U.S. patent number RE38,957 [Application Number 10/647,821] was granted by the patent office on 2006-01-31 for document verification and tracking system for printed material.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Oce Printing Systems GmbH. Invention is credited to Abhijit Bhattacharya, Leon T. Dietz, Thomas Laussermair, Frank Lorenz, Tony Ribeiro, Michael Schmitt.
United States Patent |
RE38,957 |
Laussermair , et
al. |
January 31, 2006 |
Document verification and tracking system for printed material
Abstract
In a multifunctional printing method and printing system,
printed material is checked, verified and tracked. For that purpose
different test equipments are located in-line with a printing line.
Magnetic information being printed by a printing station onto the
recording carrier using magnetic ink character readable toner may
be in-line tested by a magnetic test equipment, which reads
information from the magnetic recording zone on the carrier.
Optical information may be tested by an in-line mounted optical
test equipment, respectively. Further in-line test equipment is
proposed such as a leaser bar code scanner and an address reader.
The printing line may have additional devices such as print
preprocessing unwinders or print postprocessing stackers, folders
or cutters.
Inventors: |
Laussermair; Thomas (West Palm
Beach, FL), Bhattacharya; Abhijit (Boynton Beach, FL),
Schmitt; Michael (Las Vegas, NV), Ribeiro; Tony (Boca
Raton, FL), Lorenz; Frank (Dingolfing, DE), Dietz;
Leon T. (Apple Valley, MN) |
Assignee: |
Oce Printing Systems GmbH
(Poing, DE)
|
Family
ID: |
23559412 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/647,821 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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09394546 |
Sep 13, 1999 |
6137967 |
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Reissue of: |
09650424 |
Aug 29, 2000 |
06324353 |
Nov 27, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
399/16; 358/462;
382/112; 399/384; 399/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
15/5062 (20130101); G06K 17/00 (20130101); G06K
1/125 (20130101); G06K 5/00 (20130101); G06K
1/121 (20130101); G03G 2215/0013 (20130101); G03G
2215/00067 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03G
15/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;399/1,2,3,15,16,38,49,361,364,384,306 ;347/107 ;358/462,474,498
;382/112,181,183 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 325 516 |
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Jul 1989 |
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FR |
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61-49870 |
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Nov 1986 |
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JP |
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WO 99/24877 |
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May 1999 |
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WO |
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Other References
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 32, No. 4A Sep. 1989
Synthesized MICR Symbol Signals. cited by other.
|
Primary Examiner: Chen; Sophia S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schiff Hardin LLP
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
An electrophotographic printing system adapted to use various
developer stations for different kinds of toner has been described
by the Applicants of the present application already in
WO-A-99/24877 (U.S. Ser. No. 09/254,292, now U.S. Pat. No.
6,236,816).
This application is a continuation-in-part of previous application
Ser. No. 09/394,546 filed Sep. 13, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No.
6,137,967, for "Document Verification And Tracking System For
Printed Material".
Claims
We claim as our invention:
1. A method for printing at least one of optical and magnetic
information onto a continuous web-shaped recording carrier in a
printing line, the carrier comprising at least one of an optical
recording zone and a magnetic recording zone, comprising the steps
of: printing the optical information onto the recording carrier
using optical readable toner or printing the magnetic information
being printed onto the recording carrier using magnetic ink
character recognition toner; and testing by using at least one of a
magnetic test equipment for inspection and an optical image test
equipment for inspection and wherein both the magnetic test
equipment and the optical image test equipment are located in the
printing line and wherein at least one of the test equipments is
used after a print stop has been initiated.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
testings is performed during a print stop.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the testing step is
controlled by a controller which initiates print stops.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein bar codes printed on the
recording carrier are read by bar code equipment.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein signals generated by at
least one of the magnetic test equipment, the bar code read
equipment, and the optical image test equipment are used for
document tracking.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the recording carrier is
transported to a predetermined position with respect to at least
one of the magnetic and optical image test equipments before the
inspection step is initiated.
7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the predetermined
position with respect to at least one of the magnetic and optical
image test equipments is a top-of-page position.
8. The method according to claim 1 including the step of providing
the magnetic test equipment and the optical image test equipment in
a same box which houses a printing station for at least one of the
magnetic information and the optical information.
9. The method according to claim 1 including the step of providing
the magnetic test equipment and the optical image test equipment in
a stand-alone box separate from a housing containing a printer for
at least one of the magnetic information and the optical
information.
10. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for printing at
least one of optical and magnetic information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier, the information being provided as a
data stream from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising
at least one of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording
zone; an optical image test equipment for inspection located in
line with the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or
to recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test
equipment for inspection located in line with the printing line and
adapted to detect magnetic information printed on the recording
carrier; the test equipments are located at an output path of the
printing device; and the optical image test equipment and the
magnetic test equipment being located in a box with the printing
device.
11. A printing line, comprising a printing device for printing at
least one of optical and magnetic information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier, the information being provided as a
data stream from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising
at least one of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording
zone; an optical image test equipment for inspection located in
line with the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or
to recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test
equipment for inspection located in line with the printing line and
adapted to detect magnetic information printed on the recording
carrier; the test equipments are located at an output path of the
printing device; and the optical image test equipment and the
magnetic test experiment being located in a stand-alone box
separate from the printing device.
12. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for printing at
least one of optical and magnetic information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier, the information being provided as a
data stream from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising
at least one of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording
zone; an optical image test equipment for inspection located in
line with the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or
to recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test
equipment for inspection located in line with the printing line and
adapted to detect magnetic information printed on the recording
carrier; the test equipments are located at an output path of the
printing device; and first and second printing devices being
provided and the optical image test equipment and the magnetic test
equipment being located in a stand-alone box after the second
printing device.
13. A method for printing at least one of optical and magnetic
information onto a continuous web-shaped recording carrier in a
printing line, the carrier comprising at least one of an optical
recording zone and a magnetic recording zone, comprising the steps
of: printing the optical information onto the recording carrier
using optical readable toner or printing the magnetic information
being printed onto the recording carrier using magnetic ink
character recognition toner; and testing by using at least one of
magnetic test equipment for inspection and an optical image test
equipment for inspection and wherein both the magnetic test
equipment and the optical image test equipment are located in the
printing line, and wherein the testing step is controlled by a
controller which initiates print stops.
14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the magnetic test
equipment and the optical image the equipment are located in a same
box as a printing station for at least one of the optical
information and the magnetic information.
15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the magnetic test
equipment and the optical image test equipment are located in a
stand-alone box separate from a printing station for at least one
of the optical information and the magnetic information.
16. The method according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the
testings is performed during a print stop.
17. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for printing at
least one of optical and magnetic information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier, the information being provided as a
data stream from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising
at least one of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording
zone; an optical image test equipment for inspection located in
line with the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or
to recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test
equipment for inspection located in line with the printing line and
adapted to detect magnetic information printed on the recording
carrier; a character recognition device connected to a document
contents verification unit which is adapted to compare the
information detected by the character recognition device with the
information provided as a data stream from the electronic data
source; and the optical image test equipment and the magnetic test
equipment being located in the stand-alone box separate from the
printing device.
18. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for printing at
least one of optical and magnetic information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier, the information being provided as a
data stream from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising
at least one of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording
zone; an optical image test equipment for inspection located in
line with the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or
to recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test
equipment for inspection located in line with the printing line and
adapted to detect magnetic information printed on the recording
carrier; a controller which controls a carrier transport unit to
transport the recording carrier upon receipt of a test signal to a
predetermined position with respect to at least one of the test
equipments before the testing step is initiated; and the magnetic
test equipment and the optical image test equipment being located
in a same box as the printing device.
19. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for printing at
least one of optical and magnetic information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier, the information being provided as a
data stream from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising
at least one of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording
zone; an optical image test equipment for inspection located in
line with the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or
to recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test
equipment for inspection located in line with the printing line and
adapted to detect magnetic information printed on the recording
carrier; a controller which controls a carrier transport unit to
transport the recording carrier upon receipt of a test signal to a
predetermined position with respect to at least one of the test
equipments before .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.testing .[.step.]. is
initiated; and the optical image test equipment and the magnetic
test equipment being located in a stand-alone box separate from the
printing device.
20. The printing line according to claim 19 wherein the magnetic
test equipment and the optical image test equipment are provided at
both sides of the web-shape recording carrier.
21. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for printing at
least one of optical and magnetic information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier, the information being provided as a
data stream from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising
at least one of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording
zone; an optical image test equipment for inspection located in
line with the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or
to recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test
equipment for inspection located in line with the printing line and
adapted to detect magnetic information printed on the recording
carrier; a controller which controls a carrier transport unit to
transport the recording carrier upon receipt of a test signal to a
predetermined position with respect to at least one of the test
equipments before .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.testing .[.step.]. is
initiated; and the optical image test equipment comprises a bar
code scanner and a CCD camera and the magnetic test equipment
comprises a magnetic image character reader.
22. A method for printing at least an optical information onto a
continuous web-shaped recording carrier in a printing line, the
carrier comprising at least an optical recording zone, comprising
the steps of: printing the optical information by a printing
station onto the recording carrier using optical readable toner;
testing by using at least an optical image test equipment for
inspection and wherein the optical image test equipment is located
in line in the printing line; inspecting with the optical image
test equipment a front and a backside of the recording carrier with
respective optical sensors positioned at the front and the backside
of the carrier; and the optical image test equipment comprises a
first video camera at a front side and a second video camera at a
backside of the line recording carrier.
23. A testing device for use in a printing line, said printing line
having a printing device for printing at least one of optical and
magnetic information onto a web-shaped recording carrier, the
carrier having at least one of an optical recording zone and a
magnetic recording zone, comprising: a stand-alone box having
contained inside thereof an optical image test equipment for
inspecting the optical recording zone and a magnetic test equipment
for inspecting the magnetic recording zone.
24. The testing device according to claim 23 wherein the
stand-alone box is adapted for mounting at an output path of the
printing device but separate from the printing device.
25. The testing device according to claim 23 wherein the
stand-alone box is located in line with the printing line.
26. The testing device according to claim 23 wherein the optical
image test equipment is located in line with the printing line and
is adapted to inspect print quality or to recognize printed
contents on the recording carrier, and the magnetic test equipment
is located in line with the printing line and is adapted to detect
magnetic information printed on the recording carrier.
27. The testing equipment according to claim 23 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a bar code reading equipment which reads
printed bar code information from the recording carrier.
28. The testing equipment according to claim 23 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a CCD camera.
29. The testing equipment according to claim 23 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a magnetic ink character recognition
reader.
30. The testing equipment according to claim 23 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a digital camera, a laser scanner, and a
magnetic ink character recognition reader.
31. The testing device according to claim 23 wherein the optical
image test equipment and the magnetic test equipment are provided
at both opposite sides of the recording carrier in the stand-alone
box.
32. A testing device for use in a printing line, said printing line
having a printing device for printing at least one of optical and
magnetic information onto a web-shaped recording carrier, the
carrier having at least one of an optical recording zone and a
magnetic recording zone, comprising: a stand-alone box having
contained inside thereof an optical image test equipment for
inspecting the optical recording zone and a magnetic test equipment
for inspecting the magnetic recording zone; and the stand-alone box
being mounted separate from the printing device but in-line in the
printing line.
33. A method for testing in a printing line, comprising the steps
of: providing a printing device for printing at least one of
optical and magnetic information onto a web-shape recording
carrier, the carrier having at least one of an optical recording
zone and a magnetic recording zone; positioning a stand-alone box
at a location after and separate from the printing device and
having contained inside thereof an optical image test equipment for
inspecting the optical recording zone and a magnetic test equipment
for inspecting the magnetic recording zone; and inspecting at least
one of the optical recording zone and the magnetic recording zone
with the optical and magnetic test equipment.
34. The method according to claim 33 including the step of
inspecting the at least one of the optical recording zone and the
magnetic recording zone in in-line fashion with the printing
line.
35. A method for printing at least an optical information onto a
continuous web-shaped recording carrier in a printing line, the
carrier comprising at least an optical recording zone, comprising
the steps of: printing the optical information by a printing
station onto the recording carrier using optical readable toner;
testing by using at least an optical image test equipment for
inspection and wherein the optical image test equipment is located
in line in the printing line; and storing portions of the recording
carrier after it has been printed by the printing station in a
paper buffer.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein the paper buffer is separate
from the printing station.
37. The method of claim 35 wherein the optical image test equipment
is located in a stand-alone box in an output path of the printing
station but separate from the printing device.
38. The method according to claim 35 including the step of using
the test equipment after a print stop of the printing station has
been initiated.
39. A system for printing at least an optical information onto a
continuous web-shaped recording carrier in a printing line, the
carrier comprising at least an optical recording zone, comprising:
a printing station for printing optical information onto the
recording carrier using optical readable toner; an optical image
test equipment for inspection, the optical image test equipment
being located in line in the printing line; and a paper buffer
separate from the printing station for storing portions of the
recording carrier after it has been printed by the printing
station.
40. The system according to claim 39 wherein the optical image test
equipment is located in a stand-alone box in an output path of the
printing device but separate from the printing station.
41. A method for printing at least an optical information onto a
continuous web-shaped recording carrier in a printing line, the
carrier comprising at least an optical recording zone, comprising
the steps of: printing the optical information by a printing
station onto the recording carrier using optical readable toner;
testing by using at least an optical image test equipment for
inspection and wherein the optical image test equipment is located
in line in the printing line; inspecting with the optical image
test equipment a front and a backside of the recording carrier with
respective optical sensors positioned at the front and the backside
of the carrier; and the test equipment is used after a print stop
of the printing station has been initiated.
42. A method for printing optical information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier
comprising at least an optical recording zone, comprising the steps
of: printing the optical information by a printing station onto the
recording carrier using optical readable toner; testing by using an
optical image test equipment for inspection, the optical image test
equipment being located in line in the printing line; and the
testing with the optical image test equipment includes the step of
sending data into at least one of a flat file and a data base to
store and update the at least one of flat file and data base in a
management computer, and to display at least one of status messages
and document locations by the computer.
43. A method according to claim 42 including the step of locating
the optical image test equipment in a stand-alone box in an output
path of the printing station but separate from the printing
device.
44. A method for printing an optical information onto a continuous
web-shape recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier
comprising at least an optical recording zone, comprising the steps
of: printing the optical information by a printing station onto the
recording carrier using optical readable toner; testing by using at
least an optical image test equipment for inspection, the optical
image test equipment being located in line in the printing line;
and providing said optical image test equipment with a data
acquisition system for multi-threaded software capable of reading
and passing data sent by a plurality of scanning systems and
storing the data into at least one of a flat file and a data base
in a form suitable for further processing.
45. The method according to claim 44 including the step of locating
the optical image test equipment in a stand-alone box in an output
path of the printing station but separate from the printing
device.
46. A method for printing at least one of optical, bar code, and
magnetic information onto a continuous web-shaped recording carrier
in a printing line, the carrier comprising at least one of an
optical, bar code, and magnetic ink recording zone, comprising the
steps of: printing at least one of the optical, bar code, and
magnetic ink information by a printing station onto the recording
carrier; testing by using at least one of an optical image, bar
code, and magnetic ink test equipment for inspection and wherein
the at least one of the optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink
test equipment is located in line in the printing device; and
storing portions of the recording carrier after it has been printed
by the printing station in a paper buffer.
47. A method for printing at least one of optical, bar code, and
magnetic ink information onto a continuous web-shape recording
carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising at least one of
an optical, bar code, and magnetic ink recording zone, comprising
the steps of: printing at least one of the optical, bar code, and
magnetic ink information by a printing station onto the recording
carrier; testing by using at least one of an optical image, bar
code, and magnetic ink test equipment for inspection, at least one
of the optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink test equipment
being located in line in the printing line; and the testing with
the at least one of the optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink
test equipment includes the step of sending data into at least one
of a flat file and a data base to store and update the at least one
of the flat file and data base in a management computer, and to
display at least one of status messages and document locations by
the computer.
48. A method for printing at least one of an optical, bar cope, and
magnetic ink information onto a continuous web-shape recording
carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising at least one of
an optical, bar code, and magnetic ink recording zone, comprising
the steps of: printing the at least one of the optical, bar code,
and magnetic ink information by a printing station onto the
recording carrier; testing by using at least one of an optical
image, bar code, and magnetic ink test equipment for inspection,
the at least one of the optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink
test equipment being located in line in the printing line; and
providing the at least one of the optical image, bar code, and
magnetic ink test equipment with a data acquisition system for
multi-threaded software capable of reading and passing data sent by
a plurality of scanning systems and storing the data into at least
one of a flat file and a data base in a form suitable for further
processing.
.Iadd.49. A method for printing at least one of optical and
magnetic information onto a recording carrier in a printing line,
the carrier comprising at least one of an optical recording zone
and a magnetic recording zone, comprising the steps of: printing
the optical information onto the recording carrier using optical
readable toner or printing the magnetic information being printed
onto the recording carrier using magnetic ink character recognition
toner; and testing by using at least one of a magnetic test
equipment for inspection and an optical image test equipment for
inspection and wherein both the magnetic test equipment and the
optical image test equipment are located in the printing line and
wherein at least one of the test equipments is used after a print
stop has been initiated. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.50. The method according to claim 49, wherein at least one of
the testings is performed during a print stop. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.51. The method according to claim 49 wherein the testing step
is controlled by a controller which initiates print stops.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.52. The method according to claim 49 wherein bar codes
printed on the recording carrier are read by bar code equipment.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.53. The method according to claim 52 wherein signals
generated by at least one of the magnetic test equipment, the bar
code read equipment, and the optical image test equipment are used
for document tracking. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.54. The method according to claim 49 wherein the recording
carrier is transported to a predetermined position with respect to
at least one of the magnetic and optical image test equipments
before the inspection step is initiated. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.55. The method according to claim 54 wherein the
predetermined position with respect to at least one of the magnetic
and optical image test equipments is a top-of-page position.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.56. The method according to claim 49 including the step of
providing the magnetic test equipment and the optical image test
equipment in a same box which houses a printing station for at
least one of the magnetic information and the optical information.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.57. The method according to claim 49 including the step of
providing the magnetic test equipment and the optical image test
equipment in a stand-alone box separate from a hosing containing a
printer for at least one of the magnetic information and the
optical information. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.58. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for
printing at least one of optical and magnetic information onto a
recording carrier, the information being provided as a data stream
from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising at least one
of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording zone; an
optical image test equipment for inspection located in line with
the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or to
recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test equipment
for inspection located in line with the printing line and adapted
to detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier;
the test equipments are located at an output path of the printing
device; and the optical image test equipment and the magnetic test
equipment being located in a box with the printing device.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.59. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for
printing at least one of optical and magnetic information onto a
recording carrier, the information being provided as a data stream
from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising at least one
of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording zone; an
optical image test equipment for inspection located in line with
the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or to
recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test equipment
for inspection located in line with the printing line and adapted
to detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier;
the test equipments are located at an output path of the printing
device; and the optical image test equipment and the magnetic test
equipment being located in a stand-alone box separate from the
printing device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.60. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for
printing at least one of optical and magnetic information onto a
recording carrier, the information being provided as a data stream
from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising at least one
of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording zone; an
optical image test equipment for inspection located in line with
the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or to
recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test equipment
for inspection located in line with the printing line and adapted
to detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier;
the test equipments are located at an output path of the printing
device; and first and second printing devices being provided and
the optical image test equipment and the magnetic test equipment
being located in a stand-alone box after the second printing
device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.61. A method for printing at least one of optical and
magnetic information onto a recording carrier in a printing line,
the carrier comprising at least one of an optical recording zone
and a magnetic recording zone, comprising the steps of: printing
the optical information onto the recording carrier using optical
readable toner or printing the magnetic information being printed
onto the recording carrier using magnetic ink character recognition
toner; and testing by using at least one magnetic test equipment
for inspection and an optical image test equipment for inspection
and wherein both the magnetic test equipment and the optical image
test equipment are located in the printing line, and wherein the
testing step is controlled by a controller which initiates print
stops. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.62. The method according to claim 61 wherein the magnetic
test equipment and the optical image the equipment are located in a
same box as a printing station for at least one of the optical
information and the magnetic information. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.63. The method according to claim 61 wherein, the magnetic
test equipment and the optical image test equipment are located in
a stand-alone box separate from a printing station for at least one
of the optical information and the magnetic information.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.64. The method according to claim 61 wherein at least one of
the testings is performed during a print stop. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.65. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for
printing at least one of optical and magnetic information onto a
recording carrier, the information being provided as a data stream
from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising at least one
of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording zone; an
optical image test equipment for inspection located in line with
the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or to
recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test equipment
for inspection located in line with the printing line and adapted
to detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier; a
character recognition device connected to a document contents
verification unit which is adapted to compare the information
detected by the character recognition device with the information
provided as a data stream from the electronic data source; and the
optical image test equipment and the magnetic test equipment being
located in the stand-alone box separate from the printing device.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.66. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for
printing at least one of optical and magnetic information onto a
recording carrier, the information being provided as a data stream
from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising at least one
of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording zone; an
optical image test equipment for inspection located in line with
the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or to
recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test equipment
for inspection located in line with the printing line and adapted
to detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier; a
controller which controls a carrier transport unit to transport the
recording carrier upon receipt of a test signal to a predetermined
position with respect to at least one of the test equipments before
the testing step is initiated; and the magnetic test equipment and
the optical image test equipment being located in a same box as the
printing device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.67. A printing line; comprising: a printing device for
printing at least one of optical and magnetic information onto a
recording carrier, the information being provided as a data stream
from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising at least one
of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording zone; an
optical image test equipment for inspection located in line with
the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or to
recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test equipment
for inspection located inline with the printing line and adapted to
detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier; a
controller which controls a carrier transport unit to transport the
recording carrier upon receipt of a test signal to a predetermined
position with respect to at least one of the test equipments before
the testing is initiated; and the optical image test equipment and
the magnetic test equipment being located in a stand-alone box
separate from the printing device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.68. The printing line according to claim 67 wherein the
magnetic test equipment and the optical image test equipment are
provided at both sides of the web-shape recording carrier.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.69. A printing line, comprising: a printing device for
printing at least one of optical and magnetic information onto a
recording carrier, the information being provided as a data stream
from an electronic data source, the carrier comprising at least one
of an optical recording zone and a magnetic recording zone; an
optical image test equipment for inspection located in line with
the printing line and adapted to inspect print quality or to
recognize printed contents of a document; a magnetic test equipment
for inspection located in line with the printing line and adapted
to detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier; a
controller which controls a carrier transport unit to transport the
recording carrier upon receipt of a test signal to a predetermined
position with respect to at least one of the test equipments before
a testing is initiated; and the optical image test equipment
comprises a bar code scanner and a CCD camera and the magnetic test
equipment comprises a magnetic image character reader.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.70. A method for printing at least an optical information
onto a recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising
at least an optical recording zone, comprising the steps of:
printing the optical information by a printing station onto the
recording carrier using optical readable toner; testing by using at
least an optical image test equipment for inspection and wherein
the optical image test equipment is located in line in the printing
line; inspecting with the optical image test equipment a front and
a backside of the recording carrier with respective optical sensors
positioned at the front and the backside of the carrier; and the
optical image test equipment comprises a first video camera at a
front side and a second video camera at a backside of the line
recording carrier. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.71. A testing device for use in a printing line, said
printing line having a printing device for printing at least one of
optical and magnetic information onto a recording carrier, the
carrier having at least one of an optical recording zone and a
magnetic recording zone, comprising: a stand-alone box having
contained inside thereof an optical image test equipment for
inspecting the optical recording zone and a magnetic test equipment
for inspecting the magnetic recording zone. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.72. The testing device according to claim 71 wherein the
stand-alone box is adapted for mounting at an output path of the
printing device but separate from the printing device.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.73. The testing device according to claim 71 wherein the
stand-alone box is located in line with the printing line.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.74. The testing device according to claim 71 wherein the
optical image test equipment is located in line with the printing
line and is adapted to inspect print quality or to recognize
printed contents on the recording carrier, and the magnetic test
equipment is located in line with the printing line and is adapted
to detect magnetic information printed on the recording carrier.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.75. The testing equipment according to claim 71 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a bar code reading equipment which reads
printed bar code information from the recording carrier.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.76. The testing equipment according to claim 71 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a CCD camera. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.77. The testing equipment according to claim 71 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a magnetic ink character recognition
reader. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.78. The testing equipment according to claim 71 wherein the
stand-alone box contains a digital camera, a laser scanner, and a
magnetic ink character recognition reader. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.79. The testing device according to claim 71 wherein the
optical image test equipment and the magnetic test equipment are
provided at both opposite sides of the recording carrier in the
stand-alone box. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.80. A testing device for use in a printing line, said
printing line having a printing device for printing at least one of
optical and magnetic information onto a recording carrier, the
carrier having at least one of an optical recording zone and a
magnetic recording zone, comprising: a stand-alone box having
contained inside thereof an optical image test equipment for
inspecting the optical recording zone and a magnetic test equipment
for inspecting the magnetic recording zone; and the stand-alone box
being mounted separate from the printing device but in-line in the
printing line. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.81. A method for testing in a printing line, comprising the
steps of: providing a printing device for printing at least one of
optical and magnetic information onto a recording carrier, the
carrier having at least one of an optical recording zone and a
magnetic recording zone; positioning a stand-alone box at a
location after and separate from the printing device and having
contained inside thereof an optical image test equipment for
inspecting the optical recording zone and a magnetic test equipment
for inspecting the magnetic recording zone; and inspecting at least
one of the optical recording zone and the magnetic recording zone
with the optical and magnetic test equipment. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.82. The method according to claim 81 including the step of
inspecting the at least one of the optical recording zone and the
magnetic recording zone in in-line fashion with the printing line.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.83. A method for printing at least an optical information
onto a recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising
at least an optical recording zone, comprising the steps of:
printing the optical information by a printing station onto the
recording carrier using optical readable toner; testing by using at
least an optical image test equipment for inspection and wherein
the optical image test equipment is located in line in the printing
line; and storing portions of the recording carrier after it has
been printed by the printing station in a paper buffer.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.84. The method of claim 83 wherein the paper buffer is
separate from the printing station. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.85. The method of claim 83 wherein the optical image test
equipment is located in a stand-alone box in an output path of the
printing station but separate from the printing device.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.86. The method according to claim 83 including the step of
using the test equipment after a print stop of the printing station
has been initiated. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.87. A system for printing at least an optical information
onto a recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising
at least an optical recording zone, comprising: a printing station
for printing optical information onto the recording carrier using
optical readable toner; an optical image test equipment for
inspection, the optical image test equipment being located in line
in the printing line; and a paper buffer separate from the printing
station for storing portions of the recording carrier after it has
been printed by the printing station. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.88. The system according to claim 87 wherein the optical
image test equipment is located in a stand-alone box in an output
path of the printing device but separate from the printing station.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.89. A method for printing at least an optical information
onto a recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising
at least an optical recording zone, comprising the steps of:
printing the optical information by a printing station onto the
recording carrier using optical readable toner; testing by using at
least an optical image test equipment for inspection and wherein
the optical image test equipment is located in line in the printing
line; inspecting with the optical image test equipment a front and
a backside of the recording carrier with respective optical sensors
positioned at the front and the backside of the carrier; and the
test equipment is used after a print stop of the printing station
has been initiated. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.90. A method for printing optical information onto a
recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising at
least an optical recording zone, comprising the steps of: printing
the optical information by a printing station onto the recording
carrier using optical readable toner; testing by using an optical
image test equipment for inspection, the optical image test
equipment being located in line in the printing line; and the
testing with the optical image test equipment includes the step of
sending data into at least one of a flat file an a data base to
store and update the at least one of flat file and data base in a
management computer, and to display at least one of status messages
and document location by the computer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.91. A method according to claim 90 including the step of
locating the optical image test equipment in a stand-alone box in
an output path of the printing station but separate from the
printing device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.92. A method for printing an optical information onto a
recording carrier in a printing line, the carrier comprising at
least an optical recording zone, comprising the steps of: printing
the optical information by a printing station onto the recording
carrier using optical readable toner; testing by using at least an
optical image test equipment for inspection, the optical image test
equipment being located in line in the printing line; and providing
said optical image test equipment with a data acquisition system
for multi-threaded software capable of reading and passing data
sent by a plurality of scanning systems and storing the data into
at least one of a flat file and a data base in a form suitable for
further processing. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.93. The method according to claim 92 including the step of
locating the optical image test equipment in a stand-alone box in
an output path of the printing station but separate from the
printing device. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.94. A method for printing at least one of optical, bar code,
and magnetic information onto a recording carrier in a printing
line, the carrier comprising at least one of an optical, bar code,
and magnetic ink recording zone, comprising the steps of: printing
at least one of the optical, bar code, and magnetic ink information
by a printing station onto the recording carrier; testing by using
at least one of an optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink test
equipment for inspection and wherein the at least one of the
optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink test equipment is located
in line in the printing line; and storing portions of the recording
carrier after it has been printed by the printing station in a
paper buffer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.95. A method for printing at least one of optical, bar code,
and magnetic ink information onto a recording carrier in a printing
line, the carrier comprising at least one of an optical, bar code,
and magnetic ink recording zone, comprising the steps of: printing
at least one of the optical, bar code, and magnetic ink information
by a printing station onto the recording carrier; testing by using
at least one of an optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink test
equipment for inspection, at least one of the optical image, bar
code, and magnetic ink test equipment being located in a line in
the printing line; and the testing with the at least one of the
optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink test equipment includes
the step of sending data into at least one of a flat file and a
data base to store and update the at least one of the flat file and
data base in a management computer, and to display at least one of
status messages and document locations by the computer.
.Iaddend.
.Iadd.96. A method for printing at least one of an optical bar
code, and magnetic ink information onto a recording carrier in a
printing line, the carrier comprising at least one of an optical,
bar code, and magnetic ink recording zone, comprising the steps of:
printing the at least one of the optical, bar code, and magnetic
ink information by a printing station onto the recording carrier;
testing by using at least one of an optical image, bar code, and
magnetic ink test equipment for inspection, the at least one of the
optical image, bar code, and magnetic ink test equipment being
located in line in the printing line; and providing the at least
one of the optical image, bar bode, and magnetic ink test equipment
with a data acquisition system for multi-threaded software capable
of reading and passing data sent by a plurality of scanning systems
and storing the data into at least one of a flat file and a data
base in a form suitable for further processing. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to printing systems. In particular, the
invention relates to a printing system which is adapted to produce
printed documents with high speed, whereby the printing data are
provided from a variable print data source and the printing system
is a kind of production line.
In today's high speed printing environment the assurance of
document verification and process control is increasing. However,
according to a further demand, the printing speed should not be
significantly reduced by any inspection techniques. The speed of a
single high-speed printer normally exceeds 50 DIN A 4 pages per
minute. Its speed may even be some hundreds up to a thousand DIN A
4 pages (images) per minute and--by further development of high
speed variable data printers--may even increase to still higher
printing speeds.
To further increase the printing speed of variable data printing
lines, it has been proposed to perform printing of documents over
two or more printers. In particular, this may apply to printers
printing on fanfold recording carriers, whereby the carrier already
printed by a first printer is subsequently fed to a second printer
for a second printing process. The first printer may print onto a
first side (front side) of the printing carrier while the second
printer may print onto the reverse side of the carrier.
Alternatively, the first and second printers may print on the same
side of the carrier, but the printers may be loaded with different
inks. In particular, electrographic printers such as
electrostatographic or magnetographic printers may utilize
different toners such as standard optical black toner, colored
toner or magnetic ink characters readable toner, which is also
known in the art as MICR toner.
A further electrophotographic printer especially adapted for
printing on a fanfold recording carrier is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,778,297.
In many presently available printing systems document verification
is not performed at all. However, there have been proposed printing
systems with integrated qualification or inspection systems for the
printed images. Such a system is described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,235,652. This system comprises a set of measurement modules which
have sensors for forming various inspection functions such as image
location and spacing measurements; image print contrast/intensity
measurement; image skew angle measurements; image stroke with
measurement; image edge variation measurement; image void
measurement; image size and dimension measurement; image extraneous
ink measurement and image curvature measurement.
If such a document verification system is to be introduced into a
production printing line, various technical problems occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a system for inspecting
printed documents comprising optical and magnetic information. More
particularly, the information may be printed on a continuous
web-shaped recording carrier. Still more particularly, the carrier
may be fanfold paper.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a
method or a system for printing at least one of optical and
magnetic information onto a continuous web-shaped recording
carrier. The carrier comprises at least one of an optical recording
zone and a magnetic recording zone. Magnetic information is printed
by a printing station on the recording carrier using magnetic ink
character readable toner (MICR toner). Optical information printed
by the printing station is being tested by an optical inspection
system and magnetic readable information printed by the printing
station is being tested by a magnetic inspection system. Both the
optical inspection system and the magnetic inspection system are
located in-line to the printing line. In addition to at least one
printing device, the printing line may comprise additional devices
such as printer preprocessing unwinders or print postprocessing
stackers, folders or cutters.
When a continuous web of recording material is used, such as paper
unwound from a roll or fanfold paper input from a stack, the
in-line inspection systems are located at any place of the printing
line along the web, where the inspection system may be able to
inspect information, which is printed on the web.
In a preferred embodiment of invention, the testing step is
controlled by print stops of the printing station. In a still more
preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnetic test equipment
is mounted at an output zone of a printing device and in particular
it is mounted at a stacker. Testing may comprise print quality,
e.g. optical density or strength of magnetic field, as well as a
print contents test.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system controller
is provided, by which printing operation is selectively stopped for
verification of recorded magnetic information on the carrier.
According to a still another object of the invention, three
different scanning systems, in particular an optical camera system,
a bar code scanning system and a reading device for magnetic ink
are operating in combination. Signals of these three different
scanning systems are captured by a data acquisition system and the
data are processed by a data management system. According to this
aspect of the invention, print quality inspection, document
verification and document tracking may be performed. Print quality
inspection may comprise, but is not limited to, optical density
measurement, magnetic character signal level and signal uniformity
across the document. Document verification may comprise but is not
limited to comparison between predetermined data to be printed and
data captured by the inspection system form the printed document.
For that purpose an electronic comparison device may be connected
to both an electronic print data source and the document test
equipment.
According to the latter aspect of the invention, three different
technologies are used to check or verify printed documents in a
document production line. The first technology might comprise a
vision system such as a CCD camera for checking optical information
on the documents. The second technology may comprise a laser
scanner for checking bar code information on the documents. The
third technology may comprise a magnetic ink reading device to
check magnetically coded information printed on the documents. Any
information reads from the documents is processed through an
intelligent data acquisition system. An overall management system
will use such data to allow high level client applications to
display information, to support decision making based on them and
to track documents passing through the printing system.
In particular, the invention is suitable for use in document
printing lines which print magnetic information onto the documents.
The printing line may comprise a printing device as disclosed in
WO-A-99/24877, corresponding to U.S. Ser. No. 09/254,292. The
printing device described therein is an electrophotographic
printing device which prints magnetic ink character recognition
toner (MICR toner) on documents. This US patent application is
hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.
According to a still further object of the invention, document
tracking is performed. Document tracking implies the precise
monitoring of the position of a particular document throughout the
production line at any given time. Various checkpoints are arranged
along a printing line for printing documents. At each checkpoint
any document passing the checkpoint will be detected and its
position and actual time are stored in a document tracking managing
system. Thereby, the actual document position may be monitored at
any given time.
In another aspect of the invention, a stand-alone box separate from
the printer is provided for housing the MICR reader, bar code
scanner, and CCD camera.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a printing line;
FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic illustration of electronic
components for document verification and tracking;
FIG. 3 System control components;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating process steps for MICR
testing;
FIG. 5 illustrates components of an electrophotographic
printer;
FIG. 6 illustrates an MICR testing device mounted at a stacker;
FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a stand-alone box for housing MICR
reader, bar code scanner, and CCD camera separate from the printer;
and
FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a stand-alone box containing an
MICR reader, bar code scanner, and CCD camera at each of opposite
sides of the paper web.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1, a printing line 1 is shown comprising an
electrophotographic printer 2, which receives paper from an
unwinding roll 3 and delivers documents printed on fanfold paper
web 5 to a winding roll 4. The printer 2 receives a print data
stream from a data source 15 (host computer) via a direct data line
130 or via a state-of-the-art computer network (LAN,WAN) 12.
Documents printed in the printer 2 are provided with a bar code
and/or magnetic characters. The bar code is read by a laser-based
bar code scanner 6, which is located within the printer 2 or
between printer 2 and winding roll 4. A MICR reader 20 may also be
provided at printer 2 for reading the magnetic characters.
Documents having passed the first checkpoint 7 are forwarded to a
second checkpoint 7a, where optical information, that is, images or
characters, printed on the paper web, are being checked by a CCD
camera 9. Bar code scanner 6, CCD camera 9, and MICR reader 20 may
exchange data with a workflow management computer 8 by a data line
12. Computer 8 and all equipment connected to the data 12 are part
of a local area network (LAN). This network may even be connected
to a second, wide area network (WAN) such as world wide web (WWW).
The networks may support state-of-the-art network protocols such as
TCP/IP.
Workflow management computer 8 is connected to a data base 13,
where specific production relevant data of the printing process are
stored for further data processing. Relevant data such as location
of specific documents, job numbers and statistical data may be
stored in data base 13. Once the winding roll 4 is full, the roll
will be docked to a post-processing device 14. Within this device,
the documents are checked at a third checkpoint 7b by an address
reader 16. Thereby, computer 8 receives information as to which
document is currently being processed in the post-processing device
14. Within device 14 the printed fanfold paper web 5 is cut into
individual single sheets and the printed document 17 is being
folded and inserted into envelops. The completed envelopes are
forwarded to a fourth checkpoint 7c, where the address printed on
the envelope are being checked. At checkpoint 7c addressed data are
again forwarded by address reader 300 to management computer 8 for
control of the document production process, i.e. for the workflow
process. All of the checkpoints 7, 7a, 7b and 7c and the test
equipment located at these checkpoints are arranged along the
transport path of the paper web 5, i.e. they are located in-line
with the printing line 1. In a slightly different embodiment,
winding roll 4 is not used. Instead, the printing web may directly
be fed from printer's 2 output to print postprocessing device 14 or
through a paper buffer 33, which may buffer some thousand pages of
documents.
FIG. 2 shows a workflow process and respective system components,
which may be utilized for inspecting optical information printed on
the documents, tracking the documents by printed bar code
information and checking any magnetic information by a MICR
system.
All three different inspection systems, i.e. CCD camera 9, laser
scanning bar code reader 6 and MICR reader 20 have respective
electronic equipment, which receives signals and processes these
signals for further prosecution to a data acquisition system 24.
That is, vision system 27 performs image processing of the data
received from the digital camera 9, bar code system decoder 128
processes signals received from the bar code laser scanner 6 and
MICR system decoder 29 processes any data received from MICR reader
20. The data acquisition system 24 is a multi-threaded software
program capable of reading and passing data sent by various
scanning systems (camera, bar code, MICR) and storing the data into
either a flat file or a data base in a form suitable for further
processing. Dataline 125 may be part of local area network 12 or
may be a separate serial line, e.g. RS232, or any other commonly
used data line. The data processed in the data acquisition system
24 may be stored in a memory 26 and further processed by the
management system, which may be the workflow management computer
8.
The bar code scanner 6 is a high speed laser bar code scanner which
is able to scan in one-dimensional fashion as well as a
two-dimensional bar code. Within the total printing line, different
bar code scanners can be mounted at different locations. A first
bar code scanner is mounted in-line with the printer and a second
bar code scanner is located at any location of the production line
following the electrophotographic printer.
FIG. 3 shows a modulal structure of the test equipment and its
connection to respective controllers.
Visioning System
As shown in FIG. 3, the vision system is based on four
charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras 9 which inspect the whole width
of the paper web 5 up to 18 inches, the paper web 5 being
transported through the electrophotographic printer 2. The vision
system controller VIS at 27 is also connected to a xenon strobe
light 50. The vision system controller 27 synchronizes image
capture of vision cameras 9 with high intensity light, which is
strobed by the xenon strobe light. Each time the xenon light 50 is
strobed, a digital image is taken. The actual strobing pulses are
further synchronized with printer clock pulses provided by a basic
control unit of the electrophotographic printer. Thereby, the
precise location of the image is secured.
Once a digital image of the printed paper has been acquired, image
processing can be performed by a software running on the vision
system controller (VIS) 27. Image processing steps may include but
are not limited to: optical carrier recognition (OCR) to verify
characters or texts. For that purpose, recognized characters on the
printed physical output may be compared with predetermined data.
Such predetermined data may in particular comprise data of the
electronic data stream which has been provided from host 15 to the
printer 2 for printing. carrier analysis to detect carrier defects
such as holes print quality measurement, e.g. grey level intensity
check sequence number check for registration and tracking of
documents. For that purpose, the vision system may read document
identification data such as numbers printed on the documents on
predetermined locations. The vision system compares these data with
externally provided data (number sequences).
The vision system may also detect any bar code printed on the
documents and use such information for tracking, logo verification.
For that purpose, an image within a region of interest (ROI) is
compared with a predetermined pattern. To perform these image
processing steps, data for comparison may be provided by an
external source. Respective data may also be provided from printer
basic control unit 51. Alternatively, if one and the same
information is repeatedly to be printed, respective data may be
generated by a teach-in process, whereby the regularly printed
information is stored in a memory within the vision system
controller 27.
The results of these measurements are sent to the data acquisition
system 24. In addition, the vision system controller 27 may be
configured to stop the print line when certain definable criteria
are met, e.g. if threshold values are exceeded or data trends are
negative.
Bar Code Reading System
The bar code reading system may be utilized by a state-of-the-art
laser scanner system which is capable of reading at least
one-dimensional bar codes or even two-dimensional bar codes. Data
obtained by the bar code reader system (BSC) 128 are passed to the
data acquisition system SDAC 24, which processes the data and
finally sends the processed data to management computer 8. The bar
code may be mounted in-line with the printer 2 as shown in FIG. 1
or at any other arbitrary location of the printing line 1.
MICR Reading System To inspect information written with magnetic
ink character reading (MICR) toner, the MICR reading system will
provide the capability of proof-reading the MICR line on a
document. Since in many printing applications MICR information is
printed in a direction transverse to the transport direction of
fanfold recording carrier web, the web has to be stopped to perform
a MICR reading process. During the reading process, the MICR
reading system is moved transversely across the printing web. The
recording web and thus the document to be checked stand still
during the MICR reading process.
The MICR reading system is in-line with the printing line (printing
system), i.e. reading can be performed directly on the recording
web within its path through the printing line. Thus, it is not
necessary to cut a sample out of the web for proof-reading any MICR
information. Thus, the MICR reading process can be performed at any
time when the printing web within the printer is stopped. Whenever
the printer is stopped manually or automatically (e.g. for a clean
stop or for a pre/post-stop), the paper will be advanced or
reversed automatically to a defined position so that the MICR read
head 20 is aligned on the printed MICR line on the document.
Afterwards, the proof-reading scan goes transversely across the
paper or documents. The MICR reading results will be provided by
the MICR reading system controller 29 and may be displayed by a
suitable display which is connected to the controller 29.
Respective data are sent to the data acquisition system 24 and
further processed by printer basic unit control 51 or user
interface control 52.
Data Acquisition System
The data acquisition system 24 accepts data of the different test
equipment (optical, bar code, MICR) and may send these data either
to overall system computer 8 via a port and dataline (RS 232) or
via a network (LAN). Alternatively or in addition to sending it may
store the information in a flat file or in a data base (e.g.
SQL).
Management system Management system computer 8 stores a SQL data
base. Any status information of the printed documents which are
received from the data acquisition system are stored and updated in
the SQL data base. The data are processed within the computer 8 by
software which tracks the location (whereabouts) of any document
which is currently processed by the printing production line 1.
Computer 8 may comprise a graphical display for displaying status
messages, document locations etc. Addition functions such as
reprinting documents or creating alerts can be performed by
management system computer 8.
FIG. 4, a process for acquiring MICR data in a printing line as
described above is demonstrated. By a first step S1 a test button
is pressed at an input device (keyboard, touchscreen) which is
connected to user interface controller (UIC) 52 (see FIG. 3). A
test request signal is sent to user interface controller 52 (step
S2). User interface controller 52 then generates a stop signal (S3)
and sends this signal by step S4 to basic unit controller (BUC) 51
(see FIG. 3). Upon receipt of the stop signal, the basic unit
controller checks the current position of the recording carrier 5
within the printer 2 and stops the carrier at a predetermined
position, e.g. at a position, in which top-of-next-page is at the
location of MICR reader 20 (step S5). Thereafter, steps S6 to S9
occur as shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 5 shows a printing device according to a still further
embodiment. Instead of unwinding and winding rolls, this printer
utilizes fanfold paper stacks. A paper web is thereby put in from
an input stack and put out to an output stack into a movable output
stacker. Further details of this printer are disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,778,297. The contents of this patent are hereby incorporated
by reference to the present disclosure.
The multi-functional printer device is composed of a central
printer module 31 with deflection unit 28 adapted thereto and an
accompanying, mobile stacker unit 22, as well as of a control
module 32 with operating surface. The printer module 31 is
constructed as a distortion-stable torsion box. To this end, two
lateral sheet steel billets extending to the floor are connected to
one another via intervening traverse elements 134 in the form of
extruded aluminum profiles to form a torsionally rigid supporting
framework. This serves, among other things, for the acceptance of
the core electrophotographic units 11, namely an intermediate
carrier unit (photoconductive drum) generating the toner images,
charging unit, character generator, developer station, transfer
printing station, cleaning station, discharge unit and fixing
station 18. The individual units are thereby suspended in the
lateral billets, as a result whereof a high-precision allocation of
the units to one another is achieved. The risk of paper running
faults due to misalignment is thereby reduced during operation of
the printer device. Repeated readjustment is thus eliminated. The
allocation stability is further enhanced in that stable unit
sub-modules are formed via the cross-bracings 134 allocated to the
individual units. For example, in the form of a fixer module 18, a
photoconductor module, a region for the supply stack 23 and a
region for the acceptance of the device electronics 35.
For forming a service-friendly, compact printer structure, the
individual units are arranged such within the printer module such
that, on the one hand, the throughput path of the paper web 10
becomes optimally short and, on the other hand, the heat required
for the fixing process does not negatively influence the units or,
respectively, the paper web. For this purpose, the fixing station
18 is arranged in the uppermost region of the printer module above
the unit (intermediate carrier 11) that generates the toner images.
The heat arising during fixing, including the substances exhaled by
the paper, are immediately extracted via a vapor extraction hood
36. The paper web traverses the fixing station 18 nearly
horizontally and leaves the printer module via a paper output
channel 37. A return channel 38 that likewise proceeds horizontally
is located under the fixing station for returning the narrow
recording medium that has been deflected and/or turned over via the
deflection unit 28. In a feed region to the photoconductor module,
the return channel 38 is in communication with a delivery channel
39 for recording media of different tape widths. The recording
medium 10 is supplied to the photoconductor module via this
delivery channel 39 proceeding from a supply region, for example
the supply stack 23. Further, external delivery channels 40, 41
that 40 cut through the primer module or lead 41 around the printer
module are also provided in order to be able to supply the
recording medium to the photoconductor module proceeding from an
external supply stack. The entire paper path through return channel
38, photoconductor module and fixing station 18 is designed such
that an optimally short paper running distance derives and such
that the recording medium is supplied approximately horizontally to
the deflection unit 28 and passes therethrough roughly
horizontally. The following cooling path thus becomes arbitrarily
large and can be freely designed. A complemented production of
cooling air is thus eliminated.
Conveyed by a conveyor unit, the paper web leaves the transfer
printing station steeply upward, is deflected by 60-90.degree. via
looper 42 and by up to 45.degree. more via a saddle 43, and passes
through the fixing drums 19,222 nearly horizontally. Since the
minimum wrap angles of looper 42 and saddle 43 are functionally
predetermined, it is beneficial for achieving such a horizontal
feed attitude when the transfer printing station is arranged
roughly in the middle above the photoconductive drum 11.
The deflection unit 28 is likewise fashioned as a module that can
be coupled to the paper output channel 37 and the return channel 38
of the printer module via releasable fastening unit, for example
screw-type or soap-in closures. It contains guide rollers 21 and,
as a separate structural unit, a turn-over unit 30. This turn-over
unit 30 can likewise be detachably secured on carriers of the
deflection unit and, for example, can be pulled out via hinges. It
is freely accessible, so that disturbances in paper running can be
eliminated without parting the paper web.
The deflection unit 28 also contains a manually or motor
controllable shunt 44 via which the recording medium 10, proceeding
from the paper output channel, is supplied via the deflection unit
to the return channel 38 in a first operating mode of the printer
device for multiple printing of the narrow recording medium 10,
and, after another pass through the unit that generates toner
images, is supplied to the mobile stacker unit 22 via an output
channel 45 allocated to the deflection unit. The mobile stacker
unit 22 provided with rollers 46 and/or the sidewall of the printer
module can comprise fit elements that enable a positionally exact
seating of the stacker unit 22 against the printer module. The
deflection unit 28 can likewise be part of the stacker unit 22. A
MICR reader 20 is mounted on a plate at the stacker 22, which will
be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 shows the MICR reading device 20 as it is mounted on the
stacker 22. The paper web 65 passes along the stacker through a
paper slot 64. The reading device 20 is mounted to a stacker top
plate 59 and comprises a drive mechanism 61, 67 a swell as a
carrier 68 carrying magnetic read/write heads 62, 63. The paper web
65 having width d (up to 18'') is stopped and correctly positioned
relative to the reading device 20 (see FIG. 4). The MICR head
carrier 68 is then transported by motor 61, drive pulley 67 and
drive cable 70 across the paper width along axis C. During that
movement, the MICR read head 62 reads magnetic information provided
on the paper web and produces analog reading signals. The movement
of the MICR head carrier 68 is guided by carrier guide rail 69. To
support the paper web 65 and the MICR head carrier 68 during the
reading process, a paper backup plate 66 is provided. Thereby, the
reading process is enhanced, since the paper web is kept in
position during the reading step. The analog signals provided by
MICR read head 62 are forwarded to MICR electronic device 60, which
is mounted to stacker top plate 59. Device 60 forwards data in
digitized format to data acquisition system 24. MICR write head 63
may be utilized to write data or update MICR data on the documents
at the stacker.
When the paper web stops at a top-of-page position, the MICR head
carrier 68 cycles across the continuous form on demand, reading all
magnetically coded characters of the respective documents. Within
the electronic device 60 the ANSI (American National Standards
Institute) conformance of the read characters is proved and
reported to serial data acquisition system 24. Given ANSI
compliance of the MICR print, the software in the management system
computer 8 will generate a predominantly green signal-strength bar
graph display, recommending to the operator an immediate resumption
of printing. A non-compliance test result will generate a yellow or
red bar graph display and allow further screens to be accessed to
identify the nature of the MICR print problem. In either case,
results can be automatically stored, reports printed, and ANSCII
MICR line data saved for production control purposes.
According to the invention, the printing device may use a
changeable developer station, whereby a quick change between a
first developer station and a second developer station can be
performed. While the first developer station may use optical
readable toner, the second developer station may use a MICR toner.
Such a printing station is described in WO-A-99/24877, the
disclosure of which is hereby also incorporated by reference to the
present disclosure.
The invention provides a comfortable printing system comprising
in-line test equipment for character recognition both optical and
magnetical as well as bar code scanning. With such a system
document verification and document-tracking in a printing
production line can be performed to enhance print quality
assurance. The embodiment as described comprises a magnetic head
mounted to a printer in the region of a stacker. Of course, such
magnetic reader carrier may be utilized at any other position
within a printing line, in which precise stop position of the paper
may be utilized. Alternative embodiments may provide a magnetic
read head in a buffer whereby the recording web may be stopped for
reading while printing is continued. During the test steps, newly
printed material would be fed into the buffer thereby increasing
the amount of carrier within the buffer.
In still further embodiments, a magnetic read head may be fixed to
a carrier and the paper being advanced across the read head. The
magnetic attributes of the printed density marking blocks at the
edge of the continuous form would then be detected while the form
would be in motion. According to such embodiments, a magnetic read
head assembly may be fixed in position in the stacker area of a
printer or in a turn-bar mechanism of a printer.
In the further embodiment of FIG. 7, the printer applying the bar
codes, visual indicia, and/or magnetic ink characters similar to
FIG. 1 is shown at 72. The paper web 71 is fed through this printer
according to a paper feed control unit 73. Thereafter, in a
separate stand-alone test box 74, a bar code scanner with
associated bar code system decoder (BSC) is provided at 76; a
digital CCD camera together with an associated vision system
controller (VIS) is provided at 77; and an MICR reader together
with an associated MICR system control (MICR) are provided at 78.
These units connect to a verification control unit 75 linked to the
paper feed control unit 73.
Thus, the stand-alone box of FIG. 7 contains all equipment needed
for inspection (MICR, bar code, and visual inspection).
As shown in another embodiment in FIG. 8, the inspection equipment
may be provided twice, that is at the top and bottom of the web
paper 79. As shown in FIG. 8, a first printer 80 is provided
together with a second printer 81. These printers then apply the
visual characters, bar code, and/or magnetic ink characters. These
first and second printers 79 and 81 may be printing on opposite
sides of the web paper. Thereafter, a paper buffer 82 is provided
having a paper sensor 90. Then the stand-alone test box 83 is
provided having above the paper web the BSC 84, VIS 85, and MICR 86
units described with respect to FIG. 7. Similar units 87, 88 and 89
are provided below the paper web. A data bus 91 is provided
according to the first and second printers and to the paper sensor,
and to the aforementioned sensor/controllers 84, 85, 86, 87, 88,
and 89 so that data flow can be controlled by a control computer 92
connected to a data base 93.
By providing the inspection equipment twice, that is at the top and
bottom of the fanfold paper tray, duplex printer paper may be
scanned in one pass.
To synchronize print stops of the printer, marks can be printed
regularly (for instance every 10, 50, or 1000 pages) on the paper
to signal a position. A respective entry to the control computer 92
is made. The marks may be used for precise positioning of the paper
at the verification equipment within the stand-alone box 83.
The mark together with the paper buffer is positioned before the
stand-alone box as shown in FIG. 8. This allows holding a position
while the verifying equipment reads the document without slowing
down the printer--that is it would be possible that the printer
starts again, before the precise positioning and verification steps
have been finished. According to FIG. 8, the buffer and/or
stand-alone box may contain paper transport elements (motor,
rollers, sensors and control units for driving the
positioning).
Other verification technology such as ultrasound verification, or
IR light verification to detect mechanical paper damage, can be
added to the stand-alone box.
There are many advantages to the stand-alone box system shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8. No synchronization problems occur between the first
and second printers of the twin system because you are viewing both
the top and bottom of the same page at the same time. The system
can handle simplex or duplex prints with 100% assurance of
accuracy. The system can handle one-wide or two-wide documents or
both by adjusting a paper guide. The stand-alone box is more
accurate, rigid and dependable than hanging the test equipment at
the back end of the printer as in FIG. 1. The stand-alone box can
be attached to any continuous web printer. The stand-alone box can
be attached to unwinders, rewinders, and sorting devices, and just
about anything that has a paper web. Other attachments can be added
to the stand-alone box such as an MICR verifier. The stand-alone
boxes are an economical design for large customers with many
printers. Finally, the stand-alone box would not have to be locked
to a single printer. Since it does its own registration, it can be
made portable and moveable to another printer for backup.
Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those
skilled in the art, it should be understood that our wish to embody
within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such
modifications as reasonably and properly come with the scope of our
contribution to the art.
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