing a dot string on said tape, (ii) advancing said tape by means of said tape transport mechanism, and (iii) repeating steps (i) and (ii);
• c) suspending said printing process;
• d) operating said tape transport mechanism in a reverse direction so that slack is created in said tape;
• e) cutting said tape at a predetermined position;
• f) operating said tape transport mechanism in a forward direction to advance said tape by an amount less than or equal to the amount reversed in step (d);
• g) resuming said printing process;
• h) stopping said printing process when said bit-mapped representation of said edit buffer contents have been printed;
• i) displaying an input request message on a display unit;
• and
• j) receiving input in response to said input request message via an input means.

A method of controlling a printer which prints on tape, comprising the steps of:

• a) beginning a printing process comprising the steps of (i) printing a dot string on said tape, (ii) advancing said tape by means of a tape transport mechanism, said tape transport mechanism including a stepper motor, and (iii) repeating, at least once, steps (i) and (ii);
• b) suspending said printing process;
• c) operating said stepper motor to achieve hold control such that said tape is substantially prevented from advancing or reversing;
• and
• d) cutting said tape after step (c).

A method of controlling a printer which prints on tape, comprising the steps of

• a) beginning a printing process comprising the steps of (i) printing a dot string on said tape, (ii) advancing said tape by means of a tape transport mechanism, said tape transport mechanism including a stepper motor, and (iii) repeating, at least once, steps (i) and (ii);
• b) suspending said printing process;
• c) operating said stepper motor to achieve hold control such that said tape is substantially prevented from advancing or reversing;
• and
• d) cutting said tape after step (c);
• and
• e) operating said tape transport mechanism in a reverse direction so that slack is created in said tape prior to operating said stepper motor to achieve hold control.

A method of controlling a printer which prints on tape, comprising the steps of

• a) receiving total tape length for a printing process from an input means;
• b) receiving lead margin length for said printing process from said input means;
• c) receiving character space length for said printing process from said input means;
• d) computing rear margin length for said printing process;
• and
• e) automatically operating said printer such that tape is advanced before and after printing on said tape and
• f) beginning a printing process comprising the steps of (i) printing a dot string on said tape, (ii) advancing said tape by means of a tape transport mechanism, said tape transport mechanism including a stepper motor, and (iii) repeating, at least once, steps (i) and (ii);
• g) suspending said printing process;
• h) operating said stepper motor to achieve hold control such that said tape is substantially prevented from advancing or reversing;
• and
• i) cutting said tape,