Patent ID: 8085286
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A method of printing an image onto a substrate, the method comprising: a) providing a substrate; b) providing a print head having a plurality of heating elements; c) providing a carrier between the print head and the substrate, the carrier comprising a thermally sensitive print medium; d) urging the print head against the carrier so as to urge the carrier against the substrate; e) while the print head is urging the carrier against the substrate, selectively energizing the heating elements while moving the print head in a first direction so as to move the print head along the substrate and to transfer print medium from the carrier to the substrate to print a first portion of the image on a first area of the substrate; f) then moving the print head, the substrate, and the carrier in a second direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction; g) then urging the print head against the carrier so as to urge the carrier against the substrate; h) then while the print head is urging the carrier against the substrate, selectively energizing the heating elements while moving the print head in the first direction so as to move the print head along the substrate and to transfer print medium from the carrier to the substrate to print a second portion of the image on a second area of the substrate, the second area being adjacent to the first area along a longitudinal axis of the substrate; and, wherein each step of selectively energizing the heating elements while moving the print head in the first direction comprises moving the print head with respect to the roller from a first position on the circumference of the roller to a second position on the circumference of the roller.