Videojet Technologies Inc.

Zipher Limited

Other

Steven John Buckby

Martin McNestry

Philip Hart

Gary Pfeffer

James Christopher Butcher

Ben Meyerowitz

Steven Robert Brown

Jeremy Ellis

Martin Mcnestry

David John Byrne

Alex Tivey

Mcnestry Martin

Thermal transfer printer

A tape support arrangement comprises a tape take up core () suitable for supporting a tape; and a tape supply core () suitable for supporting a tape (). The supply core () comprises an inner surface (), the inner surface defining an internal volume () of the supply core and being configured for engagement with a tape drive support. The take up core () is sized and shaped such that it can be located in the internal volume () of the supply core (). Refer to FIG.

Tape support arrangement

A tape drive comprises a spool support () for supporting a tape spool (), wherein the spool support comprises a support surface () mounted to a tape drive base plate () such that the support surface () is fixed against rotation relative to the base plate (), the support surface () being configured such that, in use, as tape is removed from or wound onto the spool (), the spool () rotates relative to the spool support () such that the spool () rotates around the support surface ().

Tape drive and associated spool

A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web; a motive means configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support. A sensor has a transmitter portion and a receiver portion, the receiver portion comprising a plurality of receivers, the transmitter portion and receiver portion are configured to receive a portion of the label stock therebetween, and the plurality of receivers are each configured to produce a respective sensor signal which is a function of a property of a portion of label stock at a plurality of positions spaced from one another in a direction non-parallel to the web path. In addition, a controller is configured to monitor each of the sensor signals produced by the receivers and to select one of the sensor signals produced by the receivers based on said monitoring of each of the sensor signals produced by the receivers.

Machine and method for its operation

A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a spool of label carrying web, a labelling station arranged to remove labels from a label carrying web supported by the supply spool, a take up spool support for supporting web from which labels have been removed, and a first motive apparatus for transporting web from the supply spool support to the take up spool support via the labelling station. The supply spool support, the labelling station and the take up spool support are mounted to a base plate. The base plate includes a first portion which supports the labelling station via a base of the labelling station such that the labelling station extends from the base plate in a first direction, and a second portion. The maximum distance to which the second portion and any component supported by the second portion extend from the base of the labelling station in a second direction is greater than the maximum distance to which the first portion and any component supported by the first portion extend from the base of the labelling station in the second direction, the first and second directions being generally opposite.

Labelling machine design for GS1 compliance

A printing machine comprising a processor and a memory storing computer readable instructions. The computer readable instructions are arranged to cause the processor to generate access request data for processing by an access control server, receive access response data responsive to the access request data, process the access response data to determine a first print limit indicated by the access response data, and update, responsive to processing the access response data, an access status in the memory to indicate a second print limit.

Method and apparatus for securing peripheral devices

This application concerns an apparatus comprising a housing arranged to be positioned at any one of a plurality of rotational angles, a display mounted to the housing and a processor arranged to execute instructions stored in a memory. The instructions are arranged to cause a user interface to be displayed on the display, to receive an indication of a rotation amount and rotation direction from a rotation input, rotate at least one corner element about its centre point by the rotation amount in the rotation direction and if the rotation amount is greater than a first predetermined limit, move the at least one corner element to a different one of a plurality of corner portions of the display.

A method of operating a transfer printer (), the transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool () of ribbon (), a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon () from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path, and a printhead (), the printhead being configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate is moved relative to the printhead in a direction of substrate movement. The method comprises driving the ribbon in a direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, printing a first plurality of images onto a first respective plurality of substrates, driving the ribbon in a direction opposite to the direction of substrate movement, driving the ribbon in the direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, and printing a second plurality of images onto a second respective plurality of substrates. Printing each image of the first and second pluralities of images results in corresponding pluralities of first () and second () negative images being formed on the ribbon, wherein each negative image of the first plurality of negative images () is located adjacent a negative image of the second plurality of negative images () on the ribbon.

Printing apparatus and method

A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web; a first motive means configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support, the first motive means comprising a first motor including a first stator and a first rotor; a labelling peel beak located along the web path and configured to peel the labels from label web as the label stock passes the labelling peel beak; and a printer for printing on the labels. The printer includes a ribbon supply spool support for supporting a ribbon supply spool comprising printer ribbon for the printer; a ribbon take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of the printer ribbon; and a second motive means configured to propel the printer ribbon from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support, the second motive means comprising a second motor including a second stator and a second rotor. The labelling machine further comprises a base plate. The following components are mounted to the base plate such that the majority of each component is located on one side of a first surface of the base plate: supply spool support, take-up spool support, first stator, labelling peel beak, ribbon supply spool support, ribbon take-up spool support and second stator.

A method for operating a thermal transfer printer includes providing a ribbon, providing at least one spool configured to take up the ribbon, and providing a printhead. The substrate is moved relative to the printhead at a speed. The ribbon is moved relative to the printhead at a speed that is less than the speed of the substrate while using the printhead to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to the substrate to print an image on the substrate. Data is captured from the ribbon after ink has been transferred to the substrate. The data is processed to control at least one property of the printer.

A thermal transfer printer, including first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool of ribbon; a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon from the first support to the second spool support; a printhead for selectively transferring ink from the ribbon to a substrate; an electromagnetic sensor arranged to sense electromagnetic radiation and to generate data indicative of a property of the ribbon based upon sensed electromagnetic radiation; and a controller for processing data generated by the electromagnetic sensor.

An apparatus for maintaining an inkjet printer printhead in a working state, the printer defining an array of orifices from which in use jets of ink are projected. The apparatus may have a means for applying a pressure pulse to ink with the printhead sufficient to discharge ink from each orifice when not in use to project ink. The pressure pulse may have a relatively rapidly rising leading edge and a relatively slow falling trailing edge.

Printing apparatus

An inkjet printer in which a printhead defines an elongate array of orifices from which jets of ink are projected into a space within which substrates to be printed are presented. An air curtain generator fixed in position relative to the printhead extends along one side only of the array of orifices so as to direct a curtain of air across the array a of orifices and across an open portion of the printhead on the side of the array of orifices remote from the air curtain generator. The air curtain cleans the printhead. A pressure pulse may be applied to ink within the printhead sufficient to discharge ink form each orifice when not in use to project ink. The pressure pulse has a relatively rapidly rising leading edge and a relatively slowly falling edge. An ink reservoir is coupled to the printhead for supplying ink to the orifices. The orifices may be arranged in at least two vertically offset groups, the reservoir being divided into vertically offset reservoir sections including a lowermost section and an upper section with each reservoir section being coupled exclusively to a respective group of orifices. The upper reservoir section is arranged to overflow into the immediately adjacent reservoir section which is spaced therebelow. Each reservoir section includes an ink level detector, and ink is supplied to the reservoir section which is vertically uppermost if any level detector detects an ink level below a predetermined level.

Growing community of inventors

Bleasby, United Kingdom

Steven John Buckby