Stamp-making method and apparatus

A stamp-making apparatus for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a first and a second stamping direction, the apparatus comprising:

• inputting means for inputting a string of characters;
• selecting means for selecting one of a horizontal writing direction and a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• engraving means for forming the string of characters on the stamp;
• and
• control means for controlling the arrangement of the string of characters formed on the stamp so that an orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction when the horizontal writing direction is selected and in the second stamping direction when the vertical writing direction is selected.

A stamp-making apparatus for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a first and a second stamping direction, the stamp being one of a first type of shape having the same size in the first and second stamping directions and a second type of shape having different sizes in the first and second stamping directions, the apparatus comprising:

• inputting means for inputting a string of characters;
• means for determining whether the stamp is of the first or the second type of shape;
• selecting means for selecting one of a horizontal writing direction and a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• engraving means for forming the string of characters on the stamp;
• and
• control means for controlling the arrangement of the string of characters formed on the stamp, so that if the stamp is of the first type of shape, an orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction independent of the selection of the writing direction, and if the stamp is of the second type of shape, the orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction when the horizontal writing direction is selected and in the second stamping direction when the vertical writing direction is selected.

A stamp-making apparatus for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a stamping direction, the apparatus comprising:

• an input panel having input keys for inputting a string of characters;
• a selection device having selection keys for selecting one of a horizontal writing direction and a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• an engraver for forming the string of characters on the stamp;
• and
• a controller for controlling the arrangement of the string of characters formed on the stamp so that the stamping direction is independent of the selection of the writing direction.

A stamp-making apparatus for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a first and a second stamping direction, the apparatus comprising:

• an input panel having input keys for inputting a string of characters;
• a selection device having selection keys for selecting one of a horizontal writing direction and a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• an engraver for forming the string of characters on the stamp;
• and
• a controller for controlling the arrangement of the string of characters formed on the stamp so that an orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction when the horizontal writing direction is selected and in the second stamping direction when the vertical writing direction is selected.

A stamp-making apparatus for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a first and a second stamping direction, the stamp being either of a first type of shape having the same size in the first and second stamping directions or of a second type of shape having different sizes in the first and second stamping directions, the apparatus comprising:

• an input panel having input keys for inputting a string of characters;
• a detector which reads an identification mark on the stamp to determine whether the stamp is of the first or the second type of shape;
• a selection device having selection keys for selecting one of a horizontal writing direction and a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• an engraver for forming the string of characters on the stamp;
• and
• a controller for controlling the arrangement of the string of characters formed on the stamp, so that if the stamp is of the first type of shape, an orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction independent of the selection of the writing direction, and if the stamp is of the second type of shape, the orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction when the horizontal writing direction is selected and in the second stamping direction when the vertical writing direction is selected.

A stamp-making method for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a stamping direction, the method comprising:

• inputting a string of characters;
• selecting one of horizontal writing direction and a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• and
• forming the string of characters on the stamp, wherein the string of characters are formed on the stamp so that the stamping direction is independent of the selection of the writing direction.

A stamp-making method for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a first and a second stamping direction, the method comprising:

• inputting a string of characters;
• selecting one of a horizontal writing direction and a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• and
• forming the string of characters on the stamp,
• wherein the string of characters are formed on the stamp so that an orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction when the horizontal writing direction is selected and in the second stamping direction when the vertical writing direction is selected.

A stamp-making method for forming characters on a stamp, the stamp defining a first and a second stamping direction, the stamp being either of a first type of shape having the same size in the first and second stamping directions or of a second type of shape having different sizes in the first and second stamping directions, the method comprising:

• inputting a string of characters;
• determining whether the stamp is of the first or the second type of shape;
• selecting a horizontal writing direction or a vertical writing direction as a writing direction of the string of characters;
• and
• forming the string of characters on the stamp,
• wherein the string of characters are formed on the stamp so that if the stamp is of the first type of shape, an orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction independent of the selection of the writing direction, and if the stamp is of the second type of shape, the orientation of the characters is in the first stamping direction when the horizontal writing direction is selected and in the second stamping direction when the vertical writing direction is selected.