RIBBON TRANSFER FOR COLOR-ON-DEMAND RESISTIVE RIBBON PRINTING

摘要

An improved technique and apparatus for color-on-demand resistive ribbon printing is provided in which selected colored ink layers are transferred to a resistive printing ribbon from a color-bearing ribbon, prior to resistive ribbon printing. The color ribbon and the resistive printing ribbon both contain ink layers, the only difference being that the ink layer in the printing ribbon is preferrably uncolored. When the ink layers on the two ribbons are brought into contact with one another and heated, the ink layers will become tacky and will adhere to one another. The temperatures of these ink layers are then reduced and the printing ribbon and the color ribbon are separated from one another to cause the colored ink layer on the color ribbon to separate from that ribbon and adhere to the printing ribbon, thus causing a transfer of the colored ink layer to the printing ribbon. After this, the resistive printing ribbon can be used to print colors.