Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A thermal transfer printer comprising: an inked ribbon; a thermal head; a carriage for moving the thermal head; and a control unit for controlling thermal transfer printing operations; wherein the improvement comprises: an inked ribbon cassette for containing the inked ribbon constructed such that printing can be performed in a plurality of stages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A thermal transfer printer comprising: an inked ribbon; a thermal head; a carriage for moving the thermal head; and a control unit for controlling thermal transfer printing operations; wherein the improvement comprises: an inked ribbon cassette for containing the inked ribbon constructed such that printing can be performed in a plurality of stages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thermal transfer printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inked ribbon cassette is constructed such that it can be used by being turned over.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A thermal transfer printing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inked ribbon cassette is constructed such that it can be used by being turned over and by being rotated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thermal transfer printing as claimed in Claim 2, wherein a cutout for receiving the thermal head is formed substantially in a central portion or on either side of the inked ribbon cassette.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
A thermal transfer printer as claimed in claim 3, wherein cutouts for receiving the thermal head are formed substantially in central portions or on the left and right sides of front and rear portions, respectively, of the inked ribbon cassette.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal transfer printer as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein a spacer for adjusting height is mounted to at least one of a top surface and a bottom surface of the inked ribbon cassette.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
270 words
A thermal transfer printer comprising: a platen for supporting a printing sheet; a carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement lengthwise of the platen; a thermal head supported by the carriage; a plurality of heat generating elements mounted in the thermal head; an inked ribbon cassette detachably attached to the carriage; a pair of ribbon cores located in the inked ribbon cassette for rotation; and an inked ribbon wound on the pair of ribbon cores and extending therebetween, said inked ribbon being interposed between the printing sheet on the platen and the thermal head supported by the carriage and, as the thermal head forces the inked ribbon against the printing sheet, performing printing of characters, symbols, etc., on the printing sheet by transferring ink from the inked ribbon to the printing sheet by heat generated by the heat generating elements; wherein the improvement resides in that: said inked ribbon is constructed to have a printing zone of a size large enough to accommodate two lines of characters, symbols, etc., one line superposed on the other, whereby one half-portion of the printing zone is used for printing characters, symbols, etc., along one line to the end of the inked ribbon by moving the inked ribbon as it is wound on one of the pair of ribbon cores and the other half-portion of the printing zone is used, after the inked ribbon cassette is turned over following completion of printing on the one half-portion of printing zone, for printing characters, symbols, etc., along the other line while reversing the direction of movement of the inked ribbon and winding same on the other ribbon core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
270 words
A thermal transfer printer comprising: a platen for supporting a printing sheet; a carriage mounted for reciprocatory movement lengthwise of the platen; a thermal head supported by the carriage; a plurality of heat generating elements mounted in the thermal head; an inked ribbon cassette detachably attached to the carriage; a pair of ribbon cores located in the inked ribbon cassette for rotation; and an inked ribbon wound on the pair of ribbon cores and extending therebetween, said inked ribbon being interposed between the printing sheet on the platen and the thermal head supported by the carriage and, as the thermal head forces the inked ribbon against the printing sheet, performing printing of characters, symbols, etc., on the printing sheet by transferring ink from the inked ribbon to the printing sheet by heat generated by the heat generating elements; wherein the improvement resides in that: said inked ribbon is constructed to have a printing zone of a size large enough to accommodate two lines of characters, symbols, etc., one line superposed on the other, whereby one half-portion of the printing zone is used for printing characters, symbols, etc., along one line to the end of the inked ribbon by moving the inked ribbon as it is wound on one of the pair of ribbon cores and the other half-portion of the printing zone is used, after the inked ribbon cassette is turned over following completion of printing on the one half-portion of printing zone, for printing characters, symbols, etc., along the other line while reversing the direction of movement of the inked ribbon and winding same on the other ribbon core.