And Re-inking Roller Patents (Class 400/202.4)
  • Re-application of dye to a dye donor element of thermal printers
    Patent number: 6666596
    Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for re-applying dye to a dye donor element of a dye transfer thermal printer. A reservoir contains a supply of dye that is thermally transferred from the reservoir to the dye donor element by diffusion of dye into the dye donor element. The reservoir has a diffusion controlled permeation membrane through which dye is delivered to the dye donor element, while inhibiting diffusion of a binder, whereby the dye diffuses between the reservoir and the dye donor element but the binder does not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Elizabeth G. Burns, Susan L. Dawson, Elizabeth A. Gallo, Daniel J. Harrison, Louis J. Sorriero, Ludmila S. Weiss