Abstract: Novel methods for calibrating a thermal printer by adjusting a look up table comprising the steps of receiving a test pattern to be printed on a receiver medium, printing the test pattern on the receiver medium, using a sensor to measure a depletion amount of donor material, and using a processor to adjust the lookup table based on the measured depletion amount are disclosed.

Abstract: A receiving well for use with a thermal dye sublimation printing apparatus is disclosed. The receiving well is used to receive cut sheets printed using the thermal dye sublimation printing. The receiving well includes two angled surfaces, referred to herein as ramps. The ramps are spaced apart from one another, and a waste area is positioned between the two ramps. The waste area captures the scrap or waste paper that can result from cutting the receiver media after printing. In some embodiments, both ramps slope down to the bottom surface of the receiving well. In other embodiments, one of the ramps is raised off the bottom surface of the receiving well at its lowest point. The waste area may also be offset such that it is closer to one side of the receiving well than the other.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods of directly determining the type of receiver media loaded in a thermal printer by measurements taken from the receiver media itself. In one embodiment, a tri-color emitter and detector combination work in conjunction to determine the intensity of light transmitted through the receiver media. The type of receiver media may be determined by the voltage response or transmission profile generated by the receiver in response to being illuminated by the tri-color emitter.

Abstract: A printing method wherein a position of a receiver media in a printer is determined to be nearer to one of two thermal printheads at an end of a print job. A next print job is started using either one of the two thermal printheads depending on which one was determined to be nearer the receiving media.

Abstract: Novel methods for calibrating a thermal printer by adjusting a look up table comprising the steps of receiving a test pattern to be printed on a receiver medium, printing the test pattern on the receiver medium, using a sensor to measure a depletion amount of donor material, and using a processor to adjust the lookup table based on the measured depletion amount are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods of directly determining the type of receiver media loaded in a thermal printer by measurements taken from the receiver media itself. In one embodiment, a tri-color emitter and detector combination work in conjunction to determine the intensity of light transmitted through the receiver media. The type of receiver media may be determined by the voltage response or transmission profile generated by the receiver in response to being illuminated by the tri-color emitter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods of directly determining the type of receiver media loaded in a thermal printer by measurements taken from the receiver media itself. In one embodiment, a tri-color emitter and detector combination work in conjunction to determine the intensity of light transmitted through the receiver media. The type of receiver media may be determined by the voltage response or transmission profile generated by the receiver in response to being illuminated by the tri-color emitter.

Abstract: Novel methods for calibrating a thermal printer by adjusting a look up table comprising the steps of receiving a test pattern to be printed on a receiver medium, printing the test pattern on the receiver medium, using a sensor to measure a depletion amount of donor material, and using a processor to adjust the lookup table based on the measured depletion amount are disclosed.

Abstract: A high efficiency thermal printing system, comprising: a donor ribbon having donor material; a receiver medium; a test pattern to be printed on the receiver medium using the donor ribbon; a print head, a sensor, and a processor is disclosed. The present invention is adapted to print the test pattern on the receiver medium by heating the donor ribbon to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor ribbon onto the receiver medium, thereby depleting donor material on the donor ribbon. Moreover, the sensor is adapted to measure a depletion amount of the donor material on the donor ribbon after printing the test pattern, and the processor is adapted to calibrate the thermal printing system by adjusting a lookup table in response to the measured depletion amount of donor material.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to systems and methods of directly determining the type of receiver media loaded in a thermal printer by measurements taken from the receiver media itself. In one embodiment, a tri-color emitter and detector combination work in conjunction to determine the intensity of light transmitted through the receiver media. The type of receiver media may be determined by the voltage response or transmission profile generated by the receiver in response to being illuminated by the tri-color emitter.

Abstract: A receiving well for use with a thermal dye sublimation printing apparatus is disclosed. The receiving well is used to receive cut sheets printed using the thermal dye sublimation printing. The receiving well includes two angled surfaces, referred to herein as ramps. The ramps are spaced apart from one another, and a waste area is positioned between the two ramps. The waste area captures the scrap or waste paper that can result from cutting the receiver media after printing. In some embodiments, both ramps slope down to the bottom surface of the receiving well. In other embodiments, one of the ramps is raised off the bottom surface of the receiving well at its lowest point. The waste area may also be offset such that it is closer to one side of the receiving well than the other.

Abstract: A printing method wherein a position of a receiver media in a printer is determined to be nearer to one of two thermal printheads at an end of a print job. A next print job is started using either one of the two thermal printheads depending on which one was determined to be nearer the receiving media.

Abstract: A high efficiency thermal printing system, comprising: a donor ribbon having donor material; a receiver medium; a test pattern to be printed on the receiver medium using the donor ribbon; a print head, a sensor, and a processor is disclosed. The present invention is adapted to print the test pattern on the receiver medium by heating the donor ribbon to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor ribbon onto the receiver medium, thereby depleting donor material on the donor ribbon. Moreover, the sensor is adapted to measure a depletion amount of the donor material on the donor ribbon after printing the test pattern, and the processor is adapted to calibrate the thermal printing system by adjusting a lookup table in response to the measured depletion amount of donor material.

Abstract: Novel methods for calibrating a thermal printer by adjusting a look up table comprising the steps of receiving a test pattern to be printed on a receiver medium, printing the test pattern on the receiver medium, using a sensor to measure a depletion amount of donor material, and using a processor to adjust the lookup table based on the measured depletion amount are disclosed.

Abstract: A printing system or a printer with a pair of printheads detects a position of receiver media in the printer and directs either second page data or first page data to be printed first depending at which printhead the receiver media is positioned.

Abstract: A printing method wherein a position of a receiver media in a printer is determined to be nearer to one of two thermal printheads at an end of a print job. A next print job is started using either one of the two thermal printheads depending on which one was determined to be nearer the receiving media.

Abstract: A printing method for a print job having at least two pages. After determining a position of rolled media in the printer, print data for either a first page or a second page of the print job can be staged for printing first. This can be performed at a host computer connected to the printer or it can be performed in the printer.

Abstract: A binding system for binding a set of media sheets using a binding strip and a plurality of pinching devices adapted to fasten together the binding strip and the set of media sheets by pinching them together in their respective spine portions. The binding strip includes a spine portion, a wraparound portion and a fastening portion having a releasable fastening strip. The binding system is adapted to bind the set of media sheets by aligning the spine edges of the set of media sheets and the binding strip, using the pinching devices to fasten together the set of media sheets and the binding strip along the spine edges, wrapping the wraparound portion of the binding strip around the spine edges of the fastened media sheets, and bringing the releasable fastening strip into operative contact with the back media sheet.

Abstract: A receiver supply media cassette adapted to hold cut sheet media and for permitting an imaging apparatus to form images on both sides of the cut sheet media, comprising a media tray including a cut sheet receiving well having at least two side walls, and a ramp disposed between the two side walls and a removable media receptacle adapted to fit inside the cut sheet receiving well of the media tray including a first compartment adapted to hold cut sheet media to be fed to the imaging apparatus, a second compartment adapted to receive cut sheet media from the imaging apparatus, wherein the removable media receptacle is flipped inside the cut sheet receiving well of the media tray after images have been formed on a first side of the cut sheet media so that images can be formed on a second side of the cut sheet media.

Abstract: A printing system having a printer comprising two printheads, sensors for determining a position of a rolled receiver media in the printer, and rollers for starting a multi-page print job using either one of the printheads based on the position of the rolled receiver media in the printer. A second page of the print job is printed before a first page of the print job in response to the position of the rolled receiver media in the printer.