Verification of a printed image on media

• US 10,467,513 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2015
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Phek Thong, Ackley, H. Sprague
• Primary Examiner(s): Pachol, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/824,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20170046603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/022 for printing on continuous media, e.g. tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/027 Test patterns and calibration arrangements for controlling or analysing printing mechanisms of typewriters or selective printing units B41J29/393 takes precedence; colour correction using test pattern analysis in general H04N1/6033
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/16 Means for paper feeding or form feeding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/4065 Managing print media, e.g. determining available sheet sizes feeding means G06K15/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00047 using an image not specifically designed for the purpose

Abstract

Printing symbols on media is described. Sequential parts of a symbol are marked onto each of multiple corresponding sequential segments of the medium. A characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is evaluated. A speed is monitored with which the medium is moved upon the marking of each of the sequential symbol parts onto each of the corresponding sequential segments of the medium. An image, captured in relation to the evaluation, is adjusted based on the monitored speed. Adjusting the captured image may include setting a rate at which the evaluation of the characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is performed based on the monitored speed or alternatively, predicting a distortion in the evaluated characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts corresponding to the monitored speed, and applying a change to the captured image corresponding to, and ameliorating the predicted distortion.

Claims

1. A method for printing a symbol on a medium, the method comprising the steps of:

marking a plurality of sequential parts of the symbol onto each of a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the medium;

capturing an image of each individual sequential part with a scanner;

monitoring a speed with which the medium is moved upon the marking of each of the sequential symbol parts onto each of the corresponding sequential segments of the medium by sensing a rotation rate of a drive action;

evaluating a characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts from the captured image; and

adjusting the captured image in relation to the evaluating step based on the monitored speed.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the adjusting the captured image step comprises setting a rate at which the evaluating of the characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is performed based on the monitored speed.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the adjusting the captured image step comprises:

predicting a distortion in the evaluated characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts corresponding to the speed monitored upon the marking thereof; and

applying a change to the captured image corresponding to the predicted distortion, wherein the change applied ameliorates the predicted distortion.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the monitoring the speed with which the medium is moved comprises sensing a rate with which a motive force is imparted to the medium.

5. The method as described in claim 4, wherein the motive force is imparted to the medium with one or more of a rotational or a stepwise drive action and wherein the monitoring the speed with which the medium is moved comprises sensing a rotation rate or a stepping rate of the drive action.

6. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising generating data relating to the monitored speed, wherein the adjusting of the captured image step is performed in response to the generated data.

7. A system operable for printing a symbol on a medium, the system comprising:

a marker operable for marking a plurality of sequential parts of the symbol onto each of a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the medium;

a scanner operable for evaluating a characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts by capturing an image of each individual sequential symbol part; and

a first controller operable for;

monitoring a speed with which the medium is moved upon the marking of each of the sequential symbol parts onto each of the corresponding sequential segments of the medium by sensing a rotation rate of a drive action;

and, adjusting the captured image based on the monitored speed.

8. The system as described in claim 7, wherein the adjusting of the captured image comprises setting a rate at which the evaluating of the characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is performed based on the monitored speed.

9. The system as described in claim 7 wherein the adjusting of the captured image comprises:

predicting a distortion in the evaluated characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts corresponding to the speed monitored upon the marking thereof; and

applying a change to the captured image corresponding to the predicted distortion, wherein the change applied ameliorates the predicted distortion.

10. The system as described in claim 7, wherein the monitoring the speed with which the medium is moved comprises sensing a rate with which a motive force is imparted to the medium.

11. The system as described in claim 10, wherein the motive force is imparted to the medium with one or more of a rotational or a stepwise drive action and wherein the monitoring the speed with which the medium is moved comprises sensing a rate corresponding to the rotational or the stepwise drive action.

12. The system as described in claim 10, further comprising at least a second controller operable for controlling the rate with which a motive force is imparted to the medium.

13. The system as described in claim 12, further comprising a data link operable for communicatively coupling data from the at least second controller to the first controller, the data relating to the rate sensed at which the motive force is imparted to the medium.

14. The system as described in claim 13, wherein the at least second controller sends the data relating to the rate sensed at which the motive force is imparted directly via the data link to the first controller, which is operable in response to receiving the data for setting a rate at which the evaluating of the characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is performed.

15. The system as described in claim 13, further comprising a recorder associated with the at least second controller and operable therewith for recording the rate sensed at which the motive force is imparted to the medium.

16. The system as described in claim 15, wherein the recorded rate corresponds to the data relating to the rate sensed at which the motive force is imparted to the medium, and wherein the recorder is further operable for sending the data corresponding to the recorded rate to the first controller.

17. The system as described in claim 16, further comprising an image processor associated with the first controller and operable therewith in response to receiving the data for:

predicting a distortion in the evaluated characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts corresponding to the speed monitored upon the marking thereof; and

applying a change to the captured image corresponding to the predicted distortion, wherein the change applied to the captured image ameliorates the predicted distortion therein.

18. A media product, which comprises a symbol printed on a medium by a method comprising the steps of:

marking a plurality of sequential parts of the symbol onto each of a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the medium;

capturing an image of each individual sequential part with a scanner;

monitoring a speed with which the medium is moved upon the marking of each of the sequential symbol parts onto each of the corresponding sequential segments of the medium by sensing rotation rate of a drive action;

evaluating a characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts from the captured image; and

adjusting the captured image based on the monitored speed.

19. The media product as described in claim 18 wherein the adjusting of the captured image comprises setting a rate at which the evaluating of the characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is performed based on the monitored speed.

20. The media product as described in claim 18 wherein the adjusting of the captured image comprises:

predicting a distortion in the evaluated characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts corresponding to the speed monitored upon the marking thereof; and

applying a change to the captured image corresponding to the predicted distortion, wherein the change applied ameliorates the predicted distortion.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, upon execution by a processor device are operable for causing or controlling a printing system or printer apparatus to perform a method for printing a symbol on a medium, the method comprising the steps of:

marking a plurality of sequential parts of the symbol onto each of a corresponding plurality of sequential segments of the medium;

capturing an image of each individual sequential part with a scanner;

monitoring a speed with which the medium is moved upon the marking of each of the sequential symbol parts onto each of the corresponding sequential segments of the medium by sensing a rotation rate of a drive action;

evaluating a characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts from the captured image; and

adjusting the captured image based on the monitored speed.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium as described in claim 21 wherein the adjusting the captured image comprises setting a rate at which the evaluating of the characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts is performed based on the monitored speed.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium as described in claim 21 wherein the adjusting the captured image comprises:

predicting a distortion in the evaluated characteristic of each of the sequential symbol parts corresponding to the speed monitored upon the marking thereof; and

applying a change to the captured image corresponding to the predicted distortion, wherein the change applied ameliorates the predicted distortion.