Smart media hanger with media width detection

• US 10,399,369 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wong, Chin Young, Yap, Yaw Horng, d'Armancourt, Sebastien Michel Marie Joseph, Lim, Boon Kheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Feggins, Kristal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liu, Kendrick X
• Application Number:
  US15/790,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20190118528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 21/00 Devices for conveying sheets through printing apparatus or machines through platen presses B41F1/28
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/16 Programming systems for automatic control of sequence of operations
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/003 Paper-size detection, i.e. automatic detection of the length and/or width of copy material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0095 Detecting means for copy material, e.g. for detecting or sensing presence of copy material or its leading or trailing end
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/02 Web rolls or spindles; Attaching webs to cores or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/04 Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 15/042 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
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/32 using thermal heads
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/325 by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 16/04 cantilever type
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/41335 locking mechanism for roll, e.g. axial flange
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/60 Coupling, adapter or locking means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/12 Width
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 26/063 responsive to detection of the trailing edge

Abstract

The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for providing feedback to a user on the status of media or ribbon of a printer. The feedback may be provided by incorporating a feedback mechanism in a hanger of a printer. The printer may be a thermal printer, but may be another type of printer. The feedback mechanism of the printer may be designed to work with one or more sensors to provide a feedback loop so that without an input from a user, the printer is able to detect the presence/absence of media or ribbon, as well as determine the width of the loaded media or ribbon. In another embodiment, the feedback mechanism is able to determine the weight of the roll of media or ribbon and hence determine the quantity of media or ribbon available on the hanger.

Claims

1. A printer comprising:

a housing;

a hanger having a top surface and an edge adjacent the housing;

a plurality of moveable buttons located on the top surface of the hanger;

a plurality of pressure sensors, located underneath the plurality of moveable buttons, wherein, each of the plurality of pressure sensors is paired with a corresponding one of the plurality of moveable buttons, wherein, a roll of media or ribbon loaded on the hanger applies pressure on at least one of the plurality of moveable buttons, thereby registering a pressure on at least one corresponding pressure sensor;

a pivot bar located at one end of the hanger; and

a load force sensor supported by the housing and positioned adjacent to an edge of the hanger, wherein, when the roll of media or ribbon is loaded onto the hanger, the edge of the hanger presses against the load force sensor,

wherein, the plurality of pressure sensors and the load force sensor provide feedback to a processor of the printer to determine a status of the roll of media or ribbon including at least one of a presence of the roll of media or ribbon, a width of the roll of the media or ribbon, and a quantity of media or ribbon available in the roll of media or ribbon.

2. The printer as in claim 1, wherein, the plurality of pressure sensors determines the presence of the roll of media or ribbon.

3. The printer as in claim 1, wherein, the plurality of pressure sensors determines the width of the roll of media or ribbon and the quantity of media or ribbon available in the roll of media or ribbon.

4. The printer as in claim 3, wherein, a number of pressure sensors located on the hanger determines an accuracy of the width determination.

5. The printer as in claim 1, wherein, if the roll of media or ribbon is not loaded on the hanger, the plurality of moveable buttons does not press down the plurality of pressure sensors and activate the plurality of pressure sensors.

6. The printer as in claim 1, wherein, if the roll of media or ribbon is loaded on the hanger a force is applied to the pivot bar, which in turn is sensed by the load force sensor.

7. The printer as in claim 1, wherein, an output of the load force sensor determines the quantity of media or ribbon available in the roll of media or ribbon.

8. The printer as in claim 7, wherein, a diameter of the roll of media or ribbon is proportional to an output of pressure applied to the load force sensor.

9. The printer as in claim 7, wherein, when the roll of media or ribbon is a label, the printer monitors a pressure change over a period of time and determines a number of labels printed in the period of time.

10. The printer as in claim 7, wherein, when the roll of media or ribbon comprises ribbon, the printer monitors a pressure change over a period of time to determine an amount of distance of continuous ribbon remaining on the roll of media or ribbon.