Abstract: Provided herein is a printing apparatus including a printhead movable between a first position and a second position. The printhead includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate define at least a first burn line and a second burn line, respectively, of heating elements disposed adjacent to a first edge and a second edge, respectively of the printhead. A printhead bracket receives the printhead in one of the first position or the second position. In the first position, the heating elements of the first burn line perform a printing operation and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the second burn line. In the second position, the heating elements of the second burn line perform a printing operation, and the printhead bracket is configured to preclude operation of the heating elements of the first burn line.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes pair of ejection rollers that are used for ejecting a recording material to a stacking unit from a main body of the image forming apparatus and a cooling unit. The cooling unit includes, air-blowing ports that are used for blowing air onto the recording material in a direction crossing a transport direction of the recording material are positioned in a region that is located above the position of a nip portion of the pair of ejection rollers and below an extension line tangent to the nip portion of the pair of ejection rollers.

Abstract: A printer includes a platen on which a recording medium is placed, an ink head movable in a main scanning direction and able to eject ink onto the recording medium, a cover disposed above and to at least a side of the platen and including an opening located downstream of the ink head in a subscanning direction, a front cover attached to the cover and able to open and close the opening, and an air blower disposed on the front cover.

Abstract: A print head assembly including a print head unit, a cooling duct, and a blower arranged to pass a gaseous cooling medium through the cooling duct. The cooling duct has an elongated closed hollow cross-section bounded on at least one side by a flat wall. The print head unit is attached to the flat wall outside of the cooling duct such that the print head unit is cooled by the gaseous medium passing through the cooling duct via thermal contact through the flat wall of the cooling duct.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a head that discharges a liquid onto a medium, a medium supporting portion that supports the medium, a heater that heats the medium supported by the medium supporting portion, and a detecting unit that performs sensing and detects energy. The radiation energy of the heater is controlled on the basis of the energy detected by the detecting unit. The medium supporting portion is provided with a sensing target portion that can be sensed by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A device for erasing an image on a sheet includes a reading unit that reads an image formed on a sheet. An erasing unit erases the image formed on the sheet by heating the sheet after the sheet has passed through the reading unit. A conveyance path conveys the sheet from the erasing unit back to the reading unit. The conveyance path includes a curved portion between the erasing unit and the reading unit. A cooling unit cools the sheet which passes through the conveyance path. The cooling unit includes at least one fan that supplies cooling air generally along a sheet conveying direction. A rate of the cooling air supplied to an outer peripheral portion of the curved portion of the conveyance path is larger than a rate of the cooling air supplied to an inner peripheral portion of the curved portion of the conveyance path.

Abstract: There is provided a decoloring device including a decoloring unit, a first sheet conveying unit, a second sheet conveying unit, a reversing and conveying unit, a manual feed tray, and a manual discharge tray. The reversing and conveying unit is disposed adjacent to an outer wall of the decoloring device in relation to the first sheet conveying unit, and conveys once again the sheet, which is temporarily brought into the second sheet conveying unit after being decolored by the decoloring unit and is switch-back conveyed, to the first sheet conveying unit. The manual feed tray is provided at an outer wall side of the decoloring device adjacent to the reversing and conveying unit. The manual discharge tray is provided at a position of the outer wall side of the decoloring device adjacent to the reversing and conveying unit.

Abstract: The present application is directed to a dual time-constant heat sink for a thermal printer. The dual time-constant heat sink includes a print head heat sink, in contact with a print head of a thermal printer, the print head heat sink having a first time constant. The dual time-constant heat sink also includes an insulator in contact with the print head heat sink; and a thermal reservoir, in contact with the insulator, the thermal reservoir having a second time constant, the second time constant longer than the first time constant.

Abstract: A printing apparatus allows a print medium to be heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a condensation temperature of a refrigerant when the print medium is heated during a condensation process of a heat pump. The printing apparatus includes a heating unit for heating a print medium, and a conveying unit for conveying the print medium which has been heated by the heating unit. The heating unit includes a heat-pump mechanism. The heating unit heats the print medium by transferring heat generated by a condenser when the refrigerant is condensed by the condenser. The refrigerant flows along a conveying direction in which the print medium is conveyed by the conveying unit, and flows into the condenser at a downstream side thereof in the conveying direction and out from the condenser at an upstream side thereof in the conveying direction.

Abstract: A thermal printhead having a temperature regulation feature which is capable of high speed and high quality printing is provided. The thermal printhead includes a substrate, a resistor layer formed on one surface of the substrate, a control section and a thermoelectric element formed in direct contact with the other surface of the substrate opposite to where the resistor layer is formed, wherein the control section is configured to cool the resistor layer using the thermoelectric element.

Abstract: A thermal printer detects an environmental temperature, and directly or indirectly detects a change in tension of an ink ribbon R. A correction value is read or calculated according to at least one of the detected environmental temperature and the detected change in the tension of the ink ribbon R. Thermal energy of each heating element in the thermal head is controlled based on the correction value so as to adjustably increase or reduce number of print lines on a print medium in a sub-scanning direction.

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: An imaging device includes an input for supplying an erasable medium to the imaging device, the erasable medium comprising at least one of an imaged and a non-imaged erasable medium. The imaging device further includes an erase subsystem comprising active and inactive states, the erase subsystem erasing an imaged erasable medium in an active state, a cooling subsystem for selectively cooling an erased medium, and a write subsystem for imaging a received medium. The device further includes a user interface for configuring the imaging device and a sensor for detecting the type of input 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: The present invention provides a thermal printer in which the temperature of the thermal printing head can be modulated by means of an auxiliary heat sink, and methods for printing using such a thermal printer.

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: The present invention provides an inkjet recording apparatus, which performs high resolution image recording by inhibiting propagation of heat from a light-radiation device to a recording medium, is provided with a recording medium conveyance device to convey a recording medium in a conveyance direction; a recording head 10 to emit ink from a nozzle towards the recording medium; a first supporting member 5 to convey the recording medium so that the recording medium faces the recording head; a light radiation device 16 to radiate an activation energy ray towards the in emitted from the recording head; and a second support member 7 to convey the recording medium in a conveyance direction so that the recording medium faces the light radiation device; wherein between the first supporting member 5 and the second supporting member 7, in a recording medium conveyance direction, there are disposed a guide section 6 having a cooling device.

Abstract: Printers and methods to reduce vapor emissions in printers are disclosed. An example printer is described, including a fan to urge an airflow from a first printer portion, a duct to direct the airflow from the first printer portion and to substantially prevent adding air to the airflow, a condenser in communication with the duct, the condenser comprising a first condensing fin to condense oil in the airflow into a liquid, and an airflow reflection reducer associated with the condenser to reduce reflection of the airflow off of the first condenser fin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermal printer in which the temperature of the thermal printing head can be modulated by means of an auxiliary heat sink, and methods for printing using such a thermal printer.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a heat sink in which a latent-heat-type heat storage sheet in which a plurality of heat storage materials are added to a base material is attached to a thermal conduction plate. The thermal conduction plate provided in contact with the thermal head. Each of the heat storage materials starts to melt if absorbed heat reaches a predetermined temperature, and the heat storage sheet stores heat while being maintained at a fixed temperature, while each of the heat storage materials melts. A radiation portion that is subjected to surface processing for improving the radiation rate of the heat storage sheet is provided on the surface of the heat storage sheet.

Abstract: A thermal printer having reduced electrical charge built at point of separation of a donor web and a receiver web, includes at least one thermal printhead and at least one platen roller with a nip is formed between the at least one thermal printhead and the at least one platen roller through which the donor web and the receiver web are drawn. A heat sink is attached to the at least one thermal printhead and a peel member is located downstream of the nip. The peel member is substantially electrically isolated from ground.

Abstract: A recording unit is mounted on a thermal transfer printer in which heating elements of a thermal head are heated to thermally transfer ink a recording material. The recording unit includes a head unit having the thermal head; and a cooling unit having a cooling medium flow path for circulating a cooling medium to cool the thermal head. The cooling unit is configured to cause the head unit to be held at an immovable state relative to the cooling medium flow path so as to surround the cooling medium flow path by the pressure contact of the cooling medium flow path by means of a pressure contact and release mechanism. Separation of the head unit from the cooling unit body is allowed by the release of the pressure contact and release mechanism.

Abstract: A thermal printer detects an environmental temperature, and directly or indirectly detects a change in tension of an ink ribbon R. A correction value is read or calculated according to at least one of the detected environmental temperature and the detected change in the tension of the ink ribbon R. Thermal energy of each heating element in the thermal head is controlled based on the correction value so as to adjustably increase or reduce number of print lines on a print medium in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit, nozzles, a recording unit, a cap unit, a first moving mechanism, a first ink receiving unit and a second moving mechanism. The first moving mechanism reciprocates the cap unit between a capping position and a non-capping position apart. The first ink receiving unit includes an ink receiving region larger than a region that all the nozzles occupy. The second moving mechanism reciprocates the first ink receiving unit between an ink receiving position and an ink non-receiving position. When the first ink receiving unit is located at the ink non-receiving position, at least a part of the first ink receiving unit overlaps the cap unit located at the non-capping position. When the cap unit is located at the capping position, the first ink receiving unit is located at the ink receiving position and overlaps the entire cap unit.

Abstract: A heat-dissipating member includes a heat-dissipating section which is plate-shaped and which is attachable to a heat source directly or indirectly and also includes a plurality of heat-dissipating projections extending from the heat-dissipating section. The heat-dissipating projections are formed by louvering the heat-dissipating section so as to have predetermined heights. The heat-dissipating projections are arranged in increasing order of height in the direction from one end of the heat-dissipating section to an end of the heat-dissipating section that is opposed to the one end. A thermal head includes a plurality of heating elements arranged thereon and a head mount attached to the above heat-dissipating member directly or indirectly.

Abstract: A thermal image forming apparatus includes a thermal printing head moves between a first position that faces a first surface of a printing medium and a second position that faces a second surface of a printing medium. A heat sink is combined with the thermal printing head. A cooling fan is installed on the heat sink, and moves with the thermal printing head to continuously cool the thermal printing head.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a heat sink in which a latent-heat-type heat storage sheet in which a plurality of heat storage materials are added to a base material is attached to a thermal conduction plate. The thermal conduction plate provided in contact with the thermal head. Each of the heat storage materials starts to melt if absorbed heat reaches a predetermined temperature, and the heat storage sheet stores heat while being maintained at a fixed temperature, while each of the heat storage materials melts. A radiation portion that is subjected to surface processing for improving the radiation rate of the heat storage sheet is provided on the surface of the heat storage sheet.

Abstract: A thermal activation apparatus includes a thermal head for thermal activation, a platen roller for thermal activation pressed against the thermal head, and an air cooling mechanism. The air cooling mechanism includes partitions for separating the thermal activation apparatus from the outside, an air outlet in a lower part thereof, first and second air inlets in an upper part thereof, and a fan for exhausting air through the air outlet. While a heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is heated by the platen roller and the thermal head to be thermally activated during transporting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, the fan is actuated to generate airflow from the first and second air inlets and around the platen roller, the thermal head, and a heat sink, in this order, to be discharged to the outside from the air outlet.

Abstract: In an image forming apparatus including a thermal head attached to a supporting body having a heat release function, a power supply circuit board that is disposed inside a casing and supplies electrical power to the thermal head, and a cooling fan that takes in the outside air for cooling the thermal head and the power supply circuit board, on the substrate of the power supply circuit board near the cooling fan provided on the side wall of the casing, a pair of heat sinks that guide cooling air from the cooling fan to the thermal head are implanted opposite each other by being spaced from the thermal head.

Abstract: When rotating a recording drum at low speed, air is jetted from air jet ports toward a point of irradiation, in a direction to diffuse a gas generating from an image recording medium upstream with respect to a direction of rotation of a recording drum. An air curtain approximately semicircular about the point of irradiation is formed upstream thereof with respect to the direction of rotation of the recording drum. As a result, the gas can hardly diffuse from the point of irradiation upstream with respect to the direction of rotation of the recording drum. The gas is collected from a gas suction opening. Thus, the gas is reliably prevented from contacting the image recording medium having an image recorded thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling thermally processed media exiting from a thermal processor comprising: a heat conductive member which has first and second opposite sides which is positioned to receive media from a thermal processor, and which removes heat from the heated media as it passes over the first side of the member; and means for removing heat from the member by passing air in contact with and past the second side of the member to remove heat from the member.

Abstract: A color thermal printer is provided with a cooling fan for cooling a thermal head and a fan rotational speed controller for controlling the rotation speed of the cooling fan, a head temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the thermal head and an environmental temperature sensor for measuring an environmental temperature around the thermal head. A controller predicts the head temperature in each recording position based on the printing rate (printing density) calculated from the image data, a measured temperature of the thermal head and a measured environmental temperature, and also predicts a delay time of a heat transmitting system and a measuring system based on a fluctuation of the printing rate. The controller controls an air amount of the cooling fan in each recording position based on the predicted temperature and the delay time.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording apparatus having a path of travel of a recording material, said apparatus comprising: an exposure section subjecting the recording material to exposure processing so as to form a latent image on the recording material; a heat-developing section subjecting the recording material to heat processing so as to carry out development, which is disposed downstream of the exposure section; a cooling section for cooling the recording material, which is disposed downstream of the heat-developing section; and a storage section for storing the recording material, which is disposed downstream of the cooling section; wherein the heat-developing section includes an exit portion for the recording material, which is provided on the path and disposed at an upper portion of the heat-developing section such that hot air is able to escape from an inside of the heat-developing section.

Abstract: A color thermal printer is provided with a cooling fan for cooling a thermal head and a fan rotational speed controller for controlling the rotation speed of the cooling fan, a head temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the thermal head and an environmental temperature sensor for measuring an environmental temperature around the thermal head. A controller predicts the head temperature in each recording position based on the printing rate (printing density) calculated from the image data, a measured temperature of the thermal head and a measured environmental temperature, and also predicts a delay time of a heat transmitting system and a measuring system based on a fluctuation of the printing rate. The controller controls an air amount of the cooling fan in each recording position based on the predicted temperature and the delay time.

Abstract: A duct is installed in an apparatus housing. The duct has an outside inlet, a first discharge opening, a second discharge opening, and an air filter. Outside air is taken into the duct from the outside inlet through the air filter. The air filter filters the outside air to prevent dust from getting into the duct. A cooling axial flow fan disposed in the vicinity of each of the first and second discharge openings. The cooling axial flow fans blow the filtered outside air into fixing devices to be cooled. Gaps are formed between the cooling axial flow fan and the first discharge opening, and between the other cooling axial flow fan and the second discharge opening, as inside inlets. When the air filter clogs, air in the housing is supplied to the cooling axial flow fans through the gaps, to circulate the air inside the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording apparatus having a path of travel of a recording material, said apparatus comprising: an exposure section subjecting the recording material to exposure processing so as to form a latent image on the recording material; a heat-developing section subjecting the recording material to heat processing so as to carry out development, which is disposed downstream of the exposure section; a cooling section for cooling the recording material, which is disposed downstream of the heat-developing section; and a storage section for storing the recording material, which is disposed downstream of the cooling section; wherein the heat-developing section includes an exit portion for the recording material, which is provided on the path and disposed at an upper portion of the heat-developing section such that hot air is able to escape from an inside of the heat-developing section.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heat sensitive type printer wherein glass plates (36, 37, 38) are secured at one ends to thermal heads (26, 27, 28), and extend substantially in parallel to a paper transport path of a heat sensitive color recording paper (14). Surface luminous devices (31, 32) for fixing coloring layers of the recording paper optically are disposed adjacent to heat sinks of the thermal heads with their light emission surfaces facing the paper transport path through the glass plates. Cooling fans send air into between the heat sinks and the surface luminous devices, to cool the heat sinks. Thereafter, the air guide guides the air to flow along a gap between the light emission surface and the glass plate, thereby to cool the light emission surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heat sensitive type printer wherein glass plates (36, 37, 38) are secured at one ends to thermal heads (26, 27, 28), and extend substantially in parallel to a paper transport path of a heat sensitive color recording paper (14). Surface luminous devices (31, 32) for fixing coloring layers of the recording paper optically are disposed adjacent to heat sinks of the thermal heads with their light emission surfaces facing the paper transport path through the glass plates. Cooling fans send air into between the heat sinks and the surface luminous devices, to cool the heat sinks. Thereafter, the air guide guides the air to flow along a gap between the light emission surface and the glass plate, thereby to cool the light emission surface.

Abstract: The printer device of the present invention makes use of a thermal head to transfer ink to recording paper on a platen roller, and includes a thermal head support member, cooling means, and a support member that supports the cooling means. The thermal head support member has a support component that supports the thermal head, and a recess provided to the back side, which is the opposite side from the support component, and is movably disposed between a transfer position where the ink is transferred and a retracted position to which the thermal head support member) is retracted from the transfer position. The cooling means radiates the heat generated by the thermal head. The support member supports the cooling means such that at least part of the cooling means will enter the recess when the thermal head support member is moved to its retracted position.

Abstract: An optical scanning device deflects one or a plurality of light flux(es) originating from a light source by an optical deflecting unit, gathers the deflected light flux(es) to cause it(them) to form a beam spot(s) on a surface to be scanned by a scanning and image-forming optical system, and, thus, performs optical scanning of the surface to be scanned. The scanning and image-forming optical system includes one or a plurality of optical component(s) including a lens. At least one surface of the lens included in the scanning and image-forming optical system is a sub-non-arc surface having an arc or non-arc shape in a main scanning plane, and a non-arc shape in a sub-scanning plane. The sub-non-arc surface is formed in a lens in which a diameter of a light flux passing through the scanning and image-forming optical system is largest in the sub-scanning plane’.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that has image forming device for forming an image on a moving recording material, and a fan for taking in air from outside to cool the interior of the apparatus, wherein the fan is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to a moving direction of the recording material.

Abstract: The printer device of the present invention makes use of a thermal head to transfer ink to recording paper on a platen roller, and comprises a thermal head support member, cooling means, and a support member that supports the cooling means. The thermal head support member has a support component that supports the thermal head, and a recess provided to the back side, which is the opposite side from the support component, and is movably disposed between a transfer position where the ink is transferred and a retracted position to which the thermal head support member) is retracted from the transfer position. The cooling means radiates the heat generated by the thermal head. The support member supports the cooling means such that at least part of the cooling means will enter the recess when the thermal head support member is moved to its retracted position.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus having liquid passages arranged for causing liquid to flow while coming in contact with ink jet heads includes a liquid accumulating section for accumulating liquid therein, a pump for feeding the liquid, a first connecting passage for connecting the liquid accumulating section to inlet portions of the liquid passages, a second connecting passage for connecting outlet portions of the liquid passages to the suction side of the pump, and a third connecting passage for connecting the liquid accumulating section to the pump discharge side. With such construction, cooling liquid W of which temperature is controlled in the liquid accumulating section is fed to the liquid passages with negative pressure.

Abstract: A reversible thermal recording method using a color/non-color type reversible thermosensitive recording material which has a recording layer formed overlying at least one side of a substrate and including an electron donating coloring agent and an electron accepting color developer and which reversibly forms a colored state and a non-colored state by being appropriately heated and cooled. The recording layer having images of the colored state which have been formed in the recording layer is heated to erase the image, and imagewise heated either at substantially the same time as, or after, the image erasing operation to record new images therein, and then relatively rapidly cooled to maintain the new images. A reversible thermal recording apparatus therefor is also provided.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for preparing a printing master film for textile printing includes an image recording unit including at least one thermal head for recording images on a recording material; a recording material transportation unit for transporting the recording material, including a platen roller for bringing the recording material into contact with the thermal head so as to for images or the recording material, and a back-up roller which is in pressure contact with the platen roller at an opposite position to the position where the recording material is brought into contact with the thermal heads by the platen roller; and a disk brake for controlling the rotation of the back-up roller, connected to the back-up roller.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus and method includes a plurality of printheads and a plurality of heat exchangers. Each of the heat exchangers is thermally coupled with a respective one of the printheads. A preferred heat exchanger is a heat pipe wherein a cooling medium is circulated through each heat pipe. A flexible thermal link connects each of the heat exchangers with another of the heat exchangers to facilitate flexibility in mounting of the heat exchangers relative to each other.

Abstract: The invention described in the specification relates to an apparatus and method for cooling a printhead containing multiple semiconductor substrates. The substrates which contain a plurality of energy imparting devices for energizing ink are attached to a metal substrate carrier for providing efficient heat transfer from the substrates. A temperature sensing device is attached to the carrier for measuring a temperature of the substrate carrier during a printing operation and for generating an input signal to a controller. The controller, in turn, sends an output signal to the printhead to selectively energize one or more of the energy imparting devices on each substrate in response to the input signal and a thermal expansion value based on the temperature of the heat transfer member. Because the timing of energization of the energy imparting devices is controlled in response to the carrier temperature and its expansion characteristics, more cost effective materials for the carrier can be used.

Abstract: Image processing equipment(100) has a thermally activated write head element (200) that builds up heat during operations and an improved heat exchanger assemblage (300) having a high surface area heat sink (312) that absorbs and then dissipates the heat. Heat exchanger (300), structurally connected to the write head element (200), includes an air moving means (304) having a backward curved impeller (306) driven by a compact planar de motor for producing higher impeller speeds with superior thermal transfer performance.

Abstract: A printing apparatus employs a nearly linear conveying path P2 for printing paper P from a position confronting the platen roller 6 and thermal head 7 for composing the printing unit 3 to the paper discharge unit 2. The capstan roller 4, pinch roller 5, and discharge rollers 10, 10 are disposed opposedly to the conveying path P2, and at an intermediate position of the conveying path P2 intersects the conveying path P1 from the paper supply unit 1 to the printing unit 3. A paper supply port is disposed at the bottom of the paper cassette forming the paper supply unit 1, so that the conveying path P1 from the paper supply port to the printing unit 3 is shortened, and accordingly the paper conveying path is shortened. The printer construction simplified and downsized, while the precision of positioning of the printing paper and positioning of the printing head is enhanced, so that the printing quality may be improved.

Abstract: A dot-matrix line printer includes a printing shuttle which moves reciprocally to carry out a printing operation, and a balancing shuttle which moves in a direction opposite to the direction of the movement of the printing shuttle. The balancing shuttle is partly inserted in the printing shuttle so as not to interfere with the latter upon printing and so that the center of gravity of the balancing shuttle is located as close to the center of gravity of the printing shuttle as possible.