EP0573969A1 - Dispositif pour le chargement de l'élément donneur de colorant dans une imprimante thermique - Google Patents

Dispositif pour le chargement de l'élément donneur de colorant dans une imprimante thermique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0573969A1
EP0573969A1 EP93109225A EP93109225A EP0573969A1 EP 0573969 A1 EP0573969 A1 EP 0573969A1 EP 93109225 A EP93109225 A EP 93109225A EP 93109225 A EP93109225 A EP 93109225A EP 0573969 A1 EP0573969 A1 EP 0573969A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
guiding support
support member
door
locked position
dye donor
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP93109225A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
James A. c/o Eastman Kodak Co. Whritenor
Michael John c/o Eastman Kodak Co. Ehmann
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.)
Eastman Kodak Co
Original Assignee
Eastman Kodak Co
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 Eastman Kodak Co filed Critical Eastman Kodak Co
Publication of EP0573969A1 publication Critical patent/EP0573969A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • B41J29/00—Details of, or accessories for, typewriters or selective printing mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J29/02—Framework
    • 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
    • B41J17/00—Mechanisms for manipulating page-width impression-transfer material, e.g. carbon paper
    • B41J17/32—Detachable carriers or holders for impression-transfer material mechanism

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to thermal printers, and, more particularly, to a dye donor web loading apparatus for mounting a donor web wound upon spools in a door of the thermal printer.
  • thermal printers have disposable dye donor cartridges that mount in the printer.
  • An example of a ribbon cassette is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,768,039 which issued August 30, 1988 to Akutagawa et al.
  • a disposable cartridge holds the dye donor spools and offers convenience of use because it is relatively easy to insert and remove the cartridge. This is especially true in instances where the cartridge is insertable only one way. While cartridges offer convenience, they are expensive and discarded after one use. To conserve resources, there have been attempts to make cartridges reusable. Unfortunately, attempts have failed because it is difficult to rewind dye donor in a cartridge at the point of use.
  • printers have configurations that mount the donor spools in the print engine without the benefit of a cartridge.
  • Examples of cartridgeless printing devices are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,527,172 which issued July 2, 1985 to Nagashima et al., 4,639,739 which issued January 27, 1987 to Tsutumi, and 4,717,270 which issued January 5, 1988 to Tsutumi.
  • a problem with spool only systems is the requirement to push them to the side to load the spool which may cause the user to wrinkle the new donor causing print artifacts.
  • the spools are mounted in the top or cover of the printer, access is difficult for properly inserting the spools. There is also the risk of dropping the spools into the internal works of the printer or onto the floor while attempting to load the spools. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be highly desirable to have a cartridgeless dye donor loading system that provides simple access to the spools.
  • a dye donor web loading apparatus for a thermal printer having a base and a door comprises a first and second guiding support assemblies attached to the door.
  • the first guiding support assembly has a first member movable between locked and unlocked positions, and first means for biasing the member towards the locked position.
  • a second guiding support assembly is spaced from the first guiding support assembly and is attached to the door.
  • the second guiding support assembly has a second member that is movable between locked and an unlocked positions, and has second means for biasing the second member towards the locked position.
  • a dye donor web loading apparatus for a thermal printer having a base and a door hingedly moveable between a closed position, at which the door abuts the base, and an open position, at which the door is swung away from the base, comprises a first guiding support member attached to the door and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and first means for biasing the first support member towards the locked position.
  • a second guiding support member is spaced from the first member and attached to the door and movable between locked and unlocked positions while biased towards the locked position.
  • the first and second members act in concert to load the web.
  • a third guiding support member is attached to the door and movable between locked and unlocked positions while biased towards the locked position.
  • a fourth guiding support member is spaced from the third member and is attached to the door and movable between locked and unlocked positions while biased towards the locked position. The third and fourth members act in concert to load the web.
  • the guiding support members have tapered slots for receiving and guiding the donor spool, and may be color coded to prevent improper insertion of the spool. Also, the spools may be of different lengths, or the web may be centered on one spool and off center on the other spool. The members snap onto the spool when the spool is properly inserted.
  • Figure 1 is diagrammatical longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a thermal printer with the cover open exposing dye donor web loading guide supports in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged, diagrammatic view of a spool being inserted into the guide supports of Figure 1 with some parts shown in section and some parts cut away.
  • Figure 3 is side view of a guide support similar to the view shown in Figure 2, but illustrating the guide support in the locked position.
  • Figure 4 is a left side view of the guide support member illustrated in Figure 3.
  • Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the alignment of spools with portions of the spools having indicia.
  • Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figure 5, but illustrating another preferred embodiment wherein the spools differ in length for correct insertion.
  • Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view similar to Figures 5 and 6, but illustrating another preferred embodiment wherein the dye donor web is offset from the center of one of the spools.
  • a loading apparatus 10 for loading a dye donor web 12 into a thermal printer is illustrated.
  • the printer has a base portion 14 and a door or cover portion 16 that is hingedly connected to the base portion 14 and movable between a closed position and an open position.
  • the door 16 abuts the base 14, and, at the open position, the door 16 is swung away from the base 14 forming an angle greater than about 90 degrees.
  • the door 16 swings an arc greater than 90 degrees in moving from the closed position to the open position to thereby provide easy access for inserting a new donor web 12 and removing an expended donor web 14.
  • the dye donor web loading apparatus 10 includes a first guiding support member 18 attached to the door 16 and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
  • the guiding support member 18 has a slot 20 therein that is dimensioned to receive an end portion 22 of a dye donor web spool 24.
  • the slot 20 has a tapered portion 26 for guiding an end portion 22 of the spool 24.
  • the end portion 22 of the spool 24 is also slightly tapered.
  • the dye donor web loading apparatus 10 also includes a first means 28 for biasing the first support member 28 toward the locked position.
  • the first means 28 preferably includes a coiled spring 30 in contact with the first member 18 for biasing the first member 18 toward the locked position.
  • the apparatus 10 includes a bracket 32 pivotally connected to the first guiding support member 18 and fastened to the door 16 of the thermal printer.
  • the bracket 32 engages the first support member 18 to thereby limit travel of the support member 18 towards the locked position.
  • the web loading apparatus 10 includes means 34 for detecting when the first guide support member 18 is in the locked position.
  • the means 34 may include a microswitch 36 or other device to sense the position of the guide support member 18.
  • the dye donor web loading apparatus 10 includes a second guiding support member 38 that is spaced from the first guiding support member 18 and attached to the door 16.
  • the second guiding support member 38 is movable between a locked position and an unlocked and works in concert with first guiding support member 18 to receive a dye donor web spool 24.
  • the second support member 38 is biased by a biasing means 40 toward the locked position.
  • first and second guiding support members 18, 38 form a pair of members and act concert to load the web 12, so do third and fourth support members 42, 44.
  • the third and fourth members 42, 44 are constructed in a similar manner to the first and second elements 18, 38 and include biasing means 46, and 48, respectively.
  • the first pair of support members 18, 40 receives one spool 24a while the second pair of support members 42, 44 receives the other spool 24b so that the dye donor web 12 can be wound from one spool 24a to the other spool 24b as it traverses a path through the printer to effect thermal printing.
  • a dye donor web loading apparatus 10 for a thermal printer that has a base 14 and a door 16 hingedly moveable between a closed position at which the door 16 abuts the base 14, and an open position at which the door 16 is swung away from the base 14 past the vertical position.
  • a first guiding support member 18 is attached to the door 16 and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and is biased towards the locked position by a coil spring 30.
  • a second guiding support member 38 is spaced from the first member 18 a distance equal to the length of the spool to be placed therebetween, and is attached to the door 16 and movable between locked and unlocked positions while biased towards the locked position.
  • the first and second members 18, 38 act in concert to load one end of the donor web 12.
  • a third guiding support member 42 is attached to the door 16 and movable between locked and unlocked positions while biased towards the locked position.
  • a fourth guiding support member 44 is spaced from the third member 42, and is attached to the door 16 and movable between locked and unlocked positions while biased towards the locked position.
  • the third and fourth members 42, 44 act in concert to load the other end of the web.
  • the first and second guiding support members 18, 38 may be conveniently spaced from one another a different distance than the third and fourth guiding support members 42, 44 to accommodate supply and take-up spools of different lengths. Having the supply spool 24a longer or shorter than the take-up spool 24b prevents incorrect insertion of the spools caused by swapping the spools. Having different lengths also allows the web 14 to be centered on one spool but not the other to prevent swapping and incorrect insertion in the thermal printer.
  • the guiding support members are biased toward the closed or locked position and snap into the locked position when the spool is properly inserted to secure the spool in position for correct operation of the thermal printer.
  • the guiding support members 18, 38, 42, 44 may be color coded along with the ends of the spools to give a visual indication of correct insertion orientation.
  • the guiding support members each have a slot dimensioned to receive an end portion of a dye donor web spool.
  • the slots in the first and second guiding support members may have dimensions different from the slots in the third and fourth guiding support members to receive spools of different diameters or cross section. This construction prevents swapping of the supply and take-up spools.
  • the slots may have tapered portions to aid in inserting the spools.
  • Each bracket is pivotally connected to its associated guiding support member and fastened to the door. It engages the member to thereby limit travel of the support member towards the locked position.
  • a microswitch mounted on the door is activated by the member to detect when the member is in the unlocked position and to prevent printing from occurring until the web is properly installed.
  • both spools cannot be inserted unless so inserted correctly.
  • the aligned spool is pushed into the facing slots thereby causing the guide members to unlock and move against the biasing springs. As the spool is pushed farther, the guide members spring back locking the spool in position.
  • the other spool is inserted into its guide members the same way.
  • the tapered ends of the spools act as self-centering devices to aid the alignment. The tapered ends also aid in removal of a used spool which is removed by pulling it straight out of the slots. If desired, one support member may be pushed aside to assist removal, but pushing is not necessary.
  • the present invention provides a cartridge free dye donor loading system that is simple to use and that prevents incorrect insertion of the spools. It also provides simple access to the spools for easy insertion and removal.
  • the invention may be summarized as providing a dye donor web loading apparatus for a thermal printer, said thermal printer having a base and a door moveable between a closed position and an open position, said apparatus comprising: a first guiding support means; and a second guiding support means spaced from said first guiding support assembly and attached to said door.
  • the invention may be summarized as follows:

Landscapes

  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
EP93109225A 1992-06-09 1993-06-08 Dispositif pour le chargement de l'élément donneur de colorant dans une imprimante thermique Withdrawn EP0573969A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US89601692A 1992-06-09 1992-06-09
US896016 1992-06-09

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0573969A1 true EP0573969A1 (fr) 1993-12-15

Family

ID=25405463

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93109225A Withdrawn EP0573969A1 (fr) 1992-06-09 1993-06-08 Dispositif pour le chargement de l'élément donneur de colorant dans une imprimante thermique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0573969A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH0632006A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999002347A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-21 Investix S.A. Mecanisme d'impression thermique
FR2766411A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-29 Investix Sa Mecanisme d'impression thermique

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4717270A (en) * 1986-02-28 1988-01-05 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Paper circulating assembly for field sequential multi-color printing apparatus
US4768039A (en) * 1986-05-30 1988-08-30 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Heat transfer recording with automatic ribbon take-up positioning/driving means
GB2226594A (en) * 1988-12-09 1990-07-04 Seikosha Kk Shaft supporting structure
EP0410396A2 (fr) * 1989-07-24 1991-01-30 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4717270A (en) * 1986-02-28 1988-01-05 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Paper circulating assembly for field sequential multi-color printing apparatus
US4768039A (en) * 1986-05-30 1988-08-30 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Heat transfer recording with automatic ribbon take-up positioning/driving means
GB2226594A (en) * 1988-12-09 1990-07-04 Seikosha Kk Shaft supporting structure
EP0410396A2 (fr) * 1989-07-24 1991-01-30 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Appareil d'enregistrement

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 11, no. 50 (M-562)(2497) 17 February 1987 & JP-A-61 213 181 ( MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP ) 22 September 1986 *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999002347A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-21 Investix S.A. Mecanisme d'impression thermique
FR2766411A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-29 Investix Sa Mecanisme d'impression thermique
FR2766410A1 (fr) * 1997-07-11 1999-01-29 Investix Sa Mecanisme d'impression thermique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0632006A (ja) 1994-02-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0904946B1 (fr) Dispositif pour le chargement de l'élément donneur de colorant dans une imprimante thermique
EP1827851B1 (fr) Adaptateur de bobine
US7988373B2 (en) Tape printer, tape printing system, ink ribbon cassette for a tape printer, method of loading a tape cassette and an ink ribbon cassette into a tape printer, and tape cassette for a tape printer
US8162553B2 (en) Cassettte locking and ejecting arrangement
US6622953B2 (en) Roll holder device for supporting recording material roll and supply magazine with the same
KR940010058A (ko) 테이프 카트리지 및 인자 기기
US6491252B2 (en) Winding core holding mechanism, roll medium holding device having the same, and winding device using said mechanism and device
JPH07503805A (ja) 磁気テープカートリッジ用の改良形引出片
EP0573969A1 (fr) Dispositif pour le chargement de l'élément donneur de colorant dans une imprimante thermique
KR920008595B1 (ko) 잉크리본의 부착방법 및 그 장치
GB2266276A (en) Facilitating reloading of ink-sheet cassettes for printers.
EP0398482A3 (fr) Cassette pour un ruban encreur pour machine à écrire
US6871588B2 (en) Ink bottle mounting apparatus and ink bottle for the apparatus
US3861614A (en) Demountable ribbon reel
US5332174A (en) Reusable ribbon cassette
EP0595265A2 (fr) Appareil et méthode pour le chargement d'un élément donneur de colorant dans une imprimante thermique
CA2040788A1 (fr) Cartouche d'etiquettes
RU2328379C2 (ru) Печатающее устройство и кассета
US20010042454A1 (en) Contrast agent film rolling device and printer using the same
JPH02208080A (ja) インクリボン装着装置
GB2067164A (en) Drive mechanism for tape cassette
JP3489954B2 (ja) 熱転写プリンタ
JPH08192561A (ja) 印刷装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19940607

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19950703

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19951114