US4728206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printing control device and method
Assignee: Brother Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1986-04-17
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Granted: 1988-03-01
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Expires: 2006-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A printing device in which a printing ribbon moves in one direction and a printing head moves back and forth parallel to the ribbon. When the head and ribbon move in the same direction, printing is not started until the ribbon is moving at a faster speed than the head. When the head and ribbon move in opposite directions, printing is not started until the ribbon is moving at a given speed which is a fraction of the speed of the head.
Inventors
- 👤 Isao Mori
- 👤 Hisaki Okada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:01
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/36; B41J33/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A printing device, comprising: a printing ribbon; a printing head for impacting the ribbon incident to a printing operation; printing head driving means for reciprocating the printing head along a line in first and second directions, wherein said head reciprocates at a first speed; ribbon driving means for moving the ribbon only in said second direction at a second speed; and control means for starting the printing operation according to a first parameter, wherein the first parameter includes the printing head moving in the second direction and the second speed being greater than the first speed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A printing device, comprising: a printing ribbon; a printing head for impacting the ribbon incident to a printing operation; printing head driving means for reciprocating the printing head along a line in first and second directions, wherein said head reciprocates at a first speed; ribbon driving means for moving the ribbon only in said second direction at a second speed; and control means for starting the printing operation according to a first parameter, wherein the first parameter includes the printing head moving in the second direction and the second speed being greater than the first speed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A printing device according to claim 1, wherein, said control means starts said printing operation according to a second parameter; wherein said second parameter includes the printing head moving in the first direction and the second speed being less than the first speed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A printing device according to claim 2, wherein said control means starts said printing operation according to a third parameter; and wherein the third parameter includes the printing head moving in the second direction and the second speed being less than the first speed.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
252 words
A method for operating a printing device comprising the steps of: (a) selecting either a first direction or a second direction for a printing head to move along a line; (b) if said first direction is selected, the step of accessing first movement data for moving the ribbon at a second speed; (c) after step (b), starting a ribbon driving means for driving the ribbon only in the second direction at said second speed; (d) a first predetermined time period after step (c), starting a printing head driving means for driving the printing head in said first direction at a first speed faster than said second speed; (e) after step (d), and when the ribbon is moving, starting a printing operation whereby the printing head impacts the ribbon; (f) selecting either to repeat step (a) or to stop the printing device; (g) if said second direction is selected, the step of accessing second movement data for moving the ribbon at a third speed, wherein the third speed is faster than the first speed; (h) after step (g), starting the ribbon driving means for driving the ribbon only in the second direction at said third speed; (i) the first predetermined time period after step (h), starting the printing head driving means for driving the printing head in the second direction at the first speed; (j) after step (i), starting the printing operation whereby the printing head impacts the ribbon; and (k) selecting either to repeat step (a) or to stop the printing device.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
252 words
A method for operating a printing device comprising the steps of: (a) selecting either a first direction or a second direction for a printing head to move along a line; (b) if said first direction is selected, the step of accessing first movement data for moving the ribbon at a second speed; (c) after step (b), starting a ribbon driving means for driving the ribbon only in the second direction at said second speed; (d) a first predetermined time period after step (c), starting a printing head driving means for driving the printing head in said first direction at a first speed faster than said second speed; (e) after step (d), and when the ribbon is moving, starting a printing operation whereby the printing head impacts the ribbon; (f) selecting either to repeat step (a) or to stop the printing device; (g) if said second direction is selected, the step of accessing second movement data for moving the ribbon at a third speed, wherein the third speed is faster than the first speed; (h) after step (g), starting the ribbon driving means for driving the ribbon only in the second direction at said third speed; (i) the first predetermined time period after step (h), starting the printing head driving means for driving the printing head in the second direction at the first speed; (j) after step (i), starting the printing operation whereby the printing head impacts the ribbon; and (k) selecting either to repeat step (a) or to stop the printing device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-01 | 1991-08-31 | 1992-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-01 | 1995-08-31 | 1996-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-01 | 1999-08-31 | 2000-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |