Thermal printing device and tape supply cartridge therefor
DCFirst Claim
1. A tape supply cartridge for operative insertion into and use with a thermal printing device or the like having a print station for forming a selected image onto a tape and an elongated rotatably driven first tape advancement roller rotatably supported within said printing device and including a first generally cylindrical roller portion and a first drive member mounted to said first roller for rotation therewith, said cartridge comprising:
- a cartridge housing having top and bottom walls and an edge wall joining said top and bottom walls;
a supply of tape for receiving a printed image;
guide and alignment means for guiding said tape into alignment with said print station; and
an elongated second tape advancement roller disposed within said cartridge housing and having a second generally cylindrical roller portion and a second drive member mounted to said second roller for rotation therewith, said second roller rotatably mounted within a portion of said cartridge and said second drive member adapted for operative engagement with said first drive member, the longitudinal axis of said second roller portion being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first roller portion, said tape being disposed between said first and second roller portions for engagement therewith and said first and second drive members being engaged with one another when said cartridge is operatively inserted into said device; and
bias means for biasing one of said first and second tape advancement rollers toward the other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal printing device or the like and a tape or tape-ribbon cartridge designed for operative insertion into and use with such device. The device and cartridge of the present invention includes a tape drive system for driving the tape or tape and ribbon through the thermal printing device including a drive roller connected with the machine and a corresponding drive roller mounted within the cartridge and biased toward the machine drive roller. The device and cartridge of the present invention also includes an alignment system comprising a floating alignment member for insuring proper transfer alignment between the platen and the printhead.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A tape supply cartridge for operative insertion into and use with a thermal printing device or the like having a print station for forming a selected image onto a tape and an elongated rotatably driven first tape advancement roller rotatably supported within said printing device and including a first generally cylindrical roller portion and a first drive member mounted to said first roller for rotation therewith, said cartridge comprising:
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a cartridge housing having top and bottom walls and an edge wall joining said top and bottom walls; a supply of tape for receiving a printed image; guide and alignment means for guiding said tape into alignment with said print station; and an elongated second tape advancement roller disposed within said cartridge housing and having a second generally cylindrical roller portion and a second drive member mounted to said second roller for rotation therewith, said second roller rotatably mounted within a portion of said cartridge and said second drive member adapted for operative engagement with said first drive member, the longitudinal axis of said second roller portion being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first roller portion, said tape being disposed between said first and second roller portions for engagement therewith and said first and second drive members being engaged with one another when said cartridge is operatively inserted into said device; and bias means for biasing one of said first and second tape advancement rollers toward the other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A thermal printing device or the like comprising:
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an apparatus housing having a cartridge receiving portion; a print station for forming a selected image on a strip of tape; an elongated first tape advancement roller rotatably supported within said apparatus housing and including a first generally cylindrical roller portion for engagement with said tape and a first drive member mounted to said first roller for rotation therewith; a replaceable and disposable cartridge for operative insertion into said device comprising; a cartridge housing having top and bottom walls and an edge wall joining said top and bottom walls; a supply of tape for receiving a printed image; guide and alignment means for guiding said tape into alignment with said transfer station; and an elongated second tape advancement roller disposed within said cartridge housing and having a second generally cylindrical roller portion and a second drive member mounted to said second roller for rotation therewith, said second roller rotatably mounted within a portion of said cartridge and said second drive member adapted for operative engagement with said first drive member, the longitudinal axis of said second roller portion being generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said first roller portion, said tape being disposed between said first and second roller portions for engagement therewith and said first and second drive members being engaged with one another when said cartridge is operatively inserted into said device; and bias means for biasing one of said first and second tape advancement rollers toward the other. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A thermal printing device or the like for transfering a selected image from a ribbon to a tape comprising:
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a housing; a fixed printhead lying in a first plane and connected with said housing; a rotatable platen mounted on a rotation shaft, said shaft being disposed in a plane generally parallel to said first plane; and means for aligning said platen relative to said printhead including a platen yoke member for rotatably receiving said platen, a platen alignment shelf rigidly secured to said printhead and extending outwardly therefrom for supporting said platen yoke member, and means for selectively moving said platen forwardly into operative alignment with said printhead and rearwardly out of operative alignment with said printhead. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A thermal printing device or the like comprising:
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an apparatus housing having a cartridge receiving portion; a print station for forming a selected image on a strip of tape; a replaceable and disposable cartridge for operative insertion into said cartridge receiving portion, said cartridge having a supply of tape for receiving a printed image; tape advancement means comprising a first tape advancement roller including a first generally cylindrical roller portion for engagement with said tape and a first drive member for rotation with said first roller and a second tape advancement roller having a second generally cylindrical roller portion for engagement with said tape and a second drive member for rotation with said second roller, at least one of said first and second advancement rollers being movable toward the other to cause gripping engagement of said tape between said first and second roller portions and operative engagement between said first and second drive members; and bias means for biasing one of said tape advancement rollers toward the other. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A thermal printing device or the like comprising:
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an apparatus housing having a cartridge receiving portion; a print station for forming a selected image on a strip of tape; a replaceable and disposable cartridge positioned within said cartridge receiving portion, said cartridge having a supply of tape for receiving a printed image; a tape advancement assembly comprising a first tape advancement roller having a first generally cylindrical roller portion, a first drive member for rotation with said first roller, a second tape advancement roller having a second generally cylindrical roller portion and a second drive member for rotation with said second roller, said first and second tape advancement rollers being positioned such that said first and second roller portions are opposed to one another and positioned on opposite sides of said tape, at least one of said first and second advancement rollers being movable between an inoperative position in which said first and second roller portions are spaced from one another and said first and second drive members are disengaged and a tape advancement position in which said first and second roller portions are moved toward engagement with one another with said tape positioned therebetween and said first and second drive members are engaged; and bias means for biasing one of said tape advancement rollers toward the other. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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Specification