Eastman-kodak Company

Kodak Alaris Inc.

Robert Fredric Mindler

Alex David Horvath

Zhanjun Gao

Po-Jen Shih

John Emmanuel Wright

Gregory James Garbacz

Steven J Tomanovich

Theodore J Skomsky

John F Corman

Robert C Cohoon

Marcus M Townsend

Joseph Anthony Manico

William H Simpson

Young No

Jacob J Hastreiter

Daniel C Maslanka

Charles S Christ, Jr

Henry G Wirth

Richard Steven Paoletti

Kevin T Mahoney

Richard Salter

Dennis W Heizyk

Joseph Repass

Daniel P Hannon

Christine Joanne Landry-Coltrain

Roger A Fields

Walter Harold Isaac

Terrence L Fisher, Sr

Stuart Gerard Evans

Paul H Forest

David E Coons

Daniel W Kuchta

Sharon P Markel

Gary W Anderson

Richard Harold Ellis

Guy T Calkins

David B Hilton

Gregory J Garbacz

David Bruce Hilton

Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods that facilitate printer calibration. According to certain embodiments, calibration methods comprise a printer printing a calibration target and cutting a calibration target using an inline slitter. The printer then determines a calibration offset based on the position of the cut on the calibration target. The printer can then be calibrated according to gross amounts on the slitter and fine amounts at an ink applicator.

Adjustable slitters for accurate transport-wise cutting of printed media

Various embodiments of systems and methods facilitate the calibration of a printer. The printer can print a calibration target and cut the calibration target using an inline slitter. The printer can determine a calibration offset based on the position of the cut on the calibration target. The printer can then be calibrated according to gross amounts on the slitter and fine amounts at an ink applicator.

Novel methods for calibrating a thermal printer by adjusting a look up table comprising the steps of receiving a test pattern to be printed on a receiver medium, printing the test pattern on the receiver medium, using a sensor to measure a depletion amount of donor material, and using a processor to adjust the lookup table based on the measured depletion amount are disclosed.

High efficiency printing method for improved image quality

A receiving well for use with a thermal dye sublimation printing apparatus is disclosed. The receiving well is used to receive cut sheets printed using the thermal dye sublimation printing. The receiving well includes two angled surfaces, referred to herein as ramps. The ramps are spaced apart from one another, and a waste area is positioned between the two ramps. The waste area captures the scrap or waste paper that can result from cutting the receiver media after printing. In some embodiments, both ramps slope down to the bottom surface of the receiving well. In other embodiments, one of the ramps is raised off the bottom surface of the receiving well at its lowest point. The waste area may also be offset such that it is closer to one side of the receiving well than the other.

Offset print stacking tray with waste area

The present invention is directed to systems and methods of directly determining the type of receiver media loaded in a thermal printer by measurements taken from the receiver media itself. In one embodiment, a tri-color emitter and detector combination work in conjunction to determine the intensity of light transmitted through the receiver media. The type of receiver media may be determined by the voltage response or transmission profile generated by the receiver in response to being illuminated by the tri-color emitter.

System and method for determining receiver type in a thermal printer

A printing method wherein a position of a receiver media in a printer is determined to be nearer to one of two thermal printheads at an end of a print job. A next print job is started using either one of the two thermal printheads depending on which one was determined to be nearer the receiving media.

Method for maintaining proper page sequence while reducing printer artifacts

A high efficiency thermal printing system, comprising: a donor ribbon having donor material; a receiver medium; a test pattern to be printed on the receiver medium using the donor ribbon; a print head, a sensor, and a processor is disclosed. The present invention is adapted to print the test pattern on the receiver medium by heating the donor ribbon to cause the donor material to transfer from the donor ribbon onto the receiver medium, thereby depleting donor material on the donor ribbon. Moreover, the sensor is adapted to measure a depletion amount of the donor material on the donor ribbon after printing the test pattern, and the processor is adapted to calibrate the thermal printing system by adjusting a lookup table in response to the measured depletion amount of donor material.

High efficiency printing system for improved image quality

A roll-fed duplex thermal printing system, comprising a supply roll of receiver media, a printing path, a reversing path, a pivotable diverter and a cutter positioned between the diverter and the reversing path. When the diverter is in a first position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll, when the diverter is in a second position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll into the reversing path, and when the diverter is in the third position the receiver media is directed from the reversing path into the printing path. During a printing operation, the diverter is sequentially repositioned to feed the receiver media into the printing path where a first side image is printed, into the reversing path where it is cut, and into the printing path again where a second side image is printed.

Duplex thermal printer with pivotable diverter

A roll-fed duplex thermal printing system, comprising a supply roll of receiver media, a printing path, a turning mechanism, a diverter and a cutter positioned between the printing path and the turning mechanism. When the diverter is in the first position thermal imaging receiver is directed from the supply roll into the printing path, and when the diverter is in the second position the thermal imaging receiver is directed from the printing path into the turning mechanism. During a printing operation, the diverter is positioned in the first position and the receiver media is fed into the printing path where a first side image is printed. The diverter is then repositioned the receiver media is fed into the turning mechanism after being cut. The receiver media is fed back into the printing path where a second side image is printed.

Duplex thermal printing system with turning mechanism

A roll-fed duplex thermal printing system, comprising a supply roll of receiver media, a printing path, a reversing path, a pivotable diverter and a cutter positioned between the supply roll and the reversing path. When the diverter is in a first position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll, when the diverter is in a second position the receiver media is directed from the supply roll into the reversing path, and when the diverter is in the third position the receiver media is directed from the reversing path into the printing path. During a printing operation, the diverter is sequentially repositioned to feed the receiver media into the printing path where a first side image is printed, into the reversing path where it is cut, and into the printing path again where a second side image is printed.

Duplex thermal printing system with pivotable diverter

A printing system or a printer with a pair of printheads detects a position of receiver media in the printer and directs either second page data or first page data to be printed first depending at which printhead the receiver media is positioned.

Printing system for maintaining proper page sequence while reducing printer artifacts

A printing method for a print job having at least two pages. After determining a position of rolled media in the printer, print data for either a first page or a second page of the print job can be staged for printing first. This can be performed at a host computer connected to the printer or it can be performed in the printer.

Printing method for maintaining proper page sequence while reducing printer artifacts

Growing community of inventors

Churchville, NY, United States of America

Robert Fredric Mindler