EP0041099B1 - A ribbon for non-impact printing - Google Patents

A ribbon for non-impact printing Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0041099B1
EP0041099B1 EP19810101361 EP81101361A EP0041099B1 EP 0041099 B1 EP0041099 B1 EP 0041099B1 EP 19810101361 EP19810101361 EP 19810101361 EP 81101361 A EP81101361 A EP 81101361A EP 0041099 B1 EP0041099 B1 EP 0041099B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ribbon
resistive
layer
aluminium
impact printing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19810101361
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0041099A1 (en
Inventor
Walter Crooks
Karl John Fowler
William Joseph Weiche
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
International Business Machines Corp
Original Assignee
International Business Machines Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Business Machines Corp filed Critical International Business Machines Corp
Publication of EP0041099A1 publication Critical patent/EP0041099A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0041099B1 publication Critical patent/EP0041099B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J31/00—Ink ribbons; Renovating or testing ink ribbons
    • B41J31/05—Ink ribbons having coatings other than impression-material coatings

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a ribbon for non-impact printing. Printing is accomplished with such ribbons by transferring ink from the ribbon to paper by means of localized heating of the ribbon.
  • the heating is obtained by contacting the ribbon with point electrodes and a broad area contact electrode.
  • the high current density in the neighbourhood of the point electrodes during an applied voltage pulse produces intense local heating which causes transfer of dye from the ribbon to a paper in contact with the ribbon.
  • Resistive ribbon printing per se is well known in the prior art. See, for example, U.S. Patent 3,744,611. This patent is typical of the current state of the art and it teaches a resistive ribbon containing three layers: (1) a resistive layer, (2) a conductive layer, and (3) a heat transferrable ink layer.
  • U.S. Patents 3,978,247 and 4,088,442 show operations involving the transfer of dye by sublimation.
  • U.S. Patent 4,032,691 deals with a recording material and shows sublimation of a heat sensitive layer exposed to radiation. None of these patents, however, is in any way concerned with resistive ribbon printing.
  • a resistive ribbon for non-impact printing characterised in that the ribbon includes a resistive substrate layer containing a sublimable dye and an electrically conductive layer of aluminium having a thickness of from 200A to 8000A.
  • the present invention provides a resistive ribbon for non-impact printing containing only two layers instead of the conventional three layers. These layers are the resistive substrate layer in which the sublimable dye is incorporated and the electrically conductive layer of aluminium.
  • the present invention thus results in a greatly simplified ribbon capable of being manufactured more readily than has been the case in the past.
  • the thickness of the aluminium conductive layer is a critical feature of the present invention. In order to provide proper electric conductivity, the aluminium layer should be at least 200A thick. On the other hand, if the aluminium is too thick, the sublimable dye cannot pass through it. The aluminium layer therefore should be no thicker than 8000A. The optimum thickness is about 400A It was an unexpected finding of the present invention that the sublimable dye could successfully pass through an aluminium layer this thick.
  • the present invention is capable of being used with any known resistive substrate.
  • U.S. Patent 4,103,066 describes such a substrate made of polycarbonate resin containing electrically conductive carbon particles. Such a substrate has given very satisfactory results with the present invention.
  • Substrates made of polyester resin containing carbon particles may also be used in ribbons embodying the present invention such substrates may also include in addition to polycarbonate resin and carbon black, a block copolymer of bisphenol A carbonate and dimethyl siloxane.
  • any sublimable dye of choice may be used with the present invention.
  • a preferred example is crystal violet.
  • Other useful dyes include, for example Subla Print Black (L.B. Holliday, Ltd.), Sudan Blue, and Alcian Blue (Registered Trade Marks).
  • the resistive layer should be from about 5 to 25 microns thick, and the sublimable dye should be from about 30% to about 40% by weight.
  • a resistive ribbon was formulated as follows: 8.25 grams of polycarbonate, 3.5 grams of electrically conductive carbon black and 4.0 grams of crystal violet was dispersed in 156 grams of dichloromethane. The dispersion was formed into a coating having a final thickness of 17 microns. It was then coated by vacuum deposition with a layer of aluminium having a thickness of 200A. The ribbon is then mounted on a print robot against paper with a print head consisting of tungsten electrodes engaged against the backside. Very good quality print was obtained at 10 inches (25.4 cm) per second using a current of 50 milliamps. The print had a violet colour.
  • a resistive layer as described above was coated and a layer of aluminium was vacuum deposited to a thickness of 5000A.
  • Print was obtained in the manner described in Example I. The print was violet in colour.
  • a resistive layer was prepared in the manner described in Example I excpet the crystal violet was replaced with Subla Print Black (L.B. Holliday, Ltd.). The layer was coated with a vacuum deposition of aluminium, 200A thick. Print was obtained in the same manner as Example I. Print was black in colour.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a ribbon for non-impact printing. Printing is accomplished with such ribbons by transferring ink from the ribbon to paper by means of localized heating of the ribbon. The heating is obtained by contacting the ribbon with point electrodes and a broad area contact electrode. The high current density in the neighbourhood of the point electrodes during an applied voltage pulse produces intense local heating which causes transfer of dye from the ribbon to a paper in contact with the ribbon.
  • Resistive ribbon printing per se is well known in the prior art. See, for example, U.S. Patent 3,744,611. This patent is typical of the current state of the art and it teaches a resistive ribbon containing three layers: (1) a resistive layer, (2) a conductive layer, and (3) a heat transferrable ink layer.
  • U.S. Patents 3,978,247 and 4,088,442 show operations involving the transfer of dye by sublimation. U.S. Patent 4,032,691 deals with a recording material and shows sublimation of a heat sensitive layer exposed to radiation. None of these patents, however, is in any way concerned with resistive ribbon printing.
  • According to the invention there is provided a resistive ribbon for non-impact printing characterised in that the ribbon includes a resistive substrate layer containing a sublimable dye and an electrically conductive layer of aluminium having a thickness of from 200A to 8000A.
  • The present invention provides a resistive ribbon for non-impact printing containing only two layers instead of the conventional three layers. These layers are the resistive substrate layer in which the sublimable dye is incorporated and the electrically conductive layer of aluminium. The present invention thus results in a greatly simplified ribbon capable of being manufactured more readily than has been the case in the past.
  • The thickness of the aluminium conductive layer is a critical feature of the present invention. In order to provide proper electric conductivity, the aluminium layer should be at least 200A thick. On the other hand, if the aluminium is too thick, the sublimable dye cannot pass through it. The aluminium layer therefore should be no thicker than 8000A. The optimum thickness is about 400A It was an unexpected finding of the present invention that the sublimable dye could successfully pass through an aluminium layer this thick.
  • The present invention is capable of being used with any known resistive substrate. U.S. Patent 4,103,066 describes such a substrate made of polycarbonate resin containing electrically conductive carbon particles. Such a substrate has given very satisfactory results with the present invention. Substrates made of polyester resin containing carbon particles may also be used in ribbons embodying the present invention such substrates may also include in addition to polycarbonate resin and carbon black, a block copolymer of bisphenol A carbonate and dimethyl siloxane.
  • Any sublimable dye of choice may be used with the present invention. A preferred example is crystal violet. Other useful dyes include, for example Subla Print Black (L.B. Holliday, Ltd.), Sudan Blue, and Alcian Blue (Registered Trade Marks). In general, the resistive layer should be from about 5 to 25 microns thick, and the sublimable dye should be from about 30% to about 40% by weight.
    • Example I
  • A resistive ribbon was formulated as follows: 8.25 grams of polycarbonate, 3.5 grams of electrically conductive carbon black and 4.0 grams of crystal violet was dispersed in 156 grams of dichloromethane. The dispersion was formed into a coating having a final thickness of 17 microns. It was then coated by vacuum deposition with a layer of aluminium having a thickness of 200A. The ribbon is then mounted on a print robot against paper with a print head consisting of tungsten electrodes engaged against the backside. Very good quality print was obtained at 10 inches (25.4 cm) per second using a current of 50 milliamps. The print had a violet colour.
    • Example II
  • A resistive layer as described above was coated and a layer of aluminium was vacuum deposited to a thickness of 5000A. Print was obtained in the manner described in Example I. The print was violet in colour.
    • Example III
  • A resistive layer was prepared in the manner described in Example I excpet the crystal violet was replaced with Subla Print Black (L.B. Holliday, Ltd.). The layer was coated with a vacuum deposition of aluminium, 200A thick. Print was obtained in the same manner as Example I. Print was black in colour.

Claims (4)

1. A resistive ribbon for non-impact printing characterised in that the ribbon includes a resistive substrate layer containing a sublimable dye and an electrically conductive layer of aluminium having a thickness of from 200 A to 8000 A (2 x 10-8 m to 80 x 10-8 m).
2. A ribbon as claimed in Claim 1, in which the thickness of the conductive layer is about 400 A (4 x 10-8 m).
3. A ribbon as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the resistive layer comprises a resin and conductive carbon.
4. A ribbon as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the sublimable dye is crystal violet.
EP19810101361 1980-05-30 1981-02-25 A ribbon for non-impact printing Expired EP0041099B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15465880A 1980-05-30 1980-05-30
US154658 1980-05-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0041099A1 EP0041099A1 (en) 1981-12-09
EP0041099B1 true EP0041099B1 (en) 1983-11-09

Family

ID=22552216

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19810101361 Expired EP0041099B1 (en) 1980-05-30 1981-02-25 A ribbon for non-impact printing

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0041099B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS5921791B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1153550A (en)
DE (1) DE3161346D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4470714A (en) * 1982-03-10 1984-09-11 International Business Machines Corporation Metal-semiconductor resistive ribbon for thermal transfer printing and method for using
US4692044A (en) * 1985-04-30 1987-09-08 International Business Machines Corporation Interface resistance and knee voltage enhancement in resistive ribbon printing

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AT230910B (en) * 1961-01-11 1964-01-10 Establissement Consulting Ribbon

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3161346D1 (en) 1983-12-15
EP0041099A1 (en) 1981-12-09
JPS5711080A (en) 1982-01-20
CA1153550A (en) 1983-09-13
JPS5921791B2 (en) 1984-05-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA1085237A (en) Ribbon for non-impact printing
US4484200A (en) Non-impact recording apparatus
US4461586A (en) Ink ribbon for use in electrothermic non-impact recording
EP0053671B1 (en) Polyurethane ribbon for non-impact printing
CA1127843A (en) Tear resistant ribbon for non-impact printing
EP0041099B1 (en) A ribbon for non-impact printing
US5348931A (en) Sublimation-type thermal image transfer recording medium
US4415903A (en) Electric ink transfer recording method
US4775578A (en) Colored ink ribbon of electrothermal transfer type for thermal printers
US4308318A (en) Rub resistant ribbon for non-impact printing
US4678701A (en) Resistive printing ribbon having improved properties
US4425569A (en) Non-impact recording method and apparatus
EP0404959B1 (en) Current-carrying heat transfer sheet
CA1172037A (en) Polyvinyl acetate layer for thermal transfer printing
EP0200523B1 (en) Resistive ribbon for use in resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing
US5387460A (en) Thermal printing ink medium
EP0427212A2 (en) Line-type thermal transfer recording method and apparatus
EP0384783A1 (en) Method of manufacturing a ribbon for non-impact printing of documents
JPH01130968A (en) Resistive ribbon for heat transfer, printer using said ribbon and manufacture of said ribbon
Pennington et al. Resistive ribbon thermal transfer printing: A historical review and introduction to a new printing technology
JPS6353088A (en) Ink ribbon for converting dyestuff under working of heat
US5264271A (en) Electrothermal transfer sheet
US5258351A (en) Electrothermal transfer sheet
EP0116313B1 (en) Printable media for use in non-impact printing and methods of producing such media
EP0129379A2 (en) Media and method for printing

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19820105

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 19831109

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3161346

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19831215

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: GC

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: TP

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 19930111

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19930112

Year of fee payment: 13

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 19930129

Year of fee payment: 13

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19940225

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19940225

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Effective date: 19941031

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19941101

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST