Patent · US Expired

Liquid crystal printing apparatus for radiation thermal transfer of colorant from a donor to a receiver

US6031586A · kind A · utility

1Cited by
11References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 1997
Grant dateFeb 29, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 9, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/133526
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Printing apparatus for radiation thermal transfer of colorant from a donor to a receiver, including a flash tube for emitting high intensity radiation; a polarizer for receiving high intensity radiation from the flash tube and polarizing such radiation; and liquid crystal cells disposed to receive polarized radiation from the polarizer. Electrodes modulate the liquid crystal cells so that they change the polarization of the radiation passing through them. A second polarizer receives radiation from the liquid crystal cells and is arranged to pass different intensities of radiation depending on their polarization. The colorant donor and the receiver are positioned in colorant transfer relationship with the second polarizer at a colorant transfer position so that radiation which passes through the second polarizer illuminates the colorant donor so that colorant is transferred to the receiver.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.