Two-color point of sale printing

Patent 6863373 Issued on March 8, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date:

February 24, 2023. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Payne, Stephen R.

Assignee

TransAct Technologies Incorporated

Application

No. 10372677 filed on 02/24/2003

US Classes:

347/43Color type

Examiners

Primary: Nguyen, Thinh

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Foreign Patent References

0 596 505 EP 05/01/1994
0 643 529 EP 03/01/1995
0 671 354 EP 09/01/1995

International Class

B41J002/21

Abstract

A 2-color ink jet point of sale (POS) printer includes a converter for converting full color printing commands into commands for printing in two colors, a primary color and an alternate color. A three color image is possible when using the background color of the paper as a color. The printer includes a print carriage which contains only two print cartridges. The printer determines a location of the print cartridge relative to a print location of the image to be printed, and when the print cartridges are both on one side of the print location, the print carriages traverses the paper in one direction, printing first with the primary color and then with the alternate color on the same pass. After the paper is advanced in the printer, the print carriage traverses the paper in the other direction, with the alternate color printing before the primary color.

Other References

Patent Abstracts of Japan, Abstract of Japanese Patent “POS Terminal Equipment”, Publication no. 09147235, Jun. 6, 1997, Application No. 07309063, Filed Nov. 11, 1995.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, Abstract of Japanese Patent “Portable Terminal Equipment with Two-Color Printing Thermal Printer”, Publication no. 09327939, Dec, 22, 1997, Application No. 08147604, Filed Jun. 10, 1996.