Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A thermal transfer printer has a thermal print head with a number of thermal print elements which are operated by power electronics and controlled by a control unit to print an imprint on a medium by thermally transferring ink from an inking ribbon to the medium by energization of selected print elements by the control unit, with the inking ribbon and the medium being movably disposed between the print head and a counter-roller with the inking ribbon being unwound from a supply reel and wound onto a take-up reel. In a method and apparatus for preventing usage of an unauthorized inking ribbon, an authorization marking is produced on the inking ribbon which embodies an authorization code. The same authorization code is stored in a memory accessible by the control unit. The authorization code is read from the inking ribbon prior to using the inking ribbon to produce an imprint, and a corresponding signal is generated. The signal is compared to the stored authorization code, and the control unit authorizes printing by the print head only in the event of a match between the signal and the stored authorization code.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim