Color printer and multi-ribbon cartridge therefor

摘要

A color printer includes a print head assembly including a plurality of independently actuable print heads serially arranged along a printing direction. Each print head includes a plurality of impact pins and an associated different color printing ribbon having a portion disposed between the associated print head and a media to be printed upon. The serial alignment of the print heads enables four color images to be produced by a single pass of the print head assembly along the media in a printing direction. Control apparatus includes pulse modulation circuitry for controlling the impact force of each impact pin to cause intensity modulation of printed colored marks. In addition, a feedback system enables the control apparatus to vary the impact force of each impact pin to maintain good color fidelity. An ink ribbon cartridge includes a plurality of compartments with each compartment having a ribbon supply area and an associated pathway for passage of a ribbon loop exterior to the compartments, said ribbon loops being disposed in a line along a front face of the cartridge frame. Drive apparatus circulates each ribbon from the supply over to the pathways and back into the supply area during which time each ribbon is rotated 180 DEG about a longitudinal axis thereon.