Printer for printing on a continuous print medium
US5647679A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J17/04
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A thermal printer for printing on a continuous print medium by ink transfer from a thermal print ribbon has a print head which is pivotally mounted and which is driven in an oscillatory nodding motion by a stepper motor so as to repeatedly to bring a linear array of energizable printing elements to bear against a platen roller. Both the element array and the platen extend transversely to respective paths of travel of the print medium and the ribbon. The print medium is fed through the printer from an inlet region, between the platen and print head, and thence to an outlet region. The instantaneous rate of travel of the print medium past the print head is substantially the same as the rate of feed of print medium to the printer. Typically this rate is of the order of 250 to 400 mm per second. The ribbon also travels between the print head and the platen, overlying the print medium and is driven in such a manner that it travels at the same rate as the print medium during each printing operation. This is achieved by driving the ribbon with a motor the speed of which is controlled according to the sensed speed of travel of the print medium, for example, by coupling the motor to process…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.