Thermal printer and tape-ribbon cartridge with cut-off mechanism
AssigneeKroy Inc.
InventorsMichael M. Richardson, Frank A. Borgeson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal transfer device or the like and a tape-ribbon cartridge designed for operative insertion into and use with such device. The device includes a transfer station for transfering a selected image from a ribbon to a tape and a replaceable tape-ribbon cartridge having a tape cut-off mechanism embodied within the cartridge and actuated by a cut-off actuator arm within the machine. The cartridge of the present invention includes a self-contained, internal tape cut-off mechanism comprising a pair of cut-off blades positioned in side by side shearing relationship and actuated by an actuator arm extending into the cartridge from the machine.
Claims11
A tape-ribbon cartridge for operative insertion into and use with a thermal transfer device or the like having a transfer station for transfering a selected image from a ribbon to a tape and a tape cut-off actuator arm, said cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge housing having top and bottom walls and an edge wall joining said top and bottom walls;
- a tape opening in a portion of said edge wall;
- a supply of tape;
- a supply of ribbon;
- tape-ribbon alignment means for guiding said tape and ribbon past said transfer station and for guiding said tape through said tape opening;
- a tape cut-off means disposed within said cartridge and between said alignment means and said tape opening, said tape cut-off means including a first cut-off edge and a second cut-off edge connected with a portion of said cartridge, said first and second cut-off edges adapted for limited movement relative to one another and cooperating with one another to sever said tape as a result of the limited relative movement of said first and second cut-off edges;
- and
- means connected with at least one of said first and second edges for receiving a cut-off force from said cut-off actuator arm of said device.
A thermal transfer device or the like comprising:
- a transfer station for transfering a selected image from a ribbon to a tape;
- a tape cut-off actuator arm;
- means for selectively moving said tape cut-off actuator arm;
- and
- a tape-ribbon cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge housing having top and bottom walls and an edge wall joining said top and bottom walls;
- a tape opening in a portion of said edge wall;
- a supply of tape;
- a supply of ribbon;
- tape-ribbon alignment means for guiding said tape and ribbon past said transfer station and for guiding said tape through said tape opening;
- a tape cut-off means disposed within said cartridge and between said alignment means and said tape opening for selectively severing said tape, said tape cut-off means including a first cut-off edge and a second cut-off means including a first cut-off edge and a second cut-off edge connected with a portion of said cartridge, said first and second cut-off edges adapted for limited movement relative to one another and cooperating with one another to sever said tape as a result of the limited relative movement of said first and second cut-off edges;
- and
- means connected with at least one of said first and second edges for receiving a cut-off force from said cut-off actuator arm of said device.
A thermal transfer device or the like comprising:
- a transfer station for transfering a selected image from a ribbon to a tape;
- a tape cut-off actuator arm;
- means for selectively moving said tape cut-off actuator arm;
- a replaceable and disposable tape-ribbon cartridge containing a supply of tape and ribbon;
- and
- tape cut-off mechanism embodied entirely within said cartridge and having means to receive a cut-off force from said tape cut-off actuator arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.