Apparatus and method for thermal transfer printing
AssigneeDover Europe SàRl
InventorFrances H. Benton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for thermal transfer printing include, in at least one aspect, a printing apparatus includes: a band capable of holding hot melt ink thereon; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; and a heating device configured and arranged to heat the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print.
Claims22
A printing apparatus comprising:
- a band of material capable of holding hot melt ink thereon;
- rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate;
- a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate;
- a heated ink roller comprising a textured outer surface, wherein a first side of the heated ink roller contacts the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print, and a second side of the heated ink roller receives new ink on the textured outer surface, wherein the textured outer surface of the ink roller has a surface roughness greater than or equal to 3.2 microns;
- and
- a blade configured and arranged to control an amount of ink retained by the textured outer surface of the ink roller, such that a uniform coating of ink, between 3 and 7 microns thick, is applied to the band.
A thermal transfer printing system comprising:
- a print roller or platen configured and arranged to support a substrate;
- a band of material capable of holding hot melt ink thereon;
- rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to the substrate;
- a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate;
- a heated ink roller comprising a textured outer surface, wherein a first side of the heated ink roller contacts the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print, and a second side of the heated ink roller receives new ink on the textured outer surface, wherein the textured outer surface of the ink roller has a surface roughness greater than or equal to 3.2 microns;
- a blade configured and arranged to control an amount of ink retained by the textured outer surface of the ink roller, such that a uniform coating of ink, between 3 and 7 microns thick, is applied to the band;
- and
- a control system configured to control the band to match a speed of the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.