Patent US4806948A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4806948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ribbon separating mechanism for thermal printer
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
•
Filing: 1987-02-17
•
Granted: 1989-02-21
•
Expires: 2007-02-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for separating a thermal transfer ribbon from a recording medium includes an elongated member which is positioned adjacent the ribbon and is movable to a position in contact with the ribbon for stripping the ribbon from the recording medium after a printing operation. The elongated member may take the shape and form of a blade or the member may be a wire for stripping the ribbon from the medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G. Bangs
- 👤 Michael O. Grey
- 👤 Sik-Piu Kwan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:09
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J17/00; B41J17/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for separating a thermal transfer medium from a record medium subsequent to a printing operation in a thermal printer, said apparatus comprising stripping means, means supporting said stripping means from said printer in a first position between and engageable with the facing surfaces of the transfer medium and the record medium, and means for actuating said stripping means from said first position to a second position wherein the stripping means is in contact with the facing surfaces of said transfer medium and said record medium for separating said transfer medium from said record medium upon advancement of said record medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus for separating a thermal transfer medium from a record medium subsequent to a printing operation in a thermal printer, said apparatus comprising stripping means, means supporting said stripping means from said printer in a first position between and engageable with the facing surfaces of the transfer medium and the record medium, and means for actuating said stripping means from said first position to a second position wherein the stripping means is in contact with the facing surfaces of said transfer medium and said record medium for separating said transfer medium from said record medium upon advancement of said record medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transfer medium is a thermal transfer ribbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stripping means comprises a wire positioned adjacent the line of printing of said thermal printer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stripping means comprises a preformed wire positioned adjacent the line of printing and adapted to be straightened upon operation of said actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuating means comprises a swingable member and means for swinging thereof.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim I wherein the means for supporting said stripping means is a member swingable in a generally vertical direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for supporting said stripping means is a member swingable in a generally vertical direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuating means comprises a solenoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said printer includes a print head carriage supporting said stripping means and carried by said carriage along the line of printing, and means for actuating said stripping means in a direction opposite that of the advancement of the record medium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the actuating means comprises an actuating member defining slots at an angle therein and operably associated with the stripping means and cam means for driving said actuating member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a thermal printer having a print head operably associated with a transfer medium for transferring images onto a record medium in printing operation, the improvement comprising means for separating the transfer medium from the record medium subsequent to a printing operation, said separating means comprising a stripping member supported in a first position adjacent the transfer medium and the record medium during a printing operation and means for actuating the stripping member from said first position to a second position in contact with the facing surfaces of said record medium and said transfer medium for separating said transfer medium from the record medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a thermal printer having a print head operably associated with a transfer medium for transferring images onto a record medium in printing operation, the improvement comprising means for separating the transfer medium from the record medium subsequent to a printing operation, said separating means comprising a stripping member supported in a first position adjacent the transfer medium and the record medium during a printing operation and means for actuating the stripping member from said first position to a second position in contact with the facing surfaces of said record medium and said transfer medium for separating said transfer medium from the record medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
In the thermal printer of claim 11 wherein the stripping member comprises a wire positioned adjacent the line of printing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the thermal printer of claim 11 wherein the stripping member comprises a preformed wire positioned adjacent the line of printing and adapted to be straightened upon operation of said actuating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
In the thermal printer of claim 11 wherein the separating means comprises a stripping member and supporting means therefor swingable in a generally horizontal direction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
In the thermal printer of claim 11 wherein the separating means comprises a stripping member and supporting means therefor swingable in a generally vertical direction.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
In the thermal printer of claim 11 wherein the actuating means comprises a solenoid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the thermal printer of claim 11 including a print head carriage supporting said stripping member and carried by said carriage along the line of printing and said means for actuating means said stripping member in a direction opposite that of the advancement of the record medium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for separating a thermal transfer ribbon from a record medium subsequent to a printing operation in a thermal printer having a print head carriage, a platen and a print head opposed thereto, said apparatus comprising a stripping member supported from said printer and secured to said print head carriage and positioned between and engageable with the facing surfaces of the transfer ribbon and the record medium in printing operation and in contact with the facing surfaces of said transfer ribbon and said record medium for separating said transfer ribbon from said record medium upon advancement of said record medium past said platen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
103 words
Apparatus for separating a thermal transfer ribbon from a record medium subsequent to a printing operation in a thermal printer having a print head carriage, a platen and a print head opposed thereto, said apparatus comprising a stripping member supported from said printer and secured to said print head carriage and positioned between and engageable with the facing surfaces of the transfer ribbon and the record medium in printing operation and in contact with the facing surfaces of said transfer ribbon and said record medium for separating said transfer ribbon from said record medium upon advancement of said record medium past said platen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the stripping member comprises a blade defining an angle relative to the plane of the blade.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said stripping member comprises a generally V-shaped member substantially spanning the line of printing of said thermal printer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said stripping member comprises a generally V-shaped member substantially spanning the line of printing and including stripping element secured to one portion of the V-shaped member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the stripping member comprises an elongated blade secured to the print head carriage and movable therewith in a transverse direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the stripping member comprises a blade defining a bevel along one edge thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said striping member comprises a U-shaped member secured to the carriage and movable therewith in a transverse direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said elongated blade includes an angled portion for accommodating said transfer ribbon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB715718A
Cited
JPS5595582A
Cited
US4396308A
Cited
US4509060A
Cited
JPS5993373A
Cited
US4458253A
Cited
US4614949A
Cited
EP0159676A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-02-21 | 1992-08-22 | 1993-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-02-21 | 1996-08-22 | 1997-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-02-21 | 2000-08-22 | 2001-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |