Patent ID: 6493017
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A color printer comprising:an ink ribbon capable of moving in a predetermined direction, comprising a plurality of dye regions sequentially arranged in said predetermined direction on said ink ribbon, and each of said dye regions comprising a plurality of dye frames for carrying dye of different colors; a print head for transferring said dye of different colors stored in said dye frames onto an object to form a desired pattern; a ribbon driving device for causing said ink ribbon to move in said predetermined direction; a plurality of optical detecting devices mounted adjacent to said ink ribbon and arranged sequentially along said predetermined direction, wherein at least two output signals are detected when each of said optical detecting devices senses a dye frame, and wherein each said output signal is defined as a phase; and a controller for controlling said color printer; wherein position of said ink ribbon is discerned by said controller according to said phase and phase-to-phase variation recorded by said optical detecting devices when said controller commands said ribbon driving device to move said ink ribbon.