Patent ID: 7252443
Filing Date: 2007-08-07
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A printer capable of detecting status of unutilized ribbon, the printer comprising: a ribbon supply end comprising a shaft; a ribbon retrieving end; a ribbon wherein two ends are installed on the ribbon supply end and the ribbon retrieving end respectively; a print head for printing dye on the ribbon onto a print medium; a driving module for driving the ribbon supply end and the ribbon retrieving end, and to move the ribbon from the ribbon supply end to the ribbon retrieving end; a sensor module installed at each side of the ribbon supply end comprising a first contact sensor, and a second contact sensor installed between the first contact sensor and the ribbon supply end; and a control module for controlling the printer when the first contact sensor contacts the ribbon on the ribbon supply end according to whether the second contact sensor contacts the shaft of the ribbon supply end.