JPH02112974A - Printing method and printing medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To print an image larger than the dimension of a completed printing medium by introducing a printing medium wherein a margin part is provided at the edge of a principal part to be printed into a printer and next completing the printing to the principal part of the printing medium before separating the margin part from the principal part. CONSTITUTION: A printing medium 10 is formed as a rather large one and has a principal part 10a and end parts 10b, 10c. In this embodiment, when the longest printable image length is about 10.5 inch, the length of the printing medium 10 is 14 inch so as to ensure about 0.25 inch as the dimension of the unprinted margins of leading and rear end parts. The end parts are connected to the principal part at the bonding parts generally shown by reference numbers. These end parts are separated from the principal part by tearing the rather large printing medium 10 along the perforations formed in the printing medium 10.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention introduces a print medium having a margin portion around the edge of the main portion to be printed into a printer, and prints on the main portion of the print medium. The present invention relates to a printing method and printing medium characterized in that the margin portion is separated from the main portion after completion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Almost all printers print onto pre-cut print media over an area that is less than the total area of the print media. This is because the printer needs to control the print medium during printing. This is accomplished by using devices to variously grip, transport, or feed the paper through pinch rollers that move the paper. For printing, especially high quality graphic printing, this cannot be achieved without controlling the edges of the print media, so the leading and trailing margins of the print media are not printed. These margins are used to secure the print media during the printing process.

For example, the Model 4693 thermal printer manufactured by Tektronix of Beeherdon, Oregon, prints 8.13 inches wide x 8.13 inches wide by
An image with a length of 10.66 inches is printed.

For example, the size of the printable area on an A-size paper with dimensions of 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches long is 8.11 inches wide and 8.31 inches long. The side margins are no more than 0.2 inches each. However, the edges forming the leading and trailing edges of the print media have respective margins of greater than 1.5 inches.

This printer can print images up to 10.5 inches long. To take full advantage of the image area that the printer is capable of, the print media should be approximately 14 inches long. For example, when printing other images on A-size paper, this length is too long and inconvenient for handling and storage.

Continuously folded computer printer paper is known as paper with perforated side margins having holes for engagement with a traction drive system. However, this paper is a continuous sheet of paper consisting of a plurality of pages connected by perforated leading and trailing edges. In many commercial settings, this paper is not considered official and cannot be supplied for printing one page at a time. This is also not practical for producing a single graph ink image of high quality. Similarly, many printers only accept one sheet of print media. Thus, such paper cannot be used where printing on a single sheet of print media is required.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems The present invention solves the problems of conventional print media by providing a print medium and a method of using the print medium. - It is possible to print images without omission while creating a print medium with small layers and easy-to-handle dimensions.

- Layer Specifically, the present invention provides a method for transporting a print medium along a transport path and having at least one leading edge or trailing edge having a first predetermined area (margin area) where no printing is performed. A print medium for use with a printer is provided for printing on the print medium. This print media is
The second area corresponds to the area where the image can be printed by the printer.
It consists of a main portion having a predetermined area, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The first peripheral portion of the print medium has a third predetermined area that corresponds to at least a portion of the first predetermined area. Finally, means are provided for connecting the edge of the peripheral portion to one of the leading or trailing ends of the main portion by means of which the two portions form a bonded print medium. Thus, this main portion, when separated from the peripheral portion, results in a final print medium that has a larger print area than when printed on the main portion alone.

The present invention provides a method for printing an image on a main portion of a print medium using a printer that forms the image to form at least one of a leading edge or a trailing edge having a predetermined area where no printing occurs. provide a method for The area on which the image is printed is larger than the area of the primary print medium that is narrowed by the predetermined area. This method provides a larger print medium having a portion corresponding to the entirety of the main portion of the print medium and a predetermined portion joined together. A joint is formed between the main portion and the predetermined portion of the print medium,
Separated by hand. The image is printed 11 on the main portion of this larger print medium. At least one portion of the unprinted leading or trailing edge (margin portion) is separated from the main portion along the joint.

In a preferred form of print media made in accordance with the present invention, an oversized print media is provided with trailing and leading margins of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the unprinted margins. These margins join the main portion of the print medium sized for the image to be printed. This margin is separable from the main portion by tearing along the perforation that separates the margin from the main portion.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a convenient print medium on which the desired image is printed sufficiently large.

Additionally, once printing is complete, the unprinted leading and trailing margin portions are separable from the main portion of the printed image.

This main part has small dimensions that are more convenient to handle and can be aligned with standard dimensions.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with the aid of the drawings.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a print medium according to the present invention. The print medium (10) in this figure is a larger print medium, including a main part (10a), an end part (10b),
10c). In this example, the leading and trailing edges, which are not printed depending on the printer used, are each 1.5 inches. When the length of the longest printable image is approximately 10.5 inches, the length of the print medium (10) ensures a lead and trail unprinted margin dimension of approximately 0.25 inches. So, it is 14 inches.

The ends join the main part at joints as indicated by reference numerals (12) and (14). As explained below, these edges are attached to this larger print medium (
10) Separate the main parts by tearing along the perforations formed therein. These perforations are
It forms the joint of each part.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are side views illustrating how the print medium (10) is printed. One end of the print media is fed between a pair of feed rollers (16) of a printer (18). Since both ends (10a) and (10b) have the same length, either end may be fed first. Whichever end is fed first becomes the tip, as indicated generally by reference numeral (20). The other end is the rear end, as indicated generally by the reference numeral (22). If the amount of unprinted area at the leading and trailing edges of the print medium is different, the edges (10b) (10c) will also be made of different lengths and the corresponding areas will be different. . However, each time it will be necessary to feed from the tip.

The introduced print media passes between the guide plates (24) and wraps around the platen (26) until the leading end is gripped by the clamp (28). The clamp (28) is attached to the drum (30).

A thermal transfer head (32) is provided opposite the platen (26). The print ribbon (34) extends from between take-up rollers (35) and (36) through the area (38) between the print head and the platen where printing occurs.

During printing, the print medium (10) is pulled through the area (38) by the print area and leading edge of the print medium supported on the drum (30), as shown in FIG. There is. After printing is completed, the print medium is returned by following the path in the opposite direction through which the print medium was introduced and printed. The situation at this time is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, print media (10
) are not printed on important parts of the edges.

Thus, the joints (12) and (14) will separate the printed and unprinted parts.

The print medium (IO) is removed from the printer (18) and the end margin portions (10b), (10c) are separated. Figure 5 depicts the beginning of the removal of both parts from the printed main part (10a) of the image (40). FIG. 6 shows the remaining main part after separating these two parts. Where the edges were indicated by dashed lines.

If the main part is held by one hand and the ends by the other hand, the print media can tear because the perforation joints are weaker than the main part. Otherwise, the fissure will extend to the main part of the eye. By making the entire print media from the same media material, the edges are also of the same strength as the main part, and the joints (12) and (1
It is possible to make changes to the print medium (10) that can be reliably torn along 4). It is possible to make the main part and the ends of different materials. Only one end margin may be removed. Furthermore, the form of the joint may be changed. For example, the ends and the main part may be made of separate pieces of material and temporarily connected by adhesive tape. Although the print medium and its printing method have been described above using the preferred embodiments described above, various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the remaining main parts after these two parts are separated.

In these figures, (10a) is the main part, (10b
), (loc) is the margin part, and (18) is the printer.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the printing method of the present invention, a print medium with a margin portion provided at the edge of the main portion to be printed is introduced into the printer, and then, after printing on the main portion of the print medium is completed, Since the margin portion is separated from the main portion, it is possible to print a large image relative to the size of the finished print medium.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A printing medium is introduced into the printer with a margin portion provided on the edge in the direction of introduction into the printer and the edge on the side opposite to the edge of the main portion where printing is performed. . A printing method, comprising separating the margin portion from the main portion after completing printing on the main portion of the print medium. 2. In a print medium to be printed by a printer, among the edges of the main part on which printing is performed, the edge in the direction of introduction into the printer and the edge on the side opposite to the edge, a margin part that can be separated from the main part. Print media with .