| 摘要 |
Disclosed herein is a ribbon wiper that is disposed within a ribbon cartridge. The ribbon cartridge can contain a ribbon and be employed by a thermal printer. The ribbon wiper is capable of removing debris and other contaminants from a printhead surface of the ribbon. The printhead surface of the ribbon is that surface that faces the printhead, and opposes the ink surface of the ribbon, during printing. Debris disposed on the printhead surface of the ribbon can hinder or obstruct thermal contact between one or more thermal elements on the thermal printhead. In such cases, the thermal element can lack the ability to properly produce a dot on a media as instructed by the thermal printer. Further, debris disposed on the printhead surface of the ribbon can accumulate on the printhead proximate thermal elements and prevent generation of multiple or consecutive dots. If the collection of debris continues, thermal elements can ultimately be disabled causing voids, streaks, and scratches to undesirably appear in a printed image. Ribbon rollers can bias the ribbon toward, and upon, the ribbon wiper. Also, ribbon rollers, as well as a take-up roller, can supply tension to the ribbon to urge the ribbon toward, and upon, the ribbon wiper. Further, the ribbon wiper can be replaced simultaneously with the ribbon cartridge when the supply of ribbon within the ribbon cartridge is exhausted.
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