Printer with donor and receiver media supply trays each adapted to allow a printer to sense type of media therein, and method of assembling the printer and trays

• US 6,628,316 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Tredwell, Timothy J., Tehranchi, Babak, Sanger, Kurt M., Spurr, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, HAI CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/667,920
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 346/134, 347/214, 347/215, 347/222, 347/262, 347/264, 347/19, 347/101, 271/265.01, 399/389
• US Class Current: 346/134
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/48 Apparatus for condensed record, tally strip, or like work using two or more papers, or sets of papers , e.g. devices for switching over from handling of copy material in sheet form to handling of copy material in continuous form and vice versa or point-of-sale printers comprising means for printing on continuous copy material, e.g. journal for tills, and on single sheets, e.g. cheques or receipts B41J15/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/009 Diverting sheets at a section where at least two sheet conveying paths converge, e.g. by a movable switching guide that blocks access to one conveying path and guides the sheet to another path, e.g. when a sheet conveying direction is reversed after printing on the front of the sheet has been finished and the sheet is guided to a sheet turning path for printing on the back
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/103 for the sheet feeding section
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 17/32 Detachable carriers or holders for impression-transfer material mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 1/266 Support fully or partially removable from the handling machine, e.g. cassette, drawer B65H1/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2405/311 and serving also as package
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/40 Identification
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2557/10 for signal transmission

Abstract

A printer with donor and receiver media supply trays each adapted to allow a printer to sense type of media therein, and method of assembling the printer and trays. Donor and receiver media supply trays to be loaded into the printer are adapted to allow the printer to sense type of media therein. Each supply tray comprises a tray body having a supply of the media (i.e., donor or receiver) therein. A transceiver is disposed proximate the trays. The transceiver is capable of transmitting a first electromagnetic field and sensing a second electromagnetic field A first transponder is integrally connected to the receiver supply tray and has encoded data previously stored therein indicative of the type of receiver media. A second transponder is integrally connected to the donor supply tray and also has encoded data previously stored therein indicative of the type of donor media. Each transponder is capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power the transponder and then generating the second electromagnetic field as the transponder is powered. The second electromagnetic field is characteristic of the data previously stored in the transponder and is indicative of type of media contained within the tray. Data stored in the receiver tray transponder attached to the receiver supply tray is necessarily different from data stored in the donor tray transponder. The printer then operates in accordance with the data sensed by the transceiver to produce quality prints consistent with the type of donor and receiver being used.

Claims

1. A printer media supply adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, comprising:

(a) a transceiver for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field;

(b) more than one media supply tray each media supply tray being disposed in the media supply at locations spaced-apart from said transceiver for supplying media therefrom; and

(c) a transponder connected to each media supply tray, each transponder having a memory with data stored therein indicative of the type of media, in the respective media supply tray to which the transponder is connected, each transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power each transponder and with said transponder generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, each second electromagnetic field generated by each transponder being sensed by said transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in said memory, wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the locations to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at each location.

2. A printer media supply adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, comprising:

(a) a transceiver for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field;

(b) a first media supply tray disposed at a first location spaced-apart from said transceiver for supplying a first media therefrom;

(c) a second media supply tray disposed at a second location spaced-apart from said transceiver for supplying a second media therefrom;

(d) a first transponder connected to said first tray, said first transponder having a first memory with data stored therein indicative of type of first media, said first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said first transponder and with said first transponder generating the second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first transponder being sensed by said transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in said first memory; and

(e) a second transponder connected to said second tray, said second transponder having a second memory with data stored therein indicative of type of the second media, said second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said second transponder and with said second transponder generating another second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder being sensed by said transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in said second memory,

wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the locations to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the first and second locations.

3. The printer media supply of claim 2, wherein each of said first memory and said second memory is a read/write memory.

4. The printer media supply of claim 2, wherein the media supply comprises a mechanism for moving the transceiver for communication with the transponders at the first location and for moving the transceiver communication with the transponder at the second location.

5. The printer media supply of claim 4, wherein the transceiver determines the type of media in the first media supply tray based upon data received by the transceiver when moved to communicate with the transponder in the first location with the media supply tray located at the first physical location and wherein the transceiver further determines the type of media in the second media supply based upon data received by the transceiver when the transceiver is moved for communication with the transponder in the second location.

6. A printer adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, comprising:

(a) a printhead;

(b) a transceiver disposed in association with said printhead for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field;

(c) a first media supply tray disposed at a first location spaced-apart from said transceiver, said first tray having a supply of a first media therein in the form of cut sheets;

(d) a second media supply tray disposed at a second location spaced-apart from said transceiver, said second tray having a supply of a second media in the form of cut sheets;

(e) a first transponder integrally connected to said first tray, said first transponder having data stored therein indicative of type of the first media said first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said first transponder and with said first transponder generating the second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first transponder being sensed by said transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in said first transponder; and

(f) a second transponder integrally connected to said second tray, said second transponder having data stored therein indicative of type of second media, said second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said second transponder and with said second transponder generating another second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder being sensed by said transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in said second transponder,

wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first and second locations the media supply trays to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply trays at the first location and at the second location.

7. The printer of claim 6, wherein said first transponder and said second transponder each have a read/write memory semiconductor chip.

8. The printer of claim 6, wherein said transceiver transmits the first electromagnetic field at a predetermined first radio frequency.

9. The printer of claim 8, wherein each of said first transponder and said second transponder transmits the second electromagnetic field at a predetermined second radio frequency.

10. The printer of claim 6, wherein said printhead is a laser printhead for thermally activating the second media by modulating a laser beam said modulation based at least in part on the type of second media being activated.

11. A printer adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, and further adapted to print using a donor media capable of being thermally activated to transfer dye therefrom, the printer comprising:

(a) a laser printhead;

(b) a transceiver disposed in association with said printhead for transmitting a first electromagnetic field of a predetermined first radio frequency and for sensing a second electromagnetic field of a predetermined second radio frequency;

(c) a receiver supply tray disposed at a first location spaced-apart from said transceiver, said receiver supply tray having a supply of a receiver in the form of cut sheets to be supplied therefrom;

(d) a donor supply tray disposed at a second location spaced-apart from said transceiver, said donor supply tray having a supply of a donor in the form of cut sheets to be supplied therefrom, the donor capable of being thermally activated by said laser printhead;

(e) a first transponder integrally connected to said receiver supply tray and having a first read/write memory semiconductor chip with encoded data stored therein indicative of the type of receiver, said first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power said first chip and capable of generating the second electromagnetic field as said first chip is selectively powered, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first transponder being characteristic of the data stored in said first chip so that the data is subsumed in the second electromagnetic field; and

(f) a second transponder integrally connected to said donor supply tray and having a second read/write memory semiconductor chip with encoded data stored therein indicative of the type of donor material said second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power said second chip and capable of generating another second electromagnetic field as said second chip is selectively powered, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder being characteristic of the data stored in said second chip so that the data is subsumed in the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder, whereby said transceiver senses the second electromagnetic fields as said first transponder and said second transponder generate their respective second electromagnetic fields; and

(g) a microprocessor interconnecting said printhead and said transceiver for controlling said printhead in accordance with the data subsumed in the second electromagnetic fields received by said transceiver,

wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates the data obtained from each transponder with one of the first and second locations to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply trays at the first location and at the second location.

12. A method of assembling a printer media supply adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transceiver for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field;

(b) disposing more than one media supply tray at locations spaced-apart from the transceiver for supplying the media therefrom; and

(c) connecting a transponder to each one of the more than one media supply tray, the transponder having a memory with data stored therein indicative of the type of media, each transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said transponder and with said transponder generating the second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by each transponder being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the memory wherein the provided transceiver is adapted to selectively poll each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the locations to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at each location.

13. A method of assembling a printer media supply adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a transceiver for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field;

(b) disposing a first media supply tray disposed at a first location spaced-apart from the transceiver for supplying a first media therefrom;

(c) disposing a second media supply tray disposed at a second location spaced-apart from the transceiver for supplying a second media therefrom;

(d) connecting a first transponder to the first tray, the first transponder having data stored therein indicative of the type of first media, the first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said first transponder and with said first transponder generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first transponder being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the first transponder; and

(e) connecting a second transponder to the second tray, the second transponder having data stored therein indicative of type of the second media, the second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said second transponder and with said second transponder generating another second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the second transponder wherein the provided transceiver is adapted to selectively poll each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first and second locations to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply trays at the first and second locations.

14. The method of claim 13,

(a) wherein the step of connecting a first transponder comprises the step of connecting a first transponder having a first read/write memory; and

(b) wherein the step of connecting a second transponder comprises the step of connecting a second transponder having a second read/write memory.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing a laser printhead for thermally activating the second media.

16. A method of assembling a printer adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a printhead;

(b) providing a transceiver disposed in association with the printhead for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field;

(c) disposing a first media supply tray at a first location spaced-apart from the transceiver, the first tray having a supply of a first media therein in the form of cut sheets;

(d) disposing a second media supply tray at a second location spaced-apart from the transceiver, the second tray having a supply of a second media in the form of cut sheets; and

(e) integrally connecting a first transponder to the first tray, the first transponder having data stored therein indicative of type of the first media, the first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said first transponder and with said first transponder generating the second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the first transponder; and

(f) integrally connecting a second transponder to the second tray, the second transponder having data stored therein indicative of type of the second media, the second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said second transponder and with said second transponder generating another second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the second transponder, wherein the provided transceiver is adapted to selectively poll each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first and second locations transponder to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the first location and the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the second location.

17. The method of claim 16,

(a) wherein the first transponder has a first read/write memory semiconductor chip; and

(b) wherein the second transponder has a second read/write memory semiconductor chip.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the transceiver is capable of transmitting the first electromagnetic fields at a predetermined first radio frequency.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the steps of connecting the first transponder and the second transponder comprises the steps of connecting the first transponder and the second transponder, so that each of the first transponder and second transponder is capable of individually transmitting the second electromagnetic field at a predetermined second radio frequency.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of providing a printhead comprises the step of providing is a laser printhead for thermally activating the second media.

21. A method of assembling a printer adapted to sense data characteristic of the type of media disposed therein, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a laser printhead;

(b) providing a transceiver in association with the printhead for transmitting a first electromagnetic field of a predetermined first radio frequency and for sensing a second electromagnetic field of a predetermined second radio frequency;

(c) disposing a receiver supply tray at a first location spaced-apart from the transceiver, the receiver supply tray having a supply of a receiver in the form of cut sheets to be supplied therefrom;

(d) disposing a donor supply tray at a second location spaced-apart from the transceiver, the donor supply tray having a supply of a donor in the form of cut sheets to be supplied therefrom, the donor capable of being thermally activated by the laser printhead;

(e) integrally connecting a first transponder to the receiver supply tray, the first transponder having a first read/write memory semiconductor chip with encoded data stored therein indicative of type of receiver, the first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power the first read/write chip and capable of generating the second electromagnetic field as the first read/write chip is selectively powered, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first read/write chip being characteristic of the data stored in the first read/write chip so that the data is subsumed in the second electromagnetic field generated by the first read/write chip; and

(f) integrally connecting a second transponder to the donor supply tray, the second transponder having a second read/write semiconductor chip with encoded data stored therein for each sheet of donor material indicative of type of donor the second read/write chip capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power the second read/write chip and capable of generating another second electromagnetic field as the second read/write chip is selectively powered, the second electromagnetic field being characteristic of the data stored in the second read/write chip so that the data is subsumed in the second electromagnetic field generated by the second read/write chip, whereby the transceiver senses the second electromagnetic fields as the first transponder and the second transponder generate their respective second electromagnetic fields; and

(g) connecting a microprocessor to the printhead and the transceiver for controlling the printhead in accordance with the data subsumed in the second electromagnetic fields received by the transceiver,

wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first location and second location to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the first location and the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the second location.

22. A media supply adapted to allow a printer to sense data characteristic of the type of media in the media supply, comprising:

(a) a first media supply tray for supplying a first media therefrom at a first location in the media supply;

(b) a second media supply tray associated with said first tray for supplying a second media therefrom at a second location in the media supply;

(c) a transceiver spaced-apart from said first tray and said second tray for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field;

p1 (d) a first transponder coupled to said first tray and having a first memory with data stored therein indicative of the type of first media said first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said first transponder and with said first transponder generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first transponder being sensed by said transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in said first memory; and

(e) a second transponder coupled to said second tray and having a second memory with data stored therein indicative of the type of second media, said second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said second transponder and with said second transponder generating another second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder being sensed by said transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in said second memory; and

wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first location and the second location determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the first location and the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the second location.

23. The media supply of claim 22, wherein each of said first transponder and said second transponder further comprise a read/write memory semi-conductor chip.

24. The media supply of claim 22, wherein the first electromagnetic field is generated at a predetermined first radio frequency.

25. The media supply of claim 24, wherein each second electromagnetic field is generated at a predetermined second radio frequency.

26. A media supply adapted to allow a printer to sense data characteristic of the type of a media in the media supply, comprising:

(a) a first media supply tray for supplying a receiver media therefrom at a first location in the media supply;

(b) a second media supply tray for supplying a donor media therefrom at a second location in the media supply;

(c) a transceiver disposed proximate said first tray body and said second tray body for transmitting a first electromagnetic field of a predetermined first radio frequency and for sensing a second electromagnetic field of a predetermined second radio frequency;

(d) a first transponder integrally connected to said first tray body and having a first read/write memory semiconductor chip encoded with data stored therein indicative of type of receiver media, said first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power said first chip and generating the second electromagnetic field as said first chip is selectively powered, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first chip being characteristic of the data stored in said first chip; and

(e) a second transponder integrally connected to said second tray body and having a first read/write memory semiconductor chip encoded with data stored therein indicative of the type of donor media said second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power said second chip and generating another second electromagnetic field as said second chip is selectively powered, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second chip being characteristic of the data stored in said second chip,

wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first location and the second location to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the first location and the type of media disposed in the media supply tray located at the second location.

27. A method of assembling a media supply adapted to allow a printer to sense data characteristic of the type of a media in the media supply, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing more than one tray body each supplying a media therefrom at a separate location in the media supply;

(b) disposing a transceiver spaced-apart from each of the more than one tray body for transmitting a first electromagnetic field and for sensing a second electromagnetic field; and

(c) coupling a transponder to each of the more than one tray body, the transponder having a memory with data stored therein indicative of the type of media, the transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said transducer and with said transponder generating the second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by each transponder being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the memory,

wherein the provided transceiver is adapted to selectively poll each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the media supply tray locations to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at each media supply tray location.

28. A method of assembling a media supply adapted to allow a printer to sense data characteristic of the type of a media in the media supply, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first media supply tray at a first location for supplying a first media therefrom;

(b) providing a second media supply tray at a second location for supplying a second media therefrom;

(c) disposing a transceiver spaced-apart from the first media supply tray and the second media supply tray the transceiver transmitting a first electromagnetic field and sensing a second electromagnetic field;

(d) coupling a first transponder to the first media supply tray, the first transponder having a first memory with data stored therein indicative of type of first media, the first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said first transponder and with said first transponder generating a second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first transponder being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the first memory; and

(e) coupling a second transponder to the second media supply tray, the second transponder having a second memory with data stored therein indicative of type of second media, the second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to power said second transponder and with said second transponder generating another second electromagnetic field in response to the first electromagnetic field received thereby, the second electromagnetic field generated by the second transponder being sensed by the transceiver and characteristic of the data stored in the second memory,

wherein the provided transceiver is adapted to selectively poll each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first location and the second location to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the first location and the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the second location.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the steps of coupling the first transponder and the second transponder comprises the steps of coupling a first transponder having a first read/write memory semiconductor chip and coupling a transponder having a second read/write memory semiconductor chip.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of providing a transceiver comprises the step of providing a transceiver adapted to transmit the first electromagnetic field at a predetermined first radio frequency.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the steps of coupling a first transponder and a second transponder comprise the steps of coupling a first transponder and a second transponder adapted to generate the second electromagnetic field at a predetermined second radio frequency.

32. A method of assembling a media supply adapted to allow a printer to sense data characteristic of the type of a media in the media supply, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first media supply tray at a first location for supplying a receiver media therefrom;

(b) providing a second media supply tray at a second location for supplying a donor media therefrom;

(c) a transceiver disposed proximate the first media supply tray and the second media supply tray for transmitting a first electromagnetic field of a predetermined first radio frequency and for sensing a second electromagnetic field of a predetermined second radio frequency;

(d) a first transponder having a first read/write memory semiconductor chip integrally connected to the first media supply tray and having encoded data stored therein indicative of type of receiver media, the first transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power the chip and generating the second electromagnetic field as the chip is selectively powered; and

(e) a second transponder have a second read/write memory semiconductor chip integrally connected to the second media supply tray and having encoded data stored therein indicative of type of donor media the second transponder capable of receiving the first electromagnetic field to selectively power the second chip and generating another second electromagnetic field as the second chip is selectively powered, the second electromagnetic field generated by the first chip and by the second chip being characteristic of the data respectively stored in the first chip and the second chip,

wherein said transceiver selectively polls each transponder to obtain data from each transponder and associates each transponder with one of the first location and second location to determine the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the first location and the type of media disposed in the media supply tray at the second location.

33. A method for determining the type of media in a media supply having more than one media supply trays located in the media supply and each tray having a transponder with a memory containing data that characterizes the media stored in the tray, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal to each of the media supply locations, detecting a signal from the transponder in that location, said signal indicating the type of media and associating the signal with the media supply tray in that location.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein a transceiver is used to perform the sending and receiving steps and further comprising the step of moving the transceiver between positions for communicating with transponders in each of the locations.