Abstract: Provided herein is a printer comprising a printing assembly. The printing assembly comprises a printhead bracket fixedly attached to the printer, a printhead that defines a groove, the printhead aligned at a first alignment, an alignment adjuster fastened between the printhead bracket and the printhead, and a plurality of fasteners operatively engaged with the alignment adjuster. The alignment adjuster comprises a gear rack that is adjacent to the printhead bracket, and a protrusion that is received by the groove of the printhead. The plurality of fasteners comprises at least one selected from a group of a lateral adjustment fastener operatively engaged with the gear rack, and a rotational adjustment fastener operatively engaged with a transverse edge of the printhead. The lateral adjustment fastener is configured to provide lateral movement to the alignment adjuster and the printhead. The rotational adjustment fastener is configured to provide rotational movement to the printhead.

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 for evaluating a print quality of a printed document that is printed by a printer is provided. The printer comprises a pre-print image scanner, a post-print image scanner, and a printhead disposed between the pre-print image scanner and the post-print image scanner. The method comprises generating a pre-printing image of a print media, generating the printed document, generating a post-printing image of the printed document, generating a validation image by comparing the post-printing image with the pre-printing image, and comparing the validation image with the source image.

Abstract: Methods for converting an image to source script are provided. Generally applied to thermal printers, the methods may assist users in reproducing or amending a label without actual source script. In one embodiment, a mobile device comprising a software application may be able to scan an image, for example a barcode label. The software application may use an image processing library to recognize smart object fields in the captured image, including text, barcodes, image and shapes and then may translate the smart object information to a printing language script automatically. The application may provide the capability to a user to adjust the parameters specific to each of the identified smart objects. Once the user makes the necessary changes, a script file may be generated based on the updated smart object information. Then, the label may be sent to a printer from the application itself.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods may use a low current power source to charge an intermediate storage unit, providing sufficient electric power to perform various device functions. A voltage of the intermediate storage unit may be monitored using a voltage monitoring circuit, and a primary storage unit may be charged using current from the intermediate storage unit when the voltage of the intermediate storage unit meets a threshold.

Abstract: Various embodiments illustrated herein disclose a printing apparatus comprising a media supply spool configured to supply print media along a media path. The printing apparatus further comprises a first media sensor positioned in a first plane in the printing apparatus. Further, the printing apparatus comprises a second media sensor positioned in a second plane in the printing apparatus. Additionally, the printing apparatus comprises a first media guide defining a section of the media path, wherein extremities of the first media guide are positioned to be at a negative offset from the second plane.

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: A verifier and printer assembly are provided. The verifier and printer assembly include a verifier module and a printer. The verifier has a magnetic docking element and the printer includes a docking portion operable to dock the verifier module. The magnetic docking element and the docking portion interact with each other to removably couple the verifier module to the printer. A magnetic attachment system for the verifier module and methods for removably coupling the verifier module and the printer for verification of a printed machine-readable symbol are also provided.

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: 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: 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: Various methods and systems for a printer having verifiers are disclosed herein. Such methods provide for voiding a printed media in a batch printing run. The methods further correspond to identifying the printed media that is printed as part of the batch printing run as a failed media in an instance an assigned grade fails to satisfy a predetermined threshold, marking the printed media as a failed printed media, determining one or more subsequently printed media that were printed after the failed printed media, and reprinting the printed failed media in a next available media after the one or more subsequently printed media.

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: A method for printing includes analyzing print quality requirements for a printing area; adjusting settings for heater elements (e.g., energy and/or firing durations) of strobe lines based on the requirements analysis; and providing a plurality of individual strobe signals to the strobe lines. The strobe signals can be transmitted simultaneously, for example with a field-programmable gate array. Analyzing print quality requirements can include separating the printing area into one or more areas of interest, such as rows and/or columns. For each area of interest individual print quality settings (e.g., darkness, contrast, and/or media sensitivity) may be selected.

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 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: The present invention embraces a method and apparatus for improving ribbon replacement for thermal printers. The present invention also applies to replacement of other media in associated printers. The improvement is achieved based a ribbon adapter or media adapter that is designed for two conditions: 1) catch condition for printing, and 2) release condition for replacing the media in the printer. By a single click or press of a button, a user can switch between the two conditions. The printing operation occurs during the catch condition. The catch condition ensures that there is no or little relative movement between media core and media adapter. The media adapter can also support different diameter media cores. The release condition is implemented when the user replaces media. The release condition can provide a relatively easy replacement of a media without a significant force or pressure.

Abstract: A printer may be used to print on print media, such as labels, where the print media, as fed through the print, spans substantially less than the full width of the printhead and platen. This may result in uneven print pressure across the print media during the print process. The uneven print pressure, in turn, may result in an uneven print density on the print media, which causes poor print quality. A system and method is employed with identifies the uneven print pressure, and compensates for the uneven print pressure to ensure consistent print density and good print quality. Along segments of the printhead which apply a below average pressure to the print media, the printhead is configured to apply a proportionately higher density of an appropriate contrast-inducing element, such as ink or heat.

Abstract: A method for encoding a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) inlay is described. The method includes causing, by a processor, a media to travel along a media path in an RFID printer. The media includes a plurality of labels. Each label of the plurality of labels comprises an RFID inlay. The method also includes determining a real-time position of a first label while the media travels along the media path based on an input signal received from a media sensor. The first label includes a first corresponding RFID inlay. Further, the method includes causing an RFID control system to initiate encoding of the first corresponding RFID inlay, and to rotate and continue encoding of the first corresponding RFID inlay until the first corresponding RFID inlay is successfully encoded. The RFID coupler is rotated based on the real-time position of the first label.