Abstract: Methods and systems of actively cooling a card while the card is within a card processing machine are described. One or more cooling stations are provided within the card processing machine to actively cool the card prior to performing a processing operation, during a processing operation, and/or after a processing operation on the card in order to reduce a temperature of the surface of the card.

Abstract: A display device is provided. The display device includes a substrate and a plurality of pixels disposed on the substrate. One of the pixels includes a first light filter layer. The display device also includes a first light shielding layer, a second light shielding layer, and a plurality of light emitting diodes. The first light shielding layer defines a plurality of openings, wherein the first light filter layer is disposed in one of the openings. The second light shielding layer is disposed on the substrate and at least partially overlapped with the first light shielding layer. The second light shielding layer defines another plurality of openings, and the light emitting diodes are disposed in the another plurality of openings. In a direction parallel to an upper surface of the substrate, the second light shielding layer overlaps the plurality of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: A medium drying device includes a transport roller pair as a transport unit that transports a medium and a heat roller pair as one heating unit that heats the medium transported by the transport roller pair and is provided in a transport direction of the medium, in which the medium is configured to be transported to a heating area by the heat roller pair a plurality of times.

Abstract: A printing system includes a printing device, a platen roller, a controller, and an interface. The printing device includes a thermal head, a ribbon drive source, and a head drive source. When receiving a print command, the controller executes head movement control for moving the thermal head and ribbon acceleration control for accelerating a transport speed of an ink ribbon to a target speed. After completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control, the controller is configured to control the thermal head to perform printing on the print medium. At least before receiving the print command, the controller is configured to determine a printable distance over which the print medium is transported from the reception of the print command till the completion of the head movement control and the ribbon acceleration control and outputs the determined printable distance through the interface.

Abstract: A printer is provided for printing marking strips having a plurality of marking elements for marking electric devices which can be arranged next to one another. Each of the marking elements has a marking plate with at least one writing field which can be printed with information such as writing. The printer has a rotatably mounted feed shaft which can be driven by a motor and a printing head. The rotatably mounted feed shaft has at least one section which is provided with protrusions and which rests directly against the marking strip while the feed shaft is rotated such that the advancing speed of the marking strip is synchronized with the circumferential speed of the feed shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a heat transfer printing on-line code printing system. A conveyor belt is arranged on a worktable. A pressing conveyor and a code printer are erected on the worktable. The pressing conveyor includes a mounting frame. An adjustment frame located above the conveyor belt is arranged on the mounting frame. Two roller groups that are arranged opposite to each other are rotatably arranged on the inner side of the adjustment frame. Acting sides of the two roller groups penetrate out from the bottom of the adjustment frame to the position above of the conveyor belt. The two roller groups are in coaxial transmission. The adjustment frame is connected to the mounting frame, and the mounting frame is in threaded connection with an adjustment rod. The inner side of the mounting frame is connected with multiple support components that are elastically pressed against the adjustment frame.

Abstract: A retransfer printing process that prevents dust and other contaminants from becoming statically or otherwise attached to the transfer layer of the retransfer film and/or to the print ribbon used to print on the retransfer film. In the described process, some or all of the unused retransfer film is rewound back onto the retransfer film supply and/or some or all of the unused print ribbon is rewound onto the print ribbon supply, for example until the next print job is submitted.

Abstract: A medium drying device includes a transport roller pair as a transport unit that transports a medium and a heat roller pair as one heating unit that heats the medium transported by the transport roller pair and is provided in a transport direction of the medium, in which the medium is configured to be transported to a heating area by the heat roller pair a plurality of times.

Abstract: A thermal transfer print ribbon having radiation curable ink thereon is used to print on a surface of a plastic card. The use of radiation curable thermal transfer printing to print on the card surface increases the durability of the printing compared to regular (i.e. non-radiation cured) thermal transfer printing once the radiation curable ink is cured. As a result, a protective laminate or coating need not be applied to the card surface to protect the printing.

Abstract: Disclosed are a display panel and manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a chip on film, and a shading array layer. The end of the first substrate extending beyond the second substrate forms a bonding end and the chip on film is bonded onto inner side of the bonding end. The inner surface of the first substrate is provided with metal signal wires located in non-pixel area. The shading array layer is located in the non-pixel area and completely shades the wires. Because the first substrate faces the viewer and the chip on film is bonded onto the inner side of bonding end, a bezel-less design is attained. The patterned shading layer forms a pattern corresponding to the metal signal wires to shade the wires for weakening lights reaching the wires and reducing reflectiveness of wires.

Abstract: A printer contains a ribbon holding shaft; a ribbon winding shaft; a printing section to print using an ink ribbon and a print head; a winding motor to rotationally drive the ribbon winding shaft; a damper section, provided on a conveyance path of the ink ribbon; a controller to control an operation of the ribbon winding shaft at the start of driving by increasing an input voltage applied to the winding motor; a detection section configured to detect movement of the damper section; a calculation section to calculate a winding diameter of the ink ribbon on the ribbon winding shaft side using the input voltage when the movement of the damper section is detected and characteristics of the damper section; and a voltage determination section to determine an input voltage to be applied to the motor according to the calculated winding diameter.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a color filter array including providing substrate, forming a multilevel structure that is attached to the substrate, etching the multilevel structure to expose first wells in the multilevel structure, filling at least the first wells in the multilevel structure with the first color component, curing the first color component, etching the multilevel structure to expose second wells in the multilevel structure, filling at least the second wells in the multilevel structure with a second color component, and curing the second color component.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a color filter substrate, a color substrate and a display panel in the field of display technology. The method includes: forming a color resistance layer on a basal substrate; forming a conversion layer on the basal substrate with the color resistance layer, wherein the thickness of the conversion layer is greater than the thickness of the color resistance layer and the conversion layer is convertible in color under the irradiation of preset light rays; and irradiating the conversion layer with the preset light rays so that the conversion layer is converted to a two-layer structure consisting of a black matrix (BM) pattern and a transparent over cover, wherein the BM pattern is disposed at the side of the conversion layer close to the basal substrate.

Abstract: A method for forming a print obtained by transferring a transfer layer from which a removal region has been accurately removed onto a transfer receiving article and a method for peeling off a transfer layer by which a removal region of the transfer layer can be accurately removed. The method for forming a print comprises, by using a transfer film in which a transfer layer is provided on one surface of a support, a thermal transfer sheet in which a peel-off layer is provided on one surface of a substrate, and a transfer receiving article, a step of removing a removal region of the transfer layer of the transfer film by means of the peel-off layer of the thermal transfer sheet and a step of transferring the transfer layer from which the removal region has been removed onto the transfer receiving article.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a display device includes providing a display substrate divided into a plurality of emission regions, and a non-emission region adjacent the emission regions; forming a black matrix on the display substrate, the black matrix corresponding to the non-emission region; and forming a plurality of color patterns on the display substrate through a solution process, the plurality of color patterns corresponding to the emission regions.

Abstract: A method for printing on an article is disclosed wherein a transfer medium is loaded into a digital printer. A print head of the printer is used to deposit a main color layer on the transfer medium. A primer layer is deposited onto the main color layer. In some embodiments, an initial color layer is deposited prior to deposition of the main color layer. An adhesive powder is deposited on the primer layer, and the main color layer and primer layer are cured using ultraviolet illumination. The transfer medium is contacted (placed into contact) with the article and heat and/or pressure are applied to transfer the deposited layers to the article. The transfer medium is removed leaving the main color layer and primer layer adhered to the article.

Abstract: In order to provide an image forming apparatus which can reduce color deviation at the time of forming an image on a medium, the present printing apparatus comprises an image forming unit which forms an image by superimposing images, each formed with corresponding color of ink, on a transfer film while heating a thermal head, a film conveying device which conveys a transfer film, a sensor which detects a stretch of the transfer film occurring due to heating with the thermal head, a controller which controls the image forming unit to change a line cycle of the thermal head in accordance with a stretch of the transfer film detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A thermal printing device with a thermal print head, a platen roller opposite the print head and a protective film that is movable in a closed loop, wherein the thermal print head is arranged inside the closed loop formed by the film, so as to protect the thermal paper from damage caused by mechanical scraping by the print head; a use of the printing device is also disclosed for dispensing a printed ticket in real time, the ticket being at least partly covered by an opaque patina that is removable by scraping after printing to enable what has been printed to be viewed.

Abstract: A method for applying a coating to a substrate includes obtaining a fluorinated polymer compound, where the fluorine is chemically or covalently bonded to the polymer molecule; and coating the surface of the substrate with the fluorinated polymer compound.

Abstract: In order to provide a printer capable of detecting a continuous paper sheet without causing a sensor provided in the downstream side of a thermal head from being hindered by an ink ribbon, the printer includes: a main body (20) defining a conveying passage of a continuous paper sheet (P); a print unit having a thermal head (40) provided in the main body (20) to print predetermined information on the continuous paper sheet (P) by using an ink ribbon, and a platen roller (41) provided to face the thermal head (40) by interposing the continuous paper sheet (P); and a sensor unit (45) installed in the main body (20) and provided with a sensor (48) for detecting the continuous paper sheet (P), the sensor unit (45) being configured to move between a first position where the sensor (48) detects the continuous paper sheet (P) in the downstream side of the thermal head (40) and a second position farther than the first position from the thermal head (40).

Abstract: In an intermediate transfer medium, a substrate, protective layers having a layered structure of two or more layers, and a receiving layer are layered in this order. One layer in the protective layers having the layered structure contains, as a main component, one material or a mixture of two or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyesters having a high polymerization degree, a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 12,000 and a Tg of not less than 60° C., polycarbonates and polyester urethanes. Another layer in the protective layers having the layered structure contains one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl butyrals, polyvinyl acetals and polyvinyl pyrrolidones or includes a cationic resin, and the receiving layer contains a side chain-type aralkyl-modified silicone in an amount of 0.5-5% by weight on a base of the total weight of the receiving layer.

Abstract: A method of applying a graphic image on a target substrate using a liquid release coat applied to a carrier substrate, the release coat formulated to form a durable contiguous first film, a top coat applied to the first film and formulated to form a durable contiguous second film, a print coat applied to the second film and formulated to form a durable contiguous third film, wherein a transferred graphic image or material is superimposed on the third film and transferred to the target substrate to which a primer coat has been applied, the primer coat being formulated to form a contiguous fourth film on the target substrate, the carrier substrate with the superimposed graphic image is thereafter united with the target substrate, thereby sandwiching the graphic image between the primer coat of the target substrate on the one hand and the top coat of the carrier substrate on the other hand.

Abstract: There is provided a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which includes a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed by using any of different types of adhesive samples. Thereby the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is adjusted so as to satisfy conditions that, slow peel strength when a printing tape made of a PET film is peeled off from the substrate film of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape by 5 mm at peel rate of 0.5 mm/minute is 0.45 N/20 mm or higher and storage modulus of the adhesive layer is in a range from 90.7 kPa to 435 kPa. By improving adhesiveness to the printing tape under environmental temperature from a low temperature to a normal temperature, the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive layer renders the printing tape less apt to peel off.

Abstract: To provide a printing apparatus for enabling cards high in wear resistance and security properties to be prepared, the printing apparatus is provided with an image formation section and a transfer section, the image formation forms a UV image in an ink reception layer 46d of a first region R1 of a transfer film 46, and forms a YMC image in the ink reception layer 46d of a second region R2 of the transfer film 46, and the transfer section transfers the ink reception layer 46d of the first region R1 with the UV image formed and a protective layer 46c of the first region R1 of the transfer film 46 integrally in this order to a card Ca, and transfers the ink reception layer 46d of the second region R2 with the YMC image formed and the protective layer 46c of the second region R2 integrally in this order thereonto.

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 recording medium that includes a base material and an ink-receiving layer. The ink-receiving layer includes an inorganic particle including a structure represented by General Formula (1) and a structure represented by General Formula (2) and a binder.

Abstract: The present invention is to eliminate loosening of a transfer film on a rear end side of a card caused due to collision of a front end of the card against a conveying roller pair provided downstream of a transfer roller to prevent wrinkles from occurring in a transferred image, by increasing a card conveying speed or reducing a feed speed of a transfer film 46 during a time from when transfer processing for a card K to immediately before or after the card front end rushes into a conveying roller pair 37, excessive loosening of the transfer film 46 occurring on the card rear end side is eliminated. After the card rear end passes through the transfer roller 33, the feed speed of the transfer film 46 is further reduced to eliminate the loosening of the transfer film 46 on the card rear end side.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus includes: a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; and a heating device configured and arranged to heat the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print.

Abstract: When an image formed on an intermediate transfer film is heat-transferred to a recording medium, the film surface is prevented from being deteriorated or distorted due to heat so as to enable high-quality printing.

Abstract: A printing device includes a printing mechanism that allows a loop-shaped ink ribbon to be detachably installed therewith, and applies an impact to the ink ribbon to transfer ink of the ink ribbon to a printing medium, a cumulative printed amount acquisition section that acquires a cumulative printed amount of the printing mechanism after the ink ribbon installed on the printing mechanism was last exchanged, a determination section that determines whether or not the cumulative printed amount acquired by the cumulative printed amount acquisition section has reached a predetermined first printing amount, or whether or not the cumulative printed amount has reached a second printing amount to be calculated based on the first printing amount, and an output control section that causes an output device to output a predetermined output if the determination section determines that the cumulative printed amount reaches the first or second printing amount.

Abstract: There is provided a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape which includes a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer formed by using any of different types of adhesive samples. Thereby the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is adjusted so as to satisfy conditions that, slow peel strength when a printing tape made of a PET film is peeled off from the substrate film of the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape by 5 mm at peel rate of 0.5 mm/minute is 0.45 N/20 mm or higher and storage modulus of the adhesive layer is in a range from 90.7 kPa to 435 kPa. By improving adhesiveness to the printing tape under environmental temperature from a low temperature to a normal temperature, the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive layer renders the printing tape less apt to peel off.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method for producing a print, which is able to prevent damages to the image-receiving sheet and generation of large wrinkles at the edges of the ink ribbon, to reduce printing unevenness, and thus to provide a high-quality print. Disclosed is a method for producing a print, in which a print is made on an image-receiving sheet by use of a specific thermal-transfer printer and an ink ribbon, wherein the ink ribbon has at least one color material layer and a protection layer; the image-receiving sheet has a receptor layer; and after printing all colors of the color material layers, the dynamic friction coefficient between the receptor layer surface of the image-receiving sheet before being coated with the protection layer and the outermost surface on the protection layer of the ink ribbon, is 0.4 or less.

Abstract: A printing system and printing apparatus are provided with improvements in the image quality of an image formed on a printing medium, a peel off region (PO) wherein a transfer layer of a transfer film is not transferred is set corresponding to a card, modified printing data is generated by modifying a gray-scale value of printing data inside a region that is larger than the PO region by predetermined dimensions and including the PO region in the printing data of Y, M, C and Bk into a gray-scale value of 0, an image is formed on the transfer film by heating a thermal head for an image formation panel of an ink ribbon according to the modified printing data. The transfer layer is peeled off by heating the thermal head for a peel off panel of the ink ribbon according to position information of the PO region.

Abstract: A ribbon includes a ribbon body, a plurality of first dye regions, a second dye region and a protecting dye region. The plurality of the first dye regions are sequentially arranged on the ribbon body. The dyes of the first dye regions are able to mix with each other. The second dye is located on a side of the plurality of the first dye regions, and the second dye region is located between the protecting dye region and the plurality of the first dye regions. The dye of the second dye region is unable to mix with the dyes of the first dye regions.

Abstract: A reverse transfer printer and method for printing information onto histological specimen containers such as slides and cassettes. One embodiment of the method includes printing an ink specimen information image onto a transfer medium, and transferring the transfer medium with the specimen information image onto a print zone of the specimen container, with the transfer medium covering the ink.

Abstract: A ribbon tension control system for a printing system includes a ribbon tension control apparatus. The ribbon tension control apparatus is configured to engage a print ribbon that extends through the printing system for applying one or more inks in the print ribbon to one or more target objects as the print ribbon is pulled from an unwind spindle to a windup spindle in the printing system. The ribbon tension control apparatus also is configured to control tension in the ribbon in response to change in a torque applied to the windup spindle that is used to pull the ribbon through the printing system.

Abstract: To perform preheating on a recording medium before transfer with an inexpensive configuration to reduce a transfer failure due to a change in temperature of a transfer film and further reduce thermal damage to the transfer film, in a transfer apparatus for nipping a transfer film and recording medium with a transfer roller and transfer platen, preheating treatment of the recording medium is performed by heat of the transfer roller before transfer processing. When the preheating treatment is performed using the transfer roller, the transfer film exists between the transport roller and the recording medium, and by shifting the position of the transfer film during the preheating treatment, it is possible to suppress thermal damage to the transfer film without applying heat of the transfer roller to only a part of the transfer film excessively.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus for heating a recording medium and a transfer film with a transfer member and a transfer platen transferring an image includes a transfer film transport member, a recording medium transport member, a peeling member peeling off the transfer film, a support member supporting the transfer surface of the recording medium, and a bracket. A recording medium contact point of the peeling member is set in the same position as a first tangent passing through a recording medium contact point of the transfer member and a contact of the recording medium of a transport member and a recording medium contact point of the support member is set in the same position as a second tangent passing through the recording medium contact point of the transfer member and the recording medium contact point of the peeling member or on the transfer platen side relative to the second tangent.

Abstract: A printing system and printing apparatus are provided with improvements in the image quality of an image formed on a printing medium, a peel off region (PO) wherein a transfer layer of a transfer film is not transferred is set corresponding to a card, modified printing data is generated by modifying a gray-scale value of printing data inside a region that is larger than the PO region by predetermined dimensions and including the PO region in the printing data of Y, M, C and Bk into a gray-scale value of 0, an image is formed on the transfer film by heating a thermal head for an image formation panel of an ink ribbon according to the modified printing data. The transfer layer is peeled off by heating the thermal head for a peel off panel of the ink ribbon according to position information of the PO region.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for sublimating printed images onto two or more sides of a product simultaneously using a single heating platen are disclosed. The apparatus is configured to print one or more images onto transfer media, then position the transfer media onto a substrate. A product to receive the sublimated image is positioned on top of the transfer media, and the apparatus manipulates the transfer media to substantially surround the product and place at least one image onto each side of the product to be sublimated. A single heating platen then engages the transfer media to sublimate the image. The heating platen is configured, using a control, to sublimate opposing sides of a product substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle.

Abstract: A safe, integrated dye sublimation transfer printer apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to print one or more images onto transfer media, then align the transfer media onto a substrate. A selected product to receive the sublimated image is positioned on top of the transfer media, and one or more heating platens then engage the transfer media to sublimate the image. The heating platen is configured to sublimate one or more opposing sides of a product substantially simultaneously in a single thermal cycle. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be incorporated into a fully-enclosed vending machine to provide on-demand personalized sublimated products and accessories for a consumer.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a toner transporting member that transports a toner layer while carrying the toner layer on a first surface of the toner transporting member, the toner transporting member including the first surface and a second surface; a heating unit including heating elements that contact the second surface that is opposite to the first surface of the toner transporting member, and that generate heat in accordance with image information, the first surface contacting a recording medium and carrying the toner layer; and a transferring unit that selectively transfers toner at an image portion to the recording medium as a result of causing each heating element of the heating unit to generate the heat with a temperature of the heating elements at the image portion and a temperature of the heating elements at a non-image portion being different from each other.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus includes: a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; and a heating device configured and arranged to heat the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print.

Abstract: Provided is an image determination device including a sheet detecting unit that detects a sheet on which a code image is printed, a first acquiring unit that acquires information on the code image and an absorption wavelength of the code image, a second acquiring unit that acquires a reading unit necessary for decoding a code portion of the code image, a third acquiring unit that acquires a document image of an electronic document, a dividing unit that divides the document image into plural blocks corresponding to the reading unit, a detecting unit that detects a block in which an image portion of the document image that uses a color having an absorption band at the absorption wavelength of the code image overlaps with the code portion of the code image as an undecodable block, and an output unit that outputs a warning indicating the generation of an undecodable area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for printing a substrate (7) in a printing machine, in which ink is transferred from a flexible carrier (3) to the substrate (7) in accordance with a predefined pattern by energy being introduced into the ink through the flexible carrier (3) by a device for the introduction of energy, some of the ink evaporating in the area of action of the energy and, as a result, a drop of ink (67) being thrown onto the substrate (7) to be printed, this step being repeated at least once, ink being transferred at least partly to the substrate (7) at the same positions in order to intensify the pattern produced. The substrate is transported through the printing machine (1) during the printing and, after the transfer of ink in step (a), the device for the introduction of energy is controlled in such a way that, during the repetition in step (b), the ink is transferred at the same position again as in step (a). The invention further relates to a printing machine for implementing the method.

Abstract: Provided is a printer capable of ensuring a large peeling angle at the time of peeling between the transfer film and the ink ribbon by differentiating a conveyance direction of the transfer film at a peeling part on a proceeding passage from the proceeding direction. In the printer which forms an image on a transfer film 46 while feeding an ink ribbon 41 and the transfer film 46 to a print position between a platen roller 45 and a thermal head 40 which are mutually pressure-contacted, the transfer film 46 is wound to form a conveyance passage between a feeding spool 48 and a winding spool 47 in a film cassette 100 which is attached to a device frame in a detachably attachable manner, and a film conveying roller 49 and pinch rollers 32a, 32b are arranged at positions so that the conveyance passage of the transfer film 46 attached to the device frame is displaced to the inside of the cassette by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of securing and maintaining the integrity of desired information on a ribbon and media subsequent to a printing operation is provided. The apparatus and method includes a thermal transfer printer having a print station and a printhead operable for performing a printing operation. The printhead is capable of performing an initial print operation and then being raised from the media, thereby allowing the used ribbon to be rewound a predetermined distance about a supply spindle. Thereafter, a second print operation is performed on the space previously printed upon using characters, designs or block-out patterns and the used ribbon is then wound onto a take-up spindle. In exemplary embodiments, the used ribbon can also be reprinted with a waste media several times thus further obscuring the image on the used ribbon.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method to flash print an image. The apparatus includes an energy source that delivers energy. The apparatus includes an energy pulse width modulator coupled to the energy source. The energy pulse width modulator may receive energy from the energy source and modulate the energy received from the energy source. The energy pulse width modulator may be driven by a logic module. The apparatus also includes a plurality of imaging pixels modulated by the energy pulse width modulator and conveying modulated energy to a host material. The host material may be in close proximity to a receiving medium and the modulated energy may release the dye from the host material into the receiving medium.

Abstract: A reverse transfer printer and method for printing information onto histological specimen containers such as slides and cassettes. One embodiment of the method includes printing an ink specimen information image onto a transfer medium, and transferring the transfer medium with the specimen information image onto a print zone of the specimen container, with the transfer medium covering the ink.

Abstract: Thermal transfer printing method and apparatus are provided to make initial character image data left on a spent ink ribbon illegible. In the method, after forming an initial character image on an ink layer in black of the ink ribbon, a forefront of the ink layer is aligned with a forefront position of an intermediate transfer film. Then, overwrite character image data is applied on a thermal head to produce a first superimpose character image on the ribbon and a first superimpose character image on the film. After that, the forefront position of the ink layer is shifted from the forefront position of the film by a predetermined distance and the overwrite character image data is applied on the thermal head to produce a second superimpose character image on the ribbon and a second superimpose character image on the film.