Ink transfer printer

Recorders – Markers and/or driving means therefor – With ink supply to marker

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C347S018000, C347S189000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06236414

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink transfer printer, in which ink drops are selectively generated in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals, thereby producing ink dots on a sheet of recording paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an ink jet printer is well known as a printer for producing ink dots on a sheet of recording paper by selectively generating ink drops in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals. Namely, the ink jet printer comprises an ink jet head which is formed with a plurality of nozzles for selectively emitting ink jets or ink drops in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals. Each of the nozzles is associated with a driver element, such as a piezoelectric element, and an emission of an ink jet from each nozzle is caused by electrically driving the piezoelectric element.
Generally, it is difficult to compactly construct the ink jet head. In particular, before a compact construction of the ink jet head can be obtained, the nozzles must be arranged so as to be in close proximity to each other. Nevertheless, with a compact arrangement of the nozzles, a distance between two adjacent nozzles must be greater than a given value, because it is necessary to prevent interference between the piezoelectric elements of the two adjacent nozzles, during the electrical energization thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an ink transfer printer that selectively generates ink drops in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals, thereby producing ink dots on a sheet of recording paper, wherein an arrangement for the selective generation of the ink drops can be compactly constructed, and also a printing speed can be maximized.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink transfer printer comprising: an electrically-insulated base member; an array of electric heater elements provided on a surface of the base member and aligned with each other, the electric heater elements being selectively and electrically energized in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals; a frame member, having an opening, securely provided on the base member such that the array of electric heater elements is encompassed by the opening of the frame member; a sheet of film that covers the frame member such that the opening of the frame member is defined as an ink space fillable with ink, the film sheet including a plurality of fine pores arranged along the array of electric heater elements; and a heat dissipating conductor, formed of a thermal conductive material, and that is associated with the film sheet such that thermal energy, locally generated by an electrical energization of at least one of the electric heater elements, is promptly dissipated.
The heat dissipating conductor may be formed as a heat dissipating sheet having an opening. In this case, the heat dissipating conductor or sheet is preferably interposed between the frame member and the film sheet such that the plurality of fine pores is encompassed by the opening of the heat dissipating sheet. Also, the heat dissipating conductor may be formed as a heat dissipating strip. In this case, the heat dissipating conductor or strip is preferably attached to an inner surface of the film sheet in the ink space.
The heat dissipating conductor may exhibit an electrical conductivity such that the film sheet is heatable by electrically energizing the heat dissipating conductor. In this case, preferably, the ink transfer printer further comprises a control system that controls the electrical energization of the heat dissipating conductor such that a temperature of the film sheet is kept constant, and an interrupting system that interrupts the electrical energization of the heat dissipating conductor over a predetermined period of time after the electrical energization of at least one of the electric heater elements ends.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an ink transfer printer comprising: an electrically-insulated base member; an array of electric heater elements provided on a surface of the base member and aligned with each other, the electric heater elements being selectively and electrically energized in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals; a thermal conductive frame member, having an opening, securely provided on the base member such that the array of electric heater elements is encompassed by the opening of the frame member; and a sheet of film that covers the thermal conductive frame member such that the opening of the thermal conductive frame member is defined as an ink space filled with ink, the film sheet including a plurality of fine pores arranged along the array of electric heater elements.
The thermal conductive frame member may exhibit an electrical conductivity such that the film sheet is heatable by electrically energizing the thermal conductive frame member. In this case, preferably, the ink transfer printer further comprises a control system that controls the electrical energization of the thermal conductive frame member such that a temperature of the film sheet is kept constant, and an interrupting system that interrupts the electrical energization of the thermal conductive frame member over a predetermined period of time after the electrical energization of at least one of the electric heater elements ends.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4490728 (1984-12-01), Vaught et al.
patent: 4561789 (1985-12-01), Saito
patent: 5512924 (1996-04-01), Takada et al.
patent: 5800075 (1998-09-01), Katsuma et al.

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