Variable Data Printing System

• US 20110149005A1
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Infoprint Solutions Company LLC (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Spencer, Joseph A., Wolanski, Tania
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/107
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/54 with two or more sets of type or printing elements B41J3/60 takes precedence

Abstract

A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes a first printer to print a first type of data to a medium and to print a barcode on the medium including variable to be printed on the medium and a second printer to print the variable data to the medium based on the barcode. The second printer includes a barcode reader, transfer location and a medium path having a fixed distance between the barcode reader and the transfer location.

Claims

1. A printing system comprising:

a first printer to print a first type of data to a medium and to print a barcode on the medium including variable to be printed on the medium; and

a second printer to print the variable data to the medium based on the barcode, the second printer having;

a barcode reader;

transfer location; and

a medium path having a fixed distance between the barcode reader and the transfer location.

2. The printing system of claim 1 wherein the second printer further comprises a medium path extension.

3. The printing system of claim 2 wherein the medium path extension comprises:

a flat plate; and

a roller.

4. The printing system of claim 2 wherein the medium path extension comprises two or more rollers.

5. The printing system of claim 2 further comprising:

a drive mechanism to move the medium through the medium path; and

a brake to prevent the medium from moving whenever the drive mechanism is not actively moving the medium.

6. The printing system of claim 5 wherein the brake comprises at least one of a bar, weight or brush.

7. The printing system of claim 5 further comprising a cover plate to prevent the medium from fluttering while the barcode reader is reading the barcode.

8. The printing system of claim 7 wherein the cover plate covers the medium except for a barcode read location so that the barcode reader only reads the barcode.

9. The printing system of claim 5 further comprising a backlight to increase contrast between the barcode and the medium.

10. The printing system of claim 1 wherein the first type of data comprises at least one of text data and image data.

11. The printing system of claim 10 wherein the variable data comprises Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) data.

12. A method comprising:

printing a first type of data on a medium at a first printer;

printing a barcode on the medium at the first printer including variable data to be printed on the medium;

reading the barcode at a second printer; and

printing the variable data to the medium at the second printer based on the barcode.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first type of data comprises at least one of text data and image data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the variable data comprises Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) data.

15. A printer comprising a print head having:

a barcode reader to read a barcode having variable data printed to a medium at a second printer;

a transfer location to transfer the variable data to the medium based on the barcode; and

a paper path having a fixed distance between the barcode reader and the transfer location.

16. The printer of claim 15 wherein the print head further comprises a medium path extension.

17. The printer of claim 16 wherein the medium path extension comprises:

a flat plate; and

a roller.

18. The printer of claim 17 further comprising:

a drive mechanism to move the medium through the medium path; and

a brake to prevent the medium from moving whenever the drive mechanism is not actively moving the medium.

19. The printer of claim 18 further comprising a cover plate to prevent the medium from fluttering while the barcode reader is reading the barcode.

20. The printer of claim 19 further comprising a backlight to increase contrast between the barcode and the medium.