Patent Application
20240308238
This application relates generally to a label printing system. The application relates more particularly to protecting information during indirect thermal label printing.
Label printers typically print indicia, such as mailing addresses, onto a label that has adhesive on one side. The adhesive is generally covered with a release paper, or liner, that is removed prior to the label being placed onto the desired object, such as a letter or a box for shipping. Label printing may be done conventionally, such as with a printhead for deposition of toner or ink. Label printing may also be done by thermal printing.
There are two basic systems for thermal printing, direct thermal and thermal transfer. Both systems use a thermal printhead and an image receiving surface. Direct thermal printing uses chemically treated, heat-sensitive media that blackens when it passes under the thermal printhead. Thermal transfer or indirect printing uses a heated ribbon to produce durable, long-lasting images on a wide variety of materials.
Direct thermal printing is simple, but bears disadvantages. A label printed on thermal paper can discolor when exposed to sufficient heat, obliterating all or some of the printed content. Thermal transfer printing is not so affected, and generally provides a cleaner image.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
Dual sided label printing allows for providing information, such as shipping address on a top side of a label. Additional information, such as a packing list or a return label, can be printed on the reverse side, saving printing and media costs. Commercially available dual sided label printers include models such as the BA410T series and BA420T series offered by Toshiba TEC. These models provide direct thermal printing on one side of a label and indirect or thermal transfer printing on the other side.
Example embodiments herein are directed to label printers that print individual labels from label stock removed from a spool or fanfold media. It is to be understood that any suitable printing system may be used. Thermal transfer printing has efficiency advantages over direct thermal printing. Thermal transfer printing requires transferring an image via a print ribbon. Once printing is done, exposed print ribbon can be wound on a spool or roller which can then be discarded.
Exposed print ribbon media includes a negative image corresponding to each printed label. If one were to obtain a discarded roll of exposed print ribbon, one could discern information about each label. For shipping labels, such information may include customer information valuable to a competitor. For prescription labels, such information may include provide private healthcare information, such as identifying a patient and their associated medication and dosing. This could result in a breach of privacy, rendering the labeler civilly liable. The labeler could also be criminally liable for breaches that include identifiable personal medical information in accordance with the U.S. Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
In accordance with the subject application,
After printing, exposed transfer ribbon 138′ is wound onto used ribbon roller 146 and, while exposed, is contacted by heated fuse roller 150, heated by any suitable means, such as electrical resistance or induction heating. Fuse roller 150 is suitably rotated by contact with counter-rotating drive motor 154. In the illustrated example, exposed transfer ribbon 138′ contacts used ribbon roller 146 and fuse roller 150 at nip 158. Fuse roller 150 is heated to a suitable temperature at which newly spooled exposed transfer ribbon is erased and/or fused to previously exposed and heated transfer ribbon, rendering any latent images to be obliterated and/or unreadable.
Turning now to
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a storage interface 306 for reading or writing to a data storage system 308, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a network interface controller (NIC) 330, which provides a data path to any suitable network or device connection, such as a suitable wireless data connection via wireless network interface 338. A suitable data connection to a print server is via a data network, such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), which may comprise the Internet, or any suitable combination thereof. A digital data connection is also suitably directly with a print server, such as via Bluetooth, optical data transfer, Wi-Fi direct, or the like.
Processor 304 is also in data communication with a user input/output (I/O) interface 340 which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as touch screen display 344 via display generator 346, as well as keyboards, control buttons, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like. Processor 304 is also in data communication with sensor 350, suitably comprised of non-contact reflective object sensor for sensing slack in a continuous ribbon of unprinted labels. It will be understood that functional units are suitably comprised of intelligent units, including any suitable hardware or software platform.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.
