JPS59199426A - Portable type labeller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to printing devices, and more particularly to hand-held labelers using thermographic printing devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hand-held labelers using f'-printing devices and thermographic printing devices are well known.

An example of a hand-held labeler using a thermographic printing device is given to Stella Ward on 5127/7/5127. It is described in US IN Patent Application No. 26, No. 590.

Although the devices disclosed in these references provide a method for scoring a heat-sensitive web, they do not include many of the features provided by the device of the present invention.

For example, when printing with a thermal printing device, particularly a hand-held battery-powered printing device, print density varies as a function of battery voltage. Furthermore, because battery voltage varies as a function of the number of print elements that are energized simultaneously, print density varies as a function of the number of elements that must be energized simultaneously to form each portion of the code. Also, the temperature to which each printed element is heated when energized is a function not only of the amount of energy applied to that cylindrical element, but also of the element's previous history, or the amount of time that has elapsed since it was last energized. There is also. Furthermore, in prior art devices, many defective labels can be printed before they are detected due to a defective cylinder element and a defective battery in the battery that energizes the device; The same print elements in the head are biased, resulting in premature head failure. Additionally, the stepper motors of conventional devices used to advance the label web across the printhead tend to be torque limited at low speeds. The aim is to eliminate many of the drawbacks of the conventional 7-stem system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide substantially constant energy to the print element by monitoring the voltage applied to the cylinder element and adjusting the amount of time the print element is to be energized as a function of the voltage. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand-held labeler using a thermographic printing device in which the density can be maintained at substantially the same level.

Another object of the invention is to measure the resistance of each cylinder element,
To provide a thermal printing device that provides substantially constant energy to each print element and maintains substantially uniform print density by adjusting the energization time of each print element as a function of its resistance. be.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held labeler using a thermal printing device in which the energization time of a thermal printing element is adjusted as a function of the previous energization state of the cylinder element. be.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a thermographic printing device that can detect defective print elements and defective battery cells.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand-held labeler using a thermographic printing device which, when printing repeating codes, automatically staggers the printing of the repeating codes to avoid premature wear of the flint head. It is about providing.

Yet another object of the present invention is to develop the Universal Product Code (Universal Product Code).
rsal Product code: UP
C) and European Art
An object of the present invention is to provide a hand-held thermographic printer capable of printing both alphanumeric codes such as icle number (EAN) and bar codes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a handheld thermographic labeling device that allows data to be entered via a keypad or ink face with an external computer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to determine the length of time each print element is energized by factors such as battery voltage, ambient temperature, time elapsed since each print element was previously energized, the resistance of each print element, or any of these factors. The object of the present invention is to provide a microprocessor-controlled handheld labeler that adjusts as a function of any combination of the following:

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hand-held labeler that advances a label web using a microprocessor-controlled DC motor.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a microprocessor-controlled printing device in which a microprocessor adjusts the printing functions to compensate for various ambient conditions, printhead and paper parameters, and characteristics of the particular information to be printed. A hand-held labeler is provided. To accomplish the printing functions described above, a microprocessor monitors the voltage applied to the printhead, the resistance of each fIJ element, and its voltage parameters. Monitoring the resistance of the print elements provides a way to detect open or shorted print elements and allows calculation of the amount of power applied to each print element.

Battery voltage sensing allows the detection of defective batteries within the battery, and also changes the length of time each print element is energized as a function of battery voltage and prints as needed to ensure uniform print density. Allows adjustment as a function of element resistance. To compensate for the heating and cooling characteristics of the print elements, the length of time the print elements are energized is also adjusted as a function of how long the elements were previously energized.

When printing a code that is used repeatedly, such as a guard bar for a worldwide product code, the microprocessor alternates the code symbols so that the guard bar is printed by different printing elements on different labels. As a result, the printing of the guard bar is not substantially continuously energized, which prevents it from becoming defective at an early stage. A keyboard or computer interface is provided to manually input data to the device, and a microprocessor-controlled DC motor is used to advance the web past the printhead.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the present invention includes a processor-controlled hand-held thermographic labeler generally designated by the reference numeral 1o. The labeler 10 is a roll 1 of labels 16 with adhesive applied to the back side.
The label 16 is supported on a backing web 18. A keyboard 2o is disposed on the housing 12 and includes a plurality of individually operable key switches 22 for inputting data to the labeler. A display 24, consisting of a liquid crystal or light emitting diode display, is also arranged on the housing to make human data and microprocessor-generated progress instructions visible to the operator. A battery pack housed in a removable battery pack handle unit 25 containing a battery 26 with an internal resistor 27 is attached to the labeler 1.
0. To begin the printing operation of the label, a bird -28 is provided, and when the label 16 is applied to a commercial article, the label application row 230 is used to apply pressure to the adhesive coated lape #16 on the back side. used. Also included within housing 12 is a label strip (not shown) for separating label 16 from backing strip 18. A plurality of guide rollers are provided to guide the separated labels 16 to the front of the housing below the labeled N roller 30 and guide the backing strips to the rear of the housing below the roll 14.

As previously mentioned, the labeler according to the present invention is extremely versatile and is capable of printing alphanumeric characters and bar codes, including the Universal Product Code (UPC) and the European Article Number (EAN). The type of format, whether alphanumeric or barcode, is easily selected by entering data via the keyboard 2o that defines the appropriate format and font. The data to be printed, such as price, product specific data, and other information about the product, such as size, color, etc., are also entered manually via the keyboard 20. Furthermore,
The number of labels to be printed can also be controlled manually.

Further, a data input/output connector 32 is provided in the housing,
Data may be entered into the labeler and battery 26 may be charged by an external source, such as a remotely located computer.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the keyboard 20 is connected to a peripheral interface adapter (PIA) 40, and the PIA
interfaces between various input/output devices and microprocessor 42. Further, the peripheral intern eighth adapter 40 includes a sensor 44 that detects a notch that instructs separation between tags or an index of its function, a trigger switch 46 that is controlled by a trigger 28, and a motor control circuit 4.
8 are connected. Or form top sensor 44
Then, a mark or index on the front web wheel 49 driven by the web advance motor 50 may be detected. A motor control circuit 48 is responsive to data received from the microprocessor 42 through the peripheral interface adapter 40 to control operation of a web advance motor 50, which may be a stepper motor or a DC motor.
Note that the latter is preferred due to its low speed torque characteristics.

Audible alarm 52 also peripheral intern ace adapter 40
is connected to the network and used to notify the underlying lake that a problem or potential problem exists. The audible alarm 52 can be used, for example, to indicate a discharged or bad battery, a bad printhead, an out-of-label labeler, or simply to indicate that data input to the device has been received. In the latter case an audible alarm 52
can be used to provide an audible indication each time one of the seven key switches 22 on the key fob 20 is pressed.

Display 24 is connected to microprocessor 42 via display driver 54. The display 24 is then used to display data entered into the microprocessor and other messages such as progress and diagnostic messages generated by the microprocessor.

A read-only memo 'I (ROM) 56 is provided to store permanent data such as a program limiting the operation of the device.

The ROM 56 is either permanently installed in the labeler 10 or removably installed in a socket or the like, and the font and/or formant can be changed by changing the memory 56. Furthermore, a random access memory (RAM) 58 that can be used to store short-term data such as data entered manually via the keyboard 20 is similar to a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) 60 that can store data such as format data. Provided to store. Input/output connector 32 provides communication between the device and an external computer. Printing is accomplished by a printhead assembly 64 that includes a printhead driver 68 connected to peripheral interface adapter 40 and a printhead 66 . An analog-to-digital converter 70 connected to the peripheral interface adapter 40 senses the battery voltage or the voltage applied to the printhead assembly 64 and provides a digital indication of that voltage to the peripheral interface adapter 40 to The processor adjusts the print head activation time to compensate for changes in battery or print head voltage.

An example of a printhead assembly 64 is shown in simplified form in FIG. In this illustrated example, a print spatula assembly 64 includes a print head driver 68 and a print head 66 disposed on a thin film substrate. A suitable print head assembly that can be used as the print head assembly 64 is Kyocera manufactured by Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd.
) has a print head. Kyocera print head
It has a row of print elements arranged transversely to the direction of travel of the web 14 and is particularly useful in hand-held labelers that print both alphanumeric characters and bar codes because of the high density of print elements that make up the print head 66. suitable for. In particular, the seven printhead assemblies that can be used as printhead assemblies each have a length/orn t.
t% width IAlltm (11 center intervals at t'! 12m1t
The sum of 2. ! Contains ≠ printed elements.

Such an arrangement allows printing of substantially continuous lines.

Each print element constitutes a resistive heater element 80 (FIG. 5) that can be individually energized by printhead driver circuit 68, which has seven heater driver transistors 82 for each print element 80. Each gate 84 has a respective heater driver transistor 8
2, and an input register 86 and a data register 88 control the operation of each gate 84. Therefore, when using a nozzle with 22≠ elements as the print head 66, each
．． 2≠ drive transistors 482 and gates 84 must be provided, input register 86 and data register 88
must each have at least one stage of 2211.

Input register 86 receives data serially from data input line 90 under the control of a clock signal applied to clock line 92 . When input register 86 is filled, data is sent in parallel to data register 88 under the control of a latch signal applied to data register 88 via line 94. Next, the input register 86 is resensed by the reset god Rus who joins the reset life 96, and new data is supplied to the input register.

The resistive heater elements 80 pass a significant current f (e.g., about
If all elements 8o are turned on at the same time,
The current drain of the battery 26 becomes excessive. Therefore, the heater driver transistors 82 are strobed by r-to 84 so that one heater driver 820 out of //
This prevents more than one unit from being energized at the same time.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, strobes are accomplished by using a three-man AND gate consisting of gates 84 and enabling the gates 84 in a 7' lock manner. That is, this strobe has two glock enable signals BEI, BE2 on lines 100 and 102, respectively.
and strobe STI on lines 104 and 106 respectively.

This is done by giving ST2. Each block enable signal is connected to each half of the gates 84 so that half of the gates are enabled when the 8E1 signal is high and the remaining half are activated when the BE2 signal is high.

The STI signal is applied to half of the gates 84 that receive the BE1 signal and half of the gates 84 that receive the BE2 signal. In the same order, the ST2 signal is transmitted to the port 8 that does not receive the STI signal.
Added to 4. In this way, in order for each block to be fully activated, it must receive one of the block enable signals and one of the strobe signals; therefore, at any given point in time, only the block //≠ is enabled. Not done. Therefore, data from data register 88 is applied to heater driver transistor 82 during the programming phase, and no more than //IA of transistor 82 are energized at any one time.

Another embodiment of a printhead disciplining groove is shown in the g<3 figure. The embodiment of FIG. 5 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 5 except for the following points. That is, the manual register 86 is divided into a plurality of small registers, for example, a 3.2-stage shift register 85' with seven bars in the illustrated example.

Such a configuration allows data to be threaded more quickly and enables faster printing speeds. This is ensured by the ability to feed each of the seven shift registers 86' in parallel from seven separate f-cods 1790', i.e., it takes 224 shifts to load the manual registers 86. , whereas the data only needs to be shifted three times to load register 86'. However, when loading soft registers 86', the 22'1 bits defining each of the seven columns cannot be applied serially to shift register 86', so the bits must be grouped and applied to the appropriate registers. This is accomplished by taking every 32nd bit from the data defining each of the seven columns and applying it to the appropriate seven of shift registers 86'. For example, when using 22≠bits to limit each of the 7 columns, 3, 2nd, B≠th, 5;lBth, 72f
th, /Otsu 0th vinegar.

/92nd and l! , 21I, the first bit is selected and applied to a seven stage buffer 108 (FIG. 5).

These focuses are applied in parallel to shift register 86'. Next, 37th, Otsu 3rd, 9jth, /! 7
The /jth, /j9th, /j7th, and 22323rd bits are given to the buffer 108 and transferred to the register 86'. Then /th.

33rd, Ota, 77th, /2nd.

The above process is repeated until /6/ and /9393 are loaded into buffer 108 and provided to register D'. At this point, the seven registers g' are: bits/~32°33~Otsu≠, Otsu3~7Otsu, 77~/, 2♂, /! Ri~/Otsu0. /Otsu/~15;'
, , 2 and 793-2≠, respectively. Because this data completely confines the seven columns, data from register 86' can be transferred to data registers such as data register 88 (Fig.
(Figure). The output of latch 88' can be applied to any suitable device or multiple three-man AND gates 84 to limit the number of each element that can be energized at the same time.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the strobe function for limiting the number of elements that can be activated simultaneously is provided by a plurality of circuits 83. Each circuit 83 consists of 3-2 two-person ANDr
-) and appropriate drive circuitry for driving the print head 66. Such a system is somewhat simpler than the system shown in Figure 1, since it is sufficient to use a two-man AND dart instead of a three-man AND dart. Three strobe signals Sl.

By using S2 and S3, the number of print elements that can be energized simultaneously is limited to about ⅓ of the total number of print elements.

That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the strobe signal Sl is applied to the first two and last seven circuits 83. or,
The strobe signal S2 is the third. The strobe signal S3 is applied to the j-th and (i-th) circuits 83. Therefore, when strobe signals S2 or S3 are present, no more than two of the seven print elements are energized at the same time. In theory, three of the seven elements could be energized when the strobe signal S1 is present, but in practice the print row is rarely the same width as the glint head 66, so the first and last No more than half of the total elements of circuit 83 are energized.

Even though the number of resistive heater elements 80 that can be energized at the same time is limited, there will be some variation in the pantry voltage as a function of the number of resistive heater cords that are energized because of the battery's internal resistance lj. For this purpose, an analog/analogue converter 70 (Fig. 1) is used in combination with the peripheral interface adapter 40 and the microprocessor 42, and the length of heating time of each resistive heater element 80 is determined as a function of battery voltage. Adjust in step 1.

In order to maintain a constant print density, the negative Joule heat applied to the resistive printed element must be substantially negative as the voltage changes. The amount of Joule heat generated by each resistance heating element is determined by the following equation: where J is the Joule heat generated by each resistance heating element.

(2) is the voltage applied to the resistive heating element, R is the resistance of the resistive heating element, and t is the length of time that the resistive heating element is energized.

As mentioned above, in order to maintain a substantially constant print density, it is desirable to keep the Joule heat constant.
Constant Joule heat can be learned using the following formula: where K is a constant.

Solving the above equation for time t yields the following relationship: niR 1=- 2 This relationship is represented by curve 110 in FIG.

The above relationship is compatible with thermographic printheads formed on well thermally insulated substrates, such as glass or ceramic substrates.

However, for printheads that are not as well thermally insulated, or when used in relatively cold ambient conditions, the head cools relatively quickly during extended heating times, resulting in a constant Joule thermal output. does not always give optimal results.

For example, in the graph shown in FIG. 3, when the voltage is 2, a time equal to T is required to provide the desired Joule thermal power. If the voltage drops to ■,
A longer time T2 is required to provide the same amount of Joule heat. If the head is well thermally insulated,
Since little or no heat is lost during the second period jhJ, the print density is not affected. However, if an appreciable amount of heat is lost during T□ and T2, additional heat must be supplied to compensate for the burnout. When the voltage drops, it is necessary to increase the Joule heating power to compensate for the above-mentioned burnout.

Increasing Joule heat power linearly as a function of time7
The relationship is given by: where Xt is a constant proportional to the cooling characteristics of the printhead.

As is clear from the above equation, the term ct is added to make the amount of Joule heat added a function of the time the print head must be energized, to compensate for the additional focus loss that occurs during the additional time of head energization. This equation is the same as the equation for constant Joule heat above, except that we changed it to Solving this for t gives the following: -CR This relationship is shown by curve 112 in Figure 4, and as is clear from Figure 2, when using a head with some focal loss, , the energization time is T2 to compensate for the additional focus loss.
It must be extended from ■3.

Another factor that must be compensated for is the temperature increase in the cylinder element that occurs when the cylinder element is continuously energized. For example, if the voltage ■ (FIG. 7) is applied to the print element, the temperature of the print element increases from ambient temperature (Tamb) to a temperature sufficient to print, as shown by curve 120. Once the voltage is applied to the print element, the print element cools exponentially as shown by curve 122. When power is then again applied to the print element, the temperature of the element increases again as shown by curve 124. However, if the head is re-energized before sufficient time has elapsed for the print elements to cool to ambient temperature, the peak temperature reached the next time the head is energized will be higher than the previous peak temperature. . This phenomenon is cumulative as shown by the cooling and heating curves 126° 128, with the peak temperature reached during each heating cycle becoming higher than the peak temperature reached during the previous heating cycle. Therefore, without compensation, the peak temperature is the maximum humidity rating of the printed element (
Tpmax) will be exceeded and the print element will be damaged. On the other hand, if the power applied to the element decreases, the temperature of the head no longer reaches the minimum temperature (Tpm) n) required for printing. Furthermore, as the ambient temperature (Tamb) changes,
It is clear that the peak temperature reached by the lint element will also vary. Therefore, to compensate for these factors, it is desirable to adjust the print element energization time as a function of the elapsed time of successive energizations, as well as the ambient temperature. The M compensation method will be explained below.

As is clear from the above discussion, factors or elements that affect print density fall into two broad categories. The first category includes factors related to the printer's operating environment, including battery status.

The temperature of the paper includes the characteristics of the paper, the speed of the paper passing through the head, the contact adhesion between the paper and the head, and its pondage factors. Second
This category includes factors related to the symbol being printed, in the sense that it is the symbol that determines the firing sequence of the print element, and how frequently the print element is energized. Some elements belong to both environment-dependent and sign-dependent categories.

An example of such a factor is voltage, which is a function of the battery state (bordered below) and also of the number of cylinder elements energized at the same time (related to the sign).

The amount of compensation required to compensate for various elements can be calculated continuously to keep the print density constant, but it is also possible to calculate the necessary compensation factor for each element in advance and store it in a search table. I found it more convenient to keep it. That is, it is possible to store compensation factors in a multidimensional search table and search for the corresponding compensation factor as a function of various factors to be considered. Alternatively, the compensation factors may be stored in a series of univariate searchers, each containing compensation factors for seven elements. In this case, total compensation is performed through each successive step.

For example, when looking at voltage compensation, the time required to obtain a good print at each voltage is calculated or determined empirically. Because there are many factors that affect the heating and cooling characteristics of a printhead, an empirical method is simpler because printing characteristics can be easily measured and stored.

The various elements that control print density can be separated into code-dependent and environment-dependent elements, so these elements should be handled separately so that the code generation circuit and environment compensation circuit can operate independently of each other. I can do it. This is advantageous in that the code generation circuits can change their respective circuits without affecting the environmental compensation circuits or vice versa. Additionally, a separate circuit may be provided to control the web advance motor 50, making the motor control function independent of the print control and boundary compensation circuits.

It is therefore desirable to generate data defining the code to be printed before actually printing the code.

In this way, all code-dependent compensation factors can be determined before the actual printing of the code or groups of codes. For example, with a printhead such as that used in the illustrated embodiment, printing on a typical label is for each l! , 24' dots. Then, in order to determine the information to be printed, data for determining each code to be printed is searched from a search table that defines various codes. The data thus retrieved determines which of the 224L elements (if any) for each of the 224L elements must be energized for each of the 700 columns to be printed (if any). It is also necessary to determine the length of time that the element should be energized. Generally, the length of this energization time is a function of how each energizing cord was previously energized and the number of elements in each row that are to be energized simultaneously. Based on these factors, data is stored that determines the energizing time, or printing time, for each row of dots. Generally, the /byte in memory is sufficient to determine the printing time for each row, and especially when printing barcodes, the same element is always energized when printing a barcode, so the energization time is This is so because the main parameter that affects the number of elements that are activated simultaneously is the number of elements that are activated simultaneously. On the other hand, in the case of alphanumeric characters in which different printing elements are energized when parts with different codes are printed, (i) the history of the character, i.e. the elapsed time since each printing element was last energized; One time is required and additional information is required to determine the energization time.

For example, different past layer histories require additional information to define different parts of the column. Also, if 3 or ≠ or more different baking times are required for each row, the circuit is
It is more complex than what is shown in the figure. In extreme cases, separate control is required for each print element.

When looking at environmental conditions that affect printing characteristics, battery condition is one of the most important conditions. Therefore, the battery voltage is monitored by the A/D converter 70 under various conditions. For example, an open circuit condition,
Battery voltage is monitored under load or both.

A suitable load for voltage monitoring purposes is the weave advance motor 50. This is because the motor 50 provides a more constant load on the battery than the printhead 64. - Based on the Guntery condition, a time correction factor proportional to the battery voltage is obtained by solving the seven Joule heating equations previously described, i.e., determined empirically. Once obtained, the correction factor is stored in the lookup table as a function of open circuit battery voltage or battery voltage under load to provide the necessary burn time correction as battery conditions change.

When the battery discharges, the voltage developed by the battery 26 does not substantially change, but the value of the internal resistance 27 increases. This value is equivalent to the number of fully charged batteries/
It varies from Ω to several Ω for a battery approaching a discharged state. It has been found that the value of internal resistance 27 is easily measured and provides a simple method for compensating burn time as a function of battery condition. Internal resistance 2
For example, the value of 7 is no load or a light load such as the microprocessor 42 and attached equipment, the motor 50 or the solint hesode 6.
1-1 Obtain the current flowing in light load state and heavy load state by measuring the voltage across the terminals of 1 battery puncture 25 under heavy load such as 4 or both, and then calculate the current flowing under light load state. Battery Nanatsuku 25
The value of the internal resistance 27 can be easily calculated by finding the difference between the terminal voltages. For example, if the battery current under light load conditions is 700 milliamps, the voltage across the terminals of battery ftsuk 25 is /2. If the terminal voltage drops to 10 volts when the current increases to /, / ampere under a load condition, then the increase in current /ampere causes a voltage drop of 2 volts. Therefore, this is the value of internal resistance 27! It means ohm.

Once the range of values of internal resistance 27 is known for the extreme heat of the battery used in labeler 10, the required baking time can be calculated as a function of the value of resistor 27 or can be determined empirically. Once determined, a burn time correction factor based on the value of resistor 27 can be stored in the lookup table and used to compensate for burn time as a function of battery condition.

``Pond that gives +!7 information for determining the time correction factor,
Battery monitoring facilitates the detection of defective cells in multi-voltage batteries. For example, if you know the voltage of each battery and the number of batteries in a multi-battery battery, you can find the battery voltage when it is operating properly. Therefore, if 7 batteries go bad, this change can be easily detected and a defective battery warning will be issued, since the battery voltage will drop by 'batteries/volts'. For example, in the case of a Si nickel-cadmium battery, the voltage for each battery is approximately 2. ;, it is fruto. In other words,
If the seven batteries were fully discharged to the point of reversal, the voltage drop would be easily detected and signaled to the operator before the batteries were damaged. Generally, voltage measurements to detect reverse battery are made under open circuit conditions or with only the microprocessor 42 and the P40 components as the load. The load on the microprocessor is very small, so
If it's just that load, it's almost like an open circuit.

It is desirable to know the resistance of each print element, since the resistance of each print element is also important in determining the amount of Joule heat generated during energization. This resistance can be easily measured by passing a current smaller than the current required to print through each printing element and determining the resistance of each element at that time. Measurements can be made either by passing a known current through each element and measuring the voltage across that element to calculate the element resistance, or by connecting a known resistor in series with the seven power leads to the printhead and This is done by measuring the voltage across known resistances when the element is energized. Such measurements serve two functions. First, the Joule heat equation, the value of the seizure time, or the resistance value used in the search table for correction of the seizure time is given. If high accuracy is required, the individual resistance of each element is used, but if not, the average resistance of all elements may be used instead. Second, by establishing maximum and minimum limits on the resistance of each printed element, open or shorted elements can be identified and the presence of such elements can be signaled to the oirator.

Additional factors that affect print density include ambient or substrate temperature, properties of the thermographic paper used in the web, paper speed past the printhead, and pressure between the printhead and the paper. These factors can also be compensated for as desired.

For example, the substrate temperature can be measured with a thermistor, the output of the thermistor is applied to an analog-to-digital converter, and the converter output is added to a substrate temperature probe table containing the appropriate bake time value or correction factor as a function of the base temperature. It is used to address the corresponding location inside.

If desired, an interrupt feature can be provided to stop the printing function when the printhead becomes too hot.

Paper speed and contact pressure between printhead and paper can also be measured and appropriate correction values selected from a lookup table. Characteristics corresponding to each type of thermographic paper are also stored in the search table, and can be accessed by operator operation by inputting the type of paper to be used using the keyboard 20 or other means.

As mentioned above, the labeler according to the present invention is capable of printing barcodes and alphanumeric characters. - When printing a barcode, the bars forming the barcode are printed on the print head 66 (
Preferably, it is printed longitudinally along the web, transverse or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (FIG. 1). What is shown in Figure g is the World Product Code (UPC).
Device according to the invention: one lot, one article number (EAN)
You can print any barcode you want, including or sonoike. U.P.C.
is shown as an example only because it is a common code.

The global product code includes both barcodes and numbers (Figure g). A zero on the left side of a barcode signifies that the item being coded is a product (whereas coupons are usually marked with the number 5). A human readable number is placed below the bar code and represents the coded par value directly above the number. Generally, the first five digits represent the manufacturer and the last five digits represent the product. A series of guard bars, longer than the manufacturer and product bars, are placed on either side of the manufacturer and product numbers to indicate to the scanning circuit the beginning and end of the code. These guard bars are always the same in the case of global product codes, regardless of the manufacturer and product identification information contained in the code.1 Because the guard bars are always the same in this way, when printing a series of labels, , the same printing element will always be energized when printing the guard bar. As a result, the elements that print the guard bar wear out more rapidly than the elements that print the changing manufacturer and product identification codes. Accordingly, in accordance with another important feature of the present invention, the printing position of the code relative to the print head 66 changes periodically and different print elements 80 in the head 66 are used to print the guard bar accordingly. make sure that you are

The shift for this purpose is shown by the dotted arrow in the figure.
It can be done in many ways. For example, input register 86 (
Shifting is possible by loading additional zeros before or after the information loaded into 86' (FIG. 5) or 86' (FIG. 5). Shifts can occur, for example, after each label batch is printed, on labeler specials, after each tag is printed, or randomly, etc.
Can be done at any number of different times. Of the various points in time at which the code can be shifted, it may be preferable to shift the code to Power 1 or the device on special after each batch has finished printing.

Although various motors including stepping motors can be used as the web advancement motor 50, DC motors have been found to be particularly useful as the web advancement motor 50, in part because of their good torque characteristics at low speeds. . However, using a DC motor requires circuitry to be provided to control the speed and position of the DC motor shaft. For this purpose,
It has been found advantageous to include a separate microprocessor within the motor control circuit 48, such as a motor control 8f processor 130 (FIG. 1). Such a configuration has the following advantages. First, it frees up the microprocessor 42 to focus on print control and environmental compensation functions, and second, by making the motor control function independent of the print control and environmental compensation functions, it provides greater flexibility in design and function. Tee is given. The various components necessary to perform the print control and compensation functions are not shown in the second figure for clarity. It will be appreciated that the 7M microprocessor 42 must be connected to the same or similar components as shown in FIG. 1 for performing printing functions.

Control of the DC motor 50 can be performed by either an open-roof or closed-loop control system. However, in any case, since the motor control processor 130 is digital, it is convenient to control the torque and the torque by applying the signal rlj modulated to the motor 50. For example, the morph control LF sensor 130 applies the motor pivot speed to the motor 50 at a constant frequency, and by changing the motor speed or torque. In addition to this, -'A
9 pulses with variable width and frequency can also be used, but in the illustrated example it has been found that it is preferable to use pulses with constant frequency and variable frequency. However, this L does not apply in every case.

In a typical system, a micro 7° controller 42 issues commands to a motor control controller 130 to control the motor.
Instruct the i3 ah t motor control flf port 7)'su 130. In response to this instruction, the motor control processor 130
applies a narrow pulse width to the motor 50. As the tachometer 132, a tachometer such as a magnetic tachometer can be used, or an optical tachometer with a slit or holed ring interposed between a light source such as a light emitting diode and a light sensor that generates a tachometer gas can be used as the tachometer 132. It has been found convenient to utilize a type tachometer. The tachometer/lux is provided to the motor control processor 130, preferably via a peripheral interface adapter, such as a peripheral interface adapter 40. Motor control processor 130 processes these signals to generate a label position signal which is provided to microprocessor 42 to indicate tag position relative to the printhead. A print start signal indicating to the microprocessor 42 that the printable label area is positioned below the printhead is also generated from the motor control processor 130 in response to the tachometer pulse. The print start signal is a high level signal, and is high level when a printable area exists below the glint head, and low level when an unprintable area exists. The paper position signal may be a rectangular copy of the output signal from the tachometer 132, or may be a multiple or divisor of the tachometer signal.

Alternatively, a motorized Nf processor 130 may count tachometer/(passes) and provide a paper position signal representing the number of tachometer/base passes counted during advancement of a particular label. 1
The motor control unit 130 is connected to the form top sensor 44.
We also work together. Sensor 44 senses an index, such as a notch or printed mark, on web 14 that indicates separation between each label 16 and provides a positional reference to the system.

As mentioned above, control of motor 50 can be either open loop or closed loop. In the open loop case, the characteristics of the motor 50 must be determined empirically or otherwise to determine the amount of drive or lasing that must be applied to the motor 50 to obtain the desired speed or torque characteristics. No. These width values are stored, for example, in a lookup table in a read-only memory (ROM) 134 provided within or external to the motor control processor 130. By storing a large amount of pulse width information in the memory 134, advanced motor control becomes possible. Such data includes data that allows the motor to accelerate when starting the motor, maintains a constant printing speed, and further reduces the speed of the motor when printing ends. Therefore, the information to provide the required printing speed and to determine the width must be stored in accordance with the sequence of the width, providing the initial acceleration and the deceleration at the end of printing.

In the open loop case described above, the tachometer 132 from tachometer 132 is simply used to provide position information, but in a closed loop system it is also used to control motor speed. In the case of a closed roof system, for the purpose of speed control,
Instead of storing pulse width information, the frequency of the tachometer pulses corresponding to each motor speed is stored in memory 134. To control motor speed, the frequency of the tachometer pulses is sensed and compared to the frequency corresponding to the desired speed stored in read-only memory 134.

Based on this comparison, motor control processor 130 adjusts the width of the drive wheel 2 provided to motor 50 to match the tachometer pulse frequency from tachometer 132 to the frequency stored in read-only memory 134. As with open loop, acceleration, travel speed, and deceleration are possible by storing the frequencies of various operating states in read-only memory 134.

As shown in FIG. 7, the motor 50 is
Since the motor is driven by the voltage, the voltage generated from the motor between the voltage and the voltage, that is, the reverse EMF (electromotive force) is measured ffl
t The speed of the lever and motor 5o can be determined. This measurement is performed using A10, such as analog/digital converter 136.
The voltage pulse l applied to the motor 5o
1tl K'e-voltage generated by the 5o (reverse EM
This can be done by extracting F ).

The back EMF of a motor is related to the rotation R degree of the motor.
Since this gives 1LHJi of the motor 50, there is no need to use a tachometer such as the tachometer 132 in a closed loop system1.If back EMF is used to control the motor speed in a closed loop system, An analog-to-digital converter 136 extracts the back EMF produced by the motor 50 at periodic intervals and outputs a digital representation of the extracted voltage to the motor control processor 130 (or as shown in FIG. 2). The cutting edge is provided to another microprocessor (such as microprocessor 42). This digital representation is then compared to stored digital representations of voltages corresponding to various desired operating speeds and applied to motor 50 until the inverse E IVI F produced by motor 50 matches one of the stored digital representations of voltages.・The width (or frequency) of the virus is adjusted. As with the closed-loose case described above and the ILJ, acceleration, travel speed, warpage, and deceleration can be accomplished by storing in read-only memory 134 a digital representation of each voltage (back EMF) required for the various operating conditions.

Since the labeler according to the invention does not have any data processing capability, it can be remotely connected to the labeler via a suitable interface 1:38, such as a central convenience store computer 140 (see Figure). From the 7'-base located
You can also use one leash to receive data or collect data. For example, in seven ways in which a labeler according to the present invention is used for data collection, the labeler stores in memory the number of each type of label printed as the item is labeled.

This information is then later read by the computer 138 via the data ink 7/8 138 connected to the connector 32. This information aids in inventory control by indicating to the central computer 140 the type and quantity of items labeled and placed on the sales floor. In addition, in order to collect inventory data, an operator who creates an inventory inventory can manually transfer data representing the types and characteristics of products in inventory to an inventive labeler, and then transfer the data to the central computer 140. is transmitted. Additionally, the central computer 138 can be used to provide data to the labeler 10 that limits the information to be placed on the label, the number of labels to be printed, etc. this is,
To reduce the possibility of errors caused by inaccurate data manually by an operator, and to enable labeling of merchandise for sale without inputting any data by the operator. Such a system also eliminates the need for pre-printing on the label, as is often done with stationary desktop printers, and eliminates the need to physically transfer the tag from the printer to the item. This reduces the possibility of applying

Obviously, various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above description. Therefore, it will be understood that the invention may be practiced in other ways within the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-held labeler constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of logic circuitry controlling a thermographic printing apparatus according to the present invention; FIG. A top view of a usable thermographic glint head; Figure ≠ is a block diagram of one embodiment of the print head drive circuit; Figure 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the print head drive circuit; Figure 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the print head drive circuit; FIG. 7 is a graph showing the time versus voltage relationship required to obtain a print of constant density; FIG. The figure shows a top view of the print head and label showing the printing of the number code, and the number code which is staggered to reduce the possibility of premature failure of the IJ head; FIG. 70 is another block diagram of a thermographic quick labeler showing control of the web advancement motor; and FIG. 10...Labeler (equipment with label). 12...- Woojin f, 14... Roll. 16... Label, 18... Backing web l-). 20... Data manual means (keyboard). 25. Own handle unit. 26...Electrical energy source (multi-battery/ζterry). 27...Internal resistance. 30...Labeling means (label adhesion roller). 32...Data person/output connector. 40... Peripheral interface adapter. 42...Microprocessor. 50...Que, Bu advance means (DC motor). 52... Audible alarm, 56,134... ROM
. 58...RAM, 64,66.68.80...Printing means (66...Print head, 80...Print element). 86, 86', 88, 88'... Selection energizing means (86... Input register register, 86'... Shift register register. 88, 88'... Data register). 130...Motor control processor. 132...Tachometer. 138...Interface. 140...Central computer.

Claims (1)

[Claims]
9-ging having means for holding a label supply roll for a composite web containing labels releasably affixed to a backing strip, means for applying printing onto the labels at a printing location, printed from the backing strip; means for peeling off the label from the backing piece; means for applying the label disposed adjacent to the peeling means; peeling the printed label from the backing piece with the peeling means; Labeling is carried out by advancing the label in relation to the printing position, a web advancing means for advancing another label to the printing position, a means for manually inputting the selected data to be printed, and said printing means being connected to a thermostat 2 quick at the printing position. including a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually energable print elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on the label; selectively energizing certain of the print elements; - means for sensing a voltage applied to the printhead; means for determining the resistance of each print element in the printhead; and means responsive to the voltage applied to the printhead and the resistance of the print element; A hand-held labeling apparatus comprising: means for varying the length of time each print element is energized as a function of print element resistance and printhead voltage. 2. A no-kusingu with a no-endol that can be held in the hand, said -
- Ujifugu has means for holding a label supply roll for a composite web containing labels releasably affixed to a backing strip; means for applying printing on the labels at a printing position; means for peeling off a label; a means for applying a label disposed adjacent to the peeling means; a means for peeling the printed label from the backing piece with the peeling means and applying the label to the printed label; Labeling, on the other hand, involves advancing the web in relation to the printing position and means for advancing another label to the printing position; means for inputting selection data to be printed; a thermographic print having a plurality of individually energizable print elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on a label, a predetermined number of said print elements for a predetermined time interval; means for selectively energizing the print elements; means for providing a digital representation representative of the energization sequence of each of said print elements; means for storing said digital representation; and means responsive to said stored digital representation for storing said predetermined time interval. A hand-held labeling device consisting of means for changing the digital display as a function; 3. A ring with a handle that can be held in the hand,
- the unong has means for holding a label supply roll for a composite web containing labels releasably affixed to a backing strip; means for applying printing onto the labels at a printing station; means for peeling off a label; a means for attaching a label disposed adjacent to the peeling means; the peeling means for peeling the printed label from the backing piece; and sealing the printed label to the means for attaching the label; web advancing means for advancing the labeling in relation to and advancing another label to the printing station; means for manually inputting selected data to be printed, said printing means being located at said printing station; A printing means comprising a thermal printing head arranged in a straight line transverse to the direction of travel of the web and generating electrical energy for printing onto a thermographic label at a marking station. having a plurality of individually energized thermographic cylinder elements energized from a power source, selectively energizing a predetermined number of said printed elements in a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to each other; means for generating a predetermined bar code pattern; and selectively energizing predetermined ones of the printing elements that are in the same predetermined positional relationship with each other as described above, and generating the predetermined bar code pattern. a handheld labeling apparatus comprising: means for generating the same barcode pattern on the web at a location laterally spaced from the pattern; a housing having a hand-grip handle, the housing having means for holding a label supply M-roll for a composite web containing a label releasably affixed to a backing piece; means for applying printing, means for peeling the printed label from the backing piece, labeling means disposed adjacent to the peeling means, peeling the printed label from the backing piece with the peeling means; web front layer means for advancing the printed label in relation to the labeling means and for advancing another label into the printing position; means 11 for manually inputting selected data to be printed; The printing means includes a thermographic inkjet head having a plurality of individually energizable printing elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on the thermographic label at the printing location; means for applying an energizing voltage from an energy source to the print head; means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of the predetermined print elements; and means for sensing the voltage applied to the print head and displaying a digital representation thereof. and digital means responsive to a digital indication produced by the voltage sensing means for determining the length of time each print element is to be energized as a function of the voltage applied to the printhead. is a device. I have 7 dollars that I can hold in my left hand.
a means for holding a label supply roll for a composite web including labels releasably affixed to a backing strip, means for applying printing on the labels at a printing location, and a label already printed from the backing strip; means for peeling off the printed label from the backing piece with the peeling means and labeling means disposed adjacent to the peeling means; means for inputting selection data to be printed, said printing means printing on the thermographic ink label at the printing position; a thermographic ink printhead having a plurality of individually energizable print elements energized by a source of electrical energy for applying a battery; said source of electrical energy comprising a multi-cell battery; means for applying an energizing voltage from the multi-cell battery to the print head; means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of the print elements; and - sensing the voltage produced by the multi-cell battery. and means for generating an indication when the voltage of the multi-cell battery drops below a predetermined level. A housing having a one-hand grip handle, the housing having means for holding a label supply roll for a bonded web containing five handles with the handle releasably affixed to the backing strip, the label at the printing position. means for applying printing thereon; means for peeling the printed label from the backing strip; means for attaching a label disposed adjacent to the peeling means; Web advancing means for advancing the peeled and printed label in relation to the labeling means and advancing another label to the printing position; means for manually inputting selected data to be printed; , the printing means includes a thermographic printhead for driving a plurality of individually energizable printing elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on the thermographic label at the printing location; means for applying an energizing voltage from an energy source to the print head; means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of the print elements in response to the selection data; and energizing them simultaneously at a given time; means for providing an indication that is a function of the number of individually activatable print elements to be actuated; and means for determining the length of time that the individually actuable print elements are to be actuated; a hand-held labeling apparatus comprising: means for determining, responsive to said instructions, adjusting the length of time for which the print elements are to be energized as a function of the number of glint elements to be energized simultaneously; 2. A housing with a hand-gripable handle 1. The housing has means for holding a label supply roll for a composite web containing labels releasably affixed to the backing piece, the printing position being printed on the labels at the printing position. means for peeling the printed label from the backing piece; means for attaching a label disposed adjacent to the peeling means; and peeling means for peeling the printed label from the backing piece. web advancing means for advancing the printed label in relation to the labeling means and for advancing another label to the printing position; means for inputting selection data to be printed; the printing means includes a thermographic ink printhead having a plurality of individually energizable printing elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on the thermographic label at a printing location; Means for applying an energizing voltage to the glint head, means for selectively energizing a predetermined one of the print elements according to the selection data, and resistance of each print element in the print head is individually determined. and means for providing an indication when the resistance of any seven of said printed elements is not within a predetermined resistance range. a housing having a hand-gripable handle, the housing having means for holding a roll of labels (l) for composite webs containing labels releasably affixed to a backing piece; means for peeling the printed label from the backing piece; means for labeling disposed adjacent to the peeling means; peeling the printed label from the backing piece with the peeling means; web advancing means for advancing a label relative to the labeling means and advancing another label to a printing position; means for inputting selection data to be printed; and means for inputting selection data to be printed; comprising a thermographic ink cylinder head having a plurality of individually energizable 72 printing elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on the thermographic lapel at a printing location, connected to said data human power means; means for electrically processing said selection data and energizing the individual print elements in a predetermined sequence determined by the selection data to print data on the label; said advancing means electrically processing said selection data to said processing means; a DC motor connected to the processing means;
A hand-held labeling apparatus comprising: a tachometer providing a tachometer signal representative of the speed of a DC motor to processing means; said processing means including means for applying electrical pulses to said DC motor to cause said web to be advanced by said DC motor. 2. A housing with a hand-gripable handle) the housing having means for holding a label supply roll for a facing web containing a label releasably affixed to a backing piece, the housing having a housing having a hand-gripable handle; means for applying the printing, means for peeling the printed label from the backing piece, means for label printing disposed adjacent to the peeling means, peeling the printed label from the backing piece with the peeling means, and web advancing means for advancing a printed label in relation to the labeling means and for advancing another label to a printing position; means for manually inputting selected data to be printed; the means having a plurality of individually energizable printing elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on the thermographic label at the printing location;
- a graphical inoculation head connected to said data human power means for electrically processing said selection data and energizing the individual print elements in a predetermined sequence determined by the selection data; means for printing data on a label; said advancing means includes a DC motor electrically connected to said processing means; said processing means applying electricity to said DC motor and causing said web to be moved by said DC motor; and means for advancing the DC motor and the processing means, the electricity being applied to the DC motor and the reverse E v F produced by the C motor during 4 russs.
A hand-held labeled device comprising means for determining the electromotive force (electromotive force) and providing a signal to a microprocessor representative of the speed of the DC motor in response to this back EMF. IO1 A thermographic print head having a plurality of individually energizable print elements; means for applying an energizing voltage to said glint head; means for selectively energizing certain of said print elements; means for sensing the applied voltage; means for determining the resistance of the cylindrical elements within said printhead; and responsive to said voltage and resistance determining means, determining the length of time each print element is energized; and means for varying the printhead voltage as a function of the printhead voltage. //0 A thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually energizable print elements; for a predetermined time interval;
means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of said print elements; means for providing a digital display representative of the energization sequence of each of said print elements; means for storing said digital display; in a thermographic printer for printing barcodes on a web of thermally sensitive material; : a printing station; means for feeding the web through the printing station; a thermographic print head located at the printing station, the cylinder heads being individually attached cylinder heads arranged in a straight line transverse to the direction of travel of the web; having a plurality of cylindrical elements that can be energized; selectively energizing predetermined ones having a predetermined spatial relationship with each other among the cylinder elements; and selectively energizing different predetermined ones of the print elements having the same predetermined spatial relationship with each other;
A printer comprising: means for generating the same barcode/turn on the web at laterally spaced apart positions of the predetermined barcode/turn. /30 A thermographic print head having a plurality of individually energizable print elements; means for applying an energizing voltage to said glint head; means for selectively energizing certain of said print elements; said cylindrical head; means for detecting a voltage applied to said voltage sensing means and providing a digital display responsive to said sensed voltage; ,
A thermographic printer comprising: digital means for determining the voltage as a function of the printhead voltage; In a thermographic printer operable with a multi-cell battery: a thermographic printhead having a number of individually energizable cylinder elements; means for applying an energizing voltage from the multi-cell battery to the glint head; A printer comprising means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of the elements; and means for sensing the voltage produced by the multi-cell battery and generating an indication when the voltage of the multi-cell battery drops below a predetermined level. a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually energizable print elements; means for applying an energizing voltage to said print head; means for selectively energizing certain of said print elements; means for providing an indication that is a function of the number of individually activatable print elements that are to be energized at the same time; and means for determining the length of time that the individually energizable cylinder elements are to be energized. and wherein said length of time determining means is responsive to said instruction to adjust the length of time for which cylinder elements are to be energized as a function of the number of cylinder elements that are energized at the same time. 1) A thermographic glint head having a plurality of individually energizable cylinder elements; means for applying an energizing voltage to the print head; means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of the print elements; A thermographic printer comprising: means for individually determining the resistance of each print element in said print head; and means for providing an indication when the resistance of any seven of said cylinder elements falls outside a predetermined resistance range. , lZ thermographic printhead having multiple individually energizable print elements;
means for applying voltage to the printhead; means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of the print elements; means for inputting data representing information to be printed; connected to the data input means for electrically processing the input data; means for energizing each cylinder element in a predetermined sequence determined by input data to print data on the web; and means for advancing the web through said printhead, said advancing means being electrically connected to said processing means. a tachometer connected to the DC motor and the processing means for providing a tachometer signal representative of the speed of the DC motor to the processing means, the processing means applying electricity to the DC motor; A thermographic printer comprising: means for advancing the web by the DC motor; and wherein the processing means further comprises means for adjusting the width of the web applied to the DC motor and varying the speed of the DC motor. a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually energizable printing elements; means for applying an energizing voltage to the printhead; means for selectively energizing predetermined ones of the cylinder elements to be printed; means for manually inputting data representing information; means connected to said data input means for electrically processing input data and energizing each print element in a predetermined sequence determined by the input data to print the data on the web; : means for advancing the web through said print head, said advancing means being electrically connected to said processing means;
The processing means includes Mortan, and the processing means is N'At Zels Q.
In addition to the DC motor, the processing means includes means for advancing the web by the DC motor, and the processing means further includes means for adjusting the width of the thrust applied to the DC motor and varying the speed of the DC motor. ; and connected to the DC motor and the processing means; - D between the morphs;
means for detecting the reverse EMF (electromotive force) generated by C Tanabata and applying to the microprocessor a value that determines the speed of the DC motor according to the amplitude of this x% EMF; graphic printer. 77 +73S hand handle, means for holding the label supply, means for applying printing on the label in the printing position, means for advancing the label to the printing position, data containing selection data to be printed. Examples of labels include data entry and feeding means for inputting into the device, including a keyboard built into the housing; said printing means being individually energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on the label at the printing location; a print head having a plurality of print elements energable to the human power means;
means for electrically processing data input by the input means; means for electrically connecting the data processing means to an f+1 print head; and means for causing the data processing means to operate a print head to print selected data on the label; Memory means to store data; #? the hand-held labeler is connectable to the hand-held labeler apparatus; and to the data human means for receiving a file containing selected data from a centrally located computer and providing the same to the hand-held labeler apparatus; a labeling system comprising interface means for receiving data stored in a hand-held labeling device from a labeling device and transmitting it to a central computer; , a housing with a handle that collapses in 200 hands
- providing a means for holding a label supply roll for a composite web containing labels affixed to the backing strip with peeling capability, means for printing on the label at the mark #+i11 position, a backing strip; means for peeling off the printed label from the backing piece; means for peeling off the printed label from the backing piece with the peeling means; means for advancing another label to a printing position; means for manually inputting selected data to be printed; and means for manually inputting selected data to be printed; a thermographic print head having a plurality of individually selectable cylindrical elements energized from a source of electrical energy for printing on a thermographic label; '' - electrically processes each cylinder element in a predetermined sequence determined by the selection
means for printing a near "near" image, said advancing means including signal generating means electrically connected to said signal processing means for providing a signal indicative of the position of the label; and means for generating a signal indicative of a printable area, wherein the processing means includes means for operating the printhead to apply data on the label in response to the printable area signal generating means. It consists of a hand-held labeled device.