Validation of consumables
AssigneeEsselte N.V.
InventorsKris Vandermeulen, Jos Vleurinck, Geert Heyse
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printing apparatus using a consumable associated with an identifier the apparatus comprising, printing means for printing an image onto an image receiving substrate reading means for reading the identifier: storage means for holding a list of any previously used identifiers associated with empty consumables, and a processor arranged to compare the identifier read by the reading means with the list of any previously used identifiers and to generate an invalid indication if there is a match.
Claims33
-20. (canceled)
A consumable comprising:
- at least one material selected from the group consisting of image receiving substrate and thermal transfer material,
- a first identifier indicative of the origin of the consumable, and
- a second identifier indicative of the supplier of the consumable.
A method of making a consumable comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of an image receiving substrate and thermal transfer material, the method comprising:
- at a manufacturing location marking the consumable with a first identifier indicative of the origin of the consumable;
- and
- at a secondary location, marking the consumable with a second identifier indicative of the supplier the consumable.
A method of operating a printing apparatus which is adapted to receive a consumable, the method comprising:
- reading an identifier from the consumable, comparing the identifier against a list of any previously used identifiers associated with empty consumables, and
- generating an invalid indication if there is a match.
A printing apparatus using a consumable associated with an identifier, the apparatus comprising:
- a printer mechanism for printing an image onto an image receiving substrate;
- a reader for reading the identifier;
- a storage medium for holding a list of any previously used identifiers associated with empty consumables;
- and
- a processor arranged to compare the identifier read by the reader with the list of any previously used identifiers and to generate an invalid indication if there is a match.
In combination, a printing apparatus and a consumable associated with an identifier, wherein the printing apparatus comprises:
- a printer mechanism for printing an image onto an image receiving substrate;
- a reader for reading the identifier;
- a storage medium for holding a list of any previously used identifiers associated with empty consumables;
- and
- a processor arranged to compare the identifier read by the reader with the list of any previously used identifiers and to generate an invalid indication if there is a match.
A consumable comprising:
- at least one material selected from the group consisting of image receiving substrate and thermal transfer material,
- a first identifier which uniquely identifies the consumable, and
- a second identifier indicative of the supplier of the consumable.
A consumable comprising:
- at least one material selected from the group consisting of image receiving substrate and thermal transfer material,
- a first identifier programmed during fabrication, and
- a second identifier additionally inserted to the first identifier and including information indicative of the supplier of the consumable.
A method of making a consumable comprising:
- at least one material selected from the group consisting of an image receiving substrate and thermal transfer material, the method comprising:
- marking the consumable with a first identifier which uniquely defines the consumable, and additionally marking the consumable with a second identifier indicative of the supplier of the consumable.
A method of making a consumable comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of an image receiving substrate and thermal transfer material, the method comprising:
- marking the consumable with a first identifier during manufacturing;
- and
- inserting additionally to the first identifier a second identifier, including information indicative of the supplier of the consumable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.