Global Patent Index - EP 0640491 B1

EP 0640491 B1 19990602 - Method and apparatus for monitoring the operational state of an ink ribbon in a printer, particularly in a travel agency printer

Title (en)

Method and apparatus for monitoring the operational state of an ink ribbon in a printer, particularly in a travel agency printer

Title (de)

Verfahren und Einrichtung zum Erkennen des Funktionszustandes eines Farbbandes in einem Drucker, insbesondere in einem Reisebürodrucker

Title (fr)

Méthode et appareil pour détecter l'état de fonctionnement d'un ruban encreur dans une imprimante, en particulier dans une imprimante d'une agence de voyage

Publication

EP 0640491 B1 19990602 (DE)

Application

EP 94250183 A 19940720

Priority

DE 4329354 A 19930827

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0640491A2] The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting the operational state of an ink ribbon in a printer, in particular in a printer in a travel agency. The said ink ribbon is conveyed via an electric rotary actuator motor which is connected to the drive shaft of an ink ribbon cartridge, the magnitude of the transmitting drive force being inferred from the current taken up by the rotary actuator motor. According to the invention it is proposed that predetermined threshold values of the current characteristic (12) are detected during a measuring period (11) in which the rotary actuator motor (4) is operated in a pulsed manner, that, during this process, the value of the motor current pulse is compared with the threshold value in an evaluation unit (7), and that whenever the threshold value is exceeded a change in level takes place at the output of the evaluation unit (7) so that the resulting clock sequence is counted in a microprocessor (8) and used for the measurement result and for a display which is dependent thereon. <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

B41J 35/36

IPC 8 full level

B41J 35/36 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

B41J 35/36 (2013.01)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

CH DE FR GB LI

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0640491 A2 19950301; EP 0640491 A3 19960626; EP 0640491 B1 19990602; DE 4329354 A1 19950302; DE 59408337 D1 19990708

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 94250183 A 19940720; DE 4329354 A 19930827; DE 59408337 T 19940720