Abstract: There is described a nanoporous receiver element for use in thermal mass transfer imaging applications. The receiver element comprises a substrate carrying an image-receiving layer comprising particulate material and a binder material. The substrate may comprise a material having a compressibility of at least 1% under a pressure of 1 Newton per mm2 (1 MPa). Optionally, there may be provided, between the substrate and the nanoporous receiving layer, a layer having a thickness of less than about 50 &mgr;m which is comprised entirely of a material having a compressibility of less than about 1% under a pressure of 1 MPa. Alternatively, the substrate may comprise only the material having a compressibility of less than about 1% under a pressure of 1 MPa, provided that the thickness of the substrate does not exceed about 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A multi-head tandem printer is disclosed which includes an optical encoder or other device mounted on a roller (the “encoder roller”) in contact with the print media. The device and encoder roller serve as a tachometer to measure the media transport speed (referred to herein as the “print speed”). The print heads are arranged so that the unloaded receiver length between two print heads is an integral multiple of the unloaded receiver length transported for each revolution of the encoder roller. In one embodiment, the print heads are arranged so that the inter-head spacing is an integer multiple of the circumference of the encoder roll. Adjustments may be made to the inter-head spacing to take into account factors such as the thickness of the receiver and the curvature at the line of receiver contact with the encoder roll. Such techniques may be employed to reduce the effect of mechanical errors on color registration.

Abstract: A multi-head tandem printer is disclosed which includes an optical encoder or other device mounted on a roller (the “encoder roller”) in contact with the print media. The device and encoder roller serve as a tachometer to measure the media transport speed (referred to herein as the “print speed”). The print heads are arranged so that the unloaded receiver length between two print heads is an integral multiple of the unloaded receiver length transported for each revolution of the encoder roller. In one embodiment, the print heads are arranged so that the inter-head spacing is an integer multiple of the circumference of the encoder roll. Adjustments may be made to the inter-head spacing to take into account factors such as the thickness of the receiver and the curvature at the line of receiver contact with the encoder roll. Such techniques may be employed to reduce the effect of mechanical errors on color registration.

Abstract: There is described a nanoporous receiver element for use in thermal mass transfer imaging applications. The receiver element comprises a substrate carrying an image-receiving layer comprising particulate material and a binder material. The substrate may comprise a material having a compressibility of at least 1% under a pressure of 1 Newton per mm2 (1 MPa). Optionally, there may be provided, between the substrate and the nanoporous receiving layer, a layer having a thickness of less than about 50 &mgr;m which is comprised entirely of a material having a compressibility of less than about 1% under a pressure of 1 MPa. Alternatively, the substrate may comprise only the material having a compressibility of less than about 1% under a pressure of 1 MPa, provided that the thickness of the substrate does not exceed about 50 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A photographic processing fluid spread system, for use with integral type self-processable film unit, by which the thickness of a layer of processing fluid is controlled and restricted in a uniform manner as the processing fluid is spread across preselected portions of the film unit, while the film unit is also simultaneously being progressively exposed and advanced.

Abstract: A readily portable imaging system for use in the field and, more particularly, to an electronic camera and electronic printer housed and readily connectable with respect to each other in the field, and wherein the electronic printer comprises a photographic processing fluid spread system, for use with integral type self-processible film unit, by which the thickness of a layer of processing fluid is controlled and restricted in a uniform manner as the processing fluid is spread across preselected portions of the film unit, while the film unit is also simultaneously being exposed and advanced.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for controlling the temperature of a delaminating surface in a range which reduces the formation of pinholes in an image bearing layer on an image bearing medium upon release of a laminated protective coating from its carrier web during delamination of the medium from the carrier web, as well as minimizes the formation of laminating artifacts in the image bearing medium.

Abstract: A laminating roll for laminating a layer of protective coating to an image-bearing layer, has a generally cylindrical metallic core and a generally cylindrical compliant and resilient covering surrounding the core. The core and covering both having positive crowns such that the diameter of the outer surfaces of the core and covering measured at central portions thereof are respectively greater than the diameters measured at end portions thereof. The differences between the diameters of the core at central and end portions of the core is greater than that of the covering. The thickness of the covering increases from the center to the ends of the roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laminating a protective overcoat carried on a web to an image carrying medium is particularly useful for covering an image carrying medium having a large area. A hot roller and an actively cooled cold roller form a nip through which the web and image carrying medium advance in a juxtaposed relationship. A temperature differential is created across the layers of the web and medium to promote adhesion between the surface of the protective overcoat and the image while preventing lamination artifacts such as curling and rippling. Postwrap and prewrap angles are used to enhance control of artifacts and assist in post lamination separation of the overcoated image carrying medium from residual web material.

Abstract: A method of making vented battery frames in which strips of paper are laminated between strata of dissimilar thermoplastic materials, at least one of which is formed as a frame, having a central opening to receive battery components.

Abstract: A method and system for testing and sorting a production run of sheet-like batteries includes: testing each battery to obtain a first value of electrical energy; placing machine readable indicia on each battery corresponding to the first value; retesting each battery after passage of a period of time to obtain a second value of electrical energy; machine reading the indicia and computing the rate of decay of electrical energy for each battery as a function of the difference between said first and second values per unit time; and sorting the batteries in accordance with the computed rate of decay to separate those batteries having an acceptable rate of decay from those batteries having too great a rate of decay.

Abstract: A vent for thin, flat laminar batteries comprising a paper strip enclosed along its length by a gas-permeable, liquid impermeable thermoplastic composition. One or more of the vents can be incorporated into a frame structure which also serves to provide internal and external sealing. For this purpose, the vents are sealed to frames comprising closed loops of thermoplastic material, dimensioned to correspond to the external and internal dimensions of the battery. Methods of making vents comprising the steps of laminating paper with a thermoplastic material and forming the laminate into thermoplastic tubes filled with a paper core.

Abstract: A vent for thin, flat laminar batteries comprising a paper strip enclosed along its length by a gas-permeable, liquid impermeable thermoplastic composition. One or more of the vents can be incorporated into a frame structure which also serves to provide internal and external sealing. For this purpose, the vents are sealed to frames comprising closed loops of thermoplastic material, dimensioned to correspond to the external and internal dimensions of the battery. Methods of making vents comprising the steps of laminating paper with a thermoplastic material and forming the laminate into thermoplastic tubes filled with a paper core.

Abstract: Seal integrity tests are conducted on electrical energy storage devices, such as batteries, by the application, to the device under test, of oxygen at elevated pressures.