Rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon structure with lead tape

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rolled web and, more particularly, to a structure of a rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon with a lead tape, which has its production efficiency improved.

II. Description of the Prior Art

Thermal transfer carbon ribbons are widely used in printers, or the like, for printing indicia. Such ribbon has a leading end, which is the end that is charged or fed first into the printer. On a roll of ribbon, the leading end is the outer end. Since a thermal transfer carbon ribbon is thin and weak, however, a separate lead tape is usually adhered to the leading portion of the carbon ribbon, which is the portion adjacent the leading end, to ensure the strength of the carbon ribbon when the printer is to be charged with the carbon ribbon and also to protect the outer circumference of the carbon ribbon.

The step of adhering the lead tape to the leading portion of the thermal transfer carbon ribbon is not performed until after the leading end of the carbon ribbon rolled on a core has been cut. Specifically, the lead tape prepared in advance is applied to the previously cut leading portion of the rolled carbon ribbon. As a result, the production of the rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon with the lead tape requires such troublesome manual work that its production efficiency is low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the problem with the prior art. Its primary object is to provide a structure of a rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon with a lead tape, the production efficiency of which can be improved by conducting the lead tape adhering work on the carbon ribbon assembly line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an efficient process for producing the rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon structure with the lead tape.

According to the present invention, the rolled web structure comprises a rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon and a lead tape including a base and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer backing the base. The lead tape is adhered through its pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to the outer surface of the outermost circumference of a roll of the thermal transfer carbon ribbon in a substantially coextensive manner. This ensures the strength of the thermal transfer carbon ribbon when the thermal transfer carbon ribbon is used and it protects the outer circumference of the rolled ribbon. As a result, adhering of the lead tape to the thermal transfer carbon ribbon can be conducted on the carbon ribbon production or assembly line to improve the production efficiency of the structure of the rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon.

A process for producing a rolled web of thermal transfer carbon ribbon comprises a number of steps. One first lets off a thermal transfer carbon ribbon from a thickly rolled raw ribbon roll and takes up the thermal transfer carbon ribbon on a core. Next, one adheres a lead tape having an adhesive back to the running surface of the thermal transfer carbon ribbon immediately before the desired length of that ribbon is fully taken up. Then, one cuts the thermal transfer carbon ribbon at the trailing end of the just applied lead tape when the thermal transfer carbon ribbon is substantially fully taken up. Now, the cut end of the thermal transfer carbon ribbon, with the lead tape applied upon it, may provide a leading end when the thermal transfer carbon ribbon is later used.

In view of the foregoing, the lead tape adhering step can be conducted on the carbon ribbon web assembly line to improve the production efficiency of the structure of the rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of thermal transfer carbon ribbon;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the structure of a rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon with a lead tape according to the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view showing a process for producing a rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon for which a lead tape according to the present invention may be used is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the thermal transfer carbon ribbon 1 comprises a carbon ink layer 3 applied to the surface of a ribbon base 2. The thermal transfer carbon ribbon thus formed is rolled on a core C, as shown in FIG. 2, and a lead tape 5 is conventionally adhered to the leading or exposed end portion 4 of the carbon ribbon 1. The leading end portion 4 of the carbon ribbon 1 has a foremost or outer end 6 and the lead tape 5 protrudes well beyond the ribbon end 6.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an embodiment of the present invention is described below. However, the same parts or portions as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are indicated by the same reference numerals, and their repeated explanations are omitted.

A lead tape 10 is backed with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 11. The lead tape 10 thus formed is adhered through its pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 11 to the surface of the outermost circumference 12 of the thermal transfer carbon ribbon 1 in a substantially coextensive manner. As a result, the lead tape does not extend beyond the end of the carbon ribbon, but instead they have the same free end. Moreover, a double-coated adhesive tape 13 is used to temporarily adhere the coextensive ends of the lead tape 10 and the carbon ribbon 1 to the remaining rolled body of the carbon ribbon 1. The adhered position of the double-coated adhesive tape 13 may be located in accordance with the producing process and/or the material of the lead tape 10 such that the adhesive tape 13 is adhered to the outer surface or to the back or underside of the lead tape 10.

The lead tape 10 may be made of a flexible film of a material such as plastic or metal. In case paper is used as the material of the lead tape 10, however, it is desirable to form a layer of a parting agent on the surface of the lead tape 10. Moreover, the lead tape 10 may have an arbitrary length in accordance with the internal structure of the printer, or the like, to be charged with the thermal transfer carbon ribbon and/or the size of the roll of the carbon ribbon.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the process of producing the rolled thermal transfer carbon ribbon 1 with the lead tape 10. The carbon ribbon is let off from a thickly rolled raw ribbon roll 14 and is subsequently taken up on the core C after passing a guide roll 15. Then, the lead tape 10 is adhered to the running surface of the thermal transfer carbon ribbon 1 immediately before the preset length of the carbon ribbon 1 is fully taken up. After that, the carbon ribbon 1 is cut at the trailing end or rearmost end 16 of the lead tape 10 when the carbon ribbon 1 is substantially fully taken up. As a result, the cut end of the carbon ribbon 1 in turn provides a leading end when the printer, or the like, is to be subsequently charged with the carbon ribbon 1 on the core C.

As has been described hereinbefore, according to the present invention, the thermal transfer carbon ribbon need not previously have been cut when the lead tape is to be adhered thereto so that its production efficiency can be improved.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, many variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.