Abstract: A thermal transfer recording device which records a full color image through a single recording operation with a remarkably improved recording efficiency and less power consumption. The recording device uses, as a recording medium, a heat-sensitive recording medium which colors when heated, and has a control unit to control electric energy supplied to heating elements in a line thermal head according to image data in a way to bring its level into: a white range in which the recording medium does not turn black and thermal transfer inks of an ink ribbon are not transferred; a color range in which the recording medium does not turn black and the thermal transfer inks are transferred; or a black range in which the recording medium turns black.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image displaying medium with a metallic image, which comprises a metallic image formed on a transfer receiving material with a color image formed thereon, wherein the metallic image is formed by using a thermal transfer sheet in which at least a resinous peelable layer and a metal thin layer are provided on one surface of a substrate film in this order, the resinous peelable layer comprising a pigment and a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 60° C. or higher and the metal thin layer comprising a composition containing an aluminum pigment prepared by forming an aluminum film by deposition on a carrier sheet with a releasing layer provided thereon, and peeling the aluminum film from the carrier sheet to finely divide it, and a binder of a thermoplastic resin having a glass transition temperature of 50 to 150° C.

Abstract: An image is printed on a substrate by means of a computer driven ink jet printer using heat activated dye, without activating the dye during the process of printing onto the substrate. The individual solid dye particles are present in a liquid ink, and are stabilized in the ink by an emulsifying enforcing agent that emulsifies the solid dye particles within the ink. The dye is subsequently activated by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the substrate to activate the dye and permanently bond the image to a final substrate. The resulting permanent image is resistant to laundering.

Abstract: There are provided a method for image formation which can produce an image formed object possessing excellent fastness or resistance properties such as excellent abrasion resistance, lightfastness, and alteration preventive properties, is less likely to cause damage to an object, is free from a deterioration in image quality, and does not incur an increase in production cost, and an image formed object. In the method for image formation, an intermediate transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a light transparent protective layer provided on the substrate, and a first thermal transfer recording medium comprising a substrate and a light transparent ink layer provided on the substrate are first provided. The intermediate transfer recording medium and the first thermal transfer recording medium are put on top of each other. The assembly is imagewise heated to form a light transparent image on the light transparent protective layer in the intermediate transfer recording medium.

Abstract: A technique for optimizing or enhancing color images. Embodiments are disclosed for creating an enhanced color image, including the enhancement of perceived color uniformity. In a “dot-on-dot” registration scheme for producing color images, the dots need to be precisely superimposed on each other to provide optimum or enhanced images. The dot-on-dot registration produced by a single head thermal printer is generally acceptable, but a single head machine is very slow because multiple passes (reciprocation) are required to lay down multiple colors of dots. In a much faster multi-head or tandem thermal imaging system a serious problem of dot misalignment may cause moire patterns or other visual artifacts in the color images produced by dot patterns. A solution to this problem is disclosed herein which intentionally misregisters superimposed dots in a novel and particular manner to achieve image optimization.

Abstract: A flat-type fluorescent lamp is used as a light source of a color thermal printer. The flat-type fluorescent lamp has a yellow luminescent surface for emitting yellow fixing rays, and a magenta luminescent surface for emitting magenta fixing rays. The respective luminescent surfaces are disposed back to back and are selectively activated by a lamp driving circuit. The flat-type fluorescent lamp is rotatable between a first position where the yellow luminescent surface confronts a recording surface of a color thermosensitive recording paper, and a second position where the magenta luminescent surface confront the recording surface of the recording paper.

Abstract: For in-line printing and processing of successive portions of a band material, the portions are each printed in a printing position (5; 157) and processed in a processing position (36; 43), both along that transport path (1; 101). The band material is advanced at least once over a predetermined distance along the transport path (1; 101) for transferring portions of the band material from the printing position (5) or the processing position, to the processing position (36; 43) or, respectively, the printing position (157). Since the printing is carried out incrementally in accordance with the incremental formation of the printing, changes in the printing from portion to portion can be implemented easily. Since each printed portion is advanced over a remaining portion of the predetermined distance after printing, it is assured in a simple manner that the printings are accurately aligned in transport direction for processing to be performed.

Abstract: A sheet material for use in a gyricon display in which a rotatable element, which has a portion which is capable of being permanently magnetized may be oriented to experience either an attractive force or a repelling force between itself and another magnetized element. The attractive force between the element and the pad serve to latch the element in place and prevent unwanted display changes from taking place while the repellant force serves to trap the element in place for the same reasons. The element may be constructed to be either cylindrically or spherically shaped. Further, the sheet material may also contain soft magnetic material pads which may be arranged to provide multiple latching states as desired.

Abstract: A method for forming an image by thermal transfer: comprising forming a multi-color image using two chromatic color thermal transfer ink ribbons A and B, the thermal transfer ink ribbons A and B having respective chromatic colors which satisfy the following relations: YA+YB≧1.0 MA+MB≧1.0 CA+CB≧1.0 wherein YA, MA, and CA are defined respectively as values obtained by color separation of the optical reflection density of the thermal transfer ink ribbon A into Y, M, and C components, and YB, MB, and CB are defined respectively as values obtained by color separation of the optical reflection density of the thermal transfer ink ribbon B into Y, M, and C components.

Abstract: A thermal printer is disclosed which includes a plurality of thermal print heads, each of the plurality of thermal print heads being operable to print a distinct one of a plurality of colors. The plurality of thermal print heads may print output at a plurality of spatial resolutions. The thermal printer may include dot size varying means for varying perceived levels of color printed by the thermal printer by varying sizes of dots printed by the plurality of thermal print heads. The printer may perform various image processing steps on an image to be printed, such as tone scale adjustment, thermal history control, and common mode voltage correction, to improve the perceived quality of the printed image. The thermal printer may be incorporated into a digital photo-printing vending machine for printing images provided by a customer.

Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a thermal head capable of printing two colors applies thermal history control using a simple circuit configuration. The thermal head control apparatus has a print data processing unit 40 and a drive control circuit 50. The print data processing unit 40 has a first command processing function for converting first color data to a first and second stage energizing commands, a second command processing function for converting second color data to a second stage energizing command, a first line buffer 43 for storing first stage energizing commands, and a second line buffer 44 for recording second stage energizing commands. The print data processing unit 40 selectively outputs energizing commands from the first line buffer 43 and energizing commands from the second line buffer 44.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording system wherein an area of a thermal transfer imaging medium is heated imagewise while in contact only with a thermal printing head and the imaged area of the thermal transfer recording medium subsequently transferred to a receiver material.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which ink transfer from a donor sheet to an image-receiving sheet is carried out. The donor sheet has a size larger than the image-receiving sheet. The apparatus includes a rotating drum around which the image-receiving sheet and the donor sheet may be wound and laminated, and a squeeze roller. The squeeze roller has a middle portion with a fixed radius and a smaller radius portion at one or both ends. Outside an area for the image-receiving sheet, the drum has a first protruding mound portion with which the donor sheet is in surface-contact when the sheets are wound around the drum. A boundary of the smaller radius portion and the middle portion is positioned at an image-receiving sheet side of the first mound portion when the sheets are pressed against the drum.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments describe a semiconductor substrate having microelectronics integrated thereon. In one exemplary embodiment, the semiconductor substrate comprises a plurality of fluid ejecting elements positioned over a substrate. The semiconductor substrate can further comprise one or more fluid feed channel(s) formed in the substrate. The one or more fluid feed channel(s) being configured to deliver fluid to the plurality of fluid ejecting elements. The one or more fluid feed channel(s) are defined at least in part by first and second substantially parallel side walls and first and second non-parallel end walls.

Abstract: A method for improving the image quality of a thermal print image uses preprocessed image and color matrices, in which special combinations of black dots and black dot patterns are filtered out. These patterns are then replaced with printer-friendly patterns. This altering technique improves the image quality and reduces halo effects.

Abstract: An image-forming system has an image-forming sheet, and a printer for forming an image on the sheet. The sheet has a sheet of paper, and a layer of microcapsule, coated over the paper sheet, that contains a plurality of microcapsules filled with a dye. A shell wall of each microcapsule is composed of a resin exhibiting a pressure/temperature characteristic such that, when each microcapsule is squashed under a predetermined pressure at a predetermined temperature, the dye seeps from the squashed microcapsule. The microcapsules are covered with an infrared absorbent coating that-absorbs infrared rays having a specific wavelength. The printer has a transparent glass plate, and a roller platen elastically pressed against the plate at the predetermined pressure, with the sheet being interposed between the plate and the platen.

Abstract: A method for improving the image quality of a thermal print image uses preprocessed image and color matrices, in which special combinations of black dots and black dot patterns are filtered out. These patterns are then replaced with printer-friendly patterns. This altering technique improves the image quality and reduces halo effects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printer in which a current is conducted to a thermal head 20 in order to pre-heat the thermal head 20 concurrently with battery checking prior to printing. Thereafter, power supplied from a battery is fed to the thermal head 20, which is a load, immediately before the color inks on an ink ribbon 7a are transferred. At the predetermined timing immediately succeeding the feeding of power (in 5 to 10 msec), a voltage developed from the battery 8 is detected. The detected voltage is corrected so that a printing density of inks transferred from the thermal head 20 will remain constant irrespective of whether the voltage developed from the battery 8 is high or low.

Abstract: An image-forming system has an image-forming sheet, and a printer for forming an image on the sheet. The sheet has a sheet of paper, and a layer of microcapsule, coated over the paper sheet, that contains a plurality of microcapsules filled with a dye. A shell wall of each microcapsule is composed of a resin exhibiting a pressure/temperature characteristic such that, when each microcapsule is squashed under a predetermined pressure at a predetermined temperature, the dye seeps from the squashed microcapsule. The microcapsules are covered with an infrared absorbent coating that absorbs infrared rays having a specific wavelength. The printer has a transparent glass plate, and a roller platen elastically pressed against the plate at the predetermined pressure, with the sheet being interposed between the plate and the platen.

Abstract: A method for forming an image by thermal transfer: comprising forming a multi-color image using two chromatic color thermal transfer ink ribbons A and B, the thermal transfer ink ribbons A and B having respective chromatic colors which satisfy the following relations:

Abstract: An image-forming system has an image-forming sheet, and a printer for forming an image on the sheet. The sheet has a sheet of paper, and a layer of microcapsule, coated over the paper sheet, that contains a plurality of microcapsules filled with a dye. A shell wall of each microcapsule is composed of a resin exhibiting a pressure/temperature characteristic such that, when each microcapsule is squashed under a predetermined pressure at a predetermined temperature, the dye seeps from the squashed microcapsule. The microcapsules are covered with an infrared absorbent coating that absorbs infrared rays having a specific wavelength. The printer has a transparent glass plate, and a roller platen elastically pressed against the plate at the predetermined pressure, with the sheet being interposed between the plate and the platen.

Abstract: To calibrate a printer that prints a full-color image on a recording paper in a color frame sequential fashion, a gray pattern is printed by the printer onto a recording paper, to three color densities of the gray pattern. A recording energy correction amount for magenta is determined based on a difference between the measured magenta density and a set magenta density. Then density variations in yellow and cyan from their set values are estimated that would be resulted from the recording energy correction for magenta. Then recording energy correction amounts for yellow and cyan that reduce the estimated density variations are calculated. Thereafter, density variations in magenta and cyan that would be resulted from the recording energy correction for yellow are estimated, and recording energy correction amounts for magenta and cyan that reduce the estimated density variations are calculated.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is used for forming a print image on a color image forming sheet on which a plurality of units is formed in a regular pattern. Each unit is formed of plural color areas for showing one color portion. The image forming apparatus includes a storing device for storing image plotting data showing color-plotted images; a control device for translating the image plotting data into print image data including plural groups of digits corresponding to the color areas in one unit; a detecting device for detecting a position of the color image forming sheet on the image forming apparatus and outputting a detection signal upon detection of the position; and a recording device for selectively covering the plural color areas on the color image forming sheet according to the print image data and the detection signal from the detecting means. Thus, the color-plotted image is produced on the color image forming sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is printing paper containing a center portion having a curved edge connecting adjacent sides to each other at four corners and outside portions connected to the center portion at at least one straight line portion of said sides, wherein the center portion and the outside portions are connected to each other through a structure by which the printing paper can be cut.

Abstract: A removing claw 164 has a width W1 in a cross direction of 5 [mm] and a rectangular cross section with a height reduced toward a tip, and both ends of an upper side of the rectangle are chamfered to have a chamfered portion with a radius of r=1 [mm]. Consequently, a contact area of a toner sheet with the removing claw 164 is large. Therefore, a face pressure of a surface of the removing claw 164 where the toner sheet is to be delivered is reduced. Accordingly, the toner sheet can be delivered while being removed by the removing claw 164 without a material thereof rubbed and shaved by the surface of the removing claw and shaved by both ends of the upper side of the removing claw 164 even if the toner sheet comes in contact with the removing claw.

Abstract: The invention described a thermal printer. The thermal printer has a supply reel, a take-up and a pair of motors. Each motor connects with the supply reel and the take-up reel, respectively. A detecting apparatus detects ribbon and the reel parameters while initializing the thermal printer. A memory stores a transforming table which can obtain the driving pulse width of each motor from a radius of the supply reel, a radius of the take-up reel and the ribbon tension. A control apparatus drive each motor with different pulse width according to parameters detected by the detecting apparatus and the transforming table. A thermal print head performs a printing process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal transfer sheet including a thermally transferable ink layer on one surface of a substrate film, wherein said ink layer contains a coloring agent, and a decoloring agent that prevents thermal color-developing paper from color development or makes the color, once developed thereby, invisible; a thermal transfer sheet including on one surface of a substrate film a first thermally transferable ink layer containing a decoloring agent that prevents thermal color-developing paper from color development or makes the color, once developed thereby, invisible, wherein at least one second thermal transfer ink layer is interposed between said ink layer and said substrate film; and a thermal transfer recording method that uses these thermal transfer sheets.

Abstract: To suppress color moire in a color image recording apparatus, a method for recording a color image by forming recording dots of at least first through third colors on a recording medium in a plurality of lines of recording dots each extending in a main scan direction and a plurality of rows of recording dots each extending in a sub-scan direction, wherein each line is divided into a predetermined number of lines in a sub-scanning direction to form sub-lines, and dots are printed in a respective sub-line for every line.

Abstract: A plurality of thermal heads for different colors, are disposed in parallel in a line-printing direction, being offset with respect to each other in a transport direction along which an image-forming sheet is moved via a conveyer path. The image forming sheet is a pressure/temperature-sensitive sheet or a temperature-sensitive sheet. The thermal heads are moved in the line-printing direction. Adjacent-opposing ends of adjacent thermal heads are separated in the line-printing direction, and overlap in the transport direction. The thermal heads are controlled so as to simultaneously generate image-pixels on the image-forming sheet. The printing speed is high due to a plurality of colors being simultaneously printed. The thermal heads are used as part of pressure applying unit. The pressure applying unit is provided for selectively applying predetermined pressure to the micro-capsules, when the image-forming sheet is a pressure/temperature-sensitive sheet.

Abstract: In order to carry out histogram control so that colors of regions printed for overlapping regions are appropriate for a multi-color, multi-stencil thermal silkscreen stencil-making device, a hue, printing density and corresponding extracted color for ink used in multi-color, multi-stencil printing are inputted, of which a color of the densest printing density is set at a color separation circuit 36 as an extracted color for making a histogram. A histogram producing circuit 34 constituting a histogram controller 33 is then initialized, histogram data HD for the color extracted for making a histogram is acquired while reading an original, and this histogram data HD is temporarily stored in memory 37. While stencils are being made for all of the colors, the stencils are made while an energy control circuit 35 carries out histogram control based on an applied energy control signal S corresponding to histogram data HD stored in the memory 37 and binary data D3.

Abstract: The invention involves an internal drum thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. An applicator automatically loads and unloads the receiver material and the donor material onto the cylindrical drum comprising an applicator carriage, an attachment device for attaching the receiver material to the applicator and an applicator transport device for transporting the applicator carriage along the inner circumference of the cylindrical drum.

Abstract: An image-forming substrate has a base member, and a layer of microcapsules coated over the base member. The microcapsule layer contains a first type of microcapsule filled with a first type of single-color dye, and a second type of microcapsule filled with a second type of single-color dye. The first and second types of single-color dyes comprise a same single-color dye exhibiting differing densities. The first type of microcapsule exhibits a first characteristic such that, when the first type of microcapsule is squashed under a first pressure at a first temperature, discharge of the first type of single-color dye from the squashed microcapsule occurs. The second type of microcapsule exhibits a second characteristic such that, when the second type of microcapsule is squashed under the first pressure at a second temperature, discharge of the second type of single-color dye from the squashed microcapsule occurs.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording method and a thermal transfer printer, which can provide a high quality recorded image by controlling the number of underlying ink printing operations in accordance with the properties of a print sheet, and forming boundaries of adjacent underlying ink layers so that they are out of line with respect to boundaries of adjacent record layers. The thermal transfer printer comprises a setting section for setting the number of underlying ink printing operations; and a controlling section for carrying out a controlling operation such that the number of underlying ink printing operations set by the setting section is carried out. Such a thermal transfer printer can be used to print a sharp image on various types of print sheet.

Abstract: A thermal transfer image forming method comprising the steps of: using a preprint ribbon comprising, on its substrate, at least a first ink layer and a second ink layer in this order from the side of the substrate, and an ink ribbon comprising, on its substrate, at least a color ink layer and an adhesive layer in this order from the side of the substrate; first conducting a thermal transfer using the preprint ribbon onto a receptor to form a preprint image whose topmost layer is composed of the first ink layer; and subsequently conducting a thermal transfer using the ink ribbon onto the preprint image to form an ink image, wherein the first ink layer of the preprint ribbon and the adhesive layer of the ink ribbon comprise the same kind of material as respective main components.

Abstract: The thermal recording apparatus includes an image recording device and a light irradiation device. The image recording device records an image by heating imagewise a thermal recording material. This material includes a color forming agent and a developer and optionally a light absorption dye on a substrate and is colored at a density corresponding to an added thermal energy. The light irradiation device irradiates light containing an absorption wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm of a color forming dye of the thermal recording material to the thermal recording material heated and colored by the image recording device. The apparatus can form an image with a high contrast at a high sensibility while a sufficient dynamic range is secured, and the stability of the formed image is also high.

Abstract: The invention involves a thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. The imaging unit is configured to thermally transfer an image by scanning energy beams across the donor material.

Abstract: A printer has a printer body, a carriage for undergoing scanning movement over a print paper in a scanning direction, and a cassette removably connected to the printer body for storing print paper and having a code element indicative of photosensitive characteristics of the print paper. The print paper contains photosensitive microcapsules encapsulating a color developing material and a photo-curing material and has an image receiving layer for developing color by a reaction of the color developing material with the image receiving layer. The carriage has a light emitting element for emitting light of a preselected wavelength to which the photosensitive microcapsules are exposed to thereby form a latent image on the print paper. A photosensitive characteristics identifying mechanism is disposed on the carriage for reading the code element of the cassette to identify the photosensitive characteristics of the print paper.

Abstract: An image processor comprises on imaging drum (300) for print media (32) and donor sheet materials (36) in registration on vacuum imaging drum (300). A printhead (500) moves along a line parallel to a longitudinal axis of vacuum imaging drum (300) as vacuum imaging drum (300) rotates to provide for an intended image. The intended image may be written in a first direction and/or second direction based on the direction of rotation of vacuum imaging drum (300) and the linear direction of movement of the printhead (500).

Abstract: A thermal printer has a thermal head, which applies recording heat energy to an effective recording region on a thermosensitive recording sheet. The thermal head includes an array of heating elements arranged in a main scan direction. The recording sheet is conveyed relative to the thermal head in a sub scan direction perpendicular to the main scan direction, for recording at least one input image to the recording sheet. The effective recording region is separated into an insertion region, a template region and a blank frame region. The frame region extends in a linear shape with a small width. A first borderline is defined between the insertion region and the frame region, and a second borderline is defined between the template region and the frame region. The first borderline includes at least one first borderline segment being straight or curved, extends crosswise to the sub scan direction and is inclined with reference to the main scan direction. The input image is recorded in the insertion region.

Abstract: A temperature control apparatus for controlling a temperature of a heating resistor included on a thermal head of a printer. The temperature control apparatus includes a sensing circuit for sensing the temperature of the heating resistor from a current flowing through the heating resistor. The temperature control apparatus includes a switching device for switching the current activated by a status signal, and a holding circuit, which holds the status signal indicating whether each heating resister is to be heated. The holding circuit is cleared when the temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A printer system comprises a thermal printer, an ink transfer unit and a thermal printing unit. The ink transfer unit and the thermal printing unit can be selectively mounted in the thermal printer. The ink transfer unit has an ink reservoir in which liquid ink is stored. The thermal printing unit has an ink ribbon. When neither the ink transfer unit nor the thermal printing unit is mounted on the thermal printer, an image can be formed on a thermal recording sheet only by the thermal printer. When the ink transfer unit is mounted on the thermal printer, ink stored in the ink reservoir is transferred onto a recording sheet to form an image thereon. When the thermal printing unit is mounted on the thermal printer, ink contained in the ink ribbon is transferred onto the recording sheet.

Abstract: A color conversion adjustment method is provided which enables correct judgment on a fine gray balance. In a process of adjusting or confirming gray correction conversion for correcting a gray balance, a plurality of color patches, whose gray balances are varied discretely, are lined up, and a gray correction chart, whose background portion other than the color patches is outputted at a black color of a predetermined density, is outputted. The black color of the background portion is a standard for judging the color balance. Because the color patches and the black color are printed on the same paper, there is no deterioration in the gray balance due to differences in papers, and accordingly, fine gray balance can be judged more accurately.

Abstract: An image-forming system has an image-forming substrate that includes a base sheet, and a layer of microcapsules, coated over the base sheet, containing a plurality of at least one type of microcapsules filled with an ink. When a dot area of the layer of microcapsules is subjected to a pressure in a predetermined pressure range at a temperature in a predetermined temperature range, at least a portion of the plurality of at least one type of microcapsules, included in the dot area, are squashed and broken, thereby causing discharge of the dye from the squashed and broken microcapsules. A thermal printer includes a roller platen for exerting the pressure on the dot area, a thermal head for applying a thermal energy to the dot area to heat the same to the predetermined temperature, and a regulator that regulates a degree of application of the thermal energy to the dot area, thereby enabling a variation in the density of the discharge of the dye at the dot area to be obtainable.

Abstract: A multicolor thermal transfer ribbon having black ink and at least two other color inks besides black and white is used with a thermal transfer printer and a label in a method of labeling packages. Variable black ink indicia is imaged, using the thermal transfer printer and ribbon, on a first face of the label, and color indicia from at least one of the at least two other color inks on the ribbon is also imaged on the first face of the label. Then the pressure sensitive adhesive of the second face of the label is pressed onto a package (such as an envelope, carton, etc.). The black variable indicia preferably includes variable bar code and text indicia including address indicia, and the color indicia is preferably just one color, indicating a particular type of express delivery service.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive and heat-sensitive recording apparatus has a pre-coating container that pre-coats a recording sheet prior to a printing operation on the recording sheet. The pre-coating material container, ribbon cassette and an over-coating material container are provided in a recording head, while being movable in a printing direction lead by the pre-coating material container. The printed color-image is protected by an over-coating material dispensed from the trailing over-coating material container.

Abstract: A plurality of thermal heads for different colors, are disposed in parallel in a line-printing direction, being offset with respect to each other in a transport direction along which an image-forming sheet is moved via a conveyer path. The image forming sheet is a pressure/temperature-sensitive sheet or a temperature-sensitive sheet. The thermal heads are moved in the line-printing direction. Adjacent-opposing ends of adjacent thermal heads are separated in the line-printing direction, and overlap in the transport direction. The thermal heads are controlled so as to simultaneously generate image-pixels on the image-forming sheet. The printing speed is high due to a plurality of colors being simultaneously printed. The thermal heads are used as part of pressure applying unit. The pressure applying unit is provided for selectively applying predetermined pressure to the micro-capsules, when the image-forming sheet is a pressure/temperature-sensitive sheet.

Abstract: In order to prevent deformation in recorded images, positional misregistration in superposition recording, hue misregistration in color images, failures in hue repeatability, and the like in thermal transfer recording, there are provided a method and apparatus for thermal transfer recording, in which corrected image data are obtained by performing enlargement or contraction of image data depending on dimension changes caused in a recording medium if thermal transfer recording is performed, and the thermal transfer recording is performed on the recording medium based on the corrected image data.

Abstract: A medium transporting mechanism is used in a color image forming apparatus and a color image reading apparatus. The medium transporting mechanism includes a medium holding section and a rotary transporting section. The medium holding section holds a print-medium by clamping the leading end of the print-medium. The rotary transporting section supports the medium holding section thereon and rotates so that the medium holding section travels around a platen in such a manner that the print-medium slides on at least a part of the platen and the medium holding section travels in a loop-like path which is shorter than a maximum dimension of the print-medium in a direction of travel of the print-medium. A color image recording section is located to oppose the platen so that a print-medium passes between the color image recording section and the platen. The color image recording section prints images of yellow, magenta, cyan in sequence and in register on the print-medium.

Abstract: A method of thermally transferring colorant from a movable ribbon onto printable areas of a thermal print receptive sheeting. The method includes arranging a print head so that its length is substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the thermal print receptive sheeting and transferring colorant from the movable ribbon to the sheeting as the sheeting is stationary and the thermal print head is moved in a second direction substantially normal to the length of the thermal print head. The system includes a thermal print head, a transport for moving the thermal print receptive sheeting past the thermal print head in the first direction, and a mechanism that moves the print head in a second direction normal to the first direction when the print head is transferring colorant onto the sheeting.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibrating a multi-color imaging system are provided. The multi-color imaging system is capable of applying different colorants to a substrate based on a plurality of input color values. The input color values control amounts of the colorants to be applied to the substrate by the imaging system. A subset of the input color values is selected and used to control the imaging system to apply one or more of the different colorants to the substrate, thereby forming a plurality of different color patches on the substrate. The subset of input color values is selected such that one of more of the different color patches is formed by application of a combination of at least two of the different colorants to the substrate. Color values are measured for each of the different color patches, and compared to reference color values, representing a calibrated condition of the imaging system. An error value is calculated.