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:
Nov. 21, 1995
Filed:
Oct. 07, 1994
Naoki Asai, Suwa, JP;
Choji Morozumi, Suwa, JP;
Yoshikazu Ito, Suwa, JP;
Kiyoshi Ito, Suwa, JP;
Akira Koyabu, Suwa, JP;
Seiko Epson Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
A printer for use with an ink ribbon having at least two printing tracks is provided with a print head that moves along a predetermined path adjacent to a recording medium. A line driver reciprocates the print head along the path in first and second directions. A multi-track ribbon comprises a plurality of printing tracks having portions thereof disposed between the print heads and a recording medium. A ribbon shift mechanism positions a preselected one of the tracks on the ink ribbon adjacent the print head for use in printing a response to movement of the print head. The ribbon shift mechanism comprises a printing track setting mechanism for moving the ribbon in one direction to set at one desired track height from among several preselected track heights corresponding to a selected one of predetermined amounts of movement of the print head in the first direction to a first end portion of the path. The ribbon shift mechanism also comprises a printing track releasing mechanism for moving the ribbon in an opposite direction to release from the set track height in response to movement of the print head in the second direction to a second end portion of the path.