Daniel Bateman - Ladera Ranch CA, US Connie Bowen - Santa Ana CA, US Kevin Moore - Irvine CA, US Charles Ranson - San Clemente CA, US Dennis White - Yorba Linda CA, US
International Classification:
B41J 32/00
US Classification:
400208000
Abstract:
A ribbon identification system detects a digitally encoded tract comprised of radially printed bands of dark and light areas positioned on a ribbon spool that fits on a media printing device. Each type and length of ribbon to be used is associated with a specific and unique digitally encoded tract. When the ribbon spool is positioned correctly on the printing device, the digitally encoded tract is detected, and the control program of the printing device sets the parameters associated with that ribbon automatically ensuring proper printing. Through the digitally encoded tract, the ribbon spool is uniquely identified so that once it has been determined by the printing device's control program that the ribbon has been depleted, that ribbon spool, if reinstalled on the same printing device at a later time, will be recognized as a depleted ribbon, and the printing device will not function.
Daniel R. Bateman - Ladera Ranch CA, US Connie R. Bowen - Santa Ana CA, US Kevin P. Moore - Irvine CA, US Charles Baldwin Ranson - San Clemente CA, US Dennis R. White - Yorba Linda CA, US
Assignee:
Printronix, Inc. - Irvine CA
International Classification:
B41J 33/12 B41J 33/32 B41J 35/28
US Classification:
400249, 400207, 400242
Abstract:
A ribbon identification system detects a digitally encoded tract comprised of radially printed bands of dark and light areas positioned on a ribbon spool that fits on a media printing device. Each type and length of ribbon to be used is associated with a specific and unique digitally encoded tract. When the ribbon spool is positioned correctly on the printing device, the digitally encoded tract is detected, and the control program of the printing device sets the parameters associated with that ribbon automatically ensuring proper printing. Through the digitally encoded tract, the ribbon spool is uniquely identified so that once it has been determined by the printing device's control program that the ribbon has been depleted, that ribbon spool, if reinstalled on the same printing device at a later time, will be recognized as a depleted ribbon, and the printing device will not function.
Preventing Coil Overheating In Line Printer Hammer Banks
- Irvine CA, US Connie Bowen - Santa Ana CA, US Raul Velasquez - Los Angeles CA, US
Assignee:
Printronix, Inc. - Irvine CA
International Classification:
B41J 29/38
US Classification:
347 17
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method for preventing hammer coils of a line printer hammer bank from overheating during printing includes establishing the maximum allowable temperature threshold of any given hammer coil, monitoring the temperature of all hammer coils during printing, keeping a moving average of dots printed per unit time on each hammer coil, and if one or more coils reach a temperature higher than the threshold, determining the current maximum dot-per-hammer density that the hot coils can print per stroke of the hammer bank that will enable them to cool down adequately from their current temperatures. The rate of printing is restricted to this current established maximum dot-per-hammer density on only those coils which have a temperature at or above the maximum allowable temperature, minus a suitable hysteresis.