Thermal Printer Donor Adhesion via Attenuated Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for achieving borderless printing in thermal dye transfer printers require expensive special paper with perforations or precise sensing and positioning systems, which are costly and unreliable, and can result in minor borders or donor material adhesion issues.
Innovation Solution
A thermal printer system with a thermal print head and donor web that uses modulated thermal print head control signals to transfer donor material in an image-modulated pattern, extending beyond the receiver medium's length, and employs an attenuation pattern to minimize donor adhesion and border formation, allowing for borderless printing without precision sensing or tear-off media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If precise sensing and positioning systems are used to achieve borderless printing, then printing precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters by applying attenuated heating in specific zones. The print head delivers reduced thermal energy at the longitudinal edges compared to the center, preventing donor material adhesion to the platen while maintaining borderless printing capability without requiring complex positioning systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent eliminates the need for expensive precision sensing and positioning systems by using a simpler thermal control approach. The solution uses standard components with modified thermal parameters rather than high-precision mechanical or optical systems
2Manufacturing precision
If donor material is transferred in an image-modulated pattern extending beyond receiver medium length, then borderless printing is achieved, but donor material adhesion to platen increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different thermal qualities to different zones of the print head. The longitudinal edge zones deliver attenuated thermal energy compared to the center zones, creating local variations in donor material transfer that prevent adhesion at edges while maintaining transfer in the center printing area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by delivering attenuated thermal energy in specific zones rather than full thermal energy across the entire print head. This partial heating approach is sufficient to prevent donor material adhesion in edge zones without compromising the overall printing quality
3Ease of manufacture
If standard paper is used instead of perforated paper, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but borderless printing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal parameters and printing pattern to work with standard paper. By attenuating thermal energy at longitudinal edges and extending the printing pattern beyond the receiver medium length, the system achieves borderless printing on standard paper without requiring perforations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and cost-effective borderless printing by reducing the risk of donor material adhesion and ensuring complete edge-to-edge printing without the need for expensive paper or precise positioning systems.
Implementation Method 1
The thermal elements are adapted to heat the donor web in accordance with received control signals so that donor material can be transferred from the donor web to the receiver medium
Implementation Method 2
The attenuation pattern provides a relatively high level of attenuation at a portion of the printing wherein there is a greater risk that the receiver medium will not be within the printing nip
Data Source
AI summary
Thermal printers and methods for operating thermal printers are provided. In one method, a sequence of thermal print head control signals is generated that is adapted to cause an array of thermal elements to cause the donor material to transfer from a donor ribbon in a manner that is modulated in accordance with image data and attenuated in accordance with an attenuation pattern. A receiver medium is urged through the printing nip while the thermal print head control signals are transmitted to the thermal print head to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor web in an image modulated pattern having a longitudinal length that is larger than a longitudinal length of the receiver medium. The attenuation pattern provides a relatively high level of attenuation at a portion of the printing wherein there is greater risk that the receiver medium will not be within the printing nip.