Label Printer

Abstract

A label printer, comprising: input means operable by a user; display means; and control means connected to the input means and the display means. The control means are configured to control the display means to first display a header and a first image representative of a label; and, in response to receiving at the control means a signal indicative of an operation of the input means by a user to select the header, to control the display to then display a second image representative of the label and a graphical control panel associated with said header. The second image representative of the label is of a size smaller than the first image representative of the label. The display means may comprise a touchscreen.

1 - 124 . (canceled) 
     
     
         125 . A label printer, comprising:
 a display; and   a controller connected to the display, the controller being arranged to control the display to first display:   an image representative of a label in a label preview area of the display; and   a plurality of selectable headers associated with respective graphical control panels of a plurality of different graphical control panels;   wherein, in an initial state of the display, the plurality of different graphical control panels are in a minimized state;   wherein the controller is arranged to receive a demand signal when a user selects a first header associated with a first graphical control panel, which demand signal is representative of an instruction by the user to demand that the first graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels be displayed; and   wherein, in dependence on the demand signal received at the controller,   the controller is arranged to control the display to then display the first graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels on the display in a revised state of the display;   and wherein in the revised state of the display the first graphical control panel occupies at least a portion of the display which was not previously occupied by the first header.   
     
     
         126 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein in the revised state a portion of the display which was previously employed in the initial state in displaying at least some of the image representative of the label is used to display the first graphical control panel. 
     
     
         127 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein in the initial state the plurality of selectable headers are visible to the user and the associated plurality of different graphical control panels are hidden from view. 
     
     
         128 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein in the revised state the first graphical control panel comprises a plurality of input areas for inputting label data. 
     
     
         129 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 128  wherein, when selected by the user, the plurality of input areas cause the controller to control the display to display a modified version of the image representative of a label. 
     
     
         130 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein in the initial state the image representative of a label occupies a first section of the display, and the plurality of selectable headers occupy a second section of the display. 
     
     
         131 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein in the revised state the image representative of a label occupies a first section of the display, the plurality of selectable headers occupy a second section of the display, and the first graphical control panel occupies a third section of the display. 
     
     
         132 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein the display comprises a touchscreen, and the demand signal when a user selects the first header associated with the first graphical control panel is in response to the user touching a part of the touchscreen associated with the first header. 
     
     
         133 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein the plurality of selectable headers comprise one or more of: an insert header; a font header; a layout header. 
     
     
         134 . A label printer as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein in response to receiving a demand signal when a user selects a second header associated with a second graphical control panel, the controller is arranged to control the display to then display the second graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels on the display in place of the first graphical control panel. 
     
     
         135 . A method of operating a controller of a label printer, wherein the method comprises:
 controlling a display of the label printer to first display:   an image representative of a label,   a plurality of selectable headers associated with respective graphical control panels of a plurality of different graphical control panels;   wherein, in an initial state of the display, the plurality of different graphical control panels are in a minimized state;   receiving, from the display, a demand signal when a user selects a first header associated with a first graphical control panel, which demand signal is representative of an instruction by the user to demand that the first graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels be displayed; and   in dependence on the demand signal received at the controller,   controlling the display to then display the first graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels on the display in a revised state of the display;   and wherein in the revised state of the display the first graphical control panel occupies at least a portion of the display which was not previously occupied by the first header.   
     
     
         136 . A method as claimed in  claim 135 , wherein in the revised state a portion of the display which was previously employed in the initial state in displaying at least some of the image representative of the label is used to display the first graphical control panel. 
     
     
         137 . A method as claimed in  claim 135 , wherein in the initial state the plurality of selectable headers are visible to the user and the associated plurality of different graphical control panels are hidden from view. 
     
     
         138 . A method as claimed in  claim 135 , wherein in the revised state the first graphical control panel comprises a plurality of input areas for inputting label data. 
     
     
         139 . A method as claimed in  claim 139  wherein, when selected by the user, the plurality of input areas cause the controller to control the display to display a modified version of the image representative of a label. 
     
     
         140 . A method as claimed in  claim 125 , wherein in the initial state the image representative of a label occupies a first section of the display, and the plurality of selectable headers occupy a second section of the display. 
     
     
         141 . A method as claimed in  claim 135 , wherein in the revised state the image representative of a label occupies a first section of the display, the plurality of selectable headers occupy a second section of the display, and the first graphical control panel occupies a third section of the display. 
     
     
         142 . A method as claimed in  claim 135 , wherein the display comprises a touchscreen, and the demand signal when a user selects the first header associated with the first graphical control panel is in response to the user touching a part of the touchscreen associated with the first header. 
     
     
         143 . A method as claimed in  claim 135 , wherein in response to receiving a demand signal when a user selects a second header associated with a second graphical control panel, the controller is arranged to control the display to then display the second graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels on the display in place of the first graphical control panel. 
     
     
         144 . A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, said computer program configured to control a controller of a label printer to:
 control a display of the label printer to first display:   an image representative of a label in a label preview area of the display,   a plurality of selectable headers associated with respective graphical control panels of a plurality of different graphical control panels;   wherein, in an initial state of the display, the plurality of different graphical control panels are in a minimized state;   receive, from the display, a demand signal when a user selects a first header associated with a first graphical control panel, which demand signal is representative of an instruction by the user to demand that the first graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels be displayed; and   in dependence on the demand signal received at the controller,   control the display to then display the first graphical control panel of the plurality of different graphical control panels on the display in a revised state of the display;   and wherein in the revised state of the display the first graphical control panel occupies at least a portion of the display which was not previously occupied by the first header.