Method and apparatus for laser-induced thermal transfer printing

An apparatus for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer comprising a laser imaging head, the apparatus comprising:

• a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum;
• an acceptor element affixed to and supported by the cylindrical drum;
• a rotatably mounted dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet;
• and
• a rotatably mounted receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, the donor sheet being extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller, wherein the dispensing roller and the receiving roller are configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element, wherein the laser imaging head does not contact the donor sheet and does not contact the acceptor element.

A method for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer comprising a laser imaging head, comprising:

• rotatably mounting a cylindrical drum;
• affixing an acceptor element to the cylindrical drum so that the acceptor element is supported by the cylindrical drum;
• rotatably mounting a dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet;
• rotatably mounting a receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, the donor sheet being configured to be extended between the dispensing roller and receiving roller;
• and
• rotatably mounting a plurality of contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element, wherein the laser imaging head does not contact the donor sheet and does not contact the acceptor element.

A method for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer comprising a laser imaging head, comprising:

• rotatably mounting a cylindrical drum;
• affixing an acceptor element to the cylindrical drum so that the acceptor element is supported by the cylindrical drum;
• rotatably mounting a dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet;
• and
• rotatably mounting a receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, the donor sheet being configured to be extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller, the dispensing roller and receiving roller being configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element, wherein the laser imaging head does not contact the donor sheet and does not contact the acceptor element.

A method for transferring material between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer, wherein the donor sheet and the acceptor element define contact points and non-contact areas, the method comprising:

• rotatably mounting a cylindrical drum;
• affixing an acceptor element to the cylindrical drum so that the acceptor element is supported by the cylindrical drum;
• rotatably mounting a dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet;
• rotatably mounting a receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, the donor sheet being configured to be extended between the dispensing roller and receiving roller;
• and
• rotatably mounting a plurality of contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element,
• wherein material is transferred across the contact points and across the non-contact areas.

A method for transferring material between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer, wherein the donor sheet and the acceptor element define contact points and non-contact areas, comprising:

• rotatably mounting a cylindrical drum;
• affixing an acceptor element to the cylindrical drum so that the acceptor element is supported by the cylindrical drum;
• rotatably mounting a dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet;
• and
• rotatably mounting a receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, the donor sheet being configured to be extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller, the dispensing roller and receiving roller being configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element,
• wherein material is transferred across the contact points and across the non-contact areas.

An apparatus for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer, the apparatus comprising a plurality of units, each unit comprising:

• a laser imaging head;
• a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum;
• an acceptor element affixed to and supported by a curved section of the cylindrical drum;
• a rotatably mounted dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet;
• a rotatably mounted receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, the donor sheet being extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller;
• and
• a plurality of rotatably mounted contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element, wherein the laser imaging head does not contact the donor sheet and does not contact the acceptor element, wherein the plurality of units comprises pairs of units comprising a first unit and a second unit, wherein the acceptor element is extended between a contact roller on the first unit and a free-rotating transfer drum, and wherein the acceptor element is extended between the free-rotating transfer drum and a contact roller on the second unit.