Claims
- 1. A thermal web printer comprising:a thermal print head; and a Moebius-configured sacrificial member disposed between said thermal print head and a web passing said print head.
- 2. For use with a thermal web printer having a thermal print head, the method comprising:moving a print web past the print head; and circulating an endless sacrificial member between the thermal print head and the web.
- 3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the endless sacrificial member is Moebius-configured.
- 4. A thermal printer configured to receive a web and print thereon, said thermal printer comprising:a thermal print head; and a sacrificial member disposed between said thermal print head and said web when said web is received by said thermal printer, wherein said sacrificial member comprises a belt, wherein said belt comprises an unpigmented ribbon and wherein said web is not coated.
- 5. The thermal printer as recited in claim 4, further comprising a velocity differentiator acting on said web and said sacrificial member.
- 6. The thermal printer as recited in claim 5, wherein said velocity differentiator is configured to drive said sacrificial member at a rate slower than said web.
- 7. The thermal printer as recited in claim 4, wherein said sacrificial member contacts said thermal print head and generally prevents said web from directly engaging said thermal print head.
- 8. The thermal printer as recited in claim 4, wherein said thermal printer is configured to hold said sacrificial member generally under tension.
- 9. The thermal printer as recited in claim 4, said thermal printer further comprising a platen roller, wherein said sacrificial member is disposed between said thermal print head and said platen roller.
- 10. The thermal printer as recited in claim 4, wherein said sacrificial member is in contact with said print head, and said print head holds said sacrificial member in tension.
- 11. The thermal printer as recited in claim 4, wherein said belt is at least one of fixed and rotatable.
- 12. The thermal printer as recited in claim 11, wherein said belt is rotatable, continuous, and is supported by at least one roller in addition to the thermal print head.
- 13. The thermal printer as recited in claim 11, wherein said belt is rotatable, continuous, and is supported by a plurality of idler rollers and at least one drive roller in addition to the thermal print head.
- 14. The thermal printer as recited in claim 11, wherein said belt is rotatable and continuous, said thermal printer is configured to move said web during printing and is configured to move said belt at a speed which is slower than said web moves during printing.
- 15. The thermal printer as recited in claim 11, wherein said belt is rotatable, continuous, and includes a Moebius loop.
- 16. The thermal printer as recited in claim 4, further comprising a roller which is configured to engage the web when the web is received by said thermal printer, and a second roller engaged with said sacrificial member.
- 17. A thermal printer configured to receive a web and print thereon, said thermal printer comprising:a thermal print head; and a sacrificial member disposed between said thermal print head and said web when said web is received by said thermal printer, wherein said sacrificial member comprises a belt, wherein said belt is at least one of fixed and rotatable, wherein said belt is rotatable, continuous, and includes a Moebius loop.
- 18. The thermal printer as recited in claim 17, further comprising a plurality of pinch rollers which engage said sacrificial member and maintain said Moebius loop.
- 19. A thermal printer configured to receive a web and print thereon, said thermal printer comprising;a thermal print head; and a sacrificial member disposed between said thermal print head and said web when said web is received by said thermal printer, wherein said sacrificial member contacts said thermal print head and generally prevents said web from directly engaging said thermal print head, wherein said thermal printer is configured to hold said sacrificial member generally under tension, said thermal printer further comprising a platen roller, wherein said sacrificial member is disposed between said thermal print head and said platen roller, wherein said sacrificial member comprises a belt, wherein said belt is rotatable, continuous, and is supported by a plurality of idler rollers and at least one drive roller in addition to the thermal print head, wherein said is configured to move said web during printing and is configured to move said belt at a speed which is slower than said web moves during printing, further comprising a roller which is configured to engage the web when the web is received by said thermal printer, and a second roller engaged with said sacrificial member, wherein said belt includes a Moebius loop, further comprising a plurality of pinch rollers which engage said sacrificial member and maintain said Moebius loop.
- 20. For use with a thermal web printer, a print mechanism comprising:a thermal print head; and a sacrificial member disposed in contact with said thermal print head, wherein said sacrificial member is configured as an endless loop.
- 21. The print mechanism as recited in claim 20, wherein said sacrificial member has a Moebius configuration.
- 22. The print mechanism as recited in claim 20, wherein said sacrificial member is an inkless thermal transfer ribbon.
- 23. The print mechanism as recited in claim 20, further comprising a print web and thermal transfer ribbon between said web and said sacrificial member.
- 24. For use with a thermal web printer having a thermal print head, a consumable in the form of a sacrificial member adapted to be located between the print head and a web, wherein said sacrificial member is configured as an endless loop.
- 25. The consumable as recited in claim 24, wherein said sacrificial member has a Moebius configuration.
- 26. The consumable as recited in claim 24, wherein said sacrificial member is an inkless thermal transfer ribbon.
- 27. A thermal printer comprising a web of thermally sensitized material, a thermal print head, and a sacrificial member disposed between said thermal print head and said web of thermally sensitized material.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/264,858, filed Jan. 29, 2001 and Serial No. 60/266,496, filed Feb. 5, 2001.
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Jan 1996 |
EP |
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Oct 1998 |
EP |
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry |
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Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/266496 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
|
60/264858 |
Jan 2001 |
US |