Abstract

The present application is directed to systems and methods for full bleed printing. A cutter of a printer cuts a first kiss cut in a continuous printing medium at a first position displaced from an end of the continuous printing medium. A medium advancement mechanism of the printer positions the continuous printing medium with a print head of the printer at a print start location between the first position and the end of the continuous printing medium. The print head prints a first image on a continuous printing medium to a print end location. The cutter cuts a second cut in the continuous printing medium at a second position between the first position and the print end location. A portion of the continuous printing medium between the first kiss cut and the second cut comprises a full bleed print.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41J 3/407 - Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
• B41J 11/70 - Applications of cutting devices cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
• B41J 15/04 - Supporting, feeding, or guiding devicesMountings for web rolls or spindles
• B41J 11/00 - Devices or arrangements for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
• B41J 11/66 - Applications of cutting devices

Abstract

There are disclosed imaging members comprising a substrate having first and second opposed surfaces, said surface bearing at least a first color-forming layer, a first thermally-insulating interlayer, a second color-forming layer, a second thermally-insulating layer, and a third color-forming layer, wherein said first color-forming layer has a higher activation temperature than said second color-forming layer, and said second color-forming layer has a higher activation temperature than said third color-forming layer, said thermal imaging member further comprising a radiation-absorbing material that is located either within said first color-forming layer or in a layer that is closer to said first color-forming layer than to any other color-forming layer.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41M 5/34 - Multicolour thermography

Abstract

Multicolor thermal imaging members are described that comprise color-forming layers that are separated by thermally-insulating layers and can be addressed with a thermal printing head in contact with a surface to form an image. The thermally-insulating layers are designed to be as thin as possible consistent with at least partially independent addressing of the color-forming layers, and are formulated so as not to lead to instabilities either before or after printing or to give rise to dimensional changes of a thermal imaging member when it is subjected to changes in temperature or humidity. Coating compositions for manufacturing such thermally-insulating layers are also provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41M 5/34 - Multicolour thermography
• B41M 5/30 - Thermography using chemical colour formers
• C08K 5/00 - Use of organic ingredients

Abstract

There are described novel rhodamine color- forming compounds. The rhodamine color- forming compounds exhibit a first color when in a crystalline form and a second color, different from the first color, when in an amorphous form. Thermal imaging members containing these color- formers are also described.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41M 5/20 - Duplicating or marking methodsSheet materials for use therein using electric current

Abstract

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.

IPC Classes  ?

• G11B 7/00 - Recording or reproducing by optical means, e.g. recording using a thermal beam of optical radiation, reproducing using an optical beam at lower powerRecord carriers therefor

Abstract

Thermal history control is performed in a thermal printer in which a single thermal print head prints sequentially on multiple color-forming layers in a single pass. Each pixel-printing interval may be divided into segments, each of which may be used to print a different color. The manner in which the input energy to be provided to each print head element is selected may be varied for each of the segments. Different energy computation functions may be used to compute the energy to be provided to the print head in each of the segments based on the predicted print head element temperature at the beginning of the segment, the color to be printed, and the energy that was supplied when printing other colors during the time period between the beginning of the segment of the current pixel-printing interval and the end of the equivalent segment of the previous pixel-printing interval.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41J 2/36 - Print density control
• B41J 2/365 - Print density control by compensation for variation in temperature

Abstract

Thermal history control is performed in a thermal printer in which a single thermal print head prints sequentially on multiple color-forming layers in a single pass. Each pixel-printing interval may be divided into segments, each of which may be used to print a different color. The manner in which the input energy to be provided to each print head element is selected may be varied for each segment. Different energy computation functions may be used to compute the energy to provide to the print head in each of the segments based on the predicted print head element temperature at the beginning of the segment, the color to be printed, and the energy that was supplied when printing other colors during the time period between the beginning of the segment of the current pixel-printing interval and the end of the equivalent segment of the previous pixel-printing interval.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41J 2/32 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of heat to a heat sensitive printing or impression-transfer material using thermal heads
• B41J 2/21 - Ink jet for multi-colour printing
• B41J 29/38 - Drives, motors, controls, or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism

Abstract

There are described novel rhodamine dye compounds and imaging members and imaging methods, including thermal imaging members and imaging methods, utilizing the compounds. The dye compounds exhibit a first color when in the crystalline form and a second color, different from the first color, when in the liquid, amorphous form.

IPC Classes  ?

• C07D 215/00 - Heterocyclic compounds containing quinoline or hydrogenated quinoline ring systems
• C07D 217/00 - Heterocyclic compounds containing isoquinoline or hydrogenated isoquinoline ring systems
• C07D 219/00 - Heterocyclic compounds containing acridine or hydrogenated acridine ring systems

Abstract

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.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41J 29/38 - Drives, motors, controls, or automatic cut-off devices for the entire printing mechanism

Abstract

The present invention provides a thermal printer in which the temperature of the thermal printing head can be modulated by means of an auxiliary heat sink, and methods for printing using such a thermal printer.

IPC Classes  ?

• B41J 2/34 - Structure of thermal heads comprising semiconductors
• B41J 2/335 - Structure of thermal heads

Goods & Services

Unexposed photographic film; sensitized photographic film; chemicals for use in photography; chemicals for use in printing paper; photographic papers; printing materials, namely photosensitive paper. Printers; printing technology for viewing, processing, modifying, reproducing, and printing images, graphics, and photographs; computers; handheld computers; personal digital assistants; computer peripherals; color printers; ID card printers; label printers; wireless computer peripherals; facsimile apparatus; software; computer monitors; LCD monitors; television monitors; video monitors; televisions; printer cables; raster image processors; digital imaging devices for viewing, processing, modifying, reproducing, and printing images, graphics, and photographs; cameras; digital cameras; computer cameras; camcorders; digital video recorders; DVD machines; scanners; optical scanners; cellular phones with a camera function; cellular phone docking stations; blank computer disks and CD-ROMs; computer memory hardware; memory cards; blank magnetic data carriers; electronic and magnetic ID cards. Printing paper; printing media, namely digital printing paper, photographs, prints, label paper, paper tags, printed tickets, ID cards without magnetic encoding, and plastic sheets for printing; photographic prints; photo sheets, namely photographic prints in the nature of photo sheets.