Patent · US Expired

Thermal transfer printer

US5806995A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
5References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 20, 1997
Grant dateSep 15, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 20, 2017

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.