US4659416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal bar code printer for label applicator
Assignee: Ecupan AB
•
Filing: 1984-09-21
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Granted: 1987-04-21
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Expires: 2004-09-21
Abstract
Abstract A label printer for a bar code comprising a heat printing head having resistance dots for printing the bar code on a heat sensitive label. A motor feeds the label with a constant speed, e.g. 10 cm/sec. The printing head receives electrical power pulses form a control unit which receives signals from a memory unit and a CPU-unit. The CPU-unit receives external signals form e.g. a weighing machine, a keyboard or an external computer and computes the bar code, check figures or the like. The printing head comprises a substrate including the electronic circuits and the resistance dots. The substrate is supported by a metal block which comprises temperature sensors which control the power pulses to the resistance dots.
Inventors
- 👤 Erik Johansson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/121; B; B65; B65C; B65C9/00; B65C9/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A label printer for printing a bar code and other information on a temperature sensitive paper by means of a printing head, comprising: an elongated, flat substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of resistance dots arranged on said second surface of said substrate; circuit means connected to said resistance dots, said circuit means supplying power pulses having a frequency of a few thousand Hertz to selected resistance dots to heat said resistance dots in accordance with the information to be printed on said temperature sensitive paper to print a label on said paper; a metal heat sink block having a surface in contact with said first surface of said substrate, said substrate being mounted in heat transmitting contact with said heat sink block; at least one temperature sensor for said heat sink block to control the pulse width of said power pulses to produce a printing dot or printing line on said temperature sensitive paper, several pulses being delivered to each resistance dot for printing a corresponding dot or line on said paper during the supply of power pulses oscillating the temperature of said resistance dot between a high temperature and a low temperature, both of which are above the minimum temperature for coloring said temperature sensitive paper.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A label printer for printing a bar code and other information on a temperature sensitive paper by means of a printing head, comprising: an elongated, flat substrate having a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of resistance dots arranged on said second surface of said substrate; circuit means connected to said resistance dots, said circuit means supplying power pulses having a frequency of a few thousand Hertz to selected resistance dots to heat said resistance dots in accordance with the information to be printed on said temperature sensitive paper to print a label on said paper; a metal heat sink block having a surface in contact with said first surface of said substrate, said substrate being mounted in heat transmitting contact with said heat sink block; at least one temperature sensor for said heat sink block to control the pulse width of said power pulses to produce a printing dot or printing line on said temperature sensitive paper, several pulses being delivered to each resistance dot for printing a corresponding dot or line on said paper during the supply of power pulses oscillating the temperature of said resistance dot between a high temperature and a low temperature, both of which are above the minimum temperature for coloring said temperature sensitive paper.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A label printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature sensitive paper comprises a series of labels to be printed, said labels being adhesively supported on a backing for supply to the printing head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A label printer as claimed in claim 1, further including: applicator means; and means for dispensing labels printed by said applicator means including at least two conveying belts for transporting the label to a parcel to be labelled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A label printer as claimed in claim 3, wherein said temperature sensitive paper comprises a series of labels to be printed, said labels being adhesively supported on a backing for supply to the printing head; and means for separating printed labels from said backing for supply to said applicator means having an adhesive side of said labels contacting said conveying belts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A label printer as claimed in claim 4, further including motor means driving said conveyor belts.
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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) | 1990-04-20 | 1990-10-20 | 1991-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-20 | 1994-10-20 | 1995-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-20 | 1998-10-20 | 1999-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |