公开(公告)号：US07466328B2

公开(公告)日：2008-12-16

申请号：US11274008

申请日：2005-11-14

申请人： Michael N. Burdenko ,  Walter P. Haimberger ,  Dana F. Schuh ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

发明人： Michael N. Burdenko ,  Walter P. Haimberger ,  Dana F. Schuh ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

IPC分类号： B41J2/32 ,  B41J3/60

CPC分类号： B41J2/325 ,  B41J2/32 ,  B41J2/355 ,  B41J3/60 ,  B41J13/0045 ,  B41J13/14

摘要： A printing device that includes a platen for supporting an imaging member during a printing operation and at least one print head subassembly for direct thermal printing on the imaging member. The print head subassembly is configured to be movable independently of the platen for printing on a first surface of the imaging member in a first transport path and on a second surface of the imaging member in a second transport path. The printing device also includes at least one driving roller for driving the imaging member during the printing operation that is configured to drive the imaging member through a driving nip created by the driving roller with a substantially constant degree of wrap wherein the distance of transport of said imaging member for a given angular rotation of said driving roller is substantially the same for the first transport path and the second transport path.

摘要翻译： 一种打印装置，其包括用于在打印操作期间支撑成像构件的压板和用于在成像构件上进行直接热敏打印的至少一个打印头子组件。 打印头子组件被配置为独立于压板移动，以在第一传送路径中的成像构件的第一表面上和在第二传送路径中的成像构件的第二表面上进行打印。 打印装置还包括用于在打印操作期间驱动成像构件的至少一个驱动辊，其构造成通过具有基本恒定的卷绕程度的由驱动辊产生的驱动压区驱动成像构件，其中所述 所述驱动辊的给定角度旋转的成像构件对于第一输送路径和第二输送路径基本相同。

公开(公告)号：US06842186B2

公开(公告)日：2005-01-11

申请号：US10080883

申请日：2002-02-22

申请人： Alain Bouchard ,  Brian D. Busch ,  Daniel P. Bybell ,  Anemarie DeYoung ,  Sandra B. Lawrence ,  Michael L. Reisch ,  Suhail S. Saquib ,  Dana F. Schuh ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  Jay E. Thornton ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael S. Viola

发明人： Alain Bouchard ,  Brian D. Busch ,  Daniel P. Bybell ,  Anemarie DeYoung ,  Sandra B. Lawrence ,  Michael L. Reisch ,  Suhail S. Saquib ,  Dana F. Schuh ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  Jay E. Thornton ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael S. Viola

IPC分类号： B41J2/325 ,  B41J2/36 ,  G07F17/26 ,  H04N1/00 ,  B41J2/37

CPC分类号： B41J2/3555 ,  B41J2/325 ,  B41J2/36 ,  G07F17/26 ,  H04N1/00132 ,  H04N1/00167 ,  H04N1/00169 ,  H04N1/00188 ,  H04N1/34 ,  H04N2201/0065

摘要： A thermal printer is disclosed which includes a plurality of thermal print heads, each of the plurality of thermal print heads being operable to print a distinct one of a plurality of colors. The plurality of thermal print heads may print output at a plurality of spatial resolutions. The thermal printer may include dot size varying means for varying perceived levels of color printed by the thermal printer by varying sizes of dots printed by the plurality of thermal print heads. The printer may perform various image processing steps on an image to be printed, such as tone scale adjustment, thermal history control, and common mode voltage correction, to improve the perceived quality of the printed image. The thermal printer may be incorporated into a digital photo-printing vending machine for printing images provided by a customer.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种热敏打印机，其包括多个热打印头，多个热打印头中的每一个可操作以打印多种颜色中的不同的一种。 多个热敏打印头可以以多个空间分辨率打印输出。 热敏打印机可以包括点尺寸变化装置，用于通过改变由多个热打印头打印的点的尺寸来改变由热敏打印机印刷的颜色的感知水平。 打印机可以对要打印的图像执行各种图像处理步骤，例如色阶调节，热历史控制和共模电压校正，以提高打印图像的感知质量。 热敏打印机可以结合到用于打印客户提供的图像的数字照片打印自动售货机中。

公开(公告)号：US20090128613A1

公开(公告)日：2009-05-21

申请号：US12271571

申请日：2008-11-14

申请人： Alain Bouchard ,  Brian D. Busch ,  Daniel P. Bybell ,  Anemarie DeYoung ,  Sandra B. Lawrence ,  Michael L. Reisch ,  Suhail S. Saquib ,  Dana F. Schuh ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  Jay E. Thornton ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael S. Viola

发明人： Alain Bouchard ,  Brian D. Busch ,  Daniel P. Bybell ,  Anemarie DeYoung ,  Sandra B. Lawrence ,  Michael L. Reisch ,  Suhail S. Saquib ,  Dana F. Schuh ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  Jay E. Thornton ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael S. Viola

IPC分类号： B41J2/355

CPC分类号： B41J2/3555 ,  B41J2/325 ,  B41J2/36 ,  G07F17/26 ,  H04N1/00132 ,  H04N1/00167 ,  H04N1/00169 ,  H04N1/00188 ,  H04N1/34 ,  H04N2201/0065

摘要： A thermal printer is disclosed which includes a plurality of thermal print heads, each of the plurality of thermal print heads being operable to print a distinct one of a plurality of colors. The plurality of thermal print heads may print output at a plurality of spatial resolutions. The thermal printer may include dot size varying means for varying perceived levels of color printed by the thermal printer by varying sizes of dots printed by the plurality of thermal print heads. The printer may perform various image processing steps on an image to be printed, such as tone scale adjustment, thermal history control, and common mode voltage correction, to improve the perceived quality of the printed image. The thermal printer may be incorporated into a digital photo-printing vending machine for printing images provided by a customer.

摘要翻译： 公开了一种热敏打印机，其包括多个热打印头，多个热打印头中的每一个可操作以打印多种颜色中的不同的一种。 多个热敏打印头可以以多个空间分辨率打印输出。 热敏打印机可以包括点尺寸变化装置，用于通过改变由多个热打印头打印的点的尺寸来改变由热敏打印机印刷的颜色的感知水平。 打印机可以对要打印的图像执行各种图像处理步骤，例如色阶调节，热历史控制和共模电压校正，以提高打印图像的感知质量。 热敏打印机可以结合到用于打印客户提供的图像的数字照片打印自动售货机中。

公开(公告)号：US20120169824A1

公开(公告)日：2012-07-05

申请号：US13306490

申请日：2011-11-29

申请人： Brian D. Busch ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

发明人： Brian D. Busch ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

IPC分类号： B41J2/38

CPC分类号： B41M5/34 ,  B41J2/355 ,  B41J2/36 ,  B41M2205/04

摘要： A multicolor direct thermal imaging method wherein a multicolor image is formed in a thermal imaging member comprising at least first and second different image-forming compositions and a thermal printer for use in practicing the method. Heat is applied to at least the second image-forming composition while the first image-forming composition is at a first baseline temperature (T1) to form an image in at least the second image-forming composition, and heat is applied to at least the first image-forming composition while it is at a second baseline temperature (T2) to form an image in at least the first image-forming composition, wherein T1 is different from T2.

摘要翻译： 一种多色直接热成像方法，其中在包括至少第一和第二不同成像组合物的热成像构件中形成多色图像，以及用于实施该方法的热敏打印机。 当第一图像形成组合物处于第一基线温度（T1）时，至少将第二图像形成组合物施加热量，以在至少第二图像形成组合物中形成图像，并且至少将 第一图像形成组合物，其处于第二基线温度（T2）以在至少第一图像形成组合物中形成图像，其中T1与T2不同。

公开(公告)号：US07768540B2

公开(公告)日：2010-08-03

申请号：US12166144

申请日：2008-07-01

申请人： Brian D. Busch ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

发明人： Brian D. Busch ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

IPC分类号： B41J2/32 ,  B41J2/38

CPC分类号： B41M5/34 ,  B41J2/355 ,  B41J2/36 ,  B41M2205/04

摘要： A multicolor direct thermal imaging method wherein a multicolor image is formed in a thermal imaging member comprising at least first and second different image-forming compositions and a thermal printer for use in practicing the method. Heat is applied to at least the second image-forming composition while the first image-forming composition is at a first baseline temperature (T1) to form an image in at least the second image-forming composition, and heat is applied to at least the first image-forming composition while it is at a second baseline temperature (T2) to form an image in at least the first image-forming composition, wherein T1 is different from T2.

摘要翻译： 一种多色直接热成像方法，其中在包括至少第一和第二不同成像组合物的热成像构件中形成多色图像，以及用于实施该方法的热敏打印机。 当第一图像形成组合物处于第一基线温度（T1）时，至少将第二图像形成组合物施加热量，以在至少第二图像形成组合物中形成图像，并且至少将 第一图像形成组合物，其处于第二基线温度（T2）以在至少第一图像形成组合物中形成图像，其中T1与T2不同。

公开(公告)号：US20080266373A1

公开(公告)日：2008-10-30

申请号：US12166144

申请日：2008-07-01

申请人： Brian D. Busch ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

发明人： Brian D. Busch ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

IPC分类号： B41J35/16

CPC分类号： B41M5/34 ,  B41J2/355 ,  B41J2/36 ,  B41M2205/04

摘要： A multicolor direct thermal imaging method wherein a multicolor image is formed in a thermal imaging member comprising at least first and second different image-forming compositions and a thermal printer for use in practicing the method. Heat is applied to at least the second image-forming composition while the first image-forming composition is at a first baseline temperature (T1) to form an image in at least the second image-forming composition, and heat is applied to at least the first image-forming composition while it is at a second baseline temperature (T2) to form an image in at least the first image-forming composition, wherein T1 is different from T2.

摘要翻译： 一种多色直接热成像方法，其中在包括至少第一和第二不同成像组合物的热成像构件中形成多色图像，以及用于实施该方法的热敏打印机。 当第一图像形成组合物处于第一基线温度（T 1> 1）时，至少将第二图像形成组合物施加热量，以在至少第二图像形成组合物中形成图像， 并且在至少第一图像形成组合物处于第二基线温度（T 2> 2）时对至少第一图像形成组合物施加热量，以在至少第一图像形成组合物中形成图像，其中T _{1 不同于T 2 2。}

公开(公告)号：US20080238967A1

公开(公告)日：2008-10-02

申请号：US12022955

申请日：2008-01-30

申请人： Brian Busch ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Peter Zelten

发明人： Brian Busch ,  Chien Liu ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Peter Zelten

IPC分类号： B41J29/38

CPC分类号： B41J2/35 ,  B41J2/355 ,  B41J2/5056 ,  H04N1/3876

摘要： In one aspect of the invention there is disclosed a multicolor thermal imaging system wherein different heating elements on a thermal print head can print on different color-forming layers of a multicolor thermal imaging member in a single pass. The line-printing time is divided into segments, each of which is divided into a plurality of subintervals. All of the pulses within the segments have the same energy. In one embodiment, every pulse has the same amplitude and duration. Different colors are selected for printing during the different segments by varying the fraction of subintervals that contain pulses. This technique allows multiple colors to be printed using a thermal print head with a single strobe signal line. Pulsing patterns may be chosen to reduce the coincidence of pulses provided to multiple print head elements, thereby reducing the peak power requirements of the print head.

摘要翻译： 在本发明的一个方面，公开了一种多色热成像系统，其中热打印头上的不同加热元件可以在单次通过中在多色热成像构件的不同成色层上印刷。 行打印时间被划分成段，每个段被分成多个子区间。 段内的所有脉冲具有相同的能量。 在一个实施例中，每个脉冲具有相同的幅度和持续时间。 通过改变包含脉冲的子区间的分数来选择不同的颜色来在不同的段中进行打印。 该技术允许使用具有单个选通信号线的热打印头来打印多种颜色。 可以选择脉冲图案以减少提供给多个打印头元件的脉冲的一致性，从而降低打印头的峰值功率要求。

公开(公告)号：US06906736B2

公开(公告)日：2005-06-14

申请号：US10078644

申请日：2002-02-19

申请人： Alain Bouchard ,  Anemarie DeYoung ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

发明人： Alain Bouchard ,  Anemarie DeYoung ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling

IPC分类号： B41J2/355 ,  B41J2/21 ,  B41J2/525 ,  H04N1/50

CPC分类号： H04N1/506 ,  B41J2/2132

摘要： A technique for optimizing or enhancing color images. Embodiments are disclosed for creating an enhanced color image, including the enhancement of perceived color uniformity. In a “dot-on-dot” registration scheme for producing color images, the dots need to be precisely superimposed on each other to provide optimum or enhanced images. The dot-on-dot registration produced by a single head thermal printer is generally acceptable, but a single head machine is very slow because multiple passes (reciprocation) are required to lay down multiple colors of dots. In a much faster multi-head or tandem thermal imaging system a serious problem of dot misalignment may cause moire patterns or other visual artifacts in the color images produced by dot patterns. A solution to this problem is disclosed herein which intentionally misregisters superimposed dots in a novel and particular manner to achieve image optimization. In a particular embodiment a first thermal print head has a first number of thermal elements energized at a first rate and a second thermal print head has a second number of thermal elements energized at a second rate. The numbers of thermal elements and rates of energization are selected to cause intentional misregistration at a high spatial frequency which is unnoticeable to the naked eye of a viewer of the image, thereby masking any unintentional mechanical misalignment of the print heads while maintaining imperceptible the intentional misregistration of the solution to the problem.

摘要翻译： 一种优化或增强彩色图像的技术。 公开了用于创建增强的彩色图像的实施例，包括增强感知的颜色均匀性。 在用于产生彩色图像的“点对点”注册方案中，这些点需要彼此精确地叠加以提供最佳或增强的图像。 由单头热敏打印机产生的点对点注册通常是可以接受的，但是由于需要多次通过（往复运动）才能放置多个点的颜色，因此单头机器非常慢。 在更快的多头或串联热成像系统中，点错位的严重问题可能会导致由点图案产生的彩色图像中的莫尔图案或其他视觉伪影。 本文公开了解决这个问题的方法，其以新颖和特定的方式有意地错配了叠加点以实现图像优化。 在特定实施例中，第一热敏打印头具有以第一速率通电的第一数量的热元件，而第二热打印头具有以第二速率通电的第二数量的热元件。 选择热元件的数量和通电率，以在图像的观察者的肉眼看不到的高空间频率处引起有意的对准，从而掩盖了打印头的任何无意的机械不对准，同时保持不可察觉的故意重合失调 的解决方案的问题。

公开(公告)号：US06537410B2

公开(公告)日：2003-03-25

申请号：US09745700

申请日：2000-12-21

申请人： Michael J. Arnost ,  Alain Bouchard ,  Yongqi Deng ,  Edward J. Dombrowski ,  Russell A. Gaudiana ,  Serajul Haque ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  John L. Marshall ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael S. Viola

发明人： Michael J. Arnost ,  Alain Bouchard ,  Yongqi Deng ,  Edward J. Dombrowski ,  Russell A. Gaudiana ,  Serajul Haque ,  Fariza B. Hasan ,  John L. Marshall ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael S. Viola

IPC分类号： B41M530

CPC分类号： B41M5/395 ,  B41M5/345 ,  B41M5/38207 ,  B41M5/392 ,  C09D11/02

摘要： There is described a thermal recording system which utilizes a donor element comprising a substrate and a thermal transfer material layer having a dye-containing phase which is amorphous and wherein the dye or dyes present in the amorphous phase form a continuous film. Imagewise heating of the medium transfers portions of the transfer layer to a receiver sheet, thus forming an image. The transfer layer may also include a non-dye phase comprising a thermal solvent. During the heating of the donor element, the crystalline thermal solvent melts and dissolves or liquefies at least a portion of the dye-containing phase, thereby lowering the temperature at which transfer of the transfer layer occurs.

摘要翻译： 描述了一种热记录系统，其利用包括基底的施主元件和具有无定形的含染料相的热转印材料层，其中存在于非晶相中的染料或染料形成连续膜。 介质的图像加热将转印层的部分转印到接收片上，从而形成图像。 转移层还可以包括包含热溶剂的非染料相。 在给体元件的加热期间，结晶性热溶剂熔融并溶解或液化含有染料的相的至少一部分，由此降低转移层的转移温度。

公开(公告)号：US08557361B2

公开(公告)日：2013-10-15

申请号：US13020771

申请日：2011-02-03

申请人： Yulin Hardin ,  Stephen Robert Herchen ,  Dana Frederic Schuh ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael Armour Young ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  Chien Liu

发明人： Yulin Hardin ,  Stephen Robert Herchen ,  Dana Frederic Schuh ,  William T. Vetterling ,  Michael Armour Young ,  Stephen J. Telfer ,  Chien Liu

IPC分类号： G11B7/24

CPC分类号： G11B7/266 ,  G11B7/0037 ,  G11B7/252 ,  G11B23/0021 ,  G11B23/0035 ,  G11B23/40

摘要： An optical disc is described that bears, on one surface, a plurality of color-forming layers that can form a multicolored image when heated in contact with a thermal print head. The color-forming composition comprises color-forming layers and thermally-insulating spacers and is designed such that warping of the optical disc in conditions of changing temperature and humidity is minimized. The compliance of the color-forming composition is such that intimate contact between the thermal print head and the printable surface of the disc can be maintained as one is translated relative to the other. Methods for assembling such an optical disc are provided.

摘要翻译： 描述了在一个表面上承载多个成色层的光盘，当与热打印头接触时加热时可形成多色图像。 成色组合物包括成色层和绝热间隔物，并且被设计成使得在改变温度和湿度的条件下光盘的翘曲最小化。 成色组合物的顺从性使得当热打印头和盘的可打印表面之间的紧密接触能够相对于另一个平移时，可以保持。 提供了组装这种光盘的方法。