Abstract: A dot matrix printing method is provided for printing an image on a printing medium with a printing head (10) having a contiguous set of equally spaced marking elements (11). The marking elements available to be fired at firing moments are described as the active set. There is relative linear movement between the printing head (10) and the printing medium in a fast scan direction (Y). The method comprises the steps of: 1) dividing the image in a plurality of sub-images to be subsequently printed with mutually interstitial printing steps, and 2) using the printing head (10) to generate a plurality of equally spaced raster lines of dots on the printing medium in the fast scan direction (Y) by firing the marking elements (11), each raster line extending in the fast scan direction (Y), adjacent dots in the raster line not being generated by the same marking element (11).

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for printing, with one type of printhead, with a resolution that differs from the resolution of the type of printhead used. In the method according to the present invention, the speed in the fast scan direction is changed with reference to a reference velocity which the printhead is intended to be driven with, while preferably keeping the firing frequency of the sets of nozzles unchanged. The firing order of the may or may not be changed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of printing an image onto a printing medium using a printing system having an elongate printhead (10) with an array of marking elements (A, B, C, A, B, C) comprising at least one group of marking elements (A, B, C). The marking elements form at least one row (6, 7, 8), the direction of which forms a longitudinal axis of the printhead (10). The printhead (10) is driven in a fast scan direction (F) to print in one pass marks on the printing medium along one swath of print, and the printing medium and the printhead (10) are movable relative to each other in a slow scan direction (S) to print further swaths. The printing system is such that two adjacent marking elements of a group are firable with a time difference T but are not firable simultaneously without causing a printing defect.

Abstract: The present invention describes a method for printing, with one type of printhead, with a resolution that differs from the resolution of the type of printhead used. In the method according to the present invention, the speed in the fast scan direction is changed with reference to a reference velocity which the printhead is intended to be driven with, while preferably keeping the firing frequency of the sets of nozzles unchanged. The firing order of the may or may not be changed.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer and printing method for being able to print a dot matrix (65) on a printing medium (66) using a plurality of marking elements (1-16) on a printing head (50) is described. A set of combinations of firing order of the plurality of marking elements (1-16) is determined as well as a sequence of relative translation movements between the printing medium (66) and the printing head (50) so that all the dots in the dot matrix (65) can be printed by application of each of the set of combinations, and any dot in the dot matrix (65) can be printed by at least a first and a second equivalent marking element (1 and 9) from a set of equivalent marking elements. For printing sets of dots in the dot matrix (65), a first equivalent marking element (1) is selected from the set of equivalent marking elements to print the set of dots as part of a first firing order.

Abstract: A dot matrix printing method is provided for printing an image on a printing medium with a printing head (10) having a contiguous set of equally spaced marking elements (11). The marking elements available to be fired at firing moments are described as the active set. There is relative linear movement between the printing head (10) and the printing medium in a fast scan direction (Y).

Abstract: A dot matrix printing method is provided for printing an image on a printing medium with reduced banding, by moving, with respect to the printing medium, a printing head in a fast scan direction during a plurality of printing passes. The method comprises the step of writing the image during the plurality of printing passes by mutually interstitial printing steps and/or interlacing steps, wherein the writing step comprises moving the printing medium with a transport distance step in a slow scan direction perpendicular to the fast scan direction between the printing passes of the at least two sub-images. The sum of all transport distance steps after writing one swath of each sub-image is exactly one head length, and the transport distance steps are performed in at least two different step lengths.

Abstract: An elongate print head with a longitudinal axis is provided, which comprises at least a first array of marking elements and a second array of marking elements for printing different colours. Each array of marking elements comprises a set of equally spaced marking elements. A first marking element of the first array of marking elements is spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis from a first marking element of the second array of marking elements over a distance of at least n/P or n/I of a length of an array of marking elements, n being an integer larger than 1, P being a number of mutually interstitial printing steps used when printing an image and I being a number of interlacing steps used when printing an image.

Abstract: A dot matrix printing method is provided for printing an image on a printing medium with a printing head and having an array of equally spaced marking elements. The marking elements are spaced apart by a distance “x” in a slow scan direction and there is a first relative linear movement between the printing head and the printing medium in a fast scan direction perpendicular to the slow scan direction. The method includes printing the image as at least one set of monochromatic mutually interstitially printed sub-images wherein at least one of the number of sub-images and a sequence in which the printing of the sub-images is performed is settable by the user.

Abstract: A method for recording an image on a thermographic material (m) provides a thermographic material, a transparent thermal head (TH) having energizable heating elements (Hi), and a radiation beam (L). The heating elements of the thermal head are activated and the radiation beam is passed through transparent parts of the thermal head. Herein, the total energy resulting from the thermal head and from the radiation beam has a level corresponding to a gradation of the image to be recorded. Further embodiments comprise e.g. holding the thermographic material on one and a same drum during both an imagewise exposing step and a heating step.

Abstract: A method for recording an image on a thermographic material (m) comprising a step of providing a thermographic material having a thermal imaging element, a transparent thermal head (TH) having energizable heating elements (Hi), and a radiation beam (L), and a step of activating heating elements of the thermal head and imagewise and scanwise exposing the imaging element by means of the radiation beam. Herein, the total energy resulting from the thermal head and from the radiation beam has a level corresponding to a gradation of the image to be recorded on the imaging element. Moreover, the imagewise and scanwise exposing is carried out by passing the radiation beam through transparent parts of the thermal head.

Abstract: An apparatus for the processing of photographic sheet material comprises a plurality of treatment cells (12.sup.1, 12.sup.2, 12.sup.3) mounted one beside another to define a substantially horizontal sheet material path (14). Each cell comprises a housing (16) having a sheet material inlet (18) and a sheet material outlet (20) each being closed by a rotatable path-defining roller (28) biased into contact with a reaction surface (26) to form a nip (30) there-between through which the sheet material path (14) extends. The apparatus is characterized by sealing means (33) to seal each path-defining roller (28) to the housing (16) and means (36) to define a static liquid level (S) above the nip plane (P).

Abstract: An apparatus, having relatively low capital cost, for the processing of photographic sheet material (22) comprises a plurality of closed treatment cells (12.sup.1, 12.sup.2, 12.sup.3, 12.sup.4) and a sheet material path (20) extending through the cells in sequence. A following cell (12.sup.3) has a treatment liquid inlet (40) and a treatment liquid outlet (42). The treatment liquid outlet (42) is connected to a treatment liquid inlet (44) of a preceding cell (12.sup.2) by way of a connecting passage (46). A single pump (48) is sufficient to transfer treatment liquid through the cells.

Abstract: The cell comprises a housing (10), an anode (20) positioned within the housing (10), and a cathode (30) surrounding the anode (20) in the housing (10). A perforated screen (28) is located between the anode (20) and the cathode (30). The construction provides the advantage of a higher and more uniform desilvering speed, due to an improved liquid flow over the cathode surface.

Abstract: Photographic sheet material is processed using a processing cell through which the sheet material passes. Process liquid is fed from a collapsible storage container to the cell and returned from the cell to the container. The returning liquid is caused to enter the container as a jet stream. A cap assembly for the container comprises a body releasably connected to an upwardly facing mouth of the container. Inlet and outlet passages pass through the body and the inlet passage opening into the container is provided with a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the outlet passage to enable the jet stream to be achieved. Mixing of the returning process liquid in the container in a simple and economical manner is possible without compromising the ability of the container to collapse.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises at least one treatment vessel (12) comprising a housing (14) having a sheet material inlet opening (17) and a sheet material outlet opening (18) defining a sheet material path (20) through said vessel (12). Each opening (17, 18) is closed by a path-defining rotatable roller (28) biased towards a reaction surface (30) to form a nip (36) there-between through which said sheet material path (20) extends. The path-defining roller (28) is in contact along its length, with a plurality of rotatable intermediate rollers (38) carried in fixed bearings (40) mounted on said housing (14).

Abstract: An imaging element (15, 122) comprising on a lithographic base at least one radiation sensitive or heat-sensitive layer composition, is image-wise exposed to radiation or heat. The composition is such that when exposed and developed, a lithographic surface is formed. The exposed imaging element is then passed through a closed treatment cell (26, 64, 66) in a processing apparatus in which the imaging element is brought into contact with a single developing fluid (44, 124). The closed treatment cell (26; 64, 66) comprises a housing (24; 114) having an entrance (28; 116) and an exit (30; 118) each closed by a path-defining roller (32; 128) in contact with a reaction surface (33; 130) to form a nip (34; 136) therebetween, through which the plate path (36; 72) extends. Sealing means (38; 138, 139) seal each path-defining roller (32; 128) to the housing.

Abstract: A housing (10) defines a liquid treatment chamber (12). The chamber (12) has entrance and exit openings (16, 18) each closed by a pair of co-operating path defining rollers (20), rotatable about a horizontal axis (26) and in contact with each other to form a nip (22) through which a material transport path segment (24) extends. Sealing means (28) seal the path defining rollers (20) to the housing (10). A drip tray (30) is so shaped and positioned as to collect treatment liquid dripping from the roller (20), both when the material path segment (24) is vertical and when it is horizontal. The vessel may be connected in a closed manner to one or more further treatment vessels to constitute a apparatus for processing photographic material. The vessel can be successfully used in either orientation.

Abstract: The vessel (10) comprises a housing (12) having openings (14, 16) closed by pairs of rotatable path-defining rollers (18, 20, 22, 24) through which a sheet material path (30) extends. Liquid level control means (38) define a dynamic liquid level (L) in the treatment chamber (32) above the sheet material path (30). A buffer comprises one or more drip chambers (34, 36) positioned to receive liquid escaping from the treatment chamber (32) through the nips (26, 28) and between the rotatable path-defining rollers (18, 20, 22, 24) and the housing (12). The buffer has a maximum total volume such that a static liquid level (S) is established below the sheet material path (30), without the buffer overflowing. In a non-operative condition, treatment liquid, which escapes through the nips and between the path-defining rollers and the housing, is all retained in the buffer, for later re-use as desired.

Abstract: The thermal treatment unit comprises a housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (16) for the imaging element so positioned as to define a path (18) through the housing (12). A continuous surface (20), formed of heat conductive material, is positioned on one side of the path (18). Drive means (22) move the continuous surface (20) in synchronism with the imaging element (10) as it passes through the housing (12). The imaging element (10) is urged into heat conductive contact with the continuous surface (20) and a heat source (26) is provided on the far side of the continuous surface from the path. A more even transfer of heat to the imaging element (10) is thereby achieved.