Seiko Epson Corporation

Kohei Iwamoto

Hitoshi Fukushima

Katsumori Takei

Hiroto Nakamura

Masahiko Hirasawa

Yoshitaka Yamaguchi

Katusmori Takei

Satoshi Moriyama

Systems, apparatus, and methods are provided to prevent mismatches in processing and settings related to print media. A print manager device includes a media print information storage storing media print information, which is information relating image processing information used to generate print data for a specific print medium with print settings information used to print on the print medium. The image processing information and the print settings information are relationally stored to each printer configured to print based on the print data according to the print settings information. A processor that controls communication. The processor can send the image processing information stored in the media print information storage relationally to a print medium specified by media selection information to an image processing device that generates print data and can send the print settings information stored in the media print information storage to the printer.

Print manager device, printer, print manager program

Provided is technology reducing the capacity required to store actual parameter information by establishing conditions enabling providing actual parameter information to the device that uses the actual parameter information. A control devicehas label information storagestoring label information relationally to combinations of printermodels and print media; and actual content storagestoring, relationally to the label information, actual parameter information that is used by printersto print to print media. When a combination of printermodel and print medium is identified and actual parameter information corresponding to that combination is requested, the control devicereferences the label information storageidentifies the label information corresponding to that combination, and acquires actual parameter information from the actual content storagebased on the identified label information.

Image processing device and image processing system

There is provided an information processing system that sets a setting value corresponding to a combination of a model of a printing apparatus and a print medium on which printing is performed to a setting item of the printing apparatus and that executes printing, the system including: a setting value table which stores a candidate setting value that can be set to the setting item in correlation with label information corresponding to each candidate setting value, in which, in a case of setting the setting value to the setting item of the printing apparatus, the information processing system determines the setting value corresponding to the setting item based on print medium information including the label information by using the setting value table, and sets the determined setting value to the setting item.

Information processing system including setting values for print execution

An image processing device includes an image processing part configured to perform image processing to an original image including a background and an object by adding a first texture component to at least the background.

Image processing device and method for adding textures to background and to an object

A thermal transfer ink sheet including a heat resistant support film, a first fusible ink layer disposed on the support film, an interlayer which will support the first ink layer in uniform layer condition during thermal printing and will still separate cleanly from the non-printed portion on the first ink layer and a second fusible ink layer on the interlayer. Several embodiments of the interlayer will maintain the first ink layer in uniform layer condition during thermal printing. The interlayer can be formed of: a material with a low melting point whose viscosity does not decrease substantially when its temperature is increased; a thin film of thermosetting resin; and a layer of material formed of minute grains or domains smaller than a pixel which will form a pixel sized layer support during thermal printing. To print with the thermal transfer ink sheet constructed in accordance with the invention, the exposed surface of the support film is selectively heated to transfer the interlayer and both fusible ink layers to the recording medium after the support film is stripped away. All the layers separate cleanly and the interlayer supports the printed portion of the first ink layer in layer condition to yield a uniform visible printed surface.

Thermal transfer ink sheet and method of printing

A transfer medium for use in a printing apparatus wherein a magnetic ink layer containing magnetic particles is heat-melted and transferred to a material to be printed. The magnetic ink layer contains magnetic particles different from each other in size, which enables printing to be conducted with an excellent quality.

Non-impact printing apparatus

A thermal transfer ink medium including a heat resistant support layer having an ink layer thereon and an ink transfer layer or film on the ink layer is provided. Printing is performed by applying thermal energy to selected portions of the thermal transfer ink medium in accordance with image signals. The ink transfer layer and selected portions of the ink layer are transferred to a transfer medium by selective activation of the ink layer. By providing the ink transfer layer, the ink is maintained as a cohesive body and transfer is not affected by the surface roughness of the transfer medium.

Thermal transfer ink printing apparatus

Transfer medium

Thermal transfer ink medium and method of printing

A thermal transfer magnetic ink, ink sheet and method of printing with the magnetic ink and apparatus which will print high quality images and characters. The heat-fusible magnetic ink transfer sheet includes a heat-fusible magnetic ink layer disposed on a heat resistant support film. The magnetic ink layer includes minute magnetic particles dispersed in a binder and has a surface tension lower than about 20 dynes/cm when melted. The magnetic properties of the ink combined with the melted ink's surface tension, permit avoiding contact between the ink transfer sheet and the recording medium. A magnetic field pulls the ink melted by a print head off of the support film so that the melted ink flies from the ink transfer sheet to the recording medium.

Magnetic ink and method of printing

A printing apparatus for printing on a transfer medium using an ink medium with a thermoplastic magnetic ink. A thermal head selectively heats and melts the magnetic ink. A magnetic head urges the melted magnetic ink from the ink medium to the transfer medium. Both the thermal head and the magnetic head are positioned on the same side of the transfer medium. The distance between the magnetic head and the platen can be adjusted depending upon the thickness of the transfer medium to maintain a constant speed of ink transfer from the ink medium to the transfer medium. Methods of printing by ejecting the ink from the ink medium onto the transfer paper and for adjusting the distance between the magnetic head and platen to adapt to varying thicknesses of transfer medium are presented.

Printing apparatus

A printer and method of printing on a transfer medium utilizing thermoplastic magnetic ink. A thermal head selectively applies thermal energy to melt selected portions of the thermoplastic magnetic ink. A magnetic head substantially spatially fixed relative to the thermal head applies the magnetic force to the thermoplastic ink which causes the melted portions to be ejected onto the transfer medium. A strip of thermoplastic magnetic ink medium is positioned to slide between the thermal head and the transfer medium. The strip includes a base layer facing the thermal head and a magnetic thermoplastic ink layer facing the transfer medium. A first movement mechanism moves either the transfer medium or the thermal and magnetic heads relative to the other at a first speed. A second movement mechanism moves the magnetic thermoplastic ink medium strip relative to the magnetic and thermal heads at a second speed. The first and second speeds are unequal. The method includes moving a thermoplastic magnetic ink medium at a first speed relative to a thermal head and moving a magnetic head and thermal head at a second speed not equal to the first speed relative to the transfer medium. Selected portions of the thermoplastic magnetic ink medium are melted with a thermal print head. The melted ink from the thermoplastic magnetic ink medium is transferred to the transfer medium by a magnetic force applied by a magnetic head.

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Suwa, Japan

Kohei Iwamoto