Importance

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Abstract

Printing apparatus and method for printing label designs on blank labels, where the blank labels are organized in rows of one or more labels per row. The apparatus includes a dot matrix impact printer with a resolution of at least 100 pixels per inch. The printer has both a text and a graphics printing mode of operation. A computer used to control the printing process stores label designs and graphic images in its memory. Each label design specifies one or more text strings,their position in the label, and one or more graphic images, and their position in the label. Text and graphic images can be positioned side by side. The user specifies the identity and quantity of labels to be printed, the order in which to print the labels, and the number of blank labels there are in each row of labels to be printed. Each label contains a multiplicity of lines to be printed. The printing process proceeds by positioning the printer at the beginning of a row of blank labels. The computer then generates a list of the label designs to printed on the current row of blank labels. For each such line to be printed, the computer generates a list of the text strings and graphic images to be printed, along with information on where each item is to be printed. For each graphic image on this line, the computer selects the portion of the graphic image to be printed on the current line. Then the computer sends the printer commands to print the items in the list in accordance with the positioning information in the list, including sending commands to print the text strings in text mode and the graphic images in graphics mode.

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First Claim