Patent ID: 6109800
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B41J,B41M,Y10T

Abstract:
An image transfer apparatus that records an image through selective heat and pressure application, comprising:an ink transfer unit that includes a layer of micro-capsules containing dye, each micro-capsule disposed in said layer of micro-capsules exhibiting a temperature/pressure characteristic such that, when said each micro-capsule is squashed under a corresponding predetermined pressure at a corresponding predetermined temperature, said dye seeps from said squashed micro-capsule and transfers to a surface of a recording sheet, each micro-capsule having a shell wall comprising a shape memory resin exhibiting a glass-transition temperature corresponding to said corresponding predetermined temperature, and said shape memory resin of said shell wall comprising a predetermined thickness;a pressure application unit that locally applies said corresponding predetermined pressure to said micro-capsule layer;a heat application unit that selectively and locally heats said micro-capsule layer to said corresponding predetermined temperature; anda pre-coating unit that pre-coats a material on said surface of said sheet prior to said transfer of said dye,wherein a degree of roughness of said surface of said recording sheet is diminished due to said material such that said transferred dye is accurately fixed to said surface as said image.