Abstract: A media processing device includes: a housing having an opening providing access to a cassette removably supported within the housing; a media unit holder configured to receive a rejected media unit driven between the opening and a body of the cassette along a media reject path; the media unit holder including: a deck having a support surface between a body of the cassette and the opening, the support surface facing the opening; the deck configured to receive the rejected media unit on the support surface for removal of the rejected media unit via the opening.

Abstract: Beacon devices and associated components, methods, etc., are disclosed. An example beacon device includes a memory, a communication interface, and a processor to execute instructions with respect to configuration information to control the communication interface and operation of the processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate, the processor to dynamically transition among a plurality of modes based on an operating condition of the beacon device and a communication received from at least one of the receiver or the controller. In certain examples, the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode. When in the configuration mode, the operation of the processor is to process the communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information. When in the broadcast mode, the operation of the processor is to generate a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface.

Abstract: An example disclosed printer includes a base; a lid hingedly attached to the base movable between a closed position in which the lid is secured to the base, and an open position in which the lid is at least partially separated from the base; a cavity defined between the lid and the base, wherein the cavity is inaccessible when the lid is in the closed position and the cavity is accessible when the lid is in the open position; a ribbon positioning assembly disposed within the cavity that is pivotably attached to at least one of the lid or the base wherein the ribbon positioning assembly is configured to move between a printing position when the lid is in the closed position, and an accessible position when the lid is in the open position, wherein the ribbon positioning assembly comprises a ribbon tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are related to a media transport assembly for printers, such as a kiosk printer. The media transport assembly may comprise a biased guide roller structured to dampen media tension shocks, discontinuities, or variations. Other embodiments of the present invention may also provide a media transport assembly configured to allow increased flexibility in media supply roll mounting and for easy loading and threading of the media.

Abstract: A media processing device with a housing includes: a motorized media unit transporter to drive a media unit along a media processing path between an unprocessed media unit source and a processed media unit output; an auxiliary media unit transporter including a roller connected to a converter, and a bias member connected between the converter and the housing. In a first operating mode, the auxiliary transporter receives the media unit from the transporter to drive the roller and the converter; rotation of the converter deforms the bias member from a resting position to a primed position. In a second operating mode initiated upon rotation of the converter to a bias release position, the auxiliary transporter propels the media unit by releasing the bias member from the primed position to drive rotation of the converter and the roller as the bias member returns to the resting position.

Abstract: A media processing device includes: a housing having an opening providing access to a cassette removably supported within the housing; a media unit holder configured to receive a rejected media unit driven between the opening and a body of the cassette along a media reject path; the media unit holder including: a deck having a support surface between a body of the cassette and the opening, the support surface facing the opening; the deck configured to receive the rejected media unit on the support surface for removal of the rejected media unit via the opening.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to communicate data associated with media processing devices are disclosed. An example media processing device residing on a network includes a monitor configured to collect observational data associated with the media processing device in accordance with a configuration file stored on the media processing device; and communicate the observational data to a first device external to the network via a first persistent connection between the media processing device and the first external device; and a controller configured to receive an operational instruction from a second external device via a second persistent connection between the media processing device and the second external device, wherein the second persistent connection is independent of the first persistent connection; and implement the operational instruction on the media processing device, wherein the operation instruction controls media processing hardware of the media processing device.

Abstract: A media processing device includes: a platen roller configured to move a media unit along a media processing path to traverse a printhead adjacent to the platen roller; an upstream drive assembly including (i) an upstream stationary roller disposed along the media processing path on a first side of the platen roller; and (ii) an upstream movable roller adjacent to the upstream stationary roller; a downstream drive assembly including (i) a downstream stationary roller disposed along the media processing path on a second side of the platen roller; and (ii) a downstream movable roller adjacent to the downstream stationary roller; a controller configured to control a motor to move, according to a predefined sequence, the upstream movable roller and the movable roller between respective engaged and disengaged positions.

Abstract: A printer may include a printhead assembly, a clutch assembly, and/or a printer ribbon transport assembly. An example clutch assembly includes a first spool engagement member defining a first friction torque; a first friction member configured to frictionally engage the first spool engagement member; a second spool engagement member defining a second friction torque that is larger than the first fiction torque; and a second friction member configured to frictionally engage the second spool engagement member.

Abstract: An example disclosed media processing device includes a consumable support assembly including a consumable support body, the consumable support body configured for manipulation between a first open position and a first closed position; a printhead assembly movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the printhead assembly positioned between a consumable supply spool and a consumable take-up spool in response to the consumable support body being in the closed position; and a lid movable between a second open position and a second closed position, wherein the lid is configured to, when in the closed position: engage the consumable support assembly in the first closed position; and preclude the consumable support assembly from being moved to the first open position.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for sensing clear or transparent media in printers. In one embodiment, a media conveyance apparatus is provided comprising a light sensor positioned on a first side of a media conveyance path; a light source positioned on a second side of the media conveyance path; and presence determination circuitry. The media conveyance apparatus is configured such that the light sensor and the light source are positioned such that media may pass between the light sensor and the light source along the media conveyance path. The media conveyance apparatus is further configured such that the light sensor provides signals to the presence determination circuitry indicating an amount of light received from the light source and the presence determination circuitry determines a reflection loss based on the signals received from the light sensor and further determines whether the reflection loss satisfies a loss threshold.

Abstract: An example disclosed method includes defining a first zone within a monitored area, a first group of receivers covering the first zone; defining a second zone within the monitored area, a second group of receivers covering the second zone; determining, via a processor, a first position of a first tag based on timing measurements obtained via the first group of receivers; determining, via the processor, whether the first position indicates that the first tag is within the first zone; and when the first position indicates that the first tag is not within the first zone, not reporting data associated with the first tag.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention is a device locationing system operable to dynamically determine the presence of keep-out zones within a venue, and thereafter adjust positional data obtained through the device based on the presence of the previously detected keep-out zones.

Abstract: A RFID system and an associated antenna-coupler are provided. The system may be for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders is provided. The system may include a transponder conveyance, a transceiver, and an antenna-coupler. The transponder conveyance is adapted to transport at least one targeted transponder from a group of multiple adjacent transponders through a transponder operating region. The transceiver is configured to generate one or more electrical signals. The antenna-coupler has first and second microstrips in a cross-like arrangement relative to each other. Each of the first and second microstrips is configured to transmit one or more electro-magnetic fields concentrated in a near-field region of the antenna-coupler based on the one or more electrical signals for communicating with the targeted transponder.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and related methods for shaping near field interrogation signals are discussed herein. An example spindle supported near field communication (NFC) device includes a spindle configured to mount to a mounting surface, the spindle having an axis of rotation; a beam shaping NFC device including: a ferromagnetic core portion coaxial with the spindle; a coil disposed around the core portion, the coil to generate a near field interrogation signal; a first ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a first axial direction associated with the axis; and a second ferromagnetic flange portion to direct the near field interrogation signal in the directions extending radially from the axis and to restrict the near field interrogation signal from extending in a second axial direction associated with the axis.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for generating a first filtered signal by passing signal energy in a first radio frequency (RF) spectral band associated with a signaling bandwidth of an ultra-wideband (UWB) RF signaling system, generating a second filtered signal by passing signal energy in a second RF spectral band associated with the signaling bandwidth of the UWB RF signaling system, generating a plurality of digitized streams of pulses by identifying RF pulses in a respective filtered signal above a respective predetermined threshold, generating at least one time-stamped tag data packet, based on decoding a valid over-the-air packet corresponding to a plurality of RF pulses received according to a known burst pattern, selecting a time-stamped tag data packet from the at least one received time-stamped tag data packet, formulating a network data packet based on the selected time-stamped tag data packet, and outputting the network data packet.

Abstract: An RFID system for selectively communicating with a targeted transponder from among a group of multiple adjacent transponders is provided. The RFID system may include a transponder conveyance system adapted to transport at least one targeted transponder from a group of multiple adjacent transponders through a transponder encoding area along a feeding direction and an antenna having a resonant inductor and a ferrite material, wherein the ferrite material at least partially covers the resonant inductor and defines an exposed portion of the resonant inductor. In one antenna-transponder alignment, the exposed portion extends substantially parallel to the feeding direction.