Thermal transfer ribbon having ribbon follower
US5318368A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 24, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 24, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J35/28
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermal ribbon cassette includes a take-up spool and a supply spool rotatively mounted in the cassette housing. The spools are aligned to respective aperture in the rear wall of the housing. The housing has a print head opening located between the supply spool and the take-up spool dividing the cassette into the respective supply side and the take-up side. The thermal ink transfer ribbon supply is wrapped around the supply spool and extending to the take-up spool. An encoder post is rotatively mounted to the rear wall to the supply side of the cassette aligned to an aperture in the rear wall. A first drag post is fixably mounted to the rear wall on the supply side of the cassette and a feed post is fixably mounted to the rear wall on the supply side of the cassette just prior to the print head opening. A drag clutch is provided for preventing the supply spool from turning in the non-feed direction and for providing a predetermined amount of drag to the supply spool. The coefficients of friction and the relative location of the encoder post, drag post and feed post maintain the supply of the thermal ribbon taut.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.