Patent US4504840A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4504840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal printing with ink replenishment
Assignee: IBM Information Products Corp
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Filing: 1983-03-28
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Granted: 1985-03-12
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Expires: 2003-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A reinking thermal printer is disclosed having a continuous band 1 receiving ink lamination 23 from supply 21. Ink supply 21 has a lamination 25 which is stripped from the ink lamination 23 and directed through guide slot 43. Ink lamination 23 is transferred to band 1 at rolls 29 and 31. The reinked band 1 is then printed from by thermal printing element 7. Lamination 25 enters rolls 35 and 37 with its rough side encountering the remaining ink on band 1 to effect cleaning. Lamination 25 is then stuffed in chamber 39.
Inventors
- 👤 Julie F. Evans
- 👤 Hugh T. Findlay
- 👤 Stephen A. Popyach
- 👤 Deh C. Tao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:18
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J31/00; B41J31/05; B41J31/14; B41J31/16; B41J32/00; B41J32/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A thermal printer for printing from an ink which is heated to a flowable state to effect printing, said printer having a continuous band to apply heat to effect said flowable state on selected area of said ink, a print station to generate said heat in selectable patterns to effect printing, an ink supply separate from said band having said ink in a lamination folded on itself to be unfolded as said lamination is supplied for printing, means to supply said ink by transporting said ink into heat conductive relationship with said band for printing in any of said patterns at said print station; and means to effect printing in selected ones of said patterns at said print station from said band by producing said flowable state followed by resupply to said band from said ink supply by said means to supply said ink.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A thermal printer for printing from an ink which is heated to a flowable state to effect printing, said printer having a continuous band to apply heat to effect said flowable state on selected area of said ink, a print station to generate said heat in selectable patterns to effect printing, an ink supply separate from said band having said ink in a lamination folded on itself to be unfolded as said lamination is supplied for printing, means to supply said ink by transporting said ink into heat conductive relationship with said band for printing in any of said patterns at said print station; and means to effect printing in selected ones of said patterns at said print station from said band by producing said flowable state followed by resupply to said band from said ink supply by said means to supply said ink.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A thermal printer as in claim 1 in which said ink supply is a spool of ink having an internal, continuous lamination separating said lamination of said ink.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thermal printer as in claim 2 in which said ink lamination is fed from said spool between nip rolls at which the said ink lamination is pressed into adherence with said band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal printer as in claim 1 in which subsequent to said printing said continuous band enters a cleaning station at which substantially all unused ink is cleaned from said continuous band prior to said resupply.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal printer as in claim 2 in which subsequent to said printing said continuous band enters a cleaning station at which substantially all unused ink is cleaned from said continuous band prior to said resupply.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A thermal printer as in claim 3 in which subsequent to said printing said continuous band enters a cleaning station at which substantially all unused ink is cleaned from said continuous band prior to resupply.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as in claim 5 in which said internal, continuous lamination is fed to said cleaning station and said cleaning is effected by nip rolls bringing said lamination in direct contact with said unused ink.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A combination as in claim 6 in which said internal, continuous lamination is fed to said cleaning station and said cleaning is effected by nip rolls bringing said lamination in direct contact with said unused ink.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as in claim 7 in which said internal, continuous lamination is a polymer film having a rough side and said rough side is brought into said direct contact with said unused ink.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A combination as in claim 8 in which said internal, continuous lamination is a polymer film having a rough side and said rough side is brought into said direct contact with said unused ink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
140 words
A thermal printer for printing from an ink which is heated to a flowable state to effect printing, said printer having a continuous band to apply heat to effect said flowable state on selected areas of said ink, a print station to generate said heat in predetermined patterns, an ink supply separate from said band having said ink all in a continuous, elongated body at least of size to cover the largest of said patterns, means to supply said ink by transporting said continuous body onto said surface of said continuous band for printing in any of said patterns at said print station, and means to effect printing in selected ones of said patterns at said print station by producing said flowable state followed by resupply to said band from said ink supply by said means to supply said ink.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
A thermal printer for printing from an ink which is heated to a flowable state to effect printing, said printer having a continuous band to apply heat to effect said flowable state on selected areas of said ink, a print station to generate said heat in predetermined patterns, an ink supply separate from said band having said ink all in a continuous, elongated body at least of size to cover the largest of said patterns, means to supply said ink by transporting said continuous body onto said surface of said continuous band for printing in any of said patterns at said print station, and means to effect printing in selected ones of said patterns at said print station by producing said flowable state followed by resupply to said band from said ink supply by said means to supply said ink.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A thermal printer as in claim 11 in which said ink supply is a spool of ink having an internal, continuous lamination separating said lamination of said ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
A thermal printer for printing from an ink which is heated to a flowable state to effect printing, said printer comprising a continuous band to apply heat to effect said flowable state on selected areas of said ink, an ink supply separate from said band having an ink in laminations and having an element separating said laminations, means to separate said element from said ink supply and to apply said ink to said band for printing, and means to transport said element to a cleaning station at which said element is brought into contact with said ink to assist in cleaning ink from said ribbon after printing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
A thermal printer for printing from an ink which is heated to a flowable state to effect printing, said printer comprising a continuous band to apply heat to effect said flowable state on selected areas of said ink, an ink supply separate from said band having an ink in laminations and having an element separating said laminations, means to separate said element from said ink supply and to apply said ink to said band for printing, and means to transport said element to a cleaning station at which said element is brought into contact with said ink to assist in cleaning ink from said ribbon after printing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal printer as in claim 13 in which said ink supply is a spool of said ink laminations wound with said element.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermal printer as in claim 14 in which said ink laminations are fed from said spool between nip rolls at which said laminations are pressed into adherence with said band.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The thermal printer as in claim 13 in which said element is a polymer film having a front side and a rough, back side, said back side being brought into said contact with said ink to assist in cleaning.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal printer as in claim 14 in which said ink supply is a spool of said ink laminations wound with said element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The thermal printer as in claim 15 in which said element is a polymer film having a front side and a rough, back side, said back side being brought into said contact with said ink to assist in cleaning.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of printing with resupplying of ink comprising: stripping said ink from a first substrate, said ink being flowable under heat to effect printing, laminating a second substrate with said stripped ink, moving said second substrate to a printing station, applying heat at said printing station by said second substrate to effect printing in selected one of preselected patterns, and contacting said second substrate having ink remaining after said printing with said first substrate after said stripping at a cleaning station to effect transfer of said ink remaining to said first substrate.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of printing with resupplying of ink comprising: stripping said ink from a first substrate, said ink being flowable under heat to effect printing, laminating a second substrate with said stripped ink, moving said second substrate to a printing station, applying heat at said printing station by said second substrate to effect printing in selected one of preselected patterns, and contacting said second substrate having ink remaining after said printing with said first substrate after said stripping at a cleaning station to effect transfer of said ink remaining to said first substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of printing as in claim 19 in which said ink is self-supporting and said stripping is prior to said laminating.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of printing as in claim 19 in which said contacting is by nip rollers and said first substrate is moved after said stripping by said nip rollers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of printing as in claim 20 in which said contacting is by nip rollers and said first substrate is moved after said stripping by said nip rollers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-03-11 | 1988-09-10 | 1989-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-03-11 | 1992-09-10 | 1993-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-03-11 | 1996-09-10 | 1997-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |