Abstract: A media hanger/guide comprising a media hub having a top surface and a channel extending through a portion of the top surface. The media hanger/guide further comprises two mounting brackets positioned in the channel, each mounting bracket having an elongated member and each elongated member having a plurality of teeth located thereon. Each mounting bracket also has a support member connected thereto. At least a portion of each support member is located outside of the channel of the media hub. The support members are adapted for lateral movement along the channel of the media hub relative to the top surface of the media hub. The media hanger/guide further comprises two gears positioned in the channel. Each gear is in operable connection with the teeth of one of the mounting bracket's elongated members. The gears are also in operable connection with each other.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus operable for sensing top of form indicators on media within a print station is provided. The sensing apparatus generally including a base and a cover hingedly attached to each other and being operable for manipulation between an open and closed position, a flexible circuit affixed to the interior surfaces of the base and cover, the flexible circuit comprising an array of optical sensing devices, and an interface connector integral the base for connection to a control unit of a print station. The optical sensing devices generally include any one of light emitting diodes and photo sensors and are operable for the detection of holes, notches, black marks and gaps located on a media passing through the sensing apparatus.

Abstract: A printing system having a chassis for housing a modular print station; a power source in communication with the print station; a controller circuit card assembly encoded with at least one feature module and being in communication with the print station; a display panel in communication with the print station; a media rewind hub; a pair of adjustable media guides connected about a base of the print station; and at least one sensor affixed to the print station base and being operable for detecting the presence and position of media passing through a media feed path of the printing system.

Abstract: A print station system having a chassis for housing a modular print station; a power source in communication with the print station; a controller circuit card assembly in communication with the print station; a display panel in communication with the print station; a media rewind hub; a pair of adjustable media guides connected about a base of the print station; and at least one sensor affixed to the print station base and being operable for detecting the presence and position of media passing through a media feed path of the print station system.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting the setting(s) of a printer having a control circuit in communication with a sensory system and a database. The database is located in a storage medium and the data in the database includes one or more defined parameter settings corresponding to one or more media types. The sensory system is used to obtain a media identifier from media loaded into the printer. The control circuit determines the type of media from the media identifier. The media type is then compared to the database entries and used to retrieve any defined parameter setting(s) corresponding to the media type identified by the media identifier. Instructions to adjust the printer setting(s) according to the defined parameter setting(s) are determined at the control circuit. The control circuit then sends the instructions to the appropriate systems of the printer to adjusted the printer setting(s) according to the defined parameter setting(s).

Abstract: A print station system (1) having a drive-stepper motor (2), platen rollers (3, 4) in operative communication with the drive-stepper motor (2), a pinch roller (10) in operative communication with the drive-stepper motor (2), a top-of-form sensor (11) located between the platen roller (3, 4) and the pinch roller (10), a rocker arm (12) in operative communication with the platen roller (3, 4) and the pinch roller (10), and a printhead assembly (5), a media guide (12a, 12b). A radio-frequency identification antenna (16) or a receptacle (15) for holding same may be located between the platen roller (3, 4) and the pinch roller (10).

Abstract: A ribbon drive assembly for optimizing the tension across a ribbon supply in a thermal transfer printer comprising a supply spindle and a take up spindle operable for cooperating with each other such that the ribbon supply is fed from the supply spindle through a print station and metered onto the take up spindle. Each spindle is provided with and connected to a motor, a plurality of gears, and a rotary encoder such that the spindles may be independently controlled by a control processor. The control processor is operable for monitoring, detecting, and controlling the operation of the motors and spindles. During operation and in order to maintain a constant ribbon tension, the torque on the motors are continuously adjusted in accordance with various data provided by the printer's processor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for determining and adjusting printhead pressure of a thermal printer. The apparatus includes a printhead support housing operable for placement in a print station of a printer. A motor housed within the printhead support housing and being operable for driving a plurality of synchronized rotating gears, the gears being mounted about posts wherein the posts are configured to cause the gears to compress or decompress a set of biasing mechanisms mounted below the gears and connected to the printhead. A sensor unit operable for monitoring the thickness of a print media and in communication with a control circuit operable for adjusting the printhead pressure being applied to the print media during a print operation, wherein the printhead pressure corresponds to a pre-defined level relative to the thickness of the print media.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of securing and maintaining the integrity of desired information on a ribbon and media subsequent to a printing operation is provided. The apparatus and method includes a thermal transfer printer having a print station and a printhead operable for performing a printing operation. The printhead is capable of performing an initial print operation and then being raised from the media, thereby allowing the used ribbon to be rewound a predetermined distance about a supply spindle. Thereafter, a second print operation is performed on the space previously printed upon using characters, designs or block-out patterns and the used ribbon is then wound onto a take-up spindle. In exemplary embodiments, the used ribbon can also be reprinted with a waste media several times thus further obscuring the image on the used ribbon.

Abstract: A system to determine the presence and width of a media within a printing system is disclosed which includes a pair of adjustable media guides is provided about a carriage and is axially spaced apart along the length of the carriage. The guides may be manipulated along a horizontal axis in a sliding, synchronized manner and such that the center line of media is maintained along the centerline of the print station. A sensor is provided and affixed to the carriage, the sensor being operable for emitting an optical signal through an aperture located in the carriage. At least one of the guides includes an obstruction which may protrude into the path of the optical signal at defined locations. As the guides move about the horizontal axis, the obstruction may block or otherwise interrupt the optical signal, thereby signaling the sensor and the printer of the media's presence and width.

Abstract: A media hanger/guide including a base plate having a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, a guide extending into the second surface, a first support member and a second support member adapted for sliding movement along the guide relative to the base plate second surface, and a clamp secured to the base plate second surface and engaged with the support members and such that the clamp is movable between a first position adapted for permitting insertion of a media between the first support member and the second support member and a second position adapted for providing force on the first support member and the second support member. A slot may also extend into the second surface. An optional lock may be movably secured to the base plate for locking the first and second support members and in a predetermined position along the base plate.

Abstract: An improvement in a system that identifies unknown microscopic particles in a fluid such as water, by detecting scattering of a laser beam (24) in multiple directions as a particle passes through a detect zone (30) to generate an event vector, and by comparing the eventvector to those of particles of known species. When the eventvectors produce a cluster (70) of particles in a multi-dimensional projection of the eventvectors, the computer signals that a possible new species has been found in the fluid. A background signature is generated for particles in the fluid when the fluid is safe. When new water is later passed through the apparatus, clusters of particles are searched for that are present in a much greater density than exists for the background signature for a safe fluid, to generate a signal indicating that the fluid may be unsafe.

Abstract: A method for the identification of unknown microscopic particles in a fluid. A laser beam (104) is directed through the fluid while particles move through the beam. Light scattered by each particle moving through a short detect zone (114) along the beam (an “event”) is detected by some of sixteen detectors DA-DP to generate data for the event. First, a known specie of particles (e.g. a particular pathogen specie) is placed in pure fluid and a subpattern, or eventvector, of data is recorded for each of multiple events for that specie. Each eventvector represents the outputs of all detectors. The process is repeated for other known species (e.g. algae) likely to be encountered. The group of eventvectors for all selected species is analyzed by an algorithm that determines a projection direction that results in the closest grouping of eventvectors of the same specie and greatest of separation of groups of eventvectors of different species.