Patent · US Expired

Thermal transfer ribbon mechanism and recording method

US4712113A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 17, 1986
Grant dateDec 8, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J33/36
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A thermal printing apparatus is disclosed in which ribbon advancing mechanism including a supply spool and a take-up spool operated by a stepping motor is disclosed. Mechanism is provided for reversing the direction in which the take-up spool is driven by a specified amount during the printing cycle, in order to provide ribbon slack, so as to avoid smudging of the transferred ink on the receiving document and possible ribbon breakage during printing. The circumference of the accumulated ribbon on the take-up spool at any given time is considered in determining the number of steps and the step rate of the stepping motor in the reverse direction which must be taken in order to produce the desired amount of ribbon slack and slack take-up.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.