Patent ID: 6509920
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A method of identifying various positions of a color ink ribbon of a color printer, the ink ribbon of the color printer comprising a plurality of sequentially arranged color frames for storing different color dyes, a first boundary formed between a first color frame and a second color frame, a second boundary formed between the second color frame and a third color frame, the color printer comprising a thermal print head for printing the color dyes onto an object and a driving device for scrolling the ink ribbon relative to the thermal print head; the method comprising following steps:(1) emitting a first light beam through the ink ribbon; (2) detecting a first change of the first light beam penetrating through the ink ribbon when the first boundary moves across the print head; (3) emitting a second light beam through the ink ribbon; (4) stopping emitting the first light beam; (5) detecting a second change of the second light beam penetrating through the ink ribbon when the second boundary moves across the print head; (6) emitting the first light beam through the ink ribbon; and (7) stopping emitting the second light beam.