Pitney Bowes Inc.

Other

Duc H Tran

Patrick Murphy

Julius Gluck

William Berson

Christopher D Smith

David A Reed, Jr

Rows of closely spaced apertures are installed in a sail to control boundary layer air flow over a sail to laminar flow type by 'bleeding' high energy air from the windward or concave side of the sail through the apertures to the convex or leeward side of the sail. The 'bleed air' vents the windward boundary layer air through the apertures, gently lifts the leeward or convex side boundary layer off the sail surface; then new laminar boundary layers are formed, on each side of the sail, downwind of the aperture. The increase in air energy adjacent to the sail surface maintains desirable air flow velocity and pressure gradients on the sail that prevents flow separation. The apertures permit large camber of sail contour and high angles of attack without stalling. The air 'bleeding' action continuously removes old boundary layer air and creates new laminar boundary air layers on the sail. The energy in the boundary layer air on both sides of the sail is increased which prevents thick, turbulent boundary layers of air from forming laminar air flow and provides high dynamic lift forces because less of the wind energy is wasted.

Laminar air-flow sail

An article of manufacture adapted for use with printing apparatus of the type which includes structure for thermally transferring ink from a ribbon. The article includes a frame defining a printing station, a ribbon including a backing layer and an ink donor layer, a ribbon supply spool rotatably mounted on said frame, a ribbon take-up spool rotatably mounted on said frame, the ribbon extending in a feed path from the supply spool to the take-up spool, and apparatus in the feed path for perforating the ribbon.

Thermal transfer ribbon cartridge including ribbon perforating means

In printing apparatus of the type which includes structure for thermally transferring ink from a ribbon to a workpiece, wherein the ribbon includes a backing layer and an ink donor layer, there is provided a printing process which includes the step(s) of transferring ink from the ink donor layer to the workpiece and perforating the ribbon. Moreover, it is a feature of the invention to include the processing step of sensing perforating.

Method and apparatus for perforating indicia on used thermal transfer

In printing apparatus of the type which includes a ribbon having a backing layer and an ink donor layer supported on the backing layer, wherein the apparatus includes a first thermal printhead for transfer printing a first ink pattern from the ink donor layer to the backing layer at a first printing station, a second thermal printhead for transfer printing a second ink pattern from the ink donor layer to a workpiece at a second printing station, there is provided a process including the steps of: sensing a letter being fed to the second printing station; starting feeding the ribbon; starting printing at the first printing station; moving the second printhead from a non-printing position to a printing position; starting printing at the second printing station; stopping printing at the first and second printing stations; stopping feeding the ribbon; and moving the second printhead from the printing position to the non-printing position.

Thermal transfer printing process

In apparatus for thermally transferring ink from a ribbon, having backing and ink donor layers, to a letter, wherein the apparatus includes a frame, a thermal printhead and a printhead backing roller, there is provided an improvement for urging a ribbon and letter into engagement with one another. The improvement includes the printhead backing roller connected to the frame for rotation in engagement with a letter fed between the roller and a ribbon, and the printhead backing roller including a body portion adapted to flex when engaging a letter for urging a letter into contact with the ink donor layer of a ribbon. Moreover, it is of the invention that the roller body portion include at least one channel formed therein.

Apparatus for processing irregularly-shaped letters in a thermal printer

In apparatus for thermally transferring ink from a ribbon, having backing and ink donor layers, to a letter, wherein the apparatus includes a frame, a thermal printhead, structure connected to the frame for controlling the printhead, and a roller, wherein the printhead is disposable in a non-printing position permitting a ribbon to be located between the printhead and roller and in a printing position in which the printhead is in engagement with the backing layer of a ribbon, and wherein the roller is adapted for rotation when in engagement with a letter fed between the roller and a ribbon, an improvement for urging a ribbon and letter into engagement with one another, the improvement comprising: the printhead controlling structure including structure for resiliently supporting the printhead for urging the ink donor layer of a ribbon into contact with a letter when the printhead is disposed in the printing position; and the roller including a body portion adapted to flex when engaging a letter for urging a letter into contact with the ink donor layer of a ribbon.

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Bridgeport, CT, United States of America

Duc H Tran