Method and apparatus for maintaining ribbon tension
AssigneeBrady Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsRobert L. Schanke, Brent A. Bandholz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bidirectional hand held label printer with a novel labeling media and ink ribbon drive mechanism. A delay is introduced in the labeling media and ink ribbon drive mechanism to pretension the ribbon prior to feeding labeling media and ribbon past the print head. When the drive motor reverses direction, the drive roller stalls momentarily while the take up ribbon drive spindle tensions the ribbon in the desired direction.
Claims10
In a hand held label printer in which an ink ribbon and labeling media can reverse feed direction, a method for maintaining ink ribbon tension when reversing feed direction comprising:
- stopping an ink ribbon from moving in a first direction from a first rotating spool to a second rotating spool by stopping a drive mechanism;
- rotating said first spool to tension said ink ribbon in a direction opposite from said first direction;
- and
- disengaging said drive mechanism from said second spool an interval of time after said first spool beans rotating, wherein said second spool rotates freely relative to said first spool as ink ribbon unwinds from said second spool.
In a hand held label printer in which an ink ribbon and labeling media can reverse feed direction, a method for maintaining ink ribbon tension when reversing feed direction comprising:
- stopping an ink ribbon from unwinding from a first rotating spool and winding onto a second rotating spool;
- rotating said first spool in a direction for winding the ink ribbon thereon to tension said ink ribbon;
- and then
- rotating said second spool an interval of time after said first spool begins rotating to unwind the ink ribbon from said second spool and wind the ink ribbon onto said first spool, wherein said second spool rotates freely relative to said first spool as ink ribbon unwinds from said second spool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.