Patent ID: 6196737
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
Thermal printing mechanism for printing on objects, with a ribbon portion (6) formed by a printing ribbon (4) configured to be transported in a cassette (1) from a first spool (2, 3) onto an adjacent drivable second spool (3, 2), wherein the ribbon portion (6) is configured to be inserted between a printing head (10) and an adjustable counter-abutment (13) configured to be driven for conveying the objects, wherein the ribbon portion (6) is at least partially supported by the counter-abutment (13) and the printing head (10) acts on the ribbon portion (6) when printing the objects, wherein the cassette (1) is provided with means for moving the ribbon portion (6) stretched between the spools (2, 3) prior to insertion between the printing head (10) and the counter-abutment (13) into an inoperative position remote from the printing head (10) and the counter abutment (13), wherein the means for moving the ribbon portion (6) is a stirrup (8) moveably guided on the cassette housing (5) or pivotably mounted on the cassette housing (5) about an axis extending parallel to the axes of rotation of the spools, wherein the stirrup (8) has at the protruding or pivotable end thereof a guide rod (7) configured to act on the ribbon portion (6) at the inner side and over the width of the ribbon when the stirrup (8) is actuated.