Method and apparatus for associating on demand certain selected media and value-adding elements
First Claim
1. A media printer, comprising in combination:
- means for moving a plurality of media samples from a supply of media samples;
means for printing information on at least selected ones of said media samples; and
means for attaching a value-adding device to only selected ones, but not all, of said media samples.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A media printer such as, for example, a thermal transfer media printer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the printer selectively programs RFID transponders, and then embeds them into conventional on-demand printed media between the adhesive layer and the release liner. Selective configuration of each printed media sample by addition of value-adding elements may be performed independently for each media sample, under software control during processing of each media sample format print control program. An add-on mechanism is disclosed that can be operatively attached to a conventional media printer. This allows value-adding elements such as RFID transponder labels to be selectively applied at precise locations on the printed surface of on-demand printed media in connection with existing printers.
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Citations
172 Claims
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1. A media printer, comprising in combination:
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means for moving a plurality of media samples from a supply of media samples;
means for printing information on at least selected ones of said media samples; and
means for attaching a value-adding device to only selected ones, but not all, of said media samples. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A media printer, comprising in combination:
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a media supply and a media exit;
a generally continuous web that operably interconnects said media supply and said media exit so that a plurality of media samples are moved from said media supply to said media exit during operation;
a printhead that is mounted in operative relation to said generally continuous web to print information on selected portions of a first surface of each one of said media samples; and
an applicator mechanism that is mounted in operative relation to said generally continuous web to attach a value-adding device to a second surface of selected ones of said media samples after information has been printed on the first surface of said selected ones of said media samples by said printhead. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for manufacturing a printed media, comprising the steps of:
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moving a plurality of media samples from a media supply to a media exit;
printing information on selected media samples; and
attaching a value-adding device to said selected ones of said media samples after information has been printed on the first surface of said selected ones of said media samples. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device for use in connection with a thermal transfer printer that includes first web means for moving a plurality of media samples from a supply of media samples as well as a printhead that prints information on a first surface of said plurality of media samples, said device comprising:
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a second web means for temporarily removing the plurality of media samples from said first web means; and
means for attaching a value-adding device to a second surface of selected ones of said media samples after information has been printed on the first surface of said selected ones of said media samples. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A device for use in connection with a thermal transfer printer that includes a first web that allows a plurality of media samples to be moved from a supply of media samples as well as a printhead that prints information on a first surface of said plurality of media samples, said device comprising:
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a second web that temporarily removes the plurality of media samples from said first web; and
an attachment mechanism that attaches a value-adding device to a second surface of selected ones of said media samples after information has been printed on the first surface of said selected ones of said media samples. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method, comprising the steps of:
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providing a series of media samples which have a non-existent or predetermined capability of responding wirelessly to a wireless interrogation signal or electromagnetic field; and
introducing a capability, or modifying an existing predetermined capability, of only selected ones, but not all, said series of media samples of responding to a wireless interrogation signal or electromagnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of configuring on demand a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media, comprising:
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moving a series of like or unlike media; and
on demand, selectively applying, inserting, or otherwise associating with selected ones of said series of like or unlike media, a discrete, value-adding element. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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- 63. The method of claim 61 wherein said value-adding element is pressed against said media after said step of removing to cause adherence therebetween.
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63-1. The method of claim 62 wherein said value-adding element is tamped against said media pressing.
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107. A method of manufacturing a plurality of adhesive-backed labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media that is laminated on a carrier, comprising the steps of:
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moving a series of media samples;
delaminating at least selected ones of said media samples from said carrier leaving, in each instance, an exposed adhesive media back surface; and
applying a discrete, value-adding element to said back surface of the selected media, whereby only the selected ones, but not all, of said media samples in said series are caused to have said value-adding element. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125)
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- 126. An article of manufacture comprising a web, cassette, or other carrier carrying a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media, said carrier being characterized by selected ones, but not all, of said media having associated therewith at least one value-adding element.
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141. An on-demand printer for printing information on a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media, comprising:
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a media feeder; and
means for associating a discrete value-adding element with certain media, but not with other media, in a series of said media. - View Dependent Claims (142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152)
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153. Apparatus for associating a selected element with a selected label, ticket, tag, card or other media, at least one of which element and media is adhesive-backed and carried on a carrier, comprising:
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means for delaminating said one element or media from its carrier;
means for supporting said delaminated element or media;
means for bringing said supported element or media into a position contiguous with the other of said element or media; and
means for pressing said element and media together to cause adherence.
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- 154. The apparatus of 153 wherein said means for pressing comprises a tamper.
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156. The apparatus of 136 wherein said means for supporting utilizes a vacuum, wherein said tamper is reciprocable, and wherein said tamper includes a bellows through which the vacuum is delivered to said supported element or media.
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157. The apparatus of 136 wherein said supported media is adhesive backed, and wherein said apparatus includes means for relaminating said supported media.
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158. The apparatus of 153 wherein said value-adding element is an RFID transponder, and wherein said apparatus includes means for programming or reprogramming the transponder.
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159. The apparatus of 153 wherein said means for bringing includes means for reciprocating said selected element into said contiguity and then withdrawing to leave the element.
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160. For use in adhering a label, ticket, tag, card or other media to a value-adding element, one of which media and element have an exposed adhesive surface, a reciprocable tamping applicator mechanism comprising:
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a fast-acting solenoid;
a gas spring that is driven by said solenoid; and
a pressure-applying mechanism that is coupled to said gas spring and that defines a surface that presses together the media and the element, said gas spring damping the fast action of said solenoid. - View Dependent Claims (161, 162, 163)
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164. A promotional label, ticket, tag, card or other media having thereon or associated therewith:
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one or more RFID transponders programmed with predetermined data representing information about, or of expected interest to, a particular prospect or class of prospects for a given product, service, or appeal; and
one or more printings containing information about, or of expected interest to, said particular prospect or class or prospects, the printed and programmed information being coordinated and integrated to evoke a predetermined response from said class of prospects. - View Dependent Claims (165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172)
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Specification