EP1583663A1 - Dispositif d'impression dote d'un capteur optique - Google Patents

Dispositif d'impression dote d'un capteur optique

Info

Publication number
EP1583663A1
EP1583663A1 EP03768478A EP03768478A EP1583663A1 EP 1583663 A1 EP1583663 A1 EP 1583663A1 EP 03768478 A EP03768478 A EP 03768478A EP 03768478 A EP03768478 A EP 03768478A EP 1583663 A1 EP1583663 A1 EP 1583663A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
print
print medium
print head
printer device
storage means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03768478A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alex Breton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Xpandium AB
Original Assignee
Xpandium AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Xpandium AB filed Critical Xpandium AB
Publication of EP1583663A1 publication Critical patent/EP1583663A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0095—Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/008—Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J15/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in continuous form, e.g. webs
    • B41J15/04—Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
    • B41J15/042—Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles for loading rolled-up continuous copy material into printers, e.g. for replacing a used-up paper roll; Point-of-sale printers with openable casings allowing access to the rolled-up continuous copy material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/36—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for portability, i.e. hand-held printers or laptop printers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a printer device comprising means for tracking a print heads position relative to the print media of the kind apparent from the attached claim 1.
  • EP 0942285 Al, EP 0942286 Al and EP 0947833 Al all show a technique called "Optical Translation Measurement - OTM", where light from a collimated optical diode laser source is directed onto a two-dimensional reflexive grating spaced closely to the surface of an object and light reflected by the grating and surface is incident on a spatial filter formed by a lens and a pinhole, before being detected by a sensor.
  • the sensor is called encoder.
  • the encoder translates motion into electrical signals.
  • the resulting interference gives rise to a beat signal depending on the motion of the surface.
  • the encoder works equally well on featureless paper and lined wood samples, as well as cloth and most other surfaces, i.e. the encoder can measure full 3-D motion ⁇ .
  • the encoder could be used in a "virtual pen" for digitize text written with it on paper by tracking the pen motion and using OCR software.
  • Another area of use is as a motion detector of the paper in ordinary printing, copying or fax machines instead of what is done hitherto, namely measuring the motion of the drive mechanism for the paper.
  • the encoder you measure the "actual” movement of the paper instead of the movement of the mechanism feeding the paper, which could be advantageous especially when paper could "slide” due to malfunction of the drive mechanism.
  • the solution is very handy as it eliminates any malfunction of the drive mechanism, however it does not suggest any elimination of the actual drive mechanism.
  • the printer device comprises means for inputting print data.
  • the printer device comprises inertia means for creating a feeling of a counter force as the user pulls out the print medium from the print medium storage means .
  • the printer device comprises print medium storage means in form of a cylinder suitable for paper rolls, whereas another embodiment shows a compartment suitable for loose-leaf system.
  • the embodiment of the invention comprising a paper roll also shows the printer device with a sharp edge suitable for tearing the paper after printing.
  • a method for manually operating the print medium past the print head on a printer device as described above is shown where at least one optical sensor detects the motion of the print medium. The optical sensor/s thereby giving input to a micro controller circuit controlling the print head.
  • All embodiments of the invention contributes to a low cost printer device with less mechanical parts and thereby also less susceptible to damage.
  • the printer device will also be less power consuming as a user manually accomplishes the feeding of the print medium and not as shown in prior art, a dedicated drive mechanism. Furthermore the printer will be easier to manufacture and naturally more silent without a feeding mechanism.
  • Fig. 1 shows a top view on a printer device according to a preferred embodiment
  • - Fig. 2 a side view on the printer device.
  • a handheld printer device 1 is depicted.
  • a printer device is suitable for use at e.g. cashier desks, for restaurant personnel, taxi drivers or aiding any kind of "mobile vending" where the geographical location alters from time to time and where a small sized printer is preferable.
  • the technique that will be described below is mostly beneficial to small mobile printers even though larger printers could use the same technique as well.
  • the printer in Fig 1 has means for inputting data; in this case both a card reader 2 and a keyboard 3.
  • a printer device of this kind could of course be equipped with only the card reader or only the keyboard.
  • the card reader could be used to perform monetary transactions where the printer subsequent to the transaction prints out a receipt.
  • the printer device could also be used as e.g. a calculator or a cashier machine if the keyboard is used.
  • the invention should not be limited to what printing data could be entered or in what applications a card reader or keyboard could be used or what applications could be used in combination with a printer, but rather focus on the printing technique per se.
  • the printer device according to Fig 1 could naturally take on a lot of different forms, shapes and sizes and the figure merely gives an example of one imaginable design.
  • a display 4 showing data to be printed is preferred but not necessary.
  • the display could also indicate other information such as e.g. when the printing could/will be started and when it is terminated, when a refill of printing medium is necessary, time and date and so on.
  • the printer device also comprises a storage means 5 for the print medium 6.
  • the storage means is cylindrical in order to accommodate a roll of print medium.
  • the print medium is preferably paper 6 but any material suitable for printing is conceivable. If not using a paper roll the storage means could be a compartment suitable for a loose-leaf system where sheets of paper are stacked.
  • a slit 7 on the storage means functions as an opening for the print medium where the printed parts became visible for the user.
  • a sharp edge 8 is arranged on the housing preferably in the vicinity of the slit 7 so to leave a piece of the print medium sticking out from the slit after tearing. A user could then easily pull out a new piece of the print medium at the next printing session.
  • the print medium could alternatively be perforated at suitable distances to facilitate the tearing.
  • Fig. 2 the printer device 1 is depicted from a side view with a perspective view on the storage means 5.
  • a cylinder shaped part 9 is included within the storage means 5 on which the print medium 6 is wound.
  • the print medium is here preferably a roll of paper.
  • the storage means should be easily manoeuvrable to open and close in order to load new print medium onto the cylinder 9.
  • the figure also shows a print head 10 and an optical sensor 11. Both the print head and the optical sensor should preferably be arranged so the print medium passes them before entering through the slit 7. In that way these sensitive components are enclosed and protected from outer tear within the storage means 5.
  • Their respective placing shown in the figure is merely an example of how they could be placed. Other alternatives are of course conceivable.
  • the optical sensor could be of any kind known from e.g. optical mice such as e.g. Agilent ADNS-2051 or ADCS-1120. Such sensors take consecutive snapshots of the print medium and compare one picture with the previous so to detect any movement on a pixel level.
  • a micro controller circuit (not shown) is needed to receive positioning data from the optical sensor 11 to give timely printing commands to the print head 10. As the optical sensor only needs to deal with a vertical movement, there should be enough having just one sensor. If other embodiments employ a different construction an additional sensor could perhaps be needed.
  • optical sensor is preferred to detect the movement of the print medium
  • other components with the ability to detect the movement of the print medium or the velocity, of the cylinder and with the ability to communicate said information to a micro controller circuit, could replace the optical sensor.
  • the micro controller circuit thereby detects the movement, i.e. the velocity of the print media, in order to adjust the printing commands to the print head accordingly. In that way the image will come out right without any skew, no matter with what speed the print media passes the print head.
  • the upper speed limit will of course depend on either the performance of the sensors, or the micro controller circuit or the print head.
  • the print head and print medium is preferably of a kind using thermal printing technology, but other printing techniques, such as e.g. ink-jet, bubble jet or laser technology are also conceivable within the scope of the invention.
  • a user enters print data, i.e. using the means for inputting data 2 or 3. If the user e.g. uses the card reader 2, a monetary transaction could be performed.
  • the display 4 could be set to indicate when the transaction is completed.
  • the user enters print data on the keyboard, such as e.g. text or calculations.
  • the user simply pulls the print medium with his hand out of the storage means 5 whereby the optical sensor 11 detects a movement and send input data to the micro controller circuit, which start sending print commands to the print head. Hence the user manually pulls out the print medium concurrently as the image forms on the paper.
  • the micro controller circuit is set to start the print out as soon the optical sensor detects any movement, but in another embodiment the user could choose when to start the print out by first pressing a button on the keyboard and then pull the paper.
  • a memory will be needed to store input/print data before the actual printing.
  • a user would be preferable for a user to experience a resistant force while pulling out the print medium so to avoid a mistake having the entire roll of print medium rolling out at the first pull.
  • a solution with two rollers in contact with each other will create some inertia to a print media passing between them.
  • the cylinder 9 could rotate with some inertia around its axis to create the desired resistance.
  • the printer device could be connected to a host computer to e.g. receive information from a server, such as a bank central or the like.
  • the printer device could either get its power supply from mains connection or alternatively and more convenient from a battery.

Landscapes

  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un dispositif d'impression (1) comportant un moyen d'entrée, tel qu'un clavier (3) et/ou un lecteur de carte (2). Ce dispositif d'impression comporte par ailleurs un moyen de stockage (5) pour le support d'impression (6), une tête d'impression (10), un circuit microcontrôleur et au moins un capteur optique (11). Ce dispositif d'impression (1) ne nécessite pas de mécanisme d'entraînement pour faire passer le support d'impression devant la tête d'impression (10). A la place, un utilisateur tire simplement le support d'impression hors d'une fente (7) ménagée dans le moyen de stockage (5), ledit capteur optique (11) contrôlant le déplacement du support optique par rapport à la tête optique et transmettant les données au circuit microcontrôleur qui adapte en conséquence les commandes d'impression à la tête d'impression.
EP03768478A 2002-12-19 2003-12-19 Dispositif d'impression dote d'un capteur optique Withdrawn EP1583663A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0203785A SE0203785D0 (sv) 2002-12-19 2002-12-19 Printer device with optical sensor
SE0203785 2002-12-19
PCT/SE2003/002034 WO2004056576A1 (fr) 2002-12-19 2003-12-19 Dispositif d'impression dote d'un capteur optique

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1583663A1 true EP1583663A1 (fr) 2005-10-12

Family

ID=20289935

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03768478A Withdrawn EP1583663A1 (fr) 2002-12-19 2003-12-19 Dispositif d'impression dote d'un capteur optique

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1583663A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2003291597A1 (fr)
SE (1) SE0203785D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004056576A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AUPQ131399A0 (en) * 1999-06-30 1999-07-22 Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd A method and apparatus (NPAGE02)
US7422384B2 (en) 2004-03-17 2008-09-09 Hewlett-Packard Development, L.P. System and a method for printing small print jobs
US7500732B2 (en) 2005-09-30 2009-03-10 Lexmark International, Inc. Maintenance and docking station for a hand-held printer
US7735951B2 (en) 2005-11-15 2010-06-15 Lexmark International, Inc. Alignment method for hand-operated printer
US7682017B2 (en) 2006-05-10 2010-03-23 Lexmark International, Inc. Handheld printer minimizing printing defects
US7787145B2 (en) 2006-06-29 2010-08-31 Lexmark International, Inc. Methods for improving print quality in a hand-held printer
US7938532B2 (en) 2007-02-16 2011-05-10 Lexmark International, Inc. Hand held printer with vertical misalignment correction
FR2922480B1 (fr) * 2007-10-23 2010-09-10 Secap Groupe Pitney Bowes Procede d'impression d'un signe sur un document et machine d'impression mettant en oeuvre ce procede
US10322897B2 (en) 2015-09-28 2019-06-18 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printing devices

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH07125362A (ja) * 1993-10-29 1995-05-16 Fujitsu Ltd プリンタ内蔵装置
US5784959A (en) * 1996-07-09 1998-07-28 Larios; Frank N. Hand-held printer and method for adhesive tape

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2004056576A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE0203785D0 (sv) 2002-12-19
AU2003291597A1 (en) 2004-07-14
WO2004056576A1 (fr) 2004-07-08

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