Device for producing tags for patient wristbands, a system for producing tags for patient wristbands, and a print medium

A patient wristband tag production apparatus for printing and producing a first information tag precursor and a second information tag precursor, the patient wristband tag production apparatus comprising:

• a printing unit;
• a print medium web having a first perforation running a length of the web and dividing the web into a first tag printing area and a first insertion tab area and a second perforation running a length of the web and dividing the Web into a second tag printing area and a second insertion tab area, the print medium web being configured to produce first and second tag precursors,
• an information acquisition unit for acquiring information to be provided on the first information tag precursors and information to be provided on the second information tag precursors;
• a printing control unit for printing in a first mode in which the information to be provided on the first information tag precursors in the first tag printing area is printed and printing in a second mode in which the information to be provided on the second information tag precursors in the second tag printing area is printed, the printing occurring while advancing the print medium web and the information to be provided on the first information tag precursor being oriented approximately 180 degrees relative to the information to be provided on the second information tag precursor;
• and
• a cutter for cutting across the print medium web width to sever the portion of the print medium web printed by the printing unit as the first information tag precursor or the second information tag precursor,
• wherein the first tag precursors produced from the print medium web have a first printed tag part formed from the first tag printing area on which patient information is printed such that the first tag precursor is configured to be stored in a tag storage part of a patient wristband, and a first insertion tab part formed from the first insertion tab area that is detachably connected to the first printed tag part and is configured to be used for inserting the first printed tag part into a tag storage part, and
• wherein the second tag precursors produced from the print medium web have a second printed tag part formed from the second tag printing area on which patient information is printed such that the second tag precursor is configured to be stored in a tag storage part, and, a second insertion tab part formed from the second insertion tab area that is detachably connected to the second printed tag part and is configured to be used for inserting the second printed tag part into a tag storage part.

A patient wristband tag production system for producing a tag precursor configured to be inserted into a patient wristband, the patient wristband tag production system comprising:

• a patient wristband having a tag storage part;
• and
• an apparatus for printing and producing a tag precursor, the apparatus including:
• a printing unit;
• a print medium web having a perforation running a length of the web and dividing the web into a first area and a second area, the print medium web being configured to produce tag precursors;
• an information acquisition unit for acquiring patient identification information;
• a printing control unit for printing the acquired patient identification information while advancing the print medium web, the printing control unit having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;
• and
• a cutter for cutting across the print medium web width to sever the portion of the print medium web printed by the printing unit as the tag precursors;
• wherein the printing control unit is configured to print at least a portion of acquired patient identification information in the first area in the first mode of operation such that the first area is a first tag printing area and the second area is a first insertion tab area;
• wherein the printing control unit is configured to print at least a portion of acquired patient identification information in the second area in the second mode of operation such that the second area is a second tag printing area and the first area is a second insertion tab area, the patient identification information printed in the first tag printing area being oriented approximately 180 degrees relative to the patient identification information printed in the second tag printing area;
• and
• wherein the first and second tag printing areas of the tag precursors produced from the print medium web are first and second printed tag parts, respectively, on which patient identification information is printed and the first and second insertion tab areas of the tag precursors produced from the print medium web are first and second insertion tab parts, respectively, that are detachably connected to the respective first and second printed tag parts and are configured to be used for inserting the respective first and second printed tag parts into tag storage parts of a patient wristband.

A patient tag precursor production apparatus for printing and producing multiple tag precursors, the patient tag precursor production apparatus comprising:

• a printing unit for printing on a print medium web multiple tag precursors, wherein a first tag precursor of the multiple tag precursors has a first printed tag part on which patient identification information is printed and is configured to be stored in a first tag storage part, and a first insertion tab part that is detachably connected to the first printed tag part and is configured to be used for inserting the first printed tag part into the first tag storage part, and a second tag precursor of the multiple tag precursors has a second printed tag part on which patient information is printed;
• an information acquisition unit for acquiring patient information;
• a printing control unit for printing in a first mode in which at least a portion of the acquired patient information is printed on the first printed tag part and for printing in a second mode in which at least a portion of the acquired patient information is printed on the second printed tag part, the printing occurring while advancing the print medium web, the acquired patient information printed on the first printed tag part being oriented either approximately 180 degrees relative to the portion of the acquired patient information printed on the second printed tag part or approximately 90 degrees relative to the acquired patient information printed on the second printed tag part;
• and
• a cutter for cutting across the print medium web width to sever the portion of the print medium web printed by the printing unit as the multiple tag precursors.