Leader film on a ribbon supply roll

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10195883-B2
Application number	US-201715411066-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2017
Priority date	Jan 20, 2016
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

A ribbon supply includes a supply spool and a ribbon material wound onto the supply spool. A tack down bond prevents unwinding of the ribbon material from the supply spool. A leader film extends from the tack down bond, with the leader film having a length that is sufficient to allow installation of the ribbon supply and connection of the leader film to a take-up spool without detaching the tack down bond.

First claim

The invitation claimed is:

1. A ribbon supply comprising:
a supply spool;
unused ribbon material wound onto the supply spool;
a tack down bond that prevents unwinding of a majority of the unused ribbon material from the supply spool;
the unused ribbon material includes a first end and a second end, the first end is fixed to the supply spool, and the tack down bond is positioned closer to the second end than to the first end; and
a leader film that extends from the tack down bond, the leader film has a length that allows connection of the leader film to a take-up spool without detaching the tack down bond.

2. The ribbon supply of claim 1 , wherein the leader film is formed from a material that is different than the unused ribbon material.

3. The ribbon supply of claim 1 , wherein the leader film has a thickness of from about 0.5 mil to about 2.0 mil.

4. The ribbon supply of claim 3 , wherein the leader film has a thickness of about 1.0 mil.

5. The ribbon supply of claim 1 , wherein the leader film is formed from polyester.

6. The ribbon supply of claim 1 , wherein the unused ribbon material is a print ribbon, a retransfer film, a laminate ribbon, a topcoat ribbon, a cleaning ribbon, a holographic film, an embossed character tipping/topping foil, or an indent foil.

7. The ribbon supply of claim 1 , wherein the unused ribbon material is a monochromatic print-ribbon or a print ribbon with multi-color panels.

8. A ribbon supply comprising:
a supply spool;
a ribbon material wound onto the supply spool;
a tack down bond that prevents unwinding of the ribbon material from the supply spool; and
a leader film that extends from the tack down bond, the leader film has a length that allows connection of the leader film to a take-up spool without detaching the tack down bond;
wherein the ribbon material has a width, and the tack down bond extends the entire width of the ribbon material.

Assignees

• Entrust Datacard Corp

Inventors

• Cronin Patrick C
• Paulson Arthur J
• Kalthoff James A

Classifications

• B65H2301/4151

  Starting unwinding process · CPC title

• B65H18/28 Primary

  Wound package of webs · CPC title

• B41J33/006 Primary

  Arrangements to attach the ribbon to the spool · CPC title

• B65H2701/175

  Plastic · CPC title

• B65H19/102

  Preparing the leading end of the replacement web before splicing operation; Adhesive arrangements on leading end of replacement web; Tabs and adhesive tapes for splicing · CPC title