Abstract: There is provided a ribbon winding mechanism including: a winding rotor; a first winding gear that is provided to be coaxial to the winding rotor and rotates the winding rotor; a second winding gear that is provided to be coaxial to the winding rotor and rotates the winding rotor via the first winding gear; a first torque limiter that limits torque, which is transmitted from the first winding gear to the winding rotor, to first torque; a second torque limiter that limits torque, which is transmitted from the second winding gear to the first winding gear, to second torque lower than the first torque; and a torque clutch that inputs power from a feed motor to the first winding gear when the first cartridge is mounted and inputs the power from the feed motor to the second winding gear when the second cartridge is mounted.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus, including: a base plate having a first surface and a second surface; an installation part provided in the first surface and configured so that a ribbon roll is attached thereto; a thermal head provided in the first surface and configured to heat the ink ribbon; a partition wall partitioning the first surface into a first area including the installation part and a second area including the thermal head; a drive mechanism provided in a third area of the second surface and including a motor and a controller; and a fan provided in the base plate and configured to move air from the second area to the first area via the third area.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying unit configured to convey continuous paper in a forward direction and in a reverse direction; an image forming unit configured to form an image on the continuous paper conveyed in the forward direction; a fixing unit configured to fix the image formed onto the continuous paper; an adjusting unit configured to adjust the image forming unit while the continuous paper is conveyed in the reverse direction; and a control unit configured to cause the conveying unit to convey the continuous paper in the reverse direction by an amount equivalent to a predetermined reverse conveyance distance to adjust the bottom edge of the image in a conveying direction to a position on an upstream side of the image forming unit, and cause the conveying unit to convey the continuous paper in the forward direction and cause the image forming unit to resume image formation.

Abstract: A printing system for printing on a web of media traveling along a web transport path, including a plurality of printheads for printing on the web of media, each of the printheads being configured to print at one or more corresponding print locations along the web transport path. A plurality of web transport rollers guide the web of media along the web transport path. Each of the plurality of web transport rollers has a roller circumference that is substantially equal to an integer fraction of a span of the web of media along the web transport path between two successive print locations.

Abstract: A tandem printing system for imaging a media web includes a first and second print engines. A controller identifies a change in a position over time of a bottom of the media web in a loop box that is placed in the media path between the first and second print engines. The controller identifies an effective diameter of a drive roller in one of the print engines with reference to the change in position of the bottom of the media web. The controller modifies a rotational velocity of the drive roller with reference to the effective diameter to maintain velocity of the media web at a predetermined level and control a position of the bottom of the media web in the loop box.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer-system recording device which, by accurately conveying a medium between each of the thermal heads, eliminates image position displacement and image pitch variations between each of the thermal heads, thereby improving the overlay precision of each color and enabling printing on both sides of the medium. A pair of small pieces (300, 302) is provided between adjacent thermal heads and close to the conveying platen drum, and rollers (307, 308) are provided at both ends of the small pieces in the circumferential direction thereof. The rollers suppress separation of the recording paper from the platen drum by pressing the recording paper 100 against a flexible body 18A of the platen drum surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for processing an image to optimize print time of the image by a print apparatus based on the size of the image to be printed and the print pass thresholds of the print apparatus. A dimension of the image corresponding to the dimension along the sub-scanning axis of the image as it will be printed by the print apparatus is obtained, along with the corresponding number of print passes required to print the image. An analysis is performed to determine whether the size of the image could be reduced to require one less print pass by the print apparatus in printing the reduced image based on the proximity of the determined dimension to the range of dimensions that will result in one less print pass by the print apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.

Abstract: Capacitive detection systems, modules, and methods. In one embodiment, a power saving mode is implemented when deemed appropriate, based on an analysis of previous detection or non-detection of the presence and/or position of an object near a capacitive sensing area.

Abstract: The color printing control device outputs color material reduction processed data generated by applying a color material reduction process to each pixel of bitmaps converted to color material colors to be used in printing, when it is judged that the color material reduction printing mode is specified. The color material reduction process includes chroma conversion that reduces chroma and under-color removal/black generation that replaces at least a portion of achromatic components generated by overlaying of a plurality of color materials.

Abstract: A multicolor direct thermal imaging method wherein a multicolor image is formed in a thermal imaging member comprising at least first and second different image-forming compositions and a thermal printer for use in practicing the method. Heat is applied to at least the second image-forming composition while the first image-forming composition is at a first baseline temperature (T1) to form an image in at least the second image-forming composition, and heat is applied to at least the first image-forming composition while it is at a second baseline temperature (T2) to form an image in at least the first image-forming composition, wherein T1 is different from T2.

Abstract: A multicolor direct thermal imaging method wherein a multicolor image is formed in a thermal imaging member comprising at least first and second different image-forming compositions and a thermal printer for use in practicing the method. Heat is applied to at least the second image-forming composition while the first image-forming composition is at a first baseline temperature (T1) to form an image in at least the second image-forming composition, and heat is applied to at least the first image-forming composition while it is at a second baseline temperature (T2) to form an image in at least the first image-forming composition, wherein T1 is different from T2.

Abstract: A receiver medium transport system for a thermal printer, a method for operating a receiver medium transport system and a thermal printer are provided that enable the recording of at least a portion of a second superimposed image on a second receiver medium during the recording of a first superimposed image on a first receiver medium.

Abstract: A printer prevents color smear when a paper roll mounted on the printer is initially fed. The printer includes a plurality of printing units each having a thermal head and an ink ribbon, and a platen roller having an outer surface opposite the plurality of printing units. The platen roller can be rotated by a stepping motor. A printing medium is arranged on a roll at the most upstream side of the delivery path. A printed result of a predetermined printing length is obtained by sequentially transferring an ink to the printing medium from the upstream to the downstream printing units in an overlapping manner. The electrification period of the thermal head in each printing unit is controlled on the basis of an amount of rotation of the platen roller.

Abstract: To provide a thermal printer capable of easily improving a recording quality, a plurality of recording units, arranged along a carrying path of a recording medium, are respectively provided with a recording head, a platen which opposes the recording head with the carrying path interposed therebetween and is brought into contact with and separated from the recording head, a carrying unit including a carrying roller arranged on the downstream side of the recording head, and a friction unit including a friction roller arranged on the downstream side of the carrying unit in order to prevent the disturbance generated on the downstream side from propagating upstream via the recording medium, between the respective recording units.

Abstract: A multi-media gaming printer. The multi-media printer may accept various kinds of voucher media, such as thermally writable medias, smart cards, or magnetic strip cards. The multi-media printer includes writing, reading, and erasing devices within the printer to manage and use the different types of media. In addition, the multi-media printer includes control logic and articulated printing mechanisms that prevent the multi-media printer from inadvertently manipulating a voucher in an inappropriate manner. The design of the multi-media printer is modular so that voucher media magazines may be replaced as needed.

Abstract: An input device, which is small-sized and inexpensive in spite of being simple in construction and thin, comprises at least one primary electrode and a plurality of secondary electrodes, both electrodes being formed in the same plane. A position of a dielectric is identified on the basis of differences in electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and the secondary electrodes, which electrostatic capacity is changed by the dielectric positioned on a surface side of the both electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of avoiding core set curl in thermal prints comprising providing thermal print material wound image receiving side toward the core, passing said print material from said core around a turning roll in a direction opposite to the core wind, passing said print material under tension in an arcuate path with image side out beneath at least three thermal print heads to form an image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct thermal printer, which may include first and second printheads and first and second platens. The first printhead can be positioned proximate to a first platen, and a second printhead can be positioned proximate to a second platen. Generally, the first printhead is in a substantially opposed relation to the second platen and the second printhead is in a substantially opposed relation to the first platen.

Abstract: A color thermal printer has thermal heads for recording yellow, magenta and cyan mono-color image, respectively. An mono-color image data of each mono-color image is processed in image data processing section, and thereafter sent to the thermal head. A correction CPU for each mono-color image reads out mono-color image data at each line to calculate a transport friction fluctuation at the thermal head between recording line and a first previous line thereto. Further, the correction CPU calculates a correction of heat energy of the thermal head on the basis of all of the transport friction fluctuation of the thermal heads.

Abstract: A color thermal printer has thermal heads for recording yellow, magenta and cyan mono-color image, respectively. An mono-color image data of each mono-color image is processed in image data processing section, and thereafter sent to the thermal head. A correction CPU for each mono-color image reads out mono-color image data at each line to calculate a transport friction fluctuation at the thermal head between recording line and a first previous line thereto. Further, the correction CPU calculates a correction of heat energy of the thermal head on the basis of all of the transport friction fluctuation of the thermal heads.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for noise reduction in touch screen systems. A touch screen system comprises an analog to digital converter capable of converting to digital signals analog signals from at least one analog resistive film in a touch screen. The analog signal is indicative of a location on the touch screen. The invention comprises an apparatus for reducing noise in a touch screen comprising a microcontroller coupled to said analog to digital converter. The microcontroller receives a synchronization trigger signal, and in response to receiving the synchronization trigger signal, waits to receive digital signals from the analog to digital converter until the expiration of a period of time in which noise associated with the synchronization trigger signal has occurred. A method for reducing common mode noise is disclosed that actively senses and removes the ground return offset from the analog signals of the touch screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a direct thermal printer, which may include first and second printheads and first and second platens. The first printhead can be positioned proximate to a first platen, and a second printhead can be positioned proximate to a second platen. Generally, the first printhead is in a substantially opposed relation to the second platen and the second printhead is in a substantially opposed relation to the first platen.

Abstract: A thermal printer using colorful rays and infrared rays for identifying colorant regions of an ink sheet is provided. The ink sheet includes a number of colorant region sets. Each colorant region set includes a yellow region, a magenta region, a cyan region and a black mark arranged at the beginning of the cyan region. The black mark is infrared ray non-transmittable. The thermal printer further includes an infrared ray source/an infrared ray sensor for sensing the black mark, and a blue ray source/a blue ray sensor (or an amber ray source/an amber ray sensor) for sensing the colorant regions.

Abstract: A thermal printer using colorful rays and infrared rays for identifying colorant regions of an ink sheet is provided. The ink sheet includes a number of colorant region sets. Each colorant region set includes a yellow region, a magenta region, a cyan region and a black mark arranged at the beginning of the cyan region. The black mark is infrared ray non-transmittable. The thermal printer further includes an infrared ray source/an infrared ray sensor for sensing the black mark, and a blue ray source/a blue ray sensor (or an amber ray source/an amber ray sensor) for sensing the colorant regions.

Abstract: A method and system for locally processing a predetermined microstructure formed on a substrate without causing undesirable changes in electrical or physical characteristics of the substrate or other structures formed on the substrate are provided. The method includes providing information based on a model of laser pulse interactions with the predetermined microstructure, the substrate and the other structures. At least one characteristic of at least one pulse is determined based on the information. A pulsed laser beam is generated including the at least one pulse. The method further includes irradiating the at least one pulse having the at least one determined characteristic into a spot on the predetermined microstructure. The at least one determined characteristic and other characteristics of the at least one pulse are sufficient to locally process the predetermined microstructure without causing the undesirable changes.

Abstract: Using a thermal transfer recording medium formed with thermal transfer recording material on a surface of a supporting material, of which dynamic shear modulus of elasticity is within a range of 1×103 Pa to 8×105 Pa, and loss tangent tan &dgr; is within a range of 0.6 to 2.5 measured in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in a temperature range of the melting point thereof to 50° C. over the melting point at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, pressurizing the heat generating elements against the thermal transfer recording medium to bring the same into contact therewith with a load of 0.3 to 1.0 N/mm, which is a load per unit length in the main direction of the arrangement of the heat generating elements, transferring the thermal transfer recording material to the printing medium.

Abstract: While the recording paper is transported in a printing direction through between a thermal head and a platen roller, the thermal head sequentially records first to third color frames of a full-color image on first to third coloring layers of thermosensitive color recording paper in the same image recording area. After the full-color image is completely recorded, the recording paper is transported again through between the thermal head and the platen roller while being heated by the thermal head, for smoothing a protective layer that is formed on an obverse surface of the recording paper, thereby to improve the glossiness of the obverse surface of the recording paper. For the smoothing, a larger pressure is applied from the thermal head to the platen roller and thus the recording paper than that used for the printing.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive and heat-sensitive recording apparatus has a pre-coating container that pre-coats a recording sheet prior to a printing operation on the recording sheet. The pre-coating material container, ribbon cassette and an over-coating material container are provided in a recording head, while being movable in a printing direction lead by the pre-coating material container. The printed color-image is protected by an over-coating material dispensed from the trailing over-coating material container.

Abstract: A transfer sheet capable of applying a colored pattern to a final support material through the application of heat and pressure. The transfer sheet includes a carrier sheet having a colored pattern printed on a surface thereof. A digitally controlled color printer is used to print a colored pattern on the surface of the carrier sheet. A layer of white colored material is printed over at least the color pattern with a digitally controlled color printer. A layer of glue is deposited over the layer of white colored material. The layer of glue may also be printed over the white colored material by the digitally controlled color printer, or by a separate device, if required.

Abstract: A thermal printer is comprised of a head section for applying heat with pressure to a transfer film having a metal foil, arranged to cover an ink layer of a desired pattern formed on print paper, and removed to transfer the metal foil toward the print paper, and a controller for controlling the head section such that the transfer film is heated with a heating pattern larger than the pattern of the ink layer by at least a margin for positional displacement between the ink layer and the head section, so as to obtain a lamination transfer object in which a contour of the metal foil is aligned with that of the ink layer by an adhesive force between the metal foil and the ink layer.

Abstract: Using a thermal transfer recording medium formed with thermal transfer recording material on a surface of a supporting material, of which dynamic shear modulus of elasticity is within a range of 1×103 Pa to 8×105 Pa, and loss tangent tan &dgr; is within a range of 0.6 to 2.5 measured in dynamic viscoelasticity measurement in a temperature range of the melting point thereof to 50° C. over the melting point at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, pressurizing the heat generating elements against the thermal transfer recording medium to bring the same into contact therewith with a load of 0.3 to 1.0 N/mm, which is a load per unit length in the main direction of the arrangement of the heat generating elements, transferring the thermal transfer recording material to the printing medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for multi-color printing on plastic cards, such as credit cards, identification cards, and the like. The printing apparatus includes a rotatably driven cylinder having a smooth, high friction outer surface, and a plurality of color print stations spaced circumferentially about the cylinder. A receptor web supply roll is mounted adjacent to the cylinder and supplies an uninterrupted length of a receptor web to the outer surface of the cylinder. The receptor web is frictionally engaged with the outer surface of the cylinder such that the web rotates therewith when the cylinder is rotated. A stepper motor and gearing assembly is connected to the cylinder for rotating the cylinder, and therefore the receptor web that is disposed on the outer surface thereof, to position the receptor web relative to the color print stations. The stepper motor and gearing assembly allow precise positioning of the cylinder and the receptor web relative to each print head, to ensure precise print registration.

Abstract: An additive is dispersed in a matrix having a larger thermal expansion coefficient, which forms a film that prevents the permeation of the ink at the room temperature while allowing the permeation of the ink at high temperature. An ink roller is formed by covering a roller-like sponge body containing ink (an ink holder) with the film. Along the outer circumference of the ink roller, a thermal head that heats the surface of the ink roller according to a print pattern and a platen roller that sandwiches recording sheet between itself and the ink roller are disposed. Then, by rotating the ink roller and heating the thermal head, the ink permeates through the heated part of the film and is transferred to the recording sheet to form an ink image on the recording sheet.

Abstract: A plurality of thermal line heads for different colors, extending perpendicularly to a conveyer path of an image-forming sheet, are aligned along the conveyer path. The thermal line heads are controlled to simultaneously generate image-pixels on printing lines shifted in the direction of the conveyer path, on the image-forming sheet. The printing speed is high due to a plurality of colors being simultaneously printed. The thermal line heads can be applied to high-speed printing of a monochrome image on a heat-sensitive paper.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive and heat-sensitive recording apparatus has a pre-coating container that pre-coats a recording sheet prior to a printing operation on the recording sheet. The pre-coating material container, ribbon cassette and an over-coating material container are provided in a recording head, while being movable in a printing direction lead by the pre-coating material container. The printed color-image is protected by an over-coating material dispensed from the trailing over-coating material container.

Abstract: A plurality of thermal heads for different colors, are disposed in parallel in a line-printing direction, being offset with respect to each other in a transport direction along which an image-forming sheet is moved via a conveyer path. The image forming sheet is a pressure/temperature-sensitive sheet or a temperature-sensitive sheet. The thermal heads are moved in the line-printing direction. Adjacent-opposing ends of adjacent thermal heads are separated in the line-printing direction, and overlap in the transport direction. The thermal heads are controlled so as to simultaneously generate image-pixels on the image-forming sheet. The printing speed is high due to a plurality of colors being simultaneously printed. The thermal heads are used as part of pressure applying unit. The pressure applying unit is provided for selectively applying predetermined pressure to the micro-capsules, when the image-forming sheet is a pressure/temperature-sensitive sheet.

Abstract: A thermal transfer type color printer of this invention has four ink ribbons sequentially arranged from a first order to a fourth order along a conveying direction of a printing medium, and four printing heads respectively arranged in accordance with the four ink ribbons. Each of the printing heads melts and transfers ink included in each of the ink ribbons to the printing medium by heating the ink ribbons while each of the ink ribbons comes in contact with the printing medium. While the printing medium is conveyed, the ink of each of the ink ribbons is transferred to the printing medium so that a color image is formed. In this color printer, a melting viscosity of the ink of an ink ribbon used at a later stage is set to be lower than that used at a previous stage.

Abstract: A color printer includes a plurality of platens arranged on paper feeding path to feed paper on which a plurality of printing areas are arranged in series, a plurality of print heads arranged on the feeding path to face the platens to print data on the same printing areas of the paper fed on the feeding path, a feeding roller for feeding, to the print heads, the paper along the feeding path, a front-edge sensing section disposed between the feeding roller and a print head nearest the feeding roller to detect that the paper has been positioned at a printing start position, and a plurality of head lift mechanisms for setting the print heads from the platens to a standby position apart from the platens before the paper is fed to the printing start position and to a contact position at which the print heads come in contact with the platens after the paper has been fed to the printing start position.

Abstract: A thermal transfer type color printer of this invention has four ink ribbons sequentially arranged from a first order to a fourth order along a conveying direction of a printing medium, and four printing heads respectively arranged in accordance with the four ink ribbons. Each of the printing heads melts and transfers ink included in each of the ink ribbons to the printing medium by heating the ink ribbons while each of the ink ribbons comes in contact with the printing medium. While the printing medium is conveyed, the ink of each of the ink ribbons is transferred to the printing medium so that a color image is formed. In this color printer, a melting viscosity of the ink of an ink ribbon used at a later stage is set to be lower than that used at a previous stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying images to opposite first and second sides of a continuous strip includes a back plate, and first, second, and third printing stations each being cooperatively actuatable for applying first, second, and third images to a continuous strip. The first, second, and third printing stations have a predetermined equal distance therebetween. The third printing station is positioned at a slightly higher elevation on the back plate than the second printing station and the second printing station is positioned at a slightly higher elevation on the back plate than the first printing station.

Abstract: In a one-pass multi-head type color thermal printer having at least first to third printing stages arranged along a transport path, slacks are provided in the recording material between the first to third printing stages. The amounts of the slacks are measured by respective slack sensors. The transporting speed of the recording material through the second printing stage is fixed at a constant value, and the transporting speeds through the first and third printing stages are controlled in accordance with the outputs from the slack sensors, so as to maintain the amounts of the slacks constant. The slacks are provided during an initial loading of the recording material by delaying starting the transport of the recording material in downstream ones of the printing stages for a time after a leading edge of the recording material moves in each of the downstream printing stages until each of the slacks reaches a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A color thermal printer has three thermal heads disposed along a transport path of a thermosensitive recording sheet. Each of the thermal heads are supported in movable fashion between an advanced position where the thermal heads are pressed against the recording sheet, and a retracted position away from the recording sheet. An advancing period is predetermined to precede a time point when each thermal head starts being driven. The thermal heads are serially moved to the advanced position, from the retracted position slowly during the predetermined advancing period, gradually to raise the pressing force of the thermal heads to the recording sheet. A full-color image is thermally recorded to the recording sheet by the thermal heads in the advanced position while the recording sheet is transported in one direction.

Abstract: A color recording method and device which is capable of color recording images on large-sized paper in which a first color is developed in direct heat sensitive paper by directly supplying heat energy of thermal heads to the direct heat sensitive paper. Furthermore, in order to transfer a color ink to the direct heat sensitive paper to thereby obtain a second color, the heat energy of the thermal heads is supplied to a plurality of ink ribbons which are coated with both a desensitizing material for controlling the coloring reaction of the direct heat sensitive paper and the desired colored inks.

Abstract: A color thermal recording medium has three thermosensitive coloring layers for cyan, magenta and yellow formed in this order from the base material side. The upper layer has a higher thermal recording sensitivity. The color thermal recording medium is thermally recorded by three thermal heads by a one-pass method. At least two of the three thermal heads are driven in time-sharing fashion. Besides, drive voltage for the thermal heads for recording uppermost and next uppermost thermosensitive coloring layers are set lower than that applied for the thermal head for the innermost thermosensitive coloring layer. Instead of or in addition to adjusting the drive voltages, the maximum duration of drive times may be changed for each color.

Abstract: In a one-pass multi-head type color thermal printer, a color recording material is transported by a plurality of feed roller pairs, each of which consists of a capstan roller and a pinch roller and is disposed behind one of a plurality of thermal heads. The pinch roller is movable relative to the capstan roller to nip the recording material, and the capstan roller is driven each individually to transport the recording material at an appropriate speed through each of the thermal heads. A platen roller is disposed in opposition to each of the thermal head so as to be movable to and from the opposed thermal head, whereas the thermal heads are mounted stationary.

Abstract: In an image forming device, a hot melt ink is preliminarily heated by a heater, the melted ink is retained in an ink retaining roller made of a porous material and having apertures formed in the radial direction, and then melted under heating by a thermal head and transferred on a recording medium. The ink supply device of the image forming device can use inks efficiently with no waste and thereby reduce the running cost.

Abstract: Thermal printing apparatus is operable for applying images to opposite first and second sides of a continuous strip. The apparatus includes first, second, third and fourth thermal printing assemblies actuatable for applying first, second, third and fourth images to the continuous strip at first, second, third and fourth printing stations. The first and third thermal printing assemblies are mounted on reversible mounting assemblies capable of mounting the respective thermal printing assembly in a first position wherein the printing assembly is actuable for applying an image to a first side of the strip, and a second position wherein the printing assembly is actuable for applying an image to a second side of the strip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal-transfer recording process employing a transfer material and a image-receiving sheet. The transfer material comprises a support film and an image forming layer containing a coloring material and an organic polymer, and the image-receiving sheet comprises a substrate and a photopolymerizable or photosensitive thermal-adhesive layer.

Abstract: A multicolor thermal transfer printer system (20) is disclosed which prints computer controlled patterns on both faces of cards (22) (e.g. credit cards of polymer or paper stock). The system utilizes interdigitally arranged printer modules (30) which are dimensioned to transfer each card between drive rollers (34) and idler rollers (36) of adjacent printer modules. Each printer module has a microprocessor (28) which stores in memory (172) any pattern sent by a control computer (24). As each card passes through the printer module, thermal elements (101) in a print head (38) transfer ink from a transfer ribbon (32) to the card in accordance with the stored pattern. To conserve transfer ribbon it is moved past the print head only when the print head is in a print position. Each microprocessor reports status of its printer module such as end of ribbon, broken ribbon and card location.