Patent · US Expired

Printer color ink ribbon positioning control

US5468078A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
8References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 1994
Grant dateNov 21, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 7, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J35/14
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A printer for use with an ink ribbon having at least two printing tracks is provided with a print head that moves along a predetermined path adjacent to a recording medium. A line driver reciprocates the print head along the path in first and second directions. A multi-track ribbon comprises a plurality of printing tracks having portions thereof disposed between the print heads and a recording medium. A ribbon shift mechanism positions a preselected one of the tracks on the ink ribbon adjacent the print head for use in printing a response to movement of the print head. The ribbon shift mechanism comprises a printing track setting mechanism for moving the ribbon in one direction to set at one desired track height from among several preselected track heights corresponding to a selected one of predetermined amounts of movement of the print head in the first direction to a first end portion of the path. The ribbon shift mechanism also comprises a printing track releasing mechanism for moving the ribbon in an opposite direction to release from the set track height in response to movement of the print head in the second direction to a second end portion of the path.

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