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EP0218551A1 - Electrothermal printer - Google Patents

Electrothermal printer 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
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0218551B1 (en
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/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0218551B1 publication Critical patent/EP0218551B1/en
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.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

1. An electrothermal printer comprising a printing support (2) for supporting a sheet (3) to be printed, an ink ribbon (15) arranged adjacent to this sheet and displaced by first drive means (29, 32) and means (21, 16) for producing heating of predetermined surfaces (24) of the ink ribbon so as to transfer the ink from said surfaces onto the sheet,these heating means comprising a printing head (7) comprising a series of first electrodes (21) stressed with a predetermined pressure in the direction of said support and capable of being connected to a first potential during printing, at least one second electrode (22) connected to a second potential different from the first and a heating ribbon (16) independent of the ink ribbon (15), displaced by second drive means (33, 34), inserted at the time of printing between the first electrodes (21) and the ink ribbon (15) and of a composition such that a current passing between the first and second electrodes produces heating in the vicinity of the first electrodes when these electrodes are connected to said first potential, said first and second drive means (29, 32 to 34) being arranged to produce displacement of the ribbons (15, 16) with respect to the printing head (7), characterized in that the ink ribbon (15) and the heating ribbon (16) are contained in a cassette (30) munted on a carriage (45) capable of displacement with respect to the printing support (2), and in that the ink ribbon at least five times the length of the heating ribbon is unwound from a supply spool (31) and wound onto a receiving spool (32) while the heating ribbon (16) is a closed loop, the latter comprising an electrically conductive layer (19) arranged opposite the ink ribbon (15) and in contact with said second electrode (22) and a less electrically conductive layer (20) in contact with the printing head (7), said first and second drive means (29, 32 to 34) being so arranged that the ink ribbon (15) and the heating ribbon (16) are driven at identical speeds with respect to the printing head (7).

Description

L'invention concerne une imprimante électrothermique comprenant un support d'impression destiné à supporter une feuille à imprimer, un ruban encreur disposé de façon adjacente à cette feuille et des moyens pour produire un échauffement de surfaces prédéterminées du ruban encreur de façon à transférer l'encre desdites surfaces sur la feuille, ces moyens comportant une tête d'impression portant une série de premières électrodes sollicitées avec une pression prédéterminée en direction dudit support et susceptibles d'être reliées à un premier potentiel lors de l'impression, au moins une seconde électrode reliée à un second potentiel différent du premier et un ruban d'échauffement indépendant du ruban encreur inséré lors de l'impression entre les premières électrodes et le ruban encreur et d'une composition telle qu'un courant passant entre les premières et secondes électrodes produise un échauffement au voisinage des premières électrodes lorsque ces électrodes sont reliées audit premier potentiel, des moyens d'entraînement étant prévus pour produire un déplacement des rubans par rapport à la tête d'impression.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.

On connaît une imprimante de ce genre, décrite dans la demande de brevet européen N° 0 146 069. Dans cette imprimante, le ruban encreur se déplace avec une vitesse plus grande par rapport à la tête d'impression que le ruban d'échauffement, ce qui permet d'obtenir une économie de ruban d'échauffement d'un prix de revient élevé. Le déplacement relatif des deux rubans entre eux entraîne cependant des forces de friction sous l'effet de la pression de la tête d'impression sollicitée contre le support d'impression. Un ruban encreur relativement mince peut dans ce cas se rompre. De plus, ce déplacement relatif peut provoquer un déplacement du ruban encreur par rapport au papier et, en conséquence, une écriture au contour peu net. Pour éviter un déchirement du ruban encreur, ce dernier devra être assez épais, ce qui entraîne un encombrement considérable pour une longueur donnée et une diminution de la précision du transfert d'encre.A printer of this type is known, described in European patent application No. 0 146 069. In this printer, 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 however 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. In addition, 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.

La présente invention a pour but de remédier aux inconvénients cités en créant une imprimante utilisant un ruban encreur de faible épaisseur, donc d'un encombrement réduit pour une longueur donnée et permettant un transfert d'encre précis à des vitesses d'impression élevées.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.

Elle est caractérisée à cet effet en ce que lesdits moyens d'entraînement sont agencés de façon que le ruban encreur et le ruban d'échauffement se déplacent à des vitesses identiques par rapport à la tête d'impression et en ce que le ruban d'échauffement comprend une couche conductrice de courant électrique et une couche moins conductrice d'électricité, la couche conductrice étant disposée en regard du ruban encreur et en contact avec ladite seconde électrode.It is characterized for this purpose in that 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.

Les avantages obtenus grâce à cette invention consistent essentiellement en ceci que le ruban encreur ne subit pas de forces de friction et peut donc être aussi mince que possible assurant un encombrement faible et un transfert d'encre précis. Pour ceci, il est néanmoins nécessaire que le courant d'échauffement soit aussi faible que possible et s'établisse donc de façon précise entre les premières électrodes, la couche peu conductrice et la couche conductrice en contact avec les secondes électrodes pour permettre un transfert précis de l'encre sans danger de brûler ou de faire fondre le ruban encreur.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. For this, 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.

L'invention est exposée ci-après plus en détail à l'aide de dessins représentant un mode d'exécution.The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of drawings representing an embodiment.

La figure 1 est une vue en plan de l'imprimante, le couvercle de la cassette à ruban étant enlevé.Figure 1 is a plan view of the printer with the ribbon cassette cover removed.

La figure 2 est une vue de détail, en coupe, montrant schématiquement le fonctionnement de l'imprimante.Figure 2 is a detail view, in section, schematically showing the operation of the printer.

L'imprimante électrothermique représentée à la figure 1 comprend un châssis 1 ayant des parois latérales la et lb, un cylindre 2 servant de support d'impression pour une feuille ou enveloppe 3 et un chariot 4 monté coulissant sur deux barres transversales 5 et 6 et déplacé le long du cylindre 2 par des moyens d'entraînement connus, non illustrés.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.

Une tête d'impression 7 est montée pivotante sur un pivot 8 solidaire du chariot 4 et sollicitée par un ressort 9 en direction du cylindre 2. Pour dégager la tête d'impression 7 du cylindre 2, l'imprimante est munie d'un électro-aimant 10 monté sur le chariot 4 et comportant une tige d'actionnement 11 fixée à la tête d'impression 7.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. To release the print head 7 from 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.

L'imprimante comprend deux rubans 15, 16 dont le premier est un ruban encreur 15 conventionnel comportant un support 17 (fig. 2) de préférence en matière plastique, et une couche d'encre 18, par exemple à base de cire susceptible d'être transférée sur le papier sous l'effet de la chaleur. Il est bien entendu que d'autres types de rubans encreurs, par exemple monocouche, peuvent être utilisés. Tel qu'illustré à la figure 2, le second ruban 16, qui sert en combinaison avec la tête d'impression de moyens d'échauffement, est constitué d'une couche 19 conductrice de courant électrique et d'une couche 20 en un matériau mauvais conducteur d'électricité, par exemple un polyimide chargé sur lequel une couche métallique a été appliquée par évaporation pour former la couche conductrice.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. As illustrated in FIG. 2, 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.

La tête d'impression 7 comporte une série d'électrodes filiformes 21 affleurant sur la partie frontale de la tête d'impression et destinées à entrer en contact avec la couche 20. Ces électrodes 21 sont de préférence arrangées en une ou plusieurs rangées verticales. Une seconde électrode 22, sous forme d'un frotteur, est montée sur le chariot 4 et appliquée par un ressort 23 contre la couche conductrice 19. Un générateur de tension 25 commandé par une unité de commande électronique 26 permet d'appliquer une différence de potentiel entre l'une des électrodes filiformes 21 et l'électrode 22. Le courant traversant la couche 20 peu conductrice chauffe cette dernière par effet Joule dans une zone 24 (figure 2) limitée à la verticale de l'électrode 21 mise sous tension. Le courant est alors drainé par la couche conductrice 19 jusqu'à l'électrode 22. Le ruban encreur 15 en contact avec la couche conductrice 19 du ruban chauffant 16 est chauffé dans une zone restreinte pour déposer de l'encre sur une zone limitée de la feuille 3.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.

Tels que représentés à la figure 1, les deux rubans 15 et 16 sont contenus dans une cassette 30. Le ruban encreur 15 d'une longueur sensiblement cent fois plus grande que celle du ruban chauffant 16 est déroulé d'une bobine débitrice 31 et enroulé sur une bobine réceptrice 32. Il est entraîné par des moyens d'entraînement 29 agissant sur le moyeu de la bobine réceptrice.As shown in FIG. 1, 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.

Le ruban chauffant 16 est formé par une boucle fermée. Il est entraîné par deux galets 33, 34 et stocké dans un réservoir 35 de la cassette 30. La seconde électrode 22 sert de moyen de freinage pour ce ruban 16. Les moyens d'entraînement 29, 33, 34 sont agencés de façon que le ruban encreur 15 et le ruban chauffant 16 se déplacent à des vitesses identiques par rapport à la tête d'impression.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.

Lors de l'impression, la tête d'impression applique les rubans 15 et 16 et la feuille 3 contre le cylindre 2. L'unité de commande 26 commande par l'intermédiaire du générateur 25 sélectivement la mise sous tension de certaines électrodes 21. Tandis que le chariot 4 et la tête d'impression 7 se déplacent, les deux rubans 15 et 16 demeurent stationnaires par rapport au cylindre 2 et à la feuille 3. La tête d'impression entre de ce fait continuellement en contact avec de nouvelles zones du ruban chauffant 16 et ne peut de ce fait subir aucun échauffement nuisible. Comme la couche conductrice 19 du ruban chauffant 16 est en contact direct avec la seconde électrode 22, le courant d'échauffement s'établit bien, même pour des différences de potentiel relativement faibles.During printing, 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. As the carriage 4 and the print head 7 move, 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. As 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.

Il est bien entendu que le mode de réalisation décrit ci-dessus ne présente aucun caractère limitatif et peut recevoir dans le cadre de l'invention toutes modifications désirables. En particulier, le second ruban pourra être remplace par tout materiau se presentant en couche ou en feuille indépendant du ruban encreur et susceptible d'être déplacé à la même vitesse que le ruban encreur par rapport à la tête d'impression. Il pourrait ainsi être constitué par une feuille tendue latéralement entre deux fourches.It is understood that the embodiment described above has no limiting character and can receive in the context of the invention any desirable modifications. In particular, 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.

L'imprimante pourrait également être du type à tête d'impression stationnaire non déplaçable latéralement par rapport au support d'impression, par exemple pour l'impression simultanée d'une ligne entière.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.

L'imprimante décrite est particulièrement bien adaptée à une utilisation pour l'impression sur feuille thermosensible. Le ruban encreur 15 est à cet effet écarté de la feuille à imprimer et le ruban chauffant 16, inséré entre la tête d'impression 7 et la feuille thermosensible, transfère la chaleur directement sur cette dernière.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.

Claims (2)

1. Imprimante électrothermique comprenant un support d'impression (2) destiné à supporter une feuille à imprimer (3), un ruban encreur (15) disposé de façon adjacente à cette feuille et des moyens (21, 16) pour produire un échauffement de surfaces prédéterminées (24) du ruban encreur de façon à transférer l'encre desdites surfaces sur la feuille, ces moyens comportant une tête d'impression (7) portant une série de premières électrodes (21) sollicitées avec une pression prédéterminée en direction dudit support et susceptibles d'être reliées à un premier potentiel lors de l'impression, au moins une seconde électrode (22) reliée à un second potentiel différent du premier et un ruban d'échauffement (16) indépendant du ruban encreur (15) inséré lors de l'impression entre les premières électrodes (21) et le ruban encreur (15) et d'une composition telle qu'un courant passant entre les premières et secondes électrodes produise un échauffement au voisinage des premières électrodes lorsque ces électrodes sont reliées audit premier potentiel, des moyens d'entraînement (31 à 34) étant prévus pour produire un déplacement des rubans (15, 16) par rapport à la tête d'impression (7), caractérisée en ce que lesdits moyens d'entraînement (31 à 34) sont agencés de façon que le ruban encreur (15) et le ruban d'échauffement (16) se déplacent à des vitesses identiques par rapport à la tête d'impression (7) et en ce que le ruban d'échauffement comprend une couche conductrice de courant électrique (19) et une couche moins conductrice d'électricité (20), la couche conductrice (19) étant disposée en regard du ruban encreur (15) et en contact avec ladite seconde électrode (22).1. Electrothermal printer comprising a printing support (2) intended to support a sheet to be printed (3), an ink ribbon (15) disposed adjacent to this sheet and means (21, 16) for producing a heating of predetermined surfaces (24) of the ink ribbon so as to transfer the ink from said surfaces onto the sheet, these means comprising a printing head (7) carrying a series of first electrodes (21) biased with a predetermined pressure towards said support and capable of being connected to a first potential during printing, at least a second electrode (22) connected to a second potential different from the first and a heating ribbon (16) independent of the ink ribbon (15) inserted during printing between the first electrodes (21) and the ink ribbon (15) and of a composition such that a current passing between the first and second electrodes produces a heating in the vicinity of the first electrodes when these é electrodes are connected to said first potential, drive means (31 to 34) being provided to produce a displacement of the ribbons (15, 16) relative to the print head (7), characterized in that said means drive (31 to 34) are arranged so that the ink ribbon (15) and the heating ribbon (16) move at identical speeds relative to the print head (7) and in that the ribbon d heating includes an electrically conductive layer (19) and a less electrically conductive layer (20), the conductive layer (19) being arranged opposite the ink ribbon (15) and in contact with said second electrode (22) . 2. Imprimante selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le ruban encreur (15) et le ruban d'échauffement (16) sont contenus dans une cassette (30) et en ce que le ruban encreur d'une longueur d'au moins cinq fois celle du ruban d'échauffement est déroulé d'une bobine débitrice (31) pour être enroulé sur une bobine réceptrice (32) tandis que le ruban d'échauffement présente une boucle fermée.2. Printer according to claim 1, characterized in that the ink ribbon (15) and the heating ribbon (16) are contained in a cassette (30) and in that the ink ribbon with a length of at least five times that of the heating tape is unwound from a supply reel (31) to be wound on a take-up reel (32) while the heating tape has a closed loop.
EP86810396A 1985-09-25 1986-09-03 Electrothermal printer Expired EP0218551B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH4140/85A CH664532A5 (en) 1985-09-25 1985-09-25 ELECTROTHERMAL PRINTER.
CH4140/85 1985-09-25

Publications (2)

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

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EP86810396A Expired EP0218551B1 (en) 1985-09-25 1986-09-03 Electrothermal printer

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US4758847A (en)
EP (1) EP0218551B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS62109670A (en)
CH (1) CH664532A5 (en)
DE (1) DE3664291D1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0289115A1 (en) * 1987-03-02 1988-11-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Electrothermal transfer-printing apparatus

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH02553A (en) * 1987-12-28 1990-01-05 Ricoh Co Ltd Thermal transfer color printer
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
US5057930A (en) * 1990-02-08 1991-10-15 Smith Corona Corporation Plain paper cartridge for facsimile machine

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US4236834A (en) * 1978-09-28 1980-12-02 International Business Machines Corporation Electrothermal printing apparatus
EP0146069A2 (en) * 1983-12-12 1985-06-26 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus and method for thermal transfer printing

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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 (en) * 1982-12-28 1984-07-17 Brother Ind Ltd Thermal printer

Patent Citations (2)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4236834A (en) * 1978-09-28 1980-12-02 International Business Machines Corporation Electrothermal printing apparatus
EP0146069A2 (en) * 1983-12-12 1985-06-26 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus and method for thermal transfer printing

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0289115A1 (en) * 1987-03-02 1988-11-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Electrothermal transfer-printing apparatus

Also Published As

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

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