Incremental printing of symbolic information – Thermal marking apparatus or processes – With transfer medium or driving means therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-15
2001-10-16
Le, N. (Department: 2861)
Incremental printing of symbolic information
Thermal marking apparatus or processes
With transfer medium or driving means therefor
C347S176000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304281
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the process of thermal transfer printing, especially multicolored printing forms or offset printing forms, using a narrow ribbon as transfer film. More specifically, the invention relates to a process of thermal transfer printing which optimizes the provision of thermal transfer material and correctly makes available different materials for the respective purpose at the correct time.
2. Description of the Related Art
The process of thermal transfer has been known for years. In principle, a substrate which may be the final substrate or an intermediate substrate is brought into contact with an ink film arranged on a carrier and the ink film is transferred by thermal action to the substrate in points or dots to form the image on the substrate.
Several colors may also be applied successively by using different colored films so that color printing can be realized in his way. If the substrate is an intermediate substrate, the finished multicolored image is then transferred in a further step to the target substrate. Further, a printing form may also be coated to form an image by a suitable polymer. For example, if the printing form base is hydrophilic and therefore does not accept ink, the image-carrying parts are transferred to this printing form as a positive by thermal transfer and are then hydrophobic, that is, ink-accepting.
A prior art process for printing via thermal transfer is disclosed in German Patent DE 44 30 555. In this process, the thermal transfer film is constructed as a narrow ribbon. The problem in this method consists in that the thermal transfer ribbon must be changed after every generated image or after a few generated images. Further, this reference does not indicate how thermal transfer ribbons composed of different materials can be used electively for different requirements, which would be desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to provide a process for thermal transfer printing and a device such that a transfer ribbon can be made available in a simple manner and that this availability can be ensured in a simple manner for a plurality of generated images.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a process for thermal transfer printing and a device such that each one of a plurality of different materials is accessible at any time for thermal transfer ribbons as is necessary, for example, in multicolor printing.
This object is met by a device for thermal transfer imaging, including a thermal imaging unit comprising means for effecting thermal transfer imaging, a storage device comprising a plurality of cassettes, each said plural cassettes having a thermal transfer ribbon and an information module containing data pertaining to one of identification and status of said thermal transfer ribbon, a cassette receiving device operatively connected for moving a selected on of said plural cassettes into alignment with said thermal imaging unit, and a control device for managing said plural cassettes, said storage device, and said cassette receiving device in response to an externally supplied illustration command.
This object is also met by a process for providing a thermal transfer material for thermal transfer image generation using a narrow thermal transfer ribbon, including the steps of loading a plurality of cassettes in a storage device such that each cassette is available for use in a thermal image generation arrangement, each cassette containing a thermal transfer ribbon and an information module containing information pertaining to one of identification and status of the thermal transfer ribbon therein; and managing the plural cassettes with a control device by reading the information module of the cassettes.
The thermal transfer ribbon comes packaged in a cartridge or cassette. A master control device manages and controls a large number of cassettes in conjunction with data related to the requirements for the type of thermal transfer ribbon. The type of thermal transfer ribbon to be used depends on the intended use. The control device accesses a storage means in which the large number of cassettes are stored and accessible. The control system may comprise, for example, a software program.
The management of the fabricated cassettes may be accomplished using bar codes arranged at each respective cassette. In the alternative, an electronic chip may be added to the respective cassette. The control device may be a master control device or a decentralized type control device.
For example, a master control device can work over the Internet. In this embodiment, information read from the bar code on a cassette can be matched to information from a manufacturer database for thermal transfer ribbons/cassettes so that the cassette is automatically identified. Information about the status of the operating resources, the amount of ink film left on the thermal transfer ribbon (empty or full), the degree of wear, and the suitability of the film material for the respective use such, for example, as printing on different substrates such as paper, anodized aluminum, PET foils (e.g., with erasable waterless offset) may also be obtained automatically for every thermal transfer ribbon.
The internet connection enables a master control/regulation on the part of the manufacturer of thermal transfer ribbons, since all user data (for example, shelf life/expiration date) are available from that source and can be called up by the manufacturer.
The cassettes may also include an added electronic chip which may be written to and therefore may be updated every time an image is generated. When the electronic chip is used, the master control device is not absolutely necessary. In this embodiment, the control device could also be designed so as to be decentralized. One control device per printer would be sufficient for managing the self-identification of the thermal transfer ribbon cassettes.
The identification of the thermal transfer ribbons made available in a cassette may also be carried out in a noncontacting maimer. For example, electromagnetic transmission (microwaves, IR, light, etc.) is possible, e.g., as is already known for ski lift ID cards.
The thermal transfer ribbons may have the following different characteristics which are indicated on the identification portion of the cassette: different colors in the event that a multicolor print is produced (e.g., cyan, magenta, yellow and black, one after the other), different polymer chemistry for the use of the printing form in different areas of printing (e.g., ribbon for short runs with subsequent simple removal of the image for reusing or ribbon for long runs without the possibility of reusing or with a long duration for producing reusability), and different ink systems (e.g., petroleum-oil inks or UV-curable inks).
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.
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Hartmann Thomas
Muller Michael
Probian Dirk
Schuster Alfons
Weichmann Armin
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Feggins K.
Le N.
MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
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