Patent ID: 6894713
Filing Date: 2005-05-17
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a donor sheet and an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer, the apparatus comprising: a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum; an acceptor element affixed to and supported by the cylindrical drum; a rotatably mounted dispensing roller; a rotatably mounted receiving roller a donor sheet dispensed by the dispensing roller and received by the receiving roller, wherein the donor sheet is adapted to move uni-directionally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the drum; a plurality of rotatably mounted contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into substantially coextensive contact along the width of the acceptor element; and a laser imaging head adapted to move parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum and relative to the donor sheet and acceptor element, and wherein the laser imaging head does not contact the donor sheet or the acceptor element.