Method and apparatus for dye sublimation transfer printing

摘要

A modulated scanning laser beam (5) heats selected regions on a dye donor sheet (1) mounted on a roller (2) to cause dye therein to sublime and cross an gap (10) to condense onto a receiver sheet (3) mounted on a support bed (4) to form an image therein. The gap (10) is provided by scanning the beam (5) at a point offset from the point A where the donor sheet (1) and receiver sheet (3) contact. The donor and receiver sheets may exchange positions. The roller (2) may be replaced by a rod lens through which the beam (5) passes. In this case, the sheet adjacent the rod lens may be spaced from the rod lens at the point where the beam (5) exits the rod lens, e.g. by spacer tape on the surface of the lens. In a further embodiment, the sublimation gap between the donor and receiver sheets is provided by a flanged roller. <IMAGE>