Material applicator for thermal imaging apparatus

Incremental printing of symbolic information – Thermal marking apparatus or processes

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C347S172000, C347S218000, C347S217000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06271871

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to imaging output devices, and more particularly to an apparatus (and method) for outputting halftone-dot image automatically from rasterized digital image data, by an image transfer process between a donor material and a receiver material, in an internal drum imaging device. The invention has applications in both imagesetting and direct digital color proofing, hereinafter DDCP, and platemaking.
In image transfer processes such as thermal melt transfer, dye sublimation-type thermal transfer, dye fusion-type thermal transfer, and ablation transfer, a donor material is superimposed onto a receiver material so that imagewise exposure of the donor material by a radiant energy or heat, such as a laser beam, causes transfer of the donor material on to the receiver material upon receipt of a sufficient amount of energy. An example of such transfer materials and applications for preparing and using them are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,232,817 and 5,238,778. For DDCP applications the imagewise exposure usually occurs in a series of color separations of such colors as cyan, yellow, magenta, and black (CYMK). For each color separation, a correspondingly colored donor sheet is superimposed onto the receiver, exposed to transfer the respective color separation of the image onto the receiver material, and then removed. The image is thereby transferred onto the receiver material and a color proof is obtained.
Heretofore, DDCP devices have been flatbed and external drum type proofing devices, in which the receiver and donor materials are superimposed on a flat bed or a rotary drum support. Prior external drum devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,164,742 and 5,341,159. The methods and mechanisms for handling the receiver and donor materials differ for each type of support to fulfill such requirements as applying the materials onto the support, ensuring full, intimate contact between the receiver and donor sheet, peeling the donor from the receiver, and transporting the completed proof without damaging the image. A common factor among DDCP devices is that the color donor sheets must be sequentially superimposed onto a single receiver sheet and then removed without disturbing the receiver sheet on the support to ensure registration of the transferred partial images that create the final proof. While the prior art devices have capably serviced the graphic arts and printing industries, inherent advantages are realized in a thermal imaging device which relies on an internal drum type material support, as will become apparent in the following description of the invention, for applications in proofing, imagesetting and platemaking.
It is therefore a general object of the invention to perform image transfer processes such as dye sublimation-type thermal transfer, dye fusion-type thermal transfer, and ablation transfer, as well as conventional imagesetting and dry processes, using the respective required materials, to output films, color proofs, and/or printing plates in a single imaging device.
It is a general object of the present invention to generate high quality digital proofs in an automated internal drum proofing device.
It is a general object of the invention to provide an internal drum support surface for adhering a receiver sheet upon and sequentially superimposing a series of color donor material for transfer of respective color separations of an image to create a color proof on the receiver material while registered to the drum surface.
It is an object of the invention to achieve intimate contact between a donor material and a receiver material used in a thermal imaging process, particularly on an internal drum material support.
It is further an object of the invention to provide an apparatus specifically for transporting the donor and receiver materials without damaging the sensitive sides thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention involves an internal drum thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship, wherein the support is a cylindrical drum. The drum has an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transferring an image from the donor material to the receiver material. An applicator automatically loads and unloads the receiver material and donor material onto the cylindrical drum. The applicator features an applicator carriage, an attachment mechanism for attaching the receiver material to the applicator, and an applicator transport for transporting the applicator carriage along the inner circumference of the cylindrical drum.
The invention further comprises a fixed track on the inner circumference of the drum. The applicator carriage is mounted on the track for movement along the drum. The applicator transport comprises a drive member mounted on the applicator carriage drivingly engaged with the fixed track for driving the applicator carriage along the fixed track.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5164742 (1992-11-01), Baek et al.
patent: 5232817 (1993-08-01), Kawakami et al.
patent: 5238778 (1993-08-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 5341159 (1994-08-01), Kerr
patent: 5370954 (1994-12-01), Ohta et al.
patent: 5436695 (1995-07-01), Lucking et al.
patent: 5699099 (1997-12-01), Garand et al.
patent: 5734408 (1998-03-01), Rombult et al.
patent: 5734409 (1998-03-01), Rombult et al.

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