WO2000048838A2 - Installation de reglage automatique pour imprimantes et leurs fournitures - Google Patents

Installation de reglage automatique pour imprimantes et leurs fournitures Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000048838A2
WO2000048838A2 PCT/US2000/003826 US0003826W WO0048838A2 WO 2000048838 A2 WO2000048838 A2 WO 2000048838A2 US 0003826 W US0003826 W US 0003826W WO 0048838 A2 WO0048838 A2 WO 0048838A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
code
printer
roll
arrangement
tag
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/003826
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2000048838A3 (fr
Inventor
Mats Gunnarsson
Original Assignee
Intermec I.P. Corp.
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 Intermec I.P. Corp. filed Critical Intermec I.P. Corp.
Priority to AU29948/00A priority Critical patent/AU2994800A/en
Publication of WO2000048838A2 publication Critical patent/WO2000048838A2/fr
Publication of WO2000048838A3 publication Critical patent/WO2000048838A3/fr

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41JTYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J5/00Devices or arrangements for controlling character selection
    • B41J5/30Character or syllable selection controlled by recorded information

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an arrangement for the automatic setting of printers, and more particularly to the setting of printer parameters, data communication or printing layout.
  • the code to be read may be affixed directly onto material to be used in the printer, or onto separate sheets or labels.
  • This invention also relates to materials and dyes, to be used together with a printer. With the aid of the present invention, and optimum setting of the printer is automatically obtained, entailing a high quality and making the printer easily usable also for unqualified staff members.
  • the setting of the printer was performed by entering parameters using a keyboard in connection to the printer, or by data transfer.
  • parameters to be entered There are, however, many parameters to be entered, and the parameter theory is rather complicated, implying that frequently the user may not be able to perform a correct printer setting himself.
  • some parameters are factory set and can only be changed by a qualified service technician. This of course means that the quality of the printed product will be less than optimal.
  • coding has been for the setting of various devices.
  • programming of video recorders with the aid of bar codes setting of cameras by reading codes on film cartridges, setting of audio tape recorders by sensing cavities on the tapes, etc. It is not known, however, to control a printer by codes in the way that the present invention teaches.
  • the present invention resolves the problem of setting the printer by affixing a code onto, or in connection with materials to be used together with the printer.
  • the code may be read automatically or through a simple manipulation performed by the printer user.
  • an optimum setting of the printer is achieved fully automatically or semi-automatically. This means that a high print-out quality can be warranted.
  • the invention allows for a quick and easy exchange of dye and receiver material with an automatic or semi-automatic optimal setting of the printer work parameters with regard to the dye as well as to the receiver material.
  • other printer functions such as data communication with peripheral equipment, and printing layout, can be controlled in a simple manner.
  • the present invention thus provides an arrangement for the automatic setting of a printer means.
  • the arrangement includes a printing mechanism and a control unit for providing a print-out on a printing material with the aid of a dye.
  • a code reader is connected to the control unit for reading a code for controlling at least one parameter of the printer means.
  • the code may be associated with the printing material, the dye, a printer means peripheral device, or printing layout.
  • the present invention also provides materials intended for use together with such an arrangement.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement according to the invention:
  • Fig. 2 shows an example of a code
  • Fig. 3 illustrates a material onto which a code has been applied in accordance with an embodiment of the invention:
  • Fig. 4 illustrates a material onto which a code has been applied in accordance with another embodiment of the invention:
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a core of a roll of material onto which a code has been applied in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention:
  • Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the RF tag information signal paths:
  • Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating various locations for the RF code sender/ receiver: Detailed description of the preferred embodiments
  • the printer 1 comprises a printing mechanism 2 performing the actual printing.
  • the printing mechanism is of the thermo-transfer type. i.e. the printing mechanism includes a printing head having heated points of dots (not shown ).
  • the dots act on a heat-sensitive dye or transfer ribbon which transfers dye to a receiver material, normally paper, buy synthetic materials are also commonly used.
  • the paper may be a single layer or comprised of a carrier or back paper carrying labels or tickets to be printed.
  • the paper may be iineriess paper.
  • the term linerless paper is known in the art to include any medial which has an adhesive, especially a pressure sensitive adhesive, but does not require a discardable locking or support layer.
  • the receiver material may come in the form of a roll, loose sheets, or a continuous web.
  • the transfer ribbon is delivered a s a roil which is fitted into the machine and wound past the printer head. Printing mechanisms of this type are well known, in the trade and do not, as such , constitute any part of the invention.
  • thermo-transfer technology it is especially important that the transfer ribbon and the receiver material are adapted to each other.
  • the various parameters of the printing mechanism must be correctly set, the printing mechanism is controlled by a control unit 3 (CPU ), which may be microprocessor based.
  • a code reader is used.
  • the code reader may be external 4, and be complemented by and internal code reader 5, or vice versa, as will be explained below.
  • the code reader reads a code, in the discussed example illustrated by a bar code 6 ( Fig. 2), which is provided in connection with the transfer ribbon and the receiver material
  • the code is preprinted or affixed directly onto the start end of the dye ribbon roll and the roll of receiver material.
  • the internal code reader is utilized, reading the code at the beginning of the roll, before any print-out has been performed. Thereby, the printer is immediately set for optimum printing quality.
  • the printer according to the invention preferably includes also an external code reader 4, that may completely replace the internal code reader, e.g. if wanting to modernize and exiting printer without a code reader.
  • the external code reader 4 may be used for reading from e.g. separate sheets comprising codes for various possible paper and dye ribbon qualities.
  • a printer manufacturer could for example enclose such a separate sheet with many different codes listing dye ribbon and printing data from different manufactures, in order to make his printer flexible and not to be confined to certain manufacturers. The materials manufacturer obtains the same advantage of increased flexibility, as his material will not be confined to a certain printer.
  • Another suitable location for affixing the code may be on a material packing. This is especially preferable when the printing material comes in sheets rather than on a roll, and when the dye consists of ink or dye powder that is not suitable in itself to carry the code.
  • the code may in this case be read either internally, if the package or a part thereof is fed into the reader, or be read by the external code reader.
  • a bar code is shown.
  • the advantage of the bar code is that a reliable reading is quickly and simply available.
  • Other optical codes are of course also possible, e.g. two-dimensional codes, color codes, dot codes, matrix codes etc.
  • magnetic codes and magnetic code readers are suitable for the present invention.
  • the magnetic code may be applied directly onto the material in question, or onto a label in the same manner as the above described bar code.
  • the magnetic code may a lso be provided on a plastic card and be read by an internal or external slot reader.
  • the code may also be provided in the form of a conductive metal layer for electronic reading.
  • the metal layers might preferably be arranged on the packaging for internal reading: compare film cartridges in mini-cameras. --
  • Codes may also be read electronically by means of RF (Radio Frequency) tags or RF labels. Those consist of metal layer constituting electronic components. When subjected to a radio frequency field, caused by the code reader, they answer with a frequency comprising a code.
  • RF Radio Frequency
  • the invention also relates to reader from and writing to RF tags in a printer.
  • the RF tags may be located at the exterior and inner ends of rolls of printing and dye material rolls.
  • the tags may also be located a the exterior or interior of cores of such rolls. It is especially advantageous if each label to be printed contains an RF tag.
  • An RF code reader and writer is located in the printer or may be associated with the printer somewhere between the material roll and a printer head. It may also be located after the print head, in which case the label and printing material may be fed back for printing after reading from or writing to the RF tag.
  • a code is read from the RF tag.
  • the code is used in various ways: for setting of various parameters of the printer: for controlling the layout of the labels to be printed: for controlling the text to be printed on the labels: and for controlling the data communication with other equipment. Also, data may be read for sending to external computers.
  • the setting of the printer or other parameters, the layout, and text may vary from one label to the next.
  • Data may also be written to the RF tags.
  • the data may be generated by an external computer or other source or by the processor of the printer as a response to information read from the tag.
  • the data may contain various kinds of information, e.g. product information, control data for reading other equipment, such as luggage handling equipment in airports, expiry of food stuff, etc.
  • the invention relates to reading from and writing to RF ( Radio Frequency) tags in a printer.
  • the RF tags may be located at the exterior and inner ends of rolls of printing and dye material rolls.
  • the tags may also be located at the exterior or interior of cores of such rolls. It is especially advantageous if each label to be printed contains an RF tag.
  • An RF tag code reader and writer is located in the printer or may be associated with the printer somewhere between the material roll and a printer head. It may also be located after the print head, in which case the label and printing material may be fed back for printing after reading from or writing tot he RF tag.
  • a code is read from the RF tag.
  • the code is used in various ways: for setting of various parameters of the printer: for controlling the layout of the labels to be printed : for controlling the text to be printed on the labels: and for controlling the data communication with other equipment. Also, data may be read for sending to external computers.
  • the setting of the printer or other parameters, the layout, and the text may vary from one label to the next.
  • Data may also be written to the RF tags.
  • the data may be generated by an external computer or other source or by the processor of the printer as a response to information read from the tag.
  • the data may contain various kinds of information, e.g. product information, control data for reading by other equipment, such as luggage handling equipment in airports, expiry date of foodstuffs etc.
  • the RF tags are associated with luggage identification labels provided to airline or other transportation passengers.
  • a means for printing RF tags for each passenger and each piece of luggage is provided, which allows for successively printed labels to contain information unique to each passenger and each piece of luggage.
  • Information such as passenger name, address, and contact information, destination of the luggage.
  • Information such as passenger name, address, and contact information, destination of the luggage, present and past locations of the luggage, luggage weight, and any other relevant information may be uniquely recorded for each tag, and may be updated, read, and/or corrected to provide a complete up to the moment history of the movement of the luggage. In this way, many of the typical problems with lost and delayed luggage can be minimized or eliminated.
  • Information about each piece of luggage may be easily retrieved and or updated at any time without the need to contact the luggage tag with a light beam.
  • Mass monitoring of large groups of luggage is possible, for example, by retrieving information on all luggage on a particular flight to ensure that each item correctly has the next destination of the aircraft as a proper intermediate or terminal destination.
  • Information contained in the RF tag of an individual piece of luggage may be read and used by a printer according to the present invention forming a part of a luggage handling system, such that the luggage handling system is controlled to route the piece of luggage through the system.
  • the printer may function as an input/output device of various kinds of control and management systems.
  • This embodiment includes a code reader which emits a signal to the RF tag to stimulate a transmission back from the tag which includes the relevant data.
  • the code reader may be a reader writer which may read the code as set out, and may also write to the tag, adding or changing the information on the tag.
  • the steps of reading the tag a nd wiring initial information to the RF tag and also printing the information on the tag, and subsequently reading the tag, altering as necessary the information on the RF portion of the tag, and also printing updated information of the tag may be accomplished by the reader writer means described above.
  • the reader writer is capable of performing these steps, in connection with the other printer components, for successive tags on a print roll or other input material, each of the tags containing unique information as compared to neighboring tags.
  • the primer set up could also be automatically adjusted by the signals processed by the reader/writer, in order to accommodate successive tags having different physical characteristics.
  • a printer means has one or more printer operating parameters associated with it, the printer means also includes means for depositing a dye or other print material on a receiving material, in a conventional manner.
  • the printer will also be associated with a central processing means, and a RF code parameter sending and receiving means.
  • a signal may be received from an RF code tag by the RF code parameter sending and receiving means. This signal may then be sent to a separate processing means which interprets the signal, and may change the signal into a second signal, which may be sent to the printer.
  • the first signal from the RF code tag may indicate to the printer the printer operating parameter which must be met, or may also include information about the particular print job, or what is to be printed on the receiving material. In this way, unique information from each item to be printed may be analyzed and utilized by the printer in order to produce a unique printing job.
  • a third RF code parameter signal may be sent from the printer, the central processing means, or the RF code parameter sending and receiving means, back to the RF tag, to modify information on the tag.
  • the RF code tag may be constantly updated to include all relevant information which may be used at the present moment, or at some point in the future.
  • the RF code parameter sending and receiving means is located functionally between the material roll and the printer head.
  • signals from the RF code parameter sending and receiving means may be sent to an external computer or computers, or to other equipment items, and may also receive signals from those items or computers, in order to control the print jobs.
  • the Rf code tags may be disposed on the internal first row end, the external first row end, or the first roll core.
  • Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, where an RF tag 7 is positioned at the beginning of a roll of material 8, i.e. at the exterior end 9 of the roil.
  • the RF tag is read automatically by an integrated RF code reader.
  • RF tag 10 may alternatively be positioned at the inner end 14 of the roil, i.e. adjacent the core 11, or support, upon which the material has been wound.
  • the reading is electronic, reading through the material can be performed without problems.
  • One advantage with this location is that the RF tag 10 is completely protected and there is no risk of it accidentally falling off or being torn off.
  • a further variant is to place an RF tag 12 directly on the outside of the core before winding the material on, or an RF tag 13 on the inside of the core 11.
  • the RF tag can be placed on the inside also when the material has already been wound onto the core.
  • the invention may also be applied to other types of printers.
  • Direct thermo- prmters function in a similar manner to thermo-transfer printers but utilize no transfer ribbon. Instead, the printing head is allowed to apply heat directly onto a heat-sensitive paper.
  • Ink jet and laser printers use ink and carbon powder, respectively, as dye, which is supplied in cartridges.
  • the printers may need adjustment for writing on special materials, e.g. metal and plastic resins. Code may be easily applied e.g. on the ink or carbon powder package as mentioned above.
  • reader readers of different types that can be used with the present invention.
  • the most common types are contact readers, e.g. bar code pens, or distance readers, e.g. CCD readers and laser scanners, which may be fixed or hand held, and slot readers, being common with plastic cards but also usable for bar cods.
  • the external reader may be mounted on a stand, or be fixed in the form of an eye on the side of the printer, for reading by sliding the code past the eye at a suitable distance.
  • the readers as such do not constitute any part of the present invention.
  • the printer has been set mainly with regard to the print-out quality.
  • the invention is not intended to be limited to his only, but the reading may also be used for controlling the data communication between the printer and its peripheral equipment, such as baud rate and number of bits, and printing layouts.
  • the printing can thus be controlled by a simple reading of a code from a "ready-reckoner", best done using the external reader 4.
  • the code constitutes a command to the control unit or to an external computer, controlling the printing layout.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates the signals and their paths between the RF tag 20, the RF code sending and receiving means 21, the central processor 24, the printer 25, the external computer 22, and the other equipment 23.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates possible locations of the RF code sending and receiving means 21 with respect to the material roll 27 and the print heads 26.

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  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne une installation de réglage automatique pour imprimantes, et plus particulièrement de réglage des paramètres d'impression par lecture de code, ainsi que des fournitures d'impression. Ces paramètres concernent le travail d'impression, la communication de données et la mise en page. Le code à lire peut être apposé soit directement sur le matériau utilisé par l'imprimante, soit sur des feuilles ou des étiquettes distinctes. Cette invention garantit un réglage automatique optimal de l'imprimante en termes de qualité et de facilité d'utilisation par du personnel non qualifié. L'installation comprend un mécanisme d'impression et une unité de commande permettant d'obtenir une copie papier sur un support d'impression au moyen d'un colorant. Selon cette invention, un lecteur de code est connecté à l'unité de commande et assure la lecture d'au moins un paramètre du dispositif d'impression. Le code peut éventuellement être associé au support d'imprimerie, au colorant, à un périphérique du dispositif d'impression, ou à un plan d'imprimerie. Cette invention concerne également la commande des opérations d'impression par lecture et écriture d'étiquettes RF.
PCT/US2000/003826 1999-02-16 2000-02-15 Installation de reglage automatique pour imprimantes et leurs fournitures WO2000048838A2 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU29948/00A AU2994800A (en) 1999-02-16 2000-02-15 Arrangement for automatic setting of printers and materials therefor

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US24987999A 1999-02-16 1999-02-16
US09/249,879 1999-02-16

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000048838A2 true WO2000048838A2 (fr) 2000-08-24
WO2000048838A3 WO2000048838A3 (fr) 2000-11-30

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PCT/US2000/003826 WO2000048838A2 (fr) 1999-02-16 2000-02-15 Installation de reglage automatique pour imprimantes et leurs fournitures

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AU (1) AU2994800A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000048838A2 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2180679A (en) * 1985-09-12 1987-04-01 Suresh Parsram Mirpuri Point-of-sale equipment
US5049898A (en) * 1989-03-20 1991-09-17 Hewlett-Packard Company Printhead having memory element
DE4244259A1 (de) * 1992-12-22 1994-07-07 Mannesmann Ag Verfahren und Anordnung zum Einstellen der Betriebsweise von Aufzeichnungseinrichtungen
FR2744391A1 (fr) * 1996-02-01 1997-08-08 Imaje Sa Imprimante industrielle apte a recevoir au moins une cartouche de consommable
EP0872347A1 (fr) * 1989-08-05 1998-10-21 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre et cartouche d'encre pour cet appareil

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS576974A (en) * 1980-06-16 1982-01-13 Nippon Electric Ind Co Ltd Printer with bar code reader
JPH07137354A (ja) * 1993-11-18 1995-05-30 Casio Comput Co Ltd バーコードリーダ付き印刷装置

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2180679A (en) * 1985-09-12 1987-04-01 Suresh Parsram Mirpuri Point-of-sale equipment
US5049898A (en) * 1989-03-20 1991-09-17 Hewlett-Packard Company Printhead having memory element
EP0872347A1 (fr) * 1989-08-05 1998-10-21 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement à jet d'encre et cartouche d'encre pour cet appareil
DE4244259A1 (de) * 1992-12-22 1994-07-07 Mannesmann Ag Verfahren und Anordnung zum Einstellen der Betriebsweise von Aufzeichnungseinrichtungen
FR2744391A1 (fr) * 1996-02-01 1997-08-08 Imaje Sa Imprimante industrielle apte a recevoir au moins une cartouche de consommable

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
HEWLETT PACKARD MANUAL PART NUMBER C2106-90015: "DeskJet 500 Printer Owner's Manual" August 1990 (1990-08) , HEWLETT PACKARD , GERMANY XP002136963 pages A-2 to A-4 page C-1 -page C-7 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 006, no. 066 (P-112), 27 April 1982 (1982-04-27) & JP 57 006974 A (NIPPON ELECTRIC IND CO LTD), 13 January 1982 (1982-01-13) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1995, no. 08, 29 September 1995 (1995-09-29) & JP 07 137354 A (CASIO COMPUT CO LTD), 30 May 1995 (1995-05-30) *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2994800A (en) 2000-09-04
WO2000048838A3 (fr) 2000-11-30

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