Abstract: An improvement to a bottle for storing, identifying, and dispensing liquids comprises a valve-type nozzle coupled to the outer end of the tube, a vent, and an optional identification tag. The valve-type nozzle is adjustable along a continuous range between open and closed conditions to permit dispensing of fluid in a controlled fashion and sealing of the container.

Abstract: An improvement to a bottle for storing, identifying, and dispensing liquids comprises a valve-type nozzle coupled to the outer end of the tube, a vent, and an optional identification tag. The valve-type nozzle is adjustable along a continuous range between open and closed conditions to permit dispensing of fluid in a controlled fashion and sealing of the container.

Abstract: Compact printer with quick-loading cassette and method therefor. The invention includes a printer enclosure and a cassette insertable into the enclosure. The cassette includes a dye ribbon supply reel having a dye donor ribbon wound thereabout and a rotatable dye ribbon take-up reel engaging an end portion of the donor ribbon for taking-up the donor ribbon. A curved receiver supply tray is disposed in the cassette for supplying receiver sheets to the printhead which is disposed in the enclosure. The curved receiver supply tray occupies less space, depending on the radius of curvature, than the elongate rectangularly-shaped receiver supply trays of the prior art. Over time, a stack of the receiver sheets residing in the supply tray obtains a curved contour because the stack of receiver sheets conforms to the curved shape of the receiver supply tray.

Abstract: Printer defining a reduced exterior envelope and method of providing same. The printer comprises a housing having a top wall. The printer also has a front side wall with an aperture for receiving a dye-carrying cartridge therethrough. A printhead is disposed in the housing. A movable platen is disposed in the housing in a first position spaced-apart from the printhead and a movable arm attached to the platen and engageable with the cartridge as the cartridge is received through the aperture. The arm moves from a first location to a second location thereof as the arm engages the cartridge and the platen moves from the first position to a second position thereof adjacent the printhead as the arm moves from the first location to the second location. In this manner, the printer defines a reduced exterior envelope because the cartridge is loaded through the aperture in the front sidewall rather through the top wall of the printer.

Abstract: A platen-driven thermal dye printer mechanism (1), and more particularly to a cone-shaped scuff roller (7) which aligns a dye print receiver media sheet (2) with the receiver guide wall (8) during printing in a reciprocating direction (5). Using at least one conical shaped scuff roller (7) at one end of a platen roller (4) to transport the precut dye receiver media (2). The conical scuff roller (7) presses the back surface of the dye receiver media (2) against the non-imaging margin of the thermal dye printer mechanism (1). The invention uses a smooth guiding plate (28) and platen (4) thus, preventing scratches on the front surface of the receiver media (2). The invention is not subject to costly breakdowns, in that it uses the clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation of the platen (4) to provide perfect alignment of the receiver media (2) and printer head (9).

Abstract: A dye donor cartridge and method for use in a printer. The cartridge comprises a dye donor ribbon formed into a roll. The dye donor ribbon has an end portion. A shield is attached to the end portion of the dye donor ribbon and surrounds the dye donor ribbon as the dye donor ribbon forms the roll. In this manner, the shield shields the dye donor ribbon from damage during handling of the ribbon roll. The dye donor ribbon roll including its shield is mountable on a supply spool, so that the dye donor ribbon unrolls from about the supply spool as the supply spool rotates. The shield preferably has a plurality of sprocket holes for engaging the sprockets of a take-up spool, so that the dye donor ribbon is precisely taken-up onto the take-up spool without "jamming" as the take-up spool rotates. An alternative embodiment of the invention comprises an encasement surrounding the shield as the shield surrounds the dye donor ribbon for enhancing protection of the dye donor ribbon roll during handling.