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:
May. 08, 1990
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1988
Raymond J Herbert, Leigh-on-Sea, GB;
Thomas D Williams, Billericay, GB;
Alcatel Business Systems, Limited, Romford, GB;
Abstract
A thermal transfer printing device for a franking machine uses a multi-strike thermal transfer ribbon. Mail items are fed to the printing device and frictional engagement between the mail item and the ribbon during a printing operation draws ribbon from a supply spool. After completion of the printing operation, the mail item is separated from the ribbon and the ribbon is partially rewound onto the supply spool so that each portion of the ribbon is used progressively a number of times. An encoder disc on the supply spool shaft generates signals indicative of the length of ribbon drawn from and rewound onto the spool to control rewinding of the ribbon.