Method and arrangement for controlling the print current in metal paper printers

A circuit for controlling the current supplied to an electrode for marking metal-coated recording paper during a starting phase and a burning phase comprising:

• means connected to said electrode for supplying a variable rate of current flow to said electrode;
• and
• control means responsive to an input signal for supplying a first rate of current flow for said starting phase and responsive thereafter to the voltage at said electrode-paper junction for supplying current at a second rate of flow to said electrode during said burning phase.

The method of marking a metallized recording medium with an electrode comprising the steps of:

• supplying current to said electrode sufficient to initiate an arc at the junction of said electrode and said metallized recording medium;
• and
• reducing the current to said electrode after the initiation of said arc and before the mark is completed on said medium.

A circuit for controlling the current supplied to an electrode for marking metal-coated recording paper comprising:

• means connected to said electrode for supplying marking current therefor;
• and
• control means connected to said supply means and the junction of said electrode and said recording paper responsive to an input signal to cause said supply means to initially supply the greatest current during an energization phase of said electrode and thereafter responsive to the voltage level at said junction for varying the current through said supply means in response to said voltage level.