Indication of print media quality to printer users

• US 9,004,674 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maplebear Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kuczynski, Joseph, Makley, Hye S., Miller, Melissa K., Williams, Heidi D., Zhang, Jing
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lam S
• Application Number:
  US13/663,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 347/5, 347/105, 347/16, 347/19, 347/9, 399/45
• US Class Current: 347/105
• 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: G06F 3/1293 Printer information exchange with computer

Abstract

A printing system for indicating print media quality to printer users includes a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway for printing. In an example, the system includes, but is not limited to, a thermal printer having a thermal print head for printing onto paper. The system also includes a light meter configured to detect light reflected from the print media, such as the paper. The light meter also measures a characteristic of the detected light. An indicator is coupled to the light meter, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the measured characteristic of the detected light.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway;

a light source configured to generate and direct light having a first intensity to a surface of the print media;

a light meter configured to determine a second intensity of light reflected from the print media, and determine a gloss characteristic of the print media based on the first and second intensities;

a computing unit configured to compare the determined gloss characteristic to a predetermined value; and

an indicator coupled to the computing unit, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the comparison,

wherein the computing unit is configured to;

measure an amount of the print media processed by the printing assembly; and

associate the amount of processed print media with the quality level of the print media.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the printing assembly is configured to route the print media such that the surface of the print media intercepts the light from the light source.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to generate and direct light to a surface of the print media at an angle of incidence of approximately 60 degrees with respect to the surface of the print media, and

wherein the light meter comprises a light detector positioned to receive the light at an angle of reflection of approximately 60 degrees with respect to the surface of the print media.

4. A method comprising:

routing print media along a pathway;

generating and directing light having a first intensity to a surface of the print media;

determining a second intensity of light reflected from the print media;

determining a gloss characteristic of the print media based on the first and second intensities;

comparing the determined gloss characteristic to a predetermined value;

presenting a quality level of the print media to a user based on the comparison

measuring an amount of the print media processed by the printing assembly; and

associating the amount of processed print media with the quality level of the print media.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein routing the print media comprises using a printing assembly to route the print media along the pathway.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising routing the print media such that the surface of the print media intercepts the light from the light source.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein generating and directing light comprises using a light source to generate and direct the light.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein generating and directing light comprises generating and directing light to a surface of the print media at an angle of incidence of approximately 60 degrees with respect to the surface of the print media, and

wherein the method further comprises receiving, at a light detector, the light at an angle of reflection of approximately 60 degrees with respect to the surface of the print media.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the second intensity of light comprises using a light meter to determine the second intensity of light reflected from the print media.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the gloss characteristic comprises using a light meter to determine the gloss characteristic of the print media based on the first and second intensities.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the gloss characteristic comprises using a computing unit to compare the determined gloss characteristic to the predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the quality level comprises using an indicator to present the quality level of the print media to the user based on the comparison.