Closed-loop printing registration systems, devices, components and methods
View Patent ↗Closed-loop printing registration systems (e.g., printers), devices, components and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a printer reproduces continuously and sequentially on a sheet of paper invisible ink landmarks that mimic registration information provided initially by permanent invisible ink markers disposed on a platform or platen. According to one embodiment, once the first row of invisible ink landmarks has been printed on a sheet of paper, the first and subsequent rows of invisible ink landmarks provide a basis for continuous registration and alignment of sheet of the paper as it is being printed upon and advanced through the printer. In other embodiments, one or two invisible ink landmarks dispensed on a sheet of paper, preferably in combination with a sensed edge or corner of a sheet of paper, provide sufficient information for a sheet of paper to be registered and aligned initially with respect to a print head or carriage, and for subsequent invisible ink landmarks to be deposited on the sheet of paper at locations which are determined.
1. A method of registering a sheet of paper in a printer, comprising:
aligning at least one of an edge or a corner of a sheet of paper with at least portions of one or more permanent invisible ink markers disposed on, in or under a platform located beneath or above the sheet;
aligning at least portions of a sensor assembly with one or more of at least portions of the one or more permanent invisible ink markers and at least portions of one or more invisible ink landmarks that have previously been dispensed on the sheet, and
dispensing a plurality of invisible ink paper registration landmarks onto the sheet of paper in response to the sensors detecting at least one of at least some of the permanent invisible ink markers and at least some of the invisible ink landmarks.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pivoting the sheet of paper to align the edge with the at least portions of one or more of the permanent invisible ink markers and at least portions of one or more of the invisible ink landmarks.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing at least one of a top edge, a side edge, and a bottom edge of the sheet as the edge for alignment with the at least portions of the one or more permanent invisible ink markers and the at least portions of one or more of the invisible ink landmarks.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising configuring the permanent invisible ink markers in at least one of a horizontally-oriented row and a vertically-oriented column.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dispensing the invisible ink paper registration landmarks along at least one of a horizontally-oriented row and a vertically-oriented column on the sheet.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising registering the deposition of a subsequently-applied row of invisible ink landmarks on the sheet using a first-applied row of invisible ink landmarks on the sheet.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dispensing visible ink onto the sheet at or about the same time as invisible ink landmarks are being dispensed onto the sheet.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating the visible ink dispenser and the invisible ink dispenser into one of a single assembly and a single cartridge.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising incorporating the visible ink dispenser and the invisible ink dispenser into different and physically separate assemblies.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pivoting the sheet of paper such that the edge is aligned in a predetermined orientation with respect to at least one of the permanent invisible ink marks and the invisible ink landmarks.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the plurality of sensors as a sensor array.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising confirming, with the sensor assembly, the presence and proper alignment and registration of at least one of the invisible ink markers and the invisible ink landmarks.
13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising providing invisible ink for the invisible ink dispenser, the invisible ink comprising one or more of an ultraviolet (UV) dye or an infrared (IR) dye which fluoresces when exposed to a UV or IR light source, respectively.
14. A method of registering a sheet of paper in a printer, comprising:
aligning an edge and a corner of a sheet of paper with a sensor assembly or an imager;
dispensing an invisible ink paper registration landmark onto the sheet of paper;
determining the position of the invisible ink landmark using the sensor assembly or the imager, and
registering or aligning a print carriage with respect to the sheet of paper on the basis of the position of the invisible ink landmark.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the print carriage is moved to effect registration and alignment between the carriage and sheet of paper.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sheet of paper is moved to effect registration and alignment between the carriage and the sheet of paper.