EP0218551A1 - Elektrothermischer Drucker - Google Patents

Elektrothermischer Drucker Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0218551A1
EP0218551A1 EP86810396A EP86810396A EP0218551A1 EP 0218551 A1 EP0218551 A1 EP 0218551A1 EP 86810396 A EP86810396 A EP 86810396A EP 86810396 A EP86810396 A EP 86810396A EP 0218551 A1 EP0218551 A1 EP 0218551A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heating
ribbon
ink ribbon
electrodes
printing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP86810396A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0218551B1 (de
Inventor
Stéphane Rossopoulos
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hermes Precisa International SA
Original Assignee
Hermes Precisa International SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hermes Precisa International SA filed Critical Hermes Precisa International SA
Publication of EP0218551A1 publication Critical patent/EP0218551A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0218551B1 publication Critical patent/EP0218551B1/de
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
    • B41M5/3825—Electric current carrying heat transfer sheets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/315—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material
    • B41J2/32—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
    • B41J2/325—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J31/00—Ink ribbons; Renovating or testing ink ribbons
    • B41J31/05—Ink ribbons having coatings other than impression-material coatings

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an electrothermal printer comprising a printing medium intended to support a sheet to be printed, an ink ribbon disposed adjacent to this sheet and means for producing a heating of predetermined surfaces of the ink ribbon so as to transfer the ink of said surfaces on the sheet, these means comprising a print head carrying a series of first electrodes biased with a predetermined pressure towards said support and capable of being connected to a first potential during printing, at least one second electrode connected to a second potential different from the first and a heating ribbon independent of the ink ribbon inserted during printing between the first electrodes and the ink ribbon and of a composition such as a current passing between the first and second electrodes produce a heating in the vicinity of the first electrodes when these electrodes are connected to said first po tential, drive means being provided to produce a displacement of the ribbons relative to the print head.
  • a printer of this type is known, described in European patent application No. 0 146 069.
  • the ink ribbon moves with greater speed relative to the print head than the heating ribbon, which makes it possible to obtain a saving of heating tape at a high cost price.
  • the relative displacement of the two ribbons between them causes friction forces under the effect of the pressure of the printhead urged against the printing medium. In this case, a relatively thin ink ribbon can break.
  • this relative displacement can cause a displacement of the ink ribbon with respect to the paper and, consequently, a writing with an imprecise contour. To avoid tearing of the ink ribbon, it must be fairly thick, which results in considerable bulk for a given length and a reduction in the precision of ink transfer.
  • the present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks mentioned by creating a printer using a thin ink ribbon, therefore of reduced size for a given length and allowing precise ink transfer at high printing speeds.
  • said drive means are arranged so that the ink ribbon and the heating ribbon move at identical speeds relative to the print head and in that the ribbon heating includes an electrically conductive layer and a less electrically conductive layer, the conductive layer being arranged opposite the ink ribbon and in contact with said second electrode.
  • the advantages obtained thanks to this invention consist essentially in that the ink ribbon does not undergo friction forces and can therefore be as thin as possible ensuring a small footprint and precise ink transfer.
  • the heating current it is nevertheless necessary for the heating current to be as low as possible and therefore to be established precisely between the first electrodes, the poorly conductive layer and the conductive layer in contact with the second electrodes to allow precise transfer. ink without danger of burning or melting the ink ribbon.
  • Figure 1 is a plan view of the printer with the ribbon cassette cover removed.
  • Figure 2 is a detail view, in section, schematically showing the operation of the printer.
  • the electrothermal printer shown in FIG. 1 comprises a frame 1 having side walls 1a and 1b, a cylinder 2 serving as a printing support for a sheet or envelope 3 and a carriage 4 mounted to slide on two transverse bars 5 and 6 and moved along the cylinder 2 by known drive means, not shown.
  • a print head 7 is pivotally mounted on a pivot 8 secured to the carriage 4 and biased by a spring 9 in the direction of the cylinder 2.
  • the printer is provided with an electro -magnet 10 mounted on the carriage 4 and comprising an actuating rod 11 fixed to the print head 7.
  • the printer comprises two ribbons 15, 16 of which the first is a conventional ink ribbon 15 comprising a support 17 (fig. 2) preferably made of plastic, and a layer of ink 18, for example based on wax capable of be transferred to paper under the effect of heat. It is understood that other types of ink ribbons, for example monolayer, can be used.
  • the second ribbon 16, which is used in combination with the printing head for heating means consists of a layer 19 conducting electric current and a layer 20 of a material poor conductor of electricity, for example a charged polyimide on which a metallic layer has been applied by evaporation to form the conductive layer.
  • the print head 7 comprises a series of filiform electrodes 21 flush with the front part of the print head and intended to come into contact with the layer 20. These electrodes 21 are preferably arranged in one or more vertical rows.
  • a second electrode 22, in the form of a wiper, is mounted on the carriage 4 and applied by a spring 23 against the conductive layer 19.
  • a voltage generator 25 controlled by an electronic control unit 26 makes it possible to apply a difference of potential between one of the filiform electrodes 21 and the electrode 22.
  • the current passing through the poorly conductive layer 20 heats the latter by the Joule effect in an area 24 ( Figure 2) limited to the vertical of the electrode 21 energized.
  • the current is then drained by the conductive layer 19 to the electrode 22.
  • the ink ribbon 15 in contact with the conductive layer 19 of the heating tape 16 is heated in a restricted area to deposit ink on a limited area of sheet 3.
  • the two ribbons 15 and 16 are contained in a cassette 30.
  • the ink ribbon 15 of a length substantially one hundred times greater than that of the heating ribbon 16 is unwound from a supply reel 31 and wound on a take-up reel 32. It is driven by drive means 29 acting on the hub of the take-up reel.
  • the heating tape 16 is formed by a closed loop. It is driven by two rollers 33, 34 and stored in a reservoir 35 of the cassette 30.
  • the second electrode 22 serves as a braking means for this strip 16.
  • the drive means 29, 33, 34 are arranged so that the ink ribbon 15 and heating ribbon 16 move at identical speeds relative to the print head.
  • the print head applies the ribbons 15 and 16 and the sheet 3 against the cylinder 2.
  • the control unit 26 selectively controls the energization of certain electrodes 21 via the generator 25.
  • the two ribbons 15 and 16 remain stationary with respect to the cylinder 2 and the sheet 3.
  • the print head thereby continuously comes into contact with new areas heating tape 16 and can therefore not undergo any harmful heating.
  • the conductive layer 19 of the heating tape 16 is in direct contact with the second electrode 22, the heating current is established well, even for relatively small potential differences.
  • the embodiment described above has no limiting character and can receive in the context of the invention any desirable modifications.
  • the second ribbon may be replaced by any material presented as a layer or sheet independent of the ink ribbon and capable of being moved at the same speed as the ink ribbon with respect to the print head. It could thus be constituted by a sheet stretched laterally between two forks.
  • the printer could also be of the type with a stationary print head which cannot be moved laterally relative to the print medium, for example for the simultaneous printing of an entire line.
  • the printer described is particularly well suited for use for printing on heat-sensitive sheet.
  • the ink ribbon 15 is for this purpose moved away from the sheet to be printed and the heating ribbon 16, inserted between the print head 7 and the heat-sensitive sheet, transfers the heat directly onto the latter.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
EP86810396A 1985-09-25 1986-09-03 Elektrothermischer Drucker Expired EP0218551B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH4140/85A CH664532A5 (fr) 1985-09-25 1985-09-25 Imprimante electrothermique.
CH4140/85 1985-09-25

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0218551A1 true EP0218551A1 (de) 1987-04-15
EP0218551B1 EP0218551B1 (de) 1989-07-12

Family

ID=4270563

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP86810396A Expired EP0218551B1 (de) 1985-09-25 1986-09-03 Elektrothermischer Drucker

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US4758847A (de)
EP (1) EP0218551B1 (de)
JP (1) JPS62109670A (de)
CH (1) CH664532A5 (de)
DE (1) DE3664291D1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0289115A1 (de) * 1987-03-02 1988-11-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Elektrothermisches Transfer-Druckgerät

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02553A (ja) * 1987-12-28 1990-01-05 Ricoh Co Ltd 熱転写カラープリンタ
US5057930A (en) * 1990-02-08 1991-10-15 Smith Corona Corporation Plain paper cartridge for facsimile machine
US5089897A (en) * 1990-02-08 1992-02-18 Smith Corona Corporation Facsimile paper supply cartridge system
US5060076A (en) * 1990-02-08 1991-10-22 Smith Corona Corporation Thermal paper cartridge for facsimile machine

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4236834A (en) * 1978-09-28 1980-12-02 International Business Machines Corporation Electrothermal printing apparatus
EP0146069A2 (de) * 1983-12-12 1985-06-26 International Business Machines Corporation Verfahren und Anordnung zum thermischen Drucken durch Übertragung

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4309117A (en) * 1979-12-26 1982-01-05 International Business Machines Corporation Ribbon configuration for resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing
US4350452A (en) * 1980-03-31 1982-09-21 International Business Machines Corporation Ribbon loading system for a typewriter or the like using a sidemounted ribbon cartridge having a detachable ribbon guide
JPS59123683A (ja) * 1982-12-28 1984-07-17 Brother Ind Ltd サ−マルプリンタ

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4236834A (en) * 1978-09-28 1980-12-02 International Business Machines Corporation Electrothermal printing apparatus
EP0146069A2 (de) * 1983-12-12 1985-06-26 International Business Machines Corporation Verfahren und Anordnung zum thermischen Drucken durch Übertragung

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0289115A1 (de) * 1987-03-02 1988-11-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Elektrothermisches Transfer-Druckgerät

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4758847A (en) 1988-07-19
JPS62109670A (ja) 1987-05-20
DE3664291D1 (en) 1989-08-17
CH664532A5 (fr) 1988-03-15
EP0218551B1 (de) 1989-07-12

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