Printing apparatus and method for printing on an elongated member such as a tube
AssigneeSumimoto Electric Interconnect Products, Inc.
InventorJohn B. French
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printing apparatus including a supporting structure and structure for mounting a reel for rotation on the supporting structure. Tubing is wound on the reel and encoded information relating to a characteristic of the tubing is provided on the reel. The tubing can be pulled from the reel and moved through the printing apparatus. A controllable printer is mounted on the supporting structure for printing on the tubing. A sensor senses the encoded information and a microprocessor controls the printer in accordance with the encoded information sensed by the sensor so that the printer is controlled in accordance with the characteristic of the tubing.
Claims22
A printing apparatus for printing on an elongated member wherein encoded information relating to at least one characteristic of the elongated member is associated with the elongated member, said printing apparatus comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a controllable printer mounted on the supporting structure for printing on the elongated member, said printer including a printhead;
- sensor means for sensing the encoded information;
- means for controlling the printer in accordance with the encoded information whereby the printer is controlled in accordance with said characteristic of the elongated member, said controlling means including means for justifying the printhead from a central region of the printhead;
- and
- means for centering the elongated member on the central region of the printhead.
A printing apparatus for printing on an elongated member comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a printer including a thermal printhead having a plurality of heatable dots and a platen;
- means for mounting the platen on the supporting structure;
- means for mounting the printhead on the supporting structure for pivotal movement relative to the supporting structure and platen to allow an elongated member of varying dimensions to pass between the printhead and the platen;
- means for advancing the elongated member through the printer between the printhead and the platen;
- and
- means for justifying the printhead from a central region of the printhead whereby the printing on the elongated member by the printer is centered on the central region of the printhead regardless of a length of any line printed on the elongated member.
A method of printing on tubing wherein encoded information relating to at least one characteristic of the tubing is associated with the tubing, said method comprising:
- sensing the encoded information using a sensor;
- advancing the tubing through a printer;
- and
- controlling the printer in accordance with the encoded information whereby the printer is controlled in accordance with said characteristic of the tubing.
A printing apparatus for printing on an elongated member wherein encoded information relating to at least one characteristic of the elongated member is associated with the elongated member, said printing apparatus comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a controllable printer mounted on the supporting structure for printing on the elongated member;
- sensor means for sensing the encoded information;
- means for controlling the printer in accordance with the encoded information whereby the printer is controlled in accordance with said characteristic of the elongated member;
- the elongated member being wound on a reel and the printing apparatus including means for mounting the reel for rotation on the supporting structure whereby the elongated member can be unwound from the reel and moved through the printing apparatus;
- and
- the mounting means for the reel including a wall for use in supporting the reel, at least a portion of said wall including a transparent window and said sensor means including an optical sensor carried by the mounting means so the optical sensor can sense the encoded information through the window.
A printing apparatus for printing on an elongated member wherein encoded information relating to at least one characteristic of the elongated member is associated with the elongated member, said printing apparatus comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a controllable printer for printing on the elongated member, said printer including a printhead and a platen;
- means for mounting the printhead on the supporting structure for pivotal movement about at least first and second generally transverse pivot axis with the pivotal movement of the printhead about said first pivot axis in one direction moving the printhead away from the platen to accommodate a greater thickness of the elongated member and to facilitate access to the printhead;
- sensor means for sensing the encoded information;
- and
- means for controlling the printer in accordance with the encoded information whereby the printer is controlled in accordance with said characteristic of the elongated member.
A printing apparatus for printing on tubing wherein encoded information relating to at least one characteristic of the tubing is associated with the tubing, said printing apparatus comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a controllable printer mounted on the supporting structure;
- means for advancing the tubing past the printer;
- means for printing on the tubing as the tubing moves past the printer;
- sensor means for sensing the encoded information;
- and
- means for controlling the printer in accordance with the encoded information whereby the printer is controlled in accordance with said characteristic of the tubing.
A printing apparatus for printing on an elongated member comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a printer including a thermal printhead having a plurality of heatable dots and a platen;
- means for mounting the platen on the supporting structure;
- means for mounting the printhead on the supporting structure for pivotal movement about an axis and relative to the supporting structure and platen;
- means for advancing the elongated member in a first direction through the printer between the printhead and the platen;
- said first direction and said axis extending generally in the same direction;
- and
- means for justifying the printhead from a central region of the printhead whereby the printing on the elongated member by the printer is centered on the central region of the printhead regardless of the length of any line printed on the elongated member.
A method of printing on an elongated tubular member wherein encoded information relating to at least one characteristic of the elongated tubular member is associated with the elongated tubular member, said method comprising:
- sensing the encoded information using a sensor;
- advancing the elongated tubular member through a printer;
- and
- controlling the printer in accordance with the encoded information whereby the printer is controlled in accordance with said characteristic of the elongated tubular member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.