Printer with detector for detecting reference portion of a recording medium and recording medium for use therewith

摘要

A printer comprises a feeder, a printing head, and a detecting device. The feeder feeds a print-receiving tape having multiple print-receiving portions, each of the print-receiving portions having a detected element. The printing head forms desired printing on the print-receiving tape. The detecting device detects the detected element, provided on an upstream side of the printing head by a predetermined distance X. A first positioning reference is generated when the detecting device detects the detected element of a first print-receiving portion. The printing head may be controlled, when the detecting device detects the detected element of the first print-receiving portion, to perform print formation on a second print-receiving portion preceding the first print-receiving portion and facing the printing head, using the first positioning reference.

主权项

1. A printer capable of forming desired printing while feeding a print-receiving tape, thereby producing a plurality of printed matter, the printer comprising:
a feeder configured to feed said print-receiving tape comprising a plurality of print-receiving portions, each of the plurality of print-receiving portions having a length L along a feeding direction, wherein each of said print-receiving portions comprises:
a separation material portion common to the plurality of print-receiving portions;a print-receiving label portion separably affixed to said separation material portion; anda detected element for identifying said print-receiving portion, for each of said plurality of printed matter, wherein at least a portion of the detected element is formed on the separation material portion; a printing head configured to form said desired printing on said print-receiving tape fed by said feeder; a detecting device configured to detect said detected element of said plurality of print-receiving portions, provided on an upstream side of said printing head by a predetermined distance X that is longer than said length L, along said feeding direction; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the printer to:
determine whether said length L is less than a predetermined threshold value or not;in a case that the length L is determined to be less than the threshold value:
generate a first positioning reference when said detecting device detects said detected element of a first print-receiving portion; andcontrol said printing head when said detecting device detects said detected element of said first print-receiving portion, and perform printing on a second print-receiving portion preceding said first print-receiving portion along a feeding direction and facing said printing head, by using said generated first positioning reference,in a case that the length L is not determined to be less than the threshold value:
control said printing head when said detecting device detects said detected element of a first print-receiving portion, and perform printing on said first print-receiving portion facing said printing head, on the basis of the detection result.