Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a media roll, an image forming device, a conveyance unit, and a controller. In the roll, a printing medium having an adhesive face and no separation sheet on the adhesive face is wound in a roll shape. In pulling back the medium to the roll, the controller sets a linear velocity of the roll to be not lower than a linear velocity of a conveyance rotator of the conveyance unit. The controller controls a velocity difference between the roll and the rotator to be Va from a start of pulling back the medium to when a separation point of the medium from the roll reaches a tangent line of the roll in an area between the roll and the rotator. When the separation point reaches the tangent line, the controller switches the velocity difference from Va to Vb that is smaller than Va.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing device; a conveyor, a first electric charger to charge the conveyor, a second electric charger to charge the printing medium, a surface potential detector to detect a surface potential of the printing medium, and a controller that adjusts a voltage applied to the second electric charger. The controller determines a target value for the surface potential at a location corresponding to a position of the surface potential detector based on a detection value of the surface potential detector in response to a first voltage being applied to the first electric charger and a second voltage being applied to the second electric charger. The controller adjusts the voltage applied to the second electric charger and the surface potential at the location corresponding to the position of the surface potential detector reaches the target value.

Abstract: The recording device includes an adhesive belt extending across a plurality of rotating bodies configured to support and convey a recording medium, a first sensor configured to detect that the recording medium is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a first range, a second sensor configured to detect that the recording medium P is separated relative to the adhesive belt in a second range within the first range, a take-up unit configured to take up the recording medium, and a control unit configured to control the take-up unit so as to take up the recording medium when the first sensor detects that a separation position of the recording medium is within the first range, and control the rotating body to stop movement of the adhesive belt when the second sensor detects that the separation position of the recording medium is within the second range.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus configured to execute printing using continuous sheets stored in a plurality of storage portions includes a determination unit configured to determine a continuous sheet usable by each print job in a print queue, and a decision unit configured to decide a use order of the continuous sheets stored in the plurality of storage portions based on a result of determination by the determination unit, wherein the decision unit decides the use order so that a continuous sheet with a smaller remaining amount is used preferentially.

Abstract: A recording device includes: a housing having an opening; an opening/closing cover that can be disposed in a closed position where the opening is covered, and an open position where the opening is exposed; a medium holder that holds a medium; a recorder that performs recording on a medium; and a transport mechanism that transports the medium from the medium holder toward the recorder along a transport path, in which the medium holder is provided with, a feed port for the medium, connected to the transport path and an alarm unit that warns that the medium is disposed at a position where the medium can be transported by the transport mechanism, and when the opening/closing cover is disposed in the open position, the feed port and the alarm unit can be visually checked.

Abstract: A printer includes a pair of input rollers, a pair of output rollers, a print head and a control section. The control section is configured to transport a print medium by rotating the input rollers and the output rollers after printing on a target region and before printing on a next target region. The control section is configured to determine, before carrying out transporting, whether a combination of the input rollers and the output rollers which pinch the print medium would change in a case where the print medium were transported from a current position to a next target position, and, in a case where there would be a change, the control section being configured to transport the print medium from the current position to the target position in a retracted state where the print head is moved to an outside of a range where the print medium passes.

Abstract: A system and method for printing on continuous feed media. In one embodiment, a computer-readable storage device is encoded with instructions that when executed cause a processor to: 1) print, via a printer, an image on continuous feed media; 2) compute a compensation factor that accounts for variation in form length of the continuous feed media; 3) compute, based on the computation factor, a distance to advance the continuous feed media such that a succeeding print starts at a top of form location of the continuous feed media; and 4) cause the printer to advance the continuous feed media in accordance with the determined distance to advance such that the succeeding print starts at the top of form location of the continuous feed media.

Abstract: A sheet cutting device includes a cutter including opposed blades to cut a sheet fed along a sheet feed path to the device, a cutter holder holding the cutter and reciprocally movable in a width direction of the sheet perpendicular to a sheet feed direction in which the sheet is fed, and a guide member including a first path to guide the holder in the width direction of the sheet to cut the sheet with the cutter and a second path to guide the holder in the width direction after the sheet is cut. The second path is disposed away from the first path in a thickness direction of the sheet perpendicular to both the sheet feed direction and the width direction of the sheet. When the holder moves along the second path, the holder is retracted away from the sheet feed path in the thickness direction of the sheet.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention sets a printing condition, which specifies a condition for permitting printing using a sheet, for that sheet in accordance with an instruction from a user. The printing apparatus then decides on a sheet feed tray, from a plurality of sheet feed units, for which printing using the sheet contained in the sheet feed unit is permitted, as a sheet feed source, based on the printing condition and printing settings including a setting regarding the sheet feed source for the sheet to be used in a print job. Furthermore, the printing apparatus executes the print job using the sheet contained in the sheet feed tray that has been decided on.

Abstract: A liquid discharge apparatus includes a transportation portion which transports a medium in a transportation direction, a cutting portion which moves in an intersection direction intersecting with the transportation direction and cuts the medium, and a head portion which is provided so as to be aligned with the cutting portion in the intersection direction, has a cutout portion on which the cutting portion is arranged, moves in the intersection direction and discharges liquid onto the medium.

Abstract: An inkjet recording device includes a tray receives a recording medium. A tray guide is movable between a first position and a second position. A first sensor outputs a first signal indicative of the position of the tray guide. A recording portion records an image on the recording medium. A cleaning mechanism cleans the recording portion. A first conveyor portion conveys the tray. A first drive source rotates in a forward direction of rotation and a reverse direction of rotation. A power transmitting portion transmits a force generated by the first drive source to both the cleaning mechanism and the first conveyor portion. A control section drives the first drive source in the forward direction of rotation using a first predetermined amount if the control section determined that the first sensor has detected that the tray guide is not in the second position under the cleaning operation.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming device that ejects the droplets onto a printing medium, and forms an image on a surface of the printing medium; a pre-processing device that applies a pre-processing liquid to the surface of the printing medium before the image forming device forms the image; and a dryer configured to dry the printing medium on which the pre-processing liquid was applied, wherein the pre-processing device applies on amount of the pre-processing liquid that is determined based on resolution of the image formed on the printing medium, and the dryer dries using a drying strength that is determined based on the resolution of the image formed on the printing medium.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an apparatus body, a print medium, a conveyance unit, art image forming unit, a cutter unit, a holding unit, a sensor, and a controller. The print medium has an adhesive face with no separation sheet. The cutter unit cuts the medium having an image formed into a print medium piece. The holding unit is configured to hold the piece in a state in which the piece is drawable from outside of the body. The holding unit has a surface separatable from an adhesive face of the piece to hold the adhesive face of the piece. The sensor detects presence or absence of the piece held by the holding unit. After the sensor detects that the piece is drawn out, the controller controls the conveyance unit to convey the medium to the holding unit and controls the holding unit to hold the medium.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a print head for applying ink on a print medium; a print control unit configured to control the print head; a conveying unit; an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding a conveyance error of conveyance of the print medium in a conveying direction crossing a predetermined direction by the conveying unit with respect to each of a plurality of areas of the print medium that are in positions different from each other in the predetermined direction; and an adjusting unit configured to divide a predetermined area of the print medium in accordance with a conveyance error amount indicated by the information in each of the plurality of areas obtained by the obtaining unit into a plurality of correction areas, and to adjust the amount of ink to be applied onto each of the plurality of correction areas lining up in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A heat source provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a fluorescent agent in the receiver medium, thereby forming a reference mark characterized by a reduced level of fluorescence. A stimulating light source illuminates the receiver medium at a downstream position along the media path, the stimulating light source having a spectrum adapted to stimulate the fluorescent agent to fluoresce thereby producing emitted light. A sensor is used to sense the emitted light from the receiver medium thereby providing a sensed light level signal. The sensed light level signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium by detecting the reduced level of fluorescence associated with the reference mark.

Abstract: A printer for inkjet printing on a flexible substrate. It has a print-head for printing on the flexible substrate in a printing area, and a transport and tensioning mechanism for transporting the flexible substrate in a feed direction relative to the printing area and applying tension to it. The tension applied to the flexible substrate causes a substrate elongation. The printer is arranged to measure the substrate elongation caused by the tension applied to the flexible substrate and compensate for the substrate elongation by at least one of modifying the defined transport of the flexible substrate, and translating the print-head relative to the printing area.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printing mechanism performing printing by ejecting ink from a printing head which is relatively moved with respect to the printed medium and a printing control section controlling operation of the printing mechanism. A plurality of nozzle rows are formed side by side for each of ink types in a main scanning direction in the printing head. The printing mechanism includes a transportation section which is configured so as to be capable of switching a transportation direction of the printed medium between a first direction and a second direction. The printing control section performs the printing by switching the first printing mode which uses two or more nozzle rows and the second printing mode which uses one or more nozzle rows, which is caused by switching the transportation direction.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a tray including a loading portion for holding a recording medium. The tray has first and second openings. A recording portion is positioned in spaced relation to a platen supporting member having a platen and defining a transportation path therebetween. A transportation portion transports the tray along the transportation path to a position between the platen and the recording portion. A sensor is part of the recording portion and opposes the platen. The sensor outputting a signal based on a detection result obtained using a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion. A control section controls the transportation portion and the sensor to perform detection using the light emitting and light receiving portions. A determination section that determines whether the recording medium is loaded in the loading portion of the tray in accordance with a first output value, and a second output value.

Abstract: An image formation device of the present invention has: a recording medium supplying section that supplies a recording medium; a conveying section that conveys the recording medium supplied from the recording medium supplying section; an image formation section that ejects droplets and forms an image on the recording medium that is being conveyed; an image conversion section that converts an inputted image into dot data; a printing processing section that, from inputted print information, outputs continuously printed number of sheets information that causes the image formation section to continuously print output images, and prints the recording media corresponding to the continuously printed number of sheets, and, thereafter, carries out processing that temporarily stops printing of the output images; and a control section that, during a stoppage time of the printing, stops at least formation of images at the image formation section, and continues to drive the conveying section.

Abstract: Techniques related to color analysis are disclosed herein. In an example, substrate locations on a printed pattern are selected based on a set of measurements related to substrate-height. Further, color of the printed pattern is determined at the selected locations.

Abstract: A needed job is quickly performed even if a recovery operation for a print head performed by a recovery mechanism needs a long time as a result of sharing of the same drive source between a discharge roller and the recovery mechanism. To achieve this, a recovery operation for the print head is suspended when a print job is received while the recovery operation is being performed, on a condition that a printing apparatus is in a state where the printing apparatus permits the print job to be performed.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a printed matter with which an inspection of a printing apparatus is easily performed. [Solution] An inspection of a printing apparatus is performed by: manufacturing a printed matter which includes a first film and a second film, at least one of which is transparent, and in which a liquid that is used to print by the printing apparatus is interposed between the first film and the second film; and inspecting the printed matter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a printing device; a printing medium conveying unit to convey a printing medium, a first electric charger to charge the printing medium conveying unit, a second electric charger to charge the printing medium conveyed by the printing medium conveying unit, a first surface potential detector to detect a surface potential of the printing medium bearing the electric charge, a second surface potential detector to detect a surface potential of the printing medium bearing the electric charge, and a controller to adjust a power supply voltage supplied to each of the first and second electric chargers in accordance with each of surface potentials detected by the first and second surface potential detectors. The first and second surface potential detectors are located at different positions in a conveying direction in which the printing medium is conveyed by the printing medium conveying unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a dryer unit of a printer. In one embodiment, a dryer unit includes a light source having a plurality of lamps. The dryer unit further includes a controller that associates a target output power with each of the lamps of the light source. When in operation, the controller determines a speed of a printable medium that passes through the dryer unit. The controller is able to vary an intensity of light generated by the light source based on the speed of the printable medium by varying which of the lamps of the light source are energized to their target output power.

Abstract: A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head that ejects a liquid onto a recording medium; a drying device that dries the recording medium; a sheet discharged tray including a sheet placed face; a sheet discharging device that discharges the recording medium to a space over the sheet placed face; a stopper that causes the recording medium discharged by the sheet discharging device to collide with the stopper; an obtaining device that obtains a height of the plurality of recording media stacked on the sheet placed face; and a controller that controls the drying device so that a degree of drying of the recording medium becomes larger in a case in which the height obtained by the obtaining device is equal to or more than a set specific value, than in a case in which the height is less than the set specific value.

Abstract: A first reading unit that reads a pattern or an image formed on a sheet by a print unit for recognizing a print unit state, a second reading unit that reads a cut mark formed on the sheet on a downstream thereof, a cutter that cuts the sheet on a downstream thereof, and a reverse unit that reverses the sheet fed to the print unit again are provided. In duplex printing, the sheet where images are sequentially printed on a first surface is led to the reverse unit, the front and rear faces are reversed, and the sheet is fed to the print unit again. The sheet where images and cut marks are sequentially printed on a second surface is cut by the cutter for each piece and discharged. The sheet is cut on the basis of a reading of the cut mark by the second reading unit.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for setting a setting value for print data to be transmitted to a printer, includes a selection unit configured to select a purpose from a plurality of printing purposes, and a display unit configured to display a screen for setting the setting value for the print data including a variable setting item for setting a setting value from a plurality of setting values associated with the printing purpose selected by the selection unit, and a fixed wherein setting values for the variable setting item and the fixed setting item are set by using different setting ways on the displayed screen.

Abstract: A printer which is connected to a post-processing apparatus, the post-processing apparatus performing a wrapped binding in which a paper sheet bundle including a plurality of inner paper sheets is wrapped by outer paper sheets, and which prints the outer paper sheets and inner paper sheets to be sent out to the post-processing apparatus, wherein the printer includes a control unit configured to control printing of the inner paper sheets and the outer paper sheets in cooperation with the post-processing apparatus, and the control unit is configured to set printing restart information of inner paper sheets and printing restart information of outer paper sheets, and controls a restarting of printing in accordance with the setting, when printing is restarted after an abnormal conveyance that occurred inside of the post-processing apparatus has been resolved.

Abstract: A printing device executes processes (a)-(c). In the process (a), first and second rollers convey a sheet a first amount, and a print head executes a printing operation while the sheet is in a state where the sheet is supported by the first and second rollers and a supporting unit disposed between the first and second rollers. In the process (b), the second roller conveys the sheet a second amount that is no larger than the first amount, and the print head executes a printing operation while the sheet is in a state where the sheet is supported by the supporting unit and the second roller. In the process (c), the second roller conveys the sheet a third amount that is larger than the first amount, and the print head executes a printing operation while the sheet is in a state where the sheet is supported by the second roller.

Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A laser provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a physical property of the receiver medium thereby forming a reference mark. A sensor at a downstream position along the media path is adapted to sense the reference mark providing a sensed signal. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path by detecting a position of the reference mark.

Abstract: A printer includes a media stacking section, a print section, a pickup roller, a relay roller, a common actuator, a transport mechanism section and a control section. The control section is configured to control the common actuator based on a print job and displacement of the printing media. The control section is configured to stop transferring of driving force of the common actuator from the pickup roller to an nth printing medium after the pickup roller draws out the nth printing medium and the relay roller starts to send out the nth printing medium which is drawn out in a case where a print job, where printing is carried out on n of the printing media with a length in a transport direction shorter than a transport distance of the printing media from the pickup roller to the print section, is processed in the continuous transport mode.

Abstract: A printer capable of preventing clogging the printhead nozzles due to paper dust produced from sprocket holes in continuous paper, and preventing the printhead from ejecting ink droplets except on the continuous paper, has a printhead that ejects ink droplets toward continuous paper having sprocket holes formed along both sides of the paper width; a cover member that covers the edge part of the width of the continuous paper where sprocket holes are formed in the range of the printhead in the conveyance direction of the continuous paper, and can move in the paper width direction; and a detection mechanism that detects the position of the cover member in the paper width direction.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes conveyance roller pair disposed on the upstream side of a recording unit. An image formation operation is forbidden once the trailing edge of a recording medium has passed the conveyance roller pair, to reduce margin amount at the trailing edge of the recording medium. In a case where determination is made that the distance from the trailing edge of the recording medium to the conveyance roller pair is smaller than a first conveyance amount, the recording medium is conveyed by a second conveyance amount which is smaller than the first conveyance amount, so that the trailing edge of the recording medium is on the upstream side of the conveyance roller pair and that the distance from the trailing edge of the recording medium to the conveyance roller pair is smaller than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a head configured to discharge an aqueous recording liquid onto a recording medium; and a coating unit configured to apply a process liquid onto the recording medium, wherein the process liquid is formed by emulsifying, by a first surfactant, water including a water-soluble polymer and a low polarity solvent which is not compatible with the water, wherein the water and the low polarity solvent are emulsified as a W/O emulsion in which the water is in a dispersed phase and the low polarity solvent is in a continuous phase.

Abstract: An ink jet printer bed in which a printing object placed on a bed is stably fixed by means of air suction and is printed, is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of upper plates having a plurality of air suction ports on their front surfaces; an intermediate plate which is formed of a guide space of which intermediate portion is open via its upper lower sides, the intermediate plate being assembled to a lower side of the upper plate; a lower plate which is assembled to a lower side of the intermediate portion and is formed of at least one air passage; a connection part which is assembled to each air passage of the lower plate and is connected with a suction pump; and a sensor which detects an air pressure in the interior of the bed and transmits a result of the detection to a controller which controls the operation of the suction pump, so the air pressure of the interior of the bed by the suction pump can be adjusted.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ink jet recording apparatus that prints an image onto a recording medium using an ink which is composed of an aqueous ink vehicle containing latex as a binder resin. The ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage on which a recording head for discharging ink droplets onto the recording medium is mounted and that moves relative to the recording medium, in which an infrared heater that is disposed opposite to the recording medium and heats the recording medium is mounted on the carriage, and the infrared heater is disposed to be distant from the recording head in a moving direction (X direction) of the recording medium.

Abstract: An inkjet printer having a conveyer, a recording head, a carriage, a corrugation mechanism, and a controller is provided. The controller executes an operation including a conveying step to convey a sheet and a recording step to discharge ink through the recording head toward the sheet. The recording step includes a discharging step, in which the recording head is manipulated to discharge the ink toward the sheet in response to the carriage being placed in a discharging position when the sheet is in a nipped condition, in which the sheet is nipped by the conveyer roller unit; and a corrected discharging step, in which the recording head is manipulated to discharge the ink toward the sheet in response to the carriage being placed in a corrected discharging position, when the sheet is in a non-nipped condition, in which the sheet is not nipped by the conveyer roller unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing and activating an adhesive upon labels with fluid activatable adhesive having a print head and a path along which a label travels to the print head for printing on a front surface of the label. The path after printing reverses the orientation of the label to present the back surface of the label to the print head for applying a fluid for activating a layer of adhesive material on back surface of the label prior to the label exiting the apparatus.

Abstract: Whether a continuous sheet usable for printing on the basis of first print data and a continuous sheet usable for printing on the basis of second print data are the same or not is determined. If it is determined that they are the same, an image based on the first print data and an image based on the second print data are printed continuously on a continuous sheet. When an image based on the second print data is arranged at an end of a continuous sheet, the second print data is assigned to the beginning of print data to be printed on another continuous sheet.

Abstract: A printer with a cutting function includes a cutting mechanism configured to cut a medium, a sensor configured to detect a cut portion of the medium, a printing mechanism configured to perform printing on the medium, and a control device configured and programmed to control the cutting mechanism and the printing mechanism.

Abstract: A printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit, a conveying unit, a driving source driving the conveying unit, a feeding unit, a discharging unit, a control unit, a switching mechanism switching a driving state of the feeding unit and a restricting mechanism restricting backward feeding of the discharging unit. The control unit changes a timing of feeding the subsequent printing medium in accordance with a printing start position of the subsequent printing medium.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes conveyance roller pair disposed on the upstream side of a recording unit. An image formation operation is forbidden once the trailing edge of a recording medium has passed the conveyance roller pair, to reduce margin amount at the trailing edge of the recording medium. In a case where determination is made that the distance from the trailing edge of the recording medium to the conveyance roller pair is smaller than a first conveyance amount, the recording medium is conveyed by a second conveyance amount which is smaller than the first conveyance amount, so that the trailing edge of the recording medium is on the upstream side of the conveyance roller pair and that the distance from the trailing edge of the recording medium to the conveyance roller pair is smaller than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A droplet ejection apparatus, including: an image-data storage; a droplet ejection head; a post-processing mechanism configured to perform drying processing and curl correction processing by a common processing technique on an image-formed recording medium; and a controller configured to: calculate a liquid ejection amount for each evaluation region on the recording medium; determine a first processing amount required for the drying processing, based on a maximum liquid ejection amount; determine, for each evaluation region, a second processing amount for the curl correction processing, based on the liquid ejection amount and a position of the evaluation region on the recording medium; and control the post-processing mechanism to perform the drying processing and the curl correction processing according to a maximum control amount of the post-processing mechanism among the first processing amount and the second processing amounts of the respective evaluation regions.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has a controller that controls a conveying roller and a discharge roller for conveying a recording medium. The controller controls the rotation phases of the conveying roller and the discharge roller when the recording medium leaves the conveying roller before the recording medium enters the conveying roller.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes an ink discharge part, a first drive part that drives a rotation of a roll body in which the recording medium is wound, a second drive part that drives the conveyance part that conveys the recording medium, and a control part that controls operations of the first drive part and the second drive part. The control part drives the first drive part in a halted state of the second drive part and executes a measurement that measures a relationship between a load and a drive speed when conveying the recording medium and the control part executes the measurement for a single rotation of the roll body. The control part also provides a first measurement mode to execute the single rotation which is divided into plural number.

Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A heat source provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a physical property of the receiver medium thereby forming a reference mark. A sensor at a downstream position along the media path is adapted to sense the reference mark providing a sensed signal. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path by detecting a position of the reference mark.

Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A heat source provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently deform the receiver medium to form a reference mark. A light source illuminates the receiver medium, and a sensor is used to sense light from the light source that is transmitted through the receiver medium or reflected from the receiver medium thereby providing a sensed light level signal. The sensed light level signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium by detecting a change in the sensed light level signal that is characteristic of the physical deformation associated with the reference mark.

Abstract: A treatment liquid application apparatus including an application roller for applying treatment liquid; a press roller for pressing against the application roller an elongated recording medium which is placed between the press roller and the application roller; and a conveyance roller located downstream relative to the application roller on a conveyance path of the recording medium and conveying the recording medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a control unit for causing the press roller to be pressed against the application roller when a value related to a conveyance amount of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance roller from a re-start of conveyance exceeds a value corresponding to a slack amount of the recording medium which occurs in an upstream side of the conveyance roller at a stopping of conveyance.

Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A heat source provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a fluorescent agent in the receiver medium, thereby forming a reference mark characterized by a reduced level of fluorescence. A stimulating light source illuminates the receiver medium at a downstream position along the media path, the stimulating light source having a spectrum adapted to stimulate the fluorescent agent to fluoresce thereby producing emitted light. A sensor is used to sense the emitted light from the receiver medium thereby providing a sensed light level signal. The sensed light level signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium by detecting the reduced level of fluorescence associated with the reference mark.

Abstract: A system is described for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path. A heat source provides heat to the receiver medium in a localized area sufficient to permanently alter a physical property of the receiver medium thereby forming a reference mark. A sensor at a downstream position along the media path is adapted to sense the reference mark providing a sensed signal. The sensed signal is analyzed to determine a position of the receiver medium as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path by detecting a position of the reference mark.