Patent ID: 9604468
Date: 2017-03-28
CPC Classifications: B41F,B41J,B41M

Claim:
1. A printing apparatus comprising: a band of material capable of holding hot melt ink thereon, wherein the band of material and a thickness thereof are selected based on heat transfer characteristics through the material formed into the band, and the selected thickness provides durability for the band and quality prints at print pack rates above 650 packs per minute; rollers configured and arranged to hold and transport the band with respect to a substrate; a printhead configured and arranged to thermally transfer a portion of the ink from the band to the substrate to print on the substrate; an ink reservoir; a heated ink roller comprising a textured outer surface, wherein a first side of the heated ink roller contacts the band to cause ink on the band to re-melt, flow and replace at least some of the portion of the ink transferred to the substrate previously before arriving at the printhead again for a next print, and a second side of the heated ink roller receives new ink from the ink reservoir; a first blade configured and arranged to doctor the ink on the heated ink roller; and a second blade configured and arranged to keep debris from rolling into the reservoir.