Pitney Bowes Inc.

Julius Gluck

Patrick Murphy

Duc H Tran

William Berson

Christopher D Smith

Alton B Eckert, Jr

Bheema R Vijayendran

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 for controlling the printhead, and a roller rotatably connected to the frame for rotation when in engagement with a letter fed between the roller and a ribbon, there is provided an improvement for urging a ribbon and letter into engagement with one another. The improvement includes the printhead controlling structure including structure for disposing the printhead in a non-printing position permitting a ribbon to be located between the printhead and roller and in a printing position wherein the printhead is in engagement with the backing layer of a ribbon, and the printhead controlling structure including structure for resiliently supporting the printhead to urge the ink donor layer of a ribbon into contact with a letter when the printhead is disposed in the printing position.

Thermal printhead controlling means

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, 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.

Thermal transfer printing apparatus including means for controlling

An automatic lamp shutdown circuit, which comprises a lamp, a line-voltage compensation control circuit for the lamp, and an automatic shutdown circuit operatively connected to the line-voltage compensation control circuit for turning the lamp off after the lamp has been on for a pre-determined amount of time.

Automatic lamp shutdown circuit

A copier of the type which includes a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image may be formed, a movable applicator which carries developer from a working supply of image developer and applies it to the image, and developer dispensing instrumentalities for replenishing the working supply of developer, is provided with a system for controlling the developer dispensing instrumentalities and thus replenishment of the working supply of developer. The control system responds to the optical density of developer on the applicator to generate a signal indicating whether or not the working supply of developer is in need of replenishment, and this signal is utilized for energizing the dispensing instrumentalities. The control system also includes circuitry for preventing energization of the dispensing instrumentalities for a predetermined time interval after commencement of movement of the applicator, to be sure that the applicator has picked up a sample of the developer from the working supply. Preferably, the control system further includes circuitry for replenishing the working supply of developer for at least a predetermined minimum time interval after replenishment is commenced.

Developer supply control system in a copier

A toner density controller for determining the density of a development material in a magnetic brush assembly of an electrostatic copier is disclosed. Means is provided for imposing a charge on the toner density controller which is opposite in charge to that of the toner particles of the development material. In this way, the toner particles, particularly fines, are repelled from the toner density controller to eliminate interference with the functioning of the controller.

Toner density controller

A linear direct current amplifier with automatic gain control system for regulating the peak-to-peak amplitude of the signal output that is acquired by scanning a coded label with a hand-held photo optical scanner is disclosed. The gain is set primarily by the white background on the coded label and it is further adjusted at the black bar as the pen passes over the label surface on which the code is imprinted. Control circuit feedback compensates for input amplitude and contrast variations.

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Norwalk, CT, United States of America

Julius Gluck