Abstract: A pressure sensitive electrochromic device at least comprises a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite; a pressure sensitive layer disposed on the first substrate; an electrochromic layer disposed on the pressure sensitive layer; and a third conductive layer disposed between the electrochromic layer and the second substrate. The pressure sensitive layer includes a first conductive layer disposed on the first substrate; an insulative layer in which numerous conductive grains are distributed; and a second conductive layer disposed on the insulative layer. Also, at least one of the first and second substrates is made of the flexible material. An external circuit is applied for connecting the first and third conductive layers.

Abstract: A read-out image is acquired by covering an image storage sheet, which contains a color image, with an image storage sheet pushing surface of a platen cover and reading out an image of a region on the image storage sheet pushing surface of the platen cover, the region on the image storage sheet pushing surface containing the image storage sheet. A region corresponding to the image storage sheet in the read-out image is then recognized. The image storage sheet pushing surface of the platen cover has a color other than colors which are ordinarily contained in image storage sheets. The region corresponding to the image storage sheet is recognized by judging that a pixel in the read-out image, which pixel represents a color different from the color of the image storage sheet pushing surface of the platen cover, is a pixel falling within the region corresponding to the image storage sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image-forming device that comprises a roller that includes a plurality of micromembers. The micromembers are preferably hook or loop-like members made of a compliant material such as plastic or rubber. The micromembers on the roller essentially define a compliant surface, which is self-correcting for unintentional media thickness variations within a print area. The roller is rotational such that when the roller contacts the media the rotational or spinning force is converted to a compressional force, which is sufficient to rupture the microcapsules in the media.

Abstract: An image-forming device comprises a rotating belt that includes a plurality of micro-members. The micro-members are preferably spherical members or hook and loop members. The rotating belt having the micro-members thereon is adapted to contact microencapsulated media with a force sufficient to rupture unhardened microcapsules on the media.

Abstract: A printer comprises for forming an image on a surface of a recording medium includes a preprocessing means for preprocessing the surface of the recording media to form an image on the surface of the recording media; post-processing device for post-processing the surface of the recording medium preprocessed by the preprocessing device; a recording medium feed path formed between the preprocessing means and the post-processing means; a first feed device arranged on an upstream side of the recording medium feed path; and a second feed device arranged on a downstream side of the recording medium feed path. The first feed device and the second feed device are made different in driving control from each other. For printing a plurality of recording medium successively, no large-scale arrangements are provided for printing processes to meet a required printing accuracy and to shorten a processing time.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus that records an image through selective heat and pressure application has an ink ribbon and a film disposed between a driving head and a flat platen. Color dyes of the ink ribbon are transferred to the film as the image. The image on the film is thus conveyed to a position for transferring the image to a recording sheet. The film and the recording sheet are pressed between a transfer roller and a conveyor roller with a pressure that sufficiently smooths unevenness in the surface of the recording sheet. A high quality image is thus recorded on the recording sheet regardless of the surface condition of the recording sheet.

Abstract: In an image-forming system, an image-forming substrate is used, which has a sheet of paper, and a layer of microcapsules coated over the sheet of paper. The layer of microcapsules includes at least one type of microcapsules filled with an ink. A shell wall of each microcapsule is formed of resin, which exhibits a temperature/pressure characteristic such that each of the microcapsules is squashed under a predetermined pressure when being heated to a predetermined temperature, thereby discharging the dye out of the shell wall. A printer, having a roller platen and a thermal head, forms an image on the substrate. The platen locally exerts the pressure on the microcapsule layer. The thermal head selectively heats a localized area of the microcapsule layer, on which the pressure is exerted by the platen, to a temperature in accordance with an image-information data, such that the microcapsules in the microcapsule layer are selectively squashed and an image on the microcapsule layer.

Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a media cartridge for holding a stack of media therein. The media cartridge includes a linkage assembly at least a portion of which is made of a material that is responsive to ambient conditions within the cartridge. An image forming device of the imaging assembly is adapted to control a development of images on the photosensitive media based on the sensed ambient conditions.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus that records an image through selective heat and pressure application has an ink ribbon and a film disposed between a driving head and a flat platen. Color dyes of the ink ribbon are transferred to the film as the image. The image on the film is thus conveyed to a position for transferring the image to a recording sheet. The film and the recording sheet are pressed between a transfer roller and a conveyer roller with a pressure that sufficiently smoothes unevenness in the surface of the recording sheet. A high quality image is thus recorded on the recording sheet regardless of the surface condition of the recording sheet.

Abstract: A printing apparatus of a photosensitive microcapsule type comprises a chassis, a cassette for storing printing paper containing photosensitive microcapsules, a printing paper feeding device for intermittently feeding the printing paper in a feeding direction, and a printing paper pickup device for feeding the printing paper from the cassette to a preselected location from which the printing paper is intermittently fed by the printing paper feeding device. A scan shaft is mounted on the chassis for undergoing rotation about a rotational axis extending generally perpendicular to the feeding direction of the printing paper. A first spiral groove is formed in the scan shaft along a clockwise direction and has opposite ends. A second spiral groove is formed in the scan shaft along a counterclockwise direction and has opposite ends each connected to a respective end of the first spiral groove so that the first and second spiral grooves form a loop.

Abstract: Disclosed is the image forming apparatus 1 in which, when the image displayed on the display 31 of the other electronic apparatus 30 is formed on the microcapsule sheet 2, the LC shutter 9 is opened for a predetermined time while contacting the display 31 to the contact plane A of the image forming apparatus 1 and light is irradiated on the microcapsule sheet 2 from the display 31, thereby, the desirable image is formed on the image forming layer 13 of the microcapsule sheet 2 according to the image displayed on the display 31.

Abstract: An encapsulated liquid toner apparatus and method for printing. The encapsulated liquid toner apparatus and method for printing operates by selectively depositing ink filled microcapsules to a print medium. The microcapsules have a mixture of pigment particles, drying agents, and an ester oil contained within a hard brittle outer shell. The outer shell formed from a urea resoricnol formaldehyde material is crushed which releases ink within the microcapsule onto the print medium. One embodiment of the invention deposits the microcapsules on the print medium through an electrophotographic process. Another embodiment deposits the microcapsules through a toner ejection process.

Abstract: A photo and pressure sensitive printer permitting the feeding and discharging of a photosensitive recording medium at the front of the printer housing, having a compact design and slim built, which can easily be integrated into other equipment, such as a personal computer, etc., at low cost. A self-coloring microcapsule sheet supporting microcapsules is ejected from a cartridge at the front of the printer housing in the Y direction, and being preheated by a film heater to increase the sensitivity, a latent image is formed by exposure on the front face thereof while the exposure-scan is performed by a movement in the main scanning direction of a LED-type exposure head.

Abstract: Image-recording technology records images displayed on a screen onto an image sheet. An image-recording assembly has an image sheet and an associated opaque shield. The shield is slidable to expose the image sheet to the image displayed on the screen. The image sheet may be of the type which has microcapsules containing photo-hardenable chemicals coated onto a base sheet. The image-recording assembly is positioned in front of a screen displaying an image with a user exposing the image sheet by shiffing the position of the shield. The exposure time may be controlled manually by the user or automatically by software displaying the image on the screen. To develop the image sheet, unexposed microcapsules are ruptured by either applying pressure to the image sheet or forcefully sliding the image sheet across a sharp edge. The image-recording assembly may be flexible and is preferably less than 15 mils thick.