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US 2024/0308256 A1Published application
Ribbon control in indirect thermal printing
OwnerMichael W. Lawrence, George N. Woolcott +1inventors
InventorsMichael W. Lawrence, George N. Woolcott, Brad W. Towe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pulse width modulation (PWM) system functions such that while label paper is moving into position, ribbon motors have power applied to maintain tension in the ribbon to avoid any contact with the adhesive. Once the label paper stops and is in position the power to the ribbon motors are cut to allow slack in the ribbon and a printhead solenoid actuates at full power to lift. Once lifted the solenoid cuts back to partial power to hold position and the ribbon motors are powered again. Thus, ribbon motor power is adjusted to allow the solenoid to lift without additional resistance.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a transfer ribbon supply roll configured to feed heat activated transfer ribbon to a thermal transfer printhead of a thermal transfer printer;
- a solenoid configured to cause the printhead to contact the transfer ribbon during each of a sequence of prints and retract the printhead from the transfer ribbon after completion of each print, the solenoid configured to operate in accordance with a first pulse width modulation signal;
- a drive system configured to move the transfer ribbon through the thermal transfer printer, the drive system including a ribbon payout drive configured to rotate the transfer ribbon supply roll in accordance with a second pulse width modulation signal and a ribbon take up drive configured to control rotation of an exposed ribbon take up roll in accordance with a third pulse width modulation signal;
- and
- a pulse width modulation generator configured to generate the first, second and third pulse width modulation signals such that the transfer ribbon is under tension between prints and slackened during each print.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- feeding heat activated transfer ribbon to a thermal transfer printhead of a thermal transfer printer;
- engaging a solenoid to cause the printhead to contact the transfer ribbon during each of a sequence of prints and retract the printhead from the transfer ribbon after completion of each print, the solenoid configured to operate in accordance with a first pulse width modulation signal;
- rotating the transfer ribbon supply roll in accordance with a second pulse width modulation signal;
- rotating an exposed ribbon take up roll in accordance with a third pulse width modulation signal;
- and
- generating the first, second and third pulse width modulation signals such that the transfer ribbon is under tension between prints and slackened during each print.
3 more elements
A dual-sided inline label printer comprising:
- a label supply roll comprising a web of thermally sensitive label stock having a non-adhesive side and a partial adhesive side including a sequence of print areas devoid of and surrounded by adhesive;
- a contact thermal printer configured to print a sequence of label images on the non-adhesive side;
- an indirect thermal printer having a solenoid, the solenoid actuating a printhead disposed on the partial adhesive side, the solenoid configured to cause the printhead to contact the transfer ribbon to print an image on each print area and retract the printhead from the transfer ribbon after completion of each printed image, the solenoid configured to operate in accordance with a first pulse width modulation signal;
- a transfer ribbon supply roll comprising a web of thermally sensitive transfer ribbon;
- a drive system configured to move the transfer ribbon from the transfer ribbon supply roll to the printhead then to an exposed ribbon take up roll, the drive system including a ribbon payout drive configured to rotate the transfer ribbon supply roll in accordance with a second pulse width modulation signal and a ribbon take up drive configured to control rotation of the exposed ribbon take up roll in accordance with a third pulse width modulation signal;
- and
- a pulse width modulation generator configured to generate the first, second and third pulse width modulation signals such that the transfer ribbon is under tension between prints and slackened during each print.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.