Thermal ink transfer using endless belt
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsAshish Pattekar, Eric Peeters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An embodiment is a method and apparatus for thermal ink transfer. An endless belt having a thin thickness transfers ink from an ink donor roll to an image substrate based on a pattern on the belt. A heating unit heats the belt locally as needed in vicinity of contact between the belt and the ink donor roll. One disclosed feature of the embodiments is a method to transfer ink. An endless belt is driven to transfer ink from an ink donor roll to an image substrate based on a pattern of a fountain solution formed on the belt. The belt is heated locally as needed in vicinity of contact between the belt and the ink donor roll.
Claims11
A method comprising:
- creating a pattern of a fountain solution on an endless belt having a thin thickness;
- driving the endless belt to transfer ink from an ink donor roll to an image substrate based on the pattern;
- and
- heating the belt locally as needed in vicinity of contact between the belt and the ink donor roll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.