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EP0165601A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thermal printer and postal meter having thermal printer

Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1985-06-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-06-19
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Abstract

Abstract A postage meter which includes a thermal print head (30) for printing indicia, postal value, and the like is disclosed. Thermal elements in the thermal print head are electronically pulsed in appropriate serially timed patterns to provide a complete thermally transferred image on a tape moving past the thermal head (3)). The tape moves from a spool (34) through guides (38,40) to the thermal head (30). A thermal transfer ribbon is passed from a supply spool (62) between the head (30) and the tape to a take-up spool (66).

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald T. Dolan
  • 👤 William A. Ross
  • 👤 Kenneth August Terry

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 17:56
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/0054; G07B2017/00637

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 162 words
Thermal printing means for use in an electronic postage meter (10) of the type including accounting means (18) and means (22) for inputting postal data, for printing postal value along with said other indicia, said printing means characterized by: (a) a thermal print head(30) which includes a plurality of thermal heating elements operative to receive voltage pulses for heating thereof to a predetermined temperature; (b) a tape moving means (44,46) for moving a tape past the individual elements of the print head, said tape moving means including knife means (48,50) for cutting tape prior to the printing of data; and (c) a thermal transfer ribbon transportation means (62,66) for transporting a transfer ribbon having a meltable ink composition thereon, so that portions of said thermal transfer ribbon can be carried into juxtaposition between said thermal elements and said tape whereby when said thermal elements are heated to said predetermined temperature the meltable composition adjacent said heated elements is transferable to the tape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 162 words
Thermal printing means for use in an electronic postage meter (10) of the type including accounting means (18) and means (22) for inputting postal data, for printing postal value along with said other indicia, said printing means characterized by: (a) a thermal print head(30) which includes a plurality of thermal heating elements operative to receive voltage pulses for heating thereof to a predetermined temperature; (b) a tape moving means (44,46) for moving a tape past the individual elements of the print head, said tape moving means including knife means (48,50) for cutting tape prior to the printing of data; and (c) a thermal transfer ribbon transportation means (62,66) for transporting a transfer ribbon having a meltable ink composition thereon, so that portions of said thermal transfer ribbon can be carried into juxtaposition between said thermal elements and said tape whereby when said thermal elements are heated to said predetermined temperature the meltable composition adjacent said heated elements is transferable to the tape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
An electronic postage meter (10) comprising accounting means (18) and means (22) for inputting postal data characterized by a thermal printing means according to claim 1.

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