Zipher Limited

Videojet Technologies Inc.

Videojet Technologies (nottingham) Limited

Other

Zippher Limited

Keith Buxton

Martin McNestry

Philip Hart

Gary Pfeffer

Phillip Hart

Jeremy Ellis

Steven Buckby

Martin Mcnestry

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate. The printer comprises a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead relative to a printing surface against which printing is carried out, and to control the pressure exerted by the printhead on the printing surface. The printer further comprises a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor. The printer further comprises a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor so as to cause a predetermined torque to be generated by the stepper motor; said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor.

Printer

A printhead for a thermal transfer printer comprising a plurality of printing elements, each of the printing elements being configured to transfer ink from an ink carrying ribbon to a substrate, and at least one sensor arranged to sense ink carrying ribbon. The at least one sensor comprises at least one emitter arranged to emit radiation towards the ribbon and a plurality of receivers. Each of the plurality of receivers is arranged to receive a respective reflected signal reflected by the ribbon, each reflected signal is based upon radiation emitted by the at least one emitter.

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate. The printer comprises in a stepper motor having an output shaft coupled to the printhead, the stepper motor being arranged to vary the position of the printhead relative to a printing surface against which printing is carried out, and to control the pressure exerted by the printhead on the printing surface. The printer further comprises a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of the output shaft of the stepper motor. The printer further comprises a controller arranged to generate control signals for the stepper motor so as to cause a predetermined torque to be generated by the stepper motor; said control signals being at least partially based upon an output of said sensor.

A gap sensor assembly for a labelling machine, the labelling machine configured to convey label web along a web path. The gap sensor assembly comprises a roller configured to guide the label web along the web path, and a sensor arrangement configured to produce a sensor signal which is a function of a property of a portion of label web. The roller comprises at least a portion of the sensor arrangement.

Labelling machine and method for its operation

A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate, a first motor coupled to the printhead and arranged to vary the position of the printhead relative to a printing surface against which printing is carried out to thereby control the pressure exerted by the printhead on the printing surface, and a controller arranged to control the first motor. The controller is arranged to control the magnitude of current supplied to windings of the first motor so as to cause a predetermined pressure to be exerted by the printhead on the printing surface.

Printing apparatus and method

A tape drive comprising: first and second motors; first and second spool supports, respectively receiving first and second spools of tape, the first spool support being driveable by the first motor and the second spool support being drivable by the second motor; a sensor arranged to provide a signal indicative of linear movement of tape between the tape spools along a predetermined tape path; a controller arranged to control energization of said first and second motors for transport of the tape in at least one direction between the first and second spools of tape along the predetermined tape path; wherein the controller is arranged to generate data indicating the diameter of said first and second spools of tape based upon said signal provided by the sensor and data indicating rotation of each of said first and second spools.

Tape drive and transfer printer

An apparatus for determining the resistance of a printing element of a print head, the apparatus comprising: a print head comprising a plurality of individually controllable printing elements connected in parallel, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the printing elements; a test voltage supply arranged to supply a test voltage to the print head; a current monitor arranged to measure the current supplied to one of the printing elements when the said one of the printing elements is connected to the test voltage supply; and a controller arranged to determine the resistance of the said one of the printing elements based upon the measured current.

Thermal printer

A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Tape drive and printing apparatus

A system prevents solenoids from overheating. The solenoid circuit has solenoids connected across a power supply. Control switches energize the solenoids by controllably connecting the solenoids to and from the power source. The protection system includes a master switch connected between the power source and the solenoids for simultaneously connecting and disconnecting all of the solenoids with the power source. A current sensor is positioned between the supply terminal of the power supply and the solenoids for detecting a current flowing between the supply and any of the solenoids and for producing a current-sensed signal. A controller detects abnormalities based on the current-sensed signal and responsively opens the master switch to disconnect all of the solenoids from the power source.

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Mapperley Planes, United Kingdom

Keith Buxton