Media cartridge with printed circuit board for use in a printing system

• US 7,037,014 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panduit Corporation
• Inventors: Clayvon, Anthony E., McElligott, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAU, MINH H
• Application Number:
  US11/002,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20050100383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 400/88, 400/613, 400/207, 400/208, 400/718, 400/76, 347/19, 347/50, 347/86, 439/67, 439/955, 237/525, 399/12, 399/13
• US Class Current: 400/613
• 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 15/044 Cassettes or cartridges containing continuous copy material, tape, for setting into printing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 17/36 Alarms, indicators, or feed-disabling devices responsible to material breakage or exhaustion
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0266 Marks, test patterns or identification means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/029 having a programmable lay-out, i.e. adapted for choosing between a few possibilities
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0293 Individual printed conductors which are adapted for modification, e.g. fusable or breakable conductors, printed switches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10181 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2203/175 Configurations of connections suitable for easy deletion, e.g. modifiable circuits or temporary conductors for electroplating; Processes for deleting connections

Abstract

A printing system includes a printing machine and media cartridge. The printing machine has a housing, a printing mechanism and a processing unit connected to the housing, a media cartridge interface connecting the media cartridge to the printing machine, and a look-up table for storing media cartridge parameters. The media cartridge has a media support for a media source, and a printed circuit board. The printed circuit has a plurality of conductive traces with fusible links connected together in a circuit pattern on at least one of its sides. The circuit pattern includes an encoding of at least one media cartridge parameter that may be stored in the look-up table of the printing machine.

Claims

1. A printing system comprising:

a media cartridge having a media support assembly, the media support assembly comprising a fixed support plate having a first connection portion, a media support having a second connection portion, the first connection portion mating with the second connection portion to connect the media support and the fixed support plate, and an adjustable support plate removably connected to the media support; and

a printing machine including a housing, a printing mechanism connected to the housing, a processing unit connected to the housing, and a media cartridge interface with a first end connected to the processing unit and a second end connected electronically to the media cartridge.

2. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the media cartridge further comprises a media source mounted on the media support.

3. The printing system of claim 2, wherein the media source comprises a roll of labels.

4. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the printing machine further comprises a look-up table for storing at least one parameter associated with the media cartridge, the at least one parameter associated with the media cartridge being sent electronically from the media cartridge to the look-up table of the printing machine accross the media cartridge interface.

5. The printing system of claim 1, wherein the printing mechanism comprises a thermal printing mechanism.