Pitney Bowes Inc.

Patrick Murphy

Julius Gluck

Duc H Tran

William Berson

Charles F Murphy, Iii

Christopher D Smith

A mail handling apparatus having a printing mechanism; a device for moving the printing mechanism along a path of travel between a printing mechanism printing position and a printing mechanism maintenance position; a maintenance station positioned lateral to the path of travel; and a device for rotating the printing mechanism along the path of travel to align the printing mechanism for engagement with the maintenance station as the printing mechanism moves into the maintenance position.

Apparatus and method for positioning a printing mechanism between

The ink pad replenishing system includes an ink tray containing an ink pad, inlet means for receiving ink and outlet means for providing drainage of excess ink from the ink tray, and an ink reservoir. A first pump is comprised of a deformable and resilient tubular member, and first and second end caps fixably mounted to respective ends of the tubular member, and valve means mounted in the first pump for providing uni-directional flow in a first direction through the first pump upon actuation of the first pump. A second pump is comprised of a deformable and resilient tubular member, and first and second end caps fixably mounted to respective ends of the tubular member, and valve means mounted in the second pump or providing uni-directional flow in a second direction through the second pump upon actuation of the second pump. A first conduit is provided for providing flow communication between the reservoir, the first pump and the inlet means of said ink tray, and between the reservoir, the second pump and the outlet means of the ink tray. A reciprocally driven linkage is provided for periodically activating the first and second pumps.

Ink replenishing system

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 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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Stamford, CT, United States of America

Patrick Murphy