Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for labeling containers, especially specimen containers for medical specimens. The apparatus comprises a printing device; a supply and removal device for supplying and removing at least one container to and from the printing device. The printing device is designed such that it can be moved into at least one first position and into a second position. In the first position, the container is automatically supplied to and removed from the printing device with the aid of the supply and removal device. The container can be manually supplied and removed from the printing device when it is in the second position.

Abstract: The technique of producing a printing on a foil in a thermal printing operation during a packaging operation in which the foil is used as a packaging foil or as an information foil sheet to be applied to or below a wrap around or packaging foil for packaging a product being an organic or inorganic product. The examples of products relevant in the present context are unlimited ranging from toys, cosmetics, consumer products, foodstuffs, drugs etc. In general, any product which is to be packed in a foil or to be applied with an information printing after the product has been included in a separate package may be relevant in the present context. High speed printing and packaging operations in which the foil on which the printing is to be applied is moved at a speed up to several hundred millimetres per second.

Abstract: A method of producing a printing on a surface of a foil by an energizable printing head and a thermal transfer ribbon including an ink which is transferable in an ink transfer operation at specific locations of the thermal transfer ribbon by heating the specific locations to an elevated temperature by the energizable printing head causing the ink to be fluid. The thermal transfer ribbon is arranged in facial contact with the surface of the foil. The energizable printing head is arranged in contact with the thermal transfer ribbon opposite to the foil. The foil and the energizable printing head are moved relative to one another at a specific speed while pressing the energizable printing head and the foil together so as to sandwich the thermal transfer ribbon therebetween in a constrained state, and while energizing the energizable printing head.

Abstract: In a thermal printer in which ink is transferred from a single-use thermal print ribbon to a substrate such as packaging material by energizing selected print elements of a thermal print head (22), a first print run is executed by energizing only a group of print elements in registry with one half of the ribbon width so that ink is depleted from only one half of the ribbon, and a second print run is executed by energising the same group of elements using the same ribbon but with the ribbon supply and take-up spools interchanged in order that ink is depleted only from the other half of the ribbon. This allows printing on comparatively narrow printing areas using ribbon which is at least twice the width of the printed area without undue ribbon wastage and with reduced ribbon breakage frequency compared to the breakage frequency with a ribbon of a width nearer to the width of the printed area.

Abstract: Guide rollers are provided to be symmetric with respect to a center of the thermal head. The guide rollers comprise first two guide rollers provided in a vicinity of the thermal head, a guide roller provided in a vicinity of the supply core, a guide roller provided in a vicinity of the take-up core, and second two guide rollers. The second two guide rollers are disposed nearly in a vicinity of the first two guide rollers. The back tension force adding members comprise a fixed brake adding member provided at the supply shaft and an outer peripheral brake adding member for contacting the ink ribbon. The ink ribbon shifting down phenomenon can be prevented. The dirty background and the rubbing transfer phenomenon can be reduced. The aligned winding of the ink ribbon make possible a practical reciprocating ink ribbon cassette. without concern about ink ribbon winding accidents.

Abstract: In a printing apparatus wherein a reversible ribbon cassette is detachably installed, provided are means for indicating which side of the ribbon cassette is the side facing upward and means for detecting whether the side of the ribbon cassette attempted to be reloaded after once removed is the side facing upward or not based upon the indicating means. Thereby, misloading with the not-on-use side of ribbon cassette turned up is prevented and accordingly possibilities of blurred printing caused by use of already used area of the ribbon and/or of waste of the ribbon with remaining non-used portion thereon can be avoided. Further, even if the ribbon cassette installed in the apparatus is a multi-use-type one, the possibility of the printing quality being uneven due to the difference in number of times of use in places on the ribbon can also be prevented.

Abstract: A printing ribbon positioning apparatus and method of operation thereof advances a ribbon in connection with the printing of a character with one of a plurality of print rows across the width of the ribbon by an amount that takes into consideration the past advancement of the ribbon in connection with the last characters printed with each of the other rows of the ribbon and the widths of the character to be printed and the last character printed with the same print row of the ribbon as the character to be printed.

Abstract: An improved flexible leader for use in conveying ink ribbon from a ribbon box to the print point of a printer or typewriter is disclosed. The leader is a U-shaped channel with top latches which protects the ribbon from operator contact and provides good ribbon tracking. Vertical raised ridges on the insides of the channel reduce frictional contact between the ribbon and the leader. The leader is easy to install.

Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanism for raising and feeding different types of ink ribbons in typewriters and similar machines. With a simple design and using only one motor under programmed control, the mechanism is capable of utilizing ink ribbons economically, e.g. printing alternately in several printing zones of a ribbon or in several colors. It also feeds ribbon by a length which corresponds to the type of ribbon, or type of operation, e.g. proportional typing. The starting point for the various functions is a basic position to which the mechanism is positioned by the motor.

Abstract: A ribbon lift and feed mechanism for a typewriter/printer (10) in which the print ribbon cartridge (15) has deflectable arms (16a, 16b) for placing the ribbon (13) in a position confronting the platen (11) of the typewriter (10). On the platform (40), supporting the ribbon cartridge (15), is a shuttle (50) which is remotely oscillated as by a drive motor (90) on the frame (12) of the typewriter (10). Translation of the shuttle (50) and the cam (66) associated with the shuttle (50) effects movement of cam follower (66a) engageable with the cam (66), causing the deflectable arms (16a, 16b) of the cartridge (15) to oscillate between a rest and elevated position to place different portions of the print ribbon (13) intermediate the type element (23) and the platen (11). The shuttle (50) also carries ribbon feed drive means (85) which cause an incremental feed of the ribbon (13) after the ribbon has been struck at multiple elevated positions.

Abstract: A computer controlled impact printer has a replaceable ribbon guide assembly mounted on a printhead. The assembly is movable vertically between at least two stable positions. Each position places a differently colored portion of the ribbon between the printhead and a sheet of paper. Rotation of a pair of opposed cams changes the vertical position of the assembly. One cam is fixed and the other is rotatable by a pawl operating on a ratchet wheel secured to the cam. The pawl is mounted on the assembly for a longitudinal sliding movement. Movement of the printhead to a preselected position at or near one end of its travel path drives the pawl into an abutment surface which displaces the pawl a predetermined distance. The displacement rotates the movable cam from one stable vertical position to another. The mating cam surfaces preferably have matching sawtooth configurations with recesses formed in the tips of the teeth of one cam.

Abstract: Printing apparatus, in particular for performing multi-color printing operations, has a ribbon shift mechanism for selectively interposing different transversely spaced portions of a print ribbon between a print head and platen. The print head is of the impact type and probably, although not necessarily, of the type which moves along the platen to define a print row. When color printing is required, a ribbon having a plurality of longitudinally extending stripes of different colors transversely spaced across its width is used. Selection of required portions or colors of the ribbon is performed by moving the head to pre-selected positions along the print row to engage, for example, a camming mechanism (including a cam and follower) which moves the shift mechanism the required amount to make the selection. Selection of the ribbon portion or color is by program control and in the case of color printing, the range of colors is increased by superimposed printing of the available colors on the print ribbon.

Abstract: In a high speed printer, apparatus is provided for rotatably driving a ribbon take-up reel and a ribbon supply reel, each reel being adapted to support a portion of an inventory of ribbon running from the supply reel to the take-up reel at a constant speed differential between reels. This apparatus comprises a first inelastic drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the ribbon portion on the take-up reel and a second inelastic drive belt unattached to the first drive belt for peripherally non-slip driving the ribbon portion on the supply reel. Means are provided for driving the first belt at a constant selected speed and drive coupling means provided which are non-slip driven by the first belt and are for non-slip driving the second belt at a constant speed which is slower than the first belt. In this manner, the web or ribbon between the supply reel and the take-up reel is maintained under a constant uniform strain level.

Abstract: In a high speed impact printer having means for receiving a ribbon cartridge and for driving the ribbon in said cartridge, the improved apparatus comprising a ribbon cartridge to be inserted in said receiving means and adapted to be reversed one time only which comprises a cartridge housing with first and second reels rotatably mounted in said housing; each of the reels is adapted to support a portion of inventory of a ribbon web which is being driven from one reel to the other reel by the impact printer means for driving said ribbon. A keyed tenon projects from said housing and has an initial position and a second position; the keyed tenon is switchable from the initial position to the second position but irreversible from said second position.