Patent · US Expired

Thermal transfer printer

US5777652A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
1References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 1995
Grant dateJul 7, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J35/18
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A thermal transfer printer wherein a desired ribbon cassette is identified and selected from among plural ribbon cassettes held by a cassette holding portion and is loaded automatically onto a cassette carrier disposed on a carriage. The carriage is provided with a photosensor for detecting an identification mark provided on each ribbon cassette and a control section which judges whether there is any ribbon cassette held by the holding portion and of which type the ribbon cassette is, in accordance with a signal provided from the photosensor as the carriage moves. The carriage is further provided with a mechanism for making control so as to prevent loosening of ink ribbon at the time of ribbon cassette replacement.

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