Systems and methods for automatic printer configuration
A self-configuring printer includes a print head configured to print on a print media, and a sensor configured to sense indicia on the print media. The indicia includes a top-of-form mark and at least one data segment. The printer includes a processor in operative communication with the sensor and a memory in operative communication with the processor. The memory stores a set of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a method of operating the printer. The method includes receiving, from the sensor, signals corresponding to the a top-of-form mark and the at least one data segment; determining, from the signals, a top-of-form location of the print media and at least one printer operational property; moving the top-of-form location of the print media to a predetermined position with respect to the print head; and configuring the printer utilizing the at least one printer operational property.
1. A printer, comprising:
a print head configured to print on a plurality of print media sheets;
a sensor configured to sense indicia on each of the plurality of print media sheets, the indicia comprising:
a top-of-form mark and
at least one data segment encoding a number of remaining print media sheets, comprising:
at least one mark, and
at least one space, the one mark and the one space together forming a bit mapped representation when decoded;
a processor in operative communication with the sensor;
a memory in operative communication with the processor, the memory storing a set of instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a method of operating the printer, comprising:
receiving, from the sensor, signals corresponding to the a top-of-form mark and the at least one data segment;
determining, from the signals, a top-of-form location of the print media and at least one printer operational property;
moving the top-of-form location of the print media to a predetermined position with respect to the print head; and
configuring the printer utilizing the at least one printer operational property.
2. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data segment further includes a number of sheets.
3. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one data segment further includes one or more digital codes that include thermal print heat settings.
4. The printer of claim 3 , wherein the thermal print heat settings include a temperature, a print speed, a minimum temperature, a maximum temperature, a ramp-up time, a ramp-down time, a security indicator, and/or an authentication indicator.
5. Media for use in a printer, the media comprising:
a plurality of sheets;
a top-of-form mark; and
at least one data segment on each of the plurality of sheets, the data segment including:
at least one mark; and
at least one space,
wherein the at least one mark and the at least one space are decoded to form a bit mapped representation; and
wherein the at least one data segment includes encoding a number of remaining sheets of the media.
6. The media of claim 5 , wherein the at least one data segment further includes a number of sheets.
7. The media of claim 5 , wherein the at least one data segment further includes one or more digital codes that include thermal print heat settings.
8. The media of claim 7 , wherein the thermal print heat settings include a temperature, a print speed, a minimum temperature, a maximum temperature, a ramp-up time, a ramp-down time, a security indicator, and/or an authentication indicator.