Thermal transfer printer ink ribbon-changing carousel apparatus and method
US5491504A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/325
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermal transfer color printer (100) utilizes a single print head (102) positioned outside a carousel (104) of monochrome ink ribbons (106) each stretched between a pair of spaced-apart spools (108, 110) mounted around the periphery of the carousel. A spool spacing (112) provides sufficient clearance for the thermal print head to be positioned between to spools to contact the ribbon. A media drum (116) is positioned coaxially within the carousel. The carousel has a media opening (122) through which a print medium (118) enters and exits a medium clamp (144) attached to the media drum. To print a particular color, the carousel is rotated such that the media opening is adjacent to a media supply, and a print medium is guided from the media supply into the medium clamp. The media drum is rotated to close the medium clamp and position a leading edge (138) of the print medium adjacent to the print head. The print head is moved against the ribbon, and the print head is electrically driven by a printer controller (240) to selectively transfer ink to the print medium in a predetermined pattern. To print a different color, the carousel is indexed to a selected ribbon position, the media dr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.