Abstract: A printer includes, a printing portion configured to print on a print medium, a ribbon roll up shaft configured to roll up an ink ribbon used in the printing portion, a ribbon supply shaft provided movably between a first position and a second position with respect to the ribbon roll up shaft, the ribbon supply shaft configured to hold the ink ribbon to be supplied to the printing portion, and a ribbon supply shaft lock mechanism to be brought into a lock state where rotation of the ribbon supply shaft is regulated when the ribbon supply shaft is placed at the first position, and into a non-lock state where the rotation of the ribbon supply shaft is permitted when the ribbon supply shaft is placed at the second position.

Abstract: A printing engine module includes at least a base, a printing assembly, a carbon ribbon reel, a carbon ribbon collection shaft, a power transmission device, and a plurality of transmission elements. The base couples to corresponding mounting portions of a chassis of a host device of barcode printer. The printing assembly, the carbon ribbon reel, and the carbon ribbon collection shaft are mounted to a base side. The carbon ribbon reel and the carbon ribbon collection shaft supply and collect a carbon ribbon for the printing assembly. The power transmission device and the transmission elements are mounted to an opposite side of the base supply power to the carbon ribbon collection shaft and the printing assembly for rotating a carbon ribbon and a printing label. The printing engine module is receivable and coupleable in the host device of barcode printer.

Abstract: A carbon ribbon retaining mechanism includes a barcode-printer base, an upper cover, a printing head device, and at least one pair of resilient fastener elements. The barcode-printer base has an upper portion forming a receiving space. The upper cover is coupled to the receiving space of the barcode-printer base for being downward closed to and covering the receiving space. At least one pawl is respectively formed on opposite edge portions of the upper cover. The printing head device is accommodated in the receiving space. A carbon ribbon retention shaft is arranged above the printing head device. The resilient fastener elements are mounted above the printing head device. By means of the engagement effected between the pawls of the upper cover and the resilient fastener elements, the upper cover is fixed to and above the printing head device to cover the receiving space.

Abstract: An ink ribbon adapted to be used for a sublimation type thermal transfer printer, said ink ribbon comprises a ribbon-shaped substrate, ink layers formed on a surface of said substrate and containing dyes, sensor marks formed on said surface of said substrate and a back coat layer formed on the other surface of said substrate, said sensor marks containing first carbon black with an average particle diameter of 30 nm or less and second carbon black with an average particle diameter of 270 nm or more. Such an ink ribbon significantly improve the reliability of detecting sensor marks and the shelf life.

Abstract: The reuse of an ink ribbon is prevented and the image quality and the proper paper feeding operation are secured by providing an ink ribbon damaging means to a ink ribbon cartridge of a color video printer. For example, a ring cutter is provided to the spool shaft of a spool on which an ink ribbon used for printing is wound so that the ink ribbon wound on the spool is cut.

Abstract: In order to permit a printing form to be produced by laser-induced thermotransfer in a simple manner that can be integrated into the printing machine, without the gases which arise during laser imaging detectably disturbing the transfer of material from the transfer foil, i.e., the image quality, a strip-type transfer foil with a strip width that is small relative to the printing form width is used. During imaging, this transfer foil is conveyed continually between the printing form and the laser beam, close to the printing form surface, and is thereby moved simultaneously and synchronously with the movement of the laser beam across the printing form width.

Abstract: The provision is made of a firmware (F/W: ROM, RAM) which enables an accurate indexing of an ink sheet so that printing is not performed at the joint portion when an ink sheet having a joint is used. Therefore, an ink sheet having a joint can be used, decreasing running cost of the printer.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printer having a correction ribbon tape for correcting printed characters. A plurality of characters printed in the same print position can be corrected in one step of feed of the correction ribbon tape.

Abstract: A printer using a disposable ribbon which is fed from a feed section toward a take-up section of a feeding device upon completion of printing of each line of characters. The printer comprises a memory for storing position data representing a feed-side end of an active portion of the ribbon which has been used for the last printed line, the feed-side end being located on the side of the feed section of the feeding device, and another memory for storing another position data representing a take-up-side end of another active portion of the ribbon which is to be used for the next line of characters, the take-up-side end being located on the side of the take-up section of the feeding device.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for proportional ribbon (23) tracking on a printer (20), the printer (20) including a carrier (30) upon which implements of printing, for example the printwheel (25), ribbon (23) and hammer (28) are all mounted for translation opposite a platen (21). Ribbon lift mechanism is provided for effecting elevation of a ribbon (23) to multiple predetermined positions or tracks (1-10) (FIG. 3B) intermediate a printwheel (25) and a platen (21) so that indicia or character may be printed on print receiving medium (22) held thereby. In essence, an input means (11) receives a character to be printed. The microprocessor (13), in conjunction with the ROM (15), characterizes the character in accordance with a predetermined plurality of characteristics. In accordance with ribbon lift and feed algorithms, a particular characteristic of the character to be printed is added to a position on the ribbon upon which at least one prior character has been printed.

Abstract: Conservation of ribbon 40 is achieved by underfeeding ribbon 40 relative to movement of thermal printhead 16. Pressure of printhead 16 may be low enough that smearing from a typical ribbon 40 does not occur. Gears 208, 210, 212, 214 and 216 may be positioned in one of two settings by action of bellcrank 230. One position provides a 1.04 to 1 underfeed ratio and the other provides a 5 to 1 underfeed ratio. Control 232 lowers print current for the 5 to 1 ratio. A printer having a single ratio of 1.04 to 1 provides printing of unimpaired quality with significant saving of ribbon.

Abstract: In a daisy wheel or rotary print wheel typewriter, a single motor (stepper motor) is employed to accomplish both ribbon lift and feed for typewriter ribbon and correction ribbon loaded in a cartridge assembly. A single motor drive moves a cartridge assembly support about an axis to present either the typewriter ribbon or the correction ribbon to the print point at the print line. In the first portion of the arc that the cartridge assembly moves, normal typing on the typewriter ribbon occurs, only the feed ratchet for the typewriter ribbon being engaged. Alternately, when the rotation is greater, to present a correction ribbon at the print line, the added elevation of the cartridge assembly causes disengagement of the normal ratchet feed for the typewriter ribbon but allows advancement of the correction ribbon.

Abstract: A method of respooling used typing ribbon of the type comprising an ink, a binder and a plastic substrate is disclosed wherein the substrate is stretched after the ribbon has been typed upon in a preferential direction to a degree such that the ribbon undergoes a preferential deformation whereby the ribbon may be more readily respooled prior to disposal. Preferably the stretching means comprises a profile shape formed as part of the ribbon guide system within a ribbon cartridge.

Abstract: A fabric ribbon cassette wherein an endless folded fabric ribbon is drawn across the printing point of a typewriter or like machine by feed gears which are couplable to and driven by machine mounted feed gears which are also designed to feed cassette supported single pass or multistrike carbon ribbons.