Detecting printing ribbon orientation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A printing system comprising:
- a print head in association with a platen roller for printing;
a media configured to follow a media supply path which passes between said platen roller and said print head;
a ribbon, comprising a substrate layer and a thermal transfer layer comprising ink, configured to follow a ribbon path which passes between said print head and said platen roller;
a ribbon sensor, positioned so as to face a surface of the ribbon and configured to detect a reflectance value from a ribbon to be utilized by the printing system;
wherein the printing system is configured to ascertain that the substrate layer faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value corresponds to a substantially specular reflectance, and/or to ascertain that the thermal transfer layer faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value corresponds to a substantially diffuse reflectance.
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to devices, systems, and methods providing a ribbon sensor configured and positioned to ascertain an orientation of a printing ribbon, including devices, systems, and methods configured for detecting an improperly oriented printing ribbon, and for triggering a response in the event of an improperly installed, and/or for confirming proper installation of a printing ribbon.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A printing system comprising:
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a print head in association with a platen roller for printing; a media configured to follow a media supply path which passes between said platen roller and said print head; a ribbon, comprising a substrate layer and a thermal transfer layer comprising ink, configured to follow a ribbon path which passes between said print head and said platen roller; a ribbon sensor, positioned so as to face a surface of the ribbon and configured to detect a reflectance value from a ribbon to be utilized by the printing system; wherein the printing system is configured to ascertain that the substrate layer faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value corresponds to a substantially specular reflectance, and/or to ascertain that the thermal transfer layer faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value corresponds to a substantially diffuse reflectance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A device comprising:
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a print head in association with a platen roller for printing; a media configured to follow a media supply path between the said platen roller and the print head; a ribbon comprising a first surface comprising a substantially specular substrate having a first reflectivity and a second surface comprising a substantially diffuse functional layer having a second reflectivity, the first reflectance being greater than the second reflectivity; a ribbon supply spool and a ribbon take-up spool configured to supply the said ribbon along a ribbon supply path leading from the ribbon supply spool past the print head and to the ribbon take-up spool; and a ribbon sensor, positioned so as to face a surface of the printing ribbon and configured to detect a reflectance value from a printing ribbon to be utilized by the device; wherein the device is configured to ascertain that the first surface faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value detected corresponds to a substantially specular reflectance as expected from the first surface, and/or the second surface faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value detected corresponds to a substantially diffuse reflectance as expected from the second surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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providing a printer comprising a print head configured to transfer an ink from a printing ribbon to a media, the printer comprising a ribbon sensor configured to detect a reflectance value from a printing ribbon to be utilized by the printer; detecting with the ribbon sensor, a reflectance value from a printing ribbon having been at least partially installed in the printer, wherein the printing ribbon comprises a substrate and a thermal transfer layer comprising the ink; ascertaining that the substrate faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value corresponds to a substantially specular reflectance, and/or ascertaining that the thermal transfer layer faces the ribbon sensor when the reflectance value corresponds to a substantially diffuse reflectance; triggering a response upon having ascertained, based at least in part on the reflectance value detected with the ribbon sensor, that the at least partially installed printing ribbon is not properly oriented. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification