Authenticity information carrier coupled to flow stimulator in cartridge

A cartridge (1) to connect to a printer, the cartridge comprising a powder reservoir (2), a carrier (5) holding authenticity information (7, 9), a powder flow stimulator (3) in or near the reservoir (2), coupled to the carrier (5) so that a first stimulator movement displaces at least part of the carrier (5).

BACKGROUND

Sometimes it is desirable to distinguish original cartridges provided by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) from third party compatible cartridges, the latter being alternative cartridges compatible to a corresponding OEM printer that is designed to use original OEM cartridges. An OEM printer that uses a third party compatible cartridge may provide a printed product of less or different quality than OEM cartridges. Therefore, an OEM typically wants to avoid association with such third party.

In certain instances, the third party compatible cartridge is a replicate or counterfeit cartridge that has the appearance of an original OEM cartridge. In other instances, original OEM cartridges housing can be refilled, reused or tampered with by third parties after the original contents have been exhausted. In all of the above instances, it is desirable that the third party contents can be readily distinguished from original OEM contents, by an end user or operator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. The examples in the description and drawings should be considered illustrative and are not intended as limiting to the specific example or element described. Multiple examples can be derived from the following description and drawings through modification, combination or variation of the different elements.

In this disclosure a printer can be any dispense device that provides a printed product by printing. Examples of such printers include electro-photographic printers and three-dimensional (3D) printers. For example, the printer is to dispense certain consumables to obtain a printed product, wherein the consumable can be a powder such as toner powder or 3D printing powder. The print consumable is held in a cartridge. The cartridge is a container that is adapted to be installed in a printer, and replaced after being substantially exhausted. Herein, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) provide such printer and corresponding cartridges. For example a brand name or logo on the printer may correspond to a brand name or logo on the cartridge1. In this disclosure, authenticating a cartridge1includes verifying and confirming that the cartridge1and its contents are provided by the same OEM as the printer, or by an OEM approved party.

FIG. 1illustrates an example of a cartridge1that is to be connected to a printer. The cartridge1includes a reservoir2formed by at least one wall that encloses a powdered print consumable such as 3D printing powder or toner powder. In the reservoir2a powder flow stimulator3is provided that is to stimulate the flow of powder out of the reservoir2, for example towards a gate4that may be positioned near a bottom of the reservoir2in a normal installation orientation of the reservoir2. The powder flow stimulator3is moveable, for example rotatable. In one example, the flow stimulator3includes a rotating shaft and may have wings. In another example, the flow stimulator includes a vibrating element. For example the flow stimulator3is a powder stirrer or agitator. The flow stimulator3can be coupled to external cartridge transmission parts such as gears or protruding shafts that are to be connected to transmission parts of a corresponding printer. Hence, in operation the powder flow stimulator3is driven, indirectly, by a printer motor and transmission.

The cartridge1includes an information carrier5. The carrier5can be plate or label shaped. For example the carrier5is a flexible label. The carrier5can be located within the reservoir2. The carrier5can be at least partly adhered against an interior wall of the reservoir2.

The carrier5includes authenticity information7,9. The carrier5is located and adapted to allow reading of the information7,9from outside of the reservoir2, for example through a window. In one example, the authenticity information7,9is visibly printed, imprinted or embossed on the carrier5. In the illustrated example the authenticity information7,9includes at least one of a printed logo7and an optical authentication code9such as a bar code or QR (Quick Response) code. In another example the carrier5includes a wireless communication circuit that stores the authentication code. The circuit includes a non-volatile, non-transient memory to store the authentication code. The memory may be a read-only or re-writable memory. For example, the circuit includes an unpowered near field communication chip. For example the circuit is integrated with and/or adhered to the carrier5. Such wireless readable circuit is readable from outside the cartridge1by a wireless scanning device.

In some of the mentioned examples, the carrier5is designed to allow contactless scanning of the authentication code9by a third party scan device that is not the printer. Such third party scan device can be a handheld, mobile computing device such as a smart phone or tablet that has a respective scan capability, or a dedicated scan device. For example, said capability allows for scanning the authentication code9according to at least one suitable standard technique including RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), NEC (Near Field Communication), IR (Infrared), or Optical Scanning techniques such as bar codes, QR codes, etc. Depending on the chosen scan standard, the capability may include an optical sensor, such as a camera, or an NFC or RFID transmitter. The capability may further include a set of decoding instructions stored on a memory of the respective device or a distant network-connected memory.

The different example authenticity verification codes mentioned in this disclosure can be configured according to any suitable contactless or proximity machine reading standard including but not limited to one or a combination of NFC (e.g. ISO/IEC 14443, ISO/IEC 18092, ISO/IEC 21481, ECMA-340, ECMA-352), RFID (e.g. ISO/IEC 14443, ISO/IEC 18000, ISO/IEC 15693, ISO/IEC 18092, ISO/IEC 21481), proximity card reading (e.g. ISO/IEC 14443, ISO/IEC 15693), bar coding (e.g. ISO/IEC 15416, ISO/IEC 15415), QR coding (e.g. ISO/IEC 18004:2000, ISO/IEC 18004:2006) and other contactless code reading technologies.

The authentication code9allows for a user or operator to verify that the consumable material is from a trusted source by contactless scanning of the code9by a device other than a printer, and matching it with a corresponding comparison code. Such comparison code may be stored on a distant computing device other than the printer, in one example on a distant network connected server, for example in a list containing multiple comparison codes. For example, the decoded authentication code9corresponds to a unique identity of the product, for example a serial number. A positive authentication of the cartridge1and its contents confirms that the cartridge1is not a third party cartridge. Hence, the carrier5facilitates distinguishing third party cartridges from original OEM cartridges.

According to these different examples, the original cartridge1can be authenticated before a first installation by including at least one of the following steps (i) human reading a company logo and associating the logo with an OEM or OEM-authorized party, (ii) optically reading an optical scanning code with an optical reading device and associating the code with an OEM or OEM-authorized party, and (iii) wirelessly reading the wireless communication circuit with the aid of a wireless reading device such as a radio communication device and associating the read information with an OEM or OEM-authorized party.

The powder flow stimulator3and carrier5may be located in the reservoir2. The carrier5with authenticity information is mechanically coupled to the flow stimulator3. For example the carrier5is directly coupled to the flow stimulator2or coupled by a strand13, so that a movement of the flow stimulator2displaces at least part of the carrier5, as illustrated inFIG. 2. For example, the flow stimulator3pulls the strand when it starts to move, hence pulling a portion of the carrier5.FIG. 2illustrates an example of a carrier5after flow stimulator movement wherein part of the carrier5is moved with respect to another part of the carrier5thereby tearing the carrier5so that the logo7band bar code9bare visibly altered, for example rendered undetectable by a machine.

After installing the cartridge1for a first time, a printing or calibration process can be initiated whereby the flow stimulator3is rotated or otherwise moved in order to stimulate flow of the powder in the reservoir2. Such first flow stimulator rotation displaces at least a part11of the carrier5. Thereby the carrier5may displace, rupture, divide, unravel or tear so that the authenticity information is visibly altered. As a consequence, subsequent authentication is inhibited. A continued flow stimulator rotation may further displace, tear, destroy or unravel the carrier5, for example in such a manner that the original authenticity information is rendered unreadable by man or machine. In another example the logo7is altered so that the alteration is visible by a human while the original authentication code9is rendered undetectable by a scanning device.

FIG. 3is an example of a toner cartridge101. The toner cartridge101includes a powder reservoir102containing powder115. A stirrer103is provided in the powder reservoir102to stimulate flow of the powder115out of the reservoir102. In the example ofFIG. 3the stirrer103is in an initial orientation before a first rotation. The stirrer103is to rotate about a rotation axis117. The stirrer103includes wings119to aid in moving the powder out of the reservoir102. The reservoir102includes a reservoir gate121. An imaging roller assembly123is disposed on the opposite side of the gate119. The imaging roller assembly123may include a developer roller, a charger roller and a developer roller. A seal125or dam may be provided between the roller assembly123and powder reservoir102to seal the gate121. The seal125may be adhered to inner walls of the cartridge101around the gate121. For example the seal125includes a film or plate like structure. The seal125is coupled to the stirrer103, for example by a second strand126.

The cartridge101includes a window129. The window129is located in a reservoir wall. The window129may be defined by an opening through the reservoir wall and a transparent material that covers the opening. The material is transparent so as to allow optical reading of authenticity information that is held against the window129. The transparent material may include glass and/or polymer. The cartridge101includes a carrier105for carrying authenticity information such as an authentication code109. The carrier105may be a label. The carrier105is positioned close to or against the window129. The carrier105is adhered against or around the window129with its printed side facing the window129to allow the authenticity information to be read through the window129, for example by a human or a scanning device. The carrier105is positioned so that powder115in the reservoir102does not affect a readability of the authenticity information.

FIG. 4illustrates an example of a label-like carrier105with authenticity information. The authenticity information includes optical authentication codes109A,109B. A first authentication code109A is a human readable serial number and a second authentication code109B is a QR code to be read by a device with QR scanning capability, such as a smart phone, tablet or phablet. Before installation of the cartridge101in a printer, the authentication codes109A,109B are readable by a human and a scanning device, respectively, through the window129. For example each of the codes109A,109B may be manually entered or scanned and thereafter compared with a corresponding verification code stored on a distant server.

Turning again toFIG. 3, in a further example, a non-volatile, non-transient digital memory139is provided on the cartridge201. The memory is part of an interconnect circuit to communicate the information stored thereon to a printer controller. The memory139stores a third authentication code that is to allow verification of an authenticity of the cartridge201by the printer. The third authentication code may include a unique identifier, for example a product serial number or the like. The third authentication code may include encrypted information. For example, the third authenticity verification code is to be matched to at least one corresponding second comparison code stored in the printer or on a network memory. For example the memory139is to remain functional, at least until the cartridge life fully or partly emptied or until the end of life of the cartridge101. This type of additional authenticity information may be read or transmitted by the printer, rather than by a non-printing scanning device.

The carrier105is coupled to the stirrer103. For example the carrier105is coupled to the stirrer103by a strand113or the like. For example the coupling strength of the carrier105to the window129or to the inner walls of the reservoir102is less than the coupling strength of the carrier105to the stirrer103so that portions of the carrier105are released from their respective adhesion locations by a first movement of the stirrer103.

FIG. 5illustrates the cartridge101after a first stirrer movement around the rotational axis117. For example the stirrer103may have rotated over approximately 90 degrees or less. By this first stirrer movement, the stirrer103displaces at least a part of the carrier105. As can be seen, the carrier105is partly wound around part of the stirrer103, and partly or fully detached from its respective original adhesion location. The rotational movement of the stirrer103displaces part of the carrier105so that reading of the authenticity information thereon is inhibited.

FIG. 6illustrates the cartridge101after further rotation, for example after at least one full rotation of the stirrer103. For example the carrier105is wound around the stirrer103and thereby (i) completely decoupled from the respective reservoir interior walls and (ii) invisible through the window129. Hence, the authentication codes109A,109B are rendered unreadable from outside the cartridge101.

FIG. 7illustrates an example of a label205having authenticity information printed thereon, in the form of a logo207, a serial number209A and a QR code209B. For example, the label205may comprise strengthened, coated paper and/or flexible, fiber strengthened polymer material. In an example, the authenticity information side of the label205faces a window so as to be visible from outside a cartridge, as described above. The label205includes cut out grooves231arranged in a staggered fashion extending from a longitudinal edge of the label205towards an opposite longitudinal edge up to a small distance from said opposite longitudinal edge. The grooves231may completely or partly cut through the label205to allow the label205to be unraveled along the grooves231. The grooves231form a single strand within the label205that is arranged in a snake-like fashion. Each of the grooves231may be formed by a dotted or straight line. The grooves231facilitate that by pulling a corner213or end of the label205, the label205is unraveled along the grooves231as if it were a single strand. By connecting said corner213or end to the stirrer, the label205is wound around the stirrer and unraveled at the same time. Hence, the authenticity information207,209A,209B can be rendered unreadable in a relatively controlled manner.

FIG. 8illustrates another example of a label305having authenticity information printed there one, in the form of a logo307, a serial number309A and a QR code309B. For example, the label305may comprise strengthened, coated paper and/or flexible, fiber strengthened polymer material. In an example, the authenticity information side of the label305faces a window so as to be visible from outside a cartridge. The label305includes a cut out groove331arranged in a spiraled fashion thereby allowing the label305to be unraveled as if it were a single strand. The groove331may completely or partly cut through the label305. The groove331forms a spiraled single strand in the label305and facilitates that by pulling a corner313of the label305, the label305is unraveled along the groove331. By connecting said corner313to the stirrer, the label305is unraveled around the stirrer during winding. Hence, the authenticity information307,309A,309B can be rendered unreadable in a relatively controlled manner.

FIG. 9illustrates an example of a label that includes a woven strand to allow for controlled unravelling similar toFIGS. 7 and 8. For example the label material includes a woven fabric. The fabric may include at least one of textile and polymer material. A suitable weaving pattern may be chosen to facilitate unraveling. A strand's end413may protrude from the woven label405and attached to a flow stimulator so that when the flow stimulator pulls the strand, the label405is unraveled.

Although only examples of optical authentication codes are illustrated, the same principles may apply to a wireless authentication code stored on a circuit in the carrier. A carrier carrying such authentication circuit may be at least partly displaced by a flow stimulator movement, hence rendering the authentication code stored on such wireless circuit unreadable. For example, such circuit can be broken or deformed by unravelling the carrier, so that thereafter the authentication code cannot be read by a respective scanning device such as a smart phone, tablet phablet or dedicated scanning device.

With the examples described in this disclosure a cartridge that has non-OEM powder may be detected relatively easily because the authenticity information will be altered in a way that is relatively easy to read by man or machine. Only before a first installation of the original OEM cartridge, the cartridge can be authenticated by the disclosed authenticity information, and afterwards not anymore. Furthermore, by scanning the authentication code with a network connected device it may be possible for an OEM to assign certain rewards to users of first-time installed original cartridges containing original OEM-approved powder, while avoiding assigning of rewards to users of non-OEM powders.