Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating customized labels having electronic circuitry such as RFID circuitry. A printing system generates the label by selectively transfer printing elements (e.g., electronic circuitry, physical components, etc.) and donor layers (e.g., conductive materials, non-conductive materials, etc.) from a ribbon to a receiver (e.g., an item that receives the indicia). In addition, the printing system can program and test the label or indicia thereof, thereby providing the ability to customize each label according to predetermined criteria and to ensure that each label functions properly.

Abstract: A thermal printer is proposed that includes an ink ribbon on which a color ink portion and a non-color ink portion are alternately formed in a conveyance direction, a supply bobbin on which the ink ribbon is wound, a take-up bobbin on which the ink ribbon is to be wound, and a housing that contains the supply bobbin and the take-up bobbin. When an error occurs during transferring of an ink on the color ink surface, the ink ribbon is conveyed so that a portion of the ink ribbon exposed from the ink cassette between the supply bobbin and the take-up bobbin is the non-color ink portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating customized labels having electronic circuitry such as RFID circuitry. A printing system generates the label by selectively transfer printing elements (e.g., electronic circuitry, physical components, etc.) and donor layers (e.g., conductive materials, non-conductive materials, etc.) from a ribbon to a receiver (e.g., an item that receives the indicia). In addition, the printing system can program and test the label or indicia thereof, thereby providing the ability to customize each label according to predetermined criteria and to ensure that each label functions properly.

Abstract: A ribbon for a thermal printer has a series of frames of different colors in a sequence that are correlated to the position of cards to be printed. The ribbon has indexing marks for each frame and also indicators for each repeating sequence of frames. The index marks are arranged in a line across the ribbon and the marks can be coded to individually indicate the color or other characteristic of the frame associated with the line of index mark. This information is received by a controller to control various printer functions.

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 present invention relates to a tipper apparatus for pigmenting the embossed section (raised characters for copying) of a card used to perform transactions by a customer at financial institutions or the like. The tipper apparatus comprises a card feeder for feeding a card; a pusher for pressing a color ribbon against the embossed section of the card fed by the card feeder; a ribbon driver for advancing and winding the color ribbon; and a controller for controlling the card feeder and the ribbon driver on the basis of tipping signals received from a host apparatus, transporting the card and the effective section of the ribbon to the pusher, and actuating the pusher.