Ribbon guiding for thermal lift-off correction
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsSteven L. Applegate, James J. Molloy, Donald A. Walker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In thermal printing the guide (29) positionable toward the platen (3) on a pivoted arm (50) during lift-off correction allows a bond for correction to set before the ribbon (22) is pulled away. The ribbon (22) has an outer layer which adheres to printed characters at somewhat elevated temperatures but is non-tacky at room temperatures. Thermal printing is conducted by setting the switch (44) for heating to temperatures higher than the lift-off temperature.
Claims5
A thermal printer having a power source to power heat-producing elements which can be selectably activated in the form of a character to be printed while in contact with a ribbon of thermal transfer medium from which marking material flows when heated by said elements, keyboard selection means to select a lift-off correction mode of operation, and means operative during said lift-off correction mode of operation to apply power from said power source to said ribbon in a substantial amount, said amount being less than power to effect said printing, while activating selected ones of said elements wherein the improvement comprises a ribbon guide positionable in response to selection of said lift-off correction mode of operation by said keyboard selection means to guide said ribbon in contact with printing made by said printer a distance past the point of printing sufficient to permit a bond for lift-off correction to form.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.