Abstract:
A tape printing apparatus including an input, a display, a processor arranged to control the display in response to an input received by the input, the display being controlled to have a first area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a second area displaying an image to be printed on said label.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a United States National Phase of PCT/EP2008/054180, filed Apr. 7, 2008, which claims priority to GB 0706788.7, filed Apr. 5, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a tape printing apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Tape printing apparatus are known in for example EP-A-322918 (Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha) and EP-A-267890 (Varitronics). The known tape printing apparatus comprise a cassette receiving bay for receiving a cassette or tape holding case. In EP-A-267890, the tape holding case houses an ink ribbon and a substrate tape, the latter comprising an upper image receiving layer secured to a backing layer by an adhesive. In EP-A-322918, the tape holding case houses an ink ribbon, a transparent image receiving tape and a double-sided adhesive tape which is secured at one of its adhesive coated sides to the image tape after printing and which has a backing layer peelable from its other adhesive coated side. With this tape printing apparatus, the image transfer medium (ink ribbon) and the image receiving tape (substrate) are in the same cassette. 
         [0004]    It has also been proposed by the present applicant in, for example EP-A-578372 to house the ink ribbon and the substrate tape in separate cassettes. 
         [0005]    In all of these cases, the image receiving tape passes in overlap with an ink ribbon to a printing zone consisting of a print head and a platen which cooperate to cause an image to transfer from the ink ribbon to the image receiving tape. There are many ways in doing this, including dry lettering or dry film impression but the most usual way currently is by thermal printing where the print head is heated and the heat causes ink from the ink ribbon to be transferred to the image receiving tape. 
         [0006]    It is also known for the ink ribbon to be omitted and an image to be printed directly on the image receiving tape by heating the print head. This process is called direct thermal printing. 
         [0007]    The known label printers have displays. Generally, it is known to have attribute indicators arranged to one side of the screen or around the edge thereof to indicate various modes. For example, the indicator can indicate if the text is normal, bold or italics. A frame mode can be indicated or the like. However, where the tape printing apparatus has a number of different modes of operations, it can be difficult for a user to determine that mode easily, even if an attribute area is provided since the indications provided in that attribute area tend to be small and tend to include a number of different attributes. 
         [0008]    Where a label has a fixed length, some known label tape printing apparatus will not allow the user to input additional characters or will only provide an error message when the user activates the print key. This can be frustrating for the user. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising input means, a display, a processor arranged to control said display in response to an input received by said input means, said display being controlled to have a first area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a second area displaying an image to be printed on said label, wherein said text information comprises information defining the type of label to be printed. 
         [0010]    According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising input means, a display, a processor arranged to control said display in response to an input received by said input means, said input means being arranged to permit a user to define a label having a predetermined length, said processor being arranged to determine if an image can be accommodated in said predetermined length and to cause the display to display a part of the image which cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length in a different way to that part of the image which can be accommodated in said predetermined length. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there provided a tape printing apparatus comprising input means for inputting data for a label having a plurality of areas, a printing arrangement arranged to print a label, a processor arranged to cause said printing arrangement to print at least one of a first label with the data associated with said areas in a first order and a second label with the data associated with said areas in an order reverse to said first order. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising input means, a display, a processor arranged to control said display in response to an input received by said input means, said display being controlled to have a first area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a second area displaying at least one of instructions for a user of said tape printing apparatus, an explanation of said text information and options for said text information. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising a display; and a processor, said processor being arranged to determine a number of labels and/or label portions, to determine a position in said labels and/or label portions and to control the display to display said determined number and position. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising a display; and a processor, said processor being arranged to determine a number of error conditions, and to control the display to display said determined number of error conditions. 
         [0015]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising a display; and a processor configured to control the display to display at least a portion of a first label and at least a portion of a second label, wherein said first label and second label are vertically oriented when printed with respect to a tape, wherein said processor is configured to control the display to display one label above the other with a divider therebetween. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising input means, a display, a processor arranged to control said display in response to an input received by said input means, said display being controlled to have a first area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a second area displaying an image to be printed on said label. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising receiving an input; and controlling a display in response to said received input to have a first area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a second area displaying an image to be printed on said label, wherein said text information comprises information defining the type of label to be printed. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising receiving an input defining a label having a predetermined length; determining if an image can be accommodated in said predetermined length; and causing a display to display a part of the image which cannot be accommodated in said predetermined length in a different way to that part of the image which can be accommodated in said predetermined length. 
         [0019]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising receiving data for a label having a plurality of areas, and causing a printing arrangement to print at least one of a first label with the data associated with said areas in a first order and a second label with the data associated with said areas in an order reverse to said first order. 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising receiving an input; and controlling a display in response to said received input, to have a first area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a second area displaying at least one of instructions for a user of said tape printing apparatus, an explanation of said text information and options for said text information. 
         [0021]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising determining a number of labels and/or label portions and a position in said labels and/or label portions; and controlling a display to display said determined number and position. 
         [0022]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided method comprising determining a number of error conditions in a tape printing arrangement, and to control the display to display said determined number of error conditions. 
         [0023]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising controlling a display to display at least a portion of a first label and at least a portion of a second label, wherein said first label and second label are vertically oriented when printed with respect to a tape, wherein said method comprises controlling the display to display one label above the other with a divider therebetween. 
         [0024]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising receiving an input, controlling said display in response said received input, said display being controlled to have a first area providing text information to assist a user to create a label, and a second area displaying an image to be printed on said label. 
         [0025]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising: controlling a display to display at least a portion of a label, wherein if said portion to be displayed is adjacent one or more edge regions, said display is controlled to display an indicator of said one or more edge regions. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tape printing apparatus comprising: input means; a display; and a processor, said processor being arranged to control said display to display at least a portion of a label, wherein if said portion to be displayed is adjacent one or more edge regions, said display is controlled to display an indicator of said one or more edge regions. 
         [0027]    For a better understanding of the present disclosure and as to how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a tape printing apparatus embodying the present disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  shows control circuitry for controlling the tape printing apparatus embodying the present disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  diagrammatically shows a cassette in the cassette receiving bay of the tape printing apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  shows an image displayed by the display of the tape printing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , when in a patch panel mode; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  shows a first and a second label printed in a patch panel mode; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  shows the image displayed when a symbol key of the tape printing apparatus of  FIG. 1  is actuated; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  shows the image displayed when a given group of symbols is selected; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  shows a warning displayed by the display; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  shows the bar code menu; 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  shows the bar code mode; 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  shows a message displayed during printing; 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  illustrates the display, when the user is in the flag mode; 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  shows the display for selecting text size; 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  shows the display when in the fixed length mode; 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  shows a general edit mode where a plurality of lines has been entered; 
           [0043]      FIG. 16  shows a patch panel mode in which more characters than can be accommodated in a particular area have been input; 
           [0044]      FIG. 17  shows the attribute area of the display in more detail; 
           [0045]      FIG. 18  illustrates the serialisation mode; 
           [0046]      FIG. 19  illustrates the display when in a vertical mode showing one label; 
           [0047]      FIG. 20  illustrates the display when in a vertical mode showing a separation between two labels; 
           [0048]      FIG. 21  illustrates labels produced in the serialization mode; 
           [0049]      FIG. 22  indicates labels produced in the vertical mode; 
           [0050]      FIGS. 23   a  and  b  illustrate the display when displaying two different portions of the same label. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0051]      FIG. 1  shows the front of a tape printing apparatus  2 . The printing apparatus has a display  4 . In preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, the display  4  is a liquid crystal display. The tape printing apparatus has a keyboard  6 . The keyboard  6  has a plurality (in this case four) cursor control keys  8 . Also provided are a plurality of keys  10  for selecting characters and a plurality of keys  12  for selecting numbers. The keyboard  6  also has two sets of function keys  14 . It should be appreciated that the number of keys provided and the functions provided by those keys can be varied in accordance with the application of the printer. For example, in one embodiment the individual keys for the numbers can be omitted and instead the number keys may be accessed via character keys. Another modification avoids the requirement for a single key for each character. Alternatively, functions may be accessed by use for example of a shift key. 
         [0052]    The keyboard  6  thus allows the user to input an image including characters, number and/or symbols. The function keys allow the attribute of the labels to be selected. The function keys  14  thus allow different functions to be implemented and may control the operational mode of the tape printing apparatus. 
         [0053]    In one alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the keyboard can be replaced a touch-pad, a touch-screen or any other input means. 
         [0054]    Reference is made to  FIG. 3  which shows a cassette receiving bay which is indicated by the dotted line  30 . The cassette bay  30  includes a thermal print head  32  and a rotatable platen  34  which cooperate to define a print zone  36 . The cassette receiving bay is covered by a lid. The cassette receiving bay is accessed via the rear side of the printing apparatus. 
         [0055]    The thermal print head  32  comprises a column of printing elements. The print head  32  has a height which is generally large enough to print on the widest width of tape. The print head  32  has a width which is equal to the width of one printing element. Each of the printing elements is activatable separately and is activated in accordance with the desired image to be printed. An image can be printed with the width of characters extending along the tape or with the height of the characters extending along the length of tape in the so-called vertical printing mode. 
         [0056]    The print head  32  is pivotable about a pivot point  38  to enable the cassette to be removed and replaced in the cassette bay. A cassette inserted in the cassette bay  30  is noted generally by reference number  40 . The cassette  40  holds a supply spool  42  of an image receiving tape  44 . The image receiving tape  44  is guided by a guide mechanism (not shown) through the cassette  40 , out of the cassette  40  through an outlet  46 , past the print zone  36  to a cutting location  48 . 
         [0057]    The same cassette  40  has an ink ribbon supply spool  50  and an ink tape up spool  52 . The ink ribbon  54  is guided from the ink ribbon supply spool  50  through the print zone  36  and taken up on the ink ribbon tape up spool  52 . The image receiving tape  44  thus passes in overlap with the ink ribbon  54  through the print zone  36  with its image receiving layer in contact with the ink ribbon  54 . 
         [0058]    The cassette  44  has a recess  80  for receiving the print head  32 . Guide portions may also be provided (not shown) for guiding the thermal transfer ribbon  54  through the print zone  36 . The print head  32  is movable between an operative position in which it is in contact with the platen  34  and holds the thermal transfer ribbon  54  and the image receiving tape  44  in overlap between the print head  32  and the platen  34  and an inoperative position in which it is moved away from the platen  34  to release the ink ribbon  54  and the image receiving tape  44 . In the operative position, the platen  34  is rotated to cause the image receiving tape  44  to be driven passed the print head  32  and the print head is controlled to print an image on the image receiving tape  44  by the thermal transfer of ink from the ink ribbon  54 . 
         [0059]    As shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 , the platen is driven by a motor  58 . The motor rotates to drive the image receiving tape through the print zone  36  continuously during printing. It is possible that the tape may be driven in a step wise manner by a stepper motor. 
         [0060]    An image is printed on the tape fed out from the print zone  36  to the cutting location  48  which is provided at a location in a portion of the wall of the cassette  40  which is close to the print zone  36 . The portion of the wall on the cassette  40  where the cutting location  48  is defined is denoted by reference number  60 . A slot  62  is defined in the wall portion  60  of the cassette and the image receiving tape  44  is fed past the print zone  36  to the cutting location  48  where it is supported by facing portions on either side of the slot  62 . 
         [0061]    A cutting mechanism  64  including a cutting blade  66  is provided. The cutting blade  66  cuts the image receiving tape  44  and then enters the slot  62 . 
         [0062]    Basic circuitry for controlling the tape printing apparatus is shown in  FIG. 2 . There is a microprocessor chip  70  having a non volatile memory  72 , a microprocessor  74  and random access memory RAM capacity indicated diagrammatically by RAM  76 . The microprocessor chip  70  is connected to receive label data input to it from a data input device such as keyboard  6 . 
         [0063]    The microprocessor chip  70  outputs data to drive display  4  via a display driver chip  78  to display a label to be printed (or part thereof) and/or other information such as a message for the user. The display driver alternatively may form part of the microprocessor chip. Additionally, the microprocessor chip  70  also outputs data to drive the print head  32  so that the label data is printed on the image receiving tape to form a label. Finally, the microprocessor chip also controls the motor  58  for driving the platen  34 . The microprocessor chip may also control the cutting mechanism  64  to allow a length of tape to be cut off. In alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, at least part of the cutting mechanism may be manually operated. 
         [0064]    Reference is now made to  FIGS. 4 and 5  which illustrate a so-called “patch panel mode”. A patch panel has a plurality of different areas, each of which can be individually labelled. When the patch panel mode is entered, the user is arranged to define the port distance that is the distance between the different areas in a label. In practice, this will define the size of each individual area of a label. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a port distance of 0.6 inches has been selected. The second thing that the user needs to select is the number of ports or individual areas to be labelled. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , three ports or areas are defined. 
         [0065]    The information area  200  on the display shown in  FIG. 4  indicates that the user is in the patch panel mode and also indicates the port distance. This information area  200  is discussed in more detail hereinafter. The area below the information area  200  shows three areas  202 ,  204 ,  206  of a label corresponding to the input data of the individual areas in the label. The size of the area displayed will depend on the amount of data input although the size of the corresponding area in the printed label will depend on the size set by the user. The user is able to input characters, data, numbers etc. into each area of the label. The user is able to move from one area to another by using a cursor key  8 . 
         [0066]    Lines  208  are used to denote a beginning and end of each of the three areas, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , a first label is provided which has three areas  202 ′,  204 ′ and  206 ′ corresponding respectively to areas  202 ,  204  and  206  with the input image printed thereon. The areas are separated by printed lines  210 , in one embodiment of the present disclosure. In alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, the lines may be omitted or replaced by any other suitable indication. 
         [0068]    It is sometimes desirable to label both the front of an article such as a patch panel as well as the rear. Embodiments of the present disclosure thus have a mode where a second label  214  is printed to be fixed to the rear of the patch panel. In the label which is attached to the rear of the patch panel, the images are reordered so that when the label is stuck to the rear of the patch panel, the same labelling information is provided on the same port or the like. Thus the first port will be labelled as such when viewed from both the front and the back. 
         [0069]    In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when in the patch panel mode, the first and second labels  212  and  214  are automatically printed. In an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the user is given the option as to whether or not they require the reverse patch panel label. 
         [0070]    This embodiment has been described in the context of a patch panel. However it should be appreciated that embodiments of the disclosure can be used with any application where a single label has a plurality of areas which are used to label the front and back of an article. 
         [0071]    The tape printing apparatus has a symbol key  216  which can be seen from  FIG. 1 . Activation of this key causes the menu shown in  FIG. 6  to be displayed. The information part of the screen  200  has the title default symbols. In other words, this indicates that there are pre-stored symbols. To aid access to these symbols, they are categorised into groups. As shown in  FIG. 6 , three groups, electrical symbols, voice/data symbols and audio/video symbols are shown. However, by scrolling down this list, further options may be available. These further groups of symbols may include one or more of the following symbols: warning symbols, punctuation symbols, bracket symbols, arrow symbols, number symbols, EU electrical symbols, and currency symbols. It should be appreciated that these groups of symbols are by way of example only. Embodiments of the disclosure may have two or more groups of symbols. These two or more groups may be selected from or include any of the groups of symbols mentioned above or indeed any other suitable group of symbols which may depend on the application for which the tape printing apparatus is intended. 
         [0072]    The user is able to scroll between the different symbol groups by using the cursor keys. The user can select a particular group which is highlighted by activating an “OK” key  218  or any other suitable enter or confirmation key. In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , the electrical group of symbols is highlighted. Activation of the confirmation key  218  causes the symbols in that group to be displayed, for example as shown in  FIG. 7 . The user can move between the displayed symbols  220  using the cursor key. When a particular symbol is highlighted by the cursor it may be expanded in size. For example, the symbol  222  in  FIG. 7  has been highlighted and is very much larger than the other symbols and covers a number of those symbols. 
         [0073]    In embodiments of the present disclosure, as the cursor is moved along, the highlighted symbol appears differently. In particular, the user moves the cursor highlighting different ones of the symbols, using the cursor keys. When the cursor has rested on a particular symbol for a short predetermined time, that symbol is then displayed at a greater magnification compared to the other symbols and over a plurality of those other symbols. After a further predetermined time, the highlighted symbol returns to the same size as the other symbols. The user is able to select the highlighted symbol using for example confirmation key  218   
         [0074]    Reference will now be made to  FIGS. 8 to 13  as well as to  FIGS. 4 and 6 . The display is arranged to have an information area  200  on the display. This area  200  is arranged above a second area  224 . When a particular mode has been selected, the second area is used to display text which is input by the user. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , this shows the display when the so-called “flag mode” has been selected. The information area  200  indicates to the user that the flag mode has been set. In the flag mode, the tape is arranged to be attached to a cable. The two ends of the label are stuck together to provide a so-called flag which extends out from the surface of the cable. When the flag mode is selected, the user is given the option of setting the length of the flag. The information area displays the set size of the flag. In this embodiment, 0.35 inches has been set as the flag size. 
         [0076]    The second area  224  will display the input text or the like or selected symbols to be displayed on that flag. 
         [0077]    It should be appreciated that in  FIG. 4 , the information area  200  indicates that the patch mode has been selected and the distance between the port or adjacent areas is point 6 inches. The display area  224  shows the input text for the different areas. 
         [0078]    Other modes which require the user to input some parameter include: vertical wrap, patch panel, fixed length, module mode, T-block mode and vertical mode. These keys are referenced  232 . 
         [0079]    Reference is made to  FIG. 10 . In  FIG. 10 , the information area indicates that the user is in the bar code mode and also indicates the type of bar code which has been selected. The selection of the bar code type is described in more detail later. Thus, in this example, the bar code selected is the code  39 . 
         [0080]    The second area indicates to the user that a bar code will be printed. The text underneath indicates the text which will be displayed as a bar code. 
         [0081]    Thus, one function of the information area  200  is to indicate to the user the mode in which the user is in whilst the second area  224  shows the text or the like of the label to be printed. 
         [0082]    The information area can also be used to provide different types of information. For example,  FIG. 8  shows how a warning can be provided. In particular, the information area indicates that there is a warning. The second part of the display indicates the nature of that warning. For example, a fixed length mode is selected by activating a key  226 . A single activation of this key causes the fixed length mode to be entered. A further activation of that key causes the fixed length mode to be exited. When the fixed length key is activated a second time, the warning shown in  FIG. 8  is displayed. For example, a user may be editing a label and has forgotten that the fixed length mode has been entered. Accordingly, this warning is displayed to remind the user that the further activation of the fixed mode key has caused that mode to be switched off. The second part of the display also includes an instruction to the user requiring the user to activate the confirmation key  218  in order to continue. Thus, the second area may contain the nature of the warning and optionally any instructions for continued usage of the label printer. 
         [0083]    It should be appreciated that this is by way of example only and other explanations for the appearance of a warning in the information area  200  may be included. Optional instructions for the continued usage of the label printer may be provided. 
         [0084]    The information area  200  may also include information as to the activity of the printer. For example, in  FIG. 11 , the information area indicates the tape is being printed. If there is any error or potential problem with this, the second area may include some further information. For example, in a fixed length mode, some text may be too long to be included in the fixed length. The user is given the option of continuing printing or cancelling the printing and an indication as to how those two operations can be achieved. 
         [0085]    Some further examples of warnings/help messages included in the information area and explanations included in the second display are listed below for the example of barcodes. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Message in 
                 Information 
               
               
                 Description 
                 information area 
                 in second area 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Message Barcode incomplete 
                 Barcode 
                 Barcode(s) incomplete. 
               
               
                 Message Barcode not allowed 
                 Barcode 
                 Barcode not allowed. 
               
               
                 Message Barcode Edit 
                 Barcode 
                 Do you want to edit 
               
               
                   
                   
                 your barcode? 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0086]    Reference is made to  FIG. 9 . In  FIG. 9 , the information area  200  indicates which menu has been selected. In the example shown in  FIG. 9 , the bar code menu has been selected. The second area  224  then displays the available bar code types i.e. the options available in that menu. 
         [0087]    In this regard, reference is made to  FIG. 6  which shows in the information area that the symbol menu has been selected whilst the second area  224  shows the different menu options—that is the different symbol groups. 
         [0088]    In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there may be three different types of menu: bar code this allows the type of bar code to be selected, symbol this allows one of a group of symbols to be selected and subsequently an individual symbol in a selected group of symbols to be selected. The third menu is library. This gives the user a selection of categories. Each category comprises a group of words. One of those words can be selected. Accordingly, the groups comprise location, audio-video, voice-data, security, my library (for user selected words). In this latter option, the words hot keys may be displayed in the information area. The keys for selecting these modes are indicated by reference number  230 . 
         [0089]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 13 . The user has activated a key  234  to get to a setting menu. One of the options on that menu is text size which has been selected using the cursor keys and the confirmation key as set out above. The information area in  200  is used to instruct the user to select the text size. The user then selects one of the text sizes that are displayed in the area  224 . This is done as set out previously. 
         [0090]    In summary, the information area can do the following: when the user is in an edit mode i.e. inputting text to be printed on a label, display what that mode is, for example, vertical wrap, patch panel mode, flag mode, fixed length mode, module mode, T-block mode or vertical mode. If any parameter has been selected for one of those modes, that may also be displayed in the information area. 
         [0091]    The information area may be used to indicate that there is a warning with information about the warning included in the second area of the display and/or action required by the user. 
         [0092]    The information area can indicate the current status of the printer, for example whether it is printing and any problem or relevant information associated with the current activity of the printer. 
         [0093]    The information area can be used to instruct a user when a label or character attribute is being set. The information area can include information about bar codes, symbols or words to be used inserted or used in a label. 
         [0094]    In one embodiment of the disclosure, the user can select whether or not to have the information area  200 . For example the user can select via the settings menu whether or not to have the information area present. If that information area is not present, at least one extra line will be provided in the second area  224 , particularly when in the edit mode. 
         [0095]    It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, the label printer is arranged to determine if a condition occurs and in response to that condition to automatically display the information area. For example, the information area may be automatically displayed if a warning or error condition has been detected. 
         [0096]    The information area may appear when a warning condition occurs but may not be displayed either when the user makes a change such that the warning condition no longer applies or the user interacts with the with the second area  224 , when in a label editing mode. 
         [0097]    In certain modes, a fixed length is defined. For example, in the fixed length mode, the user inputs the length of the label. The display in the fixed length mode is illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The information area of the display  200  indicates that the mode is the fixed length mode and that a length of one inch has been selected. A differentiation is made on the second part of the display between those characters  234  which can be accommodated in the fixed length and those characters  236  which are outside the available print area corresponding with the defined label length. In particular, the characters which are outside the defined length are shown differently. This may be shown by a different coloured background, a reverse background, in a different font, by a flashing image or in any other way which permits the user to make a visual distinction between the characters which can be accommodated in the available print area and those that cannot. It is thus clear to the user that not all of the characters can be accommodated in the fixed length and additionally which of those characters which do not fit within that fixed length. 
         [0098]    In this regard, reference is also made to  FIG. 4 . The patch panel mode is another mode where the label areas enhance the total area of the label as a fixed length. The area  238  outside the label has a different appearance from the areas within the label  202 ,  204  and  206 . A line  240  may be provided between the end of the label and the area  238  outside the label. 
         [0099]    Reference is made to  FIG. 16 . This shows two of the three patch panels  202  and  204 . It should be noted that more characters than can be accommodated in the first area has been input. Accordingly, the character which cannot be accommodated in that first area is displayed on a different background, as in the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . 
         [0100]    The background may differ in any particular way. It should be appreciated that the line defining the end of the label, for example line  240  of  FIG. 4  will move along as the user inputs additional characters. The background only changes once the user inputs more characters than can be accommodated in the defined length. 
         [0101]    Reference is made to  FIG. 15 . The information area  200  indicates that the user is in the general input mode. The user has put in a label which is bigger than can be displayed in the display. Accordingly, scroll bars  242  and  244  are provided. Scroll bar  244  indicates which part of the label is displayed when considered from left to right i.e. generally corresponding to the length of the image receiving tape. Scroll bar  244  indicates which part of the label is displayed when considered from top to bottom. Generally this corresponds to the width direction of the image receiving tape. The user can move the cursor within the display image to change that part of the label which is displayed. As the part of the label which is displayed is changed, the position of the scroll bars from left to right and/or up to down will change. 
         [0102]    As can be seen from some of the preceding figures, there is a third area of the display which can be seen very clearly from a consideration of  FIG. 17 . Thus, in addition to the information area  200  and the second area  224  is a third so-called attribute area  248 . This is part of the same display containing the other two areas but is dedicated to attribute information. This area provides the following information: there is a battery indicator  250  which indicates whether or not the battery is charged and if so by how much. In the case that the label printer contains a rechargeable battery, the battery indicator  250  might indicate that the battery is being recharged. 
         [0103]    There is an area which provides label and font attributes. One indicator  254  indicates whether or not the font is bold or not. A second indicator  256  indicates whether italics has been selected or not. 
         [0104]    A third indicator  258  indicates whether a frame has been selected and if the text is underlined. Indicator  260  indicates whether the capital lock key is on or off. Indicator  262  indicates the size of text. Various different sizes are set, the size of which is indicated. Alternatively, there is an autosizing mode in which the text size is automatically selected. 
         [0105]    Indicator  264  is used for those modes where there are more than one label, for example serialisation mode, which will be described hereafter or where the user has input more than one label. The second position  266  will indicate the total number of labels. The first position  264  will indicate the position of the cursor i.e. the label in which the cursor is currently located. Accordingly,  2 / 3  will indicate that there are three labels and that the cursor is currently located in the second label. 
         [0106]    A position indicator  270  is provided. This is provided for, for example the patch panel mode where there is a plurality of positions defined within a single label. The second number  272  indicates the number of positions whilst the first number  274  indicates the position of the cursor. Looking for example at the arrangement shown in  FIG. 4 , the position is indicated as  2 / 3 . This means that there are three areas (positions) in the label and that the cursor is in the second area, i.e. area  204 . 
         [0107]    Finally, the attribute area includes a warning indicator  276 . When this is lit, this indicates that there is an error. For example, where there is a fixed length mode and the number of characters entered exceeds the fixed length, the warning indicator  276  will be lit. Adjacent to the warning indicator is a number  278 . This is used to indicate the number of errors. Accordingly, if there are two errors, the number 2 will be displayed. By way of example, reference is made to  FIG. 14  where the warning indicator is lit and the number of errors is given as 1. 
         [0108]    It should be appreciated that the information included in this attribute area is by way of example and any one or more of the attributes discussed hereinbefore can be omitted. In alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, alternative information may be included in this area in addition or as an alternative to some or all of the described information. 
         [0109]    The user inputs a label comprising, for example, A 1  referenced  282 . The user wishes to serialise the label. The user presses the serialisation key  284 . The user then has to input whether the character A or number 1 is to be serialised. Then the user needs to input the size of the incremental steps and finally the number of steps. In the embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 18 , the steps size is 1 and the number of steps is 3. The tape printing apparatus is then arranged to automatically generate the three labels, A 1 , A 2 , and A 3 . As can be seen, the number 1, the selected character has been incremented by 1 in each of the three labels. It should be appreciated that if the user wishes, he can enter the serialisation mode again and serialise the first character, A in addition to the number. 
         [0110]    Embodiments of the present disclosure may have three serialisation modes. The first serialisation mode is a simple serialisation mode where a single character is serialised. This is as described. 
         [0111]    Simultaneous serialisation is similar to the simple serialisation described above but allows all the characters to be serialised simultaneously. 
         [0112]    Finally, there is the advanced serialisation mode. In this mode, the user will have the ability to create serialisation which can involve two individual variables. After this selection is made, the counters for each variable need to be set. Then the characters in the edit buffer which need to be serialised will need to be selected 
         [0113]    An example of advanced serialization will now be described: 
         [0114]    aB 1  is input. 
         [0115]    The advanced serialization mode is selected in any suitable way. 
         [0116]    The first character/number to be serialised is selected—in this example 1 is selected with step size=3 and number of steps=4. 
         [0117]    The second character/number to be serialised is a with a step size of =5 and a number of steps as 2. 
         [0118]    The result is an array of 4 labels as a result of the first selection aB   1    aB   4    aB 7  aB   10    followed by 4 labels as a result of the second selection fB 1  fB 4  fB 7  fB 10 . 
         [0119]    This is illustrated in the following table 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 aB1 
                 aB4 
                 aB7 
                 aB10 
               
               
                   
                 fB1 
                 fB4 
                 fB7 
                 fB10 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0120]    If the number of serializations for the second selection is 3, there would be 12 results: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 aB1 
                 aB4 
                 aB7 
                 aB10 
               
               
                   
                 fB1 
                 fB4 
                 fB7 
                 fB10 
               
               
                   
                 kB1 
                 kB4 
                 kB7 
                 kB10 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0121]    As will be seen, each of the created serialised labels can be displayed on the display. If more labels than can be displayed on the display are defined, the user can scroll through them using the cursor keys and the label indicator  264  informs the user where the cursor is positioned in the series of labels. 
         [0122]    The selection of the characters to be serialised is simply done by moving the cursor control keys over the selected character. The confirmation key  218  is then activated. In one embodiment the cursor changes to a rectangle around a character when serialization is activated. This makes it easier for the user to select the desired character. 
         [0123]    In those modes which have multiple labels, and indeed the normal mode, the leading and trailing margins before and after the image are not displayed so as maximise the characters which can be displayed in the display. In preferred embodiments, this is done for all modes. The display shows the start and end of the labels by areas in a certain color or pattern (e.g. area  238 ), and the effective input areas of the labels ignoring the non printed areas (corresponding to leading and trailing margins) of the labels. This provides the user with a maximum amount of information on a small display without the need of a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) display or a print preview option. 
         [0124]    A size key  290  is provided on the keyboard which allows the character size to be selected. Every time the key is activated, the next size character is selected. Accordingly, to select a particular size of character requires the user to activate this key to cycle to the desired size. The currently selected character size will be displayed in the attribute area. 
         [0125]    Every time the size key is activated and the next size is selected, the controller of the printer recalculates the data. For those modes which have a fixed length, the influence on the set character size on the label is displayed. For example, as the character size increases, it may well be that the input characters are no longer accommodated in the defined area of the label or in the label. This will be reflected in the display and the display will be for example as shown in  FIG. 14  or  16 . Thus, the user is able to see how selecting the character size influences the labels. 
         [0126]    It should be appreciated that in preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, the size of the actual character displayed does not changed but rather the position of label boundaries or dividers with respect to the characters changes. 
         [0127]    It should be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure are arranged such that the display  4  is controlled by the microprocessor to display the images shown in various of the figures in response to input from the user via the keyboard. 
         [0128]    In preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, the different display areas are defined in a common display. In alternative embodiments of the disclosure, these areas may be defined by two or three separate areas. 
         [0129]    A further embodiment of the disclosure will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 18 to 22 . As is shown in  FIG. 18 , there is a horizontal mode in which a plurality of labels is to be printed. In this mode, the labels are arranged horizontally. In other words, the consecutive labels when printed will extend along the length of the label one next to the other. The correct orientation of the labels is such that the text is readable in a direction parallel to the length of the label.  FIG. 21  illustrates a first label  282  and a second label  282 . The length L of the tape is marked as is the width W. One label  282  is arranged adjacent to a second label  282  along the length of the tape. 
         [0130]      FIG. 18  shows the corresponding display. Each label  282  may be shown on the display as being separated by a divider  283 . The divider  283  may take any suitable form which indicates that one label has ended and the next label has started. 
         [0131]      FIG. 19  shows the display which is shown when a vertical mode is entered. By vertical mode, it is understood that the text on the label will be oriented such as shown in  FIG. 22 .  FIG. 22  will be described in more detail later. The correct orientation of the labels is such that the text is readable in a direction parallel to the width of the tape. In the arrangement shown in  FIG. 19 , there are two labels, each having three parts, and the display shows parts of one label. The display shows two parts of the first label. Portions  285  and  287  of the display show two parts of the first label. These parts represent different blocks of the terminal block label. The parts are divided by a single line  288 . In addition, a divider  289  may be provided to indicate the end of the label. This divider  289  may be in the form of a hatched line or any other suitable marking to indicate the end of the label. This divider  289  is preferably distinguished from the line  288  which separates the portions of the same label. 
         [0132]      FIG. 20  shows the display when two labels are provided in the vertical mode and the display displays parts of the two labels. The first label is referenced  295  and the second label is referenced  291 . 
         [0133]    It should be appreciated that  FIG. 19  may be regarded as being the second and third part of the first label to be printed, the third part of which is shown in  FIG. 20  as being part of the first label  295 . In  FIG. 19  the cursor is in the first label of two and on the third line of three s indicated on the right side of the display in respectively “Label  1 / 2 ” and “Position  3 / 3 ”. In  FIG. 20  the cursor is in the second label of two and on the first line of three as indicated on the display in respectively “Label  2 / 2 ” and “Position  1 / 3 ”. 
         [0134]    Reference is made to  FIG. 22  which shows the two labels  295  and  291  where the text extends parallel to the width of the label. In other words, to read the text of the label, it is necessary to change to the orientation of the tape as compared to that shown in  FIG. 21 . To summarise, in the horizontal mode, the text is read in the correct orientation along the length of the label. In contrast, in  FIG. 22 , the text is read in the correct orientation across the width of the tape. It should be appreciated in a further or alternative vertical mode, the text may be oriented as shown in  FIG. 22  but with one letter beneath the other. This can be displayed in accordance with the vertical mode illustrated in conjunction with  FIGS. 19 and 20 . 
         [0135]    As can be seen by comparing  FIGS. 18 to 20 , when the label is in the horizontal mode, the divider dividing the labels is displayed in a vertical direction on the display. In other words, if the user was to move a cursor from one label to the next label, the user would use the left and right cursors. In the vertical mode, the divider dividing the two labels is shown in a horizontal direction of the display. In other words, for the user to move the cursor from one label to the next label in a vertical mode, the user would use the up and down cursor keys. 
         [0136]    The display is such that the user is able to quickly and easily distinguish the operational mode based on the display. Furthermore, the user can easily see where one label stops and the next begins. 
         [0137]    It should be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment, the division between labels has been described as being a hatched line. However, it should be appreciated that this division can be shown by any other suitable way. 
         [0138]    It should be appreciated that  FIGS. 18 to 22  are particularly appropriate to the so-called terminal block mode for labelling adjacent electrical components. However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to any other method of producing a series of so-called horizontal or vertical labels. It should be appreciated that the labels may be completely separated, partially separated or with no separation, when they are printed in output by the printer. 
         [0139]    Reference is made to  FIGS. 23   a  and  b  which shows a further embodiment of the disclosure. The display is controlled such that as a user is entering a label, the display will display at least one line of pixels representing a border of the label, in at least one of the width direction and the length. This has the advantage that when the user creates a label, the user will be able to see immediately if the displayed position is at a border of the label or not. 
         [0140]    As can be seen from  FIG. 23   a , the line of pixels  302  shown represents the end of the label while in  FIG. 23   b  the line of pixels  302  represents the beginning of the label. It should be appreciated that in some embodiments, if the label is relatively short both the end and beginning line of pixels will be shown. In some embodiments, depending on the length of label, it may be that neither of the beginning or end lines of pixels may be displayed. Thus is  FIG. 23   a , the end of the label is being displayed whilst in  FIG. 23   b , the beginning of the label is being displayed. 
         [0141]    Also as shown in  FIGS. 23   a  and  b , there are also lines of pixels representing the top and bottom edges of the label. This is represented by lines  304  and  306 . As can be seen, both the top and bottom edges are shown in the Figures. However, for a multi-line label, only one or even none of the bottom and top edges will be displayed, depending on the position of the label being displayed. The portion of the label being displayed may be determined by the position of the cursor. 
         [0142]    Thus, in the length direction, when the label is longer than the part that can be displayed, the user will not be able to see the beginning of the label and the end of the label at the same time. In some cases he will even not be able to see any of them. With the feature of having a line of pixels at the beginning and a line of pixels at the end, the user will be able to have an idea where the cursor is positioned in the label when scrolling through the label. The user will know from this feature if the beginning and/or end of the label is on the display or not. The same also applies to the user being able to determine if the cursor is near the top or the bottom of the label. 
         [0143]    It should be appreciated that the line of pixels can be replaced by any other suitable indication or marking. In some embodiments, the marking may be provided only at the beginning and ends of the label or only at the top and bottom of the label. 
         [0144]    Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in the context of an arrangement in which a cassette containing an ink ribbon and image receiving tape are used. It should be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may be used with a direct thermal material. This means that the need for the ink ribbon can be omitted. In a still further embodiment of the present disclosure, a two-cassette system may be used where the ink ribbon is accommodated in one cassette and the image receiving tape is accommodated in a different cassette. 
         [0145]    In yet another alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, the image receiving tape may simply be provided on a roll without any cassette present. 
         [0146]    Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in the context of a continuous image receiving tape. It should be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may be used with die cut labels, that is discrete labels which are adhered to a continuous backing layer. 
         [0147]    Alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may use a further laminating tape which is used to protect the printed image. A number of different techniques are known for achieving lamination. 
         [0148]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are preferably hand-held tape printing apparatus. However, alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may be arranged to be connected to a PC. Some embodiments of the present disclosure may be used both as a stand-alone printer and alternatively as a PC connected device. 
         [0149]    One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be at least partially realised or be implemented by software. Accordingly embodiments can be at least partially implemented by one or more computer programs. The computer program may be provided on a computer program carrying medium or may be downloaded from a suitable source. 
         [0150]    If the tape printing apparatus is to be used solely as a PC connected device, the keyboard may at least partially or completely be omitted. Likewise, the display may be at least partially or completely omitted. 
         [0151]    Embodiments of the disclosure have been described in the context of label printing apparatus using thermal transfer by ink ribbon or direct thermal printing. It should be appreciated that embodiments of the disclosure are equally applicable to any other printing technology. By way of example only, such printing technologies may include ink jet printing and laser printing.