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US4890120A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thermal transfer type printing device capable of selecting ink sheets

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-07-27
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2008-07-27
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Abstract

Abstract A thermal transfer type printing device, for instance, a character printer having a thermal head for use in printer, copier, facsimile device, etc. and ink medium such as ink ribbon, ink sheet or the like. One of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of the ink sheet. The printing device comprises a thermal head, ink sheets, installment means capable of selecting one of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on the printing device, a heat energy source, and switching means for changing heat energy which drives the thermal head depending on the sort of ink sheet to be selected.

Inventors

  • 👤 Eiichi Sasaki
  • 👤 Takashi Mori
  • 👤 Tetsuo Watanabe

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 12:35
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 126 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same in said printing device, (d) a recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving said thermal head, and (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal head in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 126 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same in said printing device, (d) a recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving said thermal head, and (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal head in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 1, in which said conversion of heat energy is performed by changing the state of a control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 2, in which said conversion of heat energy is performed by changing the pulse width of a control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 2, in which said conversion of heat energy is performed by changing the pulse number of a control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 2, in which said conversion of heat energy is performed by changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 5, in which said conversion of heat energy is performed by changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head and the pulth width of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 50 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 5, in which said conversion of heat energy is performed by changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head and the pulse number of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 25 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 1, said ink sheet comprises ink layer, base film and heat resisting and slipping layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 8, said ink sheet is constructed with thermofusible ink layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 8, said ink sheet is constructed with sublimation ink layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
A thermal transfer type printing device as defined in claim 8, said ink sheet is constructed with sponge ink layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 200 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets wound out on a cylindrical ink sheet winding-out core, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on said printing device, (d) a recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving sad thermal head, (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal heat in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet, (g) a sort recognition mark for representing a sort of said ink sheet to be installed in said color printing device, (h) a sort discrimination device for recognizing the state of said sort recognition mark, (i) a color recognition mark for representing a color of ink distributed on said ink sheet, and (j) a color discrimination device for recognizing the state of said color recognition mark.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 200 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets wound out on a cylindrical ink sheet winding-out core, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on said printing device, (d) a recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving sad thermal head, (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal heat in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet, (g) a sort recognition mark for representing a sort of said ink sheet to be installed in said color printing device, (h) a sort discrimination device for recognizing the state of said sort recognition mark, (i) a color recognition mark for representing a color of ink distributed on said ink sheet, and (j) a color discrimination device for recognizing the state of said color recognition mark.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 34 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 12, in which both of said sort recognition mark and said color recognition mark are formed on the surface of said ink sheet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 38 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 12, in which said sort recognition mark is formed on said sheet winding-core and said color recognition mark is formed on the surface of said ink sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 39 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 12, in which said switching means for changing heat energy comprises: means for changing the state of a control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 40 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 15, in which said switching means for changing heat energy comprises: means for changing the pulse width of a control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 40 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 15, in which said switching means for changing heat energy comprises: means for changing the pulse number of a control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 37 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 15, in which said switching means for changing heat energy comprises: means for changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 54 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 18, in which said switching means for changing heat energy comprises: means for changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head and changing the pulse width of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 56 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 18, in which said switching means for changing heat energy comprises: means for changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head, and means for changing the pulse number of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 31 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 12, wherein said said ink sheet comprises an ink layer, a base film and a heat resisting and slipping layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 23 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 21, wherein said ink layer is constructed with a thermofusible ink layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 23 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 21, wherein said ink layer is cnstructed with a sublimation ink layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 23 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device as defined in claim 21, wherein said ink layer is constructed with a sponge ink layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 160 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on said printing device, (d) recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving said thermal head, and (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal head in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet, comprising means for changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head and means for changing the pulse width of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 160 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on said printing device, (d) recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving said thermal head, and (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal head in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet, comprising means for changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head and means for changing the pulse width of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 160 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on said printing device, (d) recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving said thermal head, and (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal head in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet, comprising means for changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head and means for changing the pulse number of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 160 words
A thermal transfer type color printing device, in which one of a plurality of ink sheets is selectively used and a print control is performed in accordance with a sort of said ink sheet, said color printing device comprising: (a) a thermal head provided with a plurality of heat generating resistors arranged therein, (b) a plurality of ink sheets, (c) installment means capable of selecting one of said plurality of ink sheets and selectively installing the same on said printing device, (d) recording medium brought into direct contact with said selected ink sheet, (e) a heat energy source for driving said thermal head, and (f) switching means for changing heat energy driving said thermal head in accordance with said sort of said selected ink sheet, comprising means for changing the voltage generated from the power source for driving said thermal head and means for changing the pulse number of said control signal for controlling the operation of said thermal head.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS61188164A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-12-25 1993-06-26 1993-12-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-12-25 1997-06-26 1997-12-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-12-25 2001-06-26 2001-12-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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