THERMAL IMPRINTER AND METHOD

摘要

An imprinting mechanism has a frame delineating a printing station. A printing carriage including a printer is reciprocatably carried by the frame. A drive is interposed between the carriage and the station for causing selective relative movement between the carriage and the station in printing and return directions. Spaced web supply and take-up mechanisms delineate the ends of a printing web path of travel from the supply past the station and the carriage tothe take-up. A web brake is provided which has an on position preventing relative web and carriage movement when the carriage and station are relatively moved in the return direction and an off position permitting relativetape and carriage movement when the carriage and station are relatively moved in the printing direction and the printer is printing.