Patent ID: 8931874
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A system for tracking a position of a receiver medium as it travels along a media path, comprising: a heat source located at a first position along the media path adapted to provide heat to the receiver medium in a localized area, the provided heat being sufficient to permanently alter a physical property of the receiver medium thereby forming a reference mark; a sensor located at a second position along the media path adapted to sense the reference mark as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path, the sensor providing a sensed signal; and a data processor adapted to analyze the sensed signal to determine a position of the receiver medium as the receiver medium passes through the second position along the media path by detecting a position of the reference mark; wherein the media path includes a roller around which the receiver medium is wrapped or over which the receiver medium travels, and wherein the heat source is a resistive heater incorporated into a surface of the roller.