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:
Jan. 01, 1991
Filed:
Sep. 27, 1988
Danilo P Buan, Easton, CT (US);
Albert C Chiang, Danbury, CT (US);
Donald T Dolan, Ridgefield, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A printing cartridge adapted for use with thermal transfer printing apparatus. The cartridge includes a frame defining first and second printing stations, a ribbon supply spool, and a ribbon take-up spool, both of the spools being rotatably mounted on the frame. The ribbon has a backing layer and an ink donor layer and is guided in a feed path extending from the supply spool through the first and second printing stations, again through the first station, then to the take-up spool. The frame of the cartridge is adapted to receive a thermal printing head for engaging the ribbon at each of the first and second printing stations. The feed path has a first leg extending from the supply spool, through the first printing station, to the second printing station; a second leg extending through the second printing station to the first printing station; and a third leg extending through the first printing station to the take-up spool. A ribbon backing roller rotatably mounted on the frame engages the ribbon in the third leg of the feed path at the first printing station such that ink from the ribbon in the first leg of the feed path at the first printing station is transferred to the ribbon in the third leg of the feed path also at the first printing station. The thermal printing head at the second printing station engages the ribbon in the second leg of the feed path such that ink is transferred to a workpiece. The ink may be of the fluorescent type.