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:
Jan. 12, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 04, 1996
Hideo Watanabe, Inashiki-gun, JP;
Junnosuke Katsuyama, Inashiki-gun, JP;
Riso Kagaku Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The disclosed printing apparatus is includes an ink-permeable cylindrical printing drum which is rotated about an axis of rotation thereof with a heat-sensitive stencil sheet wound around the circumferential surface thereof; a liquid ejector which ejects a photothermal conversion material contained in a liquid to the heat-sensitive stencil sheet in accordance with image information, so that the photothermal conversion material is transferred to the stencil sheet as a reproduction of the image; a light which radiates a visible or infrared ray to the stencil sheet to which the photothermal conversion material has been transferred, such that the stencil sheet is perforated by heat emitted by the photothermal conversion material; and a presser which presses at least either the printing drum or printing sheet that is being moved in synchrony with the rotation of the printing drum, bringing the drum and printing sheet into close contact with each other, such that the stencil printing ink that is fed into the printing drum is transferred to the printing sheet through the perforated stencil sheet, in which the liquid ejector is further capable of ejecting a photothermal conversion material and/or a colorant contained in a liquid directly to the printing sheet in accordance with the desired image information, such that the image can be reproduced directly onto the printing sheet. Printing can be effected by two modes either stencil printing or printing directly from the liquid ejector. Upon perforation, the stencil sheet is not required to contact any substance, such as an original or a thermal printer head.