A hand held labeler is programmable to operate in accordance with a sequence of commands forming an application program that is downloaded to the labeler and stored in a random access memory. Each command is associated with a command routine selected from a set of command routines that is stored in a read only memory. The commands of the application program and associated command routines are executed by a microprocessor of the labeler to perform flexible data collection, data manipulation and label printing operations.

A system and method of transferring digital information corresponding to a bit-mapped image from a first device, such as a computer, to a suitable receiving device, such as a printer with adjustable margins. Raster columns within the bit-mapped image are recognized, the margins of the raster columns are defined, the margins of the receiving device are adjusted so that a single raster column is defined within the margins, and data comprising the raster column is sent to the receiving device in a manner that utilizes the automatic cursor reset capability of the receiving device. The raster columns are identified by scanning the bit-mapped image to identify columns of data separated by column-wise areas without HIGH data values.

An image printer includes a controller for controlling image printer operations, an image storing device for storing image data, an image printer including a print head for printing image data stored in the image storing device and a print position setter for setting a print position of the image printing means. The controller provides current position data to the print position setter, and the left print position is set in accordance with a current position of the print head of the image printer. A right position is set by adding a horizontal printing width of the stored image to the left print position. Alternatively, the controller provides current position data to the print position setter, and the right print position of the stored image is set to a current position of the print head of the image printer and a left position is set by subtracting a horizontal printing width of the stored image from the right print position. In either case, the print head is moved to the set positions and the operator is provided with the opportunity to alter the positions if the positions are deemed unacceptable.

A mailing machine for processing sheets respectively having a leading edge, wherein the sheets include respective envelopes and tapes, the mailing machine comprising, structure for printing an indicia, the printing structure including a rotary drum having a cycle for printing the indicia on respective sheets, structure for successively feeding each sheet in a path of travel to the printing structure, structure for successively feeding cut tapes into the path of travel for feeding by the sheet feeding structure, structure for controlling the feeding and printing structure including a microprocessor, the controlling structure including structure connected to the microprocessor for sensing the leading edge of each sheet in the path of travel and providing a corresponding signal to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed for commencing in response to the sensing signal corresponding thereto a different predetermined time delay for tapes and envelopes before commencing the drum printing cycle, each time delay corresponding to a selected marginal distance from the leading edge of the sheet for printing indicia thereon, the controlling structure including structure for independently manually selecting from a different plurality thereof the marginal distance for tapes and envelopes, the controlling structure including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), and the microprocessor programmed for energizing a different one of the LEDs for each selected tape and envelope marginal distance to permit visual verification thereof.

A line printer which processes print data transmitted from a host computer and prints a document on a paper, comprising a character data processing portion that converts print data that are input into character codes, a buffer for storing character codes that are processed, a memory for storing fonts for the character codes, a bit map memory for storing character pattern data to be printed, a character pattern expansion portion that forms character patterns by calling, from the memory, fonts for said character codes and expands and stores the formed character patterns in the bit map memory, and a printing mechanism for printing the content of the bit map memory, wherein when a plurality of documents having a width narrower than one-half the width of the bit map memory are to be printed at one time on the printing paper according to a first aspect, the print data are transmitted having inserted therein the expansion position data that instruct the division of the bit map memory into a plurality of regions for the documents and, according to a second aspect, the print data are transmitted having inserted therein an address which instructs the division of buffer into a plurality of regions for the documents. Accordingly, the invention makes it possible to print a plurality of documents on one page without changing the data of the documents.