IP Library Granted Patent US 10,780,721
Granted Patent B2
US 10,780,721 · App. 15/473,944 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Detecting label stops

Inventor: Erik Unemyr (Singapore, SG)
Assignee: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
B41J13/0009B41J3/4075B41J11/46
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,780,721
App. No.
15/473,944
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

For detecting label stops in a label printer, a label stop sensing device is provided. In one implementation, the label stop sensing device comprises a sensor configured to sense print media being fed through a printer, wherein the print media comprises a plurality of labels separated by gaps. Also, the label stop sensing device includes a gap detecting module having a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) module. The FFT module is configured to receive time domain signals of the sensed print media from the sensor and to obtain frequency domain signals. The gap detecting module is configured to detect the gaps between the labels on the print media based on at least the frequency domain signals.

Claims (29)

1. A label stop sensing device comprising:

a sensor configured to sense print media being fed through a printer, the print media comprising a first label and a second label separated by a label stop; and

a label stop detecting module configured to receive a time domain signal from the sensor, the label stop detecting module configured to perform a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the time domain signal to obtain a frequency domain signal, the label stop detecting module configured to detect the label stop separating the first label and the second label on the print media based on the frequency domain signal.

2. The label stop sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the label stop detecting module is configured to use the frequency domain signal obtained by performing the FFT to predict a position of the label stop for reducing a likelihood of missing detection of a gap between the first label and the second label.

3. The label stop sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the label stop detecting module is configured to use the frequency domain signal obtained by performing the FFT to filter out false gap detection when pre-printed media is fed through the printer.

4. The label stop sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a photoelectric sensor.

5. The label stop sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an analog signal from the sensor and convert the analog signal to a digital signal, wherein the ADC is further configured to output the digital signal to the label stop detecting module.

6. The label stop sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising a memory device configured to store a table utilized by the label stop detecting module.

7. The label stop sensing device of claim 6 , wherein the memory device is configured to store a time domain table that includes a magnitude value in the time domain.

8. The label stop sensing device of claim 6 , wherein the memory device is configured to store a frequency domain table that includes reoccurring frequencies with associated magnitude values and phase values in the frequency domain.

9. The label stop sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the label stop detecting module is configured to detect if signal magnitude values exceed a predetermined threshold value and if signal magnitude values correlate to information in the frequency domain table.

10. A label stop sensing device comprising:

a sensor configured to sense print media being fed through a printer, the print media comprising a first label and a second label separated by a label stop;

a label stop detecting module configured to receive a time domain signal from the sensor, the label stop detecting module configured to perform a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the time domain signal to obtain a frequency domain signal, the label stop detecting module configured to detect the label stop separating the first label and the second label on the print media based on the frequency domain signal; and

a memory device configured to store a table utilized by the label stop detecting module, wherein the memory device is configured to store a time domain table that includes a magnitude value in the time domain.

11. The label stop sensing device of claim 10 , wherein the label stop detecting module is configured to use the frequency domain signal obtained by performing the FFT to predict a position of the label stop for reducing a likelihood of missing detection of a gap between the first label and the second label.

12. The label stop sensing device of claim 10 , wherein the label stop detecting module is configured to use the frequency domain signal obtained by performing the FFT to filter out false gap detection when pre-printed media is fed through the printer.

13. The label stop sensing device of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a photoelectric sensor.

14. The label stop sensing device of claim 10 , further comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) configured to receive an analog signal from the sensor and convert the analog signal to a digital signal, the ADC further configured to output the digital signal to the label stop detecting module.

15. The label stop sensing device of claim 10 , wherein the memory device is configured to store a frequency domain table that includes reoccurring frequencies with respective associated magnitude values and phase values in the frequency domain.

16. The label stop sensing device of claim 15 , wherein the label stop detecting module is configured to detect if the respective associated magnitude values exceed a predetermined threshold value and if respective associated magnitude values correlate to information in the frequency domain table.

17. A method of a label stop sensing device, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing print media being fed through a printer, the print media comprising a first label and a second label separated by a gap;

performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the sensed print media to obtain a phase value in a frequency domain;

accessing, a second table that includes reoccurring frequencies with respective associated magnitude values and phase values in the frequency domain that is obtained based on performing the FFT on the sensed print media; and

detecting the gap between the first label and the second label on the print media based on a frequency domain signal derived from the performing the FFT.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the performing the FFT to help predict a location of the gap and to filter out false gap detection when pre-printed media is fed through the printer.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the detecting the gap includes detecting if a signal magnitude value exceeds a predetermined threshold value and if the signal magnitude value correlates to information in the second table.

20. The method of claim 17 , comprising, accessing, a first table that includes a magnitude value in a time domain.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE IS HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 062308 FRAME: 0749. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 1, 2023
From: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
To: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062639/0020 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2023
From: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
To: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062308/0749 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2017
From: UNEMYR, ERIK KARL HENNING
To: DATAMAX-O'NEIL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041796/0004 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180281475A1 · Oct 4, 2018