| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 400223000 | Ribbon-feeding mechanism | 50 |
| 20080232889 | Ink ribbon cassette and printing apparatus - An ink ribbon cassette which is used in printing apparatus and is able to prevent the ink ribbon from getting across the lengthways embankment to cause dual movement even if in the case that the ink ribbon is extended for prolong the life of the ink ribbon cassette. In the ink ribbon cassette, a lengthways embankment is furnished near to an ejecting opening of ink ribbon cassette in ink ribbon lodging section, that makes an interval the ink ribbon 3 passes becomes narrow and uniformly extends to an embankment of upper cover from an embankment of lower cover; or dual embankments are furnished on ink ribbon movement path at the downstream side of ink ribbon lodging section, that respectively protrudes from upper cover and lower cover; or protruding portions are respectively furnished near to entering opening and ejecting opening of ink ribbon lodging section. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20090196670 | TAPE DRIVE AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090238628 | Printing mechanism of barcode printer - A printing mechanism is provided for a barcode printer and includes a frame, a printing head, a carbon ribbon axle, and a carbon ribbon collection axle. The frame is mounted to an upper end portion of an upper casing member. The printing head is mounted in the frame to effect printing of labels. The carbon ribbon axle is arranged in a lower portion of the frame and is located below the printing head for connecting and retaining a carbon ribbon that supplies a toner required for carrying out the printing of the labels by the printing head. The carbon ribbon collection axle is arranged in an upper portion of the frame and is located above the printing head in an arrangement that is reversed to the carbon ribbon axle to allow the carbon ribbon from the carbon ribbon axle to be rolled up in the carbon ribbon collection axle after the printing operation carried out by the printing head. The carbon ribbon from the carbon ribbon axle can be wound around and collected by the carbon ribbon collection axle in a shortest path. Thus, a printing mechanism featuring a reduced length of carbon ribbon collection path and a reduced size is provided. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090311024 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF RIBBON ON A SUPPLY SPOOL USED IN A PRINTER - A system and method is disclosed for monitoring and determining the amount of ribbon on a supply spool used in a printer. The system and method monitor the rotation of a drive motor to determine a change in useful life that is then used to update the ribbon cartridge useful life that is stored on a ribbon cartridge memory device of the ribbon cartridge. Rotation of the supply spool or take-up spool may be used to estimate the ribbon cartridge useful life when the stored ribbon cartridge useful life is undefined or inaccurate. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090324315 | Amorphous ribbon take-up roll switching method and switching system - The present invention provides an amorphous ribbon take-up roll switching and method which use a take-up device provided with a plurality of take-up rolls magnetized on their surfaces so as to take up an amorphous alloy ribbon during which it is possible to simply and inexpensively switch take-up rolls stably without ribbon breaking, uneven take-up, or other trouble regardless of the amount of take-up, that is, a method of taking up amorphous ribbon having a magnetic property cast using a cooling roll by using two or more take-up rolls, which amorphous ribbon switching method characterized by, when switching the take-up rolls, bringing the amorphous ribbon into contact with the next take-up roll and cutting the amorphous ribbon being taken up in the state with the next take-up roll brought into proximity with the cooling roll or separating the next take-up roll and the cooling roll and cutting the amorphous ribbon between the take-up roll and the next take-up roll. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100008710 | Sheet Discharge Assembly for a Printer - A printer for printing individual sheets from a continuous feed roll includes a housing configured for receipt of a feed roll of sheet material, and a print mechanism disposed within the housing, whereby the sheet material is conveyed within the housing to print mechanism. A sheet separating device is disposed within the housing downstream of the print mechanism to separate the sheet material into individual printed sheets. A discharge assembly is disposed downstream of the sheet separating device and defines a gap through which the sheet material is advanced. At least one protruding member is disposed in the gap at a position so as to contact and deflect the sheet material and to impart a curved transverse profile to a trailing edge of a first individual sheet held in the gap. In this manner, a leading edge of a subsequent sheet bisects the curved trailing edge of the first sheet and pushes the first sheet out of the gap as the second sheet is advanced through the print mechanism. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100172682 | TAPE DRIVE - A printing apparatus configured to carryout a plurality of printing operations. The apparatus comprises a tape drive comprising two motors, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, and a controller for controlling the energisation of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the of a characteristic of said tape, the characteristic being affected by operation of the tape drive, determine whether said value satisfies a predetermined criterion, and if said value does not satisfy said predetermined criterion, to provide a predetermined control signal, said predetermined control signal being configured to affect said characteristic of said tape. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100172683 | Trip Recorder - A trip recorder having an open or openable housing, in which a printing device comprising a thermoprinting strip and a receptacle for a roll, rotatable about an axis of rotation, of a ribbon-like print material printable by the printing device are disposed. The thermoprinting strip is parallel to and opposite a transport roller rotatably drivable about a roller axis, by which the print material fed past the thermoprinting strip can be applied against the thermoprinting strip. The region of the receptacle of the printable print material is accessible from the outside. The housing has an opening facing an operator side. The thermoprinting strip is disposed in a stationary manner in the housing and the transport roller can be lifted away from the thermoprinting strip. The axis of rotation of the roll of printable print material and the transport roller are directed toward the operator side. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20110026996 | CARBON RIBBON RECOVERY DEVICE AND A PRINTER HAVING THE SAME - A carbon ribbon recovery device includes a carbon ribbon supply roller ( | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110188914 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus configured to transfer ink on a color ink ribbon to a print medium to thereby create a color photographic print, includes: a ribbon switching rotary mechanism into which a plurality of the color ink ribbons are loaded, and the mechanism configured to set a desired one of the color ink ribbons to a photographic printing position; a ribbon detection device configured to detect the color ink ribbons loaded into the mechanism, the ribbon detection device detecting whether the desired and set color ink ribbon is a single-color ribbon or a multi-color ribbon; a ribbon head-detecting device configured to perform head-detecting of the multi-color ribbon in a case where the multi-color ribbon is loaded into the mechanism; and a control device configured to control the mechanism and the ribbon head-detecting device so as to suit each of a time of photographic printing using the single-color ribbon and a time of photographic printing using the multi-color ribbon. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20120027488 | PRINTER - A printer performs printing by transferring ink of an ink ribbon on which a plurality of color inks is sequentially arranged to paper, and the printer includes a paper conveyance unit configured to convey paper, an ink ribbon conveyance unit configured to be driven by the same drive source as that of the paper conveyance unit and convey the ink ribbon only in a printing direction, and a detection unit configured to detect a marker for detecting the top of color inks provided on the ink ribbon, wherein a marker of a specific color ink of the ink ribbon includes marker pieces, the number of which is greater than that of the other markers. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120045266 | Collapsable Core for Printer - The present invention provides a reusable and collapsible take-up core for a printer. The core is generally a hollow member having an interior bored mated to fit over a spindle. The core comprises a wall having an interior and exterior surface, at least one axially extending ridge formed on the interior surface of the wall of the core, and an axially extending relief groove formed on the exterior surface of the wall of the core. The take-up core of the present invention provides a more efficient, less time consuming, less messy method and device for unrolling the used or spent material off the core. A method for discarding spent material (i.e. release liner) from a core of a take-up assembly of a printer is also provided. | 02-23-2012 |
| 400225000 | Including electrically powered drive means (e.g., solenoid, stepping motor, etc.) | 2 |
| 20120183341 | Printing Apparatus And Controlling Method Therefor - A printing apparatus for printing an image on a printing object on the basis of input data is composed of a printing mechanism for compressing an ink ribbon against a printing object and forming an image in accordance with input data on the printing object, a controlling section for controlling the printing mechanism so as to form a rotated image by 180 degrees for second printing conducted in succession to first printing for printing a not rotated image, and a driving mechanism for rewinding the ink ribbon extended between supply and take-up rolls to the supply roll during the first printing and second printing. | 07-19-2012 |
| 20130039685 | Motor Control System - A motor control system includes a motor having an associated rotary position encoder, and a controller for controlling the operation of the motor, wherein the motor is switchable between a position control mode and a torque control mode. | 02-14-2013 |
| 400227000 | For narrow carbon ribbon (e.g., carbon ink, "single use", etc.) | 2 |
| 20090279932 | Carbon ribbon retaining mechanism - A carbon ribbon retaining mechanism includes a barcode-printer base, an upper cover, a printing head device, and at least one pair of resilient fastener elements. The barcode-printer base has an upper portion forming a receiving space. The upper cover is coupled to the receiving space of the barcode-printer base for being downward closed to and covering the receiving space. At least one pawl is respectively formed on opposite edge portions of the upper cover. The printing head device is accommodated in the receiving space. A carbon ribbon retention shaft is arranged above the printing head device. The resilient fastener elements are mounted above the printing head device. By means of the engagement effected between the pawls of the upper cover and the resilient fastener elements, the upper cover is fixed to and above the printing head device to cover the receiving space. Further, by flapping the upper cover upward, the pawls of the upper cover are disengaged from the resilient fastener elements to allow opening of the upper cover and thus expose the carbon ribbon retention shaft for replacement and/or maintenance. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20130064592 | PRINTING ENGINE MODULE - A printing engine module includes at least a base, a printing assembly, a carbon ribbon reel, a carbon ribbon collection shaft, a power transmission device, and a plurality of transmission elements. The base couples to corresponding mounting portions of a chassis of a host device of barcode printer. The printing assembly, the carbon ribbon reel, and the carbon ribbon collection shaft are mounted to a base side. The carbon ribbon reel and the carbon ribbon collection shaft supply and collect a carbon ribbon for the printing assembly. The power transmission device and the transmission elements are mounted to an opposite side of the base supply power to the carbon ribbon collection shaft and the printing assembly for rotating a carbon ribbon and a printing label. The printing engine module is receivable and coupleable in the host device of barcode printer. | 03-14-2013 |
| 400229000 | Mounted with movable type-face-carrier or type-head-carrier | 2 |
| 20080232890 | Movable print head for a label printer - A movable print head is provided for a label printer, including: a control panel module having two pivots arranged on opposite sides of the control panel module and coupled to opposite sides of a body of the label printer to serve as rotational center for rotation of the control panel module; and a printing module fixed to an internal vertical surface of the control panel module and including two guide-in devices on opposite sides of the printing module to guide in an ink ribbon cartridge and a print head arranged between the two guide-in devices. The two guide-in devices of the printing module are movable in unison with the rotation of the control panel module to effect movable adjustment for guiding in the ink ribbon cartridge. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20100247212 | TAPE PRINTER - A tape printer that includes a tape cassette having a housing, a tape, a head holder insertion portion, and a first support receiving portion that is a first indentation extending from the bottom surface in a direction toward the top surface, a cassette housing portion in which the tape cassette is inserted or removed, a head holder extending from the cassette housing portion in a direction of insertion and removal of the tape cassette with respect to the cassette housing portion and supporting a printhead, the head holder being adapted to be inserted in the head holder insertion portion, and a first supporting portion provided on the head holder to support a ceiling wall portion of the first indentation as the first support receiving portion, the first supporting portion being provided on an upstream side of the printhead in a feed direction of the tape. | 09-30-2010 |
| 400231000 | With prevention of ribbon feed (e.g., for nontype operation, etc.) | 2 |
| 20090154979 | INK RIBBON UNIT AND METHOD OF JUDGMENT OF INK RIBBON JAMMING - Magnetic force lines | 06-18-2009 |
| 20140140748 | PROCESSING DEVICE - A processing device comprising a ribbon cartridge including an ink ribbon wound around a feed-out core and a wind-up core winding up the ink ribbon, a device main body to which the ribbon cartridge is detachably attached, a cartridge-side brake mechanism provided to the ribbon cartridge and applying a rotational braking force to the ribbon cartridge, and a device-side brake mechanism provided to the device main body and applying a rotational braking force to the ribbon cartridge, wherein a rotational braking force by the cartridge-side brake mechanism is set stronger with respect to a rotational braking force by the device-side brake mechanism. | 05-22-2014 |
| 400234000 | Including ribbon tensioner | 12 |
| 20080219740 | TAPE DRIVE - A thermal transfer printer incorporating a tape drive comprising a first torque-controlled motor and a second position-controlled motor, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, and a controller for controlling the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is arranged to determine a control signal to be provided to the torque-controlled motor to set the tape tension, and to provide said control signal to the torque-controlled motor, determination of the control signal including determination of a component intended to compensate for the inertia of a spool of tape driven by the torque-controlled motor. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080219741 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising first and second motors, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, a sensor for sensing tape motion between the spools, and a controller. The controller is adapted to receive a first signal indicating demanded tape motion, provide a first control signal to at least one of the motors, the first control signal being based upon said demanded tape motion and being configured to cause tape to be transported between spools mounted on the spool supports, receive a second signal from said sensor indicating actual tape motion in response to said first control signal, and provide a second control signal to at least one of the motors, the second control signal being based upon said first and second signals. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080219742 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, at least one spool being drivable by a respective motor, a controller for controlling the energization of said at least one motor such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports, and a sensor configured to obtain signals indicative of electromagnetic radiation reflected from the tape, wherein means are provided to process two signals obtained by said sensor and to generate an output signal indicative of movement of said tape based on said signals. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080219743 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising two position-controlled motors, at least one of which is a closed-loop position-controlled motor, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of said motors, and a controller for controlling the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is operative to energise both motors to drive the spools of tape in the direction of tape transport, to monitor tension in a tape being transported between spools mounted on the spool supports and to control the motors to maintain the monitored tension between predetermined limits. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080219744 | Thermal Printing Device - Improvements in a thermal printing ribbon ( | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080240830 | TAPE DRIVE - A tape drive comprising two motors, two tape spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective one of the motors, and a controller. The controller controls the energization of the motors such that the tape may be transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool supports. The controller is configured to store a plurality of motor control data items, each data item being associated with a respective tension value. The controller is operative to monitor tension in a tape being transported between spools mounted on the spool supports; read a motor control data item based upon the monitored tension; generate a motor control signal based upon the read motor control data item; and apply the motor control signal to at least one of the motors. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20090290924 | Apparatus and method for supplying ribbons to a former - A folder superstructure is provided including a lead roll, a nip roll biasing the lead roll, and a frame supporting the lead roll and the nip roll. The frame is selectively movable between a first position where the lead roll and the nip roll act on a first web ribbon and a second position where the lead roll and the nip roll act on a second web ribbon. A method for folding printed webs is also provided. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20090311025 | CARTRIDGE WITH RIBBON BACK-TENSION - The present invention provides a cartridge providing ribbon tension. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing having walls. A first spool and a second spool are contained in at least in part in the cartridge and have a ribbon extending therebetween. The first spool and the second spool extend between a pair of ends with at least one of the pair of ends having a driving portion. At least one resistance-applying part extends around a portion of each of the first spool and the second spool. The first spool and the second spool have a loaded and an unloaded position. In the loaded position, at least one of the resistance applying part is disengaged from the walls of the cartridge. In the unloaded position, at least one resistance-applying part engages the walls of the cartridge. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100215421 | COMPACT PRINTER - A compact printer that includes a mechanism for maintaining tension in a print ribbon is provided. The mechanism includes a print ribbon take-up clutch that allows a print ribbon take-up gear to be driven at a rate that is faster than the rate at which print ribbon is moved through a printer assembly while a print medium is moved in a forward direction. A one-way bearing may be interposed between the print ribbon take-up gear and the print ribbon take-up roll carrier, such that a driving torque is transmitted from the take-up gear to the take-up roll carrier only when the take-up gear is driven in the forward direction. Similarly, a one-way bearing may be interposed between a print ribbon supply gear and a print ribbon supply roll carrier, such that torque is transmitted from the print ribbon supply gear to the print ribbon supply roll carrier only when the print ribbon is moved in a reverse direction. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20110229239 | Printing Apparatus and Method of Printing - Systems and techniques relating to printing include an apparatus including a base mounting a storage spool to store printing ribbon including a web carrying marking medium, the base mounting a ribbon take-up spool. A ribbon path from the storage to the take-up spool runs through a printing station where there is a print head, and printing is effected at the printing station when relatively moving the head and the substrate with the ribbon interposed between. The apparatus includes a movable ribbon guide member, a ribbon guide member drive device to move the ribbon guide member, and a controller which, during or in between at least some printing operations, controls drive of at least the take-up spool to advance ribbon through the printing station. The controller controls the ribbon guide member in response to an input signal representative of ribbon tension along the ribbon path to adjust the ribbon tension. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20140212196 | RIBBON TENSION CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A RIBBON PRINTING SYSTEM - A ribbon tension control system for a printing system includes a ribbon tension control apparatus. The ribbon tension control apparatus is configured to engage a print ribbon that extends through the printing system for applying one or more inks in the print ribbon to one or more target objects as the print ribbon is pulled from an unwind spindle to a windup spindle in the printing system. The ribbon tension control apparatus also is configured to control tension in the ribbon in response to change in a torque applied to the windup spindle that is used to pull the ribbon through the printing system. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140255074 | TENSION ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING TENSION OF A CARBON TAPE WITHIN A PRINTER - A tension adjustment device includes a swing arm having a central portion defining a pivot point; a tape guide rod sleeved rotatably on a left portion of the swing arm; a stop block disposed on the swing arm; a biasing member having one end fixed to a fixing element and a second end biasing the swing arm; a carrier disk disposed adjacent to and biased by the stop block; and a reel of carbon tape mounted on the carrier disk, and having a carbon tape with a predetermined tape section trained around the tape guide rod in such a manner to be dispensed outward along a dispensing path. During the dispensing operation, a total tension force is generated on the tape guide rod due to two tension forces caused by trained on of the predetermined tape section, wherein, the stop block disengages from the carrier disk. | 09-11-2014 |
| 400235000 | Drive applied by means directly engaging ribbon in advance of takeup | 1 |
| 20090190989 | TAPE DRIVE AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors. | 07-30-2009 |
| 400236000 | Drive applied directly to spool or spool spindle | 17 |
| 20100135709 | TAPE DRIVE AND PRINTING APPARATUS - A tape drive for use in for example a transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon. The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor. A controller controls the energization of the motor such that the ribbon is transported in at least one direction between spools mounted on the spool support. The controller is operative to energize both motors to drive the spools of ribbon in the direction of ribbon transport to achieve push-pull operations. Ribbon tension is monitored to enable accurate control of ribbon supply and ribbon take-up, the ribbon tension being monitored, for example, by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20130129397 | PRINT SYSTEM WITH RIBBON IDENTIFICATION FUNCTION - A print system includes a casing, and a ribbon shaft rotatably installed inside the casing for carrying a ribbon. A plurality of identification regions is formed on the ribbon shaft. The print system further includes a ribbon motor installed inside the casing for driving the ribbon shaft, a sensor installed inside the casing for sensing the plurality of identification regions on the ribbon shaft as the ribbon shaft rotates, and a control unit installed inside the casing and coupled to the sensor and the ribbon motor for determining information of the ribbon according to a sensing result of the plurality of identification regions on the ribbon shaft sensed by the sensor. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20140205341 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall, a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall configured to expose a tape guided in the housing along the tape feed path in a tape feed path direction towards the tape feed exit, and a tape guide downstream, in the tape feed path direction, from the tape feed exit. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path to the tape feed exit, and a first aperture formed in an area of the front wall. The area is positioned upstream, in the tape feed path direction, of the tape feed exit, and a length of the area in the tape feed path direction at the front wall is equal to or less than a distance between the tape feed exit and the tape guide in the tape feed path direction at the front wall. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205342 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall. The tape cassette also includes a tape configured to be fed along the tape feed path to the tape feed exit, an ink ribbon, and a take-up spool configured to take-up the ink ribbon and having an axis of rotation. A first aperture is formed on a bottom edge of the front wall, wherein a portion of the first aperture is downstream of a location at which a virtual line orthogonal to the front wall and passing through the axis of rotation of the take-up spool passes through the front wall and upstream of a virtual centerline that is orthogonal to the bottom surface and divides the front wall into left and right portions. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205343 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall configured to expose a tape guided in the housing along the tape feed path. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path to the tape feed exit, a first aperture, formed on the front wall above a first centerline bisecting the front wall into top and bottom halves, and to the right of a second centerline on the front wall bisecting the housing into right and left halves, and a second aperture, formed on the front wall to the left of the second centerline, wherein at least a portion of the second aperture is below the first centerline. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205344 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a tape feed path, a front wall having a front surface, and a tape feed exit adjacent to the front wall. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing, an ink ribbon at least partially included within the housing, and a take-up spool included within the housing and configured to take-up the ink ribbon. A first aperture is formed on the front surface of the front wall, wherein a first virtual line orthogonal to the front wall and passing through a most upstream end of the first aperture also passes through the take-up spool, and wherein a second virtual line orthogonal to the front wall and passing through a most downstream end of the first aperture also passes through the take-up spool. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205345 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a tape feed exit on the front wall, and an arm portion formed by the front wall and an arm rear surface behind the front wall. The arm portion partially surrounds an opening, and a tape feed path passes through the arm portion. The tape cassette also includes a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, an ink ribbon at least partially included within the housing, a take-up spool included within the housing and configured to take-up the ink ribbon, and a first aperture formed on a bottom edge of the front wall. A virtual line orthogonal to the front wall intersects the first aperture, the opening, and the take-up spool. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205346 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall, a tape feed exit located on the front wall, and a bottom surface, and a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit. The tape cassette also includes a latching aperture, a first tape type indicator aperture, and a second tape type indicator aperture, each formed on the front wall. The second tape type indicator aperture is located below the latching aperture in a tape width direction, and at a bottom edge of the front wall. The first and second tape type indicator apertures are positioned such that the first tape type indicator aperture is not aligned with the second tape type indicator aperture in a direction orthogonal to the portion of the tape feed path extending generally parallel to the front wall. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205347 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path in a tape feed direction toward the tape feed exit, a first aperture formed on the front wall, and a tape type indicator aperture formed on the front wall. At least one of the first aperture and the tape type indicator aperture is located in a trench in the front wall. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205348 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall; a tape included at least partially within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit; and tape type indicator apertures formed on the front wall, wherein a combination of the tape type indicator apertures forms a pattern corresponding to a type of the tape included at least partially within the housing. The tape type indicator apertures may be positioned proximate to the tape feed exit, and may comprise a first hole and a second hole, the first hole is formed at a bottom edge of the front wall, and the second hole is disposed on a downstream side of the first hole in a feed direction of the tape. In some embodiments, the tape cassette may be configured for use with a label printer having a plurality of tape type detecting switches each having two possible states, and may have pressing and non-pressing portions on the front wall that are configured to oppose respective tape type detecting switches, and to press or not press, respectively, the switches when the cassette is in the label printer. The apertures may be holes or through-holes, and may be arranged in a zig-zag pattern. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205349 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape at least partially included within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and tape type indicator apertures formed on the front wall of the housing. A combination of the tape type indicator apertures forms a pattern corresponding to a type of the tape at least partially included within the housing. The tape type indicator apertures include a first tape type indicator aperture and a second tape type indicator aperture, and the tape type indicator apertures are positioned such that the first tape type indicator aperture is not aligned with the second tape type indicator aperture in a direction orthogonal to the tape feed path and parallel to the front wall. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205350 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a rear wall, a front wall, and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape included at least partially within the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and a first indicator aperture positioned on the front wall and a second indicator aperture position on a rear portion of the bottom surface. A position of the first indicator aperture on the front wall indicates a type of the tape included within the housing. A position of the second indicator aperture indicates a color of characters. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205351 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape included at least partially within the housing, and a pressing portion and a first non-pressing portion on the front wall. The pressing portion and the first non-pressing portion are positioned to oppose tape type detecting switches of the label printer when the cassette is in the label printer. The pressing portion is configured to change a state of an opposing one of the tape type detecting switches, and the first non-pressing portion is configured to avoid changing a state of an opposing one of the tape type detecting switches. The first non-pressing portion is a planar area of the front wall extending in a tape width direction from a top surface of the housing to a bottom surface of the housing. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205352 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a front wall and a tape feed exit located on the front wall, a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along a tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and tape type indicator portions on the front wall. A combination of the tape type indicator portions forms a pattern corresponding to a type of the tape included at least partially in the housing. The tape type indicator portions are positioned to oppose corresponding ones of tape type detecting switches, with a first subset of the tape type indicator portions having a first elevation and a second subset of the tape type indicator portions having a second elevation. At least two portions from the second subset of the tape type indicator portions are located in a common trench in the front wall. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140205353 | Tape Cassette - A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front wall, a tape feed exit located on the front wall, and an arm portion formed by the front wall and an arm rear surface behind the front wall. The arm portion partially surrounds an opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface behind the front wall, and a tape feed path passes through the arm portion from an upstream portion of the arm portion to a downstream end of the arm portion. The tape cassette also has a tape included at least partially in the housing and configured to be fed along the tape feed path extending to the tape feed exit, and a first aperture formed on a bottom edge of the front wall and positioned downstream of an upstream end of the opening. | 07-24-2014 |
| 400236200 | By a gear driving a gear on the spool or spindle | 2 |
| 20120027489 | PRINTER WITH COUPLED MEDIA FEED AND PRINT HEAD ACTIVATION MECHANISM - A printer is disclosed for printing on media. The printer includes a platen roller, a print head, and a media feed roller. The print head is supported by an arm. The arm is actuatable between an activated position in which the print head is urged toward the platen roller to provide a force therebetween and a deactivated position in which the print head is moved away from the platen roller. A motor is coupled to the arm and the media feed roller. The motor selectively actuates the arm between the activated position and the deactivated position and further drives the media feed roller. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20140099148 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a spool that holds a roll of print medium; an image forming device that forms an image on the medium; a transporting device including a transport rotary member that transports the medium to the image forming device, and a drive source that generates drive force; and a drive force transmission device which transmits the drive force to the spool when the transport rotary member rotates in a medium rewinding direction, and which includes a first gear train for rotating the spool in the same direction as the transport rotary member when the transport rotary member and the spool rotate in the same direction during the transport of the medium and a second gear train for rotating the spool in an opposite direction to the transport rotary member when the transport rotary member and the spool rotate in opposite directions during the medium transport. | 04-10-2014 |
