Tape printing device with character enlargement and rotation logic

Abstract

A tape printing device includes a key input for inputting characters and symbols, a memory for storing data representing the input characters and symbols, a tape-width detector for detecting width of a loaded tape, an enlargement printing command receiver for receiving command information concerning an enlargement printing mode. In the enlargement printing mode a pseudo label, whose size is N times that of a label in a normal printing mode, is obtained when arranging tape-sections widthwise of the tape in such a manner as to join, after dividing the printed tape into N tape length sections, wherein N is an integer of at least two. A computer determines the printing attribute for each of the N tape sections in accordance with the characters and symbols stored in memory and tape width detected by the tape-width detector. A printer serially prints on the end character-string portions in the manner determined by the computer for the respective tape length sections. The method involves designating an enlargement ratio, detecting the tape width of the loaded tape, selecting one of plural character fonts for printing a character string and determining printing parameters for each of plural tape sections in accordance with the enlargement ratio, the tape width and the selected character font, the tape sections being obtained by dividing the tape across the length of the tape.