Electrodes for resistive ribbon thermal print head

A resistive ribbon thermal printer apparatus for forming dye images on a receiver, the resistive ribbon thermal printer apparatus comprising:

• a source of electrical energy;
• a dye carrier resistive ribbon including a carrier support having a first side and an opposed second side provided with a conductive layer, and a dye layer of heat transferable dye disposed on the conductive layer;
• and
• a resistive ribbon print head for delivering electrical energy from said source to said ribbon, said print head including a non-electrically but thermally conductive ceramic substrate and a plurality of spaced electrically conductive non-oxide ceramic electrodes secured to the substrate, each of said electrodes (i) being formed throughout from material TaSi.sub.2 or MoSi.sub.2, (ii) being arranged for receiving electrical energy from said source, and (iii) having a free surface of said material arranged for electrical contact with the first side of said ribbon to deliver electrical energy by way of said free surface through the first side and carrier support of said ribbon to the conductive layer to what the dye in said dye layer.

A resistive ribbon thermal printer apparatus for forming dye images on a receiver, the resistive ribbon thermal printer apparatus comprising:

• a source of electrical energy;
• a dye carrier resistive ribbon including a carrier support having a first side and an opposed second side provided with a conductive layer, and a dye layer of heat transferable dye disposed on the conductive layer;
• and
• a resistive ribbon print head for delivering electrical energy from said source to said ribbon, said print head including a non-electrically but thermally conductive ceramic substrate and a plurality of spaced electrically conductive non-oxide ceramic electrodes secured to the substrate, each of said electrodes (i) being formed throughout from material Ti.sub.2 N or TiC, (ii) being arranged for receiving electrical energy from said source, and (iii) having a free surface of said material arranged for electrical contact with the first side of said ribbon to deliver electrical energy by way of said free surface through the first side and carrier support of said ribbon to the conductive layer to heat the dye in said dye layer.

A resistive ribbon thermal printer apparatus for forming dye images on a receiver, the resistive ribbon thermal printer apparatus comprising:

• a source of electrical energy;
• a dye carrier resistive ribbon including a carrier support having a first side and an opposed second side provided with a conductive layer, and a dye layer of heat transferable dye disposed on the conductive layer;
• and
• a resistive ribbon print head for delivering electrical energy from said source to said ribbon, said print head including a non-electrically but thermally conductive ceramic substrate and a plurality of spaced electrically conductive non-oxide ceramic electrodes secured to the substrate, each of said electrodes (i) being formed through from material WC, W.sub.2 C, TaC or ZrC, (ii) being arranged for receiving electrical energy from said source, and (iii) having a free surface of said material arranged for electrical contact with the first side of said ribbon to deliver electrical energy by way of said free surface through the first side and carrier support of said ribbon to the conductive layer to heat the dye in said dye layer.