| 摘要 |
A method of printing an image onto a substrate (2) comprises the steps of: providing a substrate (2), a print head (3), and a carrier (4) between the print head (3) and the substrate (2); providing a backing roller (1); urging the print head (3) towards the roller (1) so as to urge the print head (3) against the carrier (4), the carrier (4) against the substrate (2), and the substrate (2) against the roller (1); then selectively energising print head heating elements whilst moving the head (3) from a first position (P1, fig 2) on the roller's circumference to a second position (P2, fig 2) so as to move the head along the substrate (2) and transfer print medium from the carrier (4) to the substrate (2) to print at least a portion of an image on an area of the substrate (2). Another method comprises dividing the image into a series of portions (51-58, fig 4); printing each portion by urging the print head (3) against the carrier (4) as to urge the carrier(4) against the substrate (2) and then selectively energising the heating elements whilst moving the head (3) in a first direction so as to move the head (3) along the substrate (2) and transfer print medium from the carrier (4) to the substrate (2) to print the image portion on a respective area (51-58, fig 4) of the substrate (2); and after printing each portion, if there is at least one further image portion to be printed, moving the head (3), substrate (2), and carrier (4) in a second direction, opposite to the first, in preparation for printing the next portion in the series. Corresponding apparatus is described and claimed. |
