Thermal printhead life extension technique
US4625216A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1985 |
| Grant date | Nov 25, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/35
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method are disclosed for automatically compensating for overutilized elements in a thermal printhead. The system is implemented by utilizing a graphics style line thermal printhead with a greater number of resistive or thermal elements than are needed for the maximum number of characters to be printed. These spare or extra elements are positioned on the leading side of a nominal designated print area or field within the thermal printhead, such that a microprocessor under software control can sequentially shift for each new print line the leading edge of all character positions contained in the print field incrementally to one side, allowing increased utilization of formerly underutilized elements. In a preferred embodiment the magnitude of this sequential sideways shift is determined by the number of spare or extra elements which border the leading side of the nominal print field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.