公开(公告)号：US11260650B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-01

申请号：US16624565

申请日：2018-06-27

Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Inventor： Jeremy Ellis ,  Philip Hart ,  Gareth Walley

IPC: B41F16/00 ,  B41J35/36 ,  B41J2/36

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

公开(公告)号：US20200001635A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-02

申请号：US16472557

申请日：2017-12-22

Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Inventor： Martin McNestry ,  Gareth Walley

IPC: B41J25/312 ,  B41J2/325 ,  B41J25/316 ,  B41J25/308 ,  B41J2/355

Abstract: A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate provided adjacent to the printer, the printhead having a first configuration in which the printhead is spaced apart from the printing surface and a second configuration in which the printhead is configured to press the substrate against a printing surface during a printing operation. The printer further comprises a printhead drive assembly configured to cause movement of the printhead towards and away from the printing surface between the first and second configurations, the printhead drive assembly comprising a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. When the electromagnet is in a first condition, an attractive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, and when the electromagnet is in a second condition, a repulsive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, each of said attractive and repulsive magnetic forces being configured to one of urge the printhead away from and towards the printing surface. The printhead drive assembly is configured such that, when the printhead is in each of the first and second configurations, it is retained in that configuration by the printhead drive assembly when the electromagnet is in the first condition, the printhead being retained in one of the first and second configurations by said attractive magnetic force generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet.

公开(公告)号：US20220227121A1

公开(公告)日：2022-07-21

申请号：US17590323

申请日：2022-02-01

Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Inventor： Jeremy Ellis ,  Philip Hart ,  Gareth Walley

IPC: B41F16/00 ,  B41J2/36 ,  B41J35/36

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

公开(公告)号：US10953675B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-23

申请号：US16472557

申请日：2017-12-22

Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Inventor： Martin McNestry ,  Gareth Walley

IPC: B41J2/325 ,  B41J25/312 ,  B41J2/355 ,  B41J25/308 ,  B41J25/316

Abstract: A printer comprising a printhead configured to selectively cause a mark to be created on a substrate provided adjacent to the printer, the printhead having a first configuration in which the printhead is spaced apart from the printing surface and a second configuration in which the printhead is configured to press the substrate against a printing surface during a printing operation. The printer further comprises a printhead drive assembly configured to cause movement of the printhead towards and away from the printing surface between the first and second configurations, the printhead drive assembly comprising a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. When the electromagnet is in a first condition, an attractive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, and when the electromagnet is in a second condition, a repulsive magnetic force is generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet, each of said attractive and repulsive magnetic forces being configured to one of urge the printhead away from and towards the printing surface. The printhead drive assembly is configured such that, when the printhead is in each of the first and second configurations, it is retained in that configuration by the printhead drive assembly when the electromagnet is in the first condition, the printhead being retained in one of the first and second configurations by said attractive magnetic force generated between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet.

公开(公告)号：US11919320B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-05

申请号：US17590323

申请日：2022-02-01

Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Inventor： Jeremy Ellis ,  Philip Hart ,  Gareth Walley

IPC: B41J2/325 ,  B41F16/00 ,  B41J2/36 ,  B41J17/07 ,  B41J17/10 ,  B41J33/16 ,  B41J33/36 ,  B41J35/36

CPC classification number: B41J2/325 ,  B41F16/0026 ,  B41J2/36 ,  B41J17/07 ,  B41J17/10 ,  B41J33/16 ,  B41J33/36 ,  B41J35/36

Abstract: A method for monitoring a characteristic of a printed image of a thermal transfer printer. The method comprises providing a ribbon and a substrate at a printing location of the thermal transfer printer. The method further comprises printing an image on the substrate at the printing location by transferring ink from a region of the ribbon in a printing operation, a negative image being formed on the region of ribbon. The method further comprises transporting the region of ribbon, by a ribbon transport system, from the printing location towards an imaging location along a ribbon transport path. The method further comprises when a characteristic of the ribbon transport meets a predetermined criterion, obtaining, by an image capture system, a ribbon image of the negative image. The method further comprises processing said ribbon image to generate data indicative of the characteristic of the printed image.

公开(公告)号：US11745528B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-05

申请号：US16624594

申请日：2018-06-29

Applicant: VIDEOJET TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Inventor： Gareth Walley ,  Martin McNestry ,  Gary Pfeffer ,  Philip Hart

IPC: B41J33/34 ,  B41J2/325 ,  B41J33/16 ,  B41J29/38 ,  B41J35/36

CPC classification number: B41J33/34 ,  B41J2/325 ,  B41J33/16 ,  B41J29/38 ,  B41J35/36

Abstract: There is provided a tape drive. The tape drive comprises first and second spool supports on which spools of tape may be mounted. The tape drive further comprises an optical sensing system. The optical sensing system comprises a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, said radiation emitter and radiation detector having a fixed positional relationship in use with respect to said first and second spool supports. The tape drive further comprises a controller. The controller is operative to, energise the radiation emitter to emit radiation, and determine a diameter data indicative of a diameter of a spool mounted on one of the first and second spool supports based on a radiation signal generated by the detector.