Patent US1991827A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0635368A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0635368A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for low cost thermal printing
Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
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Filing: 1994-10-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for low cost thermal printing in a thermal printer having a software controlled thermal print head that moves in relation to a print ribbon disposed adjacent to a print area of a printed medium. The thermal print head is selectively energized to heat the print ribbon which deposits the ink onto the printed medium as the print head moves in relation to the print ribbon in a print stroke. The cost of printing is decreased by efficient use of the ink on the print ribbon. Between print strokes, the print ribbon is displaced an incremental interval to position an unused portion of the print ribbon for printing on the printed medium during a subsequent print stroke. The precise displacement of the print ribbon may be software controlled based on the detection of indices disposed at spaced intervals along the print ribbon which further increases the efficient usage of ink on the print ribbon. The utilization of ink on the print ribbon is made more efficient by a software controlled generation of an italic or gray shade character font, which require less ink than solid block character fonts. Using less ink on the print ribbon, permits a decrease in the print ribbon displacement interval between print strokes, and also permits some portions of the print ribbon to be overlapped by the print head during a subsequent print stroke. The utilization of ink on the print ribbon may also be made more efficient by mechanical or software controlled linear and lateral shifts of the printed characters during subsequent print strokes, which permits the utilization of ink between areas on the print ribbon where ink was depleted in a previous print stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 James W. Stone
- 👤 Donald Van Erden
- 👤 Paul R. Harding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:17
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J17/00; B41J17/02; B41J17/12; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of printing with a thermal printer having a print head with an array of heating elements, and a print ribbon with a layer of thermally sensitive ink for deposition on a print area of a medium to be printed, wherein the method comprises: selectively energizing a first set of heating elements to deposit ink from a first portion of the ribbon onto the print area of the medium to be printed, and then a second set of heating elements to deposit ink on another print area using ink from undepleted parts of the first ribbon portion; displacing the ribbon and repeating the above selective energizing steps on further print areas using a second ribbon portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method according to claim 1, using a printer in which the print head is movable relatively to the print ribbon and generally parallel to the surface of the ribbon and has an array of heating elements extending laterally with respect to the direction of print head movement, wherein the method further comprises the steps of moving the print head in a first stroke whilst selectively energizing the first set of heating elements, subsequently moving the print medium, and then moving the print head in a second stroke whilst energizing the second set of heating elements, using the same ribbon portion for both print head strokes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
177 words
A method according to claim 1, using a printer in which the print head is movable relatively to the print ribbon and has a linear array of heating elements extending laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the print head, wherein the method comprises moving the print head in a first stroke relative to the print ribbon and the print area of the print medium, controlling the print head to energize the first set of heating elements during the first stroke, thereby to heat the first portion of the ribbon and to deposit ink onto the print medium, controlling the print head to energize the second set of heating elements during a subsequent print stroke to heat the same first ribbon portion so as to use ink on the first ribbon portion not used in a previous print stroke, and displacing the ribbon after the print strokes in which alternate heating elements are used so that the print head may heat a second portion of the ribbon during a subsequent specific number of print strokes.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
24 words
A method according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which the displacement of the ribbon is controlled with software programmable processing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
195 words
A thermal printer for depositing a thermally sensitive ink from a print ribbon onto a print area of a printed medium, the print ribbon having the thermally sensitive ink disposed adjacent to the print area of the printed medium, the thermal printer comprising: a print head having a linear array of individual heating elements selectively energizable to generate heat, the individual heating elements disposed adjacent to the print ribbon; means for moving the print head in a print stroke, wherein the print head is moved in relation to the print ribbon and the printed medium, and during the print stroke, the individual heating elements are selectively energized to heat a first portion of the print ribbon which deposits thermally sensitive ink onto the print area of the printed medium and forms a print image on the print ribbon; and a first motor for displacing the print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after a print stroke to position a second portion of the print ribbon adjacent to the first portion of the print ribbon, so that the second portion of the print ribbon may be selectively heated by the print head during a subsequent print stroke.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, further comprising means for mechanically positioning the print head along a print path and a return path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, further comprising means for moving the print ribbon at an angle in relation to the motion of the print head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, further comprising software programmable processing means for controlling the first motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, wherein the individual heating elements are resistive heating elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, wherein the individual heating elements are light generating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, further comprising means for incrementally repositioning the print ribbon in a lateral and linear direction in relation to a path of the print head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The thermal printer of Claim 11, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to laterally shift characters printed in a subsequent print stroke in relation to characters printed in a previous print stroke, to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in the previous print stroke.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The thermal printer of Claim 11, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to time delay characters printed in subsequent print strokes in relation to characters previously printed, to achieve a linear shift of the printed characters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, further comprising means for incrementally repositioning the print ribbon in a lateral direction in relation to a path of the print head.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The thermal printer of Claim 14, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to laterally shift characters printed in a subsequent print stroke in relation to characters printed in a previous print stroke, to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in the previous print stroke.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The thermal printer of Claim 14, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to time delay characters printed in subsequent print strokes in relation to characters previously printed, to achieve a linear shift of the printed characters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, further comprising means for incrementally repositioning the print ribbon in a linear direction in relation to a path of the print head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The thermal printer of Claim 17, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to time delay characters printed in subsequent print strokes in relation to characters previously printed, to achieve a linear shift of the printed characters.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The thermal printer of Claim 17, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to laterally shift characters printed in a subsequent print stroke in relation to characters printed in a previous print stroke, to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in the previous print stroke.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
80 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, the print ribbon further comprising a ribbon substrate having a surface with a layer of thermally sensitive ink disposed thereon, and a series of detectable indices disposed at spaced intervals along the surface of the print ribbon, the detectable indices being discontinuities formed in the layer of thermally sensitive ink, the sensing means arranged and constructed to detect the indices, wherein movement of the print ribbon is related to the detection of the indices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The thermal printer of Claim 20, wherein the thermally sensitive ink layer exhibits a relatively rough surface, and wherein the detectable indices are a series of relatively smooth areas formed on the rough surface of the layer of thermally sensitive ink, the smooth areas containing substantially the same amount of ink as the rough surface area.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
55 words
The thermal printer of Claim 20, further comprising a sensing means for detecting the indices on the print ribbon, the sensing means includes a light source directed toward the surface of the print ribbon, and a light detector that detects and responds to a change in light reflected from the surface of the print ribbon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
87 words
The thermal printer of Claim 20, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to print a character font on a print area of the printed medium, and wherein the first motor displaces the indexed print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after a print stroke so that the print head may heat the second portion of the indexed print ribbon during a subsequent print stroke, wherein the second portion of the indexed print ribbon is adjacent to the first portion of the print ribbon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal printer of Claim 21, wherein relatively rough surfaces and smooth areas are optically relatively non-reflective and reflective, respectively.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The thermal printer of Claim 21, wherein the software programmable processing means controls the first motor to displace the print ribbon an incremental displacement interval based on a print stroke count between adjacent detectable indices detected by the sensing means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The thermal printer of Claim 21, further comprising a feed back means to actively control the ribbon displacement based on sensed information relating to ink depletion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The thermal printer of Claim 21, further comprising a feed back means to control the ribbon displacement based on sensed information relating to a comparison of actual ribbon movement and expected ribbon movement, wherein the sensed information is utilized to correct movement of the ribbon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
107 words
The thermal printer of Claim 23, wherein the heating elements of the print head print one or more elements of a character font on a print area of the printed medium, and wherein the first motor displaces the indexed print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after a print stroke so that the print head may heat the second portion of the indexed print ribbon during a subsequent print stroke, wherein the second portion of the indexed print ribbon is adjacent to the first portion of the print ribbon, and the second portion of the indexed print ribbon partially overlaps the first portion of the indexed print ribbon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
The thermal printer of Claim 23, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to laterally shift characters printed in a subsequent print stroke in relation to characters printed in a previous print stroke, to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in the previous print stroke.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The thermal printer of Claim 23, wherein the heating elements of the print head are software controlled to time delay characters printed in subsequent print strokes in relation to characters previously printed, to achieve a linear shift of the printed characters.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thermal printer of Claim 28, wherein the printed font comprises thin, slanted characters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermal printer of Claim 28, wherein the printed font comprises characters having a plurality of substantially parallel lines.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal printer of Claim 28, wherein the printed font comprises block type characters printed in shaded tones.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, wherein the printed font comprises thin, slanted characters.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermal printer of Claim 5, wherein the printed front comprises characters having a plurality of substantially parallel lines.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal printer of Claims 5, wherein the printed font comprises block type characters printed in shaded tones.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of printing with a thermal printer having a print head with a linear array of individual heating elements selectively energizable to heat a print ribbon having a thermally sensitive ink which is deposited onto a print area of a printed medium, the print ribbon having a layer of the thermally sensitive ink disposed adjacent to the print area of the printed medium, the method comprising steps of: moving the print head in a print stroke, in relation to the print ribbon and the print area of the printed medium; selectively energizing the individual heating elements to heat a first portion of the indexed print ribbon which deposits thermally sensitive ink onto the print area of the printed medium during the print stroke; displacing the print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after a print stroke to position a second portion of the print ribbon adjacent to the first portion of the print ribbon, so that the second portion of the print ribbon may be heated by the heating elements of the print head during a subsequent print stroke; and displacing the print ribbon to expose a new ribbon section to the printing process.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of Claim 37, wherein the print ribbon has a ribbon substrate having a surface with a layer of thermally sensitive ink disposed thereon, further comprising a step of forming a series of detectable discontinuities at spaced intervals along a surface of the layer of thermally sensitive ink, wherein the detectable discontinuities are detectable indices.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of Claim 37, comprising steps of controlling the heating elements of the print head with software to print a character font on a print area of the printed medium, and displacing the indexed print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after a print stroke so that the print head may heat the second portion of the indexed print ribbon during a subsequent print stroke, wherein the second portion of the indexed print ribbon is adjacent to the first portion of the print ribbon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of Claim 38, wherein the layer of thermally sensitive ink has a relatively rough surface, further comprising a step of forming a series of relatively smooth areas on the rough surface of the layer of thermally sensitive ink, wherein the relatively smooth areas are the detectable indices.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of Claim 38, wherein the sensing means for detecting the indices on the print ribbon includes a light source directed toward a surface of the print ribbon, and a light detector, further comprising steps of directing the light source toward the surface of the indexed print ribbon, and detecting and responding to a change in light reflected from the surface of the indexed print ribbon with the light detector.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of Claim 38, wherein the series of discontinuities are formed by localized heating of the print ribbon.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of Claim 38, further comprising the steps of detecting the detectable indices, counting the number of indices which move along with displacement of the print ribbon, and actively controlling the displacement of the print ribbon based upon the detected indices.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of Claim 38, further comprising the steps of detecting the detectable indices, measuring actual ribbon displacement by counting the number of indices which move along with displacement of the print ribbon, comparing the actual measured displacement with an expected ribbon displacement reference, and periodically correcting the ribbon displacement interval such that the actual measured displacement agrees substantially with the expected ribbon displacement.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of Claim 41, further comprising steps of counting print strokes of the print head, and displacing the print ribbon an incremental displacement interval based on the print strokes counted between selected indices detected on the indexed print ribbon.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising steps of controlling the heating elements of the print head to print a character font comprised of a plurality of substantially parallel lines on a print area of the printed medium, and displacing the print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after a print stroke so that the print head may heat the second portion of the print ribbon during a subsequent print stroke, wherein the second portion of the print ribbon is adjacent to the first portion of the print ribbon, and the second portion of the print ribbon partially overlaps the first portion of the print ribbon.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising steps of controlling the heating elements of the print head to print a font having thin, slanted characters on a print area of the printed medium, and displacing the print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after a print stroke so that the print head may heat the second portion of the print ribbon during a subsequent print stroke, wherein the second portion of the print ribbon is adjacent to the first portion of the print ribbon, and the second portion of the print ribbon partially overlaps the first portion of the print ribbon.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising steps of controlling the displacement of the print ribbon with a software programmable processing means, and controlling the heating elements of the print head to laterally shift characters printed in a subsequent print stroke in relation to characters printed in a previous print stroke, to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in the previous print stroke.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising steps of controlling the displacement of the print ribbon with a software programmable processing means, and controlling the heating elements of the print head to linearly shift characters printed in a subsequent print stroke in relation to characters printed in a previous print stroke to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in a previous print stroke, and displacing the indexed print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after two print strokes so that the print head may heat the second portion of the print ribbon during a subsequent specific number of print strokes.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising the steps of controlling the displacement of the print ribbon with a software programmable processing means, and controlling the heating elements of the print head to linearly and laterally shift characters printed in a subsequent print stroke in relation to characters printed in a previous print stroke, to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in a previous print stroke.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
125 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising the steps of controlling the displacement of the print ribbon with a software programmable processing means, controlling the print head to utilize a second group of heating elements in a subsequent print stroke, in relation to a previous print stroke which utilized a first group of heating elements, thereby alternating heating elements for succeeding print strokes, to utilize thermally sensitive ink on the first portion of the print ribbon not used in a previous print stroke, and displacing the print ribbon an incremental displacement interval after the print strokes in which alternate heating elements are utilized so that the print head may heat the second portion of the print ribbon during a subsequent specific number of print strokes.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising the steps of controlling the displacement of the print ribbon with a software programmable processing means, and controlling the heating element of the print head to alternate on and off during movement of the print head in a linear direction in a print stroke, such that each individual heating element is prevented from depositing ink during off periods, to save thermally sensitive ink on the print ribbon for subsequent print strokes.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of Claim 37, further comprising the step of generating a grey shaded font by effecting incomplete ink transfer at one or more areas of the print ribbon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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