Method and apparatus for ink transfer printing
US5745128A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J2/0057
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An ink transfer printing device in which ink transfer is driven by a viscosity change in ink. The ink transfer printing device includes an ink reservoir for retaining ink held under pressure. The ink reservoir is associated with an ink transfer surface which has a plurality of perforations. Under ambient conditions, the viscosity of the ink prevents flow of the ink through the perforations. The ink transfer printing device also includes a viscosity control unit for inducing a change in the viscosity of the ink near certain perforations thereby enabling a controlled amount of the ink near each of these certain perforations to flow through these certain perforations to an outer surface of the ink transfer surface. The ink which has flowed onto the outer surface can then be transferred to an intermediate surface or a printing media. A method for viscosity-driven ink transfer printing is also disclosed. The present invention enables a printer, a copier, or the like to provide low cost, high speed, high resolution printed images.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.