Apparatus for re-inking a ribbon in a thermal transfer printing system

摘要

A doctor blade (9) is used to apply a powdered toner to the depleted regions (5) of a resistive thermal transfer ribbon comprising a resistive substrate (1) and a layer of thermally fusible ink (3). The ribbon is moved adjacent a heating electrode (13, 15) that passes current through the resistive substrate (1) of the ribbon so that a transverse line on the ribbon is heated and the added toner is fused in the depleted regions (5) of the ribbon. The heated area of the ribbon is thereafter compressed by a cold roller (17) to provide a uniform re-inked surface.