Patent · US Expired

Ribbon drive for a thermal demand printer

US5995128A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
2References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1999
Grant dateNov 30, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65C2210/0029
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A novel demand printer is used for printing on tickets, tags, pressure sensitive labels and other media. The printer has a spring wrap clutch assembly operatively associated with a media delivery structure for use with a rotating shaft to maintain a constant tension on a ribbon. The spring wrap clutch assembly includes a coiled spring having a leg extending away from one end of the coil, a collar having a bore therein for receiving the coiled spring with the leg extending away from the collar, the rotating shaft extending through the coiled spring and the collar is attachable to the rotating shaft, and a plurality of ramped teeth positioned around the rotating shaft. Each of the ramped teeth has a sloped surface and the leg of the coiled spring controllably engages the ramped teeth.

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