Apparatus for imprinting and cutting a tape or ribbon
OwnerHarold Schemenauerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for serially imprinting and cutting a tape such as an award ribbon includes a pneumatically actuated, heated imprinter and sequentially operated, pneumatically actuated cutter and trimmer. A stepping motor provides incremental movement of the ribbon and a ratchet drive mechanism coupled to the imprinter provides advancement of the foil or printing tape. The entire operation of the apparatus is under the control of a microprocessor which accepts information from the operator regarding ribbon length, imprint position and quantity and sequentially activates the various elements of the imprinting apparatus.
Claims19
A tape imprinting apparatus comprising, in combination:
- means for imprinting indicia on a tape including a printing assembly, means for providing heat to said printing assembly, a platen spaced from and parallel to said printing assembly, first means for reciprocably translating said printing assembly along an axis normal to said platen and into imprinting contact with a tape disposed on said platen;
- first means for advancing the tape along a first axis including a first drive roller, a first idler roller and first means for rotating said first drive roller;
- at least one pair of guide means having adjustable separation along an axis transverse to said first axis for guiding said tape along said first axis;
- second means for advancing a printing foil generally along a second axis normal to said first axis including a second drive roller, a second idler roller and second means for unidirectionally rotating said second drive roller, means responsive to said imprinting means for cycling said second advancing means;
- and
- means for cutting said tape including a first tape cutting mechanism having a first cutting pattern, a second cutting mechanism having a second cutting pattern, and means for selectively activating said first cutting mechanism or said first and said second cutting mechanisms to cut such tape according to said cutting patterns.
A ribbon or tape imprinting apparatus comprising, in combination:
- at least two pairs of adjustable guide means for providing a first path for a tape along a first axis;
- means for imprinting indicia on a tape including a printing assembly, a platen spaced from and parallel to said printing assembly, means for reciprocably translating said printing assembly along an axis normal to the plane of said platen and means for heating said printing assembly;
- first means for advancing the tape along said first axis including a first drive roller, a first friction roller and first means to rotate said first drive roller;
- second means for advancing a printing foil generally along a second path normal to said first axis including a second drive roller, a second friction roller, second means for unidirectionally rotating said second drive roller means to adjust the angular rotation of said second drive roller and means responsive to the position of said printing assembly for cycling said second advancing means;
- first means for reciprocably translating said printing assembly into imprinting contact with a tape disposed on said platen, control means for cycling said second advancing means;
- and
- means for cutting such tape including a first tape cutting mechanism having a first cutting pattern, a second tape cutting mechanism having a second cutting pattern and means for selectively activating said first cutting mechanism or said first and said second cutting mechanisms to cut such tape according to said cutting patterns.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.