US Patent:
20170136795, May 18, 2017
Inventors:
- Shakopee MN, US
James A. KALTHOFF - Shakopee MN, US
Alexander K. ZABOROWSKI - Shakopee MN, US
Bryan D. HOEVE - Shakopee MN, US
International Classification:
B41J 33/16
B65H 75/18
B65H 75/10
Abstract:
A mounting of a ribbon supply on a re-useable cartridge is described where the mounting is designed so that the supply friction, supply and control of the ribbon supply are substantially independent of the cartridge. When the supply rolls are initially mounted on the cartridge, the supply rolls are frictionally engaged with the cartridge to reduce the tendency for the supply rolls to rotate or move prior to being loaded into the printer, which would loosen the ribbon material by unwinding, thereby reducing slack in the ribbon material. When the cartridge is loaded into a card personalization machine, features on the card personalization machine automatically reduce the frictional engagement between the supply rolls and the cartridge, permitting the supply rolls to rotate substantially freely relative to the cartridge so that the supply friction, supply and control are substantially independent of the cartridge.