A bidirectional ribbon supply system for a printer includes: a shaft supported by a frame of the printer, the shaft to rotate about an axis; a pulley affixed to the shaft; and a bias member coupled between the frame and the pulley to apply a force to the pulley in either of a first or second direction responsive to rotation of the pulley in the other of the first or second direction, wherein rotation of a spindle supported on the shaft in the first direction dispenses inside-coated ribbon toward a printhead, and rotation of the spindle in the second direction dispenses outside-coated ribbon toward the printhead.

In accordance with an embodiment, a ribbon holding shaft winds an ink ribbon before printing. A ribbon winding shaft winds the ink ribbon after printing to collect the ink ribbon. A feed motor rotationally drives the ribbon holding shaft. A winding motor rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft. A detection module detects slackness of the ink ribbon stretched between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft. A ribbon feed control module forward rotates the winding motor to draw out the ink ribbon from the ribbon holding shaft to the printing section and further controls the ribbon winding shaft to wind the ink ribbon. A reverse rotation control module reversely rotates the feed motor to stretch the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft if the detection module detects the slackness of the ink ribbon.

In accordance with an embodiment, a ribbon holding shaft winds an ink ribbon before printing. A ribbon winding shaft winds the ink ribbon after printing to collect the ink ribbon. A feed motor rotationally drives the ribbon holding shaft. A winding motor rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft. A detection module detects slackness of the ink ribbon stretched between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft. A ribbon feed control module forward rotates the winding motor to draw out the ink ribbon from the ribbon holding shaft to the printing section and further controls the ribbon winding shaft to wind the ink ribbon. A reverse rotation control module reversely rotates the feed motor to stretch the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft if the detection module detects the slackness of the ink ribbon.

A method of operating a transfer printer (1), the transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool (3,4) of ribbon (2), a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon (2) from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path, and a printhead (7), the printhead being configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate is moved relative to the printhead in a direction of substrate movement. The method comprises driving the ribbon in a direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, printing a first plurality of images onto a first respective plurality of substrates, driving the ribbon in a direction opposite to the direction of substrate movement, driving the ribbon in the direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, and printing a second plurality of images onto a second respective plurality of substrates. Printing each image of the first and second pluralities of images results in corresponding pluralities of first (15 a, b, c) and second (16 a, b, c) negative images being formed on the ribbon, wherein each negative image of the first plurality of negative images (15 a, b, c) is located adjacent a negative image of the second plurality of negative images (16 a, b, c) on the ribbon.

A method of operating a transfer printer (1), the transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool (3,4) of ribbon (2), a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon (2) from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path, and a printhead (7), the printhead being configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate is moved relative to the printhead in a direction of substrate movement. The method comprises driving the ribbon in a direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, printing a first plurality of images onto a first respective plurality of substrates, driving the ribbon in a direction opposite to the direction of substrate movement, driving the ribbon in the direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, and printing a second plurality of images onto a second respective plurality of substrates. Printing each image of the first and second pluralities of images results in corresponding pluralities of first (15 a, b, c) and second (16 a, b, c) negative images being formed on the ribbon, wherein each negative image of the first plurality of negative images (15 a, b, c) is located adjacent a negative image of the second plurality of negative images (16 a, b, c) on the ribbon.

Proposed is a dye-sublimation printer, and more particularly to a dye-sublimation printer that can systematically control upward and downward movements of a pick-up roller, upward and downward movements of a platen roller, and driving of a take-up reel gear according to forward and backward movements of a slide plate.

Proposed is a dye-sublimation printer, and more particularly to a dye-sublimation printer that can systematically control upward and downward movements of a pick-up roller, upward and downward movements of a platen roller, and driving of a take-up reel gear according to forward and backward movements of a slide plate.

In accordance with an embodiment, a ribbon holding shaft winds an ink ribbon before printing. A ribbon winding shaft winds the ink ribbon after printing to collect the ink ribbon. A feed motor rotationally drives the ribbon holding shaft. A winding motor rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft. A detection module detects slackness of the ink ribbon stretched between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft. A ribbon feed control module forward rotates the winding motor to draw out the ink ribbon from the ribbon holding shaft to the printing section and further controls the ribbon winding shaft to wind the ink ribbon. A reverse rotation control module reversely rotates the feed motor to stretch the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft if the detection module detects the slackness of the ink ribbon.

In accordance with an embodiment, a ribbon holding shaft winds an ink ribbon before printing. A ribbon winding shaft winds the ink ribbon after printing to collect the ink ribbon. A feed motor rotationally drives the ribbon holding shaft. A winding motor rotationally drives the ribbon winding shaft. A detection module detects slackness of the ink ribbon stretched between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft. A ribbon feed control module forward rotates the winding motor to draw out the ink ribbon from the ribbon holding shaft to the printing section and further controls the ribbon winding shaft to wind the ink ribbon. A reverse rotation control module reversely rotates the feed motor to stretch the ink ribbon between the ribbon holding shaft and the ribbon winding shaft if the detection module detects the slackness of the ink ribbon.

A method of operating a transfer printer (1), the transfer printer comprising first and second spool supports each being configured to support a spool (3,4) of ribbon (2), a ribbon drive configured to cause movement of ribbon (2) from the first spool support to the second spool support along a predetermined ribbon path, and a printhead (7), the printhead being configured to selectively transfer ink from the ribbon to a substrate as the substrate is moved relative to the printhead in a direction of substrate movement. The method comprises driving the ribbon in a direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, printing a first plurality of images onto a first respective plurality of substrates, driving the ribbon in a direction opposite to the direction of substrate movement, driving the ribbon in the direction parallel to the direction of substrate movement, and printing a second plurality of images onto a second respective plurality of substrates. Printing each image of the first and second pluralities of images results in corresponding pluralities of first (15 a, b, c) and second (16 a, b, c) negative images being formed on the ribbon, wherein each negative image of the first plurality of negative images (15 a, b, c) is located adjacent a negative image of the second plurality of negative images (16 a, b, c) on the ribbon.