Claims
- 1. A method of controlling the amount of ink applied to a ribbon that is reinked at a rate related to the rate of movement of the ribbon through a printer, the method comprising:
- (a) counting the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon;
- (b) maintaining a total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon;
- (c) periodically comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with a first number of characters limit;
- (d) calculating a print density by dividing the number of characters printed during a predetermined period by the total number of character positions available for printing during the predetermined period;
- (e) comparing the calculated print density with a first print density limit; and
- (f) controlling the amount of ink applied to the ribbon by setting the speed of the ribbon to a value that is based on the result of periodically comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with the first number of characters limit and the result of comparing the calculated print density with the first print density limit.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ribbon is contained in a ribbon cassette.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the speed of the ribbon comprises adjusting the speed of a ribbon stepping motor.
- 4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the first number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is less than the first print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a first value.
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein:
- (a) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the first number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is greater than the first print density limit, comparing the calculated print density with a second print density limit;
- (b) if the calculated print density is less than the second print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a second value that is greater than said first value; and
- (c) if the calculated print density is greater than the second print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a third value that is greater than said second value.
- 6. The method of claim 5, wherein if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the first number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed with a second number of characters limit prior to comparing the calculated print density with the first print density limit.
- 7. The method of claim 6, wherein if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is less than the first print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a fourth value.
- 8. The method of claim 7; wherein:
- (a) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is greater than the first print density limit, comparing the calculated print density with the second print density limit;
- (b) if the calculated print density is less than the second print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a fifth value that is greater than said fourth value; and
- (c) if the calculated print density is greater than the second print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a sixth value that is greater than said fifth value.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein:
- (a) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the second number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with a third number of characters limit;
- (b) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the third number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a seventh value that is greater than said sixth value;
- (c) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the third number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with a fourth number of characters limit;
- (d) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to an eighth value that is greater than said seventh value; and
- (e) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a ninth value that is greater than said eighth value.
- 10. The method of claim 1, wherein if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the first number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed with a second number of characters limit prior to comparing the calculated print density with the first print density limit.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is less than the first print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a first value.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein:
- (a) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is greater than the first print density limit, comparing the calculated print density with a second print density limit;
- (b) if the calculated print density is less than the second print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a second value that is greater than said first value; and
- (c) if the calculated print density is greater than the second print density limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a third value that is greater than said second value.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein:
- (a) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the second number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with a third number of characters limit;
- (b) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the third number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a fourth value that is greater than said third value;
- (c) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the third number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with a fourth number of characters limit;
- (d) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a fifth value that is greater than said fourth value; and
- (e) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a sixth value that is greater than said fifth value.
- 14. The method of claim 10, wherein:
- (a) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the second number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with a third number of characters limit;
- (b) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the third number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a first value;
- (c) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the third number of characters limit, comparing the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon with a fourth number of characters limit;
- (d) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is less than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a second value that is greater than said first value; and
- (e) if the total count of the number of characters printed using the reinkable ribbon is greater than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed of the ribbon is set to a third value that is greater than said second value.
- 15. In a printer that prints characters on a print receiving medium by causing print hammers to impact print elements, said impact causing said print elements to strike a ribbon and transfer ink from said ribbon to said print receiving medium, said print ribbon being inked as said print ribbon moves through said printer at a rate related to the speed of movement of said print ribbon, the improvement comprising a system for controlling the amount of ink applied to said print ribbon, said system comprising:
- (a) a speed-controllable drive for moving said ribbon as said printer prints characters; and
- (b) a ribbon speed control subsystem coupled to said speed-controllable drive for controlling the rate at which said speed-controllable drive moves said ribbon through said printer as said printer prints characters, said ribbon speed control subsystem including a signal processor for:
- (1) receiving and storing information about the total number of characters printed by said ribbon;
- (2) periodically comparing the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a first number of characters limit;
- (3) calculating a print density by dividing the number of characters printed during a predetermined period by the total number of character positions available for printing during the predetermined period;
- (4) comparing the calculated print density with a first print density limit; and
- (5) supplying a speed control signal to said speed-controllable drive mechanism whose value is based on the result of comparing the total number of characters printed with the first number of characters limit and the result of comparing the calculated print density with the first print density limit.
- 16. The improvement claimed in claim 15, wherein if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the first number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is less than the first print density limit, the speed control signal has a first value.
- 17. The improvement claimed in claim 16, wherein:
- (a) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the first number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is greater than the first print density limit, the signal processor compares the calculated print density with a second print density limit:
- (b) if the calculated print density is less than the second print density limit, the speed control signal has a second value that is greater than said first value; and
- (c) if the calculated print density is greater than the second print density limit, the speed control signal has a third value that is greater than said second value.
- 18. The improvement claimed in claim 17, wherein if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the first number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed with a second number of characters limit prior to comparing the calculated print density with the first print density limit.
- 19. The improvement claimed in claim 18, wherein if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is less than the first print density limit, the speed of control signal has a fourth value.
- 20. The improvement claimed in claim 19, wherein:
- (a) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is greater than the first print density limit, the signal processor compares the calculated print density with a second print density limit;
- (b) if the calculated print density is less than the second print density limit, the speed control signal has a filth value that is greater than said fourth value; and
- (c) if the calculated print density is greater than the second print density limit, the speed control signal has a sixth value that is greater than said fifth value.
- 21. The improvement claimed in claim 20, wherein:
- (a) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the second number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a third number of characters limit;
- (b) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the third number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a seventh value that is greater than said sixth value;
- (c) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the third number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a fourth number of characters limit;
- (d) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed control signal has an eighth value; and
- (e) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a ninth value that is greater than said eighth value.
- 22. The improvement claimed in claim 21, wherein if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the first number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a second number of characters limit prior to comparing the calculated print density with the first print density limit.
- 23. The improvement claimed in claim 22, wherein if the total number of characters printed by said print ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is less than the first print density limit, the speed control signal has a first value.
- 24. The improvement claimed in claim 23, wherein:
- (a) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the second number of characters limit and if the calculated print density is greater than the first print density limit, the signal processor compares the calculated print density with a second print density limit;
- (b) if the calculated print density is less than the second print density limit, the speed control signal has a second value that is greater than said first value; and
- (c) if the calculated print density is greater than the second print density limit, the speed control signal has a third value that is greater than said second value.
- 25. The improvement claimed in claim 24, wherein:
- (a) if the total number of characters printed by said reinkable ribbon is greater than the second number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a third number of characters limit;
- (b) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the third number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a fourth value that is greater than said third value;
- (c) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the third number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a fourth number of characters limit;
- (d) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a fifth value that is greater than said fourth value; and
- (e) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a sixth value that is greater than said fifth value.
- 26. The improvement claimed in claim 22, wherein:
- (a) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the second number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a third number of characters limit;
- (b) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the third number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a first value;
- (c) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the third number of characters limit, the signal processor compares the total number of characters printed by said ribbon with a fourth number of characters limit;
- (d) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is less than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a second value that is greater than said first value; and
- (e) if the total number of characters printed by said ribbon is greater than the fourth number of characters limit, the speed control signal has a third value that is greater than said second value.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 08/547,506, filed on Oct. 24, 1995, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
132580 |
Aug 1983 |
JPX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
547506 |
Oct 1995 |
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