US4860025A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal transfer printing process
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1987-12-28
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Granted: 1989-08-22
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Expires: 2007-12-28
Abstract
Abstract In printing apparatus of the type which includes a ribbon having a backing layer and an ink donor layer supported on the backing layer, wherein the apparatus includes a first thermal printhead for transfer printing a first ink pattern from the ink donor layer to the backing layer at a first printing station, a second thermal printhead for transfer printing a second ink pattern from the ink donor layer to a workpiece at a second printing station, there is provided a process including the steps of: sensing a letter being fed to the second printing station; starting feeding the ribbon; starting printing at the first printing station; moving the second printhead from a non-printing position to a printing position; starting printing at the second printing station; stopping printing at the first and second printing stations; stopping feeding the ribbon; and moving the second printhead from the printing position to the non-printing position.
Inventors
- 👤 William Berson
- 👤 Julius Gluck
- 👤 Patrick Murphy
- 👤 Duc H. Tran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/0054
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
In printing apparatus of the type which includes a ribbon having a backing layer and an ink donor layer supported on the backing layer, wherein the apparatus includes a first thermal printhead for transfer printing a first ink pattern from the ink donor layer to the backing layer at a first printing station, a second thermal printhead for transfer printing a second ink pattern from the ink donor layer to a workpiece at a second printing station, a process comprising the steps of: a. sensing a letter being fed to the second printing station; b. starting feeding the ribbon; c. starting printing at the first printing station; d. moving the second printhead from a non-printing position to a printing position; e. starting printing at the second printing station; f. stopping printing at the first and second printing stations; g. stopping feeding the ribbon; and h. moving the second printhead from the printing position to the non-printing position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
In printing apparatus of the type which includes a ribbon having a backing layer and an ink donor layer supported on the backing layer, wherein the apparatus includes a first thermal printhead for transfer printing a first ink pattern from the ink donor layer to the backing layer at a first printing station, a second thermal printhead for transfer printing a second ink pattern from the ink donor layer to a workpiece at a second printing station, a process comprising the steps of: a. sensing a letter being fed to the second printing station; b. starting feeding the ribbon; c. starting printing at the first printing station; d. moving the second printhead from a non-printing position to a printing position; e. starting printing at the second printing station; f. stopping printing at the first and second printing stations; g. stopping feeding the ribbon; and h. moving the second printhead from the printing position to the non-printing position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (b) includes the step of starting a printing cycle count, and wherein step (h) includes the step of stopping the printing cycle count.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (d) follows step (c).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (d) follows step (c) after a time delay during which the ribbon is fed between the first and second printheads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (d), follows step (c) when the ribbon is at the second printing station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (d) follows step (c) upon lapse of a predetermined time interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 2, wherein step (d) follows step (c) upon lapse of a predetermined printing cycle count.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process according to claim 2, wherein step (d) follows step (c).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the step of printing an ink pattern in the form of an outline of an indicia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (c) includes the step of printing an ink pattern in the form of an indicia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (e) includes the step of printing an ink pattern in the form of an outline of an indicia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (e) includes the step of printing an ink pattern in the form of an indicia.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process according to claim 9, wherein step (e) includes the step of transfer printing to the workpiece all ink remaining on the backing layer of the ribbon whereby the ink pattern printed on the workpiece is in the form of the indicia.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The process according to claim 10, wherein step (e) includes the step of transfer printing to the workpiece all ink remaining on the backing layer of the ribbon, whereby the ink pattern printed on the workpiece is in the form of an outline of the indicia.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, including the step of sensing when the second printhead is at the printing position and then implementing step (e).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process according to claim 9, wherein step (c) includes the steps of transfer printing said ink pattern to the backing layer and transfer printing all remaining ink from the ink donor layer to the workpiece after printing the ink pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process according to claim 10, wherein step (c) includes the step of transfer printing said ink pattern to the backing layer and transfer printing all remaining ink from the ink donor layer to the workpiece after printing the ink pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein step (e) follows step (d) when the leading edge of the letter is fed a predetermined marginal distance past the second printhead.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the step of moving the second printhead from the printing position to the non-printing position includes moving the second printhead a distance sufficient to accommodate stepped and other irregularly-shaped letter mail between the second printhead and a backing element which cooperates with the second printhead in the second printing station.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 1 including maintaining the tension in the ribbon in the printing and non-printing positions of the second printhead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
204 words
In printing apparatus of the type which includes a ribbon having a backing layer and an ink donor layer supported on the backing layer, wherein the apparatus includes a first thermal printhead for transfer printing a first ink pattern from the ink donor layer to the backing layer at a first printing station, a second thermal printhead for transfer printing a second ink pattern from the ink donor layer to a workpiece at a second printing station, a process comprising the steps of: a. sensing a letter being fed to the second printing station; b. starting feeding the ribbon; c. starting printing at the first printing station; d. moving the second printhead from a non-printing position to a printing position; e. starting printing at a second printing station; f. stopping printing at the first and second printing stations; g. stopping feeding the ribbon; h. moving the second printhead from the printing position to the on-printing position over a distance sufficient to accommodate stepped and other irregularly-shaped letter mail between the second printhead and a backing element which cooperates with the second printhead in the second printing station; i. maintaining the tension in the ribbon in the printing and non-printing positions of the second printhead.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
204 words
In printing apparatus of the type which includes a ribbon having a backing layer and an ink donor layer supported on the backing layer, wherein the apparatus includes a first thermal printhead for transfer printing a first ink pattern from the ink donor layer to the backing layer at a first printing station, a second thermal printhead for transfer printing a second ink pattern from the ink donor layer to a workpiece at a second printing station, a process comprising the steps of: a. sensing a letter being fed to the second printing station; b. starting feeding the ribbon; c. starting printing at the first printing station; d. moving the second printhead from a non-printing position to a printing position; e. starting printing at a second printing station; f. stopping printing at the first and second printing stations; g. stopping feeding the ribbon; h. moving the second printhead from the printing position to the on-printing position over a distance sufficient to accommodate stepped and other irregularly-shaped letter mail between the second printhead and a backing element which cooperates with the second printhead in the second printing station; i. maintaining the tension in the ribbon in the printing and non-printing positions of the second printhead.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4740798A
Cited
US4739343A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-21 | 1993-02-20 | 1993-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-21 | 1997-02-20 | 1997-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-21 | 2001-02-20 | 2001-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |