Linerless thermal transfer ribbon printer for multi-layer printer ribbons

Abstract

LLTTR printer, comprising a supply module (1), a multi-layer printer ribbon (2), comprising a self-adhesive print strip (2a, 2a') and an ink ribbon (2b), separated by a low-silicone or silicone free separation layer (2c), a thermal print head (3) and output means (5) for the printed self-adhesive print strip and discharge means (6a, 6b) for the used residue of the multi-layer printer ribbon. Provision is made for splitting off the print strip on the one hand and the assembly of the separation layer and the ink ribbon on the other hand and for turning either the print strip or the assembly of the separation layer and the ink ribbon, so that the assembly of the separation layer (2c) and the ink ribbon (2b), together with the print strip (2a), is fed along the print head (3), the separation layer being located on the side of the print head, for example so that the self-adhesive print strip is removed from the supply module at a time t1 and the assembly of the separation layer and ink ribbon only thereafter, at a time t2.

Description

[0001] Title: LinerLess Thermal Transfer Ribbon printer for multi-layer printer ribbons

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The invention relates to a printer arranged for use with "LinerLess Thermal Transfer Ribbon", hereinafter referred to as LLTTR printer, comprising a supply module for storing and dispensing a multi-layer printer ribbon, comprising a self- adhesive print strip, an ink ribbon and a print head protection ribbon or layer, furthermore a thermal print head for printing the print strip by heating its ink, output means for outputting the printed self-adhesive print strip and discharge means for discharging the used residue of the multi-layer printer ribbon.

[0004] The present invention aims to provide an LLTTR printer which is arranged for the use of multi-layer printer ribbons which, in contrast to the multi-layer printer ribbons known hitherto, do not contain an environmentally undesirable silicone layer to protect the printer head, since such printer ribbons require more expensive processing during waste processing due to that silicone layer.

[0005] To this end, according to the invention, a LLTTR printer is provided, comprising a supply module (for example arranged as a spool or reel), arranged to store and dispense a multi-layer printer ribbon, comprising a self-adhesive print strip, to be printed with ink, and an ink ribbon provided with meltable ink, which print strip and ink ribbon are separated from each other by a low-silicone or silicone free separation layer; a thermal print head, arranged to print the print strip under the control of printer control means by heating the ink of the printer ribbon fed along the print head by supply means; output means for outputting the printed self-adhesive print strip; discharge means for discharging the residue of the multi-layer printer ribbon; wherein splitting means are provided, arranged to split off, on the one hand, the print strip and, on the other hand, the assembly of the separating layer and the ink ribbon and to turn either the print strip or the assembly of the separating layer and the ink ribbon, so that the assembly of the separating layer and the ink ribbon is fed along the print head by said supply means, together with the print strip, the separating layer being then located on the side of the print head, then, counting from the print head, the ink ribbon and finally, furthest away from the print head, the print strip.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the separation means may be arranged such that the self-adhesive print strip is removed from the supply module at a time t1 and then fed to the print head by the supply means, while the assembly of separation layer and ink ribbon initially remains on the supply module, for example for approximately one more revolution or a large part thereof, and only then, at a time t2, is removed from the supply module and then fed to the print head by the supply means.

[0007] By first removing the print strip and only after approximately one revolution the assembly of the separation layer plus ink ribbon it will be achieved that the separation ribbon, which was, on the supply module, always enclosed between the self-adhesive print strip and the ink ribbon, is, as it were, freed from the print strip and thus comes to lie on the outside, then makes another revolution and is then fed, together with the ink ribbon, to the print head, whereby the separation layer then comes to lie between the print head and the ink ribbon, so that the print head is shielded from the ink ribbon by the separation layer and the print head cannot be contaminated by the ink, liquefied by the thermal print head (the melting heat for the thermal ink excited by the print head passes effortlessly through the separation layer, but the print head itself is therefore not contaminated). The print strip (which has already been removed from the supply spool) and the ink ribbon are fed against each other and at the same speed along the print head, whereby the ink partially melts and is pressed onto the print strip, where it remains and then dries.

[0008] The separation layer preferably comprises a so-called release layer or coating, for example a "Radical Curing Release Coating" or a "Cationic Curing Release Coating".

[0009] In addition to an LLTTR printer as indicated above, the present invention also includes any multilayer printer ribbon suitable for such a printer according to the invention, comprising a self-adhesive print strip to be printed with ink and an ink ribbon provided with meltable ink, which print strip and ink ribbon are separated from each other by a low-silicone or silicone free separation layer, for example comprising a release layer or coating, for example a Radical Curing Release Coating or a Cationic Curing Release Coating.

[0010] The invention will now be discussed in more detail with the aid of the figure description below.

[0011] Figure 1 shows schematically the operation of an exemplary embodiment of an LLTTR printer according to the invention and an exemplary embodiment of the structure of a multi-layer printer ribbon according to the invention.

[0012] Figure 1a shows schematically the operation of an exemplary embodiment of an LLTTR printer according to the invention, comprising a supply module 1 , comprising a supply reel, arranged to store and dispense a multilayer printer ribbon 2, comprising a self-adhesive print strip 2a (made of paper or plastic) to be printed with ink, including an adhesive layer 2a', and an ink ribbon 2b (made of polyester or the like) provided with meltable (thermoplastic) ink, which print strip 2a and ink ribbon 2b are separated from each other by a low-silicone or silicone free separation layer 2c; a thermal print head 3, arranged for printing the print strip 2a under the control of printer control means (not shown) by heating the ink of the printer ribbon 2b fed along the print head 3 by supply means (for example comprising drive and / or guide rollers 4); output means 5 for outputting the printed self-adhesive print strip; discharge means 6, comprising discharge rollers 6a and a discharge reel 6b, for discharging the residue of the multi-layer printer ribbon 2, namely the (used) ink ribbon 2b including unused ink, and the separation layer 2c, which protected the print head 3 from contamination with ink from the ink ribbon 2b during printing.

[0013] Furthermore, according to the invention, separation means are provided, arranged

[0014] (a) for splitting off, for example at a splitting location S, the print strip 2a on the one hand and the assembly ("2c+2b") of the separation layer 2c and the ink ribbon 2b on the other hand and (b) for either turning the print strip 2a or (as shown in Figure 1) turning the assembly of the separation layer 2c and the ink ribbon 2b, so that said assembly of the separation layer 2c and the ink ribbon 2b is fed by the supply means 4, together with the print strip 2a, along the print head 3, the separation layer then being on the side of the print head 3 (at the top in Figure 1), then, counting from the print head 3 (downwards), the ink ribbon 2a and finally, furthest away from the print head 3 (i.e. at the bottom in Figure 1), the print strip 2a.

[0015] In the configuration shown schematically in Figure 1 , the splitting means are arranged in such a way that - at location S - initially (at time t1) only the self-adhesive print strip 2a is removed from the supply module 1 ("split off", see the arrow at location S) and fed to the print head 3 by the supply means 4, while the assembly of separation layer 2c and ink ribbon 2b first remains on the supply module for approximately one more revolution in Figure 1 or a large part thereof and only then, in this case after that approximately one revolution, is removed from the supply module 1 at time t2, for example at or near location S, and then fed to the print head 3 by the supply means 4.

[0016] By first removing the print strip 2a and only then, in the second instance, after approximately one revolution, the assembly of separation layer 2c plus ink ribbon 2b, it is achieved that the separation ribbon 2c, which, rolled up on the supply module 1 , was enclosed between the self-adhesive print strip 2a and the ink ribbon 2b (see enlargement of figure 1b), comes to lie on the outside, then makes another revolution on the supply reel 1 - and thus turns over, and then, together with the ink ribbon, is fed to the print head, whereby the separation layer then comes to lie (in figure 1 at the top) between the print head 3 and the ink ribbon 2b, whereby the print head 3 is shielded from the ink ribbon 2b by the separation layer 2c, so that the print head 3 cannot be contaminated by the ink of the ink ribbon 2b, while the melting heat for the thermal ink excited by the print head effortlessly passes through the separation layer 2c.

[0017] In order to ensure that the removal / splitting of the print strip 2a on the one hand and the ink ribbon 2b on the other hand proceeds smoothly and without problems, the separation layer 2c between the print strip 2a and the ink ribbon 2b preferably comprises a so-called release layer or coating, whereby a Radical Curing Release Coating or a Cationic Curing Release Coating (https: / / phoenixrelease.com / product) give excellent results. Figure 1 b shows schematically an exemplary embodiment of the structure of a multi-layer printer ribbon according to the invention, comprising a self-adhesive print strip 2a to be printed with ink and an ink ribbon 2b provided with meltable ink, which print strip 2a and ink ribbon 2b are separated from each other by a low-silicone or silicone free separation layer 2c. The separation layer 2c preferably comprises a so-called release layer or coating.

[0018] Thus, the present invention provides an LLTTR printer arranged to use multilayer printer ribbons that do not contain an environmentally undesirable silicone layer to protect the print head.

Claims

CLAIMS1. LLTTR printer, comprising a supply module (1), arranged to store and dispense a multi-layer printer ribbon (2), comprising a self-adhesive print strip (2a, 2a') to be printed with ink and an ink ribbon (2b) provided with meltable ink, which print strip and ink ribbon are separated from each other by a low-silicone or silicone free separation layer (2c); a thermal print head (3), arranged to print the print strip under the control of printer control means by heating the ink of the printer ribbon fed along the print head by supply means (4); output means (5) for outputting the printed self-adhesive print strip; discharge means (6a, 6b) for discharging the residue of the multi-layer printer ribbon; wherein separation means are provided, arranged to separate the print strip on the one hand and the assembly of the separation layer and the ink ribbon on the other hand and to turn either the print strip or the assembly of the separation layer and the ink ribbon, so that said assembly of the separation layer (2c) and the ink ribbon (2b), together with the print strip (2a), is guided along the print head (3), the separation layer being located on the side of the print head.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the separation means are arranged such that the self-adhesive print strip is removed from the supply module at a time t1 and then fed to the print head by the supply means, while the assembly of separation layer and ink ribbon first remains on the supply module, for example for approximately one more revolution or a large part thereof, and only then, at a time t2, is removed from the supply module and then fed to the print head by the supply means.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the separation layer comprises a so-called release layer or coating, for example a Radical Curing Release Coating or a Cationic Curing Release Coating.

4. Multi-layer printer ribbon (2), comprising a self-adhesive print strip (2a) to be printed with ink and an ink ribbon (2b) provided with meltable ink, which printstrip and ink ribbon are separated from each other by a low-silicone or silicone free separation layer (2c).

5. Multilayer printer ribbon according to claim 4, wherein the separation layer comprises a so-called release layer or coating, for example a Radical Curing Release Coating or a Cationic Curing Release Coating.

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