Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for a system including: at least one ink-based printer configured and arranged to provide ink to form a symbol on a surface of a material; at least one laser bleaching subsystem including a laser operable to produce a laser beam, and an optical assembly operable to convey the laser beam onto the surface of the material to generate an oxidized region on the surface of the material; and electronics communicatively coupled with the at least one ink-based printer and the at least one laser bleaching subsystem, the electronics being configured to coordinate control operations of the at least one ink-based printer and the at least one laser bleaching subsystem based on a nature of the surface of the material.
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for a system including: a printer configured and arranged to form a symbol on a surface of a material using hot melt ink; a laser processing subsystem including a laser and an optical assembly; and electronics communicatively coupled with the printer and the laser processing subsystem, the electronics being configured to generate a laser beam from the laser and convey the laser beam, using the optical assembly, onto at least the hot melt ink of the symbol, thereby increasing rub resistance of the hot melt ink on the surface of the material.
A system including a printer, a light source associated with the printer and configured to emit light at a range of wavelengths, and a controller coupled with the light source. The controller is configured to generate a pulse sequence corresponding to information for the printer and adjust a level of light output by the light source based on the pulse sequence to communicate the information for the printer while making the adjustment of the light output indiscernible to human observation with a naked eye.
B41J 2/435 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
4.
Method and Apparatus for Characterizing Objects Using a Light-Emitting Array
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for a light curtain system including a support frame arranged around a transport path including a product support, a light-emitting array including multiple light sources arranged along the support frame, each light source of the multiple light sources arranged along the support frame at a respective distance above the product support, a detector array including multiple light detectors, where each detector of the multiple light detectors is arranged on the support frame opposite the transport path from a light source of the multiple light sources and at a respective distance above the product support, and a data processing apparatus in data communication with the light-emitting array and the detector array.
G01B 11/25 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring contours or curvatures by projecting a pattern, e.g. moiré fringes, on the object
G01B 11/02 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring length, width, or thickness
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for a universal laser system including a laser operable to produce an infrared laser beam for a range of wavelengths, an optics assembly operable to focus and direct the laser beam, and electronics communicatively coupled with the laser and the optics assembly, the electronics being configured to control the laser and the optics assembly, where the laser is configured to produce the infrared laser beam at wavelengths in the range of wavelengths that overlap with absorption peaks due to higher-order, non-linear oscillations of molecular bonds of each polymeric material of at least ten different polymeric materials, thereby generating heat from absorption of photon energy from the infrared laser beam.
Systems and methods for industrial printing, e.g., using drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet print heads, include, in at least one aspect, a printing device including: a print head including a print engine, including multiple nozzles, and circuitry to selectively eject ink through the multiple nozzles to form an image on a moving substrate, and to purge the ink through the multiple nozzles; and a printhead enclosure having an opening in front of the multiple nozzles to allow the selectively ejected ink to pass through the opening when the selectively ejected ink is ejected toward the moving substrate; wherein the printhead enclosure includes a hole placed away from the multiple nozzles; and wherein the printhead enclosure is configured to direct the ink that is purged through the multiple nozzles along an inside surface of the printhead enclosure to the hole through which the ink flows and exits the printhead enclosure.
Industrial printing systems, including systems and techniques relating to drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet printing systems include an apparatus including: a receptacle defining a hold chamber to receive ink, the receptacle including a first portion configured to hold a first quantity of ink, and a second portion that is smaller than the first portion and configured to hold a second quantity of ink, the second portion including a first heat conducting surface, and a second heat conducting surface offset from the first heat conducting surface by a distance determined in accordance with a melting point of the ink, the second heat conducting surface defining a barrier between the first portion and the second portion and including at least one opening configured to allow flow of the ink from the first portion to the second portion; and at least one heating element configured to heat the receptacle.
Systems and methods for industrial printing, e.g., using drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet print heads, include, in at least one aspect, a printing device including: a print head configured to selectively eject liquid through nozzles to form an image on a moving substrate; and a printhead enclosure configured to contain a pressurized airspace at least in front of the nozzles; wherein the printhead enclosure includes a slot that aligns with the nozzles to allow the selectively ejected liquid to pass through the slot when the selectively ejected liquid is ejected toward the moving substrate; and wherein the printhead enclosure is configured to contain the pressurized airspace and cause airflow through the slot at a flow rate that prevents dust and debris from entering the slot while the selectively ejected liquid passes through the slot and the airflow without a direction of the selectively ejected liquid being impeded by the airflow.
Systems and methods for industrial printing, e.g., using drop-on-demand (DOD) inkjet print heads, include, in at least one aspect, a printing device including: a print head including a print engine, including multiple nozzles, and circuitry to selectively eject ink through the multiple nozzles to form an image on a moving substrate, and to purge the ink through the multiple nozzles; and a printhead enclosure having an opening in front of the multiple nozzles to allow the selectively ejected ink to pass through the opening when the selectively ejected ink is ejected toward the moving substrate; wherein the printhead enclosure includes a hole placed away from the multiple nozzles; and wherein the printhead enclosure is configured to direct the ink that is purged through the multiple nozzles along an inside surface of the printhead enclosure to the hole through which the ink flows and exits the printhead enclosure.
B41J 3/54 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
A method for enabling marking of a pattern on a substrate with an industrial printer includes executing a genetic algorithm based on the pattern to be marked on the substrate. A result of the genetic algorithm indicates a resulting path which the industrial printer should follow when marking the pattern on the substrate. It is determined if the resulting path fulfills at least one criterion of: the resulting path matches an optimal path for marking the pattern, the resulting path substantially matches the optimal path, or a time spent for executing the genetic algorithm has reached or exceeded a threshold.
B41J 2/04 - Ink jet characterised by the jet generation process generating single droplets or particles on demand
B41J 2/075 - Ink jet characterised by jet control for many-valued deflection
B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
11.
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENABLING A PATTERN TO BE MARKED ON A SUBSTRATE
The embodiments herein relate to a method for enabling marking of a pattern (101) on a substrate with an industrial printer (110). A genetic algorithm is executed based on the pattern (101) to be marked on the substrate. A result of the genetic algorithm indicates a resulting path which the industrial printer (110) should follow when marking the pattern (101) on the substrate. It is determined if the resulting path fulfils at least one criterion.
B41M 3/00 - Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
G05B 13/00 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion
G05B 13/04 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric involving the use of models or simulators
Systems and methods for laser printing product codes on products include, in at least one aspect, a system including: a laser marking device that directs a laser beam to dwell at different locations to form marks on the products; and a controller that obtains a code to be printed, groups discrete symbols in the code with each other into separate symbol groups based on locations of the discrete symbols in the code, organizes symbol(s) in each respective symbol group into one or more stripes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of motion of the products, adds extra distance or time delay between stripes in at least one of the separate symbol groups to prevent clipping of a symbol by the laser marking device by the laser marking device's print aperture, and causes the laser marking device to direct the laser beam in accordance with the separate symbol groups.
B41J 2/435 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
B41J 2/44 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using single radiation source, e.g. lighting beams or shutter arrangements
G06K 1/12 - Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
G06K 15/12 - Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data using printers by photographic printing
13.
INFRARED LASER MARKING USING DIGITAL MIRROR SYSTEMS AND DEVICES
Systems and devices for laser-based marking, such as for industrial product marking systems, include: a laser source configured to produce an infrared laser beam to modify a surface of a material to be marked; a digital mirror device including an array of mirrors, electrically actuated electro-mechanical hinge components coupled with respective mirrors in the array of mirrors, and a semiconductor substrate including electrical circuits coupled with the electrically actuated electro-mechanical hinge components, wherein each of the mirrors in the array of mirrors has a reflective surface portion including gold; and beam shaping and projection optics positioned in an optical path of the infrared laser beam before the digital mirror device, the beam shaping and projection optics being configurable to shape the infrared laser beam into a rectangle of uniform infrared laser light and project the rectangle of infrared laser light with respect to the array of mirrors.
G02B 26/08 - Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the direction of light
B41J 2/465 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using masks, e.g. light-switching masks
G02B 27/09 - Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectioned area, not otherwise provided for
Solvent-based inkjet ink formulations including an organic solvent, a resin, a surfactant, and a colorant are provided. The inks have many desirable attributes such as extended decap time.
C09D 11/38 - Inkjet printing inks characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
C09D 11/103 - Printing inks based on artificial resins containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions other than those only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds of aldehydes, e.g. phenol-formaldehyde resins
C09D 11/107 - Printing inks based on artificial resins containing macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds from unsaturated acids or derivatives thereof
C07C 271/12 - Esters of carbamic acids having oxygen atoms of carbamate groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms with the nitrogen atoms of the carbamate groups bound to hydrogen atoms or to acyclic carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms or to carbon atoms of unsubstituted hydrocarbon radicals
C07C 275/10 - Derivatives of urea, i.e. compounds containing any of the groups the nitrogen atoms not being part of nitro or nitroso groups having nitrogen atoms of urea groups bound to acyclic carbon atoms of an acyclic and saturated carbon skeleton being further substituted by singly-bound oxygen atoms
This disclosure includes a hot melt ink composition that includes at least one wax having a freezing point of from about 20° C. to about 45° C. and a melting point of at least about 35° C., and at least one colorant. The composition includes at least about 50 wt % of the at least one wax. This disclosure also relates to a printing process using such a composition and a product containing such a composition.
This disclosure relates to an ink composition (e.g., a hot melt ink composition or a radiation curable ink composition) that has a relatively low conductivity. This disclosure also relates to a continuous printing process using such a composition and a product containing such a composition.
B05D 3/06 - Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials by exposure to radiation
B32B 9/04 - Layered products essentially comprising a particular substance not covered by groups comprising such substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, next to another layer of a specific substance
B41J 2/435 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
C09D 11/101 - Inks specially adapted for printing processes involving curing by wave energy or particle radiation, e.g. with UV-curing following the printing
This disclosure relates to an ink composition (e.g., a hot melt ink composition or a radiation curable ink composition) that has a relatively low conductivity. This disclosure also relates to a continuous printing process using such a composition and a product containing such a composition.
B41M 5/00 - Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
C09D 11/38 - Inkjet printing inks characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
C09D 11/101 - Inks specially adapted for printing processes involving curing by wave energy or particle radiation, e.g. with UV-curing following the printing
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus includes: a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; and a heating device configured and arranged to heat the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print.
B41J 2/22 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of impact or pressure on a printing material or impression- transfer material
B41J 2/315 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
B41J 2/32 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
B41J 2/38 - Preheating, i.e. heating to a temperature insufficient to cause printing
This specification describes connectors for tubes, pipes and poles, such as can be used in laser marking systems. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a body having a hole formed to receive a tube to connect an interior of the tube with an interior of the body, the tube having a circular groove formed in an exterior surface of the tube; and a clamp including a tab sized to fit within the circular groove of the tube; wherein the clamp is configured and arranged to attach to the body in a first state and in a second state, the first state being where the tube is held to the body axially by the tab and is freely rotatable, and the second state being where the tube is held in a fixed position relative to the body.
F16L 37/08 - Couplings of the quick-acting type in which the connection between abutting or axially-overlapping ends is maintained by locking members
G02B 6/35 - Optical coupling means having switching means
B41J 2/435 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
This specification describes connectors for tubes, pipes and poles, such as can be used in laser marking systems. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a body having a hole formed to receive a tube to connect an interior of the tube with an interior of the body, the tube having a circular groove formed in an exterior surface of the tube; and a clamp including a tab sized to fit within the circular groove of the tube; wherein the clamp is configured and arranged to attach to the body in a first state and in a second state, the first state being where the tube is held to the body axially by the tab and is freely rotatable, and the second state being where the tube is held in a fixed position relative to the body.
A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.
B41J 2/44 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using single radiation source, e.g. lighting beams or shutter arrangements
B41J 2/475 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material for heating selectively
B23K 26/00 - Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
G06K 15/12 - Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data using printers by photographic printing
G06K 15/02 - Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data using printers
A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.
B41J 2/435 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
B41J 2/44 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using single radiation source, e.g. lighting beams or shutter arrangements
B23K 26/00 - Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
24.
Changing the resolution of a printer using a pulse train
A variable resolution print system is provided. The system includes a variable resolution printer coupled to a positional encoder and a configuration module. The position encoder provides a pulse train to a controller in the variable resolution printer, the pulse train representing the movement of a target relative to the printer. A user of the print system enters or sets a desired resolution for printing via the configuration module. The controller calculates the difference between pulses in the pulse train. The controller then determines an adjustment to the calculate difference based on the desired resolution. The adjustment is used to generate a pulse train that actuates one or more print head of the printer.
A motor control system (25) including a motor (16, 18) having an associated rotary position encoder (20, 22), and a controller (24) for controlling the operation of the motor (16, 18), wherein the motor (16, 18) is switchable between a position control mode and a torque control mode.
A method of printing including testing the status of a printhead (12) having a plurality of printing elements (14) each of which is operable to transfer a marking medium from a web (16) to a substrate (18), wherein the method includes testing the status of each printing element (14), and providing a preview of an image (30) to be printed and, in the event that the print quality of the image is inadequate owing to the position of one or more damaged printing elements (14a, 14b) relative to the image (30) to be printed, adjusting the position of a component (30a, 30b) of the image (30) relative to the printhead (12) to improve the print quality.
According to an aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a controller to maintain negative pressure in a print head of a printing system includes: control loop feedback logic to receive a set point and an output of a vacuum sensor associated with the print head; a regulator coupled with an output of the feedback logic; and a driver coupled with the regulator and configured to output a drive signal to a pump, which is associated with the print head, responsive to an output of the regulator. According to another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a vacuum control assembly for a printing system includes: a body having one or more associated accumulators; a pump coupled with the body; and one or more flexible tubes coupled with the one or more accumulators associated with the body and configured to restrict air flow within the vacuum control assembly.
A method of testing the health of a heating element (30) of a print head (14) is described in which the print head (14) is of the kind having a plurality of heating elements (30) which are each selectively energiseable by a controller (20) to effect printing of a desired image on a substrate (17), wherein each heating element (30) is arranged in a circuit in parallel with acapacitance (37), and the method includes during a testing period, simultaneously applying an electrical current to the heating element (30) under test and the capacitance (37), and monitoring the voltage across the capacitance (37).
A tape drive (10) and a method of operation of the tape drive (10), including obtaining the circumferences of a pair of spools of tape (30, 32), the pair of spools (30, 32) including a supply spool (30) upon which tape is initially wound, and a take-up spool (32) for receiving tape unwound from the supply spool (30), each spool (30, 32) being mounted upon a respective rotatable spool support (12, 14) which is mounted in a housing (11), such that tape extends along a tape path between the spools (30, 32), there being provided a sensor assembly (16), the method including rotating the take-up spool support (14)and the supply spool support (12) simultaneously, so as to feed tape from the supply spool (30) into the tape path, and to wind tape on to the take-up spool (32) from the tape path, determining a length of tape fed into the tape path by the supply spool (30) during a measurement period using the sensor assembly (16), monitoring the angle through which each of the spool supports (12, 14) has rotated during the measurement period, regulating the length of the tape in the tape path, such that the length of the tape in the tape path at the start of the measurement period and the length of the tape in the tape path at the end of the measurement period are substantially the same, and using knowledge of the length of tape fed into the tape path during the measurement period and the angle through which each of the spool supports (12, 14) rotated during the measurement period to obtain the circumferences of the supply spool (30) and the take-up spool (32).
A laser coding printer includes a laser printing head having one or more heat sources; the laser printing head having a sealed barrier that prevents ingress of liquid and dust into the laser printing head; and an exposed cooling element attached with the one or more heat sources. The cooling element can be attached directly to the barrier or to the one or more heat sources through an opening in the barrier. The temperature of the one or more of the heat sources can be dynamically controlled by operating a heater based on feedback from a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the one or more heat sources.
B41J 2/455 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using arrays of radiation sources using laser arrays
A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.
B41J 2/44 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using single radiation source, e.g. lighting beams or shutter arrangements
B41J 2/475 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material for heating selectively
B23K 26/00 - Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
G06K 15/12 - Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data using printers by photographic printing
G06K 15/02 - Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data using printers
A system directs a laser beam to mark a material with an alphanumeric code. Character and quality information corresponding to a mark to apply to the material with the laser beam can be received, a font definition that specifies character segments can be obtained, a set of multiple spaced locations can be generated from the character segments in accordance with the character and quality information, and the material can be marked with the laser beam by directing the laser beam to dwell at the locations and move between the locations without deactivating the laser beam.
B41J 2/47 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using the combination of scanning and modulation of light
A printing apparatus (10, 110) for printing on a substrate (24), the apparatus (10, 110) including a base (11) mounting a storage spool (15) for storing printing ribbon (16) of the kind including a web carrying marking medium, and the base (11) mounting a ribbon take-up spool (20) for taking up ribbon (16), and there being a ribbon path from the storage (15) to the take-up spool (20) through a printing station (22) where there is a print head (25), printing being effected at the printing station (22) when relatively moving the print head (25) and the substrate (24) with the ribbon (16) interposed between substrate (24) and print head (25) so that marking medium is transferred from the ribbon web to the substrate (24), and wherein the apparatus (10, 110) includes a movable ribbon guide member (36; 36a, 36b) about which the ribbon (46) is entrained along the ribbon path, a ribbon guide member drive device (40; 40a, 40b) for moving the movable ribbon guide member (36; 36a, 36b), and there being a controller which, during or inbetween at least some printing operations, controls drive of at least the take-up spool (20) to advance ribbon (16) through the printing station (22), and the controller controlling the movable ribbon guide member in response to an input signal representative of the ribbon tension along the ribbon path to adjust the ribbon tension in the ribbon path.
Solvent-based inkjet ink formulations including an organic solvent, a resin, a surfactant, and a colorant are provided. The inks have many desirable attributes such as extended decap time.
A method of ink volume detection includes pressurizing a supply reservoir (114, 310), monitoring the pressure of the supply reservoir, measuring a transition time between first and second pressures of the supply reservoir during pressurization of the supply reservoir, and determining an ink volume (Vs) within the supply reservoir based on the transition time to pressurize the supply reservoir from the first pressure to the second pressure.
G01F 22/02 - Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for involving measurement of pressure
G01F 23/14 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by measurement of pressure
A hot-melt inkjet printing system (100) includes a first reservoir (114) for holding hot-melt ink (122), a first reservoir heater (126) configured to heat the first reservoir, a second reservoir (134, 200) in fluid communication with the first reservoir, and a jetting assembly (146) in fluid communication with the second reservoir. The second reservoir includes a reservoir body (210), a cavity (212) defined by the reservoir body for holding hot-melt ink, and fins (214) disposed in the cavity.
A method for marking items includes determining production-date information indicative of a production date associated with an item; at least in part on the basis of the production-date information, determining a production-date range corresponding to the production-date information; retrieving expiration-date information corresponding to the production-date information; and marking the item with a mark representative of the expiration-date information.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
38.
Methods of marking and related structures and compositions
Methods are disclosed that include directing electromagnetic radiation and/or heat to a structure, the structure including a substrate, a first layer, and a marking composition between the substrate and the first layer. At least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation and/or heat is transmitted through the first layer and the structure is marked.
A print mechanism positioned in a housing having a pivotably mounted cover and including a ink flow regulator operatively connected to a print cartridge and provided with a plurality of seals to prevent contamination and damage from unwanted ink flow.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Computer programs for use in supply chain management;
computer programs for use in inventory, security and control
applications; computer programs for use in image design and
creation; computer programs for use in product marking and
coding; computer programs for use in configuring and
operating commercial printing systems; computer programs for
use in formatting data into a printed format; computer
programs for use in controlling machinery; computer programs
for use in synchronizing data from multiple sources;
computer programs for use in preparing reports.
A printing method includes jetting a curable ink including at least one of an oxetane compound, a siloxane compound, or a sulfide compound onto a substrate.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
(1) Computer programs for use in supply chain management to receive, maintain and control identification of owned inventory; computer graphics programs for use in image design and creation; computer programs for use in generating laser and print markings and coding templates for the products of others; computer programs for use in configuring and operating commercial printing systems; computer programs for use in formatting data into a printable format; computer programs for use in controlling laser and print marking and coding machinery; computer programs for use in synchronizing and controlling data from multiple sources; computer programs for use in preparing reports in graphic or text format for the purposes of supply chain and product production management and regulatory compliance
A dynamically-reconfigurable production line includes an item-interaction unit and an item-identification unit configured to read item data from an item approaching the item-interaction unit. On the basis of the item data, a processor accesses a memory to select particular configuration data stored therein provided by the item-identification unit. The processor then causes an actuator to reconfigure the production line consistent with the particular configuration data.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
A system for authenticating a merchandise unit includes a memory for storing an electronic product code obtained from and identifying the merchandise unit, and a sensor for detecting an attribute of a marking medium associated with the merchandise unit. The system is configured to output data representative of the attribute and the identity of the merchandise unit.
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to pulse laser printing. In general, in one implementation, an apparatus includes: a laser operable to produce a pulsed printing beam; an optics assembly operable to focus and direct the pulsed printing beam; and electronics communicatively coupled with the laser and the optics assembly, the electronics being operable to control the laser and the optics assembly to generate power pulses of the pulsed printing beam in synchronization with a series of moves that steer the pulsed printing beam in a non-raster scanning pattern to predefined locations on a material to alter an optical characteristic of the material at the predefined locations, which are arranged to form at least a portion of a symbol. The electronics may deliver the power pulses in synchronization with arrival at the predefined locations, and the electronics may be configured to receive sensed feedback in a closed loop.
B41J 2/47 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using the combination of scanning and modulation of light
B41J 2/435 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
computer programs for use in supply chain management to receive, maintain and control identification of owned inventory; computer graphics programs for use in image design and creation; computer programs for use in generating laser and print markings and coding templates for the products of others; computer programs for use in configuring and operating commercial printing systems; computer programs for use in formatting data into a printable format; computer programs for use in controlling laser and print marking and coding machinery; computer programs for use in synchronizing and controlling data from multiple sources; computer programs for use in preparing reports in graphic or text format for the purposes of supply chain and product production management and regulatory compliance
A method and associated software and a system for automatic package marking makes use of specification of an image for a package. The specification includes specifications of data fields for marking on a package. Data values for the data fields are received from multiple data sources. Images are formed based on the received data values and the specification of the image.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
A method for allocating serial numbers among packaging sites includes receiving, from a packaging site, a query directed to a first server for the identity of a second server, providing the packaging site with information, from the first server, the information leading to the second server, receiving, from the packaging site, a query directed to the second server for the identity of a third server, providing the packaging site information, from the second server, the information leading to the third server. The method also includes receiving, from the packaging site, a query directed to the third server; and providing the packaging site at least one serial number from the third server.
A system converts graphic images, such as those created by graphics applications, to a format that can be efficiently printed on a material by a laser printing system. An image can be converted to a set of locations by defining progressively smaller contours of the image, and a material can be marked by directing a laser beam according to the locations. Converting the image can involve identifying a set of points that trace boundary pixels of a marking area of the image such that the set of points form a contour of the marking area, removing the boundary pixels from further consideration with respect to defining the contours for the marking area, repeating the identifying and the removing until all pixels of interest in the marking area have been considered, and determining the locations from the identified points.
B41J 2/47 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using the combination of scanning and modulation of light
B23K 26/10 - Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece using a fixed support
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Electronic overprinters for printing batch codes, best before end dates, bar codes and/or variable information directly onto packaging materials, labels and products.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
electronic over printers for printing batch codes, best before end dates, bar codes and/or variable information directly onto packaging materials, labels and products
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Marketing and promotion (including via electronic networks) of electronic equipment used for the identification of goods and physical persons and software thereto, electronic equipment and software thereto being used for the automatisation of corporate logistics, downloadable software; systematizing of data in databases accessible via the Internet; administrative and accounting services concerning transactions and orders received via the Internet. Services rendered by engineers.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
30 - Basic staples, tea, coffee, baked goods and confectionery
Goods & Services
(1) Computer programs for configuring and operating commercial printing systems and for formatting data into a printed format; laser printers; ink jet printers; thermal transfer printers; etching gravure plates and rolls.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Computer programs for configuring and operating commercial printing systems and for formatting data into a printed format; laser printers; ink jet printers; thermal transfer printers; etching gravure plates and rolls.
01 - Chemical and biological materials for industrial, scientific and agricultural use
02 - Paints, varnishes, lacquers
03 - Cosmetics and toiletries; cleaning, bleaching, polishing and abrasive preparations
07 - Machines and machine tools
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
17 - Rubber and plastic; packing and insulating materials
Goods & Services
(1) Marking machines; type elements and ink for marking machines.
(2) Cleaning compounds used for cleaning inks and marking compounds from various parts of printing machines and ink thinning compounds.
(3) Roll leaf comprising coloring agents releasable supported on a carrier.
