Thermal printer with removable ribbon unit
US5138335A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 11, 1990 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J17/24
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermal printer includes a ribbon supply device for running a transfer ribbon through a printing section. The device includes a ribbon unit and a ribbon drive section which are removably mounted on a head supporting frame of the printing section. The ribbon unit includes a supply shaft on which the ribbon is wound, a take-up shaft for take-up the ribbon drawn from the supply shaft, a tension shaft, and a ribbon drive shaft. The supply and tension shafts are arranged to be symmetrical to the take-up and ribbon drive shafts, respectively, about an imaginary plane which extends between the supply shaft and the take-up shaft and between the tension shaft and the ribbon drive shaft, in parallel with these shafts, so that the unit is capable of being remounted on the head supporting frame while the unit is turned through 180 degrees.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.