Method for controlling a printing process

1. A method for controlling a printing process by which a print head prints an image onto a label affixed to a tube positioned adjacent to the print head and adjacent to a sensor configured to detect optical and/or physical features of the label, the method comprising:

(a) with a controller, transmitting a command to the sensor to detect the presence of the label affixed to the tube, wherein the sensor either:

(1) fails to generate a signal indicating the presence of the label affixed to the tube, or

(2) generates a signal indicating the presence of the label;

(b) when the sensor generates a signal indicating the presence of the label affixed to the tube in step (a)(2), then, with the controller, transmitting a command to the sensor to detect a position of a timing mark on the label, wherein the sensor fails to generate a signal indicating the position of the timing mark on the label affixed to the tube; and

(c) when the sensor fails to generate a signal indicating the presence of the label affixed to the tube in step (a)(1) or the sensor fails to generate a signal indicating the position of the timing mark on the label affixed to the tube in step (b), then, with the controller, selectively activating the print head while effecting relative movement between the print head and the label to print multiple images at multiple positions on the label affixed to the tube.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising, prior to step (a), receiving a signal that a tube has been moved to a position adjacent to the print head, wherein the signal is not transmitted by the sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the print head is a thermal print head and the label comprises thermally sensitive print media.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple images comprise one or more human-readable indicia and/or one or more machine-readable indicia.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple images comprise one or more barcodes.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the label is disposed on a curved surface of the tube, and wherein effecting relative movement between the print head and the label comprises rotating the tube with respect to the print head.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the print head is located within a printing module, and wherein the method comprises:

configuring the printing module in an open configuration to receive the tube;

placing the tube into the printing module;

before printing the multiple images onto the label, configuring the printing module in a printing configuration and securing the tube so that a curved surface of the tube on which the label is affixed is in an operative position with respect to the print head;

after printing the multiple images onto the label, configuring the printing module into the open configuration enabling the tube to be removed from the printing module; and

removing the tube from the printing module.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein effecting relative movement between the print head and the label is performed by a moving assembly located within the printing module and configured and controlled to:

grasp the tube placed into the printing module and effect relative movement between the print head and the label when the printing module is in the printing configuration, and

release the tube when the printing module is in the open configuration, thereby allowing the tube to be removed from the printing module.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the moving assembly comprises:

a carousel configured for powered rotation; and

movable gripper elements configured to be movable between a release position permitting the tube to be placed within or removed from the printing module and a gripping position for securing the tube with respect to the carousel so that the tube rotates with the carousel.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each movable gripper element comprises a gripper assembly that is coupled to the carousel and is configured so that rotation of the carousel in a first direction causes all the gripper assemblies to move radially inwardly to the gripping positions with respect to the tube placed between the gripper assemblies and rotation of the carousel in a second direction opposite the first direction causes all the gripper assemblies to move radially outwardly to the release positions with respect to the tube.

11. A method for controlling a printing process by which a print head prints an image onto a label affixed to a tube positioned adjacent to the print head and adjacent to a sensor configured to detect optical and/or physical features of the label, the method comprising:

(a) with a controller, transmitting a command to the sensor to detect the presence of the label affixed to the tube, wherein the sensor fails to generate a signal indicating the presence of the label affixed to the tube; and

(b) after step (a), with the controller, selectively activating the print head while effecting relative movement between the print head and the label to print multiple images at multiple positions on the label affixed to the tube.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising, prior to step (a), receiving a signal that a tube has been moved to a position adjacent to the print head, wherein the signal is not transmitted by the sensor.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the print head is a thermal print head and the label comprises thermally sensitive print media.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multiple images comprise one or more human-readable indicia and/or one or more machine-readable indicia.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the multiple images comprise one or more barcodes.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the label is disposed on a curved surface of the tube, and wherein effecting relative movement between the print head and the label comprises rotating the tube with respect to the print head.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the print head is located within a printing module, and wherein the method comprises:

configuring the printing module in an open configuration to receive the tube;

placing the tube into the printing module;

before printing the multiple images onto the label, configuring the printing module in a printing configuration and securing the tube so that a curved surface of the tube on which the label is affixed is in an operative position with respect to the print head;

after printing the multiple images onto the label, configuring the printing module into the open configuration enabling the tube to be removed from the printing module; and

removing the tube from the printing module.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein effecting relative movement between the print head and the label is performed by a moving assembly located within the printing module and configured and controlled to:

grasp the tube placed into the printing module and effect relative movement between the print head and the label when the printing module is in the printing configuration, and

release the tube when the printing module is in the open configuration, thereby allowing the tube to be removed from the printing module.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the moving assembly comprises:

a carousel configured for powered rotation; and

movable gripper elements configured to be movable between a release position permitting the tube to be placed within or removed from the printing module and a gripping position for securing the tube with respect to the carousel so that the tube rotates with the carousel.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein each movable gripper element comprises a gripper assembly that is coupled to the carousel and is configured so that rotation of the carousel in a first direction causes all the gripper assemblies to move radially inwardly to the gripping positions with respect to the tube placed between the gripper assemblies and rotation of the carousel in a second direction opposite the first direction causes all the gripper assemblies to move radially outwardly to the release positions with respect to the tube.

21. A method for controlling a printing process by which a print head prints an image onto a label affixed to a tube positioned adjacent to the print head and adjacent to a sensor configured to detect optical and/or physical features of the label, the method comprising:

(a) detecting the presence of the label affixed to the tube with the sensor;

(b) after step (a), with a controller, transmitting a command to the sensor to detect a position of a timing mark on the label affixed to the tube, wherein the sensor fails to generate a signal indicating the position of the timing mark on the label affixed to the tube; and

(c) after step (b), with the controller, selectively activating the print head while effecting relative movement between the print head and the label to print multiple images at multiple positions on the label affixed to the tube.

22. The method of claim 21 , comprising, prior to step (a), receiving a signal that a tube has been moved to a position adjacent to the print head, wherein the signal is not transmitted by the sensor.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the print head is a thermal print head and the label comprises thermally sensitive print media.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the multiple images comprise one or more human-readable indicia and/or one or more machine-readable indicia.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein the multiple images comprise one or more barcodes.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein the label is disposed on a curved surface of the tube, and wherein effecting relative movement between the print head and the label comprises rotating the tube with respect to the print head.

27. The method of claim 21 , wherein the print head is located within a printing module, and wherein the method comprises:

configuring the printing module in an open configuration to receive the tube;

placing the tube into the printing module;

before printing the multiple images onto the label, configuring the printing module in a printing configuration and securing the tube so that a curved surface of the tube on which the label is affixed is in an operative position with respect to the print head;

after printing the multiple images onto the label, configuring the printing module into the open configuration enabling the tube to be removed from the printing module; and

removing the tube from the printing module.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein effecting relative movement between the print head and the label is performed by a moving assembly located within the printing module and configured and controlled to:

grasp the tube placed into the printing module and effect relative movement between the print head and the label when the printing module is in the printing configuration, and

release the tube when the printing module is in the open configuration, thereby allowing the tube to be removed from the printing module.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the moving assembly comprises:

a carousel configured for powered rotation; and

movable gripper elements configured to be movable between a release position permitting the tube to be placed within or removed from the printing module and a gripping position for securing the tube with respect to the carousel so that the tube rotates with the carousel.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein each movable gripper element comprises a gripper assembly that is coupled to the carousel and is configured so that rotation of the carousel in a first direction causes all the gripper assemblies to move radially inwardly to the gripping positions with respect to the tube placed between the gripper assemblies and rotation of the carousel in a second direction opposite the first direction causes all the gripper assemblies to move radially outwardly to the release positions with respect to the tube.