US5186553A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printer and method
Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC
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Filing: 1991-05-20
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Granted: 1993-02-16
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Expires: 2011-05-20
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a printer having a thermal print head and a cooperable platen roll. The platen roll is driven to advance a web of record medium and an ink ribbon into cooperation with the print head. The printer can use an ink ribbon cartridge. The printer has a compact arrangement for the record medium supply roll, the ink ribbon cartridge, the printing mechanism, the drive mechanism, the keyboard, and the cutting mechanism for cutting tags from the web.
Inventors
- 👤 Ikuzo Sugiura
- 👤 Mitsuo Uchimura
- 👤 Kouichi Kawamura
- 👤 Ronald L. Fogle
- 👤 Orville C. Huggins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:46
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J25/00; B41J25/304; B41J25/308; B41J29/00; B41J29/02; B41J32/00; B41J35/00; B41J35/04; B41J35/06; B41J35/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for loading an ink ribbon comprising applying a shaft cover to the front end of a ribbon guide shaft projecting in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body; fitting cores of the ink ribbon respectively on the front ends of a ribbon feed shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft both projecting in a cantilevered state from said side face of said printer body case; the ink ribbon passing round the outer periphery of said shaft cover; and pushing in said cores and said shaft cover simultaneously to set the ink ribbon in a predetermined certain position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for loading an ink ribbon comprising applying a shaft cover to the front end of a ribbon guide shaft projecting in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body; fitting cores of the ink ribbon respectively on the front ends of a ribbon feed shaft and a ribbon take-up shaft both projecting in a cantilevered state from said side face of said printer body case; the ink ribbon passing round the outer periphery of said shaft cover; and pushing in said cores and said shaft cover simultaneously to set the ink ribbon in a predetermined certain position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, wherein said shaft cover is positioned outside said case during the operation for loading the ink ribbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, wherein said ribbon feed shaft is positioned inside said case.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, wherein said ribbon take-up shaft is positioned inside said case.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An ink ribbon loading method according to claim 1, wherein the width of the ink ribbon is almost equal to that of paper to be printed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a ribbon guide shaft; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shaft; said ribbon guide shaft, said ribbon shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a ribbon guide shaft; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shaft; said ribbon guide shaft, said ribbon shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said printing head is a line thermal head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said ribbon feed shaft is positioned inside said case.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein ribbon take-up shaft is positioned inside said case.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the width of the ink ribbon is almost equal to that of the paper to be printed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a plurality of ribbon guide shafts; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on each of said ribbon guide shafts; said ribbon guide shafts, said ribbon feed shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for loading an ink ribbon, comprising a plurality of ribbon guide shafts; a ribbon feed shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a ribbon take-up shaft fitted in a core of the ink ribbon; a platen; a printing head; and a shaft cover constituted by a cylindrical member fitted slidably on each of said ribbon guide shafts; said ribbon guide shafts, said ribbon feed shaft, said ribbon take-up shaft, said platen and said printing head being projected in a cantilevered state from a side face of a case of a printer body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
An ink ribbon loading apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said shaft covers comprise a plurality of cylindrical members fitted slidably on said ribbon guide shafts and a connecting member for integrally connecting the outside ends of said cylindrical members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising: a thermal ink ribbon, a supply spool with the thermal ink ribbon wound thereon, a takeup spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool, a pair of tubular ink ribbon guides, means for enabling the ink ribbon, the supply spool, the take-up spool and the tubular ink ribbon guides to be moved in unison from a first loading position wherein the ink ribbon is laterally spaced outwardly form the print head to a second operating position wherein (a) the ink ribbon is in operative alignment with the print head for printing on record members, (b) the locator pins are received in the tubular guides and (c) the tubular guides are held in parallel relationship to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
167 words
Apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising: a thermal ink ribbon, a supply spool with the thermal ink ribbon wound thereon, a takeup spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool, a pair of tubular ink ribbon guides, means for enabling the ink ribbon, the supply spool, the take-up spool and the tubular ink ribbon guides to be moved in unison from a first loading position wherein the ink ribbon is laterally spaced outwardly form the print head to a second operating position wherein (a) the ink ribbon is in operative alignment with the print head for printing on record members, (b) the locator pins are received in the tubular guides and (c) the tubular guides are held in parallel relationship to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the enabling means includes a pair of symmetrical end plates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising: a thermal ink ribbon, a supply spool with the thermal ink ribbon wound thereon, a takeup spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool, a pair of ink ribbon guides, means for enabling the ink ribbon, the supply spool, the take-up spool and the ink ribbon guides to be moved in unison from a first loading position wherein the ink ribbon is laterally spaced outwardly form the print head to a second operating position wherein the ink ribbon is in operative alignment with the print head for printing on record members and the guides are brought into and held in parallel relationship by the locator pins to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
159 words
Apparatus for loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising: a thermal ink ribbon, a supply spool with the thermal ink ribbon wound thereon, a takeup spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool, a pair of ink ribbon guides, means for enabling the ink ribbon, the supply spool, the take-up spool and the ink ribbon guides to be moved in unison from a first loading position wherein the ink ribbon is laterally spaced outwardly form the print head to a second operating position wherein the ink ribbon is in operative alignment with the print head for printing on record members and the guides are brought into and held in parallel relationship by the locator pins to cause the ink ribbon to track in alignment with the print head.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the enabling means includes a pair of symmetrical end plates.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
148 words
Method of loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of parallel cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising the steps of: providing a supply spool with a thermal ink ribbon wound thereon and a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool and a pair of ink ribbon guides, positioning the supply and take-up spools and the ribbon guides in general alignment with the first and second spindles and the locator pins, respectively, but spaced outwardly form the print head, and subsequently, simultaneously moving the supply and take-up spools and the guides in unison to a position in which the ink ribbon can track in alignment with the print head by using the locator pins to orient and held the guides in parallel relationship.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
148 words
Method of loading an ink ribbon into a printer having a thermal print head, a pair of parallel cantilevered locator pins, a first spindle for an ink ribbon supply spool, and a second spindle for a take-up spool, comprising the steps of: providing a supply spool with a thermal ink ribbon wound thereon and a take-up spool for receiving the ink ribbon from the supply spool and a pair of ink ribbon guides, positioning the supply and take-up spools and the ribbon guides in general alignment with the first and second spindles and the locator pins, respectively, but spaced outwardly form the print head, and subsequently, simultaneously moving the supply and take-up spools and the guides in unison to a position in which the ink ribbon can track in alignment with the print head by using the locator pins to orient and held the guides in parallel relationship.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-02-16 | 1996-08-17 | 1997-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-02-16 | 2000-08-17 | 2001-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-02-16 | 2004-08-17 | 2005-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |