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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
TAPE DRIVE AND PRINTING APPARATUS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2002022371
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A tape drive for use in for example transfer printing apparatus to drive a printer ribbon (6). The printer ribbon is mounted on two spools (17,11) each of which is driven by a respective stepper motor (2, 3). A controller controls the energisation 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 energise 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 by monitoring power supply to the two stepper motors.

Inventors:
MCNESTRY MARTIN (GB)
BUXTON KEITH (GB)
HART PHILIP (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2001/003965
Publication Date:
August 01, 2002
Filing Date:
September 05, 2001
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ZIPHER LTD (GB)
MCNESTRY MARTIN (GB)
BUXTON KEITH (GB)
HART PHILIP (GB)
International Classes:
B41J17/10; B41J17/12; B41J15/16; B41J17/14; B41J17/30; B41J31/00; B41J33/00; B41J33/14; B41J33/34; B41J33/36; B41J33/40; B41J33/44; B41J33/52; B41J33/54; B41J35/36; B65H23/18; (IPC1-7): B41J33/36; B41J33/54
Foreign References:
US6082914A2000-07-04
US5490638A1996-02-13
FR2783459A12000-03-24
JPH0558014A1993-03-09
JPH082078A1996-01-09
EP0955178A21999-11-10
EP0556066A21993-08-18
US5372439A1994-12-13
EP1000756A22000-05-17
GB2289441A1995-11-22
US5700096A1997-12-23
JPH08244324A1996-09-24
EP0481579A21992-04-22
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