Title:
DYESHEET CASSETTE AND PRINTING APPARATUS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO1999020471
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A dyesheet cassette (3) contains a dyesheet (2) mounted between supply and take-up spools (5 and 6) for printing to e.g. a slide (1) using a laser beam (8) focussed by a rod lens (7). The cassette (3) comprising a moulded casing (13) having a base (14), and supply and take-up spool housings (15 and 16) into which the spools (5, 6) are placed during manufacture, before end caps (35, 36) (not shown) are added. The casing (13) includes integrally moulded leaf spring (17) for urging the spools (5 and 6), against the end caps (35, 36) and against drive shafts (not shown) of a printer. The cassette (3) includes a ribbon insertion guide (12) which moves between an extended position in which it engages the ribbon (2) and also seals the ribbon supply opening (15a) in the housing (15), and the shown retracted position, in which it passes about the lens (7) to leave the ribbon (2) thereon. The guide (12) has a pad (53) thereon which cleans the lens (7) during retraction or extension of the guide. The take-up spool (6) is longer in length than the supply spool (5) to prevent snagging of the ribbon (2). The cassette (3) is accurately positioned on printing apparatus by placing locating cylinders (18, 18b) over locating rods (47). It also includes a shield (11) for preventing dye resublimed from the slide (1) during flash fixing from reaching the flash fixing tubes (9).
Inventors:
GILBERT KEITH WILLIAM (GB)
HOWELL JEFFREY MICHAEL (GB)
BURCH TERENCE JOHN (GB)
BUTCHER PETER CHARLES WILLIAM (GB)
MAZAR SCOTT THOMAS (US)
SCHOUWEILER DAVID (US)
KEENEY RICHARD (US)
ARNAL KEVIN (US)
HOWELL JEFFREY MICHAEL (GB)
BURCH TERENCE JOHN (GB)
BUTCHER PETER CHARLES WILLIAM (GB)
MAZAR SCOTT THOMAS (US)
SCHOUWEILER DAVID (US)
KEENEY RICHARD (US)
ARNAL KEVIN (US)
Application Number:
PCT/GB1998/003163
Publication Date:
July 01, 1999
Filing Date:
October 22, 1998
Export Citation:
Assignee:
ICI PLC (GB)
GILBERT KEITH WILLIAM (GB)
HOWELL JEFFREY MICHAEL (GB)
BURCH TERENCE JOHN (GB)
BUTCHER PETER CHARLES WILLIAM (GB)
MAZAR SCOTT THOMAS (US)
SCHOUWEILER DAVID (US)
KEENEY RICHARD (US)
ARNAL KEVIN (US)
GILBERT KEITH WILLIAM (GB)
HOWELL JEFFREY MICHAEL (GB)
BURCH TERENCE JOHN (GB)
BUTCHER PETER CHARLES WILLIAM (GB)
MAZAR SCOTT THOMAS (US)
SCHOUWEILER DAVID (US)
KEENEY RICHARD (US)
ARNAL KEVIN (US)
International Classes:
B41J17/32; B41J33/52; B41J35/28; (IPC1-7): B41J17/32
Foreign References:
| US4673304A | 1987-06-16 | |||
| US5110228A | 1992-05-05 | |||
| EP0705708A2 | 1996-04-10 | |||
| EP0638434A2 | 1995-02-15 |
Download PDF: