Abstract: A method of printing on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes depositing an ink on a membrane, placing the membrane in juxtaposition to the surface of the substrate and applying heat and pressure to produce a high quality color control image on the substrate. The ink preferably comprises a thermal transfer dye, a thermal transfer pigment, a protective polymer and a carrier.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer having a print head and a media support platform that is displaced relative to the print head, the media support platform having a rigid support surface for a media item having a non-rectangular configuration such as a compact disk, the support platform having a mask with a cutout substantially in the shape of the non-rectangular disk, the mask and media item combining to form a contact surface for the print head to uniformly distribute a constant force of the print head in a uniform pressure across the mask and media item during printing, the mask providing, in addition, a holding apparatus for the media item which is contacted by a displaceable retainer pin urging the media item against the edge of the mask with the print head avoiding contact with the retainer pins on the printing area, the printer having a mechanism to displace the retainer pin and sense whether a media item is properly placed in the cutout and retained by the retaining apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling media sheets in a photo-plotter includes a plurality of aligning mechanisms for precisely positioning the media sheet relative to a drum of the photo-plotter. Each aligning mechanism has engaged and disengaged positions and include a registration pin having corresponding extended and retracted positions. In the engaged position, the extended registration pins of the aligning mechanisms pass through mounting features formed within the media sheet and are engagable with a plurality of drum openings formed within the drum of the photo-plotter. The present invention ensures that the media sheet is properly placed on the drum and also precisely positions the generated image relative to the mounting features.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low profile stackable Internet appliance printer for use with a television receiver and monitor and responsive to commands from a remote device for printing user desired information. The printer has a box like rectangular shaped housing conforming in size to that of conventional electronic audio video components such as cable boxes, DVD players, amplifiers, video tapes and the like to facilitate the stacking of the printer with such other components. A base member having defines an interior cavity for receiving a removable combination input/output tray cassette and supports from below a low profile printbar including its feed motor, drive motor, associated electronic drivers for controlling the firing of low profile printheads, carriage movement and the moving of paper to print user desired images.

Abstract: A work station includes a work table and chair defining a work station geometry. A plurality of adjustable elements are utilized within the work station to facilitate the variation of the work station geometry. A controller is coupled to the adjustable elements of the work station to apply gradual long term motion profile signals to the adjustable elements of the work station. The work station geometry is varied in response to the imposition of the motion profile signals upon the adjustable elements of the work station to provide substantially imperceptible changes of the work station operator's physical position to avoid or minimize the many maladies associated with restricted or limited motion operation within work stations. Further, a continuous passive motion keyboard is provided to change the keyboard positioning relative to the keyboard user.

Abstract: A printer for printing on both sides of a document includes first printing document guides, through which a document is driven for printing on a first side of the document, second printing document guides, through which the document is driven for printing on a second side of the document, and transfer document guides, into which the document is driven between motions within the first and second printing document guides, with a deflector determining the printing document guide into which a document is driven from the transfer document guides. A print head is pivotally mounted between the printing document guides, being pivoted between a position adjacent the first printing document guides and a position adjacent the second printing document guides.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low profile stackable Internet appliance printer having a removable combination input/output tray cassette. An elongated opening centrally disposed in a front wall of the cassette allows a user to determine the amount of paper stored in the cassette without withdrawing the cassette from the printer body.

Abstract: A new face painting stencils for helping paint images, logos and other designs on the face of a user. The inventive device includes a card having substantially planar first and second surfaces, a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges extending between the end edges of the card. The card has at least one hole therethrough extending between the first and second surfaces of the card.

Abstract: A friction mechanism exerts a frictional force on a feed pinch roller to apply a proper tensile load to an ink ribbon when the ink ribbon is fed.

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: A peeling device according to one aspect of the invention peels off part of a peel-off paper from a peel-off paper-backed adhesive tape which is a laminate of a substrate tape having a surface coated with an adhesive and a peel-off paper affixed to the substrate tape via the adhesive. A rotational member is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a drive source. On an end face of the rotational member there are arranged a peeling projection rotated to be brought into contact with a substrate tape-side surface of an end of the peel-off paper-backed adhesive tape to carry out a bending releasing action on said end portion of the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape is guided toward the peeling projection when it is inserted and part of the end portion other than a free end brought to the peeling projection is held.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low profile stackable Internet appliance printer for use with a television receiver and monitor and responsive to commands from a remote device for printing user desired information. The printer has a box like rectangular shaped housing conforming in size to that of conventional electronic audio video components such as cable boxes, DVD players, amplifiers, video tapes and the like to facilitate the stacking of the printer with such other components. A base member supports in a front portion of the printer a printbar and associated printheads to provide the user with easy printhead head access. The base member has an open bottom for receiving a removable combination input/output tray cassette. Upon removal of the combination input/output tray cassette, front user access is made available for the purposes of removing a paper jam should one occur.

Abstract: An intaglio printing press comprises a plate cylinder capable of having three intaglio plates mounted along a circumferential direction of the plate cylinder; an ink collecting cylinder contacted with the plate cylinder and capable of having four blankets mounted along a circumferential direction of the ink collecting cylinder; five inking devices and five chablon rollers, disposed along the circumferential direction of the ink collecting cylinder, for supplying inks to the blankets of the ink collecting cylinder; a wiping roller contacted with the plate cylinder; and an impression cylinder having the same diameter as the diameter of the plate cylinder, and contacted with the plate cylinder. This intaglio printing press can perform printing in five or more colors.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an apparatus body for printing on recording paper, and a paper feed cassette attached rotatable over a prescribed range on the apparatus body and feeding the recording paper to the apparatus body. As the paper feed cassette is attached rotatable over a prescribed range on the apparatus body, it is possible to freely open/close a top cabinet, even when the printing apparatus is placed without sufficient space therebehind.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a colorant image with improved image structure on a receiver in response to a digital image, including ink jet print heads responsive to the digital image for transferring colorant to the receiver; a passive fluid delivering structure for delivering treatment fluid to the receiver, the treatment fluid being selected to improve image structure; and relative movement is provided between the receiver and the ink jet print heads so that colorant is transferred to the receiver to provide the colorant image corresponding to the digital image on the receiver which has improved image structure.

Abstract: A printer using a power reduction logic based upon reducing the speed of printing when the dot utilization calculation exceeds a particular power level for that printer. There is also provided a method for printing information at a given power supply capacity level, comprising the steps of: examining the a group of rows of dots to be printed; calculating the maximum dot utilization value for the group; selecting a print speed based on the maximum dot utilization value; printing the first row of the group of rows; and repeating above steps until the information is printed.

Abstract: An ink jet printing machine for printing liquid ink images on a recording medium moving along a recording medium path through a printing zone. The printing machine includes a printhead for image-wise depositing liquid ink droplets on the recording medium, and a self-tensioning flexible heater assembly for heating the recording medium to dry the image-wise liquid ink droplets. The self-tensioning flexible heater assembly is disposed adjacently to the recording medium path, for heating the recording medium, and comprises a bowed resilient leaf spring forming a concave arc having a first end and a second end, and a flexible heating strip bonded to the first end and the second end across the concave arc, thereby providing self-tensioning and preventing wrinkling despite thermal expansion thereof.

Abstract: A wet-dye hard copy apparatus is provided with a vacuum transport for moving print media from and input, through a print zone, to an output. In order to reduce paper cockle, the print media is subjected to a post-printing predetermined bending while the print dye thereon is drying. In an alternative embodiment, a post-ejection bending heating step is added prior to ejecting a printed print medium to the apparatus output.

Abstract: A golf ball marking device for drawing a line around the circumference of a golf ball is provided with an inner wall, an outer wall, and a top wall, whereby the golfer inserts the golf ball into the golf ball marking device, and using the top wall as a guide, places a mark on the circumference of the golf ball using a marking utensil.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for the level conversion of binary signals in a control system of a printing-technology machine, includes a component for transmitting a signal and a component for receiving the signal, the signal-transmitting component having an element for generating a binary level value, and a window discriminator provided between the signal-transmitting component and the signal-receiving component, the window discriminator having a lower threshold value and an upper threshold value corresponding to binary level values, the window discriminator further having a signal input and a signal output, the signal input being connected to an output of the signal-transmitting component, the signal output of the window discriminator being connected to an input of the signal-receiving component, the signal input being at a level lying between the lower and the upper threshold values when the element of the signal-transmitting component, for generating a binary level value, is not driven.