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:
Mar. 22, 1988
Filed:
Jul. 15, 1987
Kohei Iwamoto, Suwa, JP;
Hitoshi Fukushima, Suwa, JP;
Katusmori Takei, Suwa, JP;
Yoshitaka Yamaguchi, Suwa, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A printer and method of printing on a transfer medium utilizing thermoplastic magnetic ink. A thermal head selectively applies thermal energy to melt selected portions of the thermoplastic magnetic ink. A magnetic head substantially spatially fixed relative to the thermal head applies the magnetic force to the thermoplastic ink which causes the melted portions to be ejected onto the transfer medium. A strip of thermoplastic magnetic ink medium is positioned to slide between the thermal head and the transfer medium. The strip includes a base layer facing the thermal head and a magnetic thermoplastic ink layer facing the transfer medium. A first movement mechanism moves either the transfer medium or the thermal and magnetic heads relative to the other at a first speed. A second movement mechanism moves the magnetic thermoplastic ink medium strip relative to the magnetic and thermal heads at a second speed. The first and second speeds are unequal. The method includes moving a thermoplastic magnetic ink medium at a first speed relative to a thermal head and moving a magnetic head and thermal head at a second speed not equal to the first speed relative to the transfer medium. Selected portions of the thermoplastic magnetic ink medium are melted with a thermal print head. The melted ink from the thermoplastic magnetic ink medium is transferred to the transfer medium by a magnetic force applied by a magnetic head.