METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING RIBBON TENSION

摘要

A bi-directional handheld label printer (10) with a novel labeling media (22) and ink ribbon drive mechanism. A delay is introduced in the labeling media and ink ribbon (13) drive mechanism to pretension the ribbon prior to feeding labeling media and ribbon past the print head. When the drive motor (72) reverses direction, the drive roller (30) stalls momentarily while the take up ribbon drive spindle tensions the ribbon (13) in the desired direction.