Abstract:
A system for ensuring that printed matter is properly printed on a print medium including a printer having a feeding device and a plurality of detecting devices disposed along a length of the feeding device. The print medium has a plurality of signaling components, and each of the detecting devices is able to detect the presence of each of the signaling components. The system determines a first feed orientation of the print medium based on an order in which the detecting devices detects the presence of the signaling components when the print medium is being fed into the printer. Alternatively, the first feed orientation may be based on identifying information contained in the signaling components. The printer causes the printed matter to be printed in a proper location and in a proper orientation on the print medium based on the first feed orientation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to printers and printing, and in particular to a system for ensuring correct placement of printed matter on a tangible print medium. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Printers, used in conjunction with computers and specialized computer applications, are widely used to print many types of printed matter on various items such as paper, envelopes and the like (hereinafter referred to as “print media” and individually as a “print medium”). Certain types of print media, such as envelopes, preprinted forms, preprinted letterhead, and photo paper, require the printed matter to be particularly placed and oriented on the print media to be aligned properly with the preprinted or other structural features thereof For example, a letter printed on a piece of letterhead must, be properly aligned with the preprinted information on the letterhead and must be printed on the proper side of the letterhead. Similarly, a postal indicia must be printed on the proper part and proper side of an envelope. Thus, certain types of print media may be said to be orientation sensitive. 
   The problem is that users often do not know how to correctly orient the orientation-sensitive print media in their printers so that the printed matter is printed onto the proper locations of the print media. This problem, which most often results in misprinting, leads to wasted time, printer jams, wasted print media, and in the case of postal indicia, wasted money. Current solutions for this problem include printer instruction manuals and icons or the like placed on the feeder trays of printers that attempt to instruct the user on the proper orientation of print media. These manuals and icons are often difficult to interpret and understand, leading to confusion and frustration on the part of the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for ensuring that printed matter is properly printed on a print medium including a printer having a feeding device for facilitating the feeding of the print medium into the printer and a plurality of detecting devices disposed along a length of the feeding device. The print medium has a plurality of signaling components, and each of the detecting devices is able to detect the presence of each of the signaling components when each of the signaling components is in proximity to the detecting device. The system in this embodiment determines a first feed orientation of the print medium based on an order in which each of the detecting devices detects the presence of a respective one of the signaling components when the print medium is being fed into the printer. The printer then causes the printed matter to be printed in a proper location and in a proper orientation on the print medium based on the first feed orientation. 
   In an alternative embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for ensuring that printed matter is properly printed on a print medium including a printer having a feeding device for facilitating the feeding of the print medium into the printer and a plurality of detecting devices disposed along the length of a feeding device. In this embodiment, the print medium includes a plurality of signaling components, and each of the signaling components contains identifying information for identifying the signaling component. Each of the detecting devices is able to detect the presence of and obtain the identifying information from each of the signaling components when each of the signaling components is in proximity to the detecting device. The system in this embodiment determines a first feed orientation of the print medium based on the identifying information received by each of the detecting devices when the print medium is being fed into the printer. The printer then causes the printed matter to be printed in a proper location and in a proper orientation on the print medium based on the first feed orientation. 
   According to yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a system for ensuring that printed matter is properly printed on a print medium including a printer having a feeding device for facilitating the feeding of the print medium into the printer and first and second print heads, wherein the feeding device has a top portion and a bottom portion and wherein the print medium is fed in between the top portion and the bottom portion. In addition, the system includes a plurality of first detecting devices disposed along a length of the bottom portion of the feeding device and a plurality of second detecting devices disposed along a length of the top portion of the feeding device. The print medium in this embodiment includes a plurality of signaling components, and each of the first and second detecting devices is able to detect the presence of each of the signaling components when each of the signaling components is in proximity to the detecting device. The system determines a first feed orientation of the print medium based on either an order in which each of the first detecting devices detects the presence of a respective one of the signaling components or an order in which each of the second detecting devices detects the presence of a respective one of the signaling components when the print medium is being fed into the printer between the top and bottom portions. The printer in this embodiment causes the printed matter to be printed in a proper location and in a proper orientation on the print medium based on the first feed orientation using the first print head if the first detecting devices detect the signaling components and the second print head if the second detecting devices detect the signaling components. In this embodiment, the first print head is adapted to print on a first surface of the print medium and the second print head is adapted to print on a second surface of the print medium, wherein the two surfaces are opposite one another. 
   In any of the described embodiments, the printer may print the printed matter using a print rendering appropriate for the first feed orientation. Alternatively, the printer may further include a paper handling system, wherein the paper handling system changes the print medium from the first feed orientation to a second feed orientation if the print rendering used to print the printed matter is appropriate for the second feed orientation and not appropriate for the first feed orientation. In addition, in any of the described embodiments, the signaling components may be carbon or other types of ink spots, and the detecting devices may be infrared LED transmitters/receivers, where the carbon or other types of ink spots absorb infrared light, and the absence of reflected infrared light is a signal that the spot has been detected. Alternatively, the signaling components may be RFID tags, and the detecting devices may be RFID receivers. 
   Therefore, it should now be apparent that the invention substantially achieves all of the above aspects and advantages. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Moreover, the aspects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts. 
       FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A, and  2 B are block diagrams of a system for ensuring proper printing of printed matter onto a print medium according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A, and  4 B are block diagrams of a system for ensuring proper printing of printed matter onto a print medium according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1A  shows feeder tray  5  and print medium  10 , such as an envelope, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Print medium  10  has a standard size that is common among all print media of the same type, such as a standard #10 envelope. Feeder tray  5  is a feeder tray forming a part of a printer, such as a laser printer. Print media onto which printed matter is to be printed are placed on feeder tray  5  and are fed into the printer where the actual printing occurs. It will be appreciated that some other feeding device or mechanism that is provided with the detecting devices  15  as described herein may be substituted for feeder tray  5  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
   Feeder tray  5  shown in  FIG. 1A  is provided with a number of detecting devices  15 . Detecting devices  15 , described in greater detail below, are able to detect when signaling components  20  provided on print medium  10  are in close proximity thereto. For reasons to be described below, detecting devices  15  are placed in particular locations on feeder tray  5 . For convenience, detecting devices  15  are labeled A, B, C, and D. 
   Print medium  10  has a front surface  25 , a left edge  30 , a right edge  35 , a top edge  40 , and a bottom edge  45 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , front surface  25  is the surface of print medium  10  onto which the printed matter is to be printed, and as such, the printer associated with feeder tray  5  feeds print media “face up.” Print medium  10  has provided thereon or embedded therein, on the side opposite front surface  25 , a number of signaling components  20 . Signaling components  20  are placed at the locations indicated by the dots in  FIG. 1A . 
   Each signaling component  20  is a device or a mark that is able to be sensed or detected by a detecting device  15  when the signaling component  20  is in close proximity thereto. Thus, as will be appreciated, the type of detecting device  15  used in a particular embodiment of the present invention will depend upon the type of signaling component  20  used. In one embodiment, signaling components  20  are carbon ink spots, and detecting devices  15  are infrared LED transmitter/receiver units that are able to detect the presence of reflected infrared light, with the carbon ink spots absorbing the infrared light, and all other surfaces reflecting the infrared light when they intersect the infrared beam of the transmitter/receiver units. In another embodiment, signaling components  20  are spots made of an ink that reflects in the non-visible range, such as the infrared or ultraviolet ranges, and detecting devices  15  are detectors that can detect reflected light in the same non-visible range with the non-visible ink reflecting a different frequency than the medium upon which the non-visible ink spot is placed. In still another embodiment, signaling components  20  are miniature radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that are embedded in print media  10  and detecting devices  15  are miniature RFID readers that have a very small transmission range, preferably on the order of 0.5 mm. Such RFID tags and RFID readers are known in the art. The RFID tags are typically passive components that become energized and emit an RF signal when they come within the transmission range of a compatible RFID reader. The RFID reader is able to receive the emitted RF signal and thus is able to detect the present of the RFID tag. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1A , signaling components  20  are labeled  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  for convenience. Signaling component  20  identified as  1  is placed at a location as shown in  FIG. 1A  that is a fixed distance d 1  from left edge  30 , signaling component  20  identified as  2  is placed at a location as shown in  FIG. 1A  that is a fixed distance d 2  from left edge  30 , signaling component  20  identified as  3  is placed at a location as shown in  FIG. 1A  that is the same fixed distance d 2  from right edge  35 , and signaling component  20  identified as  4  is placed at a location as shown in  FIG. 1A  that is the same fixed distance d 1  from right edge  35 . In addition, as seen in  FIG. 1A , the location of signaling component  20  identified as  1  is a different distance from top edge  40  than the location of signaling component  20  identified as  3  (i.e., they are vertically offset from one another). Similarly, the location of signaling component  20  identified as  2  is a different distance from bottom edge  45  than signaling component  20  identified as  4  (i.e., they are vertically offset from one another). 
   On feeder tray  5 , detecting device  15  identified as A is located the distance d 1  from left edge  50  of feeder tray  5 , and detecting device  15  identified as B is located the distance d 2  from left edge  50  of feeder tray  5 . In addition, detecting device  15  identified as C is located a distance from left edge  50  that places it the distance d 2  from point  55  of feeder tray  5 , and detecting device  15  identified as D is located a distance from left edge  50  that places it the distance d 1  from point  55  of feeder tray  5 . Point  55  of feeder tray  5  is located a distance from left edge  50  equal to the width, measured from left edge  30  to right edge  35 , of print medium  10 . Print head  100  is located above feeder tray  5  and printer tray  101  is located below feeder tray  5 . As will be appreciated, the width of print medium  10  will be uniform among all such print media of the same type because, as noted above, print medium  10  is a standard size print medium. 
   Thus, due to the placement of detecting devices  15  described above, as seen in  FIG. 1A , when print medium  10  is placed on and fed over feeder tray  5  top edge  40  first (with left edge  30  aligned with left edge  50 ), signaling component  20  identified as  1  will be aligned with and will pass over detecting device  15  identified as A, signaling component  20  identified as  2  will be aligned with and will pass over detecting device  15  identified as B, signaling component  20  identified as  3  will be aligned with and will pass over detecting device  15  identified as C, and signaling component  20  identified as  4  will be aligned with and will pass over detecting device  15  identified as D. As a result, software in the printer that includes feeder tray  5  can be programmed to recognize that print media  10  is being fed top edge  40  first (as in  FIG. 1A ) if the order in which detecting devices  15  are triggered (meaning they detect a signaling component  20 ) is as follows: A, C, D, B. In addition,  FIG. 1B  shows feeder tray  5  and print medium  10  wherein print medium  10  has been flipped around such that bottom edge  45  is on top. The software in the printer including feeder tray  5  can be programmed to recognize that print media  10  is being fed bottom edge  45  first if the order in which detecting devices  15  are triggered is as follows: C, A, B, D. This ability to detect the feed orientation (top edge  40  first or bottom edge  45  first) is made possible by the placement and offset of signaling components  20  on print medium  10  that results in a different order of detection device  15  triggering depending upon the feed orientation. While one possible scheme of placement and orientation of signaling components  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , it will be understood by those of skill in the art that other acceptable schemes are possible (each one resulting in a different order of detection device  15  triggering depending upon the feed orientation). 
   Once the feed orientation has been detected, appropriate action can be taken to ensure that the printed matter is printed properly (in the proper location and with the proper orientation) on print medium  10 . In one embodiment, the printer that includes feeder tray  5  sends the detected feed orientation to the computer that requested printing, and the computer in turn sends a print rendering of the printed matter that is proper for the given feed orientation, which rendering is then used to properly print the printed matter onto print medium  10 . In another embodiment, when the computer in question requests that printed matter be printed, it sends a print rendering that is proper for both possible feed orientations, and the printer that includes feeder tray  5  chooses the appropriate print rendering based on the detected feed orientation, which rendering is then used to properly print the printed matter onto print medium  10 . In yet another embodiment, the printer that includes feeder tray  5  is provided with a paper handling system that is capable of changing the feed orientation of print medium  10 . Such printers are known in the art are commercially available from companies such as Hewlett Packard. In this embodiment, the computer that requests printing sends a known, default print rendering (one that is appropriate for a particular feed orientation, e.g., top edge  40  first) to the printer, which then uses the paper handling system to change the feed orientation of print medium  10  if the detected feed orientation does not match the feed orientation associated with the default print rendering. If the detected feed orientation does match the feed orientation associated with the default print rendering, no change is made. The default print rendering can then be used to properly print the printed matter onto print medium  10 . 
   According to a further feature of the present invention, detecting devices  15  can also be used to detect whether print medium  10  is being fed with the proper side thereof facing up, which in the case of the embodiment of feeder tray  5  and the associated printer described in connection with  FIGS. 1A and 1B , is front surface  25 . In particular, as described above, certain detecting devices  15  that may be utilized in the present invention rely on the reflection of light from signaling components  20  for detection. Examples of such detecting devices are infrared LED transmitters/receivers that are used with carbon ink spot type signaling components  20  and an infrared or ultraviolet detectors that are used with non-visible ink spot type signaling components. If print medium  10  is fed with front surface  25  facing down (and thus signaling components  20  facing up) when these types of detecting devices  15  are used in feeder tray  5 , the detecting devices  15  will not detect any signaling components (no light will be reflected from them). In this case, the printer associated with feeder tray  5  may be programmed to recognize that such a situation means that print medium  10  is being fed with the wrong side facing down, in which case it can reject print medium  10  and signal the user that print medium  10  should be flipped, or alternatively, it can use a paper handling system (if provided) to automatically flip print medium  10  over. Once print medium  10  is flipped over, the feed orientation can be detected as described herein and utilized to ensure proper printing as described above. 
   According to yet another alternative embodiment, a set of redundant detecting devices  15  are provided in a location spaced above and aligned with each of detecting devices  15  shown in  FIG. 1A and 1B  (they may be suspended or supported by some type of bar or frame attached to feeder tray  5 ) such that print medium  10  will be fed between the detecting devices  15  shown in  FIG. 1A and 1B  and the redundant detecting devices  15 . In this embodiment, a determination as to whether print medium  10  is being fed with front surface  25  facing up or down (against feeder tray  5 ) can be made based on which set of detecting devices  15  detects signaling components  20 . This embodiment assumes that detecting devices  15  are of the type that rely on the reflection of light to perform the detection. If the detecting devices  15  shown in  FIG. 1A  detect signaling components  20 , then it is known that front surface  25  is facing up, whereas if the redundant detecting devices  15  detect signaling components  20 , then it is known that front surface  25  is facing down. Based on this determination, print medium  10  could then be flipped as described above, and the feed orientation can be detected and utilized to ensure proper printing. Alternatively, the printer associated with feeder tray  5  may be provided with dual print heads, one that print on the bottom of print media that is fed therethrough and one that prints on the top of print media that is fed therethrough. In this embodiment, after the face up or face down determination is made, the feed orientation can be determined (using the appropriate set of detecting devices  15 ), and the proper print head can be activated to properly print the printed matter using the feed orientation information as described herein. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B  show an alternative standard size print medium  10 , such as a piece of 8½×11 preprinted letterhead. Print medium  10  shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is similar to print medium  10  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  in that it has signaling components  20 , identified as  1 ,  2 ,  3 , and  4 , provided on or embedded therein on a side opposite front surface  25 . As seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the signaling components  20  are similarly placed and offset such that the feed orientation of print medium  10  may be detected using feeder tray  5 , the only difference being that detecting devices  15  identified as E and F are utilized instead of detecting devices  15  identified as C and D. Detecting devices  15  identified as E and F are placed so as to be aligned with signaling components  20  identified as  3  and  4 , respectively, when print medium  10  is fed top edge  40  first, and with signaling components  20  identified as  2  and  1 , respectively, when print medium  10  is fed bottom edge  45  first. Thus, a top edge  40  first feed orientation may be detected when the following order of detecting device  15  triggering occurs: A, E, F, B, and a bottom edge  45  first feed orientation may be detected when the following order of detecting device  15  triggering occurs: E, A, B, F. Otherwise, the operation and functionality is the same as described in connection with  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
     FIGS. 3A and 3B  show feeder tray  5  and standard size print medium  10 , such as a #10 envelope, according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Print medium  10  in this embodiment is provided with signaling components  20  (identified as  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ), wherein signaling components  20  identified as  1  and  2  are positioned a distance d 1  from left edge  30  as shown, and signaling components  20  identified as  3  and  4  are positioned the same distance d 1  from right edge  35  as shown. Signaling components  20  in this embodiment are of a type that store or otherwise contain identifying information that identifies the particular signaling component  20  (e.g.,  1 ) and distinguishes it from the other signaling components  20  (e.g.,  2 ,  3  and  4 ). An example of such a signaling component  20  is an RFID tag embedded in print medium  10 . Such RFID tags are able to store identifying information therein that is transmitted to a detecting device  15  in the form of an RFID reader when the RFID tag is within the range of the RFID reader. Such identifying information may be an explicit identification of the location of the signaling component, such as upper left for signaling component  20  identified as  1 , upper right for signaling component  20  identified as  3 , lower left for signaling component  20  identified as  2 , and lower right for signaling component  20  identified as  4 , or simply an identification by a number or the like. Alternatively, signaling components  20  in this embodiment may each be a non-visible ink spot, provided on the side opposite front surface  25 , of a different color or that reflects light of a different frequency, wherein the particular color or frequency identifies the particular signaling component  20 . For example, signaling component  20  identified as  1  may be a first color or frequency that represents upper left, signaling component  20  identified as  2  may be a second color or frequency that represents lower left, signaling component  20  identified as  3  may be a third color or frequency that represents upper right, and signaling component  20  identified as  4  may be a fourth color or frequency that represents lower right. In this embodiment, detecting devices  15  are each in the form of four photo detectors, each one of which is able to detect a particular one of the colors or frequencies associated with signaling components  20 . Thus, each such detecting device  15  (consisting of four photodetectors) is able to detect which of the signaling components  20  is in proximity therewith based upon which one of the photodetectors detects reflected light (the reflected light will be of a particular color or frequency depending on the particular signaling component  20  and will activate a particular one of the photodetectors). 
   Thus, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , detecting devices  15  are located on feeder tray  5  in positions that will align them with respective signaling components  20  when print medium  10  is fed over feeder tray  5 . As a result, when print medium  10  is fed top edge  40  first as shown in  FIG. 3A , detecting device  15  identified as A will first detect signaling component  20  identified as  1  (e.g., upper left identifying information) and then detect signaling component  20  identified as  2  (e.g., lower left identifying information), and detecting device  15  identified as B will first detect signaling component  20  identified as  3  (e.g., upper right identifying information) and then detect signaling component  20  identified as  4  (e.g., bottom right identifying information). The printer that includes feeder tray  5  may be programmed to recognize a top edge  40  first feed orientation when this sequence of detection occurs. Conversely, when print medium  10  is fed bottom edge  45  first as shown in  FIG. 3B , detecting device  15  identified as A will first detect signaling component  20  identified as  4  (e.g., bottom right identifying information) and then detect signaling component  20  identified as  3  (e.g., top right identifying information), and detecting device  15  identified as B will first detect signaling component  20  identified as  2  (e.g., lower left identifying information) and then detect signaling component  20  identified as  1  (e.g., upper left identifying information). The printer that includes feeder tray  5  may be programmed to recognize a bottom edge  45  first feed orientation when this sequence of detection occurs. Once the feed orientation is determined, it may then be utilized in the manner or manners described elsewhere herein to ensure proper printing of the printed matter onto print medium  10 . 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a variation of the embodiment of the present invention described in connection with  FIGS. 3A and 3B  wherein an alternative standard size print medium  10 , such as a piece of 8½×11 preprinted letterhead, is used. Print medium  10  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  is similar to print medium  10  shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  in that it includes signaling components  20  that are of a type that store or otherwise contain identifying information as described herein. The only difference between the invention as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  and the invention as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B  is that in the latter, detecting device  15  identified as C is utilized instead of detecting device  15  identified as B to accommodate the width of print medium  10 . Otherwise, the functioning is the same. 
   While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.