US 6,204,914 B1 · Printing apparatus of photosensitive microcapsule type and image processing system using the same · patentgrep

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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. A carriage is slidably mounted on the scan shaft for undergoing reciprocal movement along the scan shaft during rotation of the scan shaft. Light emitting diodes are disposed on the carriage for selectively irradiating onto the printing paper light corresponding to image data when the carriage is reciprocated along the scan shaft. A pressurizing device applies pressure to the printing paper to which light is irradiated by the light emitting diodes to collapse the photosensitive microcapsules contained in the printing paper to form an image on the printing paper.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A printing apparatus of a photosensitive microcapsule type comprising:

a cassette for storing printing paper containing photosensitive microcapsules;
printing paper feeding means for intermittently feeding the printing paper in a feeding direction;
printing paper pickup means for manually or automically feeding the printing paper from the cassette to a preselected location from which the printing paper is intermittently fed by the printing paper feeding means;
a chassis;
a scan shaft having opposite ends 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 formed in the scan shaft along a clockwise direction and having opposite ends, and a second spiral groove formed in the scan shaft along a counterclockwise direction and having opposite ends each connected to a respective end of the first spiral groove so that the first and second spiral grooves form a loop;
a motor connected to the chassis for rotating the scan shaft;
a carriage slidably mounted on the scan shaft and having a pin for engagement with the first and second spiral grooves to reciprocate the carriage along the scan shaft during rotation of the scan shaft;
light emitting diodes disposed on the carriage and in proximity to the printing paper for selectively irradiating onto the printing paper light corresponding to image data when the carriage is reciprocated along the scan shaft;
and
pressurizing means for applying pressure to the printing paper to which light is irradiated by the light emitting diodes to collapse the photosensitive microcapsules contained in the printing paper to form an image on the printing paper.

7 more elements

A printing apparatus of a photosensitive microcapsule type comprising:

printing paper feeding means for intermittently feeding printing paper containing photosensitive microcapsules in a feeding direction;
a chassis;
a scan shaft having opposite ends 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 formed in the scan shaft along a clockwise direction and having opposite ends, and a second spiral groove formed in the scan shaft along a counterclockwise direction and having opposite ends each connected to a respective end of the first spiral groove so that the first and second spiral grooves form a loop;
a motor connected to the chassis for rotating the scan shaft;
a carriage slidably mounted on the scan shaft and having a pin for engagement with the first and second spiral grooves to reciprocate the carriage along the scan shaft to and from a print start position during rotation of the scan shaft;
light emitting diodes disposed on the carriage and in proximity to the printing paper for selectively irradiating onto the printing paper light corresponding to image data when the carriage is reciprocated along the scan shaft;
and pressurizing means for applying pressure to the printing paper to which light is irradiated by the light emitting diodes to collapse the Photosensitive microcapsules contained in the printing paper to form an image on the printing paper;
wherein the printing paper feeding means comprises a protruding member disposed in the carriage for elastically protruding from and withdrawing into the carriage, a paper feed roller having a rotational center axis extending generally parallel to the moving direction of the carriage, and a plurality of helical operating grooves formed in an outer peripheral portion of the paper feed roller for engaging the protruding member to rotate the paper feed roller during movement of the carriage to the print start position, the operating grooves being disposed generally parallel to one another and extending along the rotational center axis of the paper feed roller.

5 more elements

A printing apparatus of a photosensitive microcapsule type comprising:

printing paper feeding means for intermittently feeding printing paper containing photosensitive microcapsules in a feeding direction;
a chassis;
a scan shaft having opposite ends 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 formed in the scan shaft along a clockwise direction and having opposite ends, and a second spiral groove formed in the scan shaft along a counterclockwise direction and having opposite ends each connected to a respective end of the first spiral groove so that the first and second spiral grooves form a loop;
a motor connected to the chassis for rotating the scan shaft;
a carriage slidably mounted on the scan shaft and having a pin for engagement with the spiral grooves to undergo movement along the scan shaft in a scanning direction during rotation of the scan shaft;
light emitting diodes disposed on the carriage and in proximity to the printing paper for selectively irradiating onto the printing paper light corresponding to image data when the carriage is reciprocated along the scan shaft;
and pressurizing means for applying pressure to the printing paper to which light is irradiated by the light emitting diodes to collapse the photosensitive microcapsules contained in the printing paper to form an image on the printing paper, the pressurizing means comprising a platen for guiding the printing paper, a spring for biasing the platen into contact with the printing paper, a pressurization rail mounted on the chassis and extending along the scanning direction, and a pair of rollers each mounted for undergoing rolling movement on the platen and the pressurization rail, respectively during movement of the carriage.

4 more elements

A printing apparatus of a photosensitive microcapsule type comprising:

printing paper feeding means for intermittently feeding printing paper containing photosensitive microcapsules in a feeding direction;
a chassis;
a scan shaft having opposite ends 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 formed in the scan shaft along a clockwise direction and having opposite ends, and a second spiral groove formed in the scan shaft along a counterclockwise direction and having opposite ends each connected to a respective end of the first spiral groove so that the first and second spiral grooves form a loop;
a motor connected to the chassis for rotating the scan shaft;
a carriage slidably mounted on the scan shaft and having a pin for engagement with the first and second spiral grooves to undergo movement along the scan shaft in a scanning direction during rotation of the scan shaft;
light emitting diodes disposed on the carriage and in proximity to the printing paper for selectively irradiating onto the printing paper light corresponding to image data during movement of the carriage along the scan shaft;
pressurizing means for applying pressure to the printing paper to which light is irradiated by the light emitting diodes to collapse the photosensitive microcapsules contained in the printing paper to form an image on the printing paper;
and a heater for undergoing sliding contact with the printing paper during movement of the carriage along the scan shaft to heat the printing paper to accelerate the color developing speed of the image generated on the printing paper.

5 more elements

A printing apparatus of a photosensitive microcapsule type comprising:

printing paper feeding means for intermittently feeding printing paper containing photosensitive microcapsules in a feeding direction;
a chassis;
a scan shaft having opposite ends 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 formed in the scan shaft along a clockwise direction and having opposite ends, and a second spiral groove formed in the scan shaft along a counterclockwise direction and having opposite ends each connected to a respective end of the first spiral groove so that the first and second spiral grooves form a loop;
a motor connected to the chassis for rotating the scan shaft;
a carriage slidably mounted on the scan shaft and having a pin for engagement with the first and second spiral grooves to undergo movement along the scan shaft in a scanning direction during rotation of the scan shaft;
scanning position detecting means for detecting a scanning position of the carriage;
light emitting diodes disposed on the carriage and in proximity to the printing paper for selectively irradiating onto the printing paper light corresponding to image data during movement of the carriage along the scan shaft;
and pressurizing means for applying pressure to the printing paper to which light is irradiated by the light emitting diodes to collapse the photosensitive microcapsules contained in the printing paper to form an image on the printing paper.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.