Thermal print head control apparatus

Claim 2

A head control apparatus for a printing machine for printing an image on a tape extending through a pathway in a predetermined location on said machine, said head control apparatus comprising: a frame; a head for transferring an image to said tape, said head connected to said frame; a guide connected to said frame; said guide and said head disposed on opposite sides of said pathway; and means for moving said guide and said head between respective first and second positions, said guide and said head in said first positions spaced apart a first distance sized to freely position a tape within said pathway, said guide and said head in said second positions disposed for said guide and head to be closely adjacent with a tape within said pathway urged against said head.

Claim 3

A head control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said head is pivotably mounted on said frame to pivot about a pivot axis toward and away from said prede­termined location as said head moves between said first and second positions; biasing means for resiliently biasing said head toward said guide when said head and said guide are in said second positions.

Claim 4

A head control apparatus according to claim 2 comprising alignment means for resiliently biasing said head into predetermined alignment in a plane generally parallel to said pivot axis.

Claim 5

A head control apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a carriage movably mounted on said frame, said guide connected to said carriage and movable therewith between said first and second positions, lock means for releasably locking said carriage in a first fixed location position when said guide is in said first position and a second fixed location when said guide is in said second position.

Claim 6

A head control apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said guide includes a roller for advancing a tape past said head when said guide and said head are in said second positions; drive means carried on said carriage and connected to said guide to drive said roller and advance a tape past said head.

Claim 7

A head control apparatus according to claim 5 comprising advancing means carried on said frame and disposed in a predetermined position to connect with an image source tape to advance said source tape, means for operatively connecting said advancing means to said drive means when said carriage is in said second fixed location.

Claim 8

A head control apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said drive means comprises a motor carried on said carriage for movement therewith and a gear train operably connecting said motor to said roller; said advancing means including connector means for making releasable connection with said source tape, an advancing means gear connected to said connecting means to urge said connecting means to advance said source tape as said gear is rotated; said connector means and advancing means gear con­nected to said frame in fixed positions independent of movement of said carriage; said gear train including a driving gear disposed to operatively engage said advancing means gear when said carriage is in said second fixed location, and said driving gear disposed to be disengaged from said advancing means gear when said carriage is in said first fixed location.

Claim 9

A head control apparatus according to claim 4 comprising biasing means for resiliently biasing said head toward said guide, and engagement means connected to said carriage for movement therewith and disposed to engage said head and move said head against the urging of said biasing means away from said second position and toward said first position as said carriage is moved toward said first fixed location.

Claim 10

A head control apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said head is pivotably mounted on said frame to pivot about a pivot axis toward and away from said prede­termined location as said head moves between said first and second positions.

Claim 11

A head control apparatus according to claim 9 comprising alignment means for resiliently biasing said head into predetermined alignment generally parallel to said pivot axis.

Claim 12

A head control apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a head mounting bracket pivotably mounted to said frame to pivot about said axis with said head secured to said head mounting bracket, an alignment bracket pivo­tably mounted to said frame and having a contact element disposed opposing a first surface of said head mounting bracket in blocking relation to the urging of said biasing means; said engagement means opposing a predetermined surface of said alignment bracket to engage said predeter­mined surface and pivot said alignment bracket as said carriage moves toward said first fixed location with said contact element urging said mounting bracket to pivot against the urging of said biasing means and move said head toward said first position, said engagement means posi­tioned on said carriage to release said alignment bracket as said carriage is moved toward said second fixed location with said head mounting bracket under urging of said biasing means engaging said contact element and pivoting said alignment bracket as said head moves to said second position.

Claim 13

A head control apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said advancing means includes slip clutch means for interrupting action of said advancing means.

Claim 14

A head control apparatus according to claim 1 comprising cutting means disposed adjacent said pathway for terminating a tape extending through said pathway.

Claim 15

A head control apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said cutting means includes a motor secured to said frame and a cutting blade disposed adjacent said pathway with gear train means disposed between said motor and said blade for advancing and retracting said blade from said pathway.

Claim 16

A head control apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said gear train means includes a gear having an eccentrically mounted pin, said blade connected to a linkage having an elongated slot sized to receive said pin whereby said eccentrically mounted pin rocks said linkage with said rocking linkage advancing and retracting said blade.

Claim 17

A head control apparatus according to claim 4 comprising secondary locking means for locking said carriage in said first fixed position when a tape is not disposed within said pathway, said secondary locking means including means for detecting the presence of a tape within said pathway and means responsive to said detection means for locking said carriage in said first fixed position when the absence of a tape within said pathway is detected by said detecting means.

Claim 18

A head control apparatus according to claim 1 comprising detection means for detecting a free end of a receiving tape on an input side of said pathway.

Claim 19

A head control apparatus for a printing machine for printing an image on a tape by transferring a printing substance from a source tape to an image receiving tape, said source tape and receiving tape carried in a cartridge of predetermined construction and having means for aligning portions of said source tape and said receiving tape in face-to-face alignment at a predetermined location, said cartridge having openings formed therethrough on opposite sides of said aligned tape portions at said predetermined location, said cartridge having a take-up spool for advancing said source tape with an exposed connecting ele­ment constructed to releasably connect with a mating ele­ment to drive said take-up spool, said head control apparatus comprising: a fixed frame; a carriage movably mounted on said frame; lock means for releasably locking said carriage in a first fixed location and in a second fixed location; a first roller mounted on said carriage for move­ment therewith and extending into said cartridge on a side of said predetermined location opposing said receiving tape; a head connected to said frame and extending into said cartridge on a side of said predetermined location opposing said source tape; said first roller disposed on said carriage to move therewith between a first and second position as said cartridge moves between said first and second locations; means for moving said head between first and second positions with said head and said roller in said first positions spaced apart a distance sufficient to insert a cartridge on said machine with said tape portions freely inserted between said head and said roller, said head and said roller in said second positions disposed for said roller to urge said tape portions against said head; a mating element connected to said frame and disposed to mate with said exposed connecting element when said cartridge is inserted on said machine; and drive means carried on said carriage and connected to said roller to drive said roller and releasably con­nected to said mating element to drive said element when said carriage is in said second fixed location and disengaged from said mating element when said carriage is in said first fixed location.

Claim 20

A head control apparatus for a printing machine for printing an image on a tape by transferring a printing substance from a source tape to an image receiving tape, said source tape and receiving tape carried in a cartridge of predetermined construction and having means for aligning portions of said source tape and said receiving tape in face-to-face alignment at a predetermined location, said cartridge having openings formed therethrough on opposite sides of said aligned tape portions at said predetermined location, said cartridge having a take-up spool for advancing said source tape with an exposed connecting ele­ment constructed to releasably connect with a mating ele­ment to drive said take-up spool, said head control apparatus comprising: a fixed frame; a carriage movably mounted on said frame; lock means for releasably locking said carriage in a first fixed location and in a second fixed location; a first roller mounted on said carriage for move­ment therewith and extending into said cartridge on a side of said predetermined location opposing said receiving tape; a head connected to said frame and extending into said cartridge on a side of said predetermined location opposing said source tape; said first roller disposed on said carriage to move therewith between a first and second position as said cartridge moves between said first and second locations; means for moving said head between first and second positions with said head and said roller in said first positions spaced apart a distance sufficient to insert a cartridge on said machine with said tape portions freely inserted between said head and said roller, said head and said roller in said second positions disposed for said roller to urge said tape portions against said head; a mating element connected to said frame and disposed to mate with said exposed connecting element when said cartridge is inserted on said machine; and drive means carried on said carriage and connected to said roller to drive said roller and releasably con­nected to said mating element to drive said element when said carriage is in said second fixed location and disengaged from said mating element when said carriage is in said first fixed location.

Claim 21

A head control apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said exposed connecting element is a female rotary sprocket and said mating element is a male rotary sprocket.

Claim 22

A head control apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said head is pivotably mounted on said frame to pivot about a pivot axis toward and away from said prede­termined location as said head moves between said first and second positions; biasing means for resiliently biasing said head toward said roller when said head and said roller are in said second positions.

Claim 23

A head control apparatus according to claim 20 comprising alignment means for resiliently biasing said head into predetermined alignment in a plane generally parallel to said pivot axis.

Claim 24

A head control apparatus according to claim 20 comprising a head mounting bracket pivotably mounted to said frame to pivot about said axis with said head secured to said head mounting bracket, an alignment bracket pivo­tably mounted to said frame and having a contact element disposed opposing a first surface of said head mounting bracket in blocking relation to the urging of said biasing means; engagement means connected to said carriage for movement therewith and opposing a predetermined surface of said alignment bracket to engage said predetermined surface and pivot said alignment bracket as said carriage moves toward said first fixed location with said contact element urging said mounting bracket to pivot against the urging of said biasing means and move said head toward said first position, said engagement means positioned on said carriage to release said alignment bracket as said carriage is moved toward said second fixed location with said head mounting bracket under urging of said biasing means engaging said contact element and pivoting said alignment bracket as said head moves to said second position.

Claim 25

A head control apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said drive means includes a motor carried on said carriage for movement therewith and a gear train carried on said carriage and operably connecting said motor to said roller, said mating element having a connected gear for driving said mating element and said gear train including a driving gear disposed to operatively engage said connected gear when said carriage is in said second fixed location, and said driving gear disposed to be disengaged from said connected gear when said carriage is in said first fixed location.

Claim 26

A head control apparatus according to claim 18 comprising cutting means disposed adjacent said predeter­mined location for terminating a tape extending through said predetermined location.

Claim 27

A head control apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said cartridge has a opening formed therethrough on an input side of said predetermined location, said head control apparatus including detection means extending through said opening for detecting a free end of a receiving tape on an input side of said predetermined loca­tion.

Claim 28

A head control apparatus for a printing machine for printing an image on a tape extending through a pathway in a predetermined location on said machine, said head control apparatus comprising: a frame; a head connected to said frame, said head having means for transferring a desired image onto said tape; said head disposed on a predetermined side of said pathway; means for moving said head between a first posi­tion and a second position with said head in said first position spaced apart from said pathway, said head in said second position closely adjacent said pathway; alignment means for maintaining said transfer head in predetermined alignment relative to said pathway.

Claim 29

A head control apparatus for a printing machine for printing an image on a tape extending through a pathway in a predetermined location on said machine, said head control apparatus comprising: a frame; a head connected to said frame, said head having means for transferring a desired image onto said tape; said head disposed on a predetermined side of said pathway; means for moving said head between a first posi­tion and a second position with said head in said first position spaced apart from said pathway, said head in said second position closely adjacent said pathway; alignment means for maintaining said transfer head in predetermined alignment relative to said pathway.

Claim 30

A head control apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said alignment means is resiliently biased to main­tain said head in said predetermined alignment.

Claim 31

A head control apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said means for moving said head includes means for pivotably mounting said head on said frame to pivot about a pivot axis toward and away from said predetermined location as said head moves between said first and second positions.

Claim 32

A head control apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said alignment means includes means for resiliently biasing said head into predetermined alignment in a plane generally parallel to said pivot axis.

Claim 33

A head control apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said alignment means includes a mounting bracket having a first end and a second end, said head connected to said first end and said second end pivotably connected to said frame to pivot about a first pivot axis by a pivot connection with said pivot connection accommodating pivotal movement of said mounting bracket about a second pivot axis generally perpendicular to said first pivot axis; and, spring means for urging said mounting to pivot about said second axis to a position with said maintained in said pre­determined alignment.

Claim 34

A head control apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said spring means comprises a spring having a body portion resiliently biased to remain in a predetermined plane; attachment means connected to said second end of said mounting bracket for attaching said second end to said leaf spring means with said head maintained in said desired predetermined alignment when said second end is attached to said leaf spring means and said leaf spring means is in said predetermined plane.

Claim 35

A head control apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said roller is a first roller disposed opposing said head, said apparatus having a second roller disposed on an input side of said head, means for operating said second roller to advance said tape at a rate less than a rate at which said first roller is urging said tape to advance.

Claim 36

A head control apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said first roller has a larger diameter than said second roller, said drive means connected to said first and second rollers to rotate said rollers at generally the same rotational speed.