Patent EP0309751A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0309751A2
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EP
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Electronic labeler with printhead and web sensor
Assignee: Brady Corp
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Filing: 1988-08-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-08-30
Abstract
Abstract An electronic labeling apparatus (1) is disclosed which includes a printing mechanism (18) with a printhead (70) adapted for horizontal travel across an assembly (5,91,96) of identification devices (6) to be imprinted. A web edge sensor (85) is attached to the printhead (70) for concurrent travel therewith. In traversing horizontally across the assembly (5,91,96) the web edge sensor (85) provides a signal to a microprocessor (100) which indicates the presence or absence of the assembly (5,91,96) under the current position of the sensor (85). The microprocessor (100) also receives a timing signal from the printing mechanism (18) indicative of the position of the printhead (70). Based on the timing signal and the signal from the web edge sensor (85), the microprocessor (100) measures a current width of the assembly (5,91,96). The assembly (5,91,96) is especially adapted for use with the invention, and includes notches (90) having a width different than the nominal width of the assembly (5,91,96), each notch (90) being in a fixed relative position with respect to one of the identification devices (6,95,97). The microprocessor (100) is thereby able to control feeding of the assembly (5,91,96) to register the identification devices (6,95,97) for printing by discriminating the current measured width of the assembly (5,91,96) between the nominal width and the width at a notch (90).
Inventors
- 👤 Steven D. Hoyt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:11
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J3/00; G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/10; B65; B65C; B65C9/00; B65C9/40; B65C9/42; B65C9/44; B65C9/46; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/121; G06K15/021; G06K15/024; G06K2215/00; G06K2215/0082; G06K2215/0097
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
353 words
Apparatus (1) for applying indicia to identification devices (6,95,97) of the type including a printing mechanism (18), feed means (76) for advancing an assembly (5,91,96) of a plurality of individual identification devices (6,95,97) through the printing mechanism (18), input means (3) for designating indicia to be printed on individual identification devices (6,95,97), memory means (103) storing a program of instructions for reading the designated indicia, controlling the feed means (76) and controlling the printing mechanism (18), and microprocessor means (100) responsive to the program of instructions in the memory means (103) and interfaced to control the printing mechanism (18) and the feed means (76), characterized in that the printing mechanism (18) includes a printhead (70) driven transversely back and forth across an assembly (5,91,96) of identification devices loaded in the apparatus (1); a web edge sensor (85) is attached to the printhead (70) for concurrent transverse movement therewith, and the web edge sensor (85) produces a signal connected to the microprocessor (100) for indicating the presence or absence of the assembly (5,91,96) under the current position of the web edge sensor (85); an assembly (5,91,96) of identification devices loaded in the apparatus (1) for advancement by the feed means (76) has a preselected first width dimension defined by opposed longitudinal edges of the assembly and means (90) defining a preselected second width dimension associated with each identification device of the assembly (5,91,96) that is different than the first width dimension; and in that the program of instructions stored in the memory means (103) includes a first set of instructions responsive to the signal generated by the web edge sensor (85) upon transverse movement across the assembly (5,91,96) of identification devices for measuring a current width dimension of the assembly (5,91,96) along the path of transverse movement of the web edge sensor (85) ,and further includes a second set of instructions to control the feed means (76) for advancing the assembly (5,91,96) to a position where one of the identification devices is in registration for printing by discriminating the measured current width dimension of the assembly (5,91,96) between the first and second width dimensions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
353 words
Apparatus (1) for applying indicia to identification devices (6,95,97) of the type including a printing mechanism (18), feed means (76) for advancing an assembly (5,91,96) of a plurality of individual identification devices (6,95,97) through the printing mechanism (18), input means (3) for designating indicia to be printed on individual identification devices (6,95,97), memory means (103) storing a program of instructions for reading the designated indicia, controlling the feed means (76) and controlling the printing mechanism (18), and microprocessor means (100) responsive to the program of instructions in the memory means (103) and interfaced to control the printing mechanism (18) and the feed means (76), characterized in that the printing mechanism (18) includes a printhead (70) driven transversely back and forth across an assembly (5,91,96) of identification devices loaded in the apparatus (1); a web edge sensor (85) is attached to the printhead (70) for concurrent transverse movement therewith, and the web edge sensor (85) produces a signal connected to the microprocessor (100) for indicating the presence or absence of the assembly (5,91,96) under the current position of the web edge sensor (85); an assembly (5,91,96) of identification devices loaded in the apparatus (1) for advancement by the feed means (76) has a preselected first width dimension defined by opposed longitudinal edges of the assembly and means (90) defining a preselected second width dimension associated with each identification device of the assembly (5,91,96) that is different than the first width dimension; and in that the program of instructions stored in the memory means (103) includes a first set of instructions responsive to the signal generated by the web edge sensor (85) upon transverse movement across the assembly (5,91,96) of identification devices for measuring a current width dimension of the assembly (5,91,96) along the path of transverse movement of the web edge sensor (85) ,and further includes a second set of instructions to control the feed means (76) for advancing the assembly (5,91,96) to a position where one of the identification devices is in registration for printing by discriminating the measured current width dimension of the assembly (5,91,96) between the first and second width dimensions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 further characterized in that the printing mechanism (18) provides a timing signal connected to the microprocessor (100), the timing signal producing a pulse for each incremental transverse movement of the printhead (70), and the first set of programmed instructions measure the current width dimension by maintaining a WIDTH count representing the number of pulses occurring on the timing signal while the signal from the web edge sensor (85) indicates that the web edge sensor (85) is positioned over the assembly (5,91,96).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2 further characterized in that the first set of instructions includes noise filter means for determining the distance that the web edge sensor (85) is positioned over the assembly (5,91,96) wherein the noise filter means compensates for any portion of the distance in which the signal from the web edge sensor (85) indicates an absence of the assembly (5,91,96) for less than a predetermined number of pulses on the timing signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
173 words
Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the second width dimension is less than the first width dimension by a fixed, predetermined amount, thereby forming a notch (90) with a fixed, predetermined notch (90) width in the assembly (5,91,96); a configured width value is stored in the memory means (103), the configured width value representing a nominal width expected for the first width dimension of the assembly (5,91,96); and in that the first set of instructions includes width checking means for comparing the current width dimension with a maximum width limit and a minimum width limit, the maximum width limit being defined as the configuration width value plus a tolerance value and the minimum width value being defined as the configuration width value minus the notch (90) width minus the tolerance value, wherein if the current width dimension is outside of the range defined by the maximum and minimum width limits then the width checking means generates an error condition to terminate advancing of the assembly (5,91,96).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the apparatus (1) is capable of being loaded with any one of a plurality of different assemblies (5,91,96) each assembly (5,91,96) having a different first width dimension, and in which the configured width value is configurable by the input means (3) to be set to a value corresponding to the assembly (5,91,96) loaded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus (1) according to claim 4 further characterized in that the registration position for each identification device (6,95,97) corresponds to a position where the notch (90) of the assembly (5,91,96) is under the path of transverse movement of the web edge sensor (85) and the discrimination of the current width dimension is made in the width checking means by determining if the current width dimension is in a notch detection range defined by the range of widths from the configured width value minus the tolerance value to the minimum width limit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the assembly (5,91,96) includes an end of roll marker (99) which prevents detection of the assembly (5,91,96) by the web edge sensor (85) for at least one entire length between extreme limits of horizontal travel of the web edge sensor (85), and that the first set of instructions includes means for generating an OUT OF LABELS error condition to terminate advancing of the assembly (5,91,96) if an entire length between extreme limits of horizontal travel is completed without having the signal from the web edge sensor (85) indicate the presence of the assembly (5,91,96).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
Apparatus (1) according to claim 7 further characterized in that the feed means (76) is located before the web edge sensor (85) along the path taken by the assembly (5,91,96) through the printing mechanism (18), and that the end of roll marker (99) is positioned on the assembly (5,91,96) at a distance (X) from the trailing end of the assembly (5,91,96), the distance (X) being greater than the length of the path through the printing mechanism (18) from a point where the assembly (5,91,96) exits the feed means (76) to a line defined by the horizontal travel of the web edge sensor (85), wherein the assembly (5,91,96)is still engaged by the feed means (76) when the end of roll marker (99) is under the path of the web edge sensor (85).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that the feed means (76) comprises a friction type mechanism which advances the assembly (5,91,96) by executing discrete advancements equal to one line of printed text upon command from the microprocessor (100), and in which the second set of instructions includes slip detection means for detecting slippage of the assembly (5,91,96) in the feed means (76) by maintaining an INDEX count of the number of advancements executed by the feed means (76) while advancing to the registration position, wherein if the INDEX count exceeds a predetermined maximum index count, then the slip detection means generates a slip error condition to terminate advancement of the assembly (5,91,96).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
An assembly (5,96) of identification devices (6,97) for use in apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1-9 characterized in that the assembly (5,96) comprises a carrier web (7) and a plurality of adhesive labels (6,97) releasably adhered to the carrier web (7) and spaced from one another longitudinally along the carrier web (7); the assembly (5,96) includes a first width dimension defined by opposed longitudinal edges of the carrier web (7) and the means defining a preselected second width dimension consists of a notch (90) defined in the carrier web (7), there being one such notch (90) associated with each adhesive label (6,97) of the assembly (5,96) wherein the second width dimension is less than the first width dimension of the assembly (5,96); and said first and second width dimensions of the assembly (5,96) are stored in the memory means (103).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
142 words
An assembly (91) of identification devices (95) for use in apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1-9 characterized in that the assembly (91) comprises a base web (92) and a top web (93) seamed together along a plurality of transverse seams (94) to define individual tabular marker sleeves (95); the assembly (91) includes a first width dimension defined by opposed longitudinal edges of one of said webs (92,93) and the means defining a preselected second width dimension consists of a notch (90) defined in one of the said webs (92,93), there being one such notch (90) associated with each marker sleeve (95) of the assembly (91) and the second width dimension is less than the first width dimension of the assembly (91); and said first and second width dimensions of the assembly (91) are stored in the memory means (103).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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