APPARATUS FOR RE-INKING A RIBBON IN A THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING SYSTEM

摘要

A doctor blade is used to apply a powdered toner to the depleted regions of a resistive thermal transfer ribbon. The ribbon is then moved adjacent a heating electrode that passes current through a resistive substrate of the ribbon so that a transverse line on the ribbon is heated and the added toner is fused in the depleted regions of the ribbon. The heated area of the ribbon is thereafter compressed by a cold roller to provide a uniform re-inked surface.