Ultrasonic transfer printing with multi-copy, color and low audible noise capability

An ink printing system, comprising:

• ultrasonic energy generating means;
• an ink-bearing medium having a back surface from which ink can be transferred upon reduction of the ink viscosity;
• means for providing a paper to be printed on adjacent to or in contact with the back surface of said ink-bearing medium;
• sonic transmission means connected to said ultrasonic energy generating means for transferring sonic energy to said ink-bearing medium, said sonic transmission means including a plurality of sonic wires or bundles having their downstream ends adapted to contact said ink-bearing medium;
• and
• modulation means for selectively coupling the sonic energy from said ultrasonic energy generating means to said ink-bearing medium via said ends of said sonic wires or bundles, modulation means including a contact piston which is ultrasonically coupled to the ends of each of said sonic wires or bundles, said contact piston being mounted adjacent said ink-bearing medium and being activated to cause selected ones of said contact pistons to move into contact with said ink-bearing medium and thereby transfer ultrasonic energy thereto;
• whereby ultrasonic energy applied to said ink-bearing medium causes a reduction in the viscosity of the ink due to the ultrasonic vibrations and thereby transfers the ink to said print paper.

An ink printing system, comprising:

• ultrasonic energy generating means;
• a porous ink-bearing medium comprising a substrate having pores containing ink with non-Newtonian flow characteristics which exhibit either large viscosity changes with small increases in temperature or which exhibit a large viscosity at zero and extremely low shear values but a relatively low viscosity at relatively high shear values, said pores being included on the back surface of said substrate;
• means for providing a paper to be printed on adjacent to or in contact with the back surface of said ink-bearing medium;
• sonic transmission means connected to said ultrasonic energy generating means for transferring sonic energy to said ink-bearing medium, said sonic transmission means including a plurality of sonic wires or bundles having their downstream ends adapted to contact said ink-bearing medium;
• and
• modulation means for selectively coupling the sonic energy from said ultrasonic energy generating means to said ink-bearing medium via said ends of said sonic wires or bundles;
• whereby ultrasonic energy applied to said ink-bearing medium causes a reduction in the viscosity of the ink due to the ultrasonic vibrations and thereby transfers the ink to said print paper.

An ink printing system, comprising:

• ultrasonic energy generating means;
• an ink-bearing medium having a back surface through which ink can be transferred upon reduction of the ink viscosity;
• means for providing a paper to be printed on adjacent to or in contact with the back surface of said ink-bearing medium;
• sonic transmission means connected to said ultrasonic energy generating means for transferring sonic energy to said ink-bearing medium, said sonic transmission means including a plurality of sonic wires or bundles having their downstream ends adapted to contact said ink-bearing medium;
• and
• modulation means for selctively coupling the sonic energy from said ultrasonic energy generating means to said ink-bearing medium via said ends of said sonic wires or bundles, said modulation means including a contact piston which is ultrasonically coupled to the ends of each of said sonic wires or bundles, said contact piston being mounted adjacent said ink-bearing medium and being activated to cause selected ones of said contact pistons to move into contact with said ink-bearing medium and thereby transfer ultrasonic energy thereto.