Encoder-based control of printhead firing in a label printer

A method of printing to a label media based on a position of the label media, the method comprising:

• positioning the media in an initial position;
• moving the media from the initial position;
• tracking the movement of the media using an encoder by rotating an encoder shaft as the media moves thereover and monitoring the rotation of the encoder shaft with the encoder;
• sending an interrupt signal to a controller when the rotation of the encoder shaft interrupts encoder optical reflections;
• controlling, with a controller programmed to receive the interrupt signal from the encoder, printhead printing by generating a print signal to be sent to the printhead based on the interrupt signal;
• and
• printing to the label media using a printhead based on the tracking of the movement of the media.

A media positioning and printing system comprising:

• a printhead assembly having a printhead;
• a controller for controlling firing of the printhead;
• a label media to be printed to by the firing of the printhead;
• and
• an encoder system in operational association with the printhead assembly, the encoder system including an encoder shaft having an encoder traction roller securably attached to the encoder shaft, the label media riding along the encoder traction roller, and an encoder attached to the encoder shaft for monitoring the rotation of the encoder shaft and transmitting a signal to the controller, the encoder including an optical source, an optical detector and a reflective optical disk that rotates with the encoder shaft, the reflective optical disk having a reflective pattern, the optical source generating an optical signal, and the reflective optical disk reflecting the optical signal back to the optical detector, the reflective pattern having non-reflective spaces, the optical detector not receiving a reflected optical signal when the optical signal hits the non-reflective spaces of the optical disk, thereby interrupting the optical signal;
• wherein, when the encoder shaft rotates, the encoder optical signal is alternately reflected and interrupted so as create a signal interruption, and when the optical signal is interrupted, each resulting signal interruption corresponding to a label media travel distance, the encoder sends a signal to the controller and the controller, based on the signal from the encoder, sends a firing signal to the printhead to fire the printhead in order to effect printing of the label media based on the label media travel distance.

A method of printing in a label printer, the method comprising:

• providing an encoder, an encoder shaft connected to the encoder, a printhead for printing, and a controller for controlling the encoder and the printhead;
• rotating the encoder shaft to generate an encoder shaft rotation;
• optically monitoring the rotation of the encoder shaft;
• generating an optical signal within the encoder;
• interrupting the optical signal based on the rotation of the encoder shaft;
• sending a signal from the encoder to the controller based on the interruption of the optical signal;
• sending a printhead firing signal from the controller to the printhead to print;
• and
• firing the printhead based on the printhead firing signal sent from the controller to the printhead.

A method of printing to a media comprising:

• passing the media over an encoder traction roller, the encoder traction roller connected to an encoder shaft;
• rotating the encoder shaft as a result of the media travelling over the encoder traction roller;
• monitoring the rotation of the encoder shaft with an encoder;
• and
• firing a printhead based upon the monitoring of the rotation of the encoder shaft.

A media positioning and printing system for use with a label media comprising:

• a printhead assembly having a printhead;
• a controller for controlling firing of the printhead;
• and
• an encoder system in operational association with the printhead assembly, the encoder system including an encoder shaft having an encoder traction roller securably attached to the encoder shaft, the label media riding along the encoder traction roller, and an encoder attached to the encoder shaft for monitoring the rotation of the encoder shaft and transmitting a signal to the controller, the encoder including an optical source, an optical detector and a reflective optical disk that rotates with the encoder shaft, the reflective optical disk having a reflective pattern, the optical source generating an optical signal, and the reflective optical disk reflecting the optical signal back to the optical detector, the reflective pattern having non-reflective spaces, the optical detector not receiving a reflected optical signal when the optical signal hits the non-reflective spaces of the optical disk, thereby interrupting the optical signal;
• wherein, when the encoder shaft rotates, the encoder optical signal is alternately reflected and interrupted so as create a signal interruption, and when the optical signal is interrupted, each resulting signal interruption corresponding to a label media travel distance, the encoder sends a signal to the controller and the controller, based on the signal from the encoder, sends a firing signal to the printhead to fire the printhead in order to effect printing of the label media based on the label media travel distance.