Bi-directional thermal printer and method therefor
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorArne Roy Jorgensen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for printing bi-directionally with a thermal print head movable back and forth along a print path adjacent a ribbon to transfer ink therefrom onto a substrate. The ribbon being drawn from an unwind reel and adjacent the print path, and the ribbon being clamped to maintain tension on the ribbon at least when the print head moves in the same direction as ribbon is drawn along the print path. A rotary drive member is rotatable in a first direction to actuate a brake member that clamps the ribbon against a fixed ribbon guide, and the rotary drive member is rotatable in a second opposing direction to rotate the rewind reel to draw ribbon from the unwind reel.
Claims26
A printer system for transferring print from a ribbon onto a substrate with a print head, the printer system comprising:
- an unwind reel for supplying ribbon;
- the print head movable back and forth in first and second opposing directions along a print path adjacent the ribbon to transfer ink from the ribbon, the print head movable toward and way from the substrate;
- a fixed ribbon guide located between the unwind reel and the print path, the ribbon supplied from the unwind reel and over the fixed ribbon guide;
- a ribbon brake member biased toward the fixed ribbon guide to clamp the ribbon against the fixed ribbon guide when the print head is positioned toward the substrate and the print head moves in the first direction.
A printer system for transferring print from a ribbon onto a substrate with a print head, the printer system comprising:
- a rewind reel;
- unwind reel for supplying ribbon to the rewind reel;
- the print head movable back and forth in first and second opposing directions along a print path adjacent the ribbon;
- a fixed ribbon guide located between the unwind reel and the print path, the ribbon supplied from the unwind reel and over the fixed ribbon guide;
- a ribbon brake member biased toward the fixed ribbon guide to clamp their ribbon against the fixed ribbon guide when the print head moves in the first direction,
- a rotary drive member coupled to the print head and to the rewind reel,
- the rotary drive member rotatable in a first direction to move the print head toward and away from the substrate and the rotary drive member rotatable in a second direction to rotate the rewind reel to supply ribbon from the unwind reel,
- the ribbon clamped by the ribbon brake when the print head is positioned toward the substrate, and the ribbon unclamped when ribbon is supplied to the rewind reel.
A method for transferring print from a ribbon onto a substrate with a bi-directional print head positionable toward and way from the substrate, the method comprising:
- moving the print head back and forth in first and second opposing directions along a print path adjacent the ribbon when the print head is positioned toward the substrate, ink transferrable from the ribbon onto the substrate by the head when the print head moves in the first and second opposing directions;
- supplying the ribbon over a fixed ribbon guide and adjacent the print path in the first direction of the print head;
- clamping the ribbon against the fixed ribbon guide with a ribbon brake member when the print head is positioned toward the substrate and the print head moves in the first direction along the print path to prevent the supply of ribbon.
A method for transferring print from a ribbon onto a substrate with a print head, the printer system comprising:
- supplying ribbon from an unwind reel to a rewind reel;
- moving the print head back and forth in first and second opposing directions along a print path adjacent the ribbon to transfer ink from the ribbon;
- supplying the ribbon from the unwind reel, adjacent the print path in the first direction of the print head;
- supplying the ribbon over a fixed ribbon guide located between the unwind reel and the print path;
- rotating a rotary drive member in a first direction to actuate a brake member that clamps the ribbon against the fixed ribbon guide, and
- rotating the rotary drive member in a second direction to rotate the rewind reel to supply the ribbon from the unwind reel when the ribbon is unclamped,
- whereby the ribbon is clamped by the brake member at least when the print head moves in the first direction along the print path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.