Abstract: A recording head is operable to eject ink toward a recording medium. A carriage mounting the recording head is operable to carry the recording head in a first direction. At least one infrared ray heater is provided on the carriage so as to oppose the recording medium. An input energy of the infrared ray heater is 60 W or less.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for overcoating a protective layer by heating onto a printed recording medium to protect the recording medium. This method comprises providing a transferable sheet comprising a heat resistant substrate and a transferable layer, which serves as the protective layer, and a recording medium, putting the transferable sheet on the recording medium and, in this state, heating and pressing the transferable sheet and/or the recording medium to contact-bond the transferable layer onto the recording medium, and then heating and pressing the transferred layer contact-bonded to the recording medium. According to this method, a good protective layer can be overcoated onto the recording medium independenly of the shape of concaves and convexes formed on the surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: There are provided an image-forming method which is capable of improving image quality of a transfer image, and a transfer sheet film therefor, as well as an image-forming apparatus. An image is printed on at least one transfer sheet film provided for use on at least one of front and back surfaces of a print medium, by using sublimable dye ink, thereby causing the sublimable dye ink to be held in the transfer sheet film. The at least one transfer sheet film and the print medium are overlaid to each other such that a printing surface of the transfer sheet film faces the at least one surface of the print medium. The image is transferred by heating the transfer sheet film and the print medium overlaid to each other while applying pressure thereto and thereby causing diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the transfer sheet film in the at least one surface of the print medium for color development. Then, the transfer sheet film is removed from the print medium having the image formed thereon.

Abstract: There are provided an image-forming method which is capable of improving image quality of a transfer image, and a transfer sheet film therefor, as well as an image-forming apparatus. An image is printed on at least one transfer sheet film provided for use on at least one of front and back surfaces of a print medium, by using sublimable dye ink, thereby causing the sublimable dye ink to be held in the transfer sheet film. The at least one transfer sheet film and the print medium are overlaid to each other such that a printing surface of the transfer sheet film faces the at least one surface of the print medium. The image is transferred by heating the transfer sheet film and the print medium overlaid to each other while applying pressure thereto and thereby causing diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the transfer sheet film in the at least one surface of the print medium for color development. Then, the transfer sheet film is removed from the print medium having the image formed thereon.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Abstract: There is provided provide a printing method and printing apparatus which is capable of printing on a continuous sheet at an increased printing speed without degrading print quality. A sheet feeding mechanism feed a continuous sheet. A head unit carries ink jet heads thereon. An X-Y moving mechanism moves the head unit in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction. The head unit is caused to perform main scanning and sub scanning on a printable area of the continuous sheet held stationary to thereby print images thereon, and after completion of the printing, the continuous sheet is fed in a direction in which it extends, to perform printing on the following printable area. These operations are repeatedly carried out to continuously print images on the continuous sheet.

Abstract: A printhead unit is detachably coupled to an ink cartridge. The printhead unit includes an ink passage and a damper member for absorbing a pulsation of ink in the ink passage. The damper member permits the forces created when the ink cartridge receives an impact to be absorbed rather than translated through to the printhead, thereby destroying the meniscuses in the nozzles.

Abstract: When different tape cartridges accommodating printing tapes having different hardness, thicknesses or widths are exchangeably mounted in the same printing apparatus, excellent printing can be obtained using the present embodiment. In a platen 12 provided in a tape cartridge 10, the harder, thicker or wider the tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge 10, the softer a platen rubber provided on a surface of the platen. The platen rubber 14 having a hardness corresponding to the properties of the tape T is used so as to obtain an ideal contact state between a printing head and the tape T regardless of the properties of the tape T when the tape cartridge 10 is mounted in a tape writer 1. Accordingly, the tape T can be properly conveyed by the platen 12 and a tape guide pin 26 regardless of its properties, and can be brought into contact with a printing head through an ink ribbon R in an ideal and consistent contact state.

Abstract: A tape cartridge holds a roll of printing tape. The tape cartridge is removably loaded in a tape printing apparatus. The printing tape is fed by being unwound from the tape cartridge. Printing is carried out on the printing tape unwound from the tape cartridge by an ink jet printing method. A drive roller for feeding the printing tape is arranged in the apparatus. A driven roller associated with the drive roller is arranged in the tape cartridge. The drive roller and the driven roller press the printing tape therebetween for feeding the printing tape by rotation, in a state of the tape cartridge being loaded in the apparatus body.

Abstract: A cartridge for an ink jet printer capable of directly or indirectly reducing the capacity of a wasted ink recovery unit without causing any restraint to a printing function, an ink jet printer adapted to accommodate this cartridge, and an ink jet printer capable of reducing a printing time without causing any restraint to the printing function are provided. In the cartridge for an ink jet printer, containing a printing article and removably mounted in an ink jet printer, a wasted ink recovery unit for storing wasted ink produced in the ink jet printer is provided in a cartridge case. This allows the capacity of the wasted ink recovery unit to be determined on the basis of a cartridge exchanging frequency. The ink jet printer adapted to accommodate this cartridge does not require a wasted ink recovery unit, so that its size can be reduced correspondingly.

Abstract: When different tape cartridges accommodating printing tapes having different hardness, thicknesses or widths are exchangeably mounted in the same printing apparatus, excellent printing can be obtained using the present embodiment. In a platen 12 provided in a tape cartridge 10, the harder, thicker or wider the tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge 10, the softer a platen rubber provided on a surface of the platen. The platen rubber 14 having a hardness corresponding to the properties of the tape T is used so as to obtain an ideal contact state between a printing head and the tape T regardless of the properties of the tape T when the tape cartridge 10 is mounted in a tape writer 1. Accordingly, the tape T can be properly conveyed by the platen 12 and a tape guide pin 26 regardless of its properties, and can be brought into contact with a printing head through an ink ribbon R in an ideal and consistent contact state.

Abstract: An ink-jet printer is provided capable of performing a printing operation across the entire width of a recording medium such as a tape without producing a non-printed area at edges of the recording medium. In the ink-jet printer, the printing position is defined by an guide element disposed so that the guide element faces an ink-jet print head. The guide element is provided with excess ink capturing apparatus having a mesh screen with a size greater than the width of the tape being carried, and also provided with an ink absorbing surface disposed at the back of the above-described screen. To perform a solid printing operation onto the tape, the printing range is set greater than the tape width without producing a non-printed area at the edges.

Abstract: When different tape cartridges accommodating printing tapes having different hardness, thicknesses or widths are exchangeably mounted in the same printing apparatus, excellent printing can be obtained using the present embodiment. In a platen 12 provided in a tape cartridge 10, the harder, thicker or wider the tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge 10, the softer a platen rubber provided on a surface of the platen. The platen rubber 14 having a hardness corresponding to the properties of the tape T is used so as to obtain an ideal contact state between a printing head and the tape T regardless of the properties of the tape T when the tape cartridge 10 is mounted in a tape writer 1. Accordingly, the tape T can be properly conveyed by the platen 12 and a tape guide pin 26 regardless of its properties, and can be brought into contact with a printing head through an ink ribbon R in an ideal and consistent contact state.

Abstract: When different tape cartridges accommodating printing tapes having different hardness, thicknesses or widths are exchangeably mounted in the same printing apparatus, excellent printing can be obtained using the present embodiment. In a platen 12 provided in a tape cartridge 10, the harder, thicker or wider the tape T accommodated in the tape cartridge 10, the softer a platen rubber provided on a surface of the platen. The platen rubber 14 having a hardness corresponding to the properties of the tape T is used so as to obtain an ideal contact state between a printing head and the tape T regardless of the properties of the tape T when the tape cartridge 10 is mounted in a tape writer 1. Accordingly, the tape T can be properly conveyed by the platen 12 and a tape guide pin 26 regardless of its properties, and can be brought into contact with a printing head through an ink ribbon R in an ideal and consistent contact state.