System for processing media units and an associated media roll
View Patent ↗Media rolls, support structures for the media rolls, and media processing systems are provided. A media roll may include an identification transponder having retrievable information regarding the media units and associated media unit transponders wound around a core of the media roll. A support structure may include a spindle for supporting a media roll and include an identification coupler for communicating with the identification transponder. In addition to the spindle having the identification coupler, the media processing systems may include a second coupler for encoding the media unit transponders and a printhead for printing indicia onto the media units. The information retrieved from the identification transponder may be used to adjust one or more encoding and/or printing settings of the systems.
1. A media roll comprising:
a core;
a plurality of media units wound about the core, wherein one or more of the plurality of media units include one or more media unit transponders;
an identification transponder attached to the core and having retrievable information pertaining to the plurality of media units, wherein:
the retrievable information includes parameters for configuring an encoding operation of the one or more media unit transponders; and
the parameters differ from that which is stored on the one or more media unit transponders; and
a RF field insulator positioned between the identification transponder and the plurality of media units, wherein the RF field insulator is configured to electromagnetically isolate the identification transponder from the plurality of media units making the identification transponder less susceptible to interference from the plurality of media units during retrieval of the retrievable information.
2. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the identification transponder being at least partially embedded into the core.
3. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the core extends from a first end to a second end and includes an outer surface and an inner surface and the identification transponder is attached to the outer surface.
4. The media roll according to claim 3 , wherein the RF field insulator being a ferrite patch that covers at least the identification transponder opposite the outer surface of the core.
5. The media roll according to claim 4 , wherein the ferrite patch substantially covers the outer surface of the core.
6. The media roll according to claim 4 further comprising a metal foil extending around the core and the ferrite patch.
7. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more media unit transponders are configured to operate within a first frequency band and the identification transponder is configured to operate within a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band.
8. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more media unit transponders are configured to operate with a first communication protocol and the identification transponder is configured to operate with a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol.
9. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes a count of the plurality of media units left on the media roll.
10. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes a count of the plurality of media units that failed to process properly through an RFID system.
11. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes format information.
12. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the parameters useful to encode the one or more media unit transponders includes encoding instructions for the one or more media unit transponders.
13. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information is stored on the identification transponder in Extensible Markup Language.
14. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes an Electronic Product Code.
15. The media roll according to claim 14 , wherein the Electronic Product Code is configured to be written to the one or more media unit transponders.
16. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes information identifying a type of antenna included in the one or more media unit transponders.
17. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes information identifying an operational frequency of the one or more media unit transponders.
18. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes information identifying read/write power levels to be used when communicating with the one or more media unit transponders.
19. The media roll according to claim 1 , wherein the retrievable information includes information identifying optimal media sensor parameters to be used when communicating with the one or more media unit transponders.