Printer or other media processor with on-demand selective media converter

• US 6,969,134 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Donato, Daniel F., Hohberger, Clive P., Ream, Matthew R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thinh
• Application Number:
  US10/406,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 971 Days
• Field of Search: 347/2, 347/14, 347/106, 340/572.1, 156/344, 156/384, 156/385, 156/387, 156/388, 156/442, 156/584, 156/360, 156/363
• US Class Current: 347/2
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4075 Tape printers; Label printers
• 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: B65C 2009/0003 Use of RFID labels
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/0093 Devices switching between a peelable and a non peelable position
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 2009/404 prior to labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/1803 the labels being cut from a strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/1865 the labels adhering on a backing strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65C 9/1869 and being transferred directly from the backing strip onto the article
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/194 Web supporting regularly spaced adhesive articles, e.g. labels, rubber articles, labels or stamps
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 37/002 Web delivery apparatus, the web serving as support for articles, material or another web
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07716 the record carrier comprising means for customization, e.g. being arranged for personalization in batch
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07718 the record carrier being manufactured in a continuous process, e.g. using endless rolls
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07779 the inductive antenna being a coil
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07783 the coil being planar
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07786 the antenna being of the HF type, such as a dipole
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1105 Delaminating process responsive to feed or shape at delamination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/171 Means serially presenting discrete base articles or separate portions of a single article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1906 Delaminating means responsive to feed or shape at delamination

Abstract

On demand apparatus for use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor includes a print device and a converting system. The print device receives a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media samples and responds to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples. The converting system includes an applicator which receives the series of media samples from the print device and a series of value-adding elements. The applicator responds to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply a value-adding element to selected media samples. A corresponding method is disclosed.

Claims

1. A media processing a system with printing and converting capability, comprising:

a. an on demand print device receiving a series of media samples, said print device responding to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples;

b. an on demand converting system having an applicator receiving said series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements on a liner, said applicator responding to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply or not apply a value-adding element comprising an RFID transponder, transponder antenna or transponder integrated circuit to selected media samples with the objective that some media samples will be “

smart” and

others “

dumb”

, said converting system including a peeler receiving the series of value-adding elements and being configured to delaminate selected value-adding elements from the liner, said peeler being adjustable on a sample by sample basis between a first state wherein it is ineffective to delaminate a value-adding element from said liner and a second state wherein it is effective to delaminate a value-adding element from said liner; and

a first print device configured to print said media samples before being received by said converting system, and a second print device configured to print media samples after a selected value-adding element has been applied.

2. A media processing system with printing and converting capability, comprising:

a. an on demand print device receiving a series of media samples, said print device responding to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples; and

b. an on demand converting system having an applicator receiving said series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements on a liner, said applicator responding to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply or not apply a value-adding element comprising an RFID transponder, transponder antenna or transponder integrated circuit to selected media samples with the obiective that some media samples will be “

smart” and

others “

dumb”

, said converting system including a peeler receiving the series of value-adding elements and being configured to delaminate selected value-adding elements from the liner, said peeler being adjustabie on a sample by sample basis between a first state wherein it is ineffective to delaminate a value-adding element from said liner and a second state wherein it is effective to delaminate a value-adding element from said liner;

wherein said series of media samples are die-cut or otherwise singulated before being processed by said applicator, said media samples are carried on a liner, and wherein said media processing system is configured to delaminate each media sample from said liner before said value-adding element is applied thereto, and configured to relaminate said media sample to said liner after a value-adding element has been selectively applied thereto.

3. An on demand printer with converting capability, comprising:

a. a print device receiving a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media samples, said print device responding to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples;

b. a converting system having an applicator receiving said series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply a value-adding element to selected media samples; and

c. wherein said series of value-adding elements includes RFID transponders of different types with different attributes and said value-adding elements of different types with different attributes are arranged on a supply web in a predetermined repeating sequence.

4. An on demand printer with converting capability, comprising:

a. a print device receiving a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media samples, said print device responding to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples;

b. a converting system having an applicator receiving said series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply a value-adding element to selected media samples, said series of value-adding elements includes RFID transponders of different types with different attributes; and

c. said value-adding elements are carried on a liner, and wherein said applicator in response to commands in said instruction set moves said liner bidirectionally to select a value-adding element of a prescribed type for application to a selected media sample.

5. An on demand printer with converting capability, comprising:

a. a print device receiving a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media samples, said print device responding to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples;

b. a converting system having an applicator receiving said series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply a value-adding element to selected media samples; and

c. wherein said series of media samples includes first and second media samples of different types with different attributes, said first and second media samples arranged on a supply web in a predetermined repeating sequence, and said first and second media samples are carried on a liner, and wherein said printer in response to said instructions moves said liner bidirectionally to select a predetermined one of said first and second media samples for mating with a selected value-adding element.

6. A media processing system with printing and converting capability, comprising:

a. an on demand print device receiving a series of media samples, said print device responding to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples; and

b. an on demand converting system having an applicator receiving said series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements on a liner, said applicator responding to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply or not apply a value-adding element comprising an RFID transponder, transponder antenna or transponder integrated circuit to selected media samples with the objective that some media samples will be “

smart” and

others “

dumb”

, said converting system including a peeler receiving the series of value-adding elements and being configured to delaminated selected value-adding elements from the liner, said peeler being adjustable on a sample by sample basis between a first state wherein it is ineffective to delaminated a value-adding element from said liner and a second state wherein it is effective to delaminated a value-adding element from said liner;

wherein, said applicator receives media samples which have been delaminated from a liner and includes a vacuum conveyor arranged to convey the delaminated samples to another work station, and configured to relaminate said media samples to said liner after value-adding elements have been selectively applied thereto.

7. For use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor, an on demand converting system having an applicator receiving a series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of instructions which direct the applicator, sample by sample, to selectively apply or not apply a value-adding element to each media sample in said series of media samples;

said series of value-adding elements includes first and second value-adding elements of different types with different attributes; and

an element conveyance adapted to convey value-adding elements to said applicator, said instruction set including commands directing whether said first or second value-adding element, or neither value-adding element, shall be applied to said individual media sample.

8. For use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor, an on demand converting system having an applicator receiving a series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of instructions which direct the applicator, sample by sample, to selectively apply or not apply a value-adding element to each media sample in said series of media samples;

said series of value-adding elements includes first and second value-adding elements of different types with different attributes; and

said first and second value-adding elements arranged on a supply web in a predetermined sequence.

9. An on demand printer with converting capability, comprising:

a. a print device receiving a series of labels, tickets, tags, cards or other media samples, said print device responding to a set of form and content print instructions which direct the print device regarding what and where to print on selected media samples;

b. a converting system having an applicator receiving said series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of application instructions which direct the applicator to apply a value-adding element to selected media samples, said series of media samples includes first and second media samples of different types with different attributes; and

c. a media conveyance adapted to convey media samples to said applicator, said instruction set including commands which direct the applicator to apply a value-adding element to a media sample of said first or second type, wherein said first and second value-adding elements are carried on a liner, and said applicator, in response to commands in said instruction set, moves said liner bidirectionally to select a predetermined one of said first and second value-adding elements for application to a selected media sample.

10. For use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor, an on demand converting system having

a. an applicator receiving a series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of instructions which direct the applicator, sample by sample, to selectively apply or not apply a value-adding element to each media sample in said series of media samples;

b. said series of media samples including first and second media samples of different types with different attributes;

c. a media conveyance adapted to convey media samples to an applicator, said instruction set including commands directing whether a value-adding element shall be applied to said first media sample or said second media sample, or to neither media sample; and

d. said first and second media samples carried on a liner, and wherein said applicator in response to said instructions moves said liner bidirectionally to select a predetermined one of said first and second media samples for receipt of a selected value-adding element.

11. For use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor, an on demand converting system having

a. an applicator receiving a series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of instructions which direct the applicator, sample by sample, to selectively apply or not apply a value-adding element to each media sample in said series of media samples;

b. said series of value-adding elements includes first and second value-adding elements of different types with different attributes and wherein said series of media samples includes first and second media samples of different types with different attributes; and

c. said first and second value-adding elements arranged on a supply web in a predetermined sequence.

12. For use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor, an on demand converting system having

a. an applicator receiving a series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of instructions which direct the applicator, sample by sample, to selectively apply or not apply a value-adding element to each media sample in said series of media samples;

b. said series of value-adding elements includes first and second value-adding elements of different types with different attributes and wherein said series of media samples includes first and second media samples of different types with different attributes; and

c. said first and second value-adding elements being carried on a value-adding element liner, and wherein said media samples are carried on a media liner.

13. For use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor, an on demand converting system having:

a. an applicator receiving a series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of instructions which direct the applicator, sample by sample, to selectively apply or not apply a value-adding element to each media sample in said series of media samples;

b. said series of value-adding elements includes first and second value-adding elements of different types with different attributes and wherein said series of media samples includes first and second media samples of different types with different attributes; and

said instruction set includes commands directing which of said first or second value-adding element, or neither value-adding element, shall be applied to a selected one of said first and second media samples, or neither of said media samples.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the system is under control of a programmed or programmable computer system.

15. The system of claim 14 configured to provide manual override of control by said computer system.

16. For use in a printer, printer module, stand-alone media converter, or other media processor, an on demand converting system having:

a. an applicator receiving a series of media samples and a series of value-adding elements, said applicator responding to a set of instructions which direct the applicator, sample by sample, to selectively apply or not apply a value-adding element to each media sample in said series of media samples;

b. said series of value-adding elements includes first and second value-adding elements of different types with different attributes and wherein said series of media samples includes first and second media samples of different types with different attributes;

c. said first and second value-adding elements are carried on a value-adding element liner, and wherein said media samples are carried on a media liner, wherein said system is configured to move said media liner and said value-adding element liner bidirectionally to select said one or more value-adding elements for application to the selected media sample.