Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A portable printer which can be removably attached to a variety of models and types of portable devices, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), cell phones, or other terminal devices. The portable devices can be attached to the portable printer via a clip-on adapter, thereby providing a universal clip-on printer. The adapter can take on a variety of shapes to hold the device and is unique for the model and type of each portable device, and contains mating electronic interconnectivity to electrically, wirelessly, or optically connect the portable device to the portable printer to enable communication between the portable device and the portable printer. The portable device connected to the portable printer can operate the portable printer in a controlling relationship.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A portable data collection device is provided for reading fluorescent indicia, such as barcodes. The device includes a housing with a pivotable image capture module. The image capture module includes an adjustable aperture, a color detector array for imaging light received through the aperture, and a removable flash module to provide ultraviolet light. Optics in the image capture module focus the light received through the aperture onto the detector array, in which the detector array is movable with respect to the lens to provide proper focus of an image onto the detector array. The adjustable aperture has an iris wheel to control the amount of light received by the detector array. A programmed controller is provided in the housing which operates responsive to a user interface to image and decode indicia, or capture color digital images in memory.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A portable printer is provided having a printer mechanism capable of printing on media and an RFID encoder for encoding information onto RFID circuits coupled to the media. The printer mechanism and RFID encoder are contained in the housing of the printer with a programmed controller for controlling the printer mechanism and RFID encoder. The printer mechanism includes a print head and motor for driving a platen roller to advance the media across the print head and passed the antenna of the RFID encoder. The media may be stored in a compartment in the housing on a roll or fan-fold in which multiple RFID circuits are provided along the length of the media. The programmed controller in the housing operates, responsive to communication received from a host terminal or computer, to send information to the print head to print information on the media and/or information to the encoder to encode the RFID circuit.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A miniature printer is provided with a printer mechanism in a housing. A thermal printhead is fixedly mounted in the mechanism. The mechanism and the housing define a compartment for a roll of paper which is loosely disposed in the housing and is extended over the thermal printhead. The compartment is closed by a cover hinged to the housing at one end thereof. A platen roller is located in the cover in an opening larger than the shaft of the roller, which opening and cover provides a floating mount for the platen roller. A driven gear which rotates the platen roller is mounted on the shaft near one end thereof. A pair of hairpin springs have ends which are located in the path which the platen roller takes as the cover is closed and moves into engagement with the platen roller. The springs align the platen roller with the printing elements on the printhead and bias the platen roller into engagement with the printhead, while latching the platen roller and the cover in closed position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.