The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 03, 1984
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1982
Willie Goff, Jr, Austin, TX (US);
Ta C Ku, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
In a thermal printer the transfer ribbon such as one having sets of transverse color stripes is guided over of a ribbon support which carries the heat applying print head. The ribbon support is movable relative to the paper by an eccentric to move the ribbon into and out of contact with the paper. A support beam and a guiding roller are provided immediately behind print area to guide the ribbon away from the paper path in an angle of more than 45 degrees. This assures a separation of the ribbon from the paper essentially normal to its surface, thus avoiding shear upon relative movement between paper and ribbon and negates the need for a relatively bulky ribbon carrier material. Color printing is performed by clamping paper and ribbon, applying heat, transferring color material, retracting the ribbon from the paper, advancing the ribbon to the next color area, printing again on the very same paper area as often as desired, repeating this as often as necessary and advancing the paper after finishing the present print line.