Zebra Technologies Corporation

Other

Zih Corporation

David A West

Daniel F Donato

David L Poole

James W Ensinger

William J Hamman

Vincent C Adams

Dan E Monnier

Kenneth V Naegele

Karl Torchalski

Michael Kenneth Platt

Jeffrey R Kaufman

Thomas P Zwier

David S Zubriski

Davis S Zubriski

An apparatus and method for the periodic acquisition of data through the use of sensors and/or electronic interfaces. The apparatus is modular, having a control module and one or more A acquisition modules interconnected with a module bus. The control module provides timing and control information to the acquisition modules, as well as an interface for communication to a host computer. Each acquisition module contains circuitry to make measurements of one or more physical property and convert the measurements into digital values. Temperature, altitude, airspeed, engine speed, gravitational force, pulse width, and voltage are examples of physical values that may be measured. Each acquisition module also contains electronic memory in which the digital values are stored. In operation the control module keeps track of elapsed time and periodically signals the acquisition modules to make readings and store values. When data logging is complete, the system is attached to the host computer and the data stored in each acquisition module is transferred for analysis. Calibration values for correction of sensor gain, offset, linearity, or other factors may be stored in a separate parameter area within each acquisition module's memory. These values can then be used by the host computer to adjust and

Modular data sensing and logging system

The present invention provides media sensors for sensing the position of a media in a printer, such as a thermal demand printer. A repositionable media sensor for monitoring the location of a web of label media which utilizes a visible light source projected onto the label media to accurately indicate the position of the media sensor to the operator relative to the label media and facilitate any required adjustment thereof. A printed label sensor is provided for use with a thermal demand printer and includes a light emitter and light detector pair wherein a single light pipe for receiving a sensing beam from the emitter and reflecting the sensing beam at a predetermined angle towards the detector is provided. Preferably, the light pipe is mounted in a peel bar and no electronics are required outside the electronic housing of the printer.

Media sensors for a printer

A demand printer has an input structure for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer; a control circuit coupled to the input structure, and a power supply circuit for processing command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer. A switch circuit line is coupled to at least a first and a second point on the power supply circuit. The switch circuit line provides a first operating voltage for the operation of the printer when connected between the first and second points in the power supply circuit and provides a second operating voltage when the connection between said first and second points is opened by a severing structure. The severing structure projects into a base cavity of the case and is retained therein for maintaining an open circuit between the first and second points on the power supply circuit once said switch circuit line is severed. The severing structure includes a wall of the base cavity which has an control aperture extending therethrough, a severing body having a head end and a severing end wherein the severing end projecting through the control aperture and contacting and severing the switch circuit line; a retaining segment on the severing body operatively associated with the case when the severing body is inserted through the control aperture for retaining the severing body in contact with the switch circuit line to maintain an open circuit between the first and second points.

Ribbon drive system for a thermal demand printer

A demand printer for printing on media includes a ribbon take-up spindle for accumulating spent printing ribbon and facilitating removal of the spent ribbon from the spindle. The spindle has a surface with a protrusion bore formed therethrough. At least one protruding segment extends through the protrusion bore. The protruding segment controllably projects away from the spindle surface for maintaining a space between a portion of the spindle surface and the spent ribbon accumulated on the spindle. A biasing structure is operatively associated with the spindle and the protruding segment for controllably biasedly directing the protruding segment through the protrusion bore in the spindle. A retracting structure is provided for controllably compressing and expanding the biasing means to controllably move the protruding segment through the protrusion bore.

A novel demand printer is used for printing on tickets, tags, pressure sensitive labels and other media. The printer has a spring wrap clutch assembly operatively associated with a media delivery structure for use with a rotating shaft to maintain a constant tension on a ribbon. The spring wrap clutch assembly includes a coiled spring having a leg extending away from one end of the coil, a collar having a bore therein for receiving the coiled spring with the leg extending away from the collar, the rotating shaft extending through the coiled spring and the collar is attachable to the rotating shaft, and a plurality of ramped teeth positioned around the rotating shaft. Each of the ramped teeth has a sloped surface and the leg of the coiled spring controllably engages the ramped teeth.

Ribbon drive for a thermal demand printer

A thermal demand printer for printing on media is a novel system which includes a case structure including a hinged cover panel, easily removable guide structures and media hanger, and a single central support wall to which the various components are attached. The printer includes a power supply circuit for receiving power from an external source and conditioning it for operation of the printer. An input device is provided for receiving command signals related to the operation of the printer. A control circuit for processing the command signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer and a printhead assembly for processing the control signals and generating corresponding control signals for controlling the operation of the printer are mounted in the case structure and coupled to the input device and the power supply circuit. The printhead assembly includes a printhead support structure which controls the printhead. A ribbon take-up spindle, method of operating the take-up spindle using a PMDC motor, and a spring wrap clutch device help to control the tension in the transfer ribbon used in the printer. The printer also includes a medial sensor and a method of sensing media by way of detecting the opacity of the media passing through the sensor. The printer includes a method of printhead control using double data loading and a method of accelerating and decelerating media relative to the printhead using pulse width modulation.

Thermal demand printer

A thermometer using the temperature dependance of the speed of sound, measures the average temperature along a path traversing an open environment containing a medium. A transmitting transducer, coupled to a signal generator and placed at a first point in the medium, produces a burst of sound of predetermined frequency and duration. The sound burst travels through the medium to a second point, located a predetermined distance from the first. At the second point, a passive sound reflector, or an active apparatus, produces a returning sound burst. A receiving transducer, positioned close to the transmitting transducer, receives the returned sound. A detection circuit, coupled to the receiving transducer, indicates the presence of the returned sound burst. A timer, with connections to the signal generator and the detection circuit, measures the elapsed time for the round trip of the sound. The resulting time measurement is an indicator of the average temperature along the path between the first and second points. This time measurement is output for use by an electronic system, or processed to represent temperature directly.

Acoustic thermometer

The heating elements of a thermal printing head are respectively driven through drive transistors under the control of strobe pulses and are respectively provided with temperature control circuits, each such circuit including a sense resistor connected in series between the heating element and the drive transistor for sensing the current flow therethrough. Each control circuit has a flip-flop which is clocked by an associated strobe signal to turn on the corresponding drive transistor. The voltage drop across the sense resistor of each control circuit is amplified and compared to a reference level corresponding to a predetermined temperature, and when it exceeds the reference it resets the associated flip-flop to turn off the corresponding drive transistor.

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Streamwood, IL, United States of America

David A West