Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly and method of assembly is provided for a printed circuit board having a top and bottom surface with at least one edge portion having a rounded surface extending from the top surface to a point below the top surface and at least one electrical contact pad located on the top surface and extending over the edge portion rounded surface to a point below the top surface.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines, with respect to intermediate data including a start edge and an end edge indicating a shape of an object and which do not intersect and where an edge direction of the start edge and an edge direction of the end edge are aligned, whether an edge read from the intermediate data is the start edge or the end edge based on an edge direction of the edge, determines an X coordinate of an edge to be determined for each scan line as a minimum value of a corresponding scan line, and determines, an X coordinate of an edge to be determined for each scan line, as a maximum value of a corresponding scan line.

Abstract: A thermal head and a thermal printer are disclosed. The head includes a substrate, heat generating members, an edge portion, and first and second reinforcing members. The substrate includes: first and second surfaces opposing to each other; and an end face connecting the first and second surfaces. The heat generating members are parallel to the end face and located on the substrate. The edge portion is located on the substrate, crosses an array direction of the heating generating members, and includes first, second and third edge portions on the first main surface, the second main surface and the first end face, respectively. The first reinforcing member is located on the first, second and third edge portions. The second reinforcing member is located on the first edge portion, and separated from the first reinforcing member.

Abstract: An image printing system which determines dot forming condition when printing an image containing a plurality of pixels by using dots of a plurality of sizes includes: a fine drawing detecting unit which detects a dot color fine drawing pixel having a dot color used for printing the image and positioned on a fine drawing portion having a drawing width equal to or smaller than a predetermined value; an edge area detecting unit which detects a dot color edge area pixel having a dot color used for printing the image and positioned at a distance equal to or shorter than a predetermined value from an edge of the image; a first dot allocating unit which allocates dots such that a dot of predetermined size in the dots of the plural sizes can be formed for the dot color fine drawing pixel during printing the image; and a second dot allocating unit which allocates dots such that a dot of a size determined according to the distance from the edge of the image in the dots of the plural sizes can be formed for the dot col

Abstract: A content applicator for selectively processing media received by the content applicator. The content applicator includes a print station having a print station protector subsystem. When the print station is in a print offline mode, the print station protector subsystem protects at least one component of the print station from degradation caused by media being received by the print station while the print station is in print offline mode.

Abstract: A master making device includes a thermal head with heat generating elements and a platen roller. While the head and platen roller convey a thermosensitive medium in a subscanning direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction, the heat generating elements selectively generate heat in order to perforate the medium in accordance with an image signal. The head includes a stepped portion formed at a medium outlet side in the subscanning direction. The edges of the heat generating elements adjoining the medium outside side are located at a distance of 0.018 mm to 0.5 mm from the end of the stepped portion adjoining the above edges. It is not necessary to position the head with respect to an effective nip between it and the platen roller by a troublesome procedure. Further, the distance over which the perforated medium is conveyed is reduced to obviate the reduction or contraction of an image ascribable to the sticking of the medium to the head.

Abstract: A plurality of cathode lines are formed as scanning electrodes on a transparent substrate, and metal cathodes of the same cathode line apply a common potential to organic electroluminescence elements that are arranged in a main-scanning direction in the same element row. A plurality of anode lines are formed as data electrodes on the transparent substrate, so as to intersect the plurality of cathode lines and incline at a predetermined angle &thgr; with respect to a sub-scanning direction. Transparent anodes of the same anode line apply a common potential to organic electroluminescence elements having mutually different positions in the sub-scanning direction. Organic electroluminescence elements that use the same anode line have mutually different positions in the main-scanning direction. Organic electroluminescence elements that have the same position in the main-scanning direction use mutually different anode lines.

Abstract: A process for producing a protective layer or a primer layer for a heat-generating resistor for a thermal head by sputtering using a target comprising a sinter of a silicon nitride/silicon dioxide/magnesium oxide powder. By regulating the particle diameter of the powder, the target is prevented from suffering partial peeling during the sputtering.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing device includes a thermal printing head of the corner-edge type having heating elements disposed on one edge and forming a printing bar. The edge faces a backing roller, is parallel to the axis thereof, and around which an ink ribbon is led directly away from a letter or envelope to be printed. A shell which is provided on the underside of the thermal printing head faces the backing roller. The shell extends immediately up to the printing bar and has a bottom surface with a region adjacent the printing bar at approximately the same height as the printing bar. The thermal printing head including the shell and the backing roller, are adjustable relative to one another. Good ink particle detachment and a relatively low contact force are provided. Disadvantages with regard to soft and sensitive mail can be avoided and the service life of the thermal printing head is prolonged due to a lower contact force.

Abstract: A thermal recording head having an electrically resistive heat-generating portion formed on a thin-walled end portion of a ceramic substrate and electrically connected to recording and return-circuit electrodes. A reinforcing or heat radiating member is disposed on at least one of opposite sides of the substrate such that a portion of the reinforcing or heat radiating member is located at the thin-walled end portion of the substrate. The thin-walled end portion is preferably partially defined by a shoulder surface which extends from one of opposite major surface of the substrate and terminates in the end face of the thin-walled end portion. The substrate preferably has a thermal conductivity within a range between 0.002 cal.multidot.cm/sec.multidot.cm.sup.2 .multidot..degree.C. and 0.03 cal.multidot.cm/sec.multidot.cm.sup.2 .multidot..degree.C., while the heat radiating member preferably has a thermal conductivity higher than 0.01 cal.multidot.cm/sec.multidot.cm.sup.2 .multidot..degree.C.

Abstract: A method of printing on a release layer of linerless label material including the step of advancing linerless label material and a thermal transfer ribbon coated with ink through a thermal printer. The ribbon is moved over a heated transfer element of the printer. The heated transfer element is located on an edge or on a corner of an edge of the thermal printer. The ribbon is then heated to cause the ink to reach a molten or fluid state. The ink transfers in its molten or fluid state to the release layer of the linerless label material. Certain wax/resin and resin based thermal transfer ribbons and silicone release coatings have been found to be particularly effective for increasing the ink transfer and anchorage during corner edge and true edge printing on linerless label material.

Abstract: A thermal printhead (10) includes an insulating head substrate (11) having a first edge (11a) and a second edge (11b) opposite to the first edge, a heating resistor (12) formed on the head substrate (11) along the first edge (11a), at least one drive IC (13) mounted on the head substrate (11) along the second edge (11b), and a protection cover (20) mounted for covering the drive IC (13). The protection cover (20) includes a cover member (22) for covering the drive IC (13) and a fixation member (21) formed integrally with the cover member (22). The fixation member (21) has a positioning wall (23) coming into direct contact with the second edge (11b) of the head substrate (11). The fixation member is designed to attach the protection cover (20) to the head substrate (11) without utilizing separate fixing means.

Abstract: A slope is provided from a heater area to the side of the edge of a substrate near the heater area. A resistance film layer and a common electrode are provided on the slope which is formed as a convexly curved surface. In the slope, a reinforcement conductor along the common electrode is embedded below the resistance film layer.

Abstract: A thin film thermal printhead is provided which comprises a head substrate having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, a glaze layer formed on a surface of the head substrate, a patterned resistor layer formed as a thin film on the glaze layer to provide a strip of heating dots extending along the first longitudinal edge of the head substrate, and a patterned conductor layer formed on the resistor layer for selectively supplying power to the heating dots. The glaze layer extends from the first longitudinal edge toward the second longitudinal edge of the head substrate, and has a normal flat surface portion and a rounded marginal surface portion continuous with the normal flat surface. The rounded marginal surface portion extends along the first longitudinal edge of the head substrate and progressively approaches the head substrate toward the first longitudinal edge. The heating dots strip is located at least partially at the rounded marginal surface portion of the glaze layer.

Abstract: A thermal recording head having an electrically resistive heat-generating portion formed on an thin-walled end portion of a ceramic substrate and electrically connected to recording and return-circuit electrodes. A reinforcing or heat radiating member is disposed on at least one of opposite sides of the substrate such that a portion of the reinforcing or heat radiating member is located at the thin-walled end portion of the substrate. The thin-walled end portion is preferably partially defined by a shoulder surface which extends from one of opposite major surface of the substrate and terminates in the end face of the thin-walled end portion. The substrate preferably has a thermal conductivity within a range between 0.002 cal.cm/sec.cm.sup.2..degree.C. and 0.03 cal.cm/sec.cm.sup.2..degree.C., while the heat radiating member preferably has a thermal conductivity higher than 0.01 cal.cm/sec.cm.sup.2..degree.C. The conductivity of the substrate is preferably lower than that of the heat radiating member.

Abstract: A slope is provided from a heater area to the side of the edge of a substrate near the heater area. A resistance film layer and a common electrode are provided on the slope which is formed as a convexly curved surface. In the slope, a reinforcement conductor along the common electrode is embedded below the resistance film layer.

Abstract: A method of making thermal printheads is provided which comprises the steps of: (a) preparing a master substrate having plural rows of unit head regions; (b) forming a head glaze member in each unit head region in each row so that an edge of the head glaze member of the unit head region aligned with that of the head glaze member of any other unit region in the same row; (c) half-cutting the master substrate along the edge of the head glaze member of the unit head region with a half-cutting dicing blade which has an inclined edge face for partially cutting the head glaze member to provide a glaze corner; and (d) forming an array of heating dots along the glaze corner; wherein at least one blade positioning mark is formed on the master substrate before the half-cutting step (c); and the half-cutting dicing blade is positionally set in the half-cutting step (c) by referring to the blade positioning mark.

Abstract: A slope is provided from a heater area to the side of the edge of a substrate near the heater area. A resistance film layer and a common electrode are provided on the slope which is formed as a convexly curved surface. In the slope, a reinforcement conductor along the common electrode is embedded below the resistance film layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal head and the manufacturing method. In the thermal head, even when a multilayer wiring constitution is adopted, a trouble caused by bad connection or bad insulation in respective layers can be certainly prevented, and even if a real edge constitution is adopted, manufacturing is easy and reliability can be maintained high.

Abstract: A thermal head for printers, facsimile machines, copying machines, etc., of the thermo-sensitive type or thermo-transfer type, includes a substrate and a resistance-heating element on the substrate. The substrate has a printing surface relative to which an information carrier is caused to slide for printing information on the information carrier. The substrate comprises a material having a thermal conductivity coefficient and a heat capacity per unit volume which are within respectively defined numerical ranges. The resistance-heating element is formed on a thin-walled portion of the substrate, and the printing surface is made integral with a substrate surface which is adjacent to the resistance-heating element.

Abstract: A thermal recording head having an electrically resistive heat-generating portion formed on an thin-walled end portion of a ceramic substrate and electrically connected to recording and return-circuit electrodes. A reinforcing or heat radiating member is disposed on at least one of opposite sides of the substrate such that a portion of the reinforcing or heat radiating member is located at the thin-walled end portion of the substrate. The thin-walled end portion is preferably partially defined by a shoulder surface which extends from one of opposite major surface of the substrate and terminates in the end face of the thin-walled end portion. The substrate preferably has a thermal conductivity within a range between 0.002 cal.cm/sec.cm.sup.2..degree.C. and 0.03 cal.cm/sec.cm.sup.2..degree.C., while the heat radiating member preferably has a thermal conductivity higher than 0.01 cal.cm/sec.cm.sup.2..degree.C. The conductivity of the substrate is preferably lower than that of the heat radiating member.

Abstract: A print head applies electrical energy to an electrically resistive and grounded transfer ribbon bearing heat transferable dye, during sliding pressure contact and relative movement between the head and ribbon, for resistive heating of the dye for transfer to a receiver to form images thereon. The head has a row of electrodes, an electrically non-conductive substrate and an electrically non-conductive and thermally insulating barrier layer in abutment, with the barrier layer between the electrodes and substrate. The barrier layer has a thermal conductivity at most about one-tenth of that of the substrate and a thickness sufficient to retard heat transfer from the electrodes to the substrate for controlling the temperature of the electrodes.