摘要:
A portable printer for printing on a roll of paper or label stock is provided having automatic print alignment with the width of the roll. The portable printer has a housing having a compartment for receiving the roll, a cover to access the roll, and a centering mechanism for the roll. The centering mechanism has two rotatable spindle members in the compartment engageable with the opposing ends of the roll's tubular core, and a pair of racks each coupled to one of the spindle members, and to each other by a gear, to enable each of the spindle members to move in opposite directions with respect to a center between the spindle members. The position of centering mechanism is optically, magnetically, or electro-mechanically encoded and a sensor reads the encoded position of the centering mechanism. A controller automatically aligns printing with respect to the roll's width in accordance with the encoded position read by the sensor, thereby preventing printing outside the width of the paper from the roll. The centering mechanism may be locked when the cover is closed to prevent movement of the gear, and the spindle members and racks coupled thereto. A removable RF communication module may be provided in the printer to enable communication with a host terminal or computer system.
摘要:
A printer has a computer system which stores and uses multiple application programs. The printer may be a label printer which includes a printing mechanism, and a computer for controlling the printer mechanism and the advancement of label stock for the printer mechanism to print labels on the label stock. Coupled to the printer may be a barcode scanner controllable by the computer. The system includes a memory accessible by the computer which stores a plurality of application programs. Each of the application programs contains instructions which are executable by the computer to operate the printer. An application program can be selected by a user, or a host computer interfaced to the printer, or automatically by the printer, for execution by the computer. Utility files are also stored in the memory separate from the application programs which may include data and programs utilized by the selected application program. Such utility files include programs for barcode decoding, barcode encoding, and character rendering. The barcode decoding program utilizes Direct Memory Access (DMA) of the computer to capture values of a timer in the computer upon each transition in a scan data signal from the barcode scanner. The captured values are stored and then decoded to provide barcode data representing one or two-dimensional barcodes. The character rendering program provides for scaling of characters, defined in font files, to desired sizes. A graphical user interface may be used on the host computer interfaced to the printer to select various parameters of printer operation.
摘要:
A thermal label printer includes an actuation mechanism and follower for facilitating loading of stock (e.g., label stock). A pivotable printer head pressure plate includes the actuation mechanism which cooperates with the follower coupled to a peeler roller. As the pressure plate is moved from a closed position proximate a platen to an open position for loading of stock or for cleaning the printer head, the peeler roller is automatically translated from the platen. The resulting roller gap and displaced printer head provide unrestricted access for threading of the printer. The printer also includes a programmable device in the printer electronics for reconfiguring the printer to accommodate a variety of thermal print mechanisms.
摘要:
An intelligent, portable printer is provided having a controller and a printing mechanism. The controller includes a microprocessor which communicates with a terminal, which may be remote from the printer and may include or be a host computer, via cable, radio, or optical interfaces. The terminal supplies application programs and data representing commands and information to be printed. In one embodiment, the controller of the printer can operate the printer mechanism in accordance with received data when the data is preceded by a command addressing the product-type predefined for the printer. In another embodiment, the controller operates responsive to a wake-up signal from the terminal for automatically turning on the printer from a low powered state. In a further embodiment, an antenna in the printer receives RF signals from the terminal and circuitry is provided for enabling power to the controller from the printer's power source when the RF signals received represent a wake-up signal or code, thereby turning on the printer.
摘要:
A label printer feeds stock having peelable labels or without peelable labels fed by a platen roller against which a print head bears. A bail carrying a bail roller which is latchable in two positions, is provided. In one of these positions, the bail roller is away from the stock so that the stock is fed over a peeler bar, and in the other of the positions, the bail roller wraps the stock around the peeler bar. The latter position is used when the stock has peelable labels and is so called “linered” stock. The print head can print directly on the stock, and the stock having the printed labels is then fed out of the printer. In the second position, the labels are peeled off the stock as it travels around the peeler bar and can be removed by the user while the liner from which the labels have been peeled leaves the printer. No rethreading of stock is required to handle different types of stock, thereby increasing the flexibility and simplifying the operation of the label printer.
摘要:
A thermal label printer includes an actuation mechanism and follower for facilitating loading of stock (e.g., label stock). A pivotable printer head pressure plate includes the actuation mechanism which cooperates with the follower coupled to a peeler roller. As the pressure plate is moved from a closed position proximate a platen to an open position for loading of stock or for cleaning the printer head, the peeler roller is automatically translated from the platen. The resulting roller gap and displaced printer head provide unrestricted access for threading of the printer. The printer also includes a programmable device in the printer electronics for reconfiguring the printer to accommodate a variety of thermal print mechanisms.
摘要:
A system is provided for RF communication between a host terminal or computer system (“host”) and a portable printer through RF signal transmissions. The host has a RF communication interface and is programmed to send and receive data via the interface to a portable printer. The portable printer has a printing mechanism for printing on media and a RF communication interface to send and receive data from a host. The printer is programmed to link with a host and then operate responsive to data received in RF signals from a host linked to the printer. Each portable printer has a unique serial number which is recorded in a barcode present on the housing of the printer and/or in an RFID tag coupled to the printer. The host has either, or both, an optical scanner or an RFID transmitter/receiver to read the printer's barcode or RF signals from the tag to obtain the printer's serial number. The host uses the serial number to identify a unique address associated with the printer by association between printer serial numbers and addresses. The host and printer are linked for RF communication by the host sending a first packet addressed to the printer utilizing the printer's address, the printer sending a second packet in response to the host, and the host sending a third packet directing the printer that it is linked to the host by the host's unique address for subsequent data communication there between, such that the printer responds to packets of data (commands and data) received from the host having the host's address. Other hosts can be similarly linked to the printer, such that when each of the hosts are linked to the printer, the printer is responsive to the linked host. Before the printer or the host sends a packet in a RF transmission, the printer or host may first find a clear channel for such transmission. The system may be used with multiple hosts and portable printers, such that different hosts can be linked to different printers.
摘要:
A portable hand-held image recording device for generating and storing information representative of a two dimensional image includes a compact image scanning apparatus, a microprocessor, memory, and associated control software. The compact image scanning apparatus includes a light emitting diode array to provide a source of light, a focusing element to create a scan line on the image, a lens array to transmit light reflected off of the image, and an image sensor to convert the light reflected off of the image into electronic information. A scanning subassembly is provided to accurately track movement of the recording device across the image and to incrementally scan discrete portions of the image by controlling energization of the light emitting diode array.
摘要:
A portable label printer is provided having a central control section, and first and second printing sections coupled to the central section. Each of the first and second printing sections has a printing mechanism with a thermal printhead and motor driven platen roller, a compartment for receiving a roll of paper, and a cover enabling loading of a roll in the compartment. The central control section has a printer control circuitry which independently controls the printing mechanism of each of the first and second printing sections interactive with signals from a host computer or terminal. Each of the first and second printing sections represents a module detachable from the central control section and can be replaced with another module providing a printing section capable of accommodating printing on different type of paper. One type of terminal is provided which is attachable to the central control section of the printer and can communicate with the printer control circuitry of the printer. The terminal may have circuitry for enabling RF, LAN, voice over Internet, or cell phone communication, and for enabling optical scanning through a window of the terminal. The terminal may be detached from the housing to facilitate its use as a communication device or optical scanner.