Tape cassette with identifying circuit element for printing machine
First Claim
1. A tap cassette for a printing machine having an exposed tape driving means, an exposed transfer head for transferring an image from an image carrying tape to an image receiving tape, and a machine circuitry including exposed first electrical connector elements in electrical communication with said machine circuitry and said machine circuitry including means for receiving a signal from said first electrical connector elements and comparing said signal to a memory to adjust operation of said printing machine, said cassette comprising:
- a housing;
a first spool disposed within said housing and carrying an image receiving tape;
first guide means for guiding said tape from said first spool with said tape following a first predetermined path;
said first path selected for said tape to pass a predetermined location, said predetermined location selected proximate said transfer heat when said cassette is mounted on said printing machine in a predetermined position;
drive coupling means for operably engaging said driving means when said cassette is in said predetermined position with said drive coupling means advancing said tape upon operation of said driving means; and
electrical circuit means carried by said cassette and having exposed second electrical connector elements disposed to electrically engage said first electrical connector elements when said cassette is in said predetermined position with said circuit means and said machine circuitry cooperating to define a completed electrical circuit;
said electrical circuit means including at least one fixed electrical circuit element carried by said cassette, said element preselected to return a fixed one of a variety of possible electrical signals to said machine circuitry with said one signal indicative of a characteristic of said cassette said element preselected for said machine circuitry to perform desired adjustment in operation of said printing machine with response to said signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A printing machine is disclosed for printing an image on an image receiving tape. The present invention includes a novel tape cassette. The cassette includes a housing with a tape spool and ribbon spool disposed within the housing, and electrical circuit elements which are disposed to electrically engage electrical connectors carried by the printing machine. The circuit elements are selected to cooperate with the circuitry of the printing machine to indicate desired characteristics of the cassette. The desired characteristics may be varied such that the electrical elements identify the size of the tape or the type of tape carried by the casette.
224 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A tap cassette for a printing machine having an exposed tape driving means, an exposed transfer head for transferring an image from an image carrying tape to an image receiving tape, and a machine circuitry including exposed first electrical connector elements in electrical communication with said machine circuitry and said machine circuitry including means for receiving a signal from said first electrical connector elements and comparing said signal to a memory to adjust operation of said printing machine, said cassette comprising:
-
a housing; a first spool disposed within said housing and carrying an image receiving tape; first guide means for guiding said tape from said first spool with said tape following a first predetermined path; said first path selected for said tape to pass a predetermined location, said predetermined location selected proximate said transfer heat when said cassette is mounted on said printing machine in a predetermined position; drive coupling means for operably engaging said driving means when said cassette is in said predetermined position with said drive coupling means advancing said tape upon operation of said driving means; and electrical circuit means carried by said cassette and having exposed second electrical connector elements disposed to electrically engage said first electrical connector elements when said cassette is in said predetermined position with said circuit means and said machine circuitry cooperating to define a completed electrical circuit; said electrical circuit means including at least one fixed electrical circuit element carried by said cassette, said element preselected to return a fixed one of a variety of possible electrical signals to said machine circuitry with said one signal indicative of a characteristic of said cassette said element preselected for said machine circuitry to perform desired adjustment in operation of said printing machine with response to said signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
3. A tape cassette according to claim 3 wherein said tape carried on said first spool is selected from one of a plurality of tape widths, said at least one element selected in response to said tape width.
- 10. A tape cassette for a printing machine having means for mounting said cassette on said machine in a predetermined position and having a machine circuitry including exposed first electrical connector elements in electrical communication with said machine circuitry and said machine circuitry further having means for receiving a signal from said first electrical connector elements and comparing said signal to a memory to adjust operation of said printing machine, said cassette including electrical circuit means carried by said cassette and having exposed second electrical connector elements disposed to electrically engage said first electrical connector elements when said cassette is in said predetermined position, said electrical circuit means including at least one fixed electrical circuit element carried by said cassette said element preselected to return a fixed one of a variety of possible electrical signals to machine circuitry with said signal indicative of a characteristic of the cassette, said element preselected for said machine circuitry to perform a desired adjustment in operation of said printing machine after comparing said signal to said memory.
-
17. A combination tape cassette and printing machine comprising:
-
(A) a printing machine having; (i) means for mounting a cassette on said machine in a predetermined position; (ii) a machine circuitry including exposed first electrical connector elements in electrical communication with said machine circuitry, said machine circuitry including means for receiving a signal from said first electrical connector elements and comparing said signal to a memory to adjust operation of said printing machine; (B) a cassette including electrical circuit means carried by said cassette and having exposed second electrical connector elements disposed to electrically engage said first electrical connector elements when said cassette is in said predetermined position, said electrical circuit means including at least one fixed electrical circuit element carried by said cassette, said element preselected to return a fixed one of a variety of possible electrical signal to said machine circuitry with said signal indicative of a characteristic of said cassette, said element preselected for said machine circuitry to perform a desired adjustment in operation of said printing machine after comparing said signal to said memory.
-
Specification