Claims
- 1. A printer for use with an ink ribbon having at least two printing tracks, comprising:
- a print head that moves along a predetermined path adjacent to a recording medium;
- line drive means for reciprocating said print head along said path in first and second directions;
- a multi-track ink ribbon comprising a plurality of printing tracks having portions thereof disposed between said print head and recording medium, wherein said print head prints images on the recording medium with said multi-track ink ribbon; and
- ribbon shift means for positioning a preselected one of said tracks on said ink ribbon adjacent said print head for use in printing in response to movement of said print head, said ribbon shift means comprising:
- printing track setting means for moving said ribbon in one direction to set at one desired track height from among several preselected track heights corresponding to a selected one of predetermined amounts of movement of said print head in the first direction to a first end portion of said path, and
- printing track releasing means for moving said ribbon in an opposite direction to release from the set track height in response to movement of said print head in the second direction to a second end portion of said path.
- 2. A method of controlling a printer having a print head that is reciprocated along a predetermined path adjacent to a recording medium between first and second ends which form boundaries of a printing zone, and uses a multitrack ink ribbon having a plurality of tracks to print images, comprising the steps of:
- actuating a ribbon height adjustment device positioned adjacent to said ribbon in accordance with a selected one of predetermined amounts of movement of said print head in a first non-printing zone adjacent to the first end to set a current height of said ribbon relative to said print head and place a preselected one of the tracks on said ink ribbon adjacent said print for use in printing corresponding to the selected amount of movement of said print head;
- activating a release device positioned adjacent to said ribbon when said print head enters a second non-printing zone adjacent to the second end and releases the height set by said ribbon height adjustment device;
- determining which track is desired for printing;
- moving said print head into said second non-printing zone so as to release a current color track setting and associated color track as desired; and
- moving said print head into said first non-printing zone by a predetermined amount so as to move said ribbon vertically to another height setting and associated track as desired.
- 3. A method of controlling a printer having a print head that is reciprocated along a predetermined path adjacent to a recording medium in a first direction toward a first end and in a second direction toward a second end, a first space between the first and second ends defining a printing zone, a second space extending beyond the first end in the first direction defining a first non-printing zone and a third space extending beyond the second end in the second direction, defining a second non-printing zone, and uses a multi-track ink ribbon having a plurality of tracks to print images, comprising the steps of:
- (a) moving the print head in the first direction a selected one of predetermined amounts of movement of the print head in the first non-printing zone for positioning a height of said ribbon relative to said print head for placing a preselected one of the tracks corresponding to the selected amount of movement on said ink ribbon adjacent said print head for use in printing;
- (b) providing a printing track releasing means for moving the multitrack ink ribbon; and
- (c) moving the print head to contact the printing track releasing means for positioning the ribbon in a second direction to release the height of the ribbon.
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
3-343448 |
Dec 1991 |
JPX |
|
4-323379 |
Dec 1992 |
JPX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/996,453, filed Dec. 23, 1992 which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,279 on Nov. 1, 1994.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (10)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0158963 |
Oct 1985 |
EPX |
0160832 |
Nov 1985 |
EPX |
53-4616 |
Jan 1978 |
JPX |
55-34991 |
Mar 1980 |
JPX |
60-36185 |
Feb 1985 |
JPX |
62-44488 |
Feb 1987 |
JPX |
3-41356 |
Jun 1991 |
JPX |
3-213383 |
Sep 1991 |
JPX |
4-239683 |
Aug 1992 |
JPX |
2029327 |
Mar 1980 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
996453 |
Dec 1992 |
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