RESISTIVE RIBBON SYSTEM FOR A COLOUR PRINTER

The present invention relates to a resistive ribbon system, for a colour printer, of the type comprising a resistive printing ribbon (10) including a resistive layer (52, 88) which produces localised heating to effect printing when an electric current is passed therethrough and a first layer (49, 94) of fusible resin of a first colour which extends adjacent to the resistive layer and is transferable when heated by said localised heating to perform a printing operation, and a colouring apparatus (42) for selectively applying a fusible resin of a second colour to the first layer of fusible resin of said first colour. A ribbon system in accordance with the invention is characterised in that the colouring apparatus (42) comprises a colour ribbon (64) including a substrate (96) and a layer (98) of fusible resin of the second colour on the substrate, and transfer means (70, 72, 78, 80) for transferring portions of the second resin layer (98) onto selected portions of the first resin layer (94) so that the portions of the second resin layer adhere to corresponding selected portions of the first resin layer. As a result the portions of the second resin layer adhering to the first resin layer can be used in a subsequent printing operation.