Abstract: A heat exchange laminate for use as a heat exchange member in a heat exchange unit for a printing system including a base layer extending substantially planar, said base layer being bilaterally coated with an electrical conductive non-metallic contact layer.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of recording image information and additional information added separately from the image information to a photographic printing medium is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes: image information acquisition means for acquiring the image information, additional information acquisition means for acquiring the additional information, and recording means for recording the image information acquired by the image information acquisition means and the additional information acquired by the additional information acquisition means to the photographic printing medium, wherein the recording means can record the additional information by laminating a first transparent material that absorbs light of a specific wavelength and a second transparent material that does not absorb the light on a recording surface of the photographic printing medium.

Abstract: An ultraviolet rays emitter for irradiating ultraviolet rays on an ink of an ultraviolet curing type adhered onto a recording medium includes semiconductor light emitting elements for emitting ultraviolet rays and a support member for mutually supporting these semiconductor light emitting elements in a matrix with optical axes thereof in almost parallel, and the row or column of the semiconductor light emitting elements has a structure in which two kinds of semiconductor light emitting elements having different wavelength ranges or more are arranged in order. Alternatively, an ultraviolet rays emitter has a structure in which a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements is mutually supported with a support member in a positional relationship in which the optical axes of the respective elements are mutually inclined in such a manner that the irradiation regions of ultraviolet rays emitted from the semiconductor light emitting elements overlap on a recording medium.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a printer, a laminator device and feeding arrangement for feeding to said laminator device, in an integrated operation, media that is outputted from said printer. The apparatus also includes an arrangement for performing lamination only on selected portions of the print media.

Abstract: A document has a carrier layer and at least a functional layer. The functional layer is provided with a content of bacteriorhodopsin as color pigment and, when the document is printed generating an essentially irreversible color change in the area of the bacteriorhodopsin by a supply of energy.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.

Abstract: In a method of forming an ink-receptive card substrate, an ink-receptive material is provided. The ink-receptive material includes a backing layer and an ink-receptive coating on a surface of the backing layer. Next, a card member is provided. Finally, the ink-receptive material is laminated to a surface of the card member with the ink-receptive coating facing the surface of the card member. This results in the bonding of the ink-receptive coating to the surface of the card member. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices that are configured to perform the above-identified method.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.

Abstract: In an ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus capable of forestalling printed material jams between a paper discharge unit of a printing apparatus and a reception unit of the ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus, a signal line for exchanging electric signals with the printing apparatus is provided, and control is performed such that rotational driving of a paper conveyance belt of the ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus is begun upon reception of a printing drum rotation start signal or a paper feeding unit paper conveyance start signal, and the rotational driving of the belt is halted after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed following reception of a printing completion signal.

Abstract: A method for operating more than one thermal printer adapted to print images by transferring donor material from patches of donor material from a donor ribbon onto a receiver medium, each printer being operable to print images in a manner that exhausts a full donor patch or a fractional donor patch during printing. In accordance with the method, a print order is received and it is determined whether a fractional donor patch set is available for printing at each printer. Portions of the print order are directed to the printers in a pattern that minimizes the number of printers having donor ribbon with a fractional donor patch set available after the printing order has been executed.

Abstract: Quality of printing is easily improved without applying surface finishing after printing. A printer that prints an image based on image data, on a print medium, using a plurality of color inks. The printer comprises a colorless clear ink printing means which prints the print medium using a colorless clear ink, a print setting receiving means which receives settings relating to printing, and an area determination means which determines an area in which the colorless clear ink is used, based on at least either said image data or said settings relating to printing.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal transfer recording method which can improve surface flatness of a protective layer in the thermal transfer recording method in which the protective layer is transferred by a thermal head, and a thermal transfer recording apparatus which can realize the thermal transfer recording method.

Abstract: A thermal image recording apparatus has: a thermal head having a glaze in which thermal recording dots are arranged in a one direction, the thermal head conducting thermal recording on a thermal recording material that is to be in contact with the glaze, and transporting the thermal recording material in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the thermal recording dots; heating unit, disposed downstream from the thermal head in the transport direction, for reheating the rear face opposite to the recording surface of the thermal recording material; and correcting and cooling unit for cooling the reheated thermal recording material while causing the rear face to be concaved.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital thermal transfer printer comprising not only several heaters drying sequentially transfer ink printed to textile materials, but also a thermal transfer moving horizontally and ejecting hot winds of 180˜600° C. to heat the transfer ink directly to have the production speed of general direct printers to maximize work efficiency, to embody more clear colors of the transfer ink due to the very fast and rapid heating to the textile materials, and eventually to give more trusts to customers.

Abstract: Provided is a printing and thermal activation device for a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet that is compact, lightweight, and simple in structure. The heat-sensitive adhesive device for a heat-sensitive adhesive sheet includes a thermal head capable of printing on a printable layer and thermal activation for a heat-sensitive adhesive layer. When the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is inserted, a platen roller and the thermal head are operated to transport the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet while printing on the printable layer. The heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is cut with a cutter unit at a predetermined position and then the cut sheet passes through a transporting roller pair and is guided to a reversing mechanism.

Abstract: The image forming method includes a recording step of recording an image on an image recording layer of an image recording medium according to image data, a material setting step of setting a coating film to be provided on the image recording layer according to glossiness data indicating glossiness of the image reproduced by the image data, a condition setting step of determining a condition of a surface processing of the coating film by considering the set coating film and according to the glossiness data, and a processing step of performing the surface processing of the coating film in accordance with the determined surface processing condition.

Abstract: When a drive force of the motor for feeding the rolled paper is exerted on a shutter, the shutter moves. When fixing an image formed on a heat-sensitive yellow color developing layer, the shutter is positioned above yellow fixing lamps and the movement of the shutter is restricted by a locking member. When the rolled paper is retracted into a main body of the photoprinter, and a rear end of an image forming area of this time is located in the vicinity of the distal end of the shutter, restriction of the shutter by the locking member is released and the shutter is moved synchronously with the rolled paper.

Abstract: In a method of forming an ink-receptive card substrate, an ink-receptive material is provided. The ink-receptive material includes a backing layer and an ink-receptive coating on a surface of the backing layer. Next, a card member is provided. Finally, the ink-receptive material is laminated to a surface of the card member with the ink-receptive coating facing the surface of the card member. This results in the bonding of the ink-receptive coating to the surface of the card member. Additional embodiments of the present invention are directed to devices that are configured to perform the above-identified method.

Abstract: An image fixing portion includes a drum of cylindrical shape provided on a conveyance passage, a magenta fluorescent lamp and a yellow fluorescent lamp installed near the axis of the drum, and a fixing portion guide guiding the roll paper to be conveyed along the inner wall of the drum on the conveyance passage. The magenta fluorescent lamp and the yellow fluorescent lamp are disposed so that their axial direction may be coincident to the axial direction of the drum. When the image fixation is made, the roll paper is led into the drum. The roll paper has its image forming area alone led into the inside of the drum, so that light from each fluorescent lamp is applied to the image forming area alone.

Abstract: The present invention teaches apparatus and method for producing an indelible ink imprinted indicia particularly bar code labels and/or other identifying images. An ultraviolet light curable ink image is printed upon a selected substrate and passed through an ultraviolet radiation field wherein the combined infared and ultraviolet energy emitted by the UV light source, affects curing of the imprinted ink thereby producing an imprinted image having superior qualities.

Abstract: A method of smoothing the surface of printing paper formed by a thermal head is provided. A printer forms a protection layer on images of the printing paper by the heat of a thermal head that has a plurality of heat generating potions arrayed apart from each other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for using existing envelope feeding machines to print IBIP indicium, and CASS approved address information and bar code information. The invention is shown to include a print head operative in response to a print signal and a controller, electrically connected to the print head, for generating the necessary print signal. A frame defining a printing attachment mechanism adapted for being positioned proximate the feeding machine is provided for attachment of the print head oriented so that envelopes traveling along the feed path will pass proximate the print head. It is preferred for the printing attachment mechanism to include a plurality of print heads. In an alternative embodiment, the controller is operative in response to a control signal and a computer is provided for generating the control signal.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a printer, a laminator device and feeding means for feeding to said laminator device, in an integrated operation, media that is outputted from said printer, said laminator device comprising lamination means which cause at least one lamination film to be applied on the media, wherein the apparatus comprises means for causing the advance of a portion of media through the laminator device while maintaining inactive said lamination means, in order to perform lamination only on selected portions of the print media. The apparatus is versatile and may work most of the time in unattended operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a card recording apparatus capable of printing in high speed as well as reducing overall dimensions of the apparatus. After a card is transported to an information recording section 200 in a lateral (short length) direction of the card, an information signal is recorded on the card thereby. Then, the card is transported to a second heating section 300. An ink image formed on an intermediate recording medium 7 by a first heating section 500 is re-transferred to the card by the second heating section 300. A warp developed on the card by the second heating section 300 is corrected by a card warp correcting section 400.

Abstract: In a card-making method and system, an authentication card is made from a raw card having a readable and writable information-storing portion formed therein, by forming the image on the front surface and/or back surface of the raw card and writing individual authentication information in the information-storing portion. Processing information of the raw card is written in the information-storing portion. The image is formed based on the processing information read from the information-storing portion. Individual authentication information of the authentication card is written in the information-storing portion after forming the image. In a heat treatment mechanism for cards, heat treatment is applied to a card having an information-storing portion arranged in part of a surface of a card body of a card, by using a light source as a heating source, to thereby fix an image to the card.

Abstract: A printer apparatus has a printing device for printing on a printable layer of a thermosensitive adhesive sheet. A heat-application and transporting member heats a thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet and transports the thermosensitive adhesive sheet. A control device controls the heat-application and transporting member to heat a portion of the thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet while simultaneously controlling the printing device to print on a portion of the printable layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet disposed opposite to and generally confronting the portion of the thermosensitive adhesive layer of the thermosensitive adhesive sheet.

Abstract: A flat-type fluorescent lamp is used as a light source of a color thermal printer. The flat-type fluorescent lamp has a yellow luminescent surface for emitting yellow fixing rays, and a magenta luminescent surface for emitting magenta fixing rays. The respective luminescent surfaces are disposed back to back and are selectively activated by a lamp driving circuit. The flat-type fluorescent lamp is rotatable between a first position where the yellow luminescent surface confronts a recording surface of a color thermosensitive recording paper, and a second position where the magenta luminescent surface confront the recording surface of the recording paper.

Abstract: A yellow luminous-element array, which is an optical fixing unit, includes a large number of yellow LEDs emitting ultraviolet rays. The LEDs in each of lines extending in a feeding direction are connected in series. Integral illuminance of each line is adjusted by changing electrical energy to be supplied to the respective lines. The integral illuminance of each line extending in the feeding direction is measured to obtain illuminance distribution relative to a scanning direction when the yellow luminous-element array is examined at the time of manufacture thereof. The integral illuminance of each line is corrected so as to even the illuminance distribution.

Abstract: An image forming process for forming a protective layer of thermoplastic resin particles on a recording medium comprising the steps of conducting recording on a recording medium with an image-receiving layer, providing a thermoplastic resin particles onto the image-receiving layer and heating and pressurizing the thermoplastic resin particles on the image-receiving layer, and an image forming apparatus comprising an ink-jet head for conducting recording on a recording medium, a providing means for providing thermoplastic particles to a recorded recording medium, and heating and pressurizing means for heating and pressurizing the thermoplastic particles to flatten.

Abstract: A radiation-curable ink, a method of making the ink, a thermal transfer printer ribbon having a radiation-curable ink layer, and a thermal transfer printer with an actinic energy source are provided. A method of thermal transfer printing using an ink ribbon having radiation-curable components is also provided. The radiation curable components of the ink can be thermally dried and are cured after printing of an image on a receiving article.

Abstract: A radiation-curable ink, a method of making the ink, a thermal transfer printer ribbon having a radiation-curable ink layer, and a thermal transfer printer with an actinic energy source are provided. A method of thermal transfer printing using an ink ribbon having radiation-curable components is also provided, as well as a thermal transfer printer which utilizes these ribbons. The radiation curable components of the ink can be thermally dried and are cured after printing of an image on a receiving article. A liquid light guide is used to transmit actinic energy from a source to the printed image.

Abstract: When a drive force of the motor for feeding the rolled paper is exerted on a shutter, the shutter moves. When fixing an image formed on a heat-sensitive yellow color developing layer, the shutter is positioned above yellow fixing lamps and the movement of the shutter is restricted by a locking member. When the rolled paper is retracted into a main body of the photoprinter, and a rear end of an image forming area of this time is located in the vicinity of the distal end of the shutter, restriction of the shutter by the locking member is released and the shutter is moved synchronously with the rolled paper.

Abstract: An image fixing portion includes a drum of cylindrical shape provided on a conveyance passage, a magenta fluorescent lamp and a yellow fluorescent lamp installed near the axis of the drum, and a fixing portion guide guiding the roll paper to be conveyed along the inner wall of the drum on the conveyance passage. The magenta fluorescent lamp and the yellow fluorescent lamp are disposed so that their axial direction may be coincident to the axial direction of the drum. When the image fixation is made, the roll paper is led into the drum. The roll paper has its image forming area alone led into the inside of the drum, so that light from each fluorescent lamp is applied to the image forming area alone.

Abstract: A transfer pressure roll is characterized in that a cylindrical roll body and an elastic layer which coats the surface of the roll body and comes into contact with an image protection film at the pressurizing time are included, and the hardness of an elastic matter forming the elastic layer is HA 40 degrees or more by a measuring method specified by JIS-K6253.

Abstract: A thermal transfer material includes a support. A release layer is overlaid on the support. A coloring transfer layer is overlaid on the release layer, has thermoplasticity, and is colorable by being exposed and then pressurized. In a printer for use with the thermal transfer material, an image is formed by exposing the coloring transfer layer. The coloring transfer layer is placed on image receiving material after the image is formed. The thermal transfer material is heated and pressurized while the coloring transfer layer is placed on, so as to color the image and transfer the coloring transfer layer to the image receiving material.

Abstract: A method for generating a watermark on a photo picture using a thermal printer. The thermal printer includes a thermal printhead for heating an ink ribbon and sublimating color dyes stored in the ink ribbon on a photo picture. The ink ribbon includes a plurality of sequentially arranged color frames. Each color frame includes a plurality of dye frames with different color dyes and a dye frame with overcoating. The method includes using the thermal printhead to heat a color frame with a plurality of different color dyes and to sublimate the color dyes on a photo picture and using the thermal printhead to heat the dye frame with the overcoating and to heat different areas on the color frame by two distinct time periods.

Abstract: A thermal printer capable of preventing crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause a line artifact to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, includes a print head having a bead of selectively heated resistive elements that make contact across the dye transfer area of the dye donor web and opposite edge areas of the dye donor web that are alongside the dye transfer area as the dye transfer area and the edge areas are progressively advanced under a longitudinal tension over the bead of resistive elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of reading image information and surface quality from a subject copy and reproducing images including the surface quality on various sheets is provided. The apparatus includes an image reading unit which reads the image information and surface quality and supplies image data and surface quality data, an image processing unit having recorded image preparing means for preparing image data for recording by subjecting the image data to prescribed image processing and surface quality determining means for determining the surface quality of the subject copy from the surface quality data and preparing surface quality determination data, and an image output unit having image forming means for performing image formation processing on a recording material on the basis of the image data for recording and surface treatment means for performing surface treatment on a sheet according to the surface quality determination data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording, wherein a surface for thermal transfer treatment arranged in opposed relation to an image-receiving paper sheet has at least one of the portions divided into first and second ink layer regions each provided with a thermal transfer type ink layer and a light-shielding-layer-forming region provided with a thermal transfer type light-shielding-layer-forming layer, the first ink layer region is used for thermal transfer to the image-receiving paper sheet before the formation of a light-shielding layer, and the second ink layer region is used for thermal transfer to the image-receiving paper sheet after the formation of the light-shielding layer, and a thermal transfer recording process and a thermal transfer recording apparatus which provide a double-side recorded article using the ink sheet.

Abstract: A laser thermal transfer recording method is disclosed. The method employs an ink sheet having a light-heat conversion layer an a laser thermal transfer image receiving sheet having an image receiving layer in which Vicat softening point of the resin composing the thermoplastic layer of the image receiving layer is less than 80° C., and one of the image receiving layer and the ink layer contains a matting agent having a particle diameter larger than the thickness of the layer containing matting agent, the projection height of the matting agent is less than 3.5 &mgr;m and the frequency of the projections is from 400/mm2 to 4,000/mm2, and the peeling angle of the ink sheet and the image receiving sheet is controlled at an angle less than 30°.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for heat-activating a thermosensitive adhesive label. The thermosensitive label includes a support and a thermosensitive adhesive agent layer provided thereon which is not adhesive at room temperature, but becomes adhesive with application of heat. The apparatus according to the present invention includes a heating medium and a platen roller arranged opposite to the heating medium. The thermosensitive adhesive label is transported between the heating medium and the platen roller in a direction where the thermosensitive adhesive agent layer is faced with the heating medium. When a friction coefficient between the thermosensitive adhesive agent layers is less than 2.0, a pressing force of the thermosensitive adhesive label between the heating medium and the platen roller is in a range of from 50 to 5,000 g/25 mm at room temperature.

Abstract: A xenon lamp is used as a light source of an optical fixing unit. A discharge stop switch for compulsorily stopping discharge of the xenon lump is provided. Further, a timer circuit for measuring a discharge time of the xenon lamp is provided. The timer circuit is activated after a predetermined time, which is set in advance, to stop the discharge of the xenon lamp. The inside of a printer is prevented from becoming a high-temperature state caused by ingredients of an infrared region of the xenon lamp. It is possible to improve efficiency of optical fixation.

Abstract: An image forming process for forming a protective layer of thermoplastic resin particles on a recording medium comprising the steps of conducting recording on a recording medium with an image-receiving layer, providing a thermoplastic resin particles onto the image-receiving layer and heating and pressurizing the thermoplastic resin particles on the image-receiving layer, and an image forming apparatus comprising an ink-jet head for conducting recording on a recording medium, a providing means for providing thermoplastic particles to a recorded recording medium, and heating and pressurizing means for heating and pressurizing the thermoplastic particles to flatten.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming a forgery-preventive image and an apparatus therefor which are capable of easily making a forgery-preventive medium without spoiling ease of determination as to whether forgery has been committed. An image is printed on an ink image-receiving sheet by using a sublimable dye ink, thereby causing the sublimable dye ink to be held by the ink image-receiving sheet. The image-receiving sheet and a medium body overlaid upon each other are heated, thereby causing diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving sheet in a surface of the medium body and color development. The amount of heat applied to the ink image-receiving sheet and the medium body is controlled so as to adjust depth of diffusion of the sublimable dye ink.

Abstract: A method for generating a matte finish on a photo picture using a thermal printer includes using the thermal printhead to heat different areas of an overcoating dye frame of an ink ribbon by at least two distinct time periods to dispose overcoating on the photo picture. The two distinct time periods are a first time period and a second time period; the first time period disposing thicker layer of overcoating than the second time period. A matte finish pattern of overcoating comprises a two-dimensional array of cells wherein each cell is heated by either the first time period or the second time period based on a substantially random probability.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a printer body, a thermal printhead installed in the printer body, a print ribbon installed in the printer body, and a control circuit for controlling the thermal printhead and the print ribbon. The print ribbon has regions of colored dye, regions of resistant overcoating, and regions of stampable overcoating capable of accepting an ink stamp. The print ribbon can be supplied as two exchangeable ribbons, one having colored dye and regions of resistant overcoating, the other having regions of stampable overcoating. The control circuit controls the thermal printhead and the print ribbon to print pictures having stampable images. An ink stamp can be externally applied to a stampable overcoating layer of the picture, an intermediate resistant overcoating layer protecting the image from damage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an ink sheet for thermal transfer recording, wherein a surface for thermal transfer treatment arranged in opposed relation to an image-receiving paper sheet has at least one of the portions divided into first and second ink layer regions each provided with a thermal transfer type ink layer and a light-shielding-layer-forming region provided with a thermal transfer type light-shielding-layer-forming layer, the first ink layer region is used for thermal transfer to the image-receiving paper sheet before the formation of a light-shielding layer, and the second ink layer region is used for thermal transfer to the image-receiving paper sheet after the formation of the light-shielding layer, and a thermal transfer recording process and a thermal transfer recording apparatus which provide a double-side recorded article using the ink sheet.

Abstract: A laser-heat transfer recording method comprising the image-recording steps of feeding an image-receiving sheet and a heat transfer sheet to an exposure-recording unit, fixing the image-forming layer in the heat transfer sheet and the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet being superposed vis-a-vis on a recording medium fixing member of the exposure-recording unit; irradiating the heat transfer sheet with laser beams corresponding to image data; and transferring the irradiated are with laser beam of the image-forming layer onto the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet, wherein the surfaces of the image-receiving sheet and/or the heat transfer sheet are cleaned by being brought into contact with an adhesive roll of a crown shape for removing foreign matters, the diameter of the central part of which is larger than the diameters of both ends in the axis direction of the roll body, provided at at least one of the feeding part of the image-receiving sheet and the heat transfer sheet of

Abstract: A laser-heat transfer recording method comprising the image-recording steps of feeding an image-receiving sheet and a heat transfer sheet to an exposure-recording unit, fixing the image-forming layer in the heat transfer sheet and the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet being superposed vis-a-vis on a recording medium fixing member of the exposure-recording unit; irradiating the heat transfer sheet with laser beams corresponding to image data; and transferring the irradiated are with laser beam of the image-forming layer onto the image-receiving layer in the image-receiving sheet, wherein the surfaces of the image-receiving sheet and/or the heat transfer sheet are cleaned by being brought into contact with an adhesive roll of a crown shape for removing foreign matters, the diameter of the central part of which is larger than the diameters of both ends in the axis direction of the roll body, provided at at least one of the feeding part of the image-receiving sheet and the heat transfer sheet of

Abstract: A color thermal printer includes a photo fixer, which is constituted by a Braun tube. An electron beam gun emits electron. A fluorescent screen is excited by the electron, for generating near ultraviolet rays or ultraviolet rays. An image on thermosensitive recording material is fixed by application of the near ultraviolet rays or ultraviolet rays.