Abstract: Perceived quality of printing dot-on-dot graphics area fill using an ink-jet device is improved by printing swaths (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of alternating colors, with each swath offset from the preceding swath by a predetermined amount. In this manner, banding (22, 22'), which is perceived with prior art printing methods, is substantially reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of ink jet recording for forming a color image including a color-mixed portion by using a plurality of colored inks for at least one of which a plurality of inks having different dyestuff densities are used, the method comprising: compensating OD value data concerning discharge of ink in accordance with a rate of change in the OD value of an image due to a change in the amount of ink supplied and a total amount of ink supplied per picture element.

Abstract: A non-impact electrothermic recording method using an ink sheet comprising at least an electroconductive base layer, an electroconductive thin layer and an electroconductive image transfer ink layer, with the effective resistance of the ink sheet being in the range of from 50.OMEGA. to 20 K.OMEGA.

Abstract: A service station (10) for use in an ink-jet printer comprises(a) pump means (12) for priming the printhead (18) of a cartridge (20),(b) a sled (14) to actuate the service station and seal the printhead, and(c) wiping means (58) for cleaning the printhead.The service station is fixed at one end of travel of a carriage (22) supporting the cartridge. The carriage is adapted to move bidirectionally by means of a controlled motor.The service station performs a number of functions, including clearing clogged nozzles in the printhead and removing bubbles therefrom, covering the nozzles with a protective cap (50) when the printhead is not in use to prevent contamination thereof, preventing ink from drying out in the nozzles, wiping contaminants picked up during printing off the nozzles, and providing a location (60) for firing the nozzles for clearing out thereof prior to printing.

Abstract: A method of making a color transparency with jetted color ink jet apparatus includes the steps of heating hot melt ink including an ink vehicle and a substantially translucent dye to a temperature above the melting point to attain the liquid state, ejecting small volumes of the hot melt ink from the ink jet apparatus toward a substantially transparent resinous support, cooling the small volumes of ink on the support so as to attain the solid state, and flattening the small volumes on the support to produce a substantially planar surface which minimizes refraction and scattering of light projected thereon or therethrough.

Abstract: An ink for use in an ink jet comprises as the main components a reactive dye or a reactive dispersing dye, and a solvent composed mainly of water and an organic solvent which is not reactive with said dye. An ink jet printing method comprises applying an ink for printing by an ink jet system to a cloth having fibers dyeable by a reactive dye, wherein said ink comprises as the main components a reactive dye or a reactive dispersing dye, and a solvent composed mainly of water and an organic solvent which is not reactive with said dye. An ink jet printing method comprising applying an ink for printing by an ink jet system to a cloth having fibers dyeable by a reactive dye followed by a dye-fixing treatment, wherein said ink comprises as the main components a reactive dye or reactive dispersing dye, and a solvent composed mainly of water and an organic solvent which is not reactive with said dye.

Abstract: The fluid jet applicator of the present invention utilizes a piezoelectric crystal to artificially stimulate the fluid supply chamber with coherent acoustic energy to pruposely generate and exploit the acoustic standing waves therein. As a result, although sized droplets will be formed at substantially the same frequency from each orifice, individual droplets will be formed so as to be out of phase with its adjacent neighbors in accordance with the standing acoustic wave pattern. By selecting only a very short print time, e.g., such that only one or two drops are formed within such a time and by controlling the frequency of such print time, a wide range of aesthetically appealing, unique, random interference of patterns can be created. Patterns closely simulating natural wood grains including knot holes can be readily produced by the present invention. More, the present invention allows patterns to be modified with relative ease and remarkable flexibility.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning foreign particles from an ink jet orifice plate assembly having a plurality of orifices and an ink stream input passage includes a liquid reservoir containing a quantity of cleaning liquid in which the ink jet orifice plate/dye cavity assembly is disposed, ultrasonic agitation means for imparting ultrasonic vibrations in the liquid to dislodge foreign particles from the orifice plate assembly, and means for simultaneously propelling a stream of the cleaning fluid inwardly (in a reverse-flow manner) through the plurality of outlet orifices to carry off dislodged foreign particles. The solid particulates are thereby removed from the assembled structure before it is placed in operation in the fluid jet printer. The method for ultrasonic cleaning is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting snaking of rollfilm comprises a driving roller for feeding the rollfilm to the exposure position with the film being maintained flat, pinch rollers provided such that they can approach or be separated from the driving roller, switching means for switching between the abutment and separation of the pinch rollers and the driving roller, and cutting means for cutting the rollfilm.

Abstract: An ink jet recording apparatus comprises a discharge port for discharging the ink, a storing portion for storing the ink therein, a cap for covering said discharging port, pump means communicated with said cap, a sucking tube for communicating said cap with said storing portion and a valve provided in said sucking tube.

Abstract: We describe an integrated thermal ink jet printhead and manufacturing process therefor which includes the successive build-up of an orifice plate, a first barrier layer, heater resistors, a second barrier layer, and an ink reservoir-defining layer on top of a reusable or "dummy" substrate. Lead-in conductors are formed integral with the heater resistors by controlling the cross-sectional areas of these components, and openings (passageways) are formed between ink reservoirs and the orifice plate to provide for ink flow under control of the heater resistors. The dummy substrate is stripped away from the adjacent orifice plate, and the ink reservoir defining layer may be secured to an ink supply tank which supplies ink to the individual ink reservoirs. Thus, the orifice plate, heater resistors and ink flow paths of the printhead are self aligned, and the heater resistors are removed from direct cavitational forces from ink ejected from the orifice plate.

Abstract: A drop deflection device suitable for use in a drop marking system employs an electret. Electrically conductive marking drops such as inks are given an electrical charge. The drops pass between a pair of deflections plates at least one of which is formed by an electret (a dielectric material which has been subjected to corona discharge to create a relatively permanent electrically charged material body). Depending upon the presence or absence of a charge on a particular drop, it will be deflected by the field between the plates on to a substrate for marking. If uncharged, the drops continue to a collection device which returns them to the ink reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus and method for sensing whether a pen is in the grasp of a pen claw of a drawing arm or a plotter or other graphics mechanism. More specifically, the present invention comprises a pen claw movable between an upward position and an downward writing position, the pen claw being connected to a detector which detects both upward and the downward movements of the pen claw. The pen is provided with an annular ring extending therefrom and the plotter mechanism has a stop provided thereon.

Abstract: In a printer apparatus wherein information relating to character patterns to be printed is received from an external source and is analyzed and converted into intermediate coded data, which are stored into a temporary memory and are thereafter successively read from the temporary memory to produce bit-map image data representative of the character patterns to be printed for each page of printed output, whereupon the bit-map image data is stored into a bit-map memory by referring to a font memory and the character patterns are printed on the basis of the bit-map image data read from the bit-map memory for each page of printed output, a method of conveniently converting the information received from the external source into the intermediate coded data, storing the intermediate coded data into the temporary memory and thereafter storing bit-map image data into the bit-map memory in accordance with the intermediate coded data read from the temporary memory.

Abstract: Fluid jet printing apparatus having a fluid jet printhead and a pair of substrate positioning rolls for moving the substrate between a position below the printhead for printing on the substrate and a position removed from the printhead enabling access to the printhead. Two or more printing stations, each having a fluid jet printhead and substrate positioning rolls, are serially aligned in the direction of movement of the substrate to print different fluids on the substrate. Idler rolls are arranged to effect printing on opposite sides of the substrate at the respective printing stations. The direction of travel of the substrate past the printhead may be in a direction to first pass the catcher and then the droplet streams thereby minimizing or eliminating the tendency of particles to enter the region of the electrodes.

Abstract: A fluid jet printing line has a plurality of fluid jet printing devices arranged serially to sequentially print on a substrate. Each printing device includes a print bar movable relative to a print head and substrate. Each print head including the print bar carried thereby is mounted for movement between positions in the line and a clean or ready room. In the print line, a sensor detects any increased thickness of the substrate and a pneumatic-mechanical system responds to the sensor to raise the print bar above the thickened portion of the substrate as it passes below the orifice plate and to lower the print bar after the thickened portion has passed. Should a print head malfunction, the line is converted to a full-catch mode, the substrate transport is stopped and the malfunctioning print head is removed.

Abstract: In an ink jet recording apparatus, the generation of insufficiently charged or discharged drops which may occur when a charge controlling signal (print pulse) is switched within a forbidden zone of the period of the drop formation process is avoided. The portion of the drop formation process period, during which the switching is permitted, is determined by detecting the charge carried by trains of drops which are produced by probe charge control signal of varying phase relative to the drop formation process.

Abstract: The present invention describes a pre-treated recording media capable of receiving a high resolution aqueous-based ink jet printed layer as well as a method of preparing the same, wherein the method comprises the steps of: printing a recording media with an oil-based printing ink; drying the oil-based ink layer; coating over the oil-based ink layer with a water-soluble adhesive-like substance; drying the coating of adhesive-like substance; ink jet printing an aqueous-based ink layer onto the adhesive-like substance; and, drying the aqueous-based ink jet printed layer.

Abstract: A fluid-jet printer has a droplet catcher structure and an ingestion blade whereby deflected charged droplets flow by means of a vacuum from the catcher structure along the ingestion blade for recirculation and reuse. The ingestion blade is preferably flat and is releasably clamped between a retainer plate along the underside of the catcher structure and a set screw threaded into the upper surface of the catcher structure. The ingestion blade is disposed in the opening of a cavity along the underside of the catcher structure and is removable therefrom by backing off the set screw, whereby the blade can be removed through the bottom cavity opening for replacement.

Abstract: System for requiring the contemporaneous application of time clock data and personal data to a time card to prevent or signal the fraudulent application of either type of data at a time which is substantially different from the other type of data, i.e., by up to about 15 minutes. The present system includes the use of time cards having at least one color-forming chemical which may be in the form of a discontinuous coating, time clock transfer elements which may be coated with at least one complimentary color-forming chemical, pre-application of a liquid coating to the data-receiving area of the time card, which liquid coating permits the desired color-forming reaction only while it is liquid and which dries under ambient conditions before about 15 minutes, and the use of a signature-applying implement containing a special ink including at least one color-forming chemical and/or a mixture thereof with a transparent dye or pigment.

Abstract: In a high volume printing and packaging operation, stationery is fed by document feeder 10 to a laser printer 14. The printer prints both text and discrete identification code on the page both text and code being supplied from a system controller 16. The document is then folded by folder 22 and the code read. Enclosures are added as dictated by the code and the code read again prior to insertion in an envelope by inserter 24. A correct code verification causes an ink-jet printer 26 to print the name and address on the envelope. The marking code comprises a series of small marks normally unnoticeable to the normal observer and each representing a digit, whose value depends on the position of the mark on a notional circle whose center is a fixed distance from a pair of reference marks.

Abstract: A photosensitive, photoconductive media moving in a first direction relative to a laser light beam scanning in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, incurs velocity variations. These velocity variations result in variations in the absolute and relative heights of white and black image features. This printed image nonuniformity is especially visually detectable for closely spaced parallel lines in the second direction, and/or gray scale. An optical velocity sensor senses instantaneous media velocity. An analog or digital velocity error processor maintains a running average velocity and determines, by subtraction, an instantaneous velocity error as the difference between currently sensed and running average velocities. The instantaneous velocity error so determined is used to adjust the intensity of the laser light beam to be proportionally brighter (dimmer), exposing a wider (narrower) scan line, on a faster-moving (slower-moving) media region.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for forming an image, comprising a step of applying ink to a recording medium having a light-transmissive ink retaining layer and a light-diffusing ink transporting layer on a substrate to form an image through said ink transporting layer in said ink retaining layer and a step of transparentizing said ink transporting layer.

Abstract: An ink jet image transfer lithographic apparatus is coupled to a source for supplying graphics and textual material to an ink jet printhead. The ink jet printhead melts a hydrophobic solid ink and sprays the ink onto a lithographic plate in a predetermined pattern. The solid ink solidifies upon contact with the plate. The plate is then mounted in a lithographic press for lithographic printing. As an alternative, the ink jet printhead may be mounted in a lithographic press for imaging a lithographic plate mounted in the lithographic press or for spraying ink directly onto the plate cylinder of the press. A succession of lithographic plates may be provided around the plate cylinder of the lithographic press and each plate discarded after use, leaving a clean plate on the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An image is recorded on an elongate image recording medium by feeding the image recording medium in an auxiliary scanning direction from a loading unit and applying a light beam to the image recording medium in a main scanning direction transverse to the auxiliary scanning direction. A loose loop is formed out of the image recording medium between the loading unit and an image scanning recording unit. Guide plates are angularly displaced to allow the image recording medium to hang by gravity with the image recording medium with the image recorded thereon having a free distal end. The hanging image recording medium is moved back toward the image scanning recording unit after the image has been recorded. The guide plates are displaced back to deliver the image recording medium to a next process.

Abstract: A tray for a fluid-jet printing device for starting fluid-jet streams issuing from an orifice plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the orifice plate. The tray includes an elongated box-like structure movable between various positions, including a sealing position below the orifice plate for drawing a vacuum through the orifice plate and facilitating flow of fluid from a plenum chamber above the orifice plate through the orifice plate for start-up. The tray is provided with backlighting such that, upon movement of the tray into a second position, the fluid streams issuing from the orifice plate may be visually observed against the backlighting to ensure proper start-up. Thereafter, the tray is moved to subsequent positions enabling location of the charging and deflection electrodes and droplet catcher structure below the orifice plate, as well as the substrate on which the printing will be effected.

Abstract: A recording and readout information system having atomic scale densities comprises a recording medium having a carrier and means to form a pattern of atomic particles on the surface of the carrier. The atomic particles having an affinity for the carrier and can adhere to the surface to form a relatively adhesive and stable bond. The pattern of atomic particles produced on the carrier are representative of recorded information, e.g. binary represented information, of ultra high density based upon the size and spacing of such particles, which is in the range, for example, of 5 .ANG. (0.5 nm) to 10 .ANG. (1 nm). A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a recording medium with an adsorbent carrier, means to form a pattern of adsorbate atomic particles on the surface of the adsorbent carrier, the adsorbate atomic particles having an adsorptive affinity for the adsorbent carrier.

Abstract: A plastic orifice plate for an ink jet printhead and manufacturing process therefor which includes electroforming a metal die having raised sections thereon of predefined center-to-center spacings, and using the die to punch out openings in a plastic substrate of a chosen thickness to form a plurality of closely spaced orifice openings in the substrate. The orifice plate can be of a chosen transparent material and secured to a printhead substrate where the dynamics of ink flow can be viewed through the orifice plate during printhead testing and evaluation.

Abstract: A head tending system for purging and cleaning an ink jet print head includes a self-aligning purge nozzle which can float into positive engagement with a vent hole of the print head and a wiping roller of a non-circular contour about which a tape of wiping cloth passes.

Abstract: A control method for providing an acceptable motion window (range) that restricts high accelerations and velocities of an ink jet print head. The method provides two limited step ranges that are initiated dependent on the total distance that the print head is to be moved. If the distance is outside of the window range, a first step is used to bring the print head to a position which is a fixed second step from the final position. By limiting the print head's motion in each step range, the excitation of the fluid (ink) system is limited. With the first step completed, a second step range is used to drive the print head to the final position. If the initial distance is within the window range, the second step range is selected to drive the print head. The method is implemented with a computer program and print head position signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention corrects the nonuniformity in the printing density between the printing elements of a thermal print head by first printing across a transparent receiver with each element of the head activated with equal inputs (flat field). The print transmittance values are read from the transparent receiver using, for example, a microdensitometer, and an adjustment factor for each heating element is computed and maintained in storage to be combined with the number of heating pulses assigned to each of the respective heating elements as they perform their normal printing function.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the velocity of a stream of droplets in a continuous ink jet printing system comprises controlling, from a system cabinet, the velocity of the stream expelled from the print head through a nozzle under pressure from a pressure source, in dependence upon a measured pressure of the ink in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the velocity and the pressure. On start up the system calibrates for the pressure differential P.sub.c due to the conduit length and the relative elevation of the print nozzle; and a determination of the ink viscosity in made at predetermined times. Thereafter the velocity is controlled in dependence upon a required pressure value P.sub.r in accordance with a stored look-up table, the required pressure value at any time being determined substantially by a given relationship.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for correcting the density nonuniformities that occur down the page of a thermally printed document by providing a correction component, representing heating pulses, to each thermal printing element as a function of the line on which the thermal printer is printing. The correction component is determined from the product of a correction factor times the logarithm of the total number of lines to be printed divided by the number of the line next to be printed. The correction factor is calculated from the average number of heat pulses to be applied across the head at any time, or as a compromise a single number may be selected.

Abstract: In the shear mode piezoelectric transducer for an ink jet system described in the specification, a piezoelectric plate is polarized parallel to the plane of the plate and in directions extending away from the center of the pressure chamber with which the transducer is used, and electrodes mounted on opposite surfaces of the plate impose electric fields orthogonal to the direction of polarization. The resulting shear motion of the transducer decreases the volume of the pressure chamber, ejecting a drop of ink from an orifice communicating with the pressure chamber. The piezeelectric plate used in the transducer is prepared by imposing electric fields within the plate in the direction parallel to the plane of the plate between electrodes mounted on opposite sides of the plate in the central region of the pressure chamber and electrodes mounted on opposite sides of the plate in the peripheral regions of the pressure chamber.

Abstract: The ink jet printing system contains at least one ink jet printing head operatively connected to printing medium reservoirs by a conduit system. A partial ink flow is passed through a regulating apparatus for viscosity-dependent regulation. On exceeding the ink viscosity or ink density, a spindle body constructed as a float contacts a switch constructed as a proximity switch. The switch is operated such that a corresponding signal is supplied to a control valve and as a result the supply of solvent to a main ink reservoir of the printing medium reservoirs is initiated. The regulating apparatus may constitute an independent assembly associated with the main ink reservoir or can be integrated into the main ink reservoir.

Abstract: In an image recording method comprising the steps of heating a sublimable dye to produce dye vapor, jetting the dye vapor from a nozzle toward a recording member, and attaching the dye vapor to the recording member to form a picture image thereon, the method of the present invention is adapted such that a gas stream is provided to pass across the stream of the dye vapor jetted from the nozzle and the dye vapor or fine particles of the sublimable dye formed by being cooled are taken away from the vicinity of the recording member by means of the gas stream.

Abstract: An improved cartridge for containing a pellet of hot melt or phase change ink in an ink jet apparatus having at least one ink jet, a reservoir for containing and melting the hot melt or phase change ink from its solid state to a liquid state, and a receiver adapted to receive the cartridge, wherein the receiver includes an outlet at the base thereof for flowing liquified ink into the reservoir, and wherein the pellet is comprised of a size and shape so as to substantially fill the receiving means. The improvement consists of a hollow member of a predetermined geometry corresponding substantially to the geometry of the receiver, open at one end and deformable so as to permit the discharge of the pellet contained within the member through its open end, a retainer for the pellet, and a seal at the open end to protect against contamination of the ink.

Abstract: A novel ink jet composition for use in drop on demand ink jet printers is disclosed comprising 85-99 weight percent of a vehicle consisting essentially of dibutyl sebacate and oleic acid. In the preferred embodiment, the dibutyl sebacate comprises between about 40 to 65, preferably about 60 weight percent of said ink. The subject ink, when utilizing an infrared readable colorant such as nigrosine base, is particularly suited for generating IR readable bar codes.

Abstract: A graphic machine or plotter comprising a feed roll (30) for continuously supplying a print medium such as paper (20), driving means (24) for driving the paper supplied by the feed roll to produce a drawing on the paper, and a take-up roll (40) for receiving the paper after the drawing is produced. The feed roll (30) and the take-up roll (40) are linked together in such a way that the rotation of the feed roll (30) in a forward direction for which the paper is payed out from the feed roll drives the take-up roll (40) to wind up the paper but the rotation of the take-up roll (40) in the reverse direction does not drive the feed roll (30).

Abstract: An optical recording medium, having a substrate and a thin film containing a fluoride compound and a substance capable of undergoing an optical change through absorption of electromagnetic radiation (a film sensitive to electromagnetic radiation).

Abstract: The relation between an input energy at a thermal head and recording density in a thermographical recording system varies inconveniently by the ambient temperature or the head temperature, and moreover, the slope of the relation varies by the temperatures. Therefore, even if the input energy at the thermal head alone is precisely and minutely controlled, it is heretofore difficult to obtain the desired recording density if the temperature fluctuates. Even if the temperature at the thermal head is detected by a temperature sensor, and compensation is made based on the detected temperature, it is still difficult to achieve recording of high quality because there inevitably arise a time lag between the detected temperature and the real temperature of a heating resistor which is recording images.

Abstract: In the representative hot melt ink supply system described in the specification, a first hot melt ink supply reservoir maintains ink in molten condition during operation of the system and a second reservoir mounted with an ink jet head on a movable carriage communicates with the first reservoir through a flexible supply line. The ink in the supply line is normally kept in solid condition and, when a reduced level of ink is detected in the second reservoir, the supply line is heated to melt the ink in the line and a pump is actuated to transfer ink from the first reservoir to the second reservoir. To permit use of pigmented inks, each of the reservoirs is heated to provide a thermal gradient therein so as to maintain convective circulation of the ink. An ink circulation path is provided to cause convective circulation of pigmented ink in the ink jet head.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dispensing a fluid with dispersed particles therein are disclosed which include a reservoir containing the fluid and dispersed particles. The fluid is agitated to maintain dispersion of the particles. The output of the reservoir is provided through a filter to a three-way valve and pressurized as required. The common port of the three-way valve is connected to a print module controlled by a programmable controller. Bypass flow is provided to increase the flow rate through the system. The system may be operated in either the demand mode or the continuous mode.

Abstract: An electro-optical light scanning system using a modulated laser illumination source directed upon a multi-faceted rotating polygonal mirror or polygon. The mirrored facets reflect the impinging light toward a moving photoreceptor and forms a raster of scan lines as the photoreceptor moves to create dot images on the photoreceptor. The invention also encompasses amplitude modulation for varying the intensity of the laser illumination in conjunction with acousto-optical modulation for maintaining a constant level illumination and/or for varying dot size. Other embodiments describe producing dot size variation in an ink jet printer, a light emitting diode printer and a thermal printer.

Abstract: In a light beam scanning recording method, a continuous tone image is recorded on a photosensitive material by scanning a light beam deflected by a rotating polygon mirror on the photosensitive material and carrying out pulse number modulation or pulse width modulation of the light beam in accordance with image signals. A single picture element string is scanned by the light beam a plural number of times which is equal to integral multiples of the number of mirror surfaces of the rotating polygon mirror. The number of pulses per picture element or the pulse width per picture element is distributed among the plural number of times of scanning so that the total number of pulses per picture element or the total pulse width per picture element in the plural number of times of scanning coincides with a predetermined value.

Abstract: Acoustic noises are suppressed in a large format drafting plotter (10) utilizing a paper drive motor (22) mechanically coupled to a paper drive shaft (20) by a geared timing belt (26) from the motor to a pulley (24) on the drive shaft by suitably modifying the pulley. The pulley is modified by enlarging the drive shaft hole (38) in the center thereof so as to provide slip-mounting of the pulley on the drive shaft. A winged clamp (30) is provided, mounted on the pulley, and having a central portion (34) having an opening (36) therethrough for engaging a portion of the drive shaft and a tightening screw (40) for securing the winged clamp to the drive shaft. The winged clamp also has two opposed extensions (42), which are each maintained between a pair of bosses (44) on the outside surface (24a) of the pulley, and isolated therefrom by a pair of isolator pads (32) comprising a compliant material.

Abstract: A system for purifying dye comprising a means for producing a dye solution and a means for treating the dye solution which captures metal ions in said dye solution by carrying out ion-exchange separation.

Abstract: A charge to deflect ink jet printer employs a correction signal to ink droplets to afford more accurate placement on a medium. Assessing the deviation of charged ink droplets from intended and actual impact locations, a control unit then determines an adjustable bias voltage for application to each charged droplet to compensate for the deviation and thus achieve improved image enhancement. This system is well suited for multiple nozzles which may be multicolor such as in computer printers. Both a method of operation and an apparatus are attendant to this system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing automatic paper edge finding and sizing in a graphics plotter system having a platen over which paper is moved longitudinally to create one axis, penholding apparatus moved transversely across the platen and the paper to create the other axis, and a controlled raising and lowering mechanism connected to the penholding apparatus for lowering a pen being held therein into contact with, for raising it from contact with the paper, and for providing a relative vertical position value signal. Vertical sensing apparatus is connected to the penholding apparatus for sensing the top surface of the platen. First logic is operably connected to the vertical sensing apparatus and to receive the vertical position value signal from the controlled raising and lowering mechanism for calculating and saving a plurality of values indicating the distance to the platen top surface at a plurality of spaced points across the platen.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and process are described in which metal images are transferred to a softenable receiving layer using commercially available multi-stylus recording heads. The transfer medium is comprised of a resistive layer and a thin metal layer thereon. Electrical currents are provided by the recording styli of the multi-stylus recording head. Localized electrical currents in the resistive layer provide sufficient heat in the metal layer to soften regions of a metable receiving layer when it is brought into contact with said heated metal layer. Metal imaging for use in printed circuit board manufacture and in formation of printing masters can be transferred by this technique.