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US 2024/0308238 A1Published application
Thermal overwrite secure indirect thermal printing
AssigneeToshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsBrad W. Towe, Michael W. Lawrence
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indirect thermal transfer printer applies images to label stock with the use of heat activated transfer ribbon. Once an image is printed, a negative of the printed image remains on the exposed transfer ribbon. Heat is applied to the exposed transfer ribbon as it is spooled to obliterate the negative, fuse the ribbon to previously exposed and spooled ribbon, or both.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a transfer ribbon supply roll configured to feed heat activated transfer ribbon to an thermal transfer printer;
- a drive system configured to move the transfer ribbon through the thermal transfer printer;
- the thermal transfer printer configured to transfer an image from the transfer ribbon to associated label stock so as to generate exposed transfer ribbon including a negative image of the transferred image;
- the drive system further configured to direct exposed transfer ribbon to a used ribbon roller;
- and
- a heated fuse roller configured to contact the exposed transfer ribbon to produce one or more of an obliterated negative image and a fusing of the exposed transfer ribbon to ribbon previously directed to the used ribbon roller.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- feeding heat activated transfer ribbon from a transfer ribbon supply roll to an thermal transfer printer;
- moving the transfer ribbon through the thermal transfer printer;
- transferring, via a thermal transfer printer, an image from the transfer ribbon to associated label stock so as to generate exposed transfer ribbon including a negative image of the transferred image;
- directing exposed transfer ribbon to a used ribbon roller;
- and
- contacting a heated fuse roller to the exposed transfer ribbon to produce one or more of an obliterated negative image and a fusing of the exposed transfer ribbon to ribbon previously directed to the used ribbon roller.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- removing thermal transfer ribbon from a transfer ribbon roll;
- removing label stock from a label stock roll;
- thermally printing images from the transfer ribbon to the label stock wherein each label has an image and wherein exposed label stock includes a negative of each image;
- feeding the exposed label stock to a used ribbon roller;
- and
- heating a surface of the exposed label stock on the used ribbon roller so as to accomplish one or more of obliterating the negative of each image and fusing the exposed label stock to previously fused exposed label stock.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.