Typewriting machines – Including control of format by programmed-control-system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-15
2001-05-22
Eickholt, Eugene (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Including control of format by programmed-control-system
C400S708000, C347S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234694
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to an apparatus for printing images on media of variable size, and particularly to an apparatus for printing of postal indicia, and to a related method.
Printing of images (text or graphics) onto paper or polymer media has become increasing commonplace, making use of many different printer types including ink jet and laser printers. The media onto which the printing is done can be of many different sizes. This is particularly true in the case of postage meters which may be used to print postal indicia and optional advertisements or other material onto envelopes and postcards of a great many different sizes.
Typically, the material to be printed by a postage meter or other printer is determined without regard for the actual size of the media being processed through the meter. In some cases, for example in word processing applications, the presumed size of the medium is known. There may, however, be no check to confirm that the size of the media actually loaded into the printer conforms to the expected size.
When the media used is smaller in size than the standard which was used to determine the size of the printed material, a portion of the image may be printed onto the transport mechanism of the printer, i.e, onto the platen. This not only results in an incomplete image which is esthetically unpleasing, it has several additional detrimental effects. If a second page or piece is printed immediately (before the ink on the platen has dried), this can result in a reverse image being formed on the backside of the second page or piece. In any event, the printing of the image onto the platen results in the accumulation of ink on the platen which can impair the efficiency of the printing operation if the platen is not cleaned at reasonable intervals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,396 discloses a printer in which an image to be printed is adjusted in size to compensate for a change in paper size. There is no disclosure, however, of the detection of size of individual pieces of paper.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,124, describes a printing apparatus which employs a mechanism for measuring an elapsed time for feeding a sheet of paper from its top edge to its bottom edge by feeding a first paper. The apparatus then calculates the paper size on the basis of the measured time and the paper feeding rate and compares this result with the paper size specified by an external apparatus. When the actual and expected size are different, a warning display informs the operator of the mismatch, and provision is made for reprinting of incorrectly printed pages after the insertion of paper of the correct size. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,204 discloses a printer with a paper feed controlling device which, in the operation of a laser printer at a high speed intended to attain a maximum throughput, does not allow the feeding of a second sheet of paper to be initiated until after the size of a first sheet of paper already fed has been detected. In both of these apparatus, however, an initial piece of paper is used to determine the size of the paper and is wasted if the size is not the expected size. This is acceptable where printing of multiple page documents is common, and where the value of the wasted piece is limited. In the context of a postage meter, however, mail pieces are frequently printed individually such that the size of one mail piece is not a valid predictor of the size of the next. Furthermore, if the wasted piece is a mail piece of a size other than that expected by the system, the wastage would include the value of the postage printed upon the piece. Such wastage would not be merely incidental.
It would therefore be advantageous to have a printer, and particularly a printer for use in conjunction with a postage meter for printing of postal indicia which noted the actual size of the first piece of media loaded in the printer and adjusted the size and/or content of the image being printed accordingly. It is an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the printing of images, including postal indicia and a variable portion, in which the size and/or content of the variable portion of the image is adjusted based upon the actual size of the media on which the image is to be printed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other objects are met by an apparatus for printing an image onto a medium, such as a paper or envelope, comprising:
(a) a data processor or similar means for defining the image to be printed;
(b) drive rollers or similar means for transporting the medium from a first location to a second location;
(c) a print head, such as an ink jet print head, for printing the image on the medium as it is transported from the first location to the second location; and
(d) means for determining the size of the medium in at least one dimension-prior to or during the transport of the medium from the first location to the second location, wherein the image to be printed is adjusted based upon the determined size of the medium,
The apparatus can be used for carrying out the method of the invention for printing of images comprising postal indicia and a user defined variable portion. In accordance with this method, a preliminary image is defined, and then modified in response to information concerning the size of the media onto which the image is to be printed. This modification effects only the variable portion of the image, which may be truncated, scaled or replaced with a different variable portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4978973 (1990-12-01), Ogushi et al.
patent: 5314256 (1994-05-01), Niwa
patent: 5316396 (1994-05-01), Fukaya
patent: 5350245 (1994-09-01), Gallagher
patent: 5399030 (1995-03-01), Niwa et al.
patent: 5440979 (1995-08-01), Bonham et al.
patent: 5524995 (1996-06-01), Brookner et al.
patent: 5535127 (1996-07-01), Uno et al.
patent: 5724245 (1998-03-01), Maher et al.
patent: 5726894 (1998-03-01), Sansone
patent: 5729461 (1998-03-01), D'Andrea et al.
patent: 5762427 (1998-06-01), Gilham
patent: 5787406 (1998-07-01), Arsenault et al.
patent: 5822739 (1998-10-01), Kara
patent: 5957600 (1999-09-01), Ju
patent: 5978781 (1999-11-01), Sansone
patent: 0 285 454 A2 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 0109380 (1984-06-01), None
patent: 0115877 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 0004088 (1985-01-01), None
patent: 4003039282 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 405931709 (1993-05-01), None
Supplementary European Search Report dated Jul. 21, 2000, 2 pages.
Xerox Disclosure Journal “Smart Tray for Paper Size Indication” vol. 20, No. 2, Mar.-Apr. 1995, p. 187-188.*
Xerox Disclosure Journal “Typewriter Bottom Margin Indicator” vol. 4, No. 6, Nov/Dec. 1979, p. 815.
Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems Inc.
Eickholt Eugene
Perman & Green LLP
LandOfFree
Media control to eliminate printing images beyond the media... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Media control to eliminate printing images beyond the media..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Media control to eliminate printing images beyond the media... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2480051