High resolution resistive ribbon printing for typesetter application

Abstract

A study of serial resistive-ribbon thermal-transfer printing technology for typesetting application, including high-quality halftoning requirements is reported. Three major issues for printing at densities of nearly 1000 dots/in. have been addressed: the fabrication of high resolution printhead structures, the control of print current to compensate for spatial and temporal effects in the printing process, and the approach for ensuring very precise paper and printhead registration between successive passes of the printhead. In the IBM Quietwriter printer the printhead electrode pattern is defined in a 25μm thick tungsten foil by a wet etch process. It was found that patterning of the electrodes to a center-to-center distance of 25μm can now be achieved by use of a dry reactive ion etch process, and prototype printheads have been constructed for the printing experiments.