Patent ID: 6697093
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
A thermal printer capable of preventing crease formation in a dye transfer area of a dye donor web that can cause line artifacts to be printed on a dye receiver during a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, said printer comprising:a thermal print head for heating the dye transfer area of the dye donor web sufficiently to effect a dye transfer from the dye transfer area to the dye receiver, but not heating two opposite edge areas of the dye donor web alongside the dye transfer area sufficiently to effect a dye transfer from the two edge areas to the dye receiver, so that the dye transfer area is vulnerable to being stretched relative to the two edge areas; a web supply for supplying the dye donor web to said print head; a web take-up that takes up the dye donor web from said print head, and that exerts a pulling force on the dye transfer area and two edge areas at said print head which is sufficient to stretch the dye transfer area relative to the two edge areas to possibly form some creases in at least respective regions adjacent the two edge areas; and a web spreading baffle positioned longitudinally between said web supply and said print head for supporting the dye transfer area and two edge areas preparatory to the dye transfer at said print head, and which is permanently arced lengthwise to lengthwise arc the dye transfer area and two edge areas, and is permanently arced widthwise to widthwise arc the dye transfer area and two edge areas, in order to cause at least the web regions in which the creases can form to spread so that crease formation that can cause line artifacts is at least substantially prevented.