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US 5,755,519 AGranted
Printer ribbon identification sensor
AssigneeFargo Electronics, Inc.
InventorGary M. Klinefelter
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFargo Electronics, Inc.
InventorGary M. Klinefelter
Estimating the term…
A sensor for sensing and identifying characteristics of a printer ink ribbon when a ribbon supply roll is inserted into a printer and operated. Ink ribbon cartridges used in printers are provided in a number of types, colors, and other identifiable characteristics that are important for insuring that the correct ribbon is inserted in the printer for the then current print job. In the present invention, the ribbon cartridges include ribbon supply rolls which are provided with identifying indicia on one end of the roll, and a sensor to read the presence of indicia when the printer is operated. The positions of the indicia relative to selected reference positions indicates the ink ribbon type. Suitable circuitry is used to disable the printer if the print ribbon is not properly correlated to the requirements of the printer. A Hall Effect Sensor is used adjacent the print roll, and the indicia on the ink ribbon roll comprise pins or similar members that will affect the Hall Effect Sensor output when rotated past the sensor.
For use with a printer having a print ribbon supply roll having a ribbon thereon which is one of a plurality of ribbon types, the improvement comprising identifier indicia for the particular type of ribbon on the supply roll assembly including individually removable and replaceable ferromagnetic inserts on an end face of the supply roll assembly positioned at selected known locations around a central axis, and a detector mounted adjacent the end of the supply roller assembly including a permanent magnet and a Hall Effect Sensor spaced from the inserts and supply roll assembly and providing an output signal based on movement of identifier indicia past the detector.
A printer of a type which utilizes one of a plurality of available ink ribbons on an ink ribbon supply roll, and the supply roll including an ink ribbon identifier comprising a hub mountable on the ink ribbon supply roll and rotatable therewith;
An ink ribbon supply roll comprising a roll core, a plurality of supports comprising a first support and a plurality of second supports formed in a member movable with the roll core and radially spaced from an axis of rotation of the roll core when the roll core rotates as ribbon thereon is removed, and first identifier indicia comprising an unmagnetized magnetic material in a first support to indicate a home position, the second supports other than the being oriented at known positions relative to the home position and at least one second support carrying a removable unmagnetized magnetic material identifier indicia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.