Patent ID: 7682094

Claim:
A tape drive for a transfer printing apparatus in which tape is selectively moved past a print head for transferring material on the tape onto a substrate intended to receive printing, the tape drive comprising: two motors, both of which are stepper motors; two tape spool supports on which spools of tape are mounted, each spool being drivable by a respective motor; a controller controlling energization of the motors such that the tape is transported in at least one tape transport direction between spools mounted on the spool supports; with the controller energizing both motors so that each motor rotates its respective spool of tape in a same angular direction of rotation as the other spool of tape when the tape has been wound on the spools in opposed directions of rotation to push-pull the tape between the spools in the direction of tape transport, or so that each motor rotates its respective spool of tape in an opposite angular direction of rotation as the other spool of tape when the tape has been wound on the spools in a same direction of rotation so as to push-pull the tape between the spools in the direction of tape transport, with one of the motors being energized by pulses from the controller to selectively rotate its respective spool for supplying a length of tape for tape transport and with the other motor being energized by pulses from the controller to selectively rotate its respective spool for taking-up a length of tape for tape transport; and, with the controller monitoring tension in the tape being transported between spools mounted on the spool supports and controlling the motors to maintain the monitored tension at an acceptable level.