Incremental printing of symbolic information – Ink jet – Medium and processing means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-14
2002-08-20
Barlow, John (Department: 2853)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Ink jet
Medium and processing means
C400S636000, C400S639000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06435679
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of validation printers, and specifically to an ink jet validation printer that performs receipt printing as well as validation printing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A validation printer, also known as a cut sheet printer, typically uses a photo sensor to check to see if a form has been inserted into the machine prior to initiating a printing sequence. The photo sensor typically includes a combination of a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode (LED) and a light sensing element such as a photo transistor. When the cut sheet (or form) is set in the printer, the sheet interrupts a light beam emitted from the LED. Interrupting the light beam signals the printer that paper is present for printing. Another method for detecting the presence of a form in the printer includes the use of a microswitch with a detecting lever provided in the paper transport path.
In a dot matrix impact printer, the printer platen moves back to accommodate the thickness of the form when in a validation mode. A sensor reads when the form is inserted, moves the platen section back against the roller, and printing begins. In an ink jet printer, a gap is maintained between the platen and the face of the ink jet cartridge, and, therefore, a traversing mechanism is not needed to move the printer platen back to accommodate the thickness of the form. Instead, a sensor notices the presence of the form and signals the printer to pull the form down into the machine and printing occurs. Printing proceeds line by line, either as the form is pulled down or pushed up by the feed mechanism. Preferably, printing is performed as the form is pulled down so the ink has time to quickly dry before the form moves out of the printing station.
One problem associated with ink jet validation printers of this type, is the inability of the user to insert the form into the printer in proper alignment and registration so that the validation data is printed within a desired location. Sending a form into the printing station in a skewed condition will trigger the sensor to initiate a printing sequence, however, the printed data will be misaligned on the form and, in certain cases, the skewed form may jam the feeding mechanism. By the same token, most ink jet validation printers can only print on a limited part of a form because of the machine's physical limitations, thereby restricting the number of printing applications that can be carried out by the printer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to improve validation ink jet printers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ink jet printer that is capable of sensing the proper registration and alignment of a form before the form is moved into the printing station.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an ink jet printer that can validate forms that are fed into the machine in either a lengthwise or a widthwise orientation.
Another object of the present invention is to expand the area on a form that can be imaged by a validation ink jet printer.
These and other objects of the present invention are attained by an ink jet validation printer having a drive roller assembly for conducting forms into and out of a printing station that is located beneath the drive roller assembly. A pair of sensor units are mounted above the axis of the drive roller for detecting the proper alignment and registration of the leading edge of a form as it enters the nip between the drive roller and a biasing plate prior to initiating a validation sequence. A sensor unit mounted below the axis of the drive roller detects the leading edge of the form as the form exits the printing station and signals the termination of the validation sequence to the machine controller. The printer is further arranged to place printed images on forms that are fed into the machine in either a lenghwise orientation or a widthwise orientation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5061095 (1991-10-01), Asai et al.
patent: 5082384 (1992-01-01), Kakaguchi
patent: 5895158 (1999-04-01), Koyabu et al.
patent: 6334723 (2001-01-01), Trovinger et al.
patent: 6298778 (2001-10-01), Onodera et al.
Transact Technologies, Inc.
Wall Marjama & Bilinski LLP
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