Apparatus and method for loading a dye donor in a thermal printer

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(11)

EP 0 595 265 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	06.07.1994 Bulletin 1994/27

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	04.05.1994 Bulletin 1994/18

(21)	Application number: 93117346.2

(22)	Date of filing: 26.10.1993

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁵: B41J 31/10

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	DE FR GB

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Priority:

29.10.1992 US 968932

(71)	Applicant: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
	Rochester, New York 14650-2201 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Whritenor, James Andrew Rochester, New York 14650-2201 (US)

(74)	Representative: Wagner, Karl H., Dipl.-Ing. et al
	WAGNER & GEYER Patentanwälte Gewürzmühlstrasse 5 80538 München 80538 München (DE)

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References cited: :

(54)	Apparatus and method for loading a dye donor in a thermal printer

(57) An apparatus and method are provided for loading a dye donor web (12) in a thermal printer. The apparatus includes a take-up spool and a dye donor web (12) having a leader with adhesive material thereon, top and bottom surfaces, and first and second parallel longitudinal edges. The take-up spool has a body and first and second alignment lines positioned on the body to receive the web with the parallel edges aligned with the alignment lines and secured with the adhesive. The method comprises swinging open a door of the printer and providing access to first and second spaced apart guiding support members (18,38), and to third and fourth spaced apart guiding support members one of which has a color indicia thereon. The method includes inserting a dye donor web take-up spool between the third and fourth guiding support members, inserting a supply spool (24) having a dye donor web (12) wound thereon between the first and second guiding support members (18,38) so that an insertion label on the supply spool (24) is adjacent the color indicia, and unwinding a portion of the dye donor web (13) and positioning a donor web leader on the take-up spool with parallel edges of the leader aligned with alignment lines on the take-up spool.

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