Multicolor ink ribbon suitable for high-speed printing

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A multicolor ink ribbon comprises a plurality of differently-colored sections of ribbon which are grouped into a plurality of identical blocks. Each block has the same length and comprises the same number of differently-colored sections arranged in the same order. At the head of each block is a block identification code made of an opaque material which can be detected by an optical detector. In a preferred embodiment each, block comprises a yellow ribbon section a magenta ribbon, section, and a cyan ribbon section each section being separated, from the adjacent one by a separator made of an opaque material.