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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6666596 | Re-application of dye to a dye donor element of thermal printers Apparatus is disclosed for re-applying dye to a dye donor element of a dye transfer thermal printer. A reservoir contains a supply of dye that is thermally transferred from the reservoir to the dye donor element by diffusion of dye into the dye donor elem... | 12/23/2003 |
| 6055009 | Re-inkable belt heating Apparatus for printing on a moveable receiver images corresponding to a digital image includes a re-inkable belt which includes a polymer support layer and an ink transfer layer having a plurality of colored patches provided over the polymer support layer... | 04/25/2000 |
| 6037959 | Synchronious re-inking of a re-inkable belt Apparatus for replenishing dye from a re-inkable belt after such apparatus has transferred dye to form an image in response to image signals on a moveable receiver includes a re-inkable belt moveable along an endless path and having a plurality of separat... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5885013 | Re-application of dye to a dye donor element of thermal printers Apparatus is disclosed for re-applying dye to a dye donor element of a dye transfer thermal printer. A reservoir contains a supply of dye that is thermally transferred from the reservoir to the dye donor element by diffusion of dye into the dye donor elem... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5810927 | Ink temperature control The temperature of ink applied to a substrate during printing is controlled by directing air of controlled temperature at the ink by means of an ink temperature controlling device (9). The device comprises a fan (11) and a heater (12) for heating the air ... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5735617 | Adjustable printhead mount for document imaging apparatus A printhead assembly includes a member which cooperates with other printer structure to hold the printhead assembly in the printer An elongated printhead has a linear array of print elements that extend across at least a substantial portion of an image so... | 04/07/1998 |
| 5692844 | Re-application of dye to a dye donor element of thermal printers Apparatus is disclosed for re-applying dye to a dye donor element of a dye transfer thermal printer. A reservoir contains a supply of dye that is thermally transferred from the reservoir to the dye donor element by diffusion of dye into the dye donor elem... | 12/02/1997 |
| 5347344 | Method for recycling an ink sheet and thermal transfer printer using the same A thermal transfer printer capable of quickly starting after being turned on and reproducing high quality color images, includes a photosensitive roller forming a charge pattern according to an ink transferred portion on an ink sheet at a time that the ph... | 09/13/1994 |
| 5336000 | Thermal transfer type printer and method of rejuvenating an ink sheet employed in the printer A thermal transfer type printer having an ink sheet rejuvenation system and method for rejuvenation of an ink sheet used in the printer wherein the printer has a transport path for transporting the ink sheet past an ink deposition station for selective tr... | 08/09/1994 |
| 5170187 | Ink supply mechanism for a thermal ink-jet recording apparatus A thermal ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink film (21) having a plurality of apertures (22) for retaining ink and movable along a path in the form of a loop, the ink film having an electrical resistance material (35) extending in a direction perp... | 12/08/1992 |
| 5137382 | Inking device for a thermal printer An inking device for a thermal printer includes a hollow cylindrical inking roller made of a porous material and having a bladed wheel at the bottom of the cylindrical inking roller. The cylindrical inking roller supplies ink to an ink ribbon which contac... | 08/11/1992 |
| 5131768 | Replenishing an ink transfer sheet A method and apparatus for replenishing depleted portions of an ink layer of an ink sheet formed with a conductive ink layer disposed on an insulating layer from which ink has been transferred, without unintentionally supplying ink to undepleted portions ... | 07/21/1992 |
| 4982202 | Thermal printing cartridge A printing cartridge adapted for use with thermal transfer printing apparatus. The cartridge includes a frame defining first and second printing stations, a ribbon supply spool, and a ribbon take-up spool, both of the spools being rotatably mounted on the... | 01/01/1991 |
| 4882593 | Method and apparatus for carrying out transference recording of an ink image Image recording is indirectly achieved on a recording sheet via an intermediate transferring medium. First, the circumferential surface of a rotatable transferring medium having heat-transferable ink contained therein is fused or softened in response to i... | 11/21/1989 |
| 4788559 | Apparatus and method for removing an image from the ribbon of a thermal transfer printer A thermal transfer printing mechanism having an arrangement for removing or obliterating the image left on the ribbon after printing is provided. The arrangement includes a heated roller which contacts the ribbon. Heat applied to the ribbon causes the ink... | 11/29/1988 |
| 4762431 | Modified thermal printing using a heated roller and with lift-off correction Roller 1 is heated to a temperature at which correctable thermal printing is caused to be better fixed to the paper and to be darker, while lift-off correction may be subsequently conducted. Roller 1 is spaced from printhead 3 a distance sufficient to per... | 08/09/1988 |
| 4750008 | Thermal transfer printer A thermal transfer printer wherein a ribbon cassette adapted to receive therein an ink ribbon which is guided outside from a ribbon take-out portion in a manner such that the ribbon is drawn out of a ribbon pull-in portion is placed on a carriage, and a h... | 06/07/1988 |
| 4743920 | Thermal transfer recording method and apparatus Thermal transfer recording is carried out through the steps of: applying a heat or electric energy in a pattern to a peripheral surface of an ink roll having the peripheral surface composed of a heat-transferable ink, thereby to form a melted or softened ... | 05/10/1988 |
| 4740798 | Transfer-type thermal printing device A transfer-type thermal printing device transfers the non-image portions of the inked side of the ribbon to an intermediate transfer medium. The remaining image portions of the inked side are then transferred to transfer paper at an image-transfer station... | 04/26/1988 |
| 4637743 | Matrix printer and inker for indefinite length articles A stationary dot matrix printer for printing both continuously variable and repetitive information on a moving substrate utilizing a readily replaceable ink applicator for applying ink to a blank foil adjacent to the printing station.... | 01/20/1987 |
| 4598302 | Transfer type recording apparatus Disclosed is a transfer type recording apparatus wherein after transferring-material borne on a support is transferred onto a recording medium by a transfer forcing means, the support from which the transferring-material has been partially removed by prin... | 07/01/1986 |
| 4553865 | Ink-supplied wire dot printer A wire dot printer comprises a plurality of wires for carrying ink respectively on the ends thereof, and ink applicator mechanism applying the ink to the wire, and an ink heater unit disposed adjacent to the wire ends for heating the ink to a controlled t... | 11/19/1985 |
| 4521135 | Pressurized gas filled tendons Pressurized gas filled tubular tendons provide a means for detecting leaks therein. Filling the tendon with a gaseous fluid provides increased buoyancy and reduces the weight supported by the buoyant structure. The use of a corrosion inhibiting gaseous fl... | 06/04/1985 |
| 4511902 | Thermal transfer type printing apparatus A thermal transfer type printing apparatus has a thermal head unit for selectively and thermally transferring an ink layer of an ink ribbon onto a paper sheet in response to printing information. The ink layer, in which blanks of ink corresponding to the ... | 04/16/1985 |
| 4504840 | Thermal printing with ink replenishment A reinking thermal printer is disclosed having a continuous band 1 receiving ink lamination 23 from supply 21. Ink supply 21 has a lamination 25 which is stripped from the ink lamination 23 and directed through guide slot 43. Ink lamination 23 is transfer... | 03/12/1985 |
| 4477198 | Modified resistive layer in thermal transfer medium having lubricating contact graphite coating A thermal ribbon having a minute coating of graphite powder on the outer side of the resistive layer. The improved electrical interface with print electrodes reduces ribbon and printhead damage. The graphite also reduces friction and loosens material whic... | 10/16/1984 |
| 4421429 | Resistive substrate for thermal printing ribbons comprising a mixture of thermosetting polyimide, thermoplastic polyimide, and conductive particulate material Disclosed is a thermal transfer medium which comprises a mixture of a thermosetting polyimide, a thermoplastic polyimide, and graphite. It has a steel support layer and an intermediate layer of silicon dioxide. An outer layer on the steel is the thermal i... | 12/20/1983 |
| 4419024 | Silicon dioxide intermediate layer in thermal transfer medium Disclosed is a thermal transfer medium which comprises a mixture of a thermosetting polyimide, a thermoplastic polyimide, and graphite. It has a steel support layer and an intermediate layer of silicon dioxide. An outer layer on the steel is the thermal i... | 12/06/1983 |
| 4414555 | Method and apparatus for replenishing marking material to a donor ribbon in a thermal marking printer system A thermal printing system is disclosed wherein an inked ribbon, wound between two rollers, is transported through a thermal printing zone where a selectively heated thermal head contacts the ribbon. Discrete ink segments on the ribbon are fluidized and tr... | 11/08/1983 |
| 4407002 | Heat transfer type thermal recording apparatus The negative image left on an ink donor sheet after thermal recording is erased by heating the remaining ink at a point downstream of the recording station and either removing the remaining ink or spreading the ink to obliterate the negative image.... | 09/27/1983 |
| 4390294 | Ribbon re-inking machine capable of reloading a variety of types of ribbon cassettes A ribbon machine which is capable of feeding ribbon to the inlet or feed opening of a ribbon cassette is improved by providing the ribbon machine with a support surface having a ribbon pathway thereon and at least two cassette adapters, each one of which ... | 06/28/1983 |
| 4369451 | Thermal printing device Thermal printing device is disclosed which prints on ordinary paper using an ink which melts when heated but is solid at room temperature. The device comprises an ink-carrier with level surface which carries ink-layer formed on the surface of itself from ink-m... | 01/18/1983 |
| 4359748 | Device and method of non impact printing A device for non impact printing of alpha-numeric characters on a sheet of normal paper, wherein an electrically conducting carrier is covered with an inking substance which is transferred to the paper by means of electrical pulses. The inked carrier is m... | 11/16/1982 |
| 4253775 | Apparatus for re-inking a ribbon in a thermal transfer printing system A doctor blade is used to apply a powdered toner to the depleted regions of a resistive thermal transfer ribbon. The ribbon is then moved adjacent a heating electrode that passes current through a resistive substrate of the ribbon so that a transverse lin... | 03/03/1981 |
| 4128348 | Method and apparatus for applying ink to ribbons Disclosed is a method and apparatus for inking ribbons used in printing devices. Ribbon to be inked is unwound under tension from a core and passed over a heated roller and between a pair of transfer rollers. The transfer rollers lie in contact with inkin... | 12/05/1978 |
| 3936559 | Pressure-sensitive transfer elements Pressure-sensitive transfer sheets and ribbons having a flexible plastic foundation carrying a colored layer comprising pressure-transferable imaging material, the plastic foundation consisting of a laminate of two different plastic films, one of which is... | 02/03/1976 |
