Typewriting machines – Typing by other than type-face or type-die – Thermal
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-27
2001-02-20
Hilten, John S. (Department: 2854)
Typewriting machines
Typing by other than type-face or type-die
Thermal
C400S613000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190065
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Art
The present invention relates generally to a thermal imaging tape cartridge for use in a label or strip printer or the like, and more particularly to a thermal imaging tape cartridge having a spool of thermal imaging tape with the view side facing outwardly and a spool of double sided adhesive laminating film for application to the substrate side of the thermal imaging tape.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A great number of supply cartridges exist for use in connection with label or strip printers or the like. These cartridges are exemplified by and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,927,278; 4,983,058 and 5,419,648. These patents all disclose a cartridge housing, a supply of printing or image carrying tape, a supply of ink or transfer ribbon, and a supply of double sided adhesive or laminating tape to be applied between the image carrying tape and the substrate after printing. All of the cartridges disclosed in the above patents are characterized by the existence of an ink or transfer ribbon for transferring a desired image from the ink ribbon to the printing tape.
Supply cartridges also exist which contain a supply of printing tape in which an image is formed directly onto the tape via thermal imaging techniques. This type of cartridge is exemplified by and disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,474,968; 5,494,365; 5,518,328, and 5,435,658. In these cartridges, the tape is housed within the cartridge on a spool in which the view side of the tape faces inwardly so as to protect the thermal sensitive portion of the tape from heat or light. The image in these cartridges is also formed right side up on the top or view side of the tape. The tape in such cartridges generally includes a peel off adhesive which enables the printed image carrying tape to be applied to a substrate at a desired position. When this is done, however, the view side of the tape upon which the image is formed is exposed to the environment and normal handling. Thus, it is subject to being scratched, smudged, and simply worn away over time. Although attempts have been made such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,968 to provide a protective layer on the thermal sensitive layer to provide the image layer with protection, there continues to be a need to improve upon this process.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a tape supply cartridge having an image carrying tape of the thermal imaging type without the need for an ink transfer ribbon in which the image is provided with improved protection against scratches, abrasions and other normal wear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In contrast to the prior art, the present invention relates to a supply cartridge for use with a label or strip printer or the like in which the image receiving tape is of the thermal imaging type and in which the cartridge further includes a double sided adhesive tape for application to the substrate and image carrying side of the image receiving tape. With such a structure, and contrary to the prior art, the image is formed on the thermal imaging tape on the side of the tape opposite the view side. Thus, after formation of the image and application of the double sided adhesive tape, the thermally formed image is viewed from the view side of the image receiving tape through the thickness of the tape. Thus, it is important that the image receiving tape be sufficiently transparent or translucent to allow the image to be viewed through the thickness of such tape.
More specifically, the cartridge in accordance with the present invention, is designed for use with a thermal printing device of the type having a cartridge receiving cavity and a print assembly comprising a print head and a platen in which the print head and platen are movable toward and away from one another between print and non-print positions, respectively. The cartridge includes a housing with a pair of spaced, substantially parallel side walls and an edge wall joined to the side walls and extending along a substantial portion of the peripheral edges of the side walls. A supply of image receiving tape of the thermal imaging type is contained within the housing on a spool. The thermal imaging tape includes a view side which faces away from the center of the spool and a substrate side which faces towards the center of the spool. The substrate side of the tape includes a thermal sensitive coating for thermal imaging when exposed to heat.
The cartridge further includes a spool of double sided adhesive lamination tape. After the image has been thermally formed on the substrate side on the image carrying tape, one adhesive side of the lamination tape is brought into engagement with, and secured to, the substrate side of the image carrying tape over the generated image. Following removal of the tape combination from the cartridge, a peel off layer on the second adhesive side of the lamination tape is removed and the tape combination is applied to a substrate at a desired position.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved supply cartridge for use in a strip or label printer or the like in which the image receiving tape is of the thermal imaging type and in which the indicia on the tape are intended for viewing through the tape.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved thermal imaging tape which is highly resistant to abrasion, scratches and wear.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a supply cartridge for a strip or label printer or the like housing an image receiving tape and double sided adhesive tape which is simpler in construction and cheaper than cartridges currently available.
These and other objects will become apparent with reference to the drawings, the description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4836697 (1989-06-01), Plotnick et al.
patent: 4927278 (1990-05-01), Kuzuya et al.
patent: 4983058 (1991-01-01), Nagae
patent: 5222818 (1993-06-01), Akiyama et al.
patent: 5419648 (1995-05-01), Nagao et al.
patent: 5435658 (1995-07-01), Hasegawa
patent: 5494365 (1996-02-01), Nagae et al.
patent: 5518328 (1996-05-01), Okuchi et al.
patent: 5593241 (1997-01-01), Kawaguchi
patent: 5601375 (1997-02-01), Sims et al.
patent: 5813773 (1998-09-01), Kawai
patent: 467414 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 403297679 (1991-12-01), None
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Hilten John S.
Kroy LLC
Nguyen Anthony H.
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