Intermec, Inc.

Hewlett-packard Company

Intermec IP Corporation

Intermec Technologies Corporation

Jay M Miazga

Pixie Ann Austin

Duane M Fox

Thomas A Sweet

Christopher A Wiklof

Joel A Schoen

Glenn D Wildfong

This is a cutter assembly for linerless strip media having an uncovered adhesive backing. There is a cutter for transverse movement across the media and a backing bar with at least two cutting edges. The backing bar can be rotated to place one of the cutting edges in contact with the cutter. A cleaning station cleans the previously used cutting edge as the bar is rotated. Rotating and fixed cutters can be used. The cutter is replaceable and can be supplied in combination with as associated media for which it is designed. The cutter may partially cut the media to make it separate without fouling the cutter with adhesive. A self-healing 'solid' roller is also disclosed.

Strip cutter for adhesive-backed media

In a label printer having a printhead mounted above a path for printing on labels carried by a backing strip along the path, this invention is apparatus for adjusting the lateral position of the printhead over the labels. A first member is fixedly carried by the printer over the path. A second member carries the printhead while third member connects the second member to the first member for lateral movement relative to the first member. Finally, there is adjusting apparatus for selectively setting a lateral position of the second member relative to the first member.

Method and apparatus for adjusting lateral image registration in a

A handheld printer is movable across a target object to print while moving in a desired printing field. The printer has a position detector and a microprocessor controller for detecting the position of a printing member and activating the printing member at a plurality of successive printing locations. The printer may use thermal or inkjet printing and has user feedback and input. A mechanical position detector enables the printer to be used without a mechanical paper drive mechanism. The printer allows image rotation under control of a four-position switch and scaling of the image using distance and printline based scaling. The printer may be controlled by an external controller through a cable or a remote signal source. An alternative embodiment of the printer uses a vacuum-type arrangement to attract and hold the printer to the surface being printed. The printer may be line or battery-powered. The printer scales the image according to a user-selected scaling factor or in response to a measured printing field.

Printer with motion detection

This is a cutter assembly for linerless strip media having an uncovered adhesive backing. There is a cutter mounted for transverse movement across the media and a backing bar with at least two cutting edges. The backing bar can be rotated to place one of the cutting edges in position to cooperate with the cutter to cut the media. The backing bar is rotatable about a transverse axis simultaneously with feed movement of the media at a rotational speed equal to the feed speed of the media. This causes the media to ride up on a pointed portion of a cutting edge without dragging across the cutting edge as the cutting edge moves into a use position in which the media is supported by a support surface of the cutting edge. A cleaning station cleans the previously used cutting edge as the bar is rotated. Rotating and fixed cutters can be used. The cutter is replaceable and can be supplied in combination with an associated media for which it is designed. The cutter may partially cut the media to make it separate without fouling the cutter with adhesive. A self-healing 'solid' roller is also disclosed.

A label printer having a stepping motor and the ability to dynamically accurately control longitudinal label registration as a function of steps of the stepping motor. The effective length of the steps moving the labels between a known point prior to the printhead and the printhead are monitored and the number of steps actually used to move the labels between the known point and the printhead are adjusted as a function of changes in the effective step length. In one embodiment, a sensor counts the steps between consecutive labels or averages a number of labels to determine the effective step length. In another embodiment, a sensor detects the start of label and start of printing on the label and the step distance between the two is used to determine the effective step length.

Methods and apparatus for compensatng step distance in a stepping motor

A thermal printer is provided with an integrated sensor that detects the printhead position without requiring a custom cable assembly or other sensing components. The thermal printer comprises a rotatable platen and a printhead disposed relative to each other to define a print region therebetween through which a print media is transported. The printhead may be selectively pivoted between a closed position abutting the platen and an open position substantially separated from the platen. The printhead is operable to print information onto the print media as the print media is transported by rotation of the platen when the printhead is pivoted to the closed position. The printhead further comprises a circuit board coupled thereto that is pivotable in cooperation with the printhead. The circuit board is operably coupled to a central controller to receive control signals and provide the control signals to the printhead. The circuit board further has first and second electrical contact points disposed on a surface thereof that are electrically connected to the central controller. A bridge element is fixedly disposed relative to the printhead to come into contact with the first and second contact points only when the printhead is pivoted to a selected one of the open and closed positions, thereby providing a printhead status signal to the central controller indicating that the printhead is pivoted to the selected one of the open and closed positions.

Thermal printhead with integrated printhead position sensor

In a label printer printing on individual labels carried in spaced relationship on a surface of a longitudinally moving backing strip, this invention discloses apparatus for adjustably sensing leading edge positions of the labels. A stationary member is carried above the backing strip on one side of the backing strip. A movable member is carried by the stationary member for longitudinal movement along the path of the backing strip. There is provision for adjusting the longitudinal position of the moving member. A sensor is carried by the movable member for sensing leading edge positions of individual labels as a function of a change of thickness between the backing strip alone and the backing strip with a label on the surface. Both optical and mechanical versions are disclosed.

Apparatus for normalizing top-of-form registration in a moving web

A fixture (20) for fixing the position of a circuit component (22) relative to a circuit board (28). The fixture includes a spacer (40) that has contact surfaces (50) that bear upon a surface (26) of the board (28). The spacer (40) also includes support surfaces (56) upon which a dual in-line packaged component (22) rests. The distance between the contact surfaces (50) and support surfaces (56) are established to precisely locate a surface (60) of the component relative to the surface (26) of the board (28). Also included are clip mechanisms (42, 44) for securing the spacer (40) to the board (28) and for securing the component (22) to the spacer (40).

Growing community of inventors

Marysville, WA, United States of America

Jay M Miazga