Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming method including forming a concave-convex pattern on a surface of a plate by pressing the plate and a mold having the convex-concave pattern on a surface thereof against each other, the plate having the surface made of a material in which a hardness changes reversibly at a transition point temperature, forming a plate image constituted of a concave-convex region having the concave-convex pattern and a smooth region in which the concave-convex pattern is erased on the plate by erasing the concave-convex pattern by selectively heating the surface of the plate to the transfer point temperature or above corresponding to an image signal, and forming an image on a recording medium by forming an ink image on the plate by applying an ink on the plate image and by transferring the ink image on to the recording medium.

Abstract: One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus.

Abstract: A dual-sided direct thermal printer and methods of operation thereof are provided. In one embodiment, a dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path, and a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path opposite the first side is provided, wherein the dual-sided direct thermal printer is adapted to apportion received data into a first data portion for printing by the first thermal print head and a second data portion for printing by the second thermal print head.

Abstract: A relief print master is created by a printhead that jets droplets of a polymerisable liquid on a cylindrical sleeve. The droplets follow a spiral path on the cylindrical sleeve. In a multiple printhead unit, there are different spiral paths associated with the different constituting printheads. The distance between these spiral paths is not even in a prior art system. By rotating the printhead under a specific angle, the distance between these spiral paths becomes even. The invention can also be used for the creation of other types of print plates, such as for example offset print plates.

Abstract: Accumulation of foreign matter on the surface of a thermal head that can cause printing defects can be reliably prevented. The downstream edge of a surface of the thermal head is substantially flush with the downstream end of a paper nipping area and a platen roller in the thermal printer. The downstream end extending from the downstream edge perpendicular to the back side is connected to a through-hole formed in a heat sink. Foreign matter on a liner-less label paper clings to the downstream end of the thermal head after passing the paper nipping area, and is then fed along the downstream end into the through-hole on the back. Foreign matter does not accumulate on the surface of the thermal head, and problems such as streaking and other printing defects caused by foreign matter on the surface of the thermal head do not occur.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting the type of print media provided to a thermal printer. A printer has a heat source disposed adjacent a temperature sensor to transfer heat upon activation across a portion of an introduced print media to the temperature sensor and a controller to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and to obtain a temperature signature generally identifying attributes of the introduced print media and to adjust print head settings in response to the identified attributes. The printer may further comprise a sensor to detect access to a print media storage compartment and to initiate examination of the heat transfer properties of the introduced print media upon detecting that the print storage compartment has been accessed.

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 apparatus comprises: a storage unit configured to store a power usage of each of one or more other printing apparatuses connected to a power supply system to which the printing apparatus is connected; and a print execution controller. The print execution controller is configured to: keep track of which of the other printing apparatuses are in printing operation; calculate, upon receipt of a print instruction from any of the external apparatuses, a total of power usages of the other printing apparatuses that are in printing operations; inhibit the printing apparatus from printing when an expected power exceeds a predetermined allowable value, the expected power is a sum of the calculated total of power usages and the power usage of the printing apparatus during the printing operation; and allow the printing apparatus to print when the expected power is equal to or below the predetermined allowable value.

Abstract: A thermal printer is proposed that includes an ink ribbon on which a color ink portion and a non-color ink portion are alternately formed in a conveyance direction, a supply bobbin on which the ink ribbon is wound, a take-up bobbin on which the ink ribbon is to be wound, and a housing that contains the supply bobbin and the take-up bobbin. When an error occurs during transferring of an ink on the color ink surface, the ink ribbon is conveyed so that a portion of the ink ribbon exposed from the ink cassette between the supply bobbin and the take-up bobbin is the non-color ink portion.

Abstract: An image erasing apparatus includes: a paper feeding tray configured to feed a recording medium; a sensor group including a double-feed detection sensor configured to detect double feed of the recording medium and a media sensor configured to detect the thickness of the recording medium; a recording-medium collecting device, a collection box, or a discharge box configured to collect the recording medium; and a recording-medium conveying device connecting the paper feeding tray, the sensor group, and the recording-medium collecting device, the collection box, or the discharge box on a straight line.

Abstract: While a dye sublimation printer prints data on a sheet, a thermal print unit is heated with a plurality of discrete heat times and a plurality of discrete cooling times. Therefore, under the condition that the thermal print unit accurately prints a target color level, degradation of printing performance caused by continuous heating of the thermal print unit is prevented.

Abstract: A clamper clamps an edge of a lenticular sheet and is transported in a sub-scanning direction. After oblique transportation of the lenticular sheet is corrected based on a detection result from an oblique transportation detector, transportation of the lenticular sheet for forming an image receptor layer on the rear side of the lenticular sheet is performed with a thermal head contacting said lenticular sheet. In this transportation, a lens sensor is activated to optically detect a lens pitch and so on. The lens sensor is positioned between the thermal head and the clamper.

Abstract: A thermal printer having a thermal printhead with energy save features which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printer has an energy storage device and a thermal printhead including a substrate, a resistor layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and a thermoelectric element disposed on the other surface of the substrate opposite to where the resistor layer is formed, wherein the thermoelectric element converts heat generated by the resistor layer to electrical energy when a temperature difference between the resistor layer and an opposite side of the thermoelectric element where the resistor layer is disposed nearby becomes large enough for the thermoelectric element to convert heat into electric energy, and the electrical energy is stored in the energy storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein are to a printer which includes a first head configured to print a first data set on a first side of a paper being conveyed along a paper path, and a second head configured to print a second data set on a second side of the paper being conveyed along the paper path. The printer further includes a sensor provided at an upstream side of the first and second heads in the paper feeding direction along the paper path and configured to detect an end portion of the paper being conveyed along the paper path. The printer further includes a control unit, when the end portion of the paper is detected by the sensor, configured to allow the first and second heads to continue a printing operation until the first and second data sets are printed on the remaining portion of the paper.

Abstract: A thermal head for expressing pressure-sensitive adhesive strength includes a heat-generating element on a principal plane of a substrate and heats a thermosensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of a thermosensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive label. A thermally active component adhesion preventing layer that comes into sliding contact with the thermosensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed on the principal plane of the substrate on an upstream side and a downstream side of the heat-generating element in a conveyance direction of the thermosensitive pressure-sensitive adhesive label, and a surface of the thermally active component adhesion preventing layer is formed along an outer circumferential surface of a second platen roller.

Abstract: A method of forming an image, having the steps of: superposing a heat-sensitive transfer sheet on a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having a lenticular lens and at least one receptor layer on a transparent support; and applying thermal energy in accordance with image signals from a thermal head, wherein the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet has a subbing layer which contains a resin that is identical with at least one resin constituting the lenticular lens, on the side of the transparent support opposite to the side on which the lenticular lens is provided, wherein the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet has the receptor layer containing a latex polymer on the subbing layer and a spherical indenter hardness after the subbing layer and the receptor layer are provided is less than that of the transparent support itself, and wherein the thermal head has a specific length.

Abstract: The present invention is a method which erase information printed on a recording medium if necessary and thus reuse the recording medium, and includes 1) decolorable ink compositions which are not erased during the use but erased by a dye readily decolorable by a decolorant, 2) a decolorant composition including a thermal initiator or photoinitiator, and 3) a method for coating the decolorant and applying heat or irradiating UV to erase the dye. According to the present invention, it is possible to prepare various writing inks, and particularly, when applied to recording medium with a magnetic stripe as well as the general purpose papers, it is possible to reduce the production cost significantly, obtain a large import substitution effect of the magnetic ink all of which are imported, and largely reduce the environmental pollution.

Abstract: Dual-sided thermal print folding techniques are presented. A dual-sided thermal printer includes a folding mechanism to custom fold a substrate. The substrate is imaged on both sides by the dual-sided thermal printer as it passes through the dual-sided thermal printer and is custom folded by the folding mechanism of the dual-sided thermal printer.

Abstract: A dual mode imaging system includes an ink jet device for imaging non-erasable media and a write device for imaging erasable media. A media transport subsystem is provided for supplying non-erasable and erasable media to one of the ink jet device and the write device. A heat source is incorporated into the media transport subsystem, and particularly in connection with a guide baffle of the ink jet device, the heat source heating erasable media to a temperature suitable for imaging at the write device.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a media transport system configured to transport print media along a media path. A first print station is positioned along the media path that is configured to apply ink to a first side of the media. A first fixing assembly is positioned along the media path downstream from the first print station. A second print station is positioned along the media path downstream from the first fixing assembly that is configured to apply ink to a second side of the media. A second fixing assembly is positioned along the media path downstream from the second print station. A heater is positioned along the media path downstream from the second fixing assembly that is configured to heat the media to a gloss reducing temperature.

Abstract: A duplex thermal dye transfer element has a substrate, a non-voided compliant layer and a thermal dye image receiving layer. These imaging elements can be imaged on either or both sides in combination with one or more thermal dye donor elements in a thermal dye transfer process. Imaging can form a dye image or transfer clear films or laminates or metalized layers to either or both sides of the substrate.

Abstract: A thermal printer having a thermal printhead with energy save features which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printer has an energy storage device and a thermal printhead including a substrate, a resistor layer formed on one surface of the substrate, and a thermoelectric element disposed on the other surface of the substrate opposite to where the resistor layer is formed, wherein the thermoelectric element converts heat generated by the resistor layer to electrical energy when a temperature difference between the resistor layer and an opposite side of the thermoelectric element where the resistor layer is disposed nearby becomes large enough for the thermoelectric element to convert heat into electric energy, and the electrical energy is stored in the energy storage device.

Abstract: A thermal head avoids a drop in print quality caused by adhesion of printing chaff. A thermal head 39 that presses against thermal paper that moves from one side to the other side and prints by melting dye contained in the thermal paper has a glazed layer 150 that is formed in an area on one part of a ceramic substrate 43 and stores in-flowing heat, and a heating resistor 140 that is located offset to one side from the center of the glazed layer 150, selectively heats the thermal paper S pressed in contact therewith, and melts a dye material contained in the thermal paper. A smooth surface P against which the thermal paper S heated by the heating resistor 140 slides is formed to the other side of the glazed layer 150 from the heating resistor 140.

Abstract: A method of controlling thermal printing based upon print density. The method includes receiving pre-formatted data representing information to be printed on two sides of a thermal print media from a computer by a processor of a thermal printer, analyzing the pre-formatted data by the thermal printer to determine different types of data to be printed with different print densities by the processor, determining an average print density of the different print densities by the processor, determining that the average print density is greater than a predetermined average print density by the processor, determining a power level required to print the data, and directing first and second thermal print heads to print the data based upon the required power level by the processor.

Abstract: A printer including a containing unit, first and second heads, a separation member, a cutting member, and a collecting unit. The containing unit is configured to contain a printing medium separable into front and rear surfaces. The first head is configured to print first data on the front surface of the printing medium. The second head is configured to print second data on the rear surface of the printing medium. The separation member is configured to separate the front surface from the printing medium passing through the first and second heads. The cutting member is configured to cut a printed portion of the front surface separated by the separation member. The collecting unit is configured to collect the printing medium of the rear surface remaining after the front surface is separated in order to preserve the rear surface.

Abstract: A method is provided which includes operating a first multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams along a scan path to transfer a first non-contiguous feature and a second non-contiguous feature from a donor element to the receiver element by a thermal transfer process. The first and second non-contiguous features are spatially separated from one another at least in a sub-scan direction. The method also includes operating a second multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams to direct imaging beams to transfer a third non-contiguous feature from the donor element to the receiver element by the thermal transfer process. The third non-contiguous feature is between the first and second non-contiguous features and is spatially separated from each of the first and second non-contiguous features at least in the sub-scan direction.

Abstract: Devices and methods for thermally printing on a thermal image member are disclosed using a thermal print head and a nonrotating platen. The nonrotating platen is adapted to bias the thermal imaging member against the print head. The nonrotating platen includes an elastic member and a mounting means for securing at least one end of the elastic member with respect to the print head. A portion of the thermal imaging member is placed in a printing nip formed between a thermal print head and the nonrotating platen. The print head exerts a torque on the elastic member when the elastic member biases the imaging member against the print head. The thermal imaging member is translated along a transport direction through the printing nip, such that at least one surface of the imaging member slides across the nonrotating platen. The print head forms an image upon the translated thermal imaging member.

Abstract: A duplex thermal dye transfer element has a substrate, a non-voided compliant layer and a thermal dye image receiving layer. These imaging elements can be imaged on either or both sides in combination with one or more thermal dye donor elements in a thermal dye transfer process. Imaging can form a dye image or transfer clear films or laminates or metalized layers to either or both sides of the substrate.

Abstract: A thermal transfer donor element can be used to provide a clear protective overcoat on a thermal image receiver element from a thermal transferable protective clear film on the donor element. This thermal transferable protective clear film includes a transparent poly(vinyl acetal) binder to which are attached silicone groups to improve scratch resistance of the transferred protective overcoat. Such protective overcoats can also be applied over thermally transferred dye images.

Abstract: One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus.

Abstract: A thermal indicator using indicia formed by opaque ink applied to a thermal imaging material element is described. The ink is substantially the same color as the imaging element background and remains substantially hidden until the imaging element background changes color when heated. Time-temperature exposure indicating labels can be prepared using a printer with direct thermal type and ink jet type print heads.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image erasing apparatus decolors an image printed on a paper sheet using an ink containing at least a leuco dye, a developer, water, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a surfactant. The image erasing apparatus includes a heating unit, a feedback mechanism, and a control unit. The heating unit heats the paper sheet. The feedback mechanism supplies the paper sheet heated by the heating unit to the heating unit again. The control unit causes the feedback mechanism to supply the paper sheet to the heating unit a plurality of times so as to heat the paper sheet a plurality of times.

Abstract: A printer includes: a cutter unit for cutting a label sheet to obtain an adhesive label with a desired length by allowing the label sheet to pass through the cutter unit; an adhesive strength exhibiting unit for allowing the adhesive label to exhibit adhesive strength by heating the adhesive label; a sheet loosening unit placed on a downstream side of the cutter unit and an upstream side of the adhesive strength exhibiting unit in a sheet transporting direction; and a sheet-passage direction changing unit for changing the sheet-passage direction in the upstream sheet-passage part by changing a direction of the upstream sheet-passage part from a reference position at which a sheet-passage direction in the upstream sheet-passage part is placed on the same line as a sheet-passage direction in the downstream sheet-passage part to an inclined position at which the direction is inclined from the reference position.

Abstract: An application or print driver on a point-of-sale terminal determines the break point of a transaction record to be printed on two sides of media. The print data is sent to the printer in a particular amount of print data for print on the front side followed by a particular amount of print data for print on the back side. The application or print driver then alternates between the print data on the front and the print data on the back until the end of the transaction record is transmitted. When all print data for the front is transmitted, an end of front data indicator is sent. When all print data for the back is transmitted, an end of back data indicator is sent. When both indicators are sent, the printer is allowed to cut the transaction record.

Abstract: A thermal indicator using indicia formed by opaque ink applied to a thermal imaging material element is described. The ink is substantially the same color as the imaging element background and remains substantially hidden until the imaging element background changes color when heated. Time-temperature exposure indicating labels can be prepared using a printer with direct thermal type and ink jet type print heads.

Abstract: In the case where printing density is set to 180 dpi and temperature of a thermal head is under t5, low-density dot-expanding printing is carried out wherein a dot occupying two printing lines for 360 dpi is formed and thermally transferred onto a surface tape by conveying the surface tape and an ink ribbon by two printing lines for 360 dpi in a single printing cycle with heater elements to be used for printing based one line of line printing data being heated.

Abstract: One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sign maker for printing signs and labels on a continuous roll of media without the use of a personal computer, the sign maker comprising: a keyboard for receiving user input; a printer for printing characters on the media; a cutter for cutting the media to a calculated length; and a user selectable template containing a centering algorithm stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable program code embodied thereon, the computer executable program code configured to calculate a length of the media and center the printed characters on the media based upon the user input.

Abstract: A thermal printer and a control method for a thermal printer enable increasing throughput before a printing process starts by starting a duplex printing process without waiting to convert all print data into the front print buffer and back print buffer, enable executing a duplex printing process on a print medium without using a front print buffer and a separate back print buffer, and enable switching between simplex printing and duplex printing according to a specific command.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting the type of print media provided to a thermal printer. A printer has a heat source disposed adjacent a temperature sensor to transfer heat upon activation across a portion of an introduced print media to the temperature sensor and a controller to receive a signal from the temperature sensor and to obtain a temperature signature generally identifying attributes of the introduced print media and to adjust print head settings in response to the identified attributes. The printer may further comprise a sensor to detect access to a print media storage compartment and to initiate examination of the heat transfer properties of the introduced print media upon detecting that the print storage compartment has been accessed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has first through n-th pluralities of programs which, when executed by a computer processor, perform respectively first through n-th functions of the image processing apparatus, where n denotes an integer more than 1, and starts up, on a function-by-function basis, the first through n-th pluralities of programs respectively corresponding to the first through n-th functions. The image processing apparatus starts up, in a predetermined sequence, respective programs included in any one plurality of programs among the first through n-th pluralities of programs to a state in which the plurality of programs performs a corresponding function.

Abstract: Tilt angle and tilt direction of lenticular lenses are detected precisely to correct attitude of a transported lenticular sheet with high accuracy. At least first to third lens sensors are disposed in a transport track of the lenticular sheet, aligned in a main scan direction and spaced at uneven intervals. Each lens sensor has a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element arranged to sandwich the lenticular sheet and output a detection signal corresponding to concavities and convexities of the lenticular lenses. During the transport of the lenticular sheet, the detection signals output from the first to third lens sensors are analyzed to detect the tilt direction and the tilt angle of the lenticular lenses accurately. Based on the tilt direction and the tilt angle, the attitude of the lenticular sheet is corrected in advance, preventing the lenticular sheet from skewing while stripe images are being recorded thereon.

Abstract: A method for printing a stereograph includes manufacturing a lenticular lens structure on a surface of a protecting region of a ribbon wherein the ribbon includes a plurality of dye regions and the protecting region, receiving a target image data, conveying a print medium, transferring the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon onto the print medium respectively according to the target image data when conveying the print medium, and transferring the protecting region of the ribbon onto the print medium after transferring the plurality of dye regions of the ribbon onto the print medium.

Abstract: A thermal processor including an oven and a cooling section. The oven is configured to heat an imaging media to a development temperature. The cooling section is configured to cool the imaging media from the development temperature to a desired exit temperature as imaging media moves along a transport path from an entrance to an exit. The cooling section provides a varying rate of heat transfer from the imaging media along the transport path so as to create a varying cooling temperature gradient in the imaging media substantially equal to and not exceeding a varying maximum cooling temperature gradient of imaging media.

Abstract: A pattern of non-contiguous features that can be imaged in one pass of a multi-channel imaging head is divided into sets of the non-contiguous features. Each set of the non-contiguous features is imaged separately during a single scan of the multi-channel imaging head. The pattern can be completely imaged after all of the sets have been separately imaged. The non-contiguous features of one set may be interleaved with the non-contiguous features of another one of the sets.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of operating a dual-sided direct thermal printer comprising a first thermal print head on a first side of a media feed path and a second thermal print head on a second side of the media feed path opposite the first side is provided, wherein the method comprises receiving a select thermal printing mode command and operating the dual-sided direct thermal printer according to the received select thermal printing mode command.

Abstract: An apparatus for drawing an image on a thermal medium includes an overlapped part removing unit configured to detect an overlapped part between strokes or stroke groups forming a character to be drawn to remove the detected overlapped part, a dissipation liability information attaching unit configured to attach dissipation liability information to one or more of the strokes or one or more of the stroke groups grouping continuous strokes, and a stroke excluding unit configured to exclude the strokes or the stroke groups to which the dissipation liability information is attached such that the overlapped part is not removed from the excluded strokes or the excluded stroke groups when the overlapped part removing unit removes the overlapped part between the strokes or the stroke groups.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a feeding device feeding a recording medium to be recorded, a thermal transfer sheet having an ink layer to form an image and a protective material layer to form a protective layer protecting the image, a thermal transfer sheet transporting device, a surface property reforming sheet having an image printing opening disposed in such a way that the thermal transfer sheet comes into direct contact with a surface of the recording medium to be recorded and a surface property reforming portion to reform the surface state of the protective layer protecting the image, a reforming sheet moving device, and a thermal head to thermally transfer the ink layer or the protective material layer, wherein a non-adhesion treatment layer is formed on at least a surface of the surface property reforming sheet on the side to come into contact with the thermal transfer sheet.

Abstract: An adhesive agent label includes an adhesive agent layer which is made of an adhesive agent and is formed on one surface of a support. A non-adhesive heat-reactive layer is positioned above the adhesive agent layer and has openings formed by heating at a predetermined temperature or higher. An intermediate layer is positioned between the heat-reactive layer and the adhesive agent layer. The intermediate layer and the heat-reactive layer are formed thinner than the adhesive agent layer. The intermediate layer facilitates the formation of the openings in the heat-reactive layer with good heat energy efficiency and allows the intermediate layer or adhesive agent layer to be exposed through the openings.

Abstract: An erasable media imaging device includes an input for supplying erasable media to the imaging device, the erasable media being one of an imaged erasable medium and a non-imaged erasable medium. An erase subsystem is provided for erasing an imaged erasable medium and a write subsystem is provided for imaging a non-imaged erasable medium, the erase subsystem and function decoupled from the write subsystem and function. In a corresponding method, one of an imaged erasable medium and a non-imaged erasable medium are supplied to the imaging device. The method further includes selecting only one of an erase mode and a write mode, the erase mode decoupled from the write mode, erasing an imaged erasable medium in the erase mode, and imaging the non-imaged erasable medium in the write mode.