Patent Publication Number: US-7594769-B2

Title: Method and system for protecting a print head in a content applicator and reader

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/723,168 filed Oct. 3, 2005. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This disclosure generally relates to printers, and more particularly, protecting a print head in a printer. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Typically, labels are comprised of a label face stock, which may be suitable for printing, a release liner, and an adhesive layer sandwiched between the label face stock and the release liner. A label may also include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or device that can carry information. 
   An applicator having a print engine may be used to print to the face stock of a label. Some applicators include an RFID reader/writer for reading or writing to RFID devices included with labels. Frequently, a thermal print head is used to print to the face stock. Typically, the thermal print head engages the label while printing to the label, and the engagement of the thermal print head with the label causes wear and tear to the thermal print head, for example, to one or more resistive elements of the thermal print head. In addition, the print head of an applicator having both a print head and an RFID reader/writer can be subjected to wear and tear by the applicator processing a label even when the print head does not print to the label. 
   There is a need in such applicators to avoid such degradation when the applicator is processing a medium while not printing. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect, a content applicator comprises a printer head, and a protective member selectively interposable between the print head and a media transport path for media processed by the content applicator. 
   In another aspect, a method of using a content applicator comprises receiving a medium at a content applicator having a print head; interposing a protective member between the print head and a media transport path; feeding the medium through the print station; and writing to at least one radio frequency identification device carried by the medium. 
   In yet another aspect, a content applicator comprises a print station including a thermal print head having at least one resistive element, and a platen opposed across a media transport path from the at least one resistive element, the print station configured to be switched between a print station online mode and a print station offline mode; and a print station protector selectively positionable with respect to the print head to protect the at least one resistive element of the print station from degradation cause by the print station receiving a medium when the print station is in the print station offline mode. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
     In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a content applicator and reader according to one illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of a content applicator and reader according to a second illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of an RFID reader/writer of  FIG. 2  according to one illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 4A  is a functional block diagram of a print station subsystem in print online mode and a print station protector subsystem of  FIG. 2  according to one illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 4B  is a functional block diagram of a print station subsystem in print offline mode and a print station protector subsystem of  FIG. 2  according to one illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of a control subsystem of  FIG. 1  according to one illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 6A  is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a content applicator and reader according to one illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 6B  is a flow diagram showing a method of switching a content applicator and reader to print online mode according to one illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram showing a method of operating a content applicator and reader according to a second illustrated embodiment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a Content-Applicator/Reader (CA/R)  10  and a medium  12 . The medium  12  has a print surface  14 , which is suitable for having content printed thereon, and an RFID device  16 , which has a memory  18  in which information may be stored. Sometimes information is stored in the memory  18  prior to the medium  12  being provided to the CA/R  10 , and other times information is not stored in the memory  18  prior to the medium  12  being provided to the CA/R  10 . Similarly, sometimes content is pre-printed on the print surface  14  prior to the medium  12  being provided to the CA/R  10 , and other times content is not pre-printed on the print surface  14  prior to the medium  12  being provided to the CA/R  10 . Sometimes, the medium  12  may include the print surface  14  but not include the RFID device  16 , and other times the medium  12  may include the RFID device  16  but not include the print surface  14 . Typically, the medium  12  includes both the print surface  14  and the RFID device  16 . For the sake of clarity, the medium  12  is discussed below as having both the print surface  14  and the RFID device  16 . In addition, it should be noted that the medium  12  may be a discrete medium such as, but not limited to, a sheet or a label, or the medium  12  may be a continuous medium such as, but not limited to, a web or a roll of labels. 
   The CA/R  10  includes a control subsystem  20 , an RFID station subsystem  22  and a print station subsystem  24 . A medium transport assembly  26  interposes the RFID station subsystem  22  and the print station subsystem  24 . The medium transport assembly  26  may include rollers, spindles, platen, belts, and pathways for passing, conveying, or transporting the medium  12  from the RFID station subsystem  22  to the print station subsystem  24 . In some embodiments, the medium transport assembly  26  may pass, convey, or transport the medium  12  from the print station subsystem  24  to the RFID station subsystem  22 . 
   The medium  12  is received at an input side  28  of the CA/R  10 , and, after processing, the medium  12  exits the CA/R  10  at an output side  30 . During processing, the medium  12  passes through the RFID station subsystem  22  and the print station subsystem  24  along a medium transport path  32 . The medium transport path  32  is defined by slots, openings, rollers, spindles, belts, platen, platen roller, in the RFID station subsystem  22 , print station subsystem  24 , and medium transport assembly  26 . It should be noted that the CA/R  10  might include other medium pathways, which may be used to, among other things, clear medium from the CA/R  10  when there is medium jammed in the CA/R  10 . However, in some embodiments, the medium transport path  32  is the one, and only, pathway through which the medium  12  can be processed when the CA/R  10  is operating and is not jammed. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the medium transport path  32  is unidirectional. Furthermore, in some embodiments, when the CA/R  10  is operating normally, the medium transport path  32  is non-bypassable through the RFID station subsystem  22  and print station subsystem  24 . In other embodiments, the CA/R  10  may include one or more bypass pathways along which medium can bypass one, or both of, the print station subsystem  24  and RFID station subsystem  22 . Similarly, in other embodiments, the medium transport path  32 , or portions of the medium transport path, may be reversible. 
   The print station subsystem  24  includes a print station protector subsystem  34 . The print station subsystem  24  is configured to receive media, such as medium  12 , traversing along the medium transport path  32 . Media received at the print station subsystem  24  can be processed through the print station subsystem  24  with the print station subsystem  24  configured in one of at least two processing modes: “print offline” and “print online.” 
   When the print station subsystem  24  is in print online mode, content is printed on the print surface  14  of the medium  12  as the medium  12  passes through the print station subsystem  24  along the medium transport path  32 . The act of printing to the medium  12  results in wear and tear components of the print station subsystem  24 , and some of the components may be expensive. 
   When the print station subsystem  24  is in print offline mode, it is desirable to protect components of the print station subsystem  24  from the normal wear and tear associated with the print station subsystem  24  receiving the medium  12 . Typically, even when the print station subsystem  24  is not printing, print station subsystem  24  is subjected to wear and tear by the medium  12  traversing the print station subsystem  24 . Thus, the print station protector subsystem  34  is configured to protect components such as a print head of the print station subsystem  24  when the print station subsystem  24  is in print offline mode. 
   In some embodiments, the control subsystem  20  may automatically configure the print station protector subsystem  34  to protect the print station subsystem  24  when the print station subsystem  24  is in print offline mode. Similarly, in some embodiments, a user may manually configure the print station protector subsystem  34  to protect the print station subsystem  24  when the print station subsystem  24  is switched to print offline mode and manually reconfigure the print station protector subsystem  34  when print station subsystem  24  is switched back to print online mode. 
   Among other things, the control subsystem  20  controls the print station subsystem  24  and the RFID station subsystem  22 , and in some embodiments, the control subsystem  20  may be used to control the print station protector subsystem  34 . In operation, the medium  12  is received by the CA/R  10 , which then processes the medium  12  according to instructions received by the control subsystem  20 . A user may provide processing instructions to the control subsystem  20  via a user-interface  36 . Processing instructions may include instructions such as, but not limited to, “print only,” “print and write only,” “print and read only,” “print, read and write,” “read only,” “read and process,” and “write only.” For the purposes of this specification, the RFID station subsystem  22  may “read” from and/or “write” to a memory of an RFID device such as the memory  18  of the RFID device  16  in the medium  12 , and the print station subsystem  24  may “print” to a printable surface such as the print surface  14  of the medium  12 . 
   When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “print only” processing instructions, the print station subsystem  24  of the CA/R  10  prints to the print surface  14  of the medium  12 , and the RFID station subsystem  22  of the CA/R  10  does not “read” or “write,” or attempt to “read” or “write,” to the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 . 
   When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “print and write only” processing instructions, the print station subsystem  24  of the CA/R  10  prints to the print surface  14  of the medium  12 , and the RFID station subsystem  22  of the CA/R  10  writes to the memory  18  of the RFID device  16  in the medium  12 . When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “print and write only” processing instructions, the RFID station subsystem  22  does not “read”, or attempt to “read”, to the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 . 
   When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “print and read only” processing instructions, the print station subsystem  24  of the CA/R  10  prints to the print surface  14  of the medium  12 , and the RFID station subsystem  22  of the CA/R  10  only reads from the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 . When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “print and read only” processing instructions, the RFID station subsystem  22  does not “write”, or attempt to “write”, to the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 . 
   When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “read only” processing instructions, the print station subsystem  24  of the CA/R  10  does not print, or attempt to print, to the print surface  14  of the medium  12 , and the RFID station subsystem  22  of the CA/R  10  only reads from the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 . When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “read only” processing instructions, the RFID station subsystem  22  does not “write”, or attempt to “write”, to the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 . 
   When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “write only” processing instructions, the print station subsystem  24  of the CA/R  10  does not print, or attempt to print, to the print surface  14  of the medium  12 , and the RFID station subsystem  22  of the CA/R  10  only writes to the memory  18  of RFID device  16 . When the CA/R  10  processes the medium  12  according to “write only” processing instructions, the RFID station subsystem  22  does not “read”, or attempt to “read”, to the memory  18  of RFID device  16 . 
   In some embodiments, the control subsystem  20  may be in communication with other devices such as print controllers or computers or the like via a network interface such as a network interface card (NIC)  38 . The control subsystem  20  may receive processing instructions from these devices (print controllers, computers, etc.) and processes received media accordingly. 
   In some situations, the control subsystem  20  may also receive processing instructions from the RFID device  16  of the medium  12 . For example, a user might have set the CA/R  10  to operate in the “read and process” mode. In the “read and process” mode, the RFID station subsystem  22  reads information from memory  18  of the RFID device  16 , which is then provided to the control subsystem  20 . The information from the RFID device  16  may include processing instructions, and in that case, the control subsystem  20  may process the medium  12  according to the processing instructions. For example, the information from the memory  18  might indicate that content is to be printed on the print surface  14 , and the information might also indicate where the content can be located, or the memory  18  of the RFID device  16  might provide the content. As another example, the instructions from the memory  18  might indicate that the print surface  14  should not be printed upon. Similarly, the instructions might indicate information should not be written to the memory  18 , or that the memory  18  may receive information. 
   In some embodiments, the RFID station subsystem  22  may be configured to automatically interrogate the medium  12  looking for an RFID device  16 . Assuming that the memory  18  of the RFID device  16  carries processing instructions, the CA/R  10  may be configured to automatically respond to the processing instructions stored in the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 . 
   In some situations, it may be desired that the print station subsystem  24  does not print content on the print surface  14  of the medium  12  such as when the CA/R  10  is operating in “read only” mode. For example, in some situations, a user might desire to find out what information, if any, is written into the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 , but the user might not want to have content printed on the print surface  14  of the medium  12 . In that case, the user might set the CA/R  10  into “read only” processing mode, and the control subsystem  20  may switch the print station subsystem  24  to “print offline” mode. The ability to switch the print station subsystem  24  between “print offline” mode and “print online” mode allows the CA/R  10  to employ a single medium transport path, such as medium transport path  32 , regardless of whether the medium  12  should be printed on or not. In other words, there is no need to provide a bypass path of the print station subsystem  24  when it is desired not to print on the medium  12 . 
   It should be noted that the CA/R  10  might also include an input tray (not shown) and a feeder (not shown). The input tray and the feeder may be used to feed multiple units of medium  12  into the CA/R  10 . 
   Furthermore, it should be noted that in some embodiments, the RFID station subsystem  22  and the print station subsystem  24  might be arranged such that the print station subsystem  24  is proximal to the input side  28  and the RFID station subsystem  22  is proximal to the output side  30 . In this configuration, the print station subsystem  24  might receive the medium  12  before the RFID station subsystem  22  receives the medium  12 . 
     FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the CA/R  10  according to a second illustrated embodiment. In  FIG. 2 , the various labels having a both a reference numeral and a letter “a” identify similar components and/or features as those of  FIG. 1  that are labeled with the same reference numeral. (For example, the labels “ 18 ” and “ 18   a ” are used to identify the control subsystem in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , respectively.) The detailed description of such components are initially provided with respect to the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and for the sake of brevity the description of such components in the context of their subsequently a-labeled counterparts in  FIG. 2  are abbreviated or omitted. 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the CA/R  10  does not include the medium transport assembly  26 . In this embodiment, the RFID station subsystem  22   a  and the print station subsystem  24   a  are illustrated as abutting such that the portion of the medium transport path  32   a  through the RFID station subsystem  22   a  is aligned with the portion of the medium transport path  32   a  through the print station subsystem  24   a . This illustration is provided merely for the sake of clarity. In some embodiments, the RFID station subsystem  22   a  and the print station subsystem  24   a  might not abut, or the portion of the medium transport path  32   a  through the RFID station subsystem  22   a  might not be aligned with the portion of the medium transport path  32   a  through the print station subsystem  24   a . Typically, the RFID station subsystem  22   a  and the print station subsystem  24   a  are positioned such that the print station subsystem  24   a  may receive media, such as, but not limited to, medium  12  (and/or labels  48 ), from the RFID station subsystem  22   a.    
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the CA/R  10  includes a label peeler  40 , an unwind spindle  42 , and a rewind spindle  44 . The label peeler  40  is disposed on the output side  30   a  of the CA/R  10 , and the spindles  42  and  44  are disposed proximal to the input side  28   a  of the CA/R  10 . Disposed on the unwind spindle  42  is a label roll  46 . 
   The label roll  46  is comprised of a number of labels  48  carried by a release liner  50 . Normally, each one of the labels  48  includes an RFID device  16   a  and a print surface  14   a . It should be noted that in some embodiments, the labels  48  may not include the RFID devices  16   a , and in other embodiments, the labels  48  may not have a printable surface. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the label roll  46  may include various combinations of labels, some with, or without, RFID devices  16   a  and some with, or without, print surfaces  14   a.    
   In operation, the CA/R  10  may process the label roll  46  in either label-peel mode or label-rewind mode.  FIG. 2  illustrates the CA/R  10  in label-peel mode operation. A portion of the label roll  46  is feed through the CA/R  10  along the medium transport path  32   a  and out over the label peeler  40 . The release liner  50  is feed back underneath the label peeler  40  and through the CA/R  10  to the rewind spindle  44  where the release liner  50  is rewound. The labels  48  are separated from the release liner  50  as the release liner  50  is pulled back underneath the label peeler  40 . 
   In label-rewind mode, the labels  48  are not peeled from the release liner  50 . Instead, after a given label  48  has exited the print station subsystem  24 , the release liner  50  (with the given label  48  still thereon) is rewound on the rewind spindle  44 . In one embodiment, a portion of the label roll  46  is feed along a label peeler bypass path  52  when the CA/R  10  is operating in rewind mode. Consequently, seeing as how the labels  48  bypass the label peeler  40 , the labels  48  are not separated from the release liner  50 . In another embodiment, the label peeler  40  may be removed from the output side  30   a , or otherwise disabled, such that the labels  48  are not peeled from the release liner  50  when the CA/R  10  is operating in label-rewind mode. 
     FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of the RFID station subsystem  22   a  according to one illustrated embodiment. In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , similar components and/or features are labeled with the same reference numeral or the same reference number and letter. 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the RFID station subsystem  22   a  includes an RFID antenna  54 , which is used for establishing a communication link  56  with RFID devices such as RFID devices  16   a . The RFID antenna  54  can be used to “write” content into the memory  18   a  of RFID device  16   a  or to “read” content from memory  18   a  the RFID device  16   a , or for both “read” and “write.” 
     FIG. 4A  shows an embodiment of the print station subsystem  24   a  in print online mode according to one illustrated embodiment, and  FIG. 4B  shows an embodiment of the print station subsystem  24   a  in print offline mode according to one illustrated embodiment. In  FIG. 4A , components and/or features having the same label identify similar components and/or features as those of  FIG. 4B , and vice-versa. For the sake of brevity the description of such components will be provided once. In addition, in  FIGS. 2 ,  4 A and  4   b , similar components and/or features are labeled with the same reference numeral or the same reference number and letter. 
   Referring to both  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the print station subsystem  24   a  includes the print station protector subsystem  34  and a printer assembly  58 . The printer assembly  58  includes a thermal print head  60 , a platen  62 , a pair of ribbon spindles  64  and  66  for receiving a ribbon  68  such as a thermal transfer ribbon. In the following discussion, the platen  62  is described as a platen roller. In other embodiments, the platen  62  might be a non-rotating platen such as, but not limited to, a flat or planar platen, or a platen having a curved surface. 
   In the following discussion, the thermal print head  60  is described as a thermal print head, but this is merely for the sake of clarity is not intended to be limiting. In other embodiments, the thermal print head  60  might be, among others, a laser print head or an ink-jet print head. Similarly, for the sake of clarity, the ribbon  68  is described as a thermal transfer ribbon. 
   Referring to both  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the print station protector subsystem  34  includes a print head driver  70 , a protective member driver  72 , and a protective member  74 . The print head driver  70  is configured to move the thermal print head  60  between a print head offline-position  76  (see  FIG. 4A ) and a print head online-position  78  (see  FIG. 4A ). The protective member driver  72  is configured to move the protective member  74  between a protective member waiting station  80  and a protective member operational position  82 . In  FIG. 4A , the thermal print head  60  is located at the print head online-position  78 , and the protective member  74  is located at the protective member waiting station  80 . In  FIG. 4B , the thermal print head  60  is located at the print head offline-position  76 , and the protective member  74  is located at the protective member operation-position  82 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4A , in print online mode, the thermal print head  60  is proximal to the platen roller  62 . In print online mode, the ribbon  68  extends from the unwind spindle  64  underneath a bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60  and up to the rewind spindle  66 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4B , in print offline mode, the ribbon  68  may extend between the unwind spindle  64  underneath the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60  and up to the rewind spindle  66 . However, in other embodiments, the ribbon  68  may be removed from the spindles  64  and  66  when the print station subsystem  24   a  is in print offline mode. In other embodiments, when the print station subsystem  24   a  is in print offline mode, the ribbon  68  may be rewound on the unwind spindle  64  and then rethreaded when the print station subsystem  24   a  is switched to print online mode. 
   In operation, when the print station subsystem  24   a  is in print online mode, the platen roller  62  rotates about a rotational axis  86 . In print label online mode, the thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62  are arranged such that a gap extends between the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62 . The gap is of sufficient size for receiving the labels  48  of the label roll  46 . The thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62  are disposed such that the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60 , or a portion of the bottom surface  84 , or the ribbon  68  presses the labels  48  of the label roll  46  against the platen roller  62 , and the rotation of the platen roller  62  about the rotation axis  86  causes the labels  48  of the label roll  46  to be fed through the print station subsystem  24   a  along the medium transport path  32   a.    
   In print label offline mode, the protective member  74  is disposed such that a bottom surface  88  of the protective member  74  is proximal to the platen roller  62 . A gap of sufficient size for receiving the labels  48  of the label roll  46  extends between the bottom surface  88  of the protective member  74  to the platen roller  62 . The protective member  74  and the platen roller  62  are disposed such that the bottom surface  88  of the protective member  74 , or a portion of the bottom surface  88 , presses the labels  48  of the label roll  46  against the platen roller  62 , and the rotation of the platen roller  62  about the rotation axis  86  causes the labels  48  of the label roll  46  to be fed through the print station subsystem  24   a  along the medium transport path  32   a . The protective member  74  is made using materials that are effective in protecting the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60  and that are suitable for withstanding the wear caused by the passage of the labels  48  against the protective member  74 . Non-limiting examples of materials that may be used for the protective member  74  include plastic and metal. In some embodiments, the protective member  74  covers the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60 . 
   When the print station subsystem  24   a  is switched from print offline mode to print online mode, the protective member driver  72  moves the protective member  74  from the protective member operational position  82  to the waiting station  80 , and the print head driver  70  moves the thermal print head  60  from the print head offline position  76  to the print head online position  78 . 
   When the print station subsystem  24   a  is switched from print online mode to print offline mode, the protective member driver  72  moves the protective member  74  from the waiting station  80  to the protective member operational position  82 , and the print head driver  70  moves the thermal print head  60  from the print head online position  78  to the print head offline position  76 . 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the control subsystem  20  includes logic for, among other things, controlling the thermal print head  60 , the print head driver  70 , and the protective member driver  72 . Among other things, the control subsystem  20  can use the print head driver  70  and the protective member driver  72  to switch the print station subsystem  24   a  between print online mode and print offline mode. The control subsystem  20  can also turn the thermal print head  60  on and off and/or to and from stand-by mode. 
   As a non-limiting example, the control subsystem  20  might switch the thermal print head to stand-by mode by reducing electrical power to the thermal print head such that the temperature of the thermal print head becomes less than the operational temperature for the thermal print head. The control subsystem  20  could switch the thermal print head out of stand-by mode by increasing the electrical power to the thermal print head. 
   In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the ribbon  68  extends beneath the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60  when the print station subsystem  24   a  is in both print offline mode and print online mode. However, in some embodiments, the control subsystem  20  may also control the ribbon  68  such that when the print station subsystem  24   a  is switched to print offline mode, the ribbon  68  is moved so that the ribbon  68  does not extend underneath the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60 . When the print station subsystem  24   a  is switched back to print online mode, the control subsystem  20  may also move the ribbon  68  such that the ribbon  68  extends underneath the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60 . 
   In some embodiments, the print station subsystem  24   a  and the print station protector subsystem  34   a  might be configured to allow a user to switch the print station subsystem  24   a  between print online mode and print offline mode. In that case, the user might move the thermal print head  60  between the print head offline position  76  and the print head online position  78 , and the user might move the protective member to and from the protective member operational position  82 . 
   In some embodiments, when a user switches the print station subsystem  24   a  to print offline mode, the user might manually move the thermal print head  60  to the print offline position  76  and manually attach the protective member  74  to the thermal print head  60 . The protective member  74  might be a cap that covers the bottom surface  84  of the thermal print head  60 . The protective member  74  might also (fully or partially) cover other surfaces of the thermal print head  60 . In some embodiments, the protective member is configured to mate with the thermal print head  60  and might be configured to snap fit onto the thermal print head  60 . Alternatively, the protective member  74  and the thermal print head  60  might be configured to mate using alignment structure, for example, aligned projections and receiving holes. For instance, the protective member  74  may have the projections that extend outward, and the thermal print head  60  may have the receiving holes. When the protective member  74  is properly aligned with the thermal print head  60 , the projections are aligned with the receiving holes. The protective member  74  is coupled to the thermal print head  60  by the projections extending into the receiving holes. In yet another embodiment, the protective member  74  and the thermal print head  60  may be coupled by mating ribs and grooves that are configured to enable the protective member  74  to be slidably coupled to the thermal print head  60 . In yet another embodiment, the protective member  74  may be removably coupled to the thermal print head  60  via a fastener such as, but not limited to, a snap, a clip, a thumbscrew, etc. 
   In some embodiments, moving the thermal print head  60  to the print offline position  76  may reduce the pressure between the thermal print head  60  and the platen  62 . 
     FIG. 5  shows the control subsystem  20  of the CA/R according to an illustrated embodiment. The control subsystem  20  includes a processor  90  and a memory  92 . The memory  92  includes a user-interface module  94  and a print station protection module  96 . The user-interface module  94  includes logic for, among other things, providing the user-interface  36 , e.g., to the CA/R  10 , enabling user input and providing output to a user. 
   The print station protection module  96  includes logic for, among other things, protecting the thermal print head  60  when the print station subsystem  24   a  is in print offline mode. The print station protection module  96  may also include logic for, among other things, switching between print offline mode and print online mode. Among other things, the print station protection module  96  may protect the thermal print head  60  from wear by actuating the print head driver  70 , which results in the thermal print head  60  being moved upward, away from the medium transport path  32   a  when the CA/R  10  is in print offline mode. The print station protection module  96  may also actuate the protective member driver  72 , thereby causing the protective member  74  to be placed in protective member operational position  82 , e.g., between the thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62 . The print station protection module  96  may also include logic for, among other things, reducing electrical power to the thermal print head  60  so as to reduce or eliminate thermal heat for printing when the print station subsystem  24  is in print offline mode. 
   The print station protection module  96  may also include logic for enabling the thermal print head  60  to be returned to print head online position  78  when the print station subsystem  24  is in print online mode. Similarly, the print station protection module  96  can move the protective member  74  into the protective member waiting station  82  when the print station subsystem  24  is in print offline mode. 
     FIG. 6A  illustrates a method of processing a label roll and protecting the thermal print head  60  according to one illustrated embodiment. 
   At  98 , the protective member  74  engages the thermal print head  60 . The protective member  74  can be manually inserted between the thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62 . Alternatively, the protective member  74  may be attached to the thermal print head  60 . 
   At  100 , the pressure between the thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62  is reduced. In some embodiments, the control subsystem  20  decreases the pressure between the thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62 , and in other embodiments, the pressure may be reduced by a user manually moving the thermal print head  60  away from the print head online-position  78 . 
   At  102 , the electrical power to the thermal print head  60  is reduced. By reducing the electrical power to the thermal print head  60 , the thermal print head  60  may be placed in a stand-by mode such that the temperature of the thermal print head in stand-by mode is not the operational temperature for the thermal print head. 
   At  104 , a portion of the label roll  46  is fed through to CA/R  10 . The labels  48  in the label roll  46  may include RFID devices  16 . 
   At  106 , the print station subsystem  24  is set to print offline mode. 
   At  108 , the RFID station subsystem  22  communicates with the RFID device  16  in one of the labels  48 . 
   At  110  the protective member  74  presses the labels  48  against the platen roller  62 , and the rotation of the platen roller  62  pulls the labels  48  through CA/R  10 . 
   At  112 , the label  48  is peeled from the release liner  50  and presented, and the processing has been completed. 
     FIG. 6A  illustrates a method of switching the CA/R  10  to print online mode according to one illustrated embodiment. 
   At  114 , the protective member  74  moved from the protective member operational position  82 . In some embodiments, the protective member  74  is uncoupled from the thermal print head  60 , and, in some embodiments, a user might manually uncouple the protective member  74  from the thermal print head  60 . 
   At  116 , the pressure between the thermal print head  60  and the platen roller  62  is increased. 
   At  118 , the electrical power to the thermal print head  60  is increased. By increasing the electrical power to the thermal print head  60 , the thermal print head  60  may be switched out of stand-by mode such that the temperature of the thermal print head  60  is returned to the operational temperature for the thermal print head  60 . 
     FIG. 7  shows another method of processing a medium and protecting the print station subsystem  24  according to one illustrated embodiment. 
   At  120 , the CA/R  10  receives a medium. 
   At  122 , a decision of whether to protect the components of the print station subsystem  24  is made. In some embodiments, the decision may be made by a user. The user may provide user input instructing the CA/R  10  to protect the print station subsystem  24 . For example, the user may select to put the CA/R  10  into read only mode such that the CA/R  10  reads RFID devices and does not print content onto labels  48  using the thermal print head  60 . In some embodiments, the decision to protect the print station subsystem  24  may be made by the control subsystem  20 . For example, the control subsystem  20  may use the RFID antenna  54  to interrogate the RFID device  16 . Based upon the information conveyed from the interrogation of the RFID device  16 , the control subsystem  20  may decide that the print station subsystem  24  is to be protected because the thermal print head  60  will not be used for processing the medium. In some embodiments, the control subsystem  20  may cause the RFID antenna  54  to attempt to interrogate a RFID device. If a medium does not include a RFID device, then the control subsystem  20  may determine that the medium is for printing on and in that case, the decision is made not to protect the print head. 
   If the decision at  122  is to protect the print station subsystem  24 , then the process proceeds to  124 , where the print station subsystem is protected. The print station subsystem may be protected by, among other things: reducing the pressure between the thermal print head  60  and the platen roll  62 ; by reducing the electrical power to the thermal print head such that the temperature of the thermal print head is not the operational temperature; by moving the thermal print head  60  such that the thermal print head  60  does not engage the medium  12  (or labels  48 ) passing through the print station subsystem  24 ; and/or by interposing a protective member  74  between the thermal print head  60  and the medium  12  (or labels  48 ) passing through the print station subsystem  24 . 
   At  126 , communication with the RFID device  16  of the medium is established. The communication might be to read from the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 , or to write to the memory  18 , or to both read and write to the memory  18 . 
   If, on the other hand, the decision at  122  is not to protect the print station subsystem  24 , then the process continues at  128 . At  128 , communication with the RFID device  16  of the medium is established. The communication might be to read from the memory  18  of the RFID device  16 , or to write to the memory  18 , or to both read and write to the memory  18 . 
   At  130 , content is printed on the print surface  14  of the medium, and the process ends at  138 . 
   All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications including but not limited to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/723,168, filed Oct. 3, 2005, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
   From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.