Abstract: An electro-magnetic coil assembly mounted to a clutch assembly, the electromagnetic coil assembly including a coil mounted within an annular coil housing and a flexible armature plate. The coil assembly adapted to generate an electromagnetic field between the coil and the armature plate for attracting the armature plate to the coil assembly. The flexible armature plate includes an annular plate with an outer edge and an inner edge, the outer edge defining an outer periphery, the inner edge defining an inner periphery. Tangs spaced about the inner periphery extending radially inward from the inner edge. Inner notches spaced about the inner periphery of the annular plate and extending radially outward to a point at least halfway in the radial direction between the inner edge and the outer edge. Outer notches spaced about the outer periphery between and extending radially inward.

Abstract: A method for classifying media to be printed comprising: receiving, at a printing device, print data representing the media to be printed; generating an image of the media based on the print data; classifying the image to obtain a media stock type associated with the media; printing the media according to the print data; and updating a stock of the media stock type.

Abstract: A method for classifying a printable image to be printed comprising: receiving, at a printing device, print data representing the printable image to be printed; generating an image of the printable image based on the print data; classifying the image to obtain a format associated with the printable image; printing the printable image according to the print data; and updating a counter associated with the format.

Abstract: A method for classifying a printable image to be printed comprising: receiving, at a printing device, print data representing the printable image to be printed; generating an image of the printable image based on the print data; classifying the image to obtain a format associated with the printable image; printing the printable image according to the print data; and updating a counter associated with the format.

Abstract: A method for classifying a printable image to be printed comprising: receiving, at a printing device, print data representing the printable image to be printed; generating an image of the printable image based on the print data; classifying the image to obtain a format associated with the printable image; printing the printable image according to the print data; and updating a counter associated with the format.

Abstract: A method for classifying a printable image to be printed comprising: receiving, at a printing device, print data representing the printable image to be printed; generating an image of the printable image based on the print data; classifying the image to obtain a format associated with the printable image; printing the printable image according to the print data; and updating a counter associated with the format.

Abstract: A printer and method for operating a printer are provided that prints using a receiver medium having a rolled portion with an outermost layer from which an unrolled portion extends to a print engine. The method comprises: sensing a condition indicating the receiver medium may have been contacted by other than a component of the printer or by a donor material applied by the print engine; measuring an aspect of the receiver medium indicative of the circumferential length of the outermost layer; determining a circumferential length of the receiver medium based upon the measured aspect of the rolled portion of the receiver medium; determining an exclusion length of the receiver medium based upon the determined circumferential length and a travel distance that is a representation of a length of the unrolled portion between the rolled portion and the print engine; and automatically advancing the receiver medium by the exclusion length.

Abstract: Printers and methods for operating a printer are provided. One method comprises receiving a print order associated with image data for use in printing a plurality images; converting the image data into actions to print the plurality of images on a receiver medium with print adjacent areas between the printed images, the converting being performed in accordance with printer settings; printing a first set of color patches in the print adjacent areas when the each of the first set of calibration color patches can be printed in the print adjacent areas; printing a second set of color patches in the print adjacent areas when each of the first set of color patches cannot be printed in the print adjacent areas; and sensing the color of each printed color patch and recalibrating the printer settings based upon the sensed colors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye transfer print bearing a protective overlayer comprising a polymeric binder containing dispersed heat expandable microspheres wherein the expandable microspheres have been selectively expanded in a predetermined pattern and a process for making same. The resulting prints bear a predetermined texture pattern in the protective overlayer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording image information on a moving receiver media at a thermal print station features a ribbon cassette assembly that stores a thermal ribbon having dye, the thermal ribbon being supported as a supply role and take-up role on the ribbon cassette assembly, the ribbon cassette assembly including a wall structure defining a plenum chamber. Air under pressure is provided to the plenum chamber. An elongated thermal print head is positioned in engagement with the thermal ribbon; and recording elements on the thermal print head are directed along a main scan direction. The print head has associated therewith a heat sink that includes a series of parallel fins arranged along the length of the print head and the fins are oriented at least generally perpendicular to the main scan direction of printing. Cooling air flows from the wall structure, which structure extends in the direction of elongation of the print head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal dye transfer print bearing a protective overlayer comprising a polymeric binder containing dispersed heat expandable microspheres wherein the expandable microspheres have been selectively expanded in a predetermined pattern and a process for making same. The resulting prints bear a predetermined texture pattern in the protective overlayer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of loading a thermal ribbon having dye into a cassette assembly of a thermal printer apparatus includes a cassette assembly for storing a thermal ribbon having dye. The thermal ribbon includes a supply ribbon core having a supply of the thermal ribbon wound thereon as a roll and a take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly includes a supply ribbon support for supporting the supply ribbon core and a take-up ribbon support for supporting the take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly is removed from the apparatus and then mounted upon a loading aid. The loading aid is mounted on the apparatus and supports the cassette assembly so that the cassette assembly extends outwardly of the printer apparatus to facilitate loading of the supply ribbon core and take-up ribbon core on the cassette assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording image information on a moving receiver media at a thermal print station features a ribbon cassette assembly that stores a thermal ribbon having dye, the thermal ribbon being supported as a supply role and take-up role on the ribbon cassette assembly, the ribbon cassette assembly including a wall structure defining a plenum chamber. Air under pressure is provided to the plenum chamber. An elongated thermal print head is positioned in engagement with the thermal ribbon; and recording elements on the thermal print head are directed along a main scan direction. The print head has associated therewith a heat sink that includes a series of parallel fins arranged along the length of the print head and the fins are oriented at least generally perpendicular to the main scan direction of printing. Cooling air flows from the wall structure, which structure extends in the direction of elongation of the print head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of loading a thermal ribbon having dye into a cassette assembly of a thermal printer apparatus includes a cassette assembly for storing a thermal ribbon having dye. The thermal ribbon includes a supply ribbon core having a supply of the thermal ribbon wound thereon as a roll and a take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly includes a supply ribbon support for supporting the supply ribbon core and a take-up ribbon support for supporting the take-up ribbon core. The cassette assembly is removed from the apparatus and then mounted upon a loading aid. The loading aid is mounted on the apparatus and supports the cassette assembly so that the cassette assembly extends outwardly of the printer apparatus to facilitate loading of the supply ribbon core and take-up ribbon core on the cassette assembly.