Ribbon-reversing Mechanism Patents (Class 400/218)
  • Patent number: 11691448
    Abstract: A bidirectional ribbon supply system for a printer includes: a shaft supported by a frame of the printer, the shaft to rotate about an axis; a pulley affixed to the shaft; and a bias member coupled between the frame and the pulley to apply a force to the pulley in either of a first or second direction responsive to rotation of the pulley in the other of the first or second direction, wherein rotation of a spindle supported on the shaft in the first direction dispenses inside-coated ribbon toward a printhead, and rotation of the spindle in the second direction dispenses outside-coated ribbon toward the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel P. Lanigan
  • Patent number: 10118404
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a delivering-side gear train that transmits motive power to a delivering-side drive shaft; an winding-side gear train that transmits motive power to an winding-side drive shaft; a second clutch mechanism that connects the drive motor and the delivering-side gear train to each other in accordance with reverse rotation of the drive motor and disconnects the drive motor and the delivering-side gear train from each other in accordance with forward rotation of the drive motor; and a first clutch mechanism that is provided upstream of the second clutch mechanism, connects the drive motor and the winding-side gear train to each other in accordance with the forward rotation of the drive motor, and disconnects the drive motor and the winding-side gear train from each other in accordance with the reverse rotation of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taishi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10022510
    Abstract: A tape system for a dose counter for an inhaler, the tape system having a main elongate tape structure, dosing indicia located on the main elongate tape structure, tape positioning indicia located on the main elongate tape structure, a tape size marker located on the main elongate tape structure indicating a number of dosing indicia on the tape, and priming indicia located on the main elongate tape structure, the priming indicia being located between the dosing indicia and one end of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignees: Ivax Pharmaeuticals Ireland, Norton (Waterford) Limited, Teva Pharmaceuticals Ireland
    Inventors: Declan Walsh, Derek Fenlon, Simon Kaar, Jan Geert Hazenberg, Daniel Buck, Paul Clancy, Robert Charles Uschold, Jeffrey A. Karg
  • Patent number: 10000071
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a delivering-side gear train that transmits motive power to a delivering-side drive shaft; an winding-side gear train that transmits motive power to an winding-side drive shaft; a second clutch mechanism that connects the drive motor and the delivering-side gear train to each other in accordance with reverse rotation of the drive motor and disconnects the drive motor and the delivering-side gear train from each other in accordance with forward rotation of the drive motor; and a first clutch mechanism that is provided upstream of the second clutch mechanism, connects the drive motor and the winding-side gear train to each other in accordance with the forward rotation of the drive motor, and disconnects the drive motor and the winding-side gear train from each other in accordance with the reverse rotation of the drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taishi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20090226234
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing labels with reduced waste. The method includes printing a label on an end-portion of a label roll and advancing the label roll such that the end-portion passes a cutter mechanism. The cutter mechanism cuts the end-portion, thereby defining a new end-portion. The method further includes reversing the label roll to align the new end-portion with a printer head. The apparatus may be a drive mechanism that includes a roller for feeding label material in a forward feed mode and in a reverse feed mode. The drive mechanism has a drive clutch configured to engage with a take-up printer ribbon spool. The drive clutch may be operated to (i) transfer a driving force to the take-up printer ribbon spool in a forward feed mode and (ii) allow a release of printer ribbon in a reverse feed mode. The drive mechanism further includes a reverse clutch having a return spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Marc R. Obenshain
  • Publication number: 20080279603
    Abstract: A rewinding reel for rewinding a carbon ribbon or a label carrier in a label printer is provided, including a shaft, a gear, at least two sliding bases, at least two outer casing members, a resilient element, and a knob. The gear is mounted to the shaft to mate a transmission of the label printer for driving rotation of the shaft. The sliding bases are mounted to the shaft and are rotatable by the shaft. The sliding bases include movable portions that form camming projections and follower projections respectively in camming engagement with follower projections and camming faces formed on the outer casing members to radially move the outer casing members away from and toward the sliding bases for expanding and contracting the outer casing members in order to selectively loosen the carbon ribbon or the label carrier wound around the outer casing members. The knob is fixed to the movable portions and is manually depressible to move the movable portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventor: Ching-Wen Chen
  • Patent number: 7309178
    Abstract: An image formation device (facsimile machine, printer, copier, etc.) is provided, which is capable of reducing the amount of ink ribbon rolled up for the removal of slack of the ribbon. When a ribbon roll-up process is started, the operation mode of the image formation device is first set to a ribbon roll-up mode in which a ribbon roll-up spool is driven without driving a platen. The slack of the ribbon is removed by driving the ribbon roll-up spool to roll up the ribbon without driving the platen, which can reduce the amount of ribbon rolled up for the removal of the slack (the amount of ribbon wasted).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7258501
    Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge including a frame, supply shaft connecting member, and take-up shaft connecting members is provided. The supply shaft connecting members connect a supply shaft to the frame, and the take-up shaft connecting members connect a take-up shaft to the frame. One of the take-up shaft connecting members includes a gear for driving the take-up shaft and the supply shaft, the take-up shaft connecting member with the gear is detachable relative to the frame such that when the take-up shaft is removed from the frame, the take-up shaft connecting member with the gear remains secured to the frame. The frame having a substantially rectangular shape with a plurality of projecting portions, at least two of the plurality of projecting portions are substantially facing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6702491
    Abstract: A film transfer apparatus includes a mechanism which is adapted to prevent a reverse rotation of a take-up reel (8) for a tape. The mechanism is formed of a check claw (29) and reverse rotation preventing teeth (30). The check claw and one of the teeth are engaged with each other firmly and reliably. When the check claw should be broken or deformed to cause the function thereof to become incomplete, only the member provided with the check claw needs to be renewed easily by a simple operation. A check pin (23) inserted from the outer side of a cartridge unit (2) into a cylindrical retainer shaft (20) on which the take-up reel is rotatably mounted is combined in one body rotationally with the take-up reel. The check pin is engaged in a reverse rotation preventing manner in a tightly winding direction with respect to the cartridge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Tombow Pencil Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20020176729
    Abstract: Comprises an origin cylinder (1) of heat-sensitive ink ribbon (2), a rewinding cylinder (5), traction means and at least one marking header. It prevents an unused segment of ribbon being left between markings. It is characterised by a moving support (6) in which is guided the ribbon (2) such that the ribbon follows an additional path (16). It comprises braking means (10, 11, 12, 14) for the origin cylinder (1) such that when the ribbon (2) is tractioned and as the origin cylinder is braked, the support (6) is forced to move against the action of an elastic element (13), reducing the additional path (16) such that after a marking (a-b) the ribbon moves back, and with it the support (6), due to the action of the elastic element (13) so that the next marking (b-d) is made immediately after the first.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventor: Erika Cinca Teijeiro
  • Patent number: 6382853
    Abstract: A thermal printer free of the unevenness of an image is devised so that dust is prevented from adhering to an ink ribbon. In the thermal printer for generating a color image on a recording material by a thermal head and others using an ink ribbon, the ink ribbon is automatically rewound by a length within one image plane and kept on standby after printing is finished and at the time of next printing, the ink ribbon is automatically let out by the length formerly rewound and gets ready for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuru Sawano, Hisao Ooishi, Osamu Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20010012464
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a thermal printer free of the unevenness of an image which is devised so that dust is prevented from adhering to an ink ribbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: MITSURU SAWANO, HISAO OOISHI, OSAMU SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 5993091
    Abstract: An ink ribbon feeder wherein a feed roll support section rotatably supports an ink ribbon feed roll and a take-up roll support section rotatably supports a take-up roll support section; a first driving section turns a take-up roll to wind the ink ribbon in an ink ribbon take-up direction, and a second driving section turns the feed roll in the opposite direction of the first driving section, to apply a tension to the ink ribbon. The first driving section and the second driving section are disposed on the same side of both the take-up roll and the feed roll in the ribbon take-up direction. The recording unit, inclusive of the recording head, the ink ribbon feed roll and the take-up roll are mounted in various ways to equalize the tension over the width of the ink roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhito Ishida, Hideo Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 5951177
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Brady Worldwide
    Inventors: Robert L. Schanke, Brent A. Bandholz
  • Patent number: 5622440
    Abstract: An ink film cassette which is detachably attached to a thermal transfer recording device, the ink film cassette having a supply reel winding an ink film therearound, a take-up reel which rolls up the ink film fed out from the supply reel and a torque limiter which is provided between the supply reel and a frame of the body of the thermal transfer recording device so as to apply torque to the supply reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Yamamoto, Chiharu Imaseki, Hideaki Shimizu, Atsuhiko Shimoyama
  • Patent number: 5370470
    Abstract: An ink film tension device for applying a tension to an ink film used in a color video printer comprising a fixed shaft fixedly mounted to a reel bracket, a resilience member rotatably mounted to the fixed shaft, a reel body rotatably mounted to the fixed shaft and operatively connected to the ink film, and a felt interposed between the reel hub and the reel body and adapted to operatively connect the reel body to the reel hub. The resilience member has one end fixedly mounted to the reel bracket and the other end having a protruded bent portion. The reel hub has a support hole for receiving the other end of the resilience member. To the reel bracket is mounted a stopper which is adapted to selectively engage with the protruded bent portion of the other end of the resilience member, for limiting the torsion of the resilience member and thus maintaining a tension of a predetermined level at the resilience member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Goldstar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae S. Kim
  • Patent number: 5284396
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a ribbon feeder to prevent a ribbon from slackening when a sheet is back-fed in a thermal printer. When a ribbon is fed from a ribbon feed roller, resistance is imparted to the rotation of the ribbon feed roller by a first spring. Further, resilient force is stored in a second spring by tension produced when the ribbon is fed from the ribbon feed roller. The ribbon tends to slacken when the sheet is back-fed, such slackening ribbon is rewound by reversely rotating the ribbon feed roller by the stored resilient force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Kanzaki Paper Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosinobu Masumura, Takayasu Hongo, Setsuo Sasabe
  • Patent number: 4990007
    Abstract: An ink ribbon cartridge for use in an office machine includes a housing; a ribbon; a supply reel for storing unused ribbon wound thereon and a take-up reel for storing used ribbon wound thereon, a drive roller rotatably supported in the housing; and an arrangement for resiliently urging the drive roller and the ribbon wound on the take-up reel into a peripheral, torque-transmitting contact with one another. The drive roller is arranged for being drivingly engaged by an advancing mechanism of the office machine when the cartridge is in place, whereby the drive roller imparts a rotation to the take-up reel in a winding direction for pulling the ribbon off the supply reel, for moving the ribbon through a printing station of the office machine and for winding the ribbon on the take-reel. There is further provided a reverse winding arrangement for pulling ribbon off the take-up reel and for winding the ribbon on the supply reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: AEG Olympia Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Schmidt, Arthur Kittel
  • Patent number: 4717272
    Abstract: A ribbon feed mechanism for printing machines has a motor coupled to a ribbon drive mechanism for feeding a ribbon in response to energization of the motor. A control mechanism is coupled to the ribbon drive mechanism and responsive to the ribbon drive mechanism during ribbon feeding for limiting the amount of ribbon feed to predetermined feed increments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Smith Corona Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen M. Pawlak
  • Patent number: 4712115
    Abstract: A thermal-transfer printer includes a carriage arranged for reciprocation along a recording paper and a thermal head movable together with the carriage. On the carriage is mounted a ribbon cassette having a pair of reels and repeatedly usable ink ribbon wound on the reels. The reels are rotated to transport the ink ribbon in a desired direction by a ribbon transport mechanism arranged in the carriage. The operation of the transport mechanism is controlled by a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hisao Tatsumi, Haruhiko Kayata, Kenji Yamamori, Toshio Kakizawa, Toshiaki Mogi
  • Patent number: 4687359
    Abstract: In a color printer in which a shuttle assembly containing a plurality of impacting print hammers is reciprocated in bidirectional fashion relative to an opposing platen to impact a print paper against the platen through the different color zones of an ink ribbon to print in color, the different color zones of the ribbon are arranged in a repeating pattern along the length thereof enabling the lightest color to be printed first followed by successively darker colors as the ribbon is advanced bidirectionally between the opposite ends thereof. A pair of barrier zones having a blank ribbon zone therebetween are disposed between each adjacent pair of color zones on the ribbon to prevent ribbon contamination due to bleeding of ink between adjacent color zones when the ribbon is wound on a reel. Ribbon contamination is further prevented by the blank ribbon zones which absorb ink that rubs off onto the ribbon guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Printronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon B. Barrus, Leo J. Emenaker
  • Patent number: 4413557
    Abstract: A ribbon dater which has, improved structure: (a) to quickly reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon so that the same can be re-run thru the printer; (b) to quickly reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon and at the same time provide for a different half of the ribbon to effect the printing; (c) to initiate the printing operation; and (d) to increase printing efficiency but that the type, the ribbon and the part to be printed are all held fixed and printing effected by a movable striker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Inventors: Charles E. Wade, Jr., Fred J. Rapp