US5034755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermoelectric printer with electrode disposed in ribbon cartridge
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
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Filing: 1989-11-29
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Granted: 1991-07-23
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Expires: 2009-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A thermoelectric printer includes a cartridge accommodating a pair of reels around which a thermoelectric ink ribbon is wound, a carriage for removably supporting the cartridge, a printing head disposed on the carriage to apply a recording voltage to the ink ribbon to carry out printing, and a return electrode disposed inside the cartridge to electrically contact the ink ribbon. A resilient member conductive to the return electrode is also arranged inside the cartridge. The carriage has a contact element. When the cartridge is installed to the carriage, the contact element protrudes inside the cartridge to forcibly-contact the resilient member to form an electric correction between them. Then, a printing current flows from a recording electrode of the printing head to the ink ribbon, return electrode, resilient member and contact element and is then discharged to the carriage.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruhiko Kayata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:19
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; B41J32/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A thermoelectric printer in which a printing head means having a recording electrode applies a recording voltage to a thermoelectric ink ribbon to supply a recording current to the ink ribbon, a part of the current supplied ink ribbon being heated, an ink being transferred from the part of the ink ribbon to a printing sheet to print a pattern on the printing sheet, and at least one return electrode being provided for discharging the current flowing from said recording electrode through the ink ribbon, the thermoelectric printer comprising: (a) a cartridge accommodating the ink ribbon; (b) a carriage for removably supporting said cartridge; (c) the return electrode disposed inside said cartridge and containing the ink ribbon to discharge the current flowing from said recording electrode through the ink ribbon; and (d) conductive means arranged to contact said return electrode when said cartridge is installed to said carriage, for discharging the current from said return electrode to said carriage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A thermoelectric printer in which a printing head means having a recording electrode applies a recording voltage to a thermoelectric ink ribbon to supply a recording current to the ink ribbon, a part of the current supplied ink ribbon being heated, an ink being transferred from the part of the ink ribbon to a printing sheet to print a pattern on the printing sheet, and at least one return electrode being provided for discharging the current flowing from said recording electrode through the ink ribbon, the thermoelectric printer comprising: (a) a cartridge accommodating the ink ribbon; (b) a carriage for removably supporting said cartridge; (c) the return electrode disposed inside said cartridge and containing the ink ribbon to discharge the current flowing from said recording electrode through the ink ribbon; and (d) conductive means arranged to contact said return electrode when said cartridge is installed to said carriage, for discharging the current from said return electrode to said carriage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The thermoelectric printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive means comprises at least one conductive contact element disposed on said carriage such that, when said cartridge is installed on said carriage, the contact element protrudes inside said cartridge to electrically contact said return electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The thermoelectric printer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said conductive means further comprises a conductive resilient member interposed between said return electrode and the contact element when said cartridge is installed on said carriage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermoelectric printer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the printer is provided with two sets of said return electrodes and contact elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The thermoelectric printer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said return electrode has an exposed portion exposed outside said cartridge, and said conductive means comprises at least one conductive contact element disposed on said carriage to electrically contact with the exposed portion of said return electrode when said cartridge is installed on said carriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermoelectric printer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the printer is provided with two sets of said return electrodes and contact elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS568276A
Cited
US4329071A
Cited
US4420758A
Cited
JPS60147358A
Cited
US4897668A
Cited
US4855758A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-22 | 1995-01-21 | 1995-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-22 | 1999-01-21 | 1999-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-22 | 2003-01-21 | 2003-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |