Printer capable of forming an image on a receiver substrate according to type of receiver substrate and a method of assembling the printer

• US 20030067504A1
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kurt M. Sanger, Robert W. Spurr, Timothy J. Tredwell
• Original Assignee: Kurt M. Sanger, Robert W. Spurr, Timothy J. Tredwell
• Inventors: Tredwell, Timothy J., Sanger, Kurt M., Spurr, Robert W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/19
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/009 Detecting type of paper, e.g. by automatic reading of a code that is printed on a paper package or on a paper roll or by sensing the grade of translucency of the paper
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/393 Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine ; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns

Abstract

A printer capable of forming an image on a receiver substrate according to type of receiver substrate, and a method of assembling the printer. An identifier containing identifier information is associated with each component of the receiver substrate which, for example, comprises paper and, optionally, laminate media. A sensor is disposed to read the identifier information so that an image forming operation can be adjusted based on identified receiver substrate components and media. For example transponder, serving as the identifier, is coupled to a memory device capable of storing information characteristic of media type. A transceiver, serving as the sensor, is disposed within the printer. The transceiver includes antennae disposed for polling an individual transponder attached to each media type. The transponder receives a first radio frequency field from the transceiver and, deriving power and address information from the first frequency, then generates a second radio frequency field in response. The second radio frequency field is characteristic of the data stored in the memory. As instructed by a control logic processor, the transceiver can both read manufacturing data from the transponder concerning the media type or write usage and processing data to the transponder for storage in the memory.

Claims

1. A printer capable of forming an image on a receiver substrate according to type of receiver substrate, comprising:

(a) an identifier coupled to the receiver substrate, said identifier containing identifying information uniquely associated with the type of receiver substrate;

(b) a sensor disposed in sensing relation to said identifier for sensing the identifying information, so that the type of receiver substrate is identified as said sensor senses the identifying information; and

(c) an image marker coupled to said sensor for forming the image on the receiver substrate according to the identifying information sensed by said sensor.

2. The printer of claim 1, further comprising a colorant supply coupled to said image marker for supplying a colorant to said image marker, so that said image marker forms the image on the receiver substrate as the colorant is supplied thereto.

3. The printer of claim 2, wherein said colorant supply is an intermediate receiver containing the colorant.

4. The printer of claim 2, wherein said colorant supply is an ink supply.

5. The printer of claim 2, wherein said colorant supply is a toner supply.

6. The printer of claim 2, wherein said colorant supply is a dye supply.

7. The printer of claim 2, wherein said colorant supply is a pigment supply.

8. The printer of claim 1,

(a) wherein said identifier is an optically encoded identifier;

and

(b) wherein said sensor is an optical sensor for optically sensing said optically encoded identifier.

9. The printer of claim 1,

(a) wherein said identifier is a magnetically encoded identifier;

and

(b) wherein said sensor is a magnetic sensor for magnetically sensing said magnetically encoded identifier.

10. The printer of claim 1,

(a) wherein said identifier is a trace pattern encoded identifier;

and

(b) wherein said sensor is a trace pattern sensor for mechanically sensing said trace pattern encoded identifier.

11. The printer of claim 1,

(a) wherein said sensor comprises a transceiver capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and capable of sensing a second electromagnetic field characteristic of the identifying information;

and

(b) wherein said identifier comprises a transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said transponder and in response to receiving the first electromagnetic field, generating the second electromagnetic field.

12. The printer of claim 11, wherein said transponder comprises a memory for storing data characteristic of the identifying information.

13. The printer of claim 11, wherein said transceiver transmits the first electromagnetic field at a predetermined first radio frequency.

14. The printer of claim 11, wherein said transponder transmits the second electromagnetic field at a predetermined second radio frequency.

15. The printer of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a telecommunications link having a first portion and a second portion thereof, the first portion coupled to said image marker; and

(b) a host computer coupled to the second portion of said telecommunications link, said host computer having a data source stored therein containing the identifying information, whereby said telecommunications link carries the identifying information from said host computer to said image marker for operating said image marker according to the identifying information.

16. The printer of claim 1, further comprising a preconditioning component coupled to said image marker for conditioning the receiver substrate prior to forming the image on the receiver substrate.

17. The printer of claim 16, wherein said preconditioning component is capable of applying a laminate to the receiver substrate.

18. The printer of claim 17, further comprising:

(a) a second identifier coupled to said laminate, said second identifier containing identifying information uniquely associated with the type of laminate; and

(b) a second sensor disposed in sensing relation to said second identifier for sensing the identifying information, so that the type of laminate is identified as said second sensor senses the identifying information.

19. The printer of claim 18,

(a) wherein said second identifier is an optically encoded identifier;

and

(b) wherein said second sensor is an optical sensor for optically sensing said optically encoded identifier.

20. The printer of claim 18,

(a) wherein said second identifier is a magnetically encoded identifier;

and

(b) wherein said second sensor is a magnetic sensor for magnetically sensing said magnetically encoded identifier.

21. The printer of claim 18,

(a) wherein said second identifier is trace pattern encoded identifier;

and

(b) wherein said second sensor is a trace pattern sensor for sensing said trace pattern encoded identifier.

22. The printer of claim 18,

(a) wherein said second sensor comprises a transceiver capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and capable of sensing a second electromagnetic field characteristic of the identifying information;

and

(b) wherein said second identifier comprises a transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field and in response to receiving the first electromagnetic field, generating the second electromagnetic field.

23. The printer of claim 1, further comprising a supply tray having the receiver substrate residing therein and said identifier connected thereto.

30. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of coupling a colorant supply to the image marker comprises the step of coupling a colorant supply that is a pigment supply.

24. A method of assembling a printer capable of forming an image on a receiver substrate according to type of receiver substrate, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting an identifier adapted to be coupled to the receiver substrate, the identifier containing identifying information uniquely associated with the type of receiver substrate;

(b) disposing a sensor in sensing relation to the identifier for sensing the identifying information, so that the type of receiver substrate is identified as the sensor senses the identifying information; and

(c) coupling an image marker to the sensor for forming the image on the receiver substrate according to the identifying information sensed by the sensor.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of coupling a colorant supply to the image marker for supplying a colorant to the image marker, so that the image marker forms the image on the receiver substrate as the colorant is supplied thereto.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of coupling a colorant supply to the image marker comprises the step of coupling an intermediate receiver containing the colorant.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of coupling a colorant supply to the image marker comprises the step of coupling a colorant supply that is an ink supply.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of coupling a colorant supply to the image marker comprises the step of coupling a colorant supply that is a toner supply.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of coupling a colorant supply to the image marker comprises the step of coupling a colorant supply-that is a dye supply.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of selecting an identifier comprises the step of selecting an identifier that is an optically encoded identifier.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of disposing a sensor comprises the step of disposing a sensor that is an optical sensor for optically sensing the optically encoded identifier.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of selecting an identifier comprises the step of selecting an identifier that is a magnetically encoded identifier.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of disposing a sensor comprises the step of disposing a sensor that is a magnetic sensor for magnetically sensing the magnetically encoded identifier.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of selecting an identifier comprises the step of selecting an identifier that is a trace pattern encoded identifier.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of disposing a sensor comprises the step of disposing a sensor that is a trace pattern sensor for mechanically sensing the trace pattern encoded identifier.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of disposing a sensor comprises the step of disposing a transceiver capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and capable of sensing a second electromagnetic field characteristic of the identifying information.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of selecting an identifier comprises the step of selecting a transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power the transponder and in response to receiving the first electromagnetic field, generating the second electromagnetic field.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of selecting a transponder comprises the step of selecting a transponder having a memory for storing data characteristic of the identifying information.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of disposing a transciver comprises the step of disposing a transceiver that transmits the first electromagnetic field at a predetermined first radio frequency.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of selecting a transponder comprises the step of selecting a transponder that transmits the second electromagnetic field at a predetermined second radio frequency.

42. The method of claim 24, further comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling the image marker to a first portion of a telecommunications link, the telecommunictions link having a second portion; and

(b) coupling a host computer coupled to the second portion of the telecommunications link, the host computer having a data source stored therein containing the identifying information, whereby the telecommunications link carries the identifying information from the host computer to the image marker for operating the image marker according to the identifying information.

43. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of coupling a preconditioning component to the image marker for conditioning the receiver substrate prior to forming the image on the receiver substrate.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of coupling a preconditioning component comprises the step of the step of coupling a preconditioning component that is capable of applying a laminate to the receiver substrate.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a second identifier to the laminate, the second identifier containing identifying information uniquely associated with the type of laminate; and

(b) disposing a second sensor in sensing relation to the second identifier for sensing the identifying information, so that the type of laminate is identified as the second sensor senses the identifying information.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of coupling a second identifier comprises the step of coupling a second identifier that is an optically encoded identifier.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of disposing a second sensor comprises the step of disposing a second sensor that is an optical sensor for optically sensing the optically encoded identifier.

48. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of coupling a second identifier comprises the step of coupling a second identifier that is a magnetically encoded identifier.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of disposing a second sensor comprises the step of disposing a second sensor that is a magnetic sensor for magnetically sensing the magnetically encoded identifier.

50. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of coupling a second identifier comprises the step of coupling a second identifier that is trace pattern encoded identifier.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of disposing a second sensor comprises the step of disposing a second sensor that is a trace pattern sensor for sensing the trace pattern encoded identifier.

52. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of disposing a second sensor comprises the step of disposing a second sensor that is a transceiver capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and capable of sensing a second electromagnetic field characteristic of the identifying information.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the step of coupling a second identifier comprises the step of coupling a second identifier that is a transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field and in response to receiving the first electromagnetic field, generating the second electromagnetic field.

54. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of selecting a supply tray having the receiver substrate residing therein and the identifier connected thereto.