US 11,807,020 B2
Thermal paper preheating and optical printing
Brad M. Johnson, Raleigh, NC (US); Timothy W. Crockett, Raleigh, NC (US); and Suzanne M. Bleakley, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Holdings Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/191,122.
Prior Publication US 2022/0281232 A1, Sep. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B41J 11/00 (2006.01); B41J 2/44 (2006.01); B41J 2/455 (2006.01); B41J 2/475 (2006.01); B41J 2/45 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/4753 (2013.01) [B41J 2/442 (2013.01); B41J 2/45 (2013.01); B41J 2/455 (2013.01); B41J 11/0015 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printing system comprising:
a paper feeding mechanism configured to provide a thermal paper along a paper path in the printing system, wherein the thermal paper comprises a thermal chemical disposed on a first side of the thermal paper;
an optical print head disposed on the paper path comprising at least one optical energy source, where the at least one optical energy source prints onto the thermal paper by imparting optical energy onto a reverse side of the thermal paper, wherein the optical energy passes through the thermal paper to cause the thermal chemical disposed on the first side to activate, wherein the optical print head comprises a first paper handling mechanism positioned between the optical print head and the thermal paper to keep the thermal paper from physically contacting the optical energy source; and
at least one preheating element disposed between the paper feeding mechanism and the optical print head, wherein the at least one preheating element imparts priming thermal energy to the thermal paper prior to the thermal paper being provided to the optical print head, wherein the at least one preheating element comprises a second paper handling mechanism positioned between the at least one preheating element and the thermal paper to keep the thermal paper from physically contacting the optical energy source.