Printer side verification mechanism
View Patent ↗A method includes generating a machine readable code using each ink color implemented at a printer, printing the machine readable code on a first side of the medium, analyzing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a verification unit and detecting a side mismatch if the verification unit does not verify the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium.
1. A method comprising:
generating a machine readable code having multi-color marks including each ink color implemented at a printer;
printing the machine readable code on a first side of a medium;
analyzing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a verification unit; and
detecting an error if the verification unit does not verify that each color of the multi-color marks is readable.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
printing the machine readable code on a second side of the medium;
analyzing the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium at the verification unit; and
detecting an error if the verification unit does not verify that each color of the machine readable code is readable on the second side of the medium.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein analyzing the machine readable code at the verification unit comprises:
reading the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a first reader; and
reading the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium at a second reader.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:
comparing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium with the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium; and
detecting a side mismatch if the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium does not match the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine readable code comprises a barcode.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein printing the barcode comprises varying colors for each character in a string of characters comprising the barcode.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein printing the barcode comprises varying colors for each bar comprising the barcode.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein printing the barcode comprises varying color segments in each bar of the barcode.
9. The method of claim 5 wherein a density is specified for each color printed in the barcode.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the machine readable code comprises modulated-size marks.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein each mark comprises contiguous strips of color.
12. A printer comprising:
a first print head to print a machine readable code on a first side of a medium; and
a side verification unit to generate the machine readable code having multi-color marks including each ink color implemented at a printer, analyze the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium and detect an error if the verification unit does not verify that each color of the multi-color marks is readable.
13. The printer of claim 12 wherein the printer further comprises a second print head to print the machine readable code on a second side of the medium.
14. The printer of claim 13 wherein the side verification unit comprises:
a verification unit, including:
a first reader to read the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium; and
a second reader to read the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium; and
a control unit to determine that the machine readable code is detected at the first and second readers.
15. The printer of claim 14 wherein the control unit further compares the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium with the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium and detects a side mismatch if the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium does not match the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium.
16. The printer of claim 13 wherein the machine readable code is a barcode.
17. The printer of claim 16 wherein the barcode comprises varying colors for each character in a string of characters comprising the barcode.
18. The printer of claim 16 wherein the barcode comprises varying colors for each bar comprising the barcode.
19. The printer of claim 16 wherein the barcode comprises varying color segments in each bar of the barcode.
20. The printer of claim 16 wherein a density is specified for each color printed in the barcode.
21. The printer of claim 13 wherein the machine readable code is modulated-size marks.
22. The printer of claim 21 wherein each mark comprises contiguous strips of color.
23. An article of manufacture comprising a machine-readable medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
generating a machine readable code having multi-color marks of including each ink color implemented at a printer;
printing the machine readable code on a first side of a medium;
analyzing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a verification unit; and
detecting an error if the verification unit does not verify that each color of the multi-color marks is readable.
24. The article of manufacture of claim 23 including data that, when accessed by the machine, cause the machine to perform further operations comprising:
printing the machine readable code on a second side of the medium;
analyzing the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium at the verification unit; and
detecting a side mismatch if the verification unit does not verify that each color of the machine readable code is readable on the second side of the medium.
25. The article of manufacture of claim 24 wherein analyzing the machine readable code at the verification unit comprises:
reading the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a first reader; and
reading the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium at a second reader.
26. The article of manufacture of claim 25 wherein the machine-accessible medium includes data that causes the machine to perform further operations comprising:
comparing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium with the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium; and
detecting a side mismatch if the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium does not match the machine readable code printed on the second side of the medium.
27. The article of manufacture of claim 24 wherein the machine readable code comprises a barcode.
28. The article of manufacture of claim 24 wherein the machine readable code comprises modulated-size marks.