Printer using thermal printhead
US6532032B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 23, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/3558
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of performing a burn cycle in a thermal printer that reduces printhead switching while increasing printing speed and extending printhead life. In the method, data is loaded into a shift register of a thermal printhead to designate resistive elements that are to be enabled and disabled during the burn cycle. Next, the data is latched into a burn register of the printhead and a power supply of the printhead is activated thereby energizing the enabled resistive elements. New data is then loaded into the shift register. After a short burn period has expired, the new data is latched into the burn register. The steps of loading and latching new data are repeated a predetermined number of times, after which the power supply is deactivated to complete the burn cycle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.