Label printer read after print correlation apparatus

• US 20040213616A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lihu Chiu
• Original Assignee: Lihu Chiu
• Inventors: Chiu, Lihu
• Application Number:
  US10/850,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20040213616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/008 Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/46 by marks or formations on the paper being fed
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers

Abstract

A printer and a process for correlating printed subject matter with subject matter that is meant to be printed by a printer with a printing mechanism or print engine such as a thermal printer including a print head, a platen, a media upon which labels are printed and a printer controller for imparting print data to the print head. An imager sends printed data as imaged to a read after print (RAP) controller for comparing the data received from the imager to data imparted to the print head or other printing mechanism. A tap, taps the data imparted from the print head and correlates it with the imaged data to determine the media speed, the image alignment, label analysis, weighing of blemishes, the gaps printed on a label, and other criteria.

Claims

1-21. -21 (Canceled).

22. A printer for printing labels comprising:

a read after print (RAP) controller for performing label analysis and weighing blemishes against a pre-established standard;

23. The printer as claimed in claim 22 further comprising:

an imager for providing image data on a label to said RAP.

24. The printer as claimed in claim 23 further comprising:

a look-up table for providing said pre-established standards.

25. The printer as claimed in claim 22 further comprising:

a processor in said RAP for determining gaps printed on a label.

26. The printer as claimed in claim 22 further comprising:

a processor in said RAP for determining the alignment of a printed label.

27. A printer as claimed in claim 22 further comprising:

a processor in said RAP to weigh the degree of blemish on a label for indication to a downstream process.

28. A printer as claimed in claim 22 further comprising:

a processor in said RAP to weigh a blemish in relationship to criticality as to a pre-established criteria of quality.

29. A printer as claimed in claim 22 further comprising:

said RAP has a processor to determine criticality of a label blemish based upon subsequent use of said label.

30. A processor as claimed in claim 22 wherein:

said printer is a thermal printer having a thermal print head for printing a label on media passing over a rotating platen.

31-54. -54 (Canceled).