Print ribbon feeder and detection system
US6089768A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J33/36
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A clean print ribbon feed system and method for a printer having a ribbon with two non-inked clean hands portions wound around a pair of spools is disclosed. Detection of the spool having greater angular velocity and lesser angular velocity determines the direction of feed. The spool having greater angular velocity winds and takes up the print ribbon. The non-inked portion can be formed as a conductive plastic and is initially wound on each spool. Detection of the non-inked portion of the ribbon takes place by two electrical contactors. The determination of the angular velocity of the spools determines the amount of print ribbon on one of the spools so that the spool having the lesser ribbon can be driven as a take-up spool to provide proper directional drive for winding the clean hands portion and the inked portion which follows.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.