Bar code verification and printing system

• US 6,535,299 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Printronix
• Inventors: Scherz, Andrew V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Arthur G.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,849
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.1, 358/1.12, 358/1.6, 358/1.8, 358/1.9, 358/1.2, 358/1.14, 358/539, 358/470, 400/103, 400/61, 400/62, 400/63, 400/74, 400/76, 235/462.1, 382/112, 382/181
• US Class Current: 358/1.18
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 5/02 the verifying forming a part of the marking action

Abstract

This disclosure sets forth a verifier for verifying the quality of print such as bar codes in combination with a printer wherein the printer can be controlled to provide proper printing functions for printing in response to the verifier input. The printer upon receipt of a particular report from the verifier can stop the printing such as bar code printing as to a bad label, overstrike a bad label, or reprint the label. Further to this extent, the printer can be controlled by operator intervention on the control panel or by automatic input through the controller of the printer to provide for the respective necessary and correct print or bar codes being printed.

Claims

1. A printer connected to a print quality verifier comprising:

a printer having printing elements for printing on a media;

means for supplying media to be printed upon by said printer;

a verifier connected to said printer for verifying the quality of print on said media;

a controller in said printer for receiving data from said verifier to provide a signal for corrective quality control of said printer; and

,

wherein said verifier verifies the quality of a bar code as printed as to two or more criteria selected from the group consisting of encodation failure, quiet zone failure, symbol contrasts, percent decode, defects failure, decodability failure, or a missing report pertaining to said printer output.

2. A printer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a program of said controller connected to a display for displaying the quality of print as verified.

3. A printer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a program of said controller connected to said printer controls for changing the functions of said printer.

4. A printer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

said printer having a bar code printing capability.

5. A printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said printer is a thermal printer.

6. A printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said printer is a line matrix printer.

7. A printer as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said printer is a laser printer.

8. A printer as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said printer is a thermal printer.

9. A thermal printer and print verifier comprising:

a thermal printer having a drive for a print ribbon and media for printing upon for moving said print ribbon and media over a thermal printing head;

a controller in said printer for controlling the movement of said print ribbon and media, and the heat and pressure of said thermal printing head;

a verifier positioned with respect to media being printed by said printer to verify criteria of the printing on said media, said verifier connected to said controller to provide information to said controller for controlling the functions of said printer; and

,

said controller can cause a label to be drawn back into said printer for cutting after verification.

10. The printer as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said controller controls said drive for the print ribbon and media.

11. The printer as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said controller controls the heat of the thermal printer head.

12. The printer as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said printer has an operator control panel to provide input to said controller based upon verifier information.

13. The printer as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said controller can control said printer based upon verifier information to stop printing, overstrike a printed label, or reprint a label.

14. The printer as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said controller can control said printer to cut a label after verification.

15. The printer as claimed in claim 14 wherein:

said controller can cause a label to be drawn back into said printer for cutting after verification.

16. The printer as claimed in claim 9 wherein:

said verifier can establish relative darkness or lightness of bar code print; and

,

further comprising a connection to said controller to change the relative amount of heat on said thermal printer head with respect to tonal criteria.

17. A thermal printer and verifier system comprising:

a drive for the supply of print ribbon;

a drive for the supply of print media;

a thermal printer head overwhich said media and ribbon can pass against a platen;

a controller for said printer;

a verifier connected to said controller and positioned to scan the media after printing to provide output signals to said controller for printer control; and

,

wherein said controller based upon output signals from said verifier can provide signals to indicate the desired calibration of said verifier as to bar codes.

18. The thermal printer and verifier system as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

said controller based upon output signals from said verifier can provide heat settings of said thermal printer head.

19. The thermal printer and verifier system as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

said controller based upon output signals from said verifier can provide variable speeds of printing for said printer.

20. The thermal printer and verifier system as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

said controller based upon output signals from said verifier can provide variations in the speed of print ribbon and the speed of media to be printed upon.

21. The thermal printer and verifier system as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

said controller based upon output signals from said verifier can provide variable pressures of said printer head on said media and print ribbon.

22. The thermal printer and verifier system as claimed in claim 17 wherein:

said controller based upon output signals from said verifier can change the space of printing by said printer.

23. The thermal printer and verifier system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising:

a control panel connected to said printer controller for modifying said printer functions.

24. The thermal printer and verifier system as claimed in claim 23 further comprising:

a menu selection and display panel and program for displaying said printer functions for modifying them by an operator.

25. A method for printing and verifying the quality of print comprising:

providing a printer having printing elements for printing on a moving media;

providing a source of media in said printer for printing upon;

printing a desired print configuration on said media;

verifying the quality of print on said media;

controlling said printer based upon the verifying of print; and

,

controlling said printer by a controller after verifying print criteria for purposes of correcting two or more criteria selected from the group consisting of encodation failure, quiet zone failure, symbol contrasts, percent decode, defects failure, decodability failure, and picket fence orientation of bar code.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25 further comprising:

displaying information by said printer based upon the verification of print quality.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25 further comprising:

providing a controller in said printer; and

,

controlling said printer based upon the verified print through said controller.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25 further comprising:

providing a bar code through the printing of said printer.

29. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein:

said printer is a thermal printer.

30. The method as claimed in claim 25 wherein:

said printer is a line matrix printer.

31. The method as claimed in claim 29 wherein:

said printer is a thermal printer.