Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a method and apparatus for uniformly heating a substrate, comprising the steps of disposing a substrate over heating elements, irradiating the bottom side of the substrate, thus producing a non-uniformly heated substrate. Thereafter the transporter moves the substrate such that the unheated sections are disposed over heating element and heated sections are disposed over the transporter. The substrate is then re-irradiated such that the unheated section becomes uniformly heated. Heat is allowed to radiate from the bottom side to the top side of the substrate, such that the top side achieves a uniform temperature.

Abstract: A versatile core has a tubular body with opposing ends and includes a circumferential wall for receiving the sheet roll. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart crush ribs project radially inward from the annular inner surface and extend axially between the ends for nesting in corresponding slots in the spindle. The crush ribs are defined by a plurality of cut outs, which are provided at each of the opposing ends and are defined by the circumferential wall. The cut outs accept and engage various configurations of ribs of a spindle assembly, with the ribs of the spindle located between the crush ribs of the core. The exterior surface of the tubular body may have a texture selected to provide the desired adhesion between the tape (attaching the sheet roll to the core) and the body surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a decal assembly comprising a decal support, a releasable covercoat, a heat activatable layer, and an ink layer. The ink layer forms a digital image. The heat activatable layer has a high adhesion to a ceramic substrate at high temperatures and a low adhesion to the substrate at lower temperatures. Thus the adhesive properties of the decal are activated by heat. The resulting image has excellent adhesion to the substrate and resists the effects of washing.

Abstract: A core includes a tubular body that supports a wound sheet roll. The tubular body having open ends includes an annular outer surface receiving the sheet roll, and an annular inner surface defining a bore that receives a spindle. A plurality of ribs project inwardly from the body inner surface and extend axially between the open ends for nesting in corresponding slots in the spindle. Each of the ribs includes a bevel at one end for frictionally engaging a corresponding spindle slots to retain the core axially. Another set of frictional retention ribs projects inwardly from the body inner surface and extends radially between the axial ribs.

Abstract: A system is provided for movably supporting an ink film in a printer. The system has cylindrical supply and take-up cores for supporting and taking up the film during printing operations. The cores may be made of molded plastic resin. The ends of the cores are sized to selectively fit within a frame in such a way as to provide stable operation, including where applicable, while a frame cover is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the diameters of the first and second ends of the supply and take-up cores are essentially the same, and the diameters of the second and first ends of the respective cores are essentially the same. A molded cylindrical brake portion frictionally contacts the teeth of a brake gear to provide the desired film tension with improved handling and with reduced likelihood of jamming.

Abstract: A system is provided for movably supporting an ink film in a printer. The system has cylindrical supply and take-up cores for supporting and taking up the film during printing operations. The cores may be made of molded plastic resin. The ends of the cores are sized to selectively fit within a frame in such a way as to provide stable operation, including where applicable, while a frame cover is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the diameters of the first and second ends of the supply and take-up cores are essentially the same, and the diameters of the second and first ends of the respective cores are essentially the same. A molded cylindrical brake portion frictionally contacts the teeth of a brake gear to provide the desired film tension with improved handling and with reduced likelihood of jamming.

Abstract: A versatile core has a tubular body with opposing ends and includes a circumferential wall for receiving the sheet roll. A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart crush ribs project radially inward from the annular inner surface and extend axially between the ends for nesting in corresponding slots in the spindle. The crush ribs are defined by a plurality of cut outs, which are provided at each of the opposing ends and are defined by the circumferential wall. The cut outs accept and engage various configurations of ribs of a spindle assembly, with the ribs of the spindle located between the crush ribs of the core. The exterior surface of the tubular body may have a texture selected to provide the desired adhesion between the tape (attaching the sheet roll to the core) and the body surface of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A thermal transfer assembly that comprises a thermal transfer ribbon and a covercoated transfer sheet. The thermal transfer ribbon includes a support and a ceramic ink layer. The ceramic ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 2 to about 15 grams per square meter, and it includes from about 15 to about 94.5 percent of a solid carbonaceous binder, and at least one of a film-forming glass frit, an opacifying agent and a colorant (at a combined level for the film forming glass frit, the opacifying agent and the colorant of at least 0.5 weight percent).

Abstract: A system is provided for movably supporting an ink film in a printer. The system has cylindrical supply and take-up cores for supporting and taking up the film during printing operations. The cores may be made of molded plastic resin. The ends of the cores are sized to selectively fit within a frame in such a way as to provide stable operation, including where applicable, while a frame cover is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the diameters of the first and second ends of the supply and take-up cores are essentially the same, and the diameters of the second and first ends of the respective cores are essentially the same. A molded cylindrical brake portion frictionally contacts the teeth of a brake gear to provide the desired film tension with improved handling and with reduced likelihood of jamming.

Abstract: A ribbon cassette containing a supply core, a web located on the supply core, a storage core, a device for increasing the tension on the web as it passes from said supply core to said storage core to produce a tensioned web, a drive roller contiguous with the web, and a nip roller contiguous with the web. The said tensioned web is passed in a first rotary direction around a portion of the drive roller, and then it is passed in a second rotary direction around a portion of the nip roller, and then it is passed in a in rotary direction identical to the first rotary direction around a portion of the storage core. A nip is formed between the nip roller, the web, and the drive roller such that either the nip roller or the drive roller is compressed by at least about 0.001 percent.

Abstract: A system is provided for movably supporting an ink film in a printer. The system has cylindrical supply and take-up cores for supporting and taking up the film during printing operations. The cores may be made of molded plastic resin. The ends of the cores are sized to selectively fit within a frame in such a way as to provide stable operation, including where applicable, while a frame cover is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the diameters of the first and second ends of the supply and take-up cores are essentially the same, and the diameters of the second and first ends of the respective cores are essentially the same. A molded cylindrical brake portion frictionally contacts the teeth of a brake gear to provide the desired film tension with improved handling and with reduced likelihood of jamming.

Abstract: A core includes a tubular body that supports a wound sheet roll. The tubular body having open ends includes an annular outer surface receiving the sheet roll, and an annular inner surface defining a bore that receives a spindle. A plurality of ribs project inwardly from the body inner surface and extend axially between the open ends for nesting in corresponding slots in the spindle. Each of the ribs includes a bevel at one end for frictionally engaging a corresponding spindle slots to retain the core axially. Another set of frictional retention ribs projects inwardly from the body inner surface and extends radially between the axial ribs.