U.S. patent application number 12/008342 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for ribbon printer.
Invention is credited to Craig Saunders, Gary Robert Stephan.
Application Number | 20080175643 12/008342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39641366 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080175643 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saunders; Craig ; et
al. |
July 24, 2008 |
Ribbon printer
Abstract
A ribbon printer assembly and method which allows for
margin-less printing is disclosed. The ribbon printer assembly
includes a printer media having a first and second side, first side
comprises a printable portion and the second side includes an
adhesive. The ribbon printer also includes a backing, wider than
the printer media that is temporarily affixed to the adhesive on
the printer media. The printer assembly may also include a printer
engine which is configured to print along the entire width of the
printer media and a spooling mechanism which is configured to
secure the backing that supplies the printer engine with the
backing and printer media.
Inventors: |
Saunders; Craig; (Rocky
River, OH) ; Stephan; Gary Robert; (Seven Hills,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FAY SHARPE LLP
1100 SUPERIOR AVENUE, SEVENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Family ID: |
39641366 |
Appl. No.: |
12/008342 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60885453 |
Jan 18, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
400/242 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 3/4075 20130101;
B41J 11/0065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
400/242 |
International
Class: |
B65H 75/00 20060101
B65H075/00 |
Claims
1. A consumer directed ribbon printer assembly comprising: a
printer media having printable portion and an affixed portion,
where said affixed portion is affixed to a carrier; a backing
temporarily fixed to said affixed portion of said printer media;
and a print engine configured to print across substantially the
entire width of the printer media.
2. A consumer directed ribbon printer assembly product comprising:
a printer media having a first and second side, said first side
comprising a printable portion and said second side including a
bonding agent; a backing at least as wide as said printer media,
said backing being adapted to temporarily affix to said bonding
agent on said printer media; a printer engine configured to print
substantially along the entire width of said printer media; and a
supply mechanism configured to secure said backing and printer
media and equip said printer engine with said backing and printer
media.
3. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising an outer
shell enclosing said printer engine.
4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said bonding agent is
configured to remain on said printer media when separated from said
backing, enabling said printer media to affix to other associated
surfaces.
5. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a software
program configured to interact with a user interface allowing a
user to create designs to print on said printer media.
6. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said printing engine
is configured to print in one or more colors.
7. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said printing engine
is configured to print in said printer media's negative space.
8. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said printing engine
is configured to print on said printable portion while potentially
overlapping ink onto said backing over the edge of said printer
media.
9. The assembly according to claim 2, where said printing engine is
configured to print on said printable portion while stopping short
of printing on the edge of said printable portion.
10. The assembly according to claim 2, where said printing engine
is configured to print on said printable portion while printing up
to the edge of said printable portion.
11. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising an ink
cartridge configured to supply said print engine with ink for
printing.
12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said ink cartridge
is a multiple color ink cartridge.
13. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein said ink cartridge
is a single color ink cartridge.
14. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said assembly
receives information from an associated computer via a digital
input.
15. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said supply
mechanism is a spool.
16. The printing substrate for printing a substantially continuous
design on ribbon comprising: a ribbon having a first side and a
second side, said first side being a printing face and said second
side being an adhesive face; a backing with a width wider than said
ribbon; and a bonding agent joining said second side of said ribbon
and said backing.
17. The printing substrate according to claim 16, wherein said
backing is made of paper coated with a parting agent.
18. The printing substrate according to claim 16, wherein said
ribbon is made, at least in part, of acetate.
19. The printing substrate according to claim 16, wherein said
ribbon is made, at least in part, of cotton.
20. The method of margin-less printing on a printable ribbon
comprising: supplying a print engine with printable substrate, said
printable substrate comprising a ribbon, a backing and a adhesive
binding said ribbon and said backing, where the lateral edges of
said backing are spaced further apart than the lateral edges of
said ribbon; and printing on said substrate via said print engine
where a design is printed substantially overlapping the lateral
edges of said ribbon allowing for ink to be printed on said
backing.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein supplying said print
engine is done via a spooling mechanism which is configured to
center the ribbon for printing.
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein said design is
printed on the part of said ribbon that is not the subject.
23. The method according to claim 20, further comprising using
compatible software in order to create said design.
24. The method according to claim 20, wherein said design is
communicated to said print engine via a digital input.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This disclosure relates to a method and consumer product for
printing decorative ribbon. More particularly, this disclosure
relates to a method and apparatus for printing ribbon
decorations.
[0002] While the disclosure is particularly directed towards
margined or margin-less printing of decorative ribbons and will
thus be described with specific reference thereto, it will be
appreciated that the disclosure may have usefulness in other fields
and applications. For example, this disclosure may be used with
various types of printing and designing.
[0003] By way of background, there are many products on the market
with generic decorative design. A consumer may walk into almost any
gift store and purchase items that display commonly used messages,
such as "Happy Birthday" or "Happy Anniversary". With the aid of
computers, many consumers have learned to design their own
decorative paper based products. Many of these products display a
user-designed, personalized greeting. These products include party
invitations, name cards, post cards, business cards, etc.
[0004] One common limitation of this style of printing is that
printer limitations will not allow a design to encompass the whole
width array of the paper. Because of printer limitations, printing
can only take place up to the margins of the paper. This leaves a
space on the decorative paper where no ink can be printed.
[0005] Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a consumer
oriented margin-less printing method and apparatus. Furthermore,
there is a need in the industry for a substrate that will enable
such consumer margin-less printing. The present disclosure
contemplates a new method and apparatus that resolves the above
referenced difficulties and others.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The method and apparatus for a ribbon printer assembly is
provided. This disclosure will allow for a margin-less printing
system for ribbons and other decorative stationery products
appropriate for consumer use.
[0007] In one aspect of the disclosure, the apparatus includes a
ribbon printer assembly comprising a printer media having a first
and second side. The first side includes a printable portion and
the second side includes a bonding agent. The assembly also
includes a backing proportionally wider than the printer media. The
backing is adapted to temporarily affix to the adhesive on the
printer media. The assembly also includes a printer engine which is
configured to print along the entire width of the printer media and
a supply mechanism which is configured to secure the backing and
supply the printer engine with the backing and printer media.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the assembly includes an outer shell encapsulating the printer
engine.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the backing is a paper based material coated with a parting
agent.
[0010] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the assembly includes a software program configured to interact
with a user interface allowing a user to create designs which may
be printed on the printer media.
[0011] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the printing engine is configured to print in color.
[0012] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the printing engine is configured to print in negative space on the
printer media.
[0013] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
disclosure, the assembly includes a printing engine that is
configured to print on the printable portion of the printer media
with or without leaving a margin, thereby overlapping ink onto the
backing.
[0014] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the assembly includes an ink cartridge which is configured to
supply the print engine with ink for printing.
[0015] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
the assembly may receive printing commands from an associated
computer via a universal serial bus (USB) port, Bluetooth,
Firewire, Ethernet connection, etc.
[0016] In another aspect of the disclosure, the system includes a
printing substrate for printing a continuous design on a ribbon
which comprises a ribbon having a first side and a second side. The
first side is a printing face. The printing substrate also includes
a backing with a width proportionally wider than the ribbon and an
adhesive joining the second side of the ribbon to the backing.
[0017] According to another aspect of the disclosure, the printing
substrate includes an adhesive that remains on the ribbon when
separated from the backing, enabling the ribbon to adhere to an
associated surface after the ribbon is separated from the
backing.
[0018] In another aspect of the disclosure, the method includes a
method for margin or margin-less printing on a printable ribbon
which comprises supplying a print engine with a printable
substrate. The printable substrate comprises a ribbon, a backing,
and an adhesive binding for the ribbon and the backing, where the
lateral edges of the backing are spaced further apart than the
lateral edges of the ribbon. The method also includes printing on
the substrate via a print engine where the design is printed
overlapping the lateral edges of the ribbon allowing for ink to
printed on the backing.
[0019] In another aspect of the disclosure, the method includes
supplying the print engine via a spooling mechanism which is
configured to center the ribbon for printing.
[0020] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the method
includes the design being printed in the negative space of the
ribbon.
[0021] In yet another aspect of the disclosure, the method includes
using compatible software in order to create said design.
[0022] In another aspect of the disclosure, the method includes the
design being communicated to the print engine via USB, Bluetooth,
Firewire, or any other known connection means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The presently described embodiments exist in the
construction, arrangement and combination of various parts of the
device and steps of the method whereby the objects contemplated are
attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed
out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates the ribbon printer assembly;
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an example the substrate for printing a
continuous design; and
[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates another example of the substrate for
printing a continuous design.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Referring now to the drawings wherein the showing are for
purposes of illustrating the disclosed embodiments only and not for
purposes of limiting the same. FIG. 1 provides an overall view of
the system in which the present disclosure may be incorporated. A
ribbon printer assembly A is shown. The ribbon printer assembly
includes a spooling mechanism 10, a printing substrate 12, a
printer engine 14, an ink cartridge 16, a USB port 18, and an outer
shell 20. It should be understood that this represents but one
embodiment of the ribbon printer assembly and the present
disclosure could be incorporated in a variety of different
manners.
[0028] In operation, as described in greater detail below, the
presently described embodiments include a method and apparatus for
margin-less printing. The present disclosure allows for printing on
a ribbon assembly without a margin, thereby enabling a printer to
print on the entire printable portion of a decorative ribbon. This
assembly also allows for the printer to print on the entire
decorative portion without spilling ink onto the printer assembly
itself.
[0029] Still referring to FIG. 1, the spooling mechanism 10 is
generally used to store the printing substrate 12. Therefore the
printing substrate 12 is wound onto the spooling mechanism 10 in a
manner in which the spooling mechanism 10 can supply the print
engine 14 with the printing substrate 12. However, it should be
noted that the printed may be supplied with substrate via a variety
of methods. Theses methods include z-folding and feeding individual
ribbons to the printer. Spooling is but one form in which the
printer may be supplied with substrate.
[0030] It is shown in FIG. 1 that the spooling mechanism 10 is
outside of the outer shell 20. In this embodiment, it may be more
convenient for the spooling mechanism 10 to be loaded and reloaded
with printing substrate 10. In this form the outer shell 20 does
not need to be removed in order to do such. However, in other
embodiments, the outer shell 20 encompasses the spooling mechanism
along with the other parts of the printer assembly A.
[0031] The outer shell 20 encloses a printing engine 14 which is
supplied ink by an ink cartridge 16. As shown, the printing
substrate 12 may travel into the outer shell 20 through the
printing engine 14 and then out of the outer shell 20 onto a
storage tray 22 which is located outside of the outer shell 20.
[0032] In this embodiment, the print engine 14 and ink cartridge 16
are located inside of the outer shell 20. The ink cartridge 16 is
located adjacent to the print engine 14. In this embodiment, the
USB port 18 is located on the bottom portion of the outer shell. It
should be appreciated however, that the USB port may be located
anywhere on the printer assembly.
[0033] The spooling mechanism 10 is used in order to store the
printing substrate 12 in a method which will allow for a continuous
feed to the printer engine 14. Generally, the printing substrate
will be wound about the spooling mechanism 10 at the spooling
mechanism's core in several turns. The outermost end of the
printing substrate 12 is available for feeding into the print
engine 14. In this sense, the printing substrate 12 will unravel as
it is pulled through the printing assembly turning the spooling
mechanism 10. This allows for easy supply and storage of the
printing substrate 12.
[0034] As the printing substrate 12 enters the outer shell 20, the
printer engine 14 prints the desired design onto the substrate 12.
The ink cartridge 16 supplies the printer engine 14 with ink. The
ink cartridge 16 is generally situated near the printer engine 14
in order for easy access to the ink. The ink cartridge 16 may be a
color ink cartridge which will allow for color ink to be used on
the printing substrate 12.
[0035] The design that the printer engine 14 prints on the printing
substrate 12 may be communicated via a computer (not shown). The
computer may incorporate software which will communicate the user's
design to the print engine 14. This communication may be made
through a digital input. The digital input may include a Compact
Disk (CD), a Secure Digital (SD) card, etc. In the exemplary
embodiment a communication is established through a USB connection
via the USB port 18. However a connection may also be established
through Bluetooth, Firewire, or one of many other ways to establish
a connection known in the art.
[0036] As the printing substrate 12 leaves the outer shell 20, it
may be collected by a tray 22. The tray 22 may store the printing
substrate 12 after it has its design incorporated onto it.
[0037] Now referring to FIG. 2 which is an example of the printing
substrate with a design on it. As shown, the design need not be a
common pattern that repeats. FIG. 2 gives an example of a design
that, once placed on the ribbon, creates a landscape style
picture.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing substrate includes a ribbon
24 and backing 28. The ribbon 24 on one side has a design 26 and
the back side has a bonding agent which allows it to stick to the
backing 28. The bonding agent may be an adhesive. However, the
ribbon may be fixed to the backing by electro-static or any other
means in the art. As shown, the ribbon is not as wide as the
backing. A margin 30, 32 of backing 28 exists adjacent each edge
34,36, of the ribbon 24. In this form a design 26 may be printed on
the ribbon 24, right up to its edges 34,36, and overlapping onto
the backing margins 32, 30. The backing 28 may have some ink
overlapped onto it. This will allow for margin-less printing, or
stated another way, printing with a design that may or may not
encompass the entire first side of the ribbon 24.
[0039] As shown, it is not necessary for the ribbon 24 to be
centered on the backing 28. This will allow for the ribbon 24 to
have edges 34, 36 that may not be equally spaced from the backing's
edges 38, 40. The spooling mechanism (FIG. 1, 10) and the print
engine (FIG. 1, 14) may be configured to work with different
placements of the ribbon 24 with respect to the backing 28.
Additionally, different ribbon 24 and backing 28 placements may be
preferred for different print engine 14 configurations.
[0040] The ribbon 24 may be separated from the backing, by simply
peeling the ribbon 24 from the backing 28. This can be facilitated
by a parting agent coating on the backing 28, from which the
adhesive can be easily removed. This will allow for embodiments
where the adhesive that binds the ribbon 24 to the backing 28 to
remain on the ribbon 24. In this sense, the ribbon 24 maintains the
adhesive and may be bound to another associated surface via the
adhesive.
[0041] Now referring to FIG. 3, which is another example of the
printing substrate. In this example, the design 26 is colored
negative space of the ribbon 24. Negative space is the space around
the subject of the design. When the ribbon 24 is white, coloring
the negative space makes the design to appear to be white
lettering. This embodiment that that white lettering states "Happy
Birthday!". The negative space is the colored space around the
lettering. Of course, the user may have any number of designs,
messages or phrases printed on the ribbon 24 using the concept of
negative space.
[0042] The ribbon 24 may be constructed from many types of
different materials including, but not limited to, acetate,
polyester, cotton blends, mixtures, etc. The backing 22 may also be
made from a variety of different materials, including paper.
[0043] The above description merely provides a disclosure of
particular embodiments and is not intended for the purpose of
limiting the same thereto. As such, the disclosure is not limited
to only the above described embodiments. Rather, it is recognized
that one skilled in the art could conceive alternate embodiments
that fall within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *