US4933686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for transferring an image in a thermal transfer printer
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1989-03-23
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Granted: 1990-06-12
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Expires: 2009-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of transferring an image to a receiver in a thermal transfer printer including a printing head having a plurality of heating elements for effecting one-line printing by selectively driving the heating elements on the basis of transfer data. While a recording medium is moved with respect to the heating elements during the one-line printing period, the printing based on the same one-line transfer data is effected by driving each heating element the same consecutive number of times in a plurality of different positions within the width of one-line pitch.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaki Izumi
- 👤 Yoshio Wachi
- 👤 Naoko Yoshida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:47
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; H04N1/4056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of transferring an image to a recording medium by a thermal transfer printer including a print head having a plurality of heating elements for effecting the transfer of dye to the recording medium to print pixels of an image, a line at a time, with each line having a predetermined pitch width, comprising the steps of: storing transfer data representing the dye density of each pixel in a line of an image; moving the recording medium with respect to the heating elements to n separate positions to provide the line pitch width, where n is an integer of 2 or more; and driving any given heating element an equal number of times in each of the n different positions in accordance with the transferred data, whereby dye is uniformly transferred to the recording medium across the entire line pitch width.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of transferring an image to a recording medium by a thermal transfer printer including a print head having a plurality of heating elements for effecting the transfer of dye to the recording medium to print pixels of an image, a line at a time, with each line having a predetermined pitch width, comprising the steps of: storing transfer data representing the dye density of each pixel in a line of an image; moving the recording medium with respect to the heating elements to n separate positions to provide the line pitch width, where n is an integer of 2 or more; and driving any given heating element an equal number of times in each of the n different positions in accordance with the transferred data, whereby dye is uniformly transferred to the recording medium across the entire line pitch width.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS56130379A
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JPS58117772A
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US4621271A
Cited
US4691211A
Cited
US4806949A
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US4745413A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-11 | 1993-12-11 | 1994-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-11 | 1997-12-11 | 1998-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-11 | 2001-12-11 | 2002-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |