Abstract: In the particular embodiments of the invention described in the specification, the pressure chamber for an ink jet system is coated with a smooth, conforming layer of a coating material, such as a xylylene polymer material, which is wettable by the ink used with the system to eliminate nucleation sites in the surfaces forming the walls of the chamber and thereby inhibit formation of bubbles from dissolved air contained in ink within the chamber when the ink is subjected to reduced pressure during operation of the ink jet system.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprising: a non-contact print mode in which a medium to be recorded is conveyed to a region in which printing can be performed and is subjected to recording by discharging ink in a non-contact manner from a recording head confronting the medium at a predetermined interval; and a contact cleaning mode in which a cleaning sheet which has been conveyed into the region in which printing can be performed by using at least a part of a conveyance route for the medium is brought into contact with the recording head and then discharged from the region in which printing can be performed.

Abstract: The ink jet printer nozzle clogging-preventive device of the present invention is characterized in that the device prevents air from entering the nozzle part and prevents the ink in said nozzle from drying and solidifying when an ink jet printer is transported, when the printer power is turned off, or when the printer is stopped to perform no printing for a long time while the power remains turned on.That is, the device is characterized in that only one cap adhering device is provided as a means to cover the nozzle surface of a printer and said cap adhering device is allowed to perform an appropriate nozzle clogging-preventive action according to said printer conditions (such as non-printing condition with said printer power on, power-off condition, said printer transportation or long-period storage condition, and nozzle recovery operation condition).

Abstract: An information recording medium for writing and/or reading information by means of a laser beam comprises an information recording disc and a magnetizable hub. The information recording disc has a circular hole at its center, and the magnetizable hub is fitted into the hole of the disc. The magnetizable hub comprises a boss and a flange and has a hole at its center for insertion of a spindle. The boss of the hub has at its bottom a diameter being equal to or larger than the diameter of the circular hole of the recording disc. The magnetizable hub is pushed into the circular hole of the recording disc, whereby the hub is firmly fitted into the hole of the disc. The boss of the magnetizable hub may have an outwardly extended protrusion or raised portion at its bottom. The boss of the magnetizable hub may be divided into three or more separate portions.

Abstract: An optical recording material having excellent light stability, shelf stability and solubility in a solvent comprises, as an indispensable constituent, a compound of the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R represents a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 12 carbon atoms, X.sup.- represents a halide anion, a perchlorate anion or a quencher anion, rings A and B each represent a benzene or naphthalene ring which may be substituted with a halogen atom, and n represents 1 to 4.

Abstract: A thermal transfer color recording method of and an apparatus for recording a color image on a transfer paper by successively transferring inks of different colors from an ink film to the transfer paper at a recording station. A ink of one color is transferred from the ink film to the transfer paper by a thermal head based on an image to be recorded while the ink film and the transfer paper are moved through the recording station in a forward direction in intimate contact with each other. After the transfer of the ink of one color, the transfer paper in intimate contact with the ink film is transported in the forward direction with the ink film not taken up to thereby slacken the ink film. Then, the transfer paper is transported in the reverse direction to position the leading end of the recorded area of the transfer paper at the recording station to transfer an ink of another color from the ink film to the transfer paper from the leading end of the recorded area thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing information on a web of material utilizing a roller platen located on the opposite side of a web feed path from a printhead. The roller platen has an outer arcuate surface which presses the printing material against the head and draws the material and a printing ribbon past the printhead in a printing operation. The roller platen has flattened surfaces on its circumference that facilitate feeding of the web of material between printing operations.

Abstract: Printing of overhead transparencies, comprising non-absorbent, hydrophobic media such as polyester, is accomplished by an ink-jet printer by providing a time delay between printing of dots (10) at the same location or by printing adjacent dots. In one embodiment, a line is printed with dots at selected locations and the line is then reprinted with dots at the same locations, using the same color or a different color, as desired. An area-fill pattern (20), produced in accordance with the invention, is substantially homogeneous, lacking the drip lines and non-homogeneity (18) resulting from coalescence of prior art approaches.

Abstract: This technique for assembling a print head for an LED printer has LED dice first assembled into precisely known locations on mounting tiles. A portion of the front face of each tile is left exposed beyond anything mounted on the tile. The tiles are then assembled with these exposed areas on a planar reference on an assembly fixture. Reference surfaces built into the fixture align the edges of the tiles, and hence the LED dice. Finally a mother plate is adhesively bonded onto the backs of the tiles. The adhesive accommodates thickness variations in the mounting tiles, and lack of flatness in the back surfaces of the tiles and the front face of the mother plate. Reference tiles copolanar with the reference plane formed by the front faces of the mounting tiles provide a z axis reference.

Abstract: In an optical data storage medium comprising a resin, substrate, a primary coat formed thereon and a recording layer of a dye decomposable by a laser beam formed on the primary coat, said primary coat is a silicone resin layer whose surface had been subjected to a plasma treatment. The primary coat prevents the substrate from attack by solvent for forming the recording layer, and enables the recording layer to be uniform in thickness with good adhesion.

Abstract: An optical disk comprising a pair of substrates, each having a recording surface and a reflective layer in super-position on one side, is disclosed. Such an optical disk has satisfactory shear adhesive strength and peeling strength under high temperature and high moisture conditions.

Abstract: In a heat-fixing method, a sheet is prepared whose one side is coated with a release-agent layer. The sheet is superimposed upon at least a recording side of a recording medium having carried thereon an unfixed image such that the coated release-agent layer is faced to the recording side. Alternatively, the sheet is folded double into two sections such that release-agent layer sections on the respective two sections of the folded sheet are faced each other, and then the recording medium is sandwiched between the two sections of the folded sheet. The recording medium as well as the sheet is heated. Subsequently, the sheet is peeled off the recording medium.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of exposing a photosensitive medium for forming thereon a latent image which corresponds to an original image to be reproduced and which is developed into a visible image. The photosensitive medium has a basic minimum amount of exposure to a radiation, below which a density of the visible image remains constant and above which the density varies with an amount of exposure to the radiation. An entire recording surface of the photosensitive medium is evenly exposed to a first radiation by a predetermined first exposure amount determined by the basic minimum amount, and each label area of the recording surface is exposed to a second radiation by a second exposure amount which corresponds to a density in a corresponding local area of the original image, so that the first and second exposure amounts cooperate to form the latent image.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus and method for preventing condensation from forming in a recording area having heaters for heating a recording head and a recording medium, a humidity detector for detecting the humidity in the recording area and a controller for controlling the temperature of the heaters in response to the humidity detected by the humidity detector. The controller decreases the temperature difference between the recording head and the recording medium by adjusting the heaters in order to lower the humidity in the recording area when it is higher than a predetermined value. If the humidity in the recording area is not controlled the quality of the recording will be impaired.

Abstract: A method of transferring an image to a receiver in a thermal transfer printer including a printing head having a plurality of heating elements for effecting one-line printing by selectively driving the heating elements on the basis of transfer data. While a recording medium is moved with respect to the heating elements during the one-line printing period, the printing based on the same one-line transfer data is effected by driving each heating element the same consecutive number of times in a plurality of different positions within the width of one-line pitch.

Abstract: In an ink jet printer, when a start print signal is input, an encoder outputs the position of a gutter, and the ink jet nozzles start jetting, beginning with the nozzles which are facing the gutter. Thereafter, all of nozzles start jetting, and then normal printing starts. Thereby, ink is saved, quality printing is obtained and the operator is freed from the uneasy feelings arising from abrupt purging or jetting actions. The invention may be provided in rotary ink jet printers using meltable solid ink.

Abstract: There is disclosed ink-jet recording process for carrying out a recording by adhering ink droplets on a recording medium, wherein the recording is carried out under the condition that the ink is adhered in an amount ranging between 3.0.times.10.sup.5 pl/cm.sup.2 and 3.0.times.10.sup.6 pl/cm.sup.2 in solid image recording when the recording is carried out with a recording density of 10 dots/mm.times.10 dots/mm or more.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for drop-on-demand ink jet printing utilize the steps of: selectively ejecting ink drops from drop ejection regions through related orifices; feeding ink through capillary feed passages to the drop ejection regions to replace ejected ink drops; and supplying ink to said capillary passages from an innately reticulate foam structure comprising a network of fine, mutually-connected, three-dimensionally branched filaments.

Abstract: A method for reducing "grainyness" or color contrast in color imaging systems and simultaneously reducing or eliminating paper cockleing of media printed by ink jet printing. The method involves determining the maximum allowable ink print density necessary to reduce or eliminate paper cockleing in the printed media and then providing tight control of the selection of gray scale ink drop count and associated dye loading in relation to this maximum allowable print density. Using this method, pixels are selected and printed in such a manner as to maximize the uniformity of ink distribution on the printed media.This method will work using either a variable drop size or a fixed drop size with variable dye loadings. It will also work with most error diffusion or dithering schemes presently used and available in the image processing arts.

Abstract: Ink is flowed through an ink flow channel of an inkjet print head, in a volume far greater than the volume required for printing purposes. The excess ink cools the print head and also aids in purging bubbles from the head. Ink for printing is extracted from the flow channel by capillary channels and conveyed to the ejection mechanism of the print head. In operation, ink from a stationary reservoir is circulated by a low-pressure pump through a particle filter and gas separator, and to the print head by a low-pressure trailing tube system, with the excess ink returned to the reservoir. The pressure of the ink at the capillary is maintained below atmospheric pressure, preferably utilizing hydraulic pressure created by locating the vented ink reservoir at a level below the print head. Leakage of ink from the print head is thereby prevented, and a positive ejection force is required.

Abstract: A method for preparing a liquid jet recording head which is to be used for generating heat energy to be utilized for discharging ink by applying electrical signals, having an electricity-heat energy convertor comprising a heat-generating resistor and a pair of electrodes for applying electrical signals on said heat-generating resistor, comprises the process of aging by heat treating the heat-generating resistor by applying electrical signals to said electrodes sufficient to stabilize the resistance value of said heat-generating resistor.

Abstract: A thermal recording system is used as a recorder in a facsimile equipment or the like, and usually has a first operational mode in which picture data being read out at a pitch of M lines/mm is recorded at a pitch of M lines/mm and a second operational mode in which picture data being read out at a pitch of (M/n) lines/mm are repetitively recorded for every n lines at a pitch of M lines/mm. In particular, in the second operational mode of the system, activation time periods of a thermal head in the repetitive recording of every n lines are controlled to be sequentially shorter as the lines advance, whereby a recording time in the second operational mode can be reduced and the deterioration of the recorded picture quality can be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating an electromagnetic valve means comprising a valve plunger journalled within a valve body for movement under the influence of an electric current on a drive stroke from a valve closed position to a valve open position, which valve means controls the flow of fluid to a nozzle orifice in a non-contact fluid droplet applicator apparatus, notably an ink jet printer, which method comprises intermittently applying a transient drive current to the valve means which is insufficient to move the plunger sufficiently on its drive stroke towards the valve open position to permit the flow of fluid through the valve.

Abstract: An electrophotographic-type imaging station or printer includes a focusing lens positioned between the printer light source and a photosensitive medium. As the light source projects beams of light energy forming a row in a direction towards the photosensitive medium, the lens focuses each projected beam into a rectangular beam. The speed of the photosensitive medium and the operation of the light source are coordinated so that adjacent rows of generally rectangular beams are positioned in abutting relation with each other. The plurality of focused rows projected in row-at-a-time fashion onto the surface of the photosensitive medium form an informational array pattern having a resolution in a direction parallel with the direction of medium movement which is greater than the resolution of the pattern in a direction perpendicular to the direction of medium movement.

Abstract: Recording medium having islands of light-emitting material in regions formed between a transparent substrate, and a reflective layer disposed on one principal surface thereof. The islands of light-emitting material are sensitive to illuminating light incident thereupon, and in response thereto, emit light having a different wavelength than said illuminating light. Reproducing apparatus separates an overall reflected light from the recording medium into first reflected light corresponding to a reflected scanning light, and second reflected light corresponding to emitted light from the light emitting material.

Abstract: UV-absorbers of the formula I ##STR1## in which n is 1 to 4, R is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 alkyl, C.sub.5 -C.sub.8 cycloalkyl, phenyl or C.sub.7 -C.sub.9 phenylalkyl, R.sup.1 is H, Cl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy and R.sup.2 is an n-valent hydrophilic group, are especially suitable for the light stabilization of ink-jet prints. The compound of the formula I is here added to the recording material, preferably in a surface coating. Such compounds have the further advantage that they form particularly stable emulsions.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printing device for a franking machine uses a multi-strike thermal transfer ribbon. Mail items are fed to the printing device and frictional engagement between the mail item and the ribbon during a printing operation draws ribbon from a supply spool. After completion of the printing operation, the mail item is separated from the ribbon and the ribbon is partially rewound onto the supply spool so that each portion of the ribbon is used progressively a number of times. An encoder disc on the supply spool shaft generates signals indicative of the length of ribbon drawn from and rewound onto the spool to control rewinding of the ribbon.

Abstract: A heat transfer sheet having a heat transfer layer on one surface of a base sheet, said heat transfer layer being formed of a material containing a dye substantially dissolved in a binder with a weight ratio of the dye to the binder (dye/binder ratio) of 0.3 or more, and said base sheet having a heat-resistant slipping layer provided on the surface on which the heat transfer layer is not provided.A heat transferable sheet to be used in combination with the heat transfer sheet, comprising a receptive sheet having (a) a base sheet and (b) a receptive layer for receiving the dye migrated from the above-mentioned heat transfer sheet on heating, said receptive sheet having an intermediate layer provided between the base sheet and the receptive layer.

Abstract: An ink jet printhead and process for manufacturing same wherein an opening in an orifice plate of the printhead is precisely aligned with a transducer element on a thin film substrate member of the printhead. A barrier layer having an opening therein is aligned with the transducer element and is located on the thin film substrate member adjacent to a metal seed layer. A metal orifice layer is plated on the metal seed layer and over the barrier layer and extends into the opening therein to form a convergent orifice opening. This opening is aligned to both the opening in the barrier layer and the transducer element on the thin film substrate member. Since the transducer element and metal orifice plate layer are both precisely aligned to the opening in the barrier layer, the transducer element and the metal orifice layer are said to be "self-aligning".

Abstract: A liquid jet recording head unit comprises a recording head, for forming flying liquid droplets which are discharged through an orifice by the action of energy generated by an energy generating member provided on a substrate and connected to an electrode on the substrate, and a support member having thereon an electrode for supplying an electrical signal to the energy generating member and a connector electrically connected to the electrode on the support member for electrically and mechanically connecting the recording head unit to a recording apparatus, wherein the electrode of the recording unit and the electrode of the support member are electrically connected to each other and the recording head is mechanically connected to the support member.

Abstract: A laser scanning apparatus is provided with a compensating arrangement whereby deviations of a synchronous drive are compensated for by adjusting the frequency with which the laser beam is modulated. The laser beam is directed onto a rotatable spinner which causes the laser beam to scan a synchronized moving medium in a number of sequential and parallel lines, each of which is determined during a cycle of the movement of the spinner. The spinner is driven by a synchronous motor. During each cycle, a period error is measured to determine a compensating signal which is held for the next successive cycle and is used to control the frequency of a variable oscillator which determines the clocking rate at which information is employed to modulate the laser beam. According to the method of the invention, lines of information are placed on a synchronized moving medium responsive to the aforesaid laser beam during successive cycles.

Abstract: An improved printing method using a print head having a linear array of print elements adapted to be indexed in a direction parallel to the line of the array direction to address successive groups of rows of print media pixels moved therepast in a direction generally perpendicular to the array direction. The method includes the steps of (i) selecting such print head to comprise an even number (A) of print elements located in a linear array and having with a uniform 2 pixel spacing; (ii) alternately indexing the print head, in a direction parallel to the array direction by the amounts of A-1 and A+1 pixels; and (iii) in correspondence with such alternate indexings respectively printing on even or odd rows of the print medium in accord with image information.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrographic recording receiver for use in a process where styli in a writing head deposit electric charges on an electrographic receiver. The receiver comprises a substrate having a conductive layer on an insulating support, a dielectric layer having an image area on the conductive layer, conductive particles embedded in the image area of the dielectric layer in contact with the conductive layer and extending or protruding through the surface of the dielectric layer to provide an electrical path between a ground and the conductive layer through the conductive particles, and insulating particles embedded in and extending through the surface of the image area of the dielectric layer to a distance greater than the conductive particles to provide a substantially uniform distance between the styli and the dielectric layer. Also disclosed is a method of making such a receiver and a method of forming an electrostatic image on such a receiver.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and process are described in which a direct negative is formed using commercially available multi-stylus recording heads. A negative precursor comprised of a transparent support and an opaque thermoplastic ink layer carried thereon, is brought into contact with an ink receiving medium comprised of a resistive layer and a thin conductive ink receiving layer thereon. Electrical currents are provided by the recording styli of the multi-stylus recording head to the resistive layer to provide sufficient heat to soften regions of the opaque ink brought into contact with the conductive layer, by which regions of said opaque ink are transferred to the ink receiving conductive layer. In this manner, a pattern of opaque ink regions is removed from the surface of said transparent support, whereby a direct negative is formed having light opaque and light transparent regions.

Abstract: In the fabrication of an ink jet nozzle structure for ink jet printing, photoform glass is initially exposed in the general configuration of the ink chambers and nozzles desired to be formed in the glass. Thin transverse lines are left unexposed across the desired transition point between the ink chamber and the nozzle, and across a transition between ink inlet and the chamber. The ink chamber is desired to be of greater depth than either the inlet area or the nozzle, so two-step acid etching is used. The nozzle and the inlet are masked, as by taping, during a portion of the acid etching and unmasked during another portion, so that the chamber (which is never masked) is etched deeper than the inlet and nozzle areas.

Abstract: When selecting a coordinate grid pattern within which to record data on a chart, a line of such grid pattern is selected as a reference line recordable by one of the elements of a recording head. A reference level corresponding to that reference line is provided. One heating element is ranked in terms of position across the thermal recording head. A discrepancy in ranking between that one heating element and a heating element of the recording head with which the reference level is recorded on the chart is noted. A shifting in ranking pursuant to such a noted discrepancy is effected until the heating element with which the reference level is recorded and the above mentioned one heating element with which the reference line of the grid pattern is recorded have become identical.

Abstract: A method of printing on an ink receptive coating (12) which enhances the density of images printed on non-ink receptive substrates (10) by ink-jet techniques is provided. The substrates, such as transparent polyester films, are coated with a layer of an material to a thickness which promotes controlled latent lateral diffusion of the printed ink dots (14a-c). The lateral diffusion is microscopically observed to begin immediately after printing, eventually ceasing as the vehicle of the ink is sufficiently spread and evaporated by the lateral spreading. The optical density of the image increases as the ink diffuses, reaching a maximum density that is considerably greater than otherwise possible without such an ink-coating system and avoids the undesirable surface coalescence of drops (14) which causes a puddled appearance in films not employing latent spreading.

Abstract: Information is recorded with one or more elongate thermal recording heads on a recording medium advancing at least intermittently on a recording medium support. Such recording head or heads are being pressed against the recording medium at the recording medium support by at least two biasing devices spaced along such elongate thermal recording head or heads. These two biasing devices are balanced relative to each other opposite the elongate thermal recording head or heads, as seen from the recording medium support. Different characteristics of the biasing devices are thus compensated opposite the elongate thermal recording head or heads, as seen from said recording medium support. Forces acting at one end of an elongate thermal recording head, or acting on one of the recording heads, against either of the biasing devices are transmitted via both biasing devices to an opposite end of that elongate thermal recording head or to the other of two elongate thermal recording heads.

Abstract: A method of controlling the scanning of the thermal head to insure uniform printing density. The method comprises scanning thermal sensitive paper with the thermal head in a first direction while supplying the printing signal to the thermal head to thereby effect desired printing, terminating the printing signal after the completion of the printing while continuing the scanning of the paper in the first direction until heat accumulated in the thermal head has dissipated, and thereafter returning the thermal head while in contact with the thermal sensitive paper in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In the alternative, the thermal head can be disengaged from the thermal sensitive paper after the completion of printing a single line until heat accumulated in the thermal head has dissipated, and subsequently returning the thermal head while in contact with the thermal sensitive paper in the second direction. In this manner, the printing density can be maintained at a uniform level.

Abstract: A print controlling apparatus for a thermal printer which is adapted to print with a thermal head having a plurality of heat generating elements on thermal paper or on non-thermal paper or thermal ink ribbon, is provided. The print controlling apparatus includes a processor for processing data to be printed and then outputting the data. A head control circuit devices coupled between the processor and thermal head for converting the data to be printed output from the processor to energizing signals for selectively heating the heat generating elements. The heat control circuit device includes a timing mechanism for providing at least two predetermined energizing intervals. A storage mechanism stores the present print data and at least one previous print data. A gating circuit coupled to the timing mechanism and storage mechanism produces energizing signals for each of the heat generating elements by logically combining the predetermined energizing intervals and present print data and previous print data.

Abstract: The temperature of the ejector (12) of a thermal ink jet print head (10) is maintained within acceptable operating limits by measuring the current temperature, predicting the heat loading on a subsequent pass over a printing medium (32), and adjusting the temperature of the ejector (12), as necessary, by heating the ejector (12) or modifying the operation of the printer (60) to permit cooling of the ejector (12). The temperature of the ejector (12) is preferably measured by a thin film temperature measurement resistor (94) codeposited onto a substrate (14) with the thin film ejection resistors (22) that generate the droplets ejected from the ejector (12). Heating of the ejector (12) is preferably accomplished by passing a low level current through the ejection resistors (22). Cooling is preferably accomplished without the use of a fan by delaying the printing pass, or reducing the heat load during the printing pass by slowing the printing rate during that pass only.

Abstract: A liquid jet recording apparatus includes a cap member for covering discharge ports of a liquid jet recording head which discharge recording liquid. The cap member is provided with a protruding portion opposed to the discharge ports. Gas flow is generated in a space formed by the cap member and the liquid jet recording head. The protruding portion provides for a negative or reduced pressure at the discharge ports, to draw off impurities and improve recovery. An improved recovery method is also provided.

Abstract: A device and method for detecting nozzle malfunction in an ink jet printhead having a predetermined number of nozzles. The printhead is first controlled whereby each of the nozzles is activated once in a manner which is required to print on a print medium a line having a number of ink dots equal to the predetermined number. Then a photodetector detects whether each location on the print medium which opposed one of the nozzles at the time of activation of that one nozzle has an ink dot printed thereat. Each location is photodetected in time sequence by scanning. The photodetector outputs a signal having a first level in response to each photodetected location which has no ink dot thereat and a signal having a second level in response to each photodetected location which has an ink dot thereat. The output of the photodetector is then processed.

Abstract: The invention is a method and a plotter for automated drawing and writing that provides a drawn line of variable width, where the width is independent of the motion of the plotter pen or the shape of the line drawn. The apparatus includes a plotter having a table for receiving the medium upon which the line will be drawn, a pen slider translatable with respect to the table parallel a first axis (nominally designated the "X" axis) and a pen holder for receiving the pen translatable with respect to the slider parallel a second axis (nominally designated the "Y" axis) that is perpendicular the X axis. The pen holder maintains the pen at a known angular orientation with respect to a third axis (nominally designated the "Z" axis) perpendicular the X and Y axes. The apparatus also includes a digital computer which controls the pen to apply ink of selectable and variable widths along a line, independent of line shape and orientation with respect to the X and Y axes.

Abstract: A method of producing a liquid-jetting head capable of recording in a plurality of colors comprises the steps of providing a base member having a plurality of heaters thereon, at least one plate member having at least one perforation therethrough with a predetermined shape and an orifice plate having holes therethrough, and laminating the base member, plate member and orifice plate together to provide a laminated liquid-jetting head having a plurality of liquid supply paths, each including a branched liquid path, formed by the perforation, from which liquid can be ejected through the orifices by the action of heat energy applied to the liquid in the liquid path by the heaters. Also disclosed is an image recording apparatus using the laminated liquid-jetting head.

Abstract: Transparent image-recording elements that contain ink-receptive layers that can be imaged by the application of liquid ink dots. The ink-receptive layers contain a combination of a vinyl pyrrolidone polymer with a polyester, a poly(cyclohexane-dimethylene-co-oxydiethylene isophthalate-co-sodio-sulfobenzenedicarboxylate), dispersed in the vinyl pyrrolidone to control ink dot size. A printing method which employs the transparent image-recording elements is described.

Abstract: Transparent image-recording elements that contain ink-receptive layers that can be imaged by the application of liquid ink dots. The ink-receptive layers contain a combination of a vinyl pyrrolidone polymer with a polyester, a poly(cyclohexanedimethylene isophthalate-co-sodiosulfobenzenedicarboxylate), dispersed in the vinyl pyrrolidone to control ink dot size. A printing method which employs the transparent image-recording elements is described.

Abstract: Transparent image-recording elements that contain ink-receptive layers that can be imaged by the application of liquid ink dots. The ink-receptive layers contain a combination of a vinyl pyrrolidone polymer with a polyester, a poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene-co-xylylene terephthalate-co-malonate-co-sodioiminobis(sulfonylbenzoate)) dispersed in the vinyl pyrrolidone to control ink dot size. A printing method which employs the transparent image-recording elements is described.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for making thermocopies in which a receiving material and an ink carrier member are synchronously advanced into a sublimation area opposite each other in a predetermined relationship therebetween, and the ink carrier member is heated linewise by a modulated laser beam to provide for pixelwise heating of the ink carrier member to enable transfer of an ink layer of a predetermined density from the ink carrier ribbon to the receiving material.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical recording medium according to the present invention includes the steps of forming a recording film on a transparent substrate, recording signals in the form of perforated pit rows on the recording film by a laser beam, and forming a reflection layer on the recording film on which the pit rows have been formed. The recording film is bleached after recording or the laser beam used for recording is selected to have a wavelength different from that of a laser beam used for reproducing so that the recording film is transparent to the laser beam used for reproducing.