US 7,396,170 B2Granted

Device for printing one or several objects moving in a feed direction

AssigneeEspera-Werke GmbH

InventorManfred Korthäuer

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Abstract

The invention relates to a device for printing one or several objects moving in a feed direction, in particular labels, packaging and packaging sections on a flat strip (1) or labels (2) stuck on a support band strip, comprising a print head (4) and means for introducing the object for printing to the print head. According to the invention, the supply speed of the material for printing and thus the printing capacity or labelling capacity of the device may be increased, without reducing the print quality and without increasing the wear on the print head (4) caused by the abrasive effect of the object, whereby the print head is provided with a drive (9, 11-16), by means of which the print head (4) may be moved in the feed direction of the object for printing and counter to the feed direction of the object.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A device for printing at least one object moving at a supply speed in a feed direction comprising:

(a) a thermal print head;
(b) means for supplying the at least one object to be printed to the thermal print head;
(c) a first drive for moving the thermal print head parallel to or counter to the feed direction of the at least one object to be printed;
(d) a second drive for moving the thermal print head onto the at least one object to be printed and away from the at least one object;
and
(e) a control system for controlling the first drive and the second drive;
said first drive being controlled by the control system such that during movement of the thermal print head parallel to the feed direction of the at least one object the thermal print head has a speed less than or equal to the supply speed of the at least one object being moved;
and
said second drive being controlled by the control system such that during movement of the thermal print head counter to the feed direction of the at least one object the thermal print head is moved at a distance away from the at least one object.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/522,352Filed 30 Aug 2003
Priority: DE 102 42 47711 Sep 2002
Published: US 2005/0232673 A120 Oct 2005
Granted: 8 Jul 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B41J 3/4075
For marking on special material: tape printers; Label printers
B41J 19/202
Positive-feed character-spacing mechanisms: drive control means for carriage movement
B41J 25/304
Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for: bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
B41J
Typewriters