Importance

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Abstract

To conserve relatively expensive printing ribbon, in particular a thermal transfer ribbon, when a portion of the medium which is not to be printed, e.g. the space between two labels, passes through the printing area, after the end of the printing process for a first label or similar item, the thermal transfer ribbon is stopped, and simultaneously the application force of the print head, in particular of the thermal print head, against the counterpressure roller is neutralized, and when the next label or similar item to be printed arrives in the printing area, the pressure on the thermal print head is reactivated, and simultaneously the advance of the thermal transfer ribbon is resumed, whereby the controlled stopping of the thermal transfer ribbon is accomplished by means of a stopping device which stops the first spool from which the ribbon is unwound, and by means of a slip clutch which makes possible the simultaneous stopping of the second spool which winds up the ribbon, in spite of the fact that the drive motor continues to run.

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First Claim