Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus including: a band (105) to hold hot melt ink; rollers (110) to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate (120); a printhead (125) to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate; an ink feed device (135) to add hot melt ink to the band, a heating device (140) to heat the hot melt ink on the band, and a rigid blade (155) to control ink thickness of the hot melt ink on the band; a meniscus sensor (245) to monitor a meniscus of melted hot melt ink on the band; and a controller (160) communicatively coupled with the meniscus sensor and the ink feed device, wherein the controller can cause the ink feed device to add hot melt ink to the band based on data from the meniscus sensor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a printing apparatus comprises 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 to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate, an ink feed device configured to add hot melt ink to the band and to heat the hot melt ink on the band, and a rigid blade configured and arranged to cause hot melt ink to pass between a blade edge of the rigid blade and the band, wherein the rigid blade is shaped to minimize a contact area between the rigid blade and the band while controlling ink thickness of the hot melt ink on the band.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a printing apparatus comprises 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 to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate, an ink feed device configured to add hot melt ink to the band and to heat the hot melt ink on the band, and a rigid blade configured and arranged to cause hot melt ink to pass between a blade edge of the rigid blade and the band, wherein the rigid blade is shaped to minimize a contact area between the rigid blade and the band while controlling ink thickness of the hot melt ink on the band.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus (100) including: a band (105) capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers (110) arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate (120); a printhead (125) configured to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate; an ink feed device (135) configured to add hot melt ink to the band, a heating device (140) configured to heat the ink on the band, and a blade (155, 186) proximately located with the heating device and configured to control ink thickness of the ink on the band; and a controller (160) communicatively coupled with the blade, wherein the controller is configured to reposition the blade, in accordance with a viscosity of the ink and a speed of the band, to control the thickness of the hot melt ink on the band after the blade.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus including: a band (105) to hold hot melt ink; rollers (110) to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate (120); a printhead (125) to thermally transfer a portion of hot melt ink from the band to the substrate; an ink feed device (135) to add hot melt ink to the band, a heating device (140) to heat the ink on the band, and a rigid blade (155) that includes a pressure chamber (240); a pressure sensor (245) associated with the pressure chamber to monitor the meniscus of the melted hot melt ink on the band; and a controller (160) communicatively coupled with the pressure sensor (245) and the ink feed device, the controller to cause the ink feed device to add hot melt ink to the band based on data from the pressure sensor.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods that utilize material-handling systems in which material in the systems has enhanced stability, e.g., during conveyance of the material from a reservoir to a printhead through a conduit, the conduit having a conduit wall defining an inner conduit space and including a material line for carrying the printing material in the inner conduit space, wherein the inner conduit space is configured to carry a heated liquid, being heated from a liquid heater, to contact the material line.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described that utilize material-handling systems in which material in the systems has enhanced stability, e.g., during conveyance of the material from a reservoir to a printhead.

Abstract: A printing apparatus employs a rotatable cam having an enclosed cam slot for controlling the rocking motion of an inking roll without the need for a cam follower spring. The apparatus also includes an articulated printing member support assembly which executes a complex curvilinear movement under the control of a fixed cam slot without the use of linear bearings. Complementary cam profiles are used on both cam surfaces in order to maintain tangency between the inking roll and printing element during inking. A yieldable connecting link is used to prevent excessive printing pressures from being applied, and a movable filler plate closes off a slot in a front cover of the printing apparatus through which a portion of the movable printing member protrudes.

Abstract: A printing apparatus employs a rotatable cam having an enclosed cam slot for controlling the rocking motion of an inking roll without the need for a cam follower spring. The apparatus also includes an articulated printing member support assembly which executes a complex curvilinear movement under the control of a fixed cam slot without the use of linear bearings. Complementary cam profiles are used on both cam surfaces in order to maintain tangency between the inking roll and printing element during inking. A yieldable connecting link is used to prevent excessive printing pressures from being applied, and a movable filler plate closes off a slot in a front cover of the printing apparatus through which a portion of the movable printing member protrudes.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus comprises a print head, a reservoir, and a rigid articulated support assembly connecting the print head to the reservoir. The support assembly affords two degrees of rotational freedom for allowing adjustment of the print head relative to the reservoir, so that printing can be carried out on surfaces lying in various planes or moving in various directions without tilting the reservoir. The support assembly has an internal channel for conducting ink from the reservoir to the print head, and may be made of a thermally conductive material in order to maintain hot melt inks at the proper operating temperature using heat generated by heating elements in the reservoir and print head.