Methods and apparatus for improved thermal printing

    公开(公告)号:US06452620B1

    公开(公告)日:2002-09-17

    申请号:US09288428

    申请日:1999-04-08

    IPC分类号: B41J2325

    CPC分类号: B41J25/316

    摘要: Disclosed are the following: a wide format thermal printer for printing a multicolor graphic product on a printing sheet; a vacuum workbed for supporting a sheet material for performing work operations, such as cutting, printing or plotting, thereon; a replaceable donor sheet assembly, which includes a memory, for use with a thermal printer; methods and apparatus for improved thermal printing, including methods and apparatus for conserving donor sheet and reducing the amount of time required to print a multicolor graphic product; a thermal printhead including a memory; and methods and apparatus for the alignment of a sheet material for printing or performing other work operations on the sheet material. The wide format thermal printer can include provision for the automatic loading of cassettes of donor sheet from a cassette storage rack. The vacuum workbed can include provision for determining the size of the sheet material supported by the workbed, and for controlling the suction applied to the apertures in a worksurface of the workbed. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for controlling the tension of the donor sheet during printing with a wide format thermal printer.

    Apparatus for storing and retrieving data
    2.
    发明授权
    Apparatus for storing and retrieving data 失效
    用于存储和检索数据的装置

    公开(公告)号:US4352165A

    公开(公告)日:1982-09-28

    申请号:US104196

    申请日:1979-12-17

    摘要: An automated artwork generation system employs a video display and a microprocessor for verifying and editing data derived from a digitizer and utilized by a photoplotter. The system includes a data storage and retrieval apparatus in which data processed through the system is stored. The apparatus permits random access to data in a memory, and both the storing and retrieval times are minimized by establishing a direct relationship between the zone of a workpiece in which data is located and the portion of the memory in which the data is stored. Data entries in the memory are made in both a data entry file and a bulk data file. The entry file serves as an index to the bulk data file and contains abbreviated data entries and pointers identifying addresses in the bulk data file where additional related data is stored.

    摘要翻译: 自动化图形生成系统采用视频显示器和微处理器来验证和编辑从数字转换器导出并由照相制图机使用的数据。 该系统包括数据存储和检索装置,其中存储通过系统处理的数据。 该装置允许随机访问存储器中的数据,并且通过在其中存储数据的工件的区域与存储数据的存储器的部分之间建立直接关系来最小化存储和检索时间。 存储器中的数据条目都在数据输入文件和批量数据文件中进行。 条目文件用作批量数据文件的索引,并包含缩写数据条目和指针,用于标识批量数据文件中存储附加相关数据的地址。

    Apparatus for making graphic products having a calibrated print head,
and method of calibrating same
    3.
    发明授权
    Apparatus for making graphic products having a calibrated print head, and method of calibrating same 失效
    用于制造具有校准打印头的图形产品的装置及其校准方法

    公开(公告)号:US5724084A

    公开(公告)日:1998-03-03

    申请号:US567304

    申请日:1995-12-05

    摘要: In an apparatus for printing graphic images on sheet material. The thermal print head has a linear array of heating elements extending in the y-coordinate direction, and is movable between a home position and a command position in that direction for printing graphic images wider than the length of the linear array. With the print head in the home position, a first group of heating elements at the upper end of the print head are actuated to print a plurality of first indicia equally spaced relative to each other in the y-coordinate direction. The print head is then moved upwardly in the y-coordinate direction to the command position whereby a second group of heating elements at the lower end of the print head overlap the first indicia. The print head then prints a plurality of second indicia in the spaces defined between adjacent first indicia with the second group of heating elements, and the print head is moved incrementally in the y-coordinate direction between printing sequential second indicia. The second indicia equally spaced between adjacent first indicia is then selected, and the command position of the print head is adjusted based on its total incremental movement corresponding to the selected second indicia to calibrate the movement of the print head in the y-coordinate direction.

    摘要翻译: 在用于在片材上印刷图形图像的装置。 热打印头具有在y坐标方向上延伸的加热元件的线性阵列,并且可以在原始位置和在该方向上的指令位置之间移动以打印比线性阵列的长度更宽的图形图像。 在打印头处于原始位置的情况下,致动打印头上端的第一组加热元件,以打印在y坐标方向上彼此相等间隔的多个第一标记。 然后打印头沿y坐标方向向上移动到指令位置,由此打印头下端的第二组加热元件与第一标记重叠。 然后,打印头在相邻的第一标记与第二组加热元件之间的空间中打印多个第二标记,并且打印头在打印顺序的第二标记之间沿y坐标方向逐渐移动。 然后选择在相邻的第一标记之间相等间隔的第二标记,并且基于其对应于所选择的第二标记的总增量移动来调整打印头的命令位置,以校准打印头在y坐标方向上的运动。

    Method and apparatus for generating a verified plot
    5.
    发明授权
    Method and apparatus for generating a verified plot 失效
    生成验证图的方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US4435674A

    公开(公告)日:1984-03-06

    申请号:US308667

    申请日:1981-10-05

    CPC分类号: G06K15/22

    摘要: An automatically controlled plotter that generates graphic information on recording material in response to a plot program includes an optical sensor for detecting the traces or lines that are generated in the plot on the recording medium. The detected lines are compared with the programmed lines to establish if an omission or gap exists, and where there is a gap, the plotting process is interrupted or the program is repeated to retrace the defective portion of the plot, or the defect can be recorded for subsequent correction.

    摘要翻译: 响应于绘图程序生成关于记录材料的图形信息的自动控制绘图仪包括用于检测记录介质上绘图中产生的迹线或线的光学传感器。 将检测到的线路与编程线路进行比较以确定是否存在省略或间隙,并且如果存在间隙,则绘图过程被中断或重复程序以回溯绘图的缺陷部分,或者可以记录缺陷 用于后续校正。

    Replaceable donor sheet assembly with memory for use with a thermal printer
    6.
    发明授权
    Replaceable donor sheet assembly with memory for use with a thermal printer 失效
    可替换的供体片组件,带有用于热敏打印机的存储器

    公开(公告)号:US06603497B2

    公开(公告)日:2003-08-05

    申请号:US09726293

    申请日:2000-11-30

    IPC分类号: G01D1516

    CPC分类号: B41J25/316

    摘要: A wide format thermal printer for printing a multicolor graphic product on a printing sheet; a vacuum workbed for supporting a sheet material for performing work operations, such as cutting, printing or plotting, thereon; a replaceable donor sheet assembly, which includes a memory, for use with a thermal printer; methods and apparatus for improved thermal printing, including methods and apparatus for conserving donor sheet and reducing the amount of time required to print a multicolor graphic product; a thermal printhead including a memory; methods and apparatus for the alignment of a sheet material for printing or performing other work operations on the sheet material; and methods and apparatus for controlling the tension of the donor sheet during printing with a wide format thermal printer. The wide format thermal printer can include provision for the automatic loading of cassettes of donor sheet from a cassette storage rack. The vacuum workbed can include provision for determining the size of the sheet material supported by the workbed, and for controlling the suction applied to the apparatus in a worksurface of the workbed.

    摘要翻译: 用于在打印纸上打印多色图形产品的宽格式热敏打印机; 用于支撑用于执行诸如切割,印刷或绘图之类的工作操作的片材的真空工作台; 可替换的供体片组件,其包括与热敏打印机一起使用的存储器; 用于改进热敏打印的方法和装置,包括用于保存供体薄片并减少打印多色图形产品所需的时间量的方法和装置; 包括存储器的热打印头; 用于在片材上打印或执行其他工作操作的片材的对准的方法和装置; 以及在用宽格式热敏打印机打印期间控制供体片张力的方法和装置。 宽幅热敏打印机可以包括用于从盒式存储架自动装载供体片的盒的设置。 真空工作台可以包括用于确定由工作台支撑的片材的尺寸,以及用于控制在工作台的工作面中施加到设备上的抽吸。

    Method and apparatus for printing on sheet material
    9.
    发明授权
    Method and apparatus for printing on sheet material 失效
    用于在片材上印刷的方法和装置

    公开(公告)号:US5513919A

    公开(公告)日:1996-05-07

    申请号:US54754

    申请日:1993-04-27

    CPC分类号: B41J11/42 B41J19/202

    摘要: A thermal printer carries out printing operations to produce images in multiple colors in response to a printing program. In order to eliminate distortions and to insure registration of colors in the printed image, a printer controller eliminates backlash in the drive mechanism at the beginning of each printing operation.

    摘要翻译: 热敏打印机响应于打印程序执行打印操作以产生多种颜色的图像。 为了消除失真并确保打印图像中的颜色的配准,打印机控制器在每次打印操作开始时消除驱动机构中的间隙。

    Device for creating digital signals representative of a natural leaf
profile
    10.
    发明授权
    Device for creating digital signals representative of a natural leaf profile 失效
    用于创建表示天然叶轮廓的数字信号的装置

    公开(公告)号:US4205914A

    公开(公告)日:1980-06-03

    申请号:US902264

    申请日:1978-05-02

    摘要: There is provided a digital device for creating a series of digital signals indicative of the profile in certain surface variations of a natural tobacco leaf. The light intensity characteristic of an emitted light from various locations on the natural tobacco leaf are scanned in succession across the leaf at parallel positions. The light intensity at the various locations creates a digital signal indicative of whether or not the light intensity is high, low or intermediate. The color profile of the leaf could be created by these signals; however, in accordance with the invention, a digital signal is created when the light intensity signal shifts from one value to another. At that time, a transition signal is created which can be combined to form a transition profile of the leaf which is indicative of the actual profile and color variations of the leaf itself. This information can be used for locating a wrapper cutter at the desired position on the leaf for subsequent cutting of the wrapper from the leaf.

    摘要翻译: 提供了一种用于创建指示天然烟叶的某些表面变化中的轮廓的一系列数字信号的数字装置。 来自天然烟叶上各个位置的发射光的光强度特性在平行位置上连续地扫过叶片。 各个位置处的光强度产生指示光强度是高,低还是中等的数字信号。 可以通过这些信号创建叶子的颜色特征; 然而,根据本发明,当光强度信号从一个值转换到另一个值时,产生数字信号。 此时,产生了可以组合以形成叶子的转变轮廓的转变信号,其指示叶片本身的实际轮廓和颜色变化。 该信息可用于将包装刀具定位在叶片上的期望位置,以便随后从叶片切割包装纸。