Thermal-transfer ink ribbon
US4707707A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 1986 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 3, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2839
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink ribbon comprises an ink supporting member, an intermediate layer mounted on the ink supporting member, and ink mounted on the intermediate layer. The ink has supercooling property and is susceptible to softening or melting by heat, and the intermediate layer is adapted to reduce adhesion of the ink to the intermediate layer above a temperature at which the ink is softened or melted. A thermal-transfer recording apparatus best adapted for use of the ink ribbon described above, comprises a thermal head including a plurality of heating elements and being in sliding contact with the ink ribbon, the heating elements being adapted to be heated for predetermined patterns so that the ink of the ink ribbon in sliding contact with the thermal head is heated to be softened or melted into the predetermined patterns, and is transferred to the recording paper overlapping the ink ribbon. The heating elements are located at a downstream end position, with respect to the feed direction of the ink ribbon, on the ink ribbon sliding contact surface of the thermal head.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.