Printer-verifiers and systems and methods for verifying printed indicia

• US 10,559,075 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Datamax-O'Neil Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Celinder, Thomas, Ackley, H. Sprague
• Primary Examiner(s): Bezuayehu, Solomon G
• Application Number:
  US16/379,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20190236768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns
• 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 15/4025 Managing optional units, e.g. sorters, document feeders
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30144 Printing quality
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30176 Document
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data

Abstract

A printer-verifier is provided for printing and verifying a printed indicium. Printer-verifier includes imaging module for capturing image of printed indicium on print media, memory communicatively coupled to imaging module and configured to store print quality verification program, and processor communicatively coupled to memory. Processor is configured by print quality verification program to evaluate print quality of printed indicium, determine if print quality meets print quality standard, reject printed indicium on print media as rejected printed media when print quality does not meet print quality standard, and one of output location-specific feedback about rejected printed media or send a command signal to cutting device to destroy rejected printed media. Location-specific feedback is in same language as language associated with printer-verifier. A printer and methods for verifying the printed indicium are also provided.

Claims

1. A printer-verifier device, comprising:

an imaging sensor, configured to capture an image of a printed indicium on a print media; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the imaging sensor, and configured to;

evaluate a print quality of the printed indicium from the image of the printed indicium captured by the imaging sensor;

retrieve two or more messages from a plurality of messages stored in a memory, based on at least a first language corresponding to a specific location of the printer-verifier device and a second language corresponding to a language preferred by a printer user; and

cause the printer-verifier device to print the two or more messages on a rejected printed media, wherein the rejected printed media comprises the printed indicium having the evaluated print quality to be not meeting a print quality standard, wherein the first language and the second language comprise human languages.

2. The printer-verifier device according to claim 1, further comprising, in the memory, an internal localization database including at least one printer configuration setting, wherein the processor is configured to determine the first language and the second language from at least one of the internal localization database, or if the printer-verifier device is connected to a network, from location details of at least one of a local internet server, a local cellular tower, and a GPS setting.

3. The printer-verifier device according to claim 1, wherein the two or more messages comprises an error message, an instruction message, or both the error message and the instruction message.

4. The printer-verifier device according to claim 3, wherein the error message is in the first language and the instruction message is in the second language that is different from the first language.

5. The printer-verifier device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to send a command signal to a cutting device to cut the rejected printed media.

6. A computer method comprising:

evaluating a print quality of a printed indicium from an image captured by an imaging module communicatively coupled to a printer;

retrieving two or more messages from a plurality of messages stored in a memory, based on at least a first language corresponding to a specific location of the printer and a second language corresponding to a language preferred by a printer user; and

causing the two or more messages on a rejected printed media to be printed, wherein the rejected printed media comprises the printed indicium having the evaluated print quality to be not meeting a print quality standard, wherein the first language and the second language comprise human languages.

7. The computer method according to claim 6, further comprising determining the first language and the second language from at least one of a user, a printer configuration setting in an internal localization database of the printer, or if the printer is connected to a network, from location details of at least one of a local internet server and a local cellular tower.

8. The computer method according to claim 6, wherein determining the first language and the second language comprises determining a current location of the printer as a printer configuration setting and causing the printer to print the two or more messages on the rejected printed media comprises providing the two or more messages in the same language in which the printer is configured.

9. The computer method according to claim 6, wherein printing the two or more messages comprises printing an error message, an instruction message, or both the error message and the instruction message, wherein the error message indicates that the rejected printed media is not useable.

10. The computer method according to according to claim 9, wherein the error message is in the first language and the instruction message is in the second language, wherein the first language is different from the second language.

11. The computer method according to claim 9, wherein printing the two or more messages comprises printing the instruction message comprising disposal instructions for the rejected printed media.

12. The computer method according to claim 6, further comprising transmitting a command signal to a cutting device to cut the rejected printed media.