Printer
AssigneeVideojet Technologies Inc.
InventorsJeremy Ellis, Keith Buxton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A printhead for a thermal transfer printer comprising a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from an ink carrying ribbon to a substrate, and at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon. The at least one sensor comprises at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers. Each of the plurality of receivers is arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal is based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter.
Claims19
A printhead for a thermal transfer printer comprising:
- a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from an ink carrying ribbon to a substrate;
- and
- at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon, the at least one sensor comprising at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers, each of the plurality of receivers being arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal being based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter;
- and
- circuitry arranged to drive the at least one emitter and receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of receivers, wherein the circuitry comprises an amplifier which is arranged to amplify the signal received from the at least one of the plurality of receivers and to generate an output based upon the amplified signal for supplying to a controller of the thermal transfer printer.
A thermal transfer printer comprising:
- first and second spool supports, respectively receiving first and second spools of ink carrying ribbon;
- a ribbon drive arranged to cause the transfer of ribbon between said first and second spools in a first direction;
- and
- a printhead, the printhead comprising:
- a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from the ink carrying ribbon to a substrate;
- at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon, the at least one sensor comprising at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers, each of the plurality of receivers being arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal being based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter;
- and
- circuitry arranged to drive the at least one emitter and receive a signal from at least one of the plurality of receivers, wherein the circuitry comprises an amplifier which is arranged to amplify the signal received from the at least one of the plurality of receivers and to generate an output based upon the amplified signal for supplying to a controller of the thermal transfer printer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.