Thermal ink-transfer imaging

Thermal ink-transfer imaging was studied in order to obtain plain-paper prints with conventional thermal equipment. This ink-transfer imaging is accomplished by using a thermal head to heat and melt an ink coated on a base and directly transferring the ink to plain paper, pressed against the ink layer. A theoretical analysis of pertinent performance characteristics was carried out on a statistical model, solving appropriate heat-conduction equations. The results were confirmed experimentally. The isodensity and printing energy characteristics obtained are useful in designing the optimum imaging conditions. For applications, the ink-film and ink-thermal-paper printing methods were demonstrated for both thermal facsimile and thermal printer with sufficiently good performance levels.