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US 6,307,583 B1Granted
Thermal printer with reversible ribbon and method therefor
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsCraig R. Randolph, James A. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal printer that transfers print from a ribbon onto a moving web, and methods therefor, by dispensing ribbon from a supply spindle with one or more feed rollers rotating in a first direction, and winding the ribbon on a rewind spindle when dispensing ribbon from the supply spindle when printing. The dispensing direction of the ribbon is reversible before or after printing by rotating the one or more feed rollers in a second direction opposite the first direction to utilize ribbon more efficiently. The reversed ribbon is either rewound on the supply spindle or tensioned with a dancer arm.
Claims22
A thermal printer for transferring print from a ribbon onto a web, comprising:
- a supply spindle;
- a rewind spindle;
- the ribbon wound partially about the supply spindle and the rewind spindle;
- first and second feed rollers, the ribbon disposed at least partially about and frictionally engaged with the first and second feed rollers;
- a bi-directional motor coupled to the first and second feed rollers, the bi-directional motor rotates at least one of the first and second feed rollers in first and second opposing directions, the bi-directional motor further coupled to the supply and rewind spindles for rotating the supply and rewind spindles in first and second opposing directions.
2 more elements
A thermal printer for transferring print from a ribbon onto a web, comprising:
- a supply spindle;
- a rewind spindle;
- the ribbon wound partially about the supply spindle and the rewind spindle;
- a feed roller, the ribbon disposed at least partially about and frictionally engaged with the feed roller;
- a bi-directional motor coupled to the feed roller, the bi-directional motor rotates the feed roller in first and second opposing directions, the bi-directional motor further coupled to the supply and rewind spindles for rotating the supply and rewind spindles in first and second opposing directions,
- wherein the bi-directional motor is a stepper motor having a drive pulley coupled to a drive belt, the supply spindle coupled to the drive belt by a supply pulley, the rewind spindle coupled to the drive belt by a rewind pulley, and the feed roller coupled to the drive belt by a feed pulley.
3 more elements
A thermal printer for transferring print from a ribbon onto a web, comprising:
- a supply spindle;
- a rewind spindle,
- the ribbon wound partially about the supply spindle and the rewind spindle;
- a feed roller, the ribbon disposed at least partially about and frictionally engaged with the feed roller;
- a bi-directional motor coupled to the feed roller, the bi-directional motor rotates the feed roller in first and second opposing directions, the bi-directional motor further coupled to the supply and rewind spindles for rotating the supply and rewind spindles in first and second opposing directions,
- wherein the supply spindle has an outer drum disposed about an inner shaft, a drag brake couples the outer drum to a fixed portion of the inner shaft and a slip clutch couples the outer drum to a rotatable portion of the inner shaft coupled to the bi-directional motor, the drag brake provides drag on the outer drum when the supply spindle rotates in a direction that dispenses ribbon therefrom, and the slip clutch allows the outer drum to slip relative to the inner shaft when the supply spindle rotates in a direction that winds ribbon thereabout, and
- wherein the rewind spindle has an outer drum disposed about an inner shaft, a drag brake couples the outer drum to a fixed portion of the inner shaft and a slip clutch couples the outer drum to a rotatable portion of the inner shaft coupled to the bi-directional motor, the slip clutch allows the outer drum to slip relative to the inner shaft when the rewind spindle rotates in a direction that winds ribbon thereabout, and the drag brake provides drag on the outer drum when the rewind spindle rotates in a direction that dispense ribbon therefrom.
4 more elements
A thermal printer for transferring print from a ribbon onto a web, comprising:
- a supply spindle;
- a rewind spindle,
- the ribbon wound partially about the supply spindle and the rewind spindle;
- a feed roller, the ribbon disposed at least partially about and frictionally engaged with the feed roller;
- a bi-directional motor coupled to the feed roller, the bi-directional motor rotates the feed roller in first and second opposing directions;
- and
- a pivotal dancer arm having a dancer roller disposed between the supply spindle and the feed roller, the ribbon disposed at least partially about the dancer roller, the dancer arm biased to maintain tension on the ribbon.
4 more elements
A method for a thermal printer that transfers print from a ribbon onto a moving web, comprising:
- dispensing the ribbon from a supply spindle by frictionally engaging the ribbon with a feed roller rotating in a first direction;
- winding the ribbon on a rewind spindle when dispensing ribbon from the supply spindle;
- and
- reversing the dispensing direction of the ribbon by frictionally engaging the ribbon with the feed roller rotating in a second direction opposite tile first direction;
- and
- accelerating the ribbon dispensed from the supply spindle to a speed of the moving web, and transferring ink from the ribbon onto the web when the ribbon speed is substantially the same as the web speed.
3 more elements
A method for a thermal printer that transfers print from a ribbon onto a moving web, comprising:
- dispensing the ribbon from a supply spindle by frictionally engaging the ribbon with a feed roller rotating in a first direction;
- winding the ribbon on a rewind spindle when dispensing ribbon from the supple spindle;
- and
- reversing the dispensing direction of the ribbon by frictionally engaging the ribbon with the feed roller rotating in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- and
- supplying the ribbon from the rewind spindle when reversing the ribbon dispensing direction, and taking up slack in the ribbon with a pivotal dancer arm coupled thereto when reversing the ribbon dispensing direction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.