Abstract: The disclosed systems and methods provide a printed electronics breath indicator that may be directly printed or molded onto a manufactured breathing device, or separately attached to an existing breathing device. The printed electronics breath indicator may include an electroluminescent indicator, a sensor, and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive sensor data from the sensor, the sensor data including detected carbon dioxide (CO2) or oxygen (O2) levels. The processor may be further configured to determine a current breathing state of the patient based on the received sensor data. The processor may be further configured to cause the electroluminescent indicator to generate a visual representation according to the determined current breathing state of the patient. The visual representation may comprise a variable visual representation that displays one or more visual parameters that are proportional to the detected CO2 or O2 levels.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a ribbon cassette includes two rows of spherical bumps extending between sidewalls of the cassette on both a floor and ceiling of the cassette and a pair of concentric arched retaining walls on both the floor and ceiling between an exit gate and the rows of bumps. In another embodiment, there is only one row of bumps and one retaining wall on the floor and ceiling. In another embodiment, the retaining walls are straight. The two rows and retaining walls, along with cassette sidewalls, form three distinct zones for densely packing the ribbon, unpacking the ribbon, and isolating the ribbon, resulting in less jamming with longer lengths of ribbon.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a ribbon cassette includes two rows of spherical bumps extending between sidewalls of the cassette on both a floor and ceiling of the cassette and a pair of concentric arched retaining walls on both the floor and ceiling between an exit gate and the rows of bumps. In another embodiment, there is only one row of bumps and one retaining wall on the floor and ceiling. In another embodiment, the retaining walls are straight. The two rows and retaining walls, along with cassette sidewalls, form three distinct zones for densely packing the ribbon, unpacking the ribbon, and isolating the ribbon, resulting in less jamming with longer lengths of ribbon.

Abstract: A ribbon identification system detects a digitally encoded tract comprised of radially printed bands of dark and light areas positioned on a ribbon spool that fits on a media printing device. Each type and length of ribbon to be used is associated with a specific and unique digitally encoded tract. When the ribbon spool is positioned correctly on the printing device, the digitally encoded tract is detected, and the control program of the printing device sets the parameters associated with that ribbon automatically ensuring proper printing. Through the digitally encoded tract, the ribbon spool is uniquely identified so that once it has been determined by the printing device's control program that the ribbon has been depleted, that ribbon spool, if reinstalled on the same printing device at a later time, will be recognized as a depleted ribbon, and the printing device will not function.

Abstract: A ribbon identification system detects a digitally encoded tract comprised of radially printed bands of dark and light areas positioned on a ribbon spool that fits on a media printing device. Each type and length of ribbon to be used is associated with a specific and unique digitally encoded tract. When the ribbon spool is positioned correctly on the printing device, the digitally encoded tract is detected, and the control program of the printing device sets the parameters associated with that ribbon automatically ensuring proper printing. Through the digitally encoded tract, the ribbon spool is uniquely identified so that once it has been determined by the printing device's control program that the ribbon has been depleted, that ribbon spool, if reinstalled on the same printing device at a later time, will be recognized as a depleted ribbon, and the printing device will not function.

Abstract: A printing ink for use within multiple ambient temperatures which comprises a mixture of two or more inks having different viscosities at a given temperature. Thus, one or more lower viscosity inks having, for example, a viscosity in the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps is mixed with one or more higher viscosity inks having, for example, a viscosity range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps to provide a multi-viscosity ink mixture useful over a wide temperature range.

Abstract: An ink density closed loop control system for an ink ribbon of an impact printer having a reservoir roller formed of an ink absorbent material with at least one or more channels within the reservoir roller fluidly connected to a pump and ink supply. A transfer roller can contact the reservoir roller for imparting ink to the ink ribbon. A sensor senses the relative amount of ink on the print ribbon and an electrical drive responsive to the sensor drives the pump for a flow of ink to the one or more channels. The sensor can sense ink on different segments of the ribbon and, with two or more channels in the reservoir roller can distribute ink to two or more segments of the reservoir roller depending upon the ink sensed at a particular segment of the ribbon. A further enhancement of this invention provides a multi-viscosity ink to compensate for changes in ambient temperature conditions.

Abstract: A thermal printer utilizing a platen on which media can move over a print head in association with print ribbon from a supply spool driven by motors connected to a print ribbon supply and take-up with a program to provide current settings and engine control to the ribbon. The printer further has a ribbon support, a program, and a processor connected to a drive for causing the drive to move the support in response to ribbon width. The printer has a control panel, a file system with current settings connected to the file system, and further includes engine control software for controlling the printer functions including print head pressure, print head temperature, and a ribbon support based upon the width of the print ribbon.

Abstract: An ink density closed loop control system for an ink ribbon of an impact printer having a reservoir roller formed of an ink absorbent material with at least one or more channels within the reservoir roller fluidly connected to a pump and ink supply. A transfer roller can contact the reservoir roller for imparting ink to the ink ribbon. A sensor senses the relative amount of ink on the print ribbon and an electrical drive responsive to the sensor drives the pump for a flow of ink to the one or more channels. The sensor can sense ink on different segments of the ribbon and, with two or more channels in the reservoir roller can distribute ink to two or more segments of the reservoir roller depending upon the ink sensed at a particular segment of the ribbon. A further enhancement of this invention provides a multi-viscosity ink to compensate for changes in ambient temperature conditions.

Abstract: A printing ink for use within multiple ambient temperatures which comprises a mixture of two or more inks having different viscosities at a given temperature. Thus, one or more lower viscosity inks having, for example, a viscosity in the range of about 300 cps to about 900 cps is mixed with one or more higher viscosity inks having, for example, a viscosity range of about 1100 cps to about 1800 cps to provide a multi-viscosity ink mixture useful over a wide temperature range. A print ribbon which carries the multi-viscosity ink mixture and, the combination of an impact printer incorporating said print ribbon are provided. A method for printing with an ink mixture to compensate for varying ambient temperatures includes the steps of mixing together two or more inks each having a different viscosity at the same given temperature to form an ink mixture; and, printing with said ink mixture on a medium to be printed upon.

Abstract: An ink density closed loop control system for an ink ribbon of an impact printer having a reservoir roller formed of an ink absorbent material with at least one or more channels within the reservoir roller fluidly connected to a pump and ink supply. A transfer roller can contact the reservoir roller for imparting ink to the ink ribbon. A sensor senses the relative amount of ink on the print ribbon and an electrical drive responsive to the sensor drives the pump for a flow of ink to the one or more channels. The sensor can sense ink on different segments of the ribbon and, with two or more channels in the reservoir roller can distribute ink to two or more segments of the reservoir roller depending upon the ink sensed at a particular segment of the ribbon. A further enhancement of this invention provides a multi-viscosity ink to compensate for changes in ambient temperature conditions.

Abstract: A thermal printer utilizing a platen on which media can move over a print head in association with print ribbon from a supply spool driven by motors connected to a print ribbon supply and take-up with a program to provide current settings and engine control to the ribbon. The printer further has a ribbon support, a program, and a processor connected to a drive for causing the drive to move the support in response to ribbon width. The printer has a control panel, a file system with current settings connected to the file system, and further includes engine control software for controlling the printer functions including print head pressure, print head temperature, and a ribbon support based upon the width of the print ribbon.

Abstract: A thermal printer having a source of print media, a source of print ribbon, a rotatable platen, and a print head in associated placement with the platen over which print ribbon and media pass for printing purposes. A pivotally connected ribbon support is placed before and/or after the passage of the ribbon over the print head for pivotal movement across the width of the print ribbon. The support can be a roller, and support can be combined for contact with the ribbon on surfaces opposite from each other. A drive for the print ribbon can move the print ribbon by a motor connected to the source and collecting spindle based upon the Back EMF of at least one motor.