GB2473642A

GB2473642A - System for identifying compatibility of printing media and consumables

Info

Publication number: GB2473642A
Application number: GB0916434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Miles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-21
Filing date: 2009-09-21
Publication date: 2011-03-23
Also published as: GB0916434D0

Abstract

A system for the identification of the correct printing media and consumables in order to ensure the use of the optimum media and consumable with a printing device. This allows the printing device to adjust its settings to produce the best output possible and to inform the user when sub-optimum media or consumables are being used. The printing device is fitted with sensors to detect the type of consumable and media being used.

Description

Field of the Invention

Printing consumables and substrate identification PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and system comprising a method of identifying materials to be printed on, and such as paper, metal, wood, plastic or any other composite mix by way of embedding or applying a visible or invisible mark, pattern, identifier or structural code, that can be identified by a sensor or sensors using optical, electromagnetic, texture, capacitive or other means, and, in the case where a printable substrate is manufactured from a specific material that is not marked with an additional identifier, the material's physical form and composition would be the attributes that are considered by the sensor/sensors.

Also with many people using refilled ink in their print head or cartridge, the contents of any print cartridge or print head will also be identified by the sensors This will ensure that the printable material can only be imaged by the specific device and proprietary ink it has been designed to be used with, or to warn the consumer that he/she may be using media or ink that will not work, or present inferior results.

Therefore ensuring consistency and quality

Background of the Invention

In the world of printing and image reproduction it is often the case that printing and imaging devices will only produce their designed results by using a specific formulation of inks, toners and ribbons with a specified type of printable papers, metals, woods plastics and other composites. In some cases the use of the incorrect consumables will produce inferior results and possibly damage the device.

It is very common for a manufacturer of printing devices, to supply a formulated ink and type of substrate for a printing device, so that the device will provide the best possible print. Unfortunately it is common to find cheaper alternatives to both the colour system such as the ink in re-filled ink cartridges, and the printable papers, metals, woods plastics and other composite materials. This not only undermines the market share of the brand of the printing device and the consumables, but it also can put the uninformed consumer in a position where they obtain a lower cost/specification, product thinking that they are saving money, only to find that it does not perform the task as designed and intended by the manufacture of the printing device.

There are a number of printing and marking devices where the colour forming materials are pre-coated, embedded in, or form a constituent part of the substrate material to be printed.

Although identification of the substrate and printable surface would be beneficial to both the consumer and the device manufacture in relation to conventional methods of printing such as inkjet, laser and thermal. It will be essential for printing systems that are made up of pre-formed substrate with embedded colour systems that are imaged by methods such as electromagnetic radiation and other means, that the material, its coating and its composition are identifiable. Without such substrate and pre-coated material identification methods, it would be difficult for printer manufacturers to define their share of the consumables market and to ensure that their branded consumables, intended for use with their devices, are being used with their printing devices.

Statement of the Invention

There are many methods of printing or marking such as laser, inkjet, thermal, impact, and directed energy to name a few. All of these methods require a particular type of consumable and substrate.

In most cases the formulation and composition of these consumables and substrates defines the ability to print and the quality of the image.

This invention ensures that the correct consumable and substrate is used with the printing system.

A substrate to be printed on or marked is constructed with a unique identification.

This unique identifier is recognised by the printing device and an appropriate action is taken by the printing device.

This appropriate action may be to acknowledge the correct media/consumable and continue as required, or to inform the consumer that the media/consumable is not the approved or required type and may result in poor performance.

The appropriate action may also be to inform the consumer that the media/consumable is not the approved or required type and prevent operation of the printing device.

The appropriate action may also be to adjust the parameters of the printing device to operate correctly with the supplied media/consumable.

Operation (One possible embodiment) A printer ink cartridge is fitted to a printing device and the printing device is loaded with paper.

The printing device interrogates the printer ink, and the paper to obtain its identification.

If the ink, is of the correct type and the paper is of the correct type, printing will proceed.

If the ink, ink or the paper is of an incorrect type the printer will either:- 1 Abort printing and inform the operator of the error, or.

2 Make the necessary adjustments to enable correct operation with the fitted Ink cartridge and paper.

3 inform the user of the error and obtain user instruction on how to proceed (The embodiment described above is illustrative, rather than limiting, to the present invention.

Alternative embodiments apparent on reading the above description may nevertheless fall within the scope of the invention.)

Claims

Claims 1. A system consisting of a printing device fitted with a sensor, or plurality of sensors, to detect the type of consumable to be applied to the printable media and a printable media with an identifier able to be read by the printing device.
2. A system consisting of a printing device fitted with a sensor to detect the type of media to be used and a printable media with an identifier able to be read by the printing device.
3. A system consisting of a printing device fitted with a sensor of such a type as to detect the various media in claims 4 -12
4. A system where the printable media is manufactured with a coating that will enable detection by the printing device of claims 1,2 and 3
5. A system where the printable media is manufactured from a material that will enable identification by the printing device of claims 1,2 and 3
6. A system where the printable media is manufactured with an REID device applied onto or embedded into it, that will enable detection by the printing device of claims 1 and 2
7. A system where the printable media is manufactured with a bar code or other means of pre printed identification that will enable detection by the printing device of claims 1 and 2
8. A system where the printable media is manufactured with an embossed ID that will enable detection by the printing device of claims 1,2 and 3
9. A system where the printable media is manufactured with an unique physical attribute that will enable detection by the printing device of claims 1,2 and 3
10. A system where the printable media is manufactured in a colour that will enable detection by the printing device of claims 1,2 and 3
11. A system where the printable media is manufactured with an invisible coating that will react when illuminated with energy in the electromagnetic spectrum to enable detection by the printing device of claims 1 and 2
12. A system where the printable media is manufactured with plurality of identification methods as described in claims 4-12 to enable detection by the printing device of claims 1,2 and 3
13. A printing device fitted with a sensor to detect the type of ink used in the device.
14. An ink manufactured to be identified by the printing device of claim 1 andl3
15. A printer ribbon manufactured to be identified by the printing device of claim 1 and 13
16. A laser toner manufactured to be identified by the printing device of claim 1 andl3 17 A printing device as in claims 1 to 16, that is able to adjust its printing parameters to effect optimal printing results, from the data obtained by its sensor or plurality of sensors.18 A printing device as in claims 1 to 16, that is able to inform the user that inappropriate ink is being used, from data obtained by its sensor or plurality of sensors 19 A printing device as in claims 1 to 16, that is able to inform the user that inappropriate printable media is being used, from data obtained by its sensor or plurality of sensors A printing device as in claims 1 to 16, that is able to inform the user that inappropriate ribbon is being used, from data obtained by its sensor or plurality of sensors 21 A printing device as in claims 1 to 16, that is able to inform the user that inappropriate toner is being used, from data obtained by its sensor or plurality of sensors 22 A printing device as in claims 1 to 16, that is able to inform the user that inappropriate pre-prepared media is being used, from data obtained by its sensor or plurality of sensors 23 A printing device as in claims 1 to 16, that is able to inform the user that inappropriate printer settings are being used with the colour system, consumables or media, from data obtained by its sensor or plurality of sensors