Patent EP0102474A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0102474A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Process of printing and printer for conservation of thermal transfer medium
Assignee: JP Morgan Delaware
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Filing: 1983-07-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-07-04
Abstract
Abstract Conservation of ribbon (40) is achieved by underfeeding ribbon (40) relative to movement of a thermal printhead. Pressure of the printhead may be low enough that smearing from a typical ribbon (40) does not occur. Gears (208, 210, 212,214 and 216) may be positioned in one of two setting by action of bellcrank (230). One position provides a 1.04 to 1 underfeed ratio and the other provides a 5 to 1 underfeed ratio. Control (232) lowers print current for the 5 to 1 ratio. A printer of unimpaired quality with significant saving of ribbon.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven Lewis Applegate
- 👤 James John Molloy
- 👤 Clayton Vance Wilbur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:41
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A transfer-medium-conserving thermal printer, said printer being of the type comprising : a printhead (16) adapted to provide a pattern of heat for thermal printing of images, means (18, 22, 23) for moving said printhead (16) relative to a print-receiving location, and means (44, 46, 202...216) for feeding a transfer medium (40) past said printhead (16) for printing from areas of said transfer medium (40) heated by said printhead (16) , said thermal printer being characterized in that said means (18, 22, 23) for moving said printhead (16) and said means (44, 46, 202...216) for feeding the transfer medium are adapted so that said printhead (16) may be moved an amount which is in a ratio greater than 1 to 1 with respect to the amount of feed by said means (44, 46, 202...206) for feeding the transfer medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A transfer-medium-conserving thermal printer, said printer being of the type comprising : a printhead (16) adapted to provide a pattern of heat for thermal printing of images, means (18, 22, 23) for moving said printhead (16) relative to a print-receiving location, and means (44, 46, 202...216) for feeding a transfer medium (40) past said printhead (16) for printing from areas of said transfer medium (40) heated by said printhead (16) , said thermal printer being characterized in that said means (18, 22, 23) for moving said printhead (16) and said means (44, 46, 202...216) for feeding the transfer medium are adapted so that said printhead (16) may be moved an amount which is in a ratio greater than 1 to 1 with respect to the amount of feed by said means (44, 46, 202...206) for feeding the transfer medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal printer as in Claim 1, characterized in that said ratio is at least 1.02 to 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermal printer as in Claim 2, characterized in that said ratio is in the range of 1.02 to 1 to 20 to 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The thermal printer as in Claim 3 characterized in that said ratio is in the range of 1.04 to 1 to 5 to 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal printer as in Claim 4 characterized in that said ratio is substantially 1.04 to 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The thermal printer as in any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that said transfer medium includes a resistive layer (80) supporting a layer of marking material (84), the latter being opposite said printhead (16), said printhead (16) providing electric current to said resistive layer (84).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The thermal printer as in any one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that it includes nip rolls (44, 46) to pull said transfer medium (40) across said printhead (16), and further characterized in that it includes a carrier (18) as part of said means (18, 22, 23) for moving the printhead (16) said printhead (16) and said nip rolls (44, 46) being mounted on said carrier (18).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
The thermal printer as in any one of Claims 3, 6, 7, characterized in that said means (18, 22, 23) for moving the printhead (16) and said means (44, 46, 202...216) for feeding the transfer medium (40) are adapted to provide selectively a first ratio and a second ratio, said second ratio being higher than said first ratio, said first and second ratios being chosen within said range of 1.02 to 1 and 20 to 1, said printer being further characterized in that it includes externally-controlled, ratio-selection means (230, 224, 218) for selecting either said first or said second ratio.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal printer as in Claim 8, characterized in that said first ratio is substantially 1.04 to 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal printer as in Claim 9, characterized in that said second ratio is substantially 5 to 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The thermal printer as in Claim 10, characterized in that it includes heat level control means (234) for controlling the level of heat of said pattern of heat, to select a high level or a low level and, means responsive to said ratio selection means (230, 224, 218) for causing said heat level control means (234) to select said high level when said ratio is 1.04 to 1 and to select said low level when said ratio is 5 to 1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
89 words
A transfer-medium-conserving process of printing from a thermal transfer medium (40) having marking material (84) which flows after being softened by heat with a printhead (16) which provides heat in a pattern, said process being characterized in that it includes moving said printhead to different printing locations while in heat applying relationship to said transfer medium and underfeeding said transfer medium relative to the movement of the printhead so that said pattern is applied to said transfer medium over an unused area less than the area of said pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A transfer-medium-conserving process of printing from a thermal transfer medium (40) having marking material (84) which flows after being softened by heat with a printhead (16) which provides heat in a pattern, said process being characterized in that it includes moving said printhead to different printing locations while in heat applying relationship to said transfer medium and underfeeding said transfer medium relative to the movement of the printhead so that said pattern is applied to said transfer medium over an unused area less than the area of said pattern.
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