US4492965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermal transfer printing method
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Filing: 1983-05-13
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Granted: 1985-01-08
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Expires: 2003-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A thermal transfer printing method uses an ink donor medium sheet (12) having solid ink layers (11) whose optical reflection density is smaller than a maximum value of the optical reflection density of picture elements to be printed, and comprises the first step of printing the picture elements by moving a plain paper (4) as a record medium and the ink sheet (12) in a forward direction (FW) so that the solid ink layers are transferred onto the plain paper (4), the second step of moving the plain paper (4) in a backward direction (BW) and the third step of transferring the solid ink layers (11) in an overlapping manner onto the picture elements printed in the first step, by moving the plain paper (4) and the ink sheet (12) again in the forward direction (FW). In the first and third steps, the solid ink layers (11) are completely transferred onto the plain paper (4). The gradation of the picture elements is determined by the number of transfer times. Therefore, each picture element in the gradation can be printed in an extremely stable manner with good reproducibility.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaru Ohnishi
- 👤 Masayuki Saito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:38
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/38228; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/315; B41J2/32; B41J2/325; B41M5/38264; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A thermal transfer printing method using at least one ink sheet provided with at least one thermally transferable solid ink layer formed on a base film as a donor medium, said solid ink layer being heated and transferred onto a record medium whereby picture elements of a picture to be printed are printed on the record medium, the optical reflection density of said solid ink layer being smaller than the maximum value of the optical reflection density of said picture elements, said method comprising at least: a first step of printing at least one picture element out of said picture elements by moving said record medium and said ink sheet in a forward direction so that said solid ink layer is transferred onto said record medium, a second step of returning said record medium in a state before said first step, and a third step of transferring said solid ink layer in an overlapping manner to the picture element printed in said first step, by moving said record medium and said ink sheet again in the forward direction after said second step.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A thermal transfer printing method using at least one ink sheet provided with at least one thermally transferable solid ink layer formed on a base film as a donor medium, said solid ink layer being heated and transferred onto a record medium whereby picture elements of a picture to be printed are printed on the record medium, the optical reflection density of said solid ink layer being smaller than the maximum value of the optical reflection density of said picture elements, said method comprising at least: a first step of printing at least one picture element out of said picture elements by moving said record medium and said ink sheet in a forward direction so that said solid ink layer is transferred onto said record medium, a second step of returning said record medium in a state before said first step, and a third step of transferring said solid ink layer in an overlapping manner to the picture element printed in said first step, by moving said record medium and said ink sheet again in the forward direction after said second step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 1, wherein: each of said picture elements is formed of a group of a plurality of dots, at least one dot out of said group of dots is printed in said first step, and in the third step, other dots are transferred in such a manner as to be overlapped to at least one of the dots printed in said first step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 2, wherein: in said ink sheet, a plurality of solid ink layers of different colors are individually formed in the divided regions on said base film, in said first step, one solid ink layer of one color out of said plurality of solid ink layers is transferred so that at least one dot out of said group of dots is printed, in said third step, the same solid ink layer as in said first step is transferred so that other dots are transferred in such a manner as to be overlapped to at least one of the dots printed in said first step, and with respect to other solid ink layers of other colors out of said plurality of solid ink layers, the same operation as in said first and third steps is successively performed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 1, wherein: in said ink sheet, solid ink layers of N kinds having different optical reflection densities are individually formed in the divided regions on said base film, N being a positive integer number, in said first step, solid ink layer of the first kind is transferred, and in said third step, solid ink layer of the second kind is transferred.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 4, wherein: each of said picture elements is formed of a group of a plurality of dots, in said first step, at least one dot out of said group of dots is printed, and in said third step, other dots are transferred in such a manner as to be overlapped to at least one of the dots printed in said first step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 4, wherein: the optical reflection density D M of said solid ink layers of N kinds is represented by the following equation: D.sub.M =(2+α).sup.M-1 ·D.sub.0 where M is an integer number satisfying the condition 1≦M≦N, α is a number satisfying the condition -0.5≦α≦+0.5 and D 0 is the smallest value of the optical reflection densities of said solid ink layers of N kinds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 5, wherein: in said ink sheet, a plurality of solid ink layers having different colors and different optical reflection densities are individually formed in the divided regions on said base film, the optical reflection densities for the respective colors being of N kinds, in said first step, one solid ink layer of at least one color out of said plurality of solid ink layers is transferred so that at least one dot out of said group of dots is printed, in said third step, another solid ink layer of the same color as in said first step is transferred so that other dots are transferred in such a manner as to be overlapped to at least one of the dots printed in said first step, and with respect to the remaining solid ink layers of other colors and other optical reflection densities out of said plurality of solid ink layers, the same operation as in said first and third steps is successively performed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 7, wherein: said optical reflection density D M of N kinds is represented by the following equation: D.sub.M =(2+α).sup.M-1 ·D.sub.0 where M is an integer number satisfying the condition 1≦M≦N, α is a number satisfying the condition -0.5≦α≦+0.5 and D 0 is the smallest value of said N kinds of optical reflection density.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 1, wherein: ink sheets of N kinds including solid ink layers of different optical reflection densities are used, N being a positive integer number, in said first step, one solid ink layer on the ink sheets of the first kinds is transferred, and in said third step, another solid ink layer on the ink sheets of the second kind is transferred.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 9, wherein: each of said picture elements is formed of a group of a plurality of dots, in said first step, at least one dot out of said group of dots is printed, and in said third step, other dots are transferred in such a manner as to be overlapped to at least one of the dots printed in said first step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
A thermal transfer printing method in accordance with claim 9, wherein: the optical reflection density D M of the solid ink layers on said ink sheets of N kinds is represented by the following equation: D.sub.M =(2+α).sup.M-1 ·D.sub.0 where M is an integer number satisfying the condition 1≦M≦N, α is a number satisfying the condition -0.5≦α≦+0.5 and D 0 is the smallest value of the optical reflection densities of the solid ink layers on said ink sheets of N kinds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-08 | 1988-07-09 | 1989-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-08 | 1992-07-09 | 1993-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-08 | 1996-07-09 | 1997-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |