Thermotransfer printer, and method for controlling activation of printing elements of a print head thereof

A method for controlling individual activation of respective printing elements of a thermotransfer print head by an electronic processing unit connected to the print head, to melt ink carried on an ink carrier of an ink carrier device to transfer said ink onto a print medium, said method comprising the steps of:

• electronically reading out a print parameter set from a memory associated with said ink carrier device into said processing unit, said print parameter set containing at least one parameter that is specifically characteristic of said ink carrier device;
• from said print parameter set, determining in said processing unit a control quantity from said print parameter set, and activating said printing element by said processing unit using said control quantity;
• and
• triggering said reading out of said print parameter set from said memory into said processing unit upon an occurrence of a predetermined event.

A printer comprising:

• a thermotransfer print head having a plurality of individually actuatable printing elements;
• an ink carrier device comprising an ink carrier carrying ink thereon, said ink carrier device being removably disposed at a position to interact with said printing elements of said print head, said printing elements of said print head, when individually activated, melting said ink carried on said ink carrier to transfer said ink onto a print medium;
• a memory associated with said ink carrier device having a print parameter set stored therein containing at least one parameter that is specifically characteristic of said ink carrier device;
• a processing unit connected to said print head and being placed in communication with said memory when said ink carrier device is in said position, said processing unit reading out said print parameter set from said memory and determining, for a printing element of said print head, a control quantity specifically relevant to melting, by said printing element of said print head, said ink carried by said ink carrier of said ink carrier device;
• and
• said processing unit controlling activation of said print element of said print head using said control quantity to cause said print element of said print head to melt said ink to transfer said ink to said print medium.

A franking machine comprising:

• a thermotransfer print head having a plurality of individually actuatable printing element;
• an ink carrier device comprising an ink carrier carrying ink thereon, said ink carrier device being removably disposed at a position to interact with said printing elements of said print head, said printing elements of said print head, when individually activated, melting said ink carrying on said ink carrier to transfer said ink onto a print medium;
• a memory associated with said ink carrier device having a print parameter set stored therein containing at least one parameter that is specifically characteristic of said ink carrier device;
• a processing unit connected to said print head and being placed in communication with said memory when said ink carrier device is in said position, said processing unit reading out said print parameter set from said memory and determining, for a printing element of said print head, a control quantity specifically relevant to melting, by said printing element of said print head, said ink carried by said ink carrier of said ink carrier device;
• a security module containing security information required by a governmental authority to be embodied in a franking imprint;
• and
• said processing unit being connected to said security module and controlling activation of said print element of said print head using said control quantity to cause said print element of said print head to melt said ink to transfer said ink to said print medium in printing said franking imprint embodying said security information.

An ink carrier device comprising:

• a device body adapted to be placed adjacent a print head comprising a plurality of individually activatable printing elements;
• an ink carrier disposed in said carrier body, carrying ink adapted to be melted upon respective activation of said printing element to transfer said ink onto a print medium;
• and
• a memory attached to said carrier body containing a print parameter set containing at least one parameter that is specifically characteristic of said ink carrier device with regard to melting of said ink.