Indication of print media quality to printer users

摘要

A printing system for indicating print media quality to printer users includes a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway for printing. In an example, the system includes, but is not limited to, a thermal printer having a thermal print head for printing onto paper. The system also includes a light meter configured to detect light reflected from the print media, such as the paper. The light meter also measures a characteristic of the detected light. An indicator is coupled to the light meter, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the measured characteristic of the detected light.

主权项

1. A system comprising:
a printing assembly configured to route print media along a pathway; a light source configured to generate and direct light having a first intensity to a surface of the print media; a light meter configured to determine a second intensity of light reflected from the print media, and determine a gloss characteristic of the print media based on the first and second intensities; a computing unit configured to compare the determined gloss characteristic to a predetermined value; and an indicator coupled to the computing unit, and configured to present a quality level of the print media to a user based on the comparison, wherein the computing unit is configured to: measure an amount of the print media processed by the printing assembly; and associate the amount of processed print media with the quality level of the print media.