Abstract: Techniques for characterizing an optical system (for example, a printer verifier) are provided. In this regard, the optical system may be characterized for scanning a printed image. The characterization of the optical system includes determining an effective aperture size of the optical system, and correspondingly an effective resolution at which the optical system can be configured to scan a portion of the printed image according to verification requirements.

Abstract: Techniques for characterizing an optical system (for example, a printer verifier) are provided. In this regard, the optical system may be characterized for scanning a printed image. The characterization of the optical system includes determining an effective aperture size of the optical system, and correspondingly an effective resolution at which the optical system can be configured to scan a portion of the printed image according to verification requirements.

Abstract: Techniques for characterizing an optical system (for example, a printer verifier) are provided. In this regard, the optical system may be characterized for scanning a printed image. The characterization of the optical system includes determining an effective aperture size of the optical system, and correspondingly an effective resolution at which the optical system can be configured to scan a portion of the printed image according to verification requirements.

Abstract: The present invention embraces printers such as hand-held printers and mobile/portable printer. One exemplary embodiment includes “print as you glide” (PAYG) devices. Such printers may comprise a modular print engine that is removable from the printer and may allow a user to easily access and load the ribbon in the mobile print engine. The modular print engine may comprise a modular print head and an encoder that may determine the movement of the print head relative to a stationary media. When a printer is pressed against the media, the print head's burn line may be resting on the media. When the printer is stationary relative to the media, the encoder may not trigger the printing. Once PAYG is being slid or glided across the media, the encoder may start to rotate and then send a signal to a processor, causing the printer to start printing.

Abstract: An example printing apparatus is illustrated. The printing apparatus includes a print engine assembly. The print engine assembly further includes a bottom chassis portion. The print engine assembly also includes a top chassis portion. The print engine assembly also includes a print head positioned within the top chassis portion. The print engine assembly also includes a plurality of offset pins coupled to the print head, where the plurality of offset pins abuts the bottom chassis portion, and where the plurality of offset pins enables the print head to be positioned at a predetermined distance from the bottom chassis portion.

Abstract: A method for printing defect detection includes processing and analyzing a difference image obtained by comparing an image scanned with a verifier to a reference image. The detected defects are grouped, and the grouping is refined. Confidence level values are then assigned to the refined groups, and analysis is performed to determine if one or more servicing actions should be taken.

Abstract: Methods of managing a fleet of devices are provided, as are methods for configuring a standby device for a job in a workflow environment, and methods for performing a job in a workflow environment. Device information is analyzed, such as information pertaining to verification systems. Device instructions are sent to various locations on a device network in response to a deviation from a parameter value having been detected. The deviation from the parameter value may correspond to printed media and/or indicia produced by one or more devices. A workflow device and a standby device are provided, and the workflow device sends configuration data to the standby device. The standby device installs configuration data and is introduced into the workflow environment.

Abstract: A method is provided for Optical Character Recognition (OCR). A plurality of OCR decoding results each having a plurality of positions is obtained from capturing and decoding a plurality of images of the same one or more OCR characters. A recognized character in each OCR decoding result is compared with the recognized character that occupies an identical position in each of the other OCR decoding results. A number of occurrences that each particular recognized character occupies the identical position in the plurality of OCR decoding results is calculated. An individual confidence score is assigned to each particular recognized character based on the number of occurrences, with a highest individual confidence score assigned to a particular recognized character having the greatest number of occurrences.

Abstract: Printers capable of determining a media type of a media and associated methods are provided. An example method includes scanning a media with a verifier associated with the printer to generate at least two consecutive windows of the media. The example method further includes determining a vertical length of a captured image based on a comparison of image characteristic values captured in the at least two consecutive windows. The example method further includes determining a media characteristic associated with the media based at least on the captured image and the vertical length and one or more stored media profiles. The example method further includes calibrating the printer based on the media characteristic.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide for improved print position compensation, for example to improve accuracy of print job(s) performed by a printer. The print position compensation enables an offset of the time until printing occurs on a print media to account for changes and/or erroneous movement in a print media, such as due to slippage and/or other results of a force applied to the print media. Particular embodiments determine data values derived both for an output phase and a retraction phase of the printer's operation. Various embodiments generate a print position compensation based on sensor-based edge position distances determined during each of a media output phase and a media retraction phase. Alternatively or additionally various embodiments generate a print position compensation based on sensor-based media movement phase timestamp differentials determined during each of a media output phase and a media retraction phase.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclose a method for operating a printer apparatus. The method comprising monitoring a utilization rate of each heating element in a first set of heating elements defined by a print head arrangement. Further, the method comprises generating a utilization dataset based upon monitoring of the utilization rate of each heating element in the first set of heating elements print head arrangement. Furthermore, the method includes analyzing the utilization dataset to identify one or more overutilized heating elements of the first set of heating elements. Additionally, the method includes identifying a second set of heating elements defined by the print head arrangement. The second set of heating elements comprises a portion of the first set of heating elements exclusive of the one or more overutilized heating elements. The method further includes processing a print job. The processed print job utilized the second set of heating elements during printing.

Abstract: A printer-verifier is provided for printing and verifying a printed indicium. Printer-verifier includes imaging module for capturing image of printed indicium on print media, memory communicatively coupled to imaging module and configured to store print quality verification program, and processor communicatively coupled to memory. Processor is configured by print quality verification program to evaluate print quality of printed indicium, determine if print quality meets print quality standard, reject printed indicium on print media as rejected printed media when print quality does not meet print quality standard, and one of output location-specific feedback about rejected printed media or send a command signal to cutting device to destroy rejected printed media. Location-specific feedback is in same language as language associated with printer-verifier. A printer and methods for verifying the printed indicium are also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments illustrated herein disclose a method comprising rendering a buffer image from a first image data received for printing. Further, the method includes scaling the buffer image to generated scaled buffer image. Furthermore, the method includes determining a first location of a machine readable indicia in the scaled buffer image. Additionally, the method includes causing a print head to print the buffer image on a print media to generate a printed content.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclose a method for operating a printer apparatus that includes a print head. The method includes causing a media hub to retract a media in a retract direction along a media path. Further, the method includes causing a first media sensor to generate a first signal during retraction of the media. Furthermore, the method includes monitoring the first signal to detect at least one of a leading edge or a trailing edge of a label of the plurality of labels. Upon detecting the at least one of the leading edge or the trailing edge of the label, causing the media hub to retract the media by at least a predetermined distance, wherein the predetermined distance is a distance between the print head and the first media sensor.

Abstract: A printer-verifier system for providing print quality feedback and controlling print quality is provided. The printer-verifier system may include a printing mechanism configured to print a machine-readable indicia on a print media; a verifier device configured to optically scan the machine-readable indicia; and a print quality monitoring device in electronic communication with the printing mechanism and the verifier device.

Abstract: Example safety mechanisms for example printing apparatuses are provided. An example printing apparatus may include at least one linear guide disposed on a first surface of a back-spine section of a printer body and a top chassis portion coupled to the at least one linear guide. In some examples, the top chassis portion may include a laser safety casing. In some examples, the laser safety casing may comprise a laser module configured to emit a laser beam along a laser path and a safety cover that is moveable to a first cover position intersecting the laser path.

Abstract: An encoding method is illustrated. The method includes receiving data to be encoded onto a storage media, wherein the data corresponds to an item and is assigned to a data category. Further, the method includes parsing data into a plurality of data portions, based on one or more first characteristics associated with each of one or more characters in the data. The method further includes encoding, by the processor, the plurality of data portions using a plurality of encoding schemes, to generate a data packet, such that a first data portion of the plurality of data portions is encoded using a first encoding scheme of the plurality of encoding schemes and a second data portion of the plurality of data portions is encoded using a second encoding scheme of the plurality of encoding schemes, wherein the first encoding scheme is different from the second encoding scheme. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting the data packet, wherein the data packet is configured to be stored in the storage media.

Abstract: Provided herein is a printing apparatus including a printhead movable between a first position and a second position. The printhead includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate define at least a first burn line and a second burn line, respectively, of heating elements disposed adjacent to a first edge and a second edge, respectively of the printhead. A printhead bracket receives the printhead in one of the first position or the second position. In the first position, the heating elements of the first burn line perform a printing operation and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the second burn line. In the second position, the heating elements of the second burn line perform a printing operation, and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the first burn line.

Abstract: Techniques for characterizing an optical system (for example, a printer verifier) are provided. In this regard, the optical system may be characterized for scanning a printed image. The characterization of the optical system includes determining an effective aperture size of the optical system, and correspondingly an effective resolution at which the optical system can be configured to scan a portion of the printed image according to verification requirements.