The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 1998
Filed:
Oct. 25, 1995
Raymond Phillips, Portland, CT (US);
Gerber Scientific Products, Inc., Manchester, CT (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for printing graphic images by laser thermal transfer uses a laser source and a programmable pulse generator to transmit a pulsed infrared laser beam in accordance with a printing program of image data to print graphic images on sheet material. The pulsed laser beam is transmitted through a focusing lens, and the focused beam is in turn scanned by a scanning device through a laser window assembly into an ink web along a line of laser impingement. The ink web contains a layer of printing ink and overlies the sheet material supported on a roller platen. The laser window presses the ink web into the sheet material against the roller platen along the line of laser impingement to facilitate the transfer of ink from the web to the sheet in accordance with the printing program of image data. The focusing lens and laser window are highly transmissive at the selected wavelength of the laser beam to permit the passage of substantially all radiation into the layer of printing ink along the line of laser impingement.