Printer and method of printing
First Claim
1. A printer for printing on a transfer medium utilizing thermoplastic magnetic ink, comprising:
- a thermal head for selectively applying thermal energy to melt selected portions of the thermoplastic magnetic ink;
a magnetic head substantially spatially fixed relative to the thermal head for applying a magnetic force to the thermoplastic ink which causes the melted portions to be transferred onto the transfer medium;
a strip of thermoplastic magnetic ink medium positioned for displacement in the space between the thermal head and transfer medium, the strip including a base layer facing and contacting the thermal head and a thermoplastic magnetic ink layer facing the transfer medium;
first movement means for moving one of the transfer medium and the thermal and magnetic heads relative to the other at a first speed; and
second movement means for moving the magnetic thermoplastic ink medium strip relative to the magnetic and thermal heads at a second speed, the first and second movement means being adapted to permit the first and second speeds to be unequal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
17 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A printer for printing on a transfer medium utilizing thermoplastic magnetic ink, comprising:
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a thermal head for selectively applying thermal energy to melt selected portions of the thermoplastic magnetic ink; a magnetic head substantially spatially fixed relative to the thermal head for applying a magnetic force to the thermoplastic ink which causes the melted portions to be transferred onto the transfer medium; a strip of thermoplastic magnetic ink medium positioned for displacement in the space between the thermal head and transfer medium, the strip including a base layer facing and contacting the thermal head and a thermoplastic magnetic ink layer facing the transfer medium; first movement means for moving one of the transfer medium and the thermal and magnetic heads relative to the other at a first speed; and second movement means for moving the magnetic thermoplastic ink medium strip relative to the magnetic and thermal heads at a second speed, the first and second movement means being adapted to permit the first and second speeds to be unequal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for printing on a transfer medium with thermoplastic magnetic ink, comprising:
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moving a thermoplastic magnetic ink medium at a first speed relative to a thermal head and a magnetic head; moving one of the magnetic head and the thermal head, and the transfer medium at a second speed, not equal to the first speed, relative to the other; melting selected portions of the thermoplastic magnetic ink on a thermoplastic magnetic ink medium with the thermal head; and transferring the melted ink from the thermoplastic magnetic ink medium to the transfer medium by magnetic force applied by a magnetic head. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification