EP2636530A1 - Printing apparatus and erasing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a receiver unit receiving a dye carrier element (5) that is provided with a dye field (6y) of a sublimate dye. A printing unit prints an image to be printed on a dye receiving element i.e. printing paper, by selective heating of the carrier element. An amount of a dye of the dye field is vaporized by selective heating and transmitted from the carrier element to the receiving element while another amount of the dye of the dye field remains in the carrier element. An image of the printed image is produced on the carrier element, and an erasing unit erases the produced image. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a method for printing colored printing images (2) an erasing device (3) a method for erasing an image.

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and an erasing apparatus. The present invention further relates to a corresponding printing method and a corresponding erasing method.

Thermal sublimation printing (sometimes referred to as thermal diffusion printing) is a printing method in which a dye carrier member provided with a dye field of a sublimable dye having heat transfer properties is brought into contact with a dye receptor member and selectively heated by a heating element according to an image to be printed , The sublimable dye at the selectively heated portions of the dye carrier member directly transitions from solid to gaseous state by heating (this is termed "sublimation") and is transferred to the dye receiver member. There it produces a printed image whose shape and intensity depends on the pattern and intensity of the thermal intensity applied to the dye-carrier member, and thus the amount of sublimated and transferred dye. The method is nowadays used, inter alia, because of its very natural, chemical photography-like color rendering in e.g. used high-quality photo printers.

The dye-carrier element may be, for example, a dye carrier sheet suitable for printing color images to be printed (color images), and those for the three Basic printing inks cyan, magenta and yellow each have a corresponding dye field and possibly another field with a colorless fixative for finishing and protecting the surface of the dye receiver element. The printed image is then produced in several successive passes by superposition of the dyes for the three primary printing inks and the colorless fixing. The size of the dye fields is usually the size at which the image to be printed is printed on the dye receiver element. For example, the size of the dye fields of a dye carrier sheet for a photo printer for printing photos in 10-size (10 x 15 cm) is usually also about 10 x 15 cm. The dye carrier sheet may be provided in the form of a roll for a predetermined number, eg, 400, of images to be printed, and may be housed in a container such as a cartridge or the like, which may be changed as a whole unit.

Since, in the dye sublimation printing, the printed image is formed by the transfer of a sublimed dye dependent on the heat intensity at the selectively heated portions of the dye carrier member to the dye receiver member, after printing, a negative image of the image to be printed remains in the dye pads of the dye carrier member that is, at those areas of the dye carrier element where a larger amount of dye is sublimed and transferred to produce a more intense color in the printed image, only a minor amount of dye remains on the dye carrier element, whereas at those areas of the dye carrier element, where only a minor amount of dye is sublimed and transferred to produce a color of correspondingly lower intensity in the printed image, a correspondingly greater amount of dye remains on the dye carrier element ibt. This may be problematic for safety or data protection reasons, since the image of the image to be printed in the dye fields of the dye carrier element is retained even after its use, and it is thus possible to reconstruct the printed image from the used dye carrier element.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printing device which takes into account the mentioned safety and data protection aspects when printing. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a corresponding printing method.

• eine Aufnahmeeinheit zum Aufnehmen eines mit einem Farbstofffeld eines sublimierbaren Farbstoffes versehenen Farbstoffträgerelementes;
• eine Druckeinheit zum Drucken eines zu druckenden Bildes auf ein Farbstoffempfängerelement durch selektives Erhitzen des Farbstoffträgerelementes entsprechend dem zu druckenden Bild, wobei durch das selektive Erhitzen eine erste Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes verdampft und von dem Farbstoffträgerelement auf das Farbstoffempfängerelement übertragen wird während eine zweite Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement verbleibt, wodurch ein Abbild des zu druckenden Bildes auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement entsteht, und;
• eine Löscheinheit zum Löschen des Abbildes des zu druckenden Bildes.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus comprising:

• a receiving unit for receiving a dye carrier member provided with a dye field of a sublimable dye;
• a printing unit for printing an image to be printed on a dye-receiver element by selectively heating the dye-carrier element corresponding to the image to be printed, wherein the selective heating vaporizes a first amount of the dye of the dye field and transfers it from the dye-carrier element to the dye-receiving element while a second amount of the dye the dye field remains on the dye carrier element, whereby an image of the image to be printed on the dye carrier element is formed, and;
• an erasing unit for erasing the image of the image to be printed.

The printing device according to the invention is based on the idea to take into account the above-mentioned safety or data protection aspects when printing that a deletion unit is provided as part of the printing device, which is an image of an image to be printed on the printing of the image to be printed on a dye receiver element is formed by the transfer of dye from the dye carrier element to the dye receiver element in the dye field of the dye carrier element. After erasing, the dye carrier element can then be safely disposed of, e.g. into recycling garbage without the risk that an unauthorized third party could reconstruct the printed image from the used dye carrier element.

The image to be printed may typically be provided as a digital image in the printing device. It can e.g. may be a "natural" image, such as a photograph taken with a still camera or an image of a video taken with a video camera, or it may be an "artificial" image, such as a drawn or a painted image. The term "image" also includes images of e.g. computer-generated text documents or any other digital data.

The image to be printed can be provided in different ways in the printing device. The printing device can, for example, have interfaces for suitable digital storage media, for example a USB interface for connecting a USB mass storage device, such as an external hard disk or a memory stick. Alternatively or additionally, however, the printing device can also be used, for example, via a wired and / or a wireless network connection, so that the image to be printed can be provided for example via the Internet in the printing device.

The dye-receiving element may be a suitable printing paper, e.g. in the form of a roll for a certain number, e.g. 400, images to be printed is provided. However, it is also possible that the dye-receiving element is something else, such as a synthetic fabric for or from a garment, a plastic card for e.g. an ID card or the like or even a three-dimensional object with a suitable printable surface.

As described above, the dye-carrier element may be, for example, a dye carrier film which is suitable for printing color images to be printed (color images), and for the three primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow a respective dye field and optionally another field with a colorless Having fixative for finishing and protecting the surface of the dye-receiving element. The size of the dye fields is usually the size at which the image to be printed is printed on the dye receiver element. The dye carrier sheet may be in the form of a roll for a given number, e.g. 400, images to be printed can be provided and housed in a container, such as a cartridge or the like, which can be changed as a whole unit.

The term "image of the image to be printed" in the context of this application means the "information" which, as described above, arises in the dye field of the dye carrier element when dye is transferred from the dye carrier element to the dye-receiving element during printing of the image to be printed , If the dye carrier element is a dye carrier sheet which is suitable for printing color images to be printed (color images), and for the three primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow each have a corresponding field of dye and optionally another colorless field for finishing and protecting the surface of the Dye receiver element, is also in a single color field, eg for the primary color magenta or for the primary color yellow, "printing" resulting information "an" image of the image to be printed "in the context of the present application.

It is preferred that the erase unit is adapted to heat the dye carrier member to at least partially vaporize the second amount of dye of the dye field remaining on the dye carrier member and thereby erase the image of the image to be printed. In this way, the image of the image to be deleted easily and safely delete so that it can not be reconstructed from the used dye carrier element.

It is further preferred that the printing unit comprises a printing heating element for selectively heating the dye-carrier member for printing the image to be printed, and that the erasing unit is adapted to use the printing heating element also as an erasing heater for heating the dye-carrier member to erase the image of the image to be printed , By using the (existing) Druckheizelementes as extinguishing heater, it is possible to design conventional printing devices in a simple manner with an erase unit for erasing the image of the image to be printed.

It is preferred that the printing unit comprises a pressure heating element for selectively heating the dye carrier element for printing the image to be printed, and that the erasing unit comprises an additional erasing heating element for heating the dye carrier element for erasing the image of the image to be printed. The use of an additional extinguishing element, that is, different from the (existing) pressure element, makes it possible to parallelize the printing of the image to be printed and the erasure of the image of the image to be printed.

It is further preferred that the receiving unit is adapted, during printing, to move the dye carrier member so as to advance the dye panel along the print heater, the additional erase heater being positioned downstream of the print heater in terms of the direction of movement of the dye panel during printing. It is preferred that the erase unit is adapted to erase the image of the image to be printed when advancing the dye field during printing by means of the additional erase heating element arranged downstream of the printing heating element. This makes it possible to perform the deleting process directly when printing the image to be printed.

It is further preferred that the recording unit is adapted, during printing, to move the dye-carrier element in such a way that the dye field on the pressure-heating element along and after printing, moving the dye-carrier member so as to move the dye field back along the erasing heater, and the erasing unit is adapted to erase the image of the image to be printed upon retraction of the dye panel after printing by means of the erasing heater. This makes it possible, for example, to perform the erasing operation after printing the image to be printed. Alternatively, in the case of a number of images to be printed, the erasing operation may be performed, for example, also after the printing of the number of images to be printed. The term "after printing" is to be understood broadly in this sense.

It is preferred that the capture unit be adapted to move the dye carrier member during printing so as to advance the dye panel along the print heater and to move the dye carrier member after printing so that the dye panel is moved back and thereafter moved forward along the firing heater and that the erasing unit is adapted to erase the image of the image to be printed when resuming the dye field after printing by means of the Erschheizheizeses. This makes it possible, for example, to perform the erasing operation after printing the image to be printed. Alternatively, for a number of images to be printed, the erase operation may be e.g. also after printing the number of images to be printed. The term "after printing" is to be understood broadly in this sense.

It is further preferred that the dye carrier element is provided with a plurality of dye fields of a sublimable dye for a total number of images to be printed, wherein when printing the total number of images to be printed images of the images to be printed on the dye carrier element arise that the recording unit is adapted After printing the total number of images to be printed, the dye-carrier member is moved so as to move back the plurality of dye-fields along the erasing heater, and the erasing unit is adapted to return the images of the images to be printed upon returning the plurality of dye-fields after printing the total number delete printing images using the extinguishing heater. This makes it possible to perform the erasing process only after the full use of the dye carrier sheet.

It is further preferable that the dye-carrier member having a plurality of dye fields of a sublimable dye for a total number of images to be printed wherein, when printing the total number of images to be printed, images of the images to be printed are formed on the dye-carrier member, the recording unit is adapted to move the dye-carrier member after printing the total number of images to be printed so that the plurality of dye fields are moved back and thereafter is moved forward along the erasing heating element, and that the erasing unit is adapted to erase the images of the images to be printed in resuming the plurality of dye fields after printing the total number of images to be printed by means of the erasing heating element. This makes it possible to perform the erasing process only after the full use of the dye carrier sheet.

It is preferable that the erasing unit comprises a dye-receiving unit for picking up dye evaporated upon erasing the image of the image to be printed. The dye-receiving unit may be e.g. a kind of shell or other container that can be removed and taught the printing device when needed. Conceivable are both reusable solutions and "disposable" variants.

It is further preferred that the extinguishing heater is a thermal head. Such a thermal head may e.g. as a "one-dimensional" electrode bar with a plurality of heatable electrodes for line by line printing of the image to be printed.

• Aufnehmen eines mit einem Farbstofffeld eines sublimierbaren Farbstoffes versehenen Farbstoffträgerelementes durch eine Aufnahmeeinheit;
• Drucken eines zu druckenden Bildes auf ein Farbstoffempfängerelement durch selektives Erhitzen des Farbstoffträgerelementes entsprechend dem zu druckenden Bild durch eine Druckeinheit, wobei durch das selektive Erhitzen eine erste Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes verdampft und von dem Farbstoffträgerelement auf das Farbstoffempfängerelement übertragen wird während eine zweite Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement verbleibt, wodurch ein Abbild des zu druckenden Bildes auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement entsteht, und;
• Löschen des Abbildes des zu druckenden Bildes durch eine Löscheinheit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing method, the printing method comprising:

• Receiving a dye carrier element provided with a dye field of a sublimable dye by a receiving unit;
• Printing an image to be printed on a dye-receiver element by selectively heating the dye-carrier element corresponding to the image to be printed by a printing unit, wherein the selective heating vaporizes a first amount of the dye of the dye field and transfers it from the dye-carrier element to the dye-receiving element while a second amount of the dye the dye field remains on the dye carrier element, whereby an image of the image to be printed on the dye carrier element is formed, and;
• Deleting the image of the image to be printed by a deletion unit.

• eine Aufnahmeeinheit zum Aufnehmen eines mit einem Farbstofffeld eines sublimierbaren Farbstoffes versehenen Farbstoffträgerelementes;
• eine Löscheinheit zu Löschen eines Abbildes eines zu druckenden Bildes, das auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement dadurch entsteht, dass eine von einer Druckvorrichtung umfasste Druckeinheit zum Drucken des zu druckenden Bildes auf ein Farbstoffempfängerelement das Farbstoffträgerelement selektiv entsprechend dem zu druckenden Bild erhitzt, wobei durch das selektive Erhitzen eine erste Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes verdampft und von dem Farbstoffträgerelement auf das Farbstoffempfängerelement übertragen wird während eine zweite Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement verbleibt.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an erasing device, the erasing device comprising:

• a receiving unit for receiving a dye carrier member provided with a dye field of a sublimable dye;
• an erasing unit for erasing an image of an image to be printed formed on the ink-carrier member by a printing unit for printing the image to be printed on a dye-receptor member selectively heating the dye-carrier member corresponding to the image to be printed, wherein the selective heating causes First amount of the dye of the dye field is evaporated and transferred from the dye carrier member to the dye-receiving element while a second amount of the dye of the dye field remains on the dye carrier member.

The erasing device according to the invention is based on the same idea as the printing device according to the invention; however, it does not itself comprise a printing unit for printing the image to be printed. The erasing device may e.g. be provided as an accessory device for a conventional printing device.

It is preferred that the erase unit is adapted to heat the dye carrier member to at least partially vaporize the second amount of dye of the dye field remaining on the dye carrier member and thereby erase the image of the image to be printed. In this way, the image of the image to be deleted easily and safely delete so that it can not be reconstructed from the used dye carrier element.

It is further preferred that the erasing unit comprises an erasing heating element for heating the dye-carrier element for erasing the image of the image to be printed.

It is preferable that the erasing unit is adapted to crush the dye-carrier member and thereby erase the image of the image to be printed.

• Aufnehmen eines mit einem Farbstofffeld eines sublimierbaren Farbstoffes versehenen Farbstoffträgerelementes durch eine Aufnahmeeinheit;
• Löschen eines Abbildes eines zu druckenden Bildes, das auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement dadurch entsteht, dass eine von einer Druckvorrichtung umfasste Druckeinheit zum Drucken des zu druckenden Bildes auf ein Farbstoffempfängerelement das Farbstoffträgerelement selektiv entsprechend dem zu druckenden Bild erhitzt, wobei durch das selektive Erhitzen eine erste Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes verdampft und von dem Farbstoffträgerelement auf das Farbstoffempfängerelement übertragen wird während eine zweite Menge des Farbstoffes des Farbstofffeldes auf dem Farbstoffträgerelement verbleibt, durch eine Löscheinheit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an erasing method, wherein the erasing method comprises:

• Receiving a dye carrier element provided with a dye field of a sublimable dye by a receiving unit;
• Erasing an image of an image to be printed which is formed on the dye-carrier member by a printing unit comprising a printing unit for printing the image to be printed on a dye-receiver member selectively heating the dye-carrier member corresponding to the image to be printed, wherein the selective heating causes a first amount of the toner Dye of the dye field is evaporated and transferred from the dye carrier member to the dye-receiving element while a second amount of the dye of the dye field remains on the dye carrier member by a quenching unit.

It is understood that the printing apparatus according to claim 1, the printing method according to claim 13, the erasing apparatus according to claim 14 and the erasing method according to claim 18 have similar and / or identical preferred embodiments, in particular as defined in the dependent claims.

It should be understood that a preferred embodiment of the invention may be any combination of the dependent claims with the corresponding independent claim.

Fig. 1

schematisch und exemplarisch eine Schnittdarstellung einer herkömmlichen Druckvorrichtung zeigt,

Fig. 2

schematisch und exemplarisch ein Farbstoffträgerelement zeigt,

Fig. 3

schematisch und exemplarisch eine Schnittdarstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Druckvorrichtung zeigt,

Fig. 4

schematisch und exemplarisch eine Schnittdarstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Druckvorrichtung zeigt,

Fig. 5

ein Flussdiagramm zeigt, das eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Druckverfahrens illustriert,

Fig. 6

schematisch und exemplarisch eine Schnittdarstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Löschvorrichtung zeigt,

Fig. 7

schematisch und exemplarisch eine Schnittdarstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Löschvorrichtung zeigt, und

Fig. 8

ein Flussdiagramm zeigt, das eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Löschverfahrens illustriert.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be elucidated with reference to the figures described below, wherein

Fig. 1

schematically and exemplarily shows a sectional view of a conventional printing device,

Fig. 2

schematically and exemplarily shows a dye carrier element,

Fig. 3

schematically and exemplarily shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of a printing device according to the invention,

Fig. 4

schematically and exemplarily shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of a printing device according to the invention,

Fig. 5

a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a printing method according to the invention,

Fig. 6

schematically and exemplarily shows a sectional view of a first embodiment of an extinguishing device according to the invention,

Fig. 7

schematically and exemplarily shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of an extinguishing device according to the invention, and

Fig. 8

a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of an erase method according to the invention.

In the figures, identical or functionally or structurally corresponding elements or steps are in part marked with the same reference numerals. If an element or a step has already been explained in more detail in connection with a figure, a detailed explanation is possibly omitted in connection with another figure.

Fig. 1 shows schematically and exemplarily a sectional view of a conventional printing device 100, here a thermal sublimation printer (sometimes referred to as a so-called. Thermodiffusionsdrucker). The thermal sublimation printer 100 comprises a receiving unit 10 for receiving a dye carrier element 5 provided with a dye field 6y of a sublimable dye and a printing unit 20 for printing an image to be printed on a dye receiver element 3. The dye receiver element 3 is here a suitable printing paper, for example in the form of a roll for a certain number, eg 400, images to be printed (not shown in the figure) is provided. The printing paper 3 is movable by a rotatable roller 1 of the thermal sublimation printer 100 on the dye carrier member 5 along.

A dye carrier element 5 is schematically and exemplarily in Fig. 2 shown. The dye-carrier member 5 is, in this example, a dye-carrier sheet suitable for printing color images to be printed (color images). The dye carrier sheet 5 is provided for each of the three primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow with a corresponding dye field 6c, 6m, 6y and with another field 7 of a colorless fixative for finishing and protecting the surface of the printing paper 3 (dye receiver element). The dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y shown in the figure enable the printing of a single image to be printed by superposition of the dyes for the three primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow on the printing paper 3. (This will be described with reference to Figs Fig. 1 will be described in more detail.) The size of the dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y corresponds to the size with which the image to be printed on the printing paper 3 is printed. Although only the dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y (as well as the further field 7) are shown in the figure for a single image to be printed, the dye carrier sheet 5, in this example, having a plurality of dye fields NF of a sublimable dye for a total number, eg 400, provided images to be printed. In other words, the dye carrier sheet 5 comprises, for each image to be printed, the total number of images to be printed, respectively, a cyan, a magenta and a yellow dye field (corresponding to the dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y shown in the figure) and a field of the colorless one Fixierstoffes (corresponding to the field shown in the figure 7). The dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y shown in the figure are thus in this example thus a subset (represented in the figure by the "element" symbol) of the plurality of dye fields NF.

The dye carrier film 5 is attached at its two ends to a respective coil 8, 9. In the unused state, the dye carrier sheet 5 is substantially completely wound on the spool 8. During printing, the dye carrier sheet 5 is then unwound successively from the spool 8 and wound on the spool 9 until it is substantially completely wound on the spool 9 after printing the total number of images to be printed. The dye carrier sheet 5 may be accommodated in a container (not shown in the figure), such as a cartridge or the like, which may be exchanged as an entire unit, i.e., introduced into and taken out of the receiving unit 10 of the thermal sublimation printer 100.

The use of in the Fig. 2 shown dye carrier sheet 5 in the in Fig. 1 shown thermal sublimation printer 100 will be explained in more detail below.

Returning to the Fig. 1 The printing unit 20 comprises a print heater 21, here a thermal head, and printing the image to be printed on the printing paper 3 by selectively heating the dye carrier sheet 5 (dye carrier member) corresponding to the image to be printed by means of the thermal head 21. More specifically, the taking unit 10 moves when printing, the dye carrier sheet 5 so that the dye field 6y is advanced on the thermal head 21 along. This happens, for example, in that a drive unit, for example a suitable motor, of the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) engages the coil 9 in order to successively unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 from the spool 8 and to wind it on the spool 9. At the same time, the rotatable roller 1 moves the printing paper 3 along the dye carrier sheet 5. The selective heating of the dye carrier sheet 5 by means of the thermal head 21 takes place, in this embodiment, line by line corresponding to the printing Image. A corresponding control of the thermal head 21 can be effected for example via a suitable pressure control unit 22.

By the selective heating, a first amount of the dye of the dye field 6y (in this example the printing base color yellow) is vaporized and transferred from the dye carrier sheet 5 to the printing paper 3. There, the corresponding yellow color separation of the printed image is formed, the shape and intensity of which depend on the pattern and intensity of the thermal intensity applied to the dye carrier sheet 5, and thus the amount of sublimated and transferred dye. A second amount of the dye of the dye field 6y remains on the dye carrier sheet 5, whereby an image of the yellow color separation of the image to be printed on the dye carrier sheet 5 is formed. In order to print the further color separations (magenta, cyan) of the image to be printed, the roll 1 returns the printing paper 3 to the original position, respectively, and the printing process described above is repeated with the dye fields 6m (magenta) and 6c (cyan) this way, the three primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow on the printing paper 3 are superposed on the printed image. Images of the magenta and cyan color separations of the image to be printed are also formed on the dye carrier film 5. For the purposes of the present application, each of these images is a color separation (cyan, magenta, yellow) of the image to be printed - and also its entirety "Image of the image to be printed".

An example of an image of an image to be printed is in Fig. 2 shown. Here it is assumed that the image to be printed shows a colored cube. By printing the image to be printed, an image of the image to be printed is formed on the dye carrier sheet 5 in each of the dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y for the three primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow. These contain the "information" about the respective color separation (cyan, magenta, yellow) of the image to be printed and - in its entirety - about the colored image to be printed (color image). The image to be printed can therefore be reconstructed, for example, by scanning the dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y and correspondingly overlaying the scans from the used dye carrier film 5. This can be problematic for safety and data protection reasons.

Fig. 3 shows schematically and exemplarily a sectional view of a first embodiment of a printing device 200 according to the invention, here a thermal sublimation printer. The thermal sublimation printer 200 corresponds in structure and in its printing functionality in the Fig. 1 Also shown here is the printing of an image to be printed on the printing paper 3 (dye receiver element) by selectively heating the dye carrier sheet 5 (dye carrier element) corresponding to the image to be printed by means of the thermal head 21 (pressure heating). By the selective heating, as with reference to the Fig. 1 described, a first amount of the dye of the dye field 6y vaporized and transferred from the dye carrier sheet 5 on the printing paper 3 while a second amount of the dye of the dye field 6y remains on the dye carrier sheet 5, whereby an image of the image to be printed on the dye carrier sheet 5 is formed.

In contrast to that in the Fig. 1 However, as shown in the conventional thermal sublimation printer 100, the thermal sublimation printer 200 includes an erasing unit 30 for erasing the image of the image to be printed. The deletion of the image of the image to be printed is carried out here by the fact that the erase unit 30 heats the dye carrier film 5 in order to at least partially vaporize the second quantity of the dye of the dye field 6 y remaining on the dye carrier film 5.

The printing unit 20 of the thermal sublimation printer 200 includes, as described with reference to FIGS Fig. 1 described, the thermal head 21 by means of which the printing unit 20, the dye carrier sheet 5 is selectively heated to print the image to be printed. In this embodiment, the erasing unit 30 uses the thermal head 21 as an erasing heater 31 by means of which the erasing unit 30 heats the dye carrier sheet 5 for erasing the image of the image to be printed. A corresponding control of the extinguishing heater 31 can, for example, with reference to the Fig. 1 described pressure control unit 22 take place. Alternatively, however, an additional, ie, different from the pressure control unit 22, extinguishing control unit (not shown in the figure) for controlling the extinguishing heater 31 may be provided. Possible implementation variants of the deletion process are described in more detail below:

As with reference to the Fig. 1 described, the recording unit 10 moves the dye carrier sheet 5 during printing so that the dye field 6y is moved along the thermal head 21 along.

In a first implementation variant of the deletion process, the receiving unit 10 may be adapted to move the dye carrier sheet 5 after printing so that the Dye field 6y on the extinguishing heater 31 (here so the thermal head 21) is moved back along. This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, such as a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) engages the spool 8 to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 from the spool 9 and wind on the spool 8. The erase unit 30 deletes, in this first variant, the image of the image to be printed when the dye field 6y is moved back after printing by means of the erase heating element 31. This first variant makes it possible, for example, to erase the image after printing a color separation (in this example of the yellow color separation) of the image to be printed, or else to carry out the deletion process after printing all three color separations (cyan, magenta and yellow color separation) of the image to be printed. Alternatively, in the case of a number of images to be printed, the erasing operation may be performed, for example, also after the printing of the number of images to be printed. The term "after printing" is to be understood broadly in this sense.

In a second implementation variant of the deletion process, the recording unit 10 may be adapted to move the dye carrier sheet 5 after printing so that the dye field 6y moved back and then on the extinguishing heater 31 (in this case the thermal head 21) along is advanced again. This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, such as a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) engages the spool 8 to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 from the spool 9 and wind on the spool 8, and that the drive unit engages the spool 9 Thereafter, to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 successively from the spool 8 and wind it up on the spool 9. The erase unit 30 erases, in this second variant, the image of the image to be printed when resetting the dye field 6y after printing by means of the Erschheizelementes 31. This second variant makes it possible, for example, the deletion process after printing a color separation (in this Example of the yellow color separation) of the image to be printed, or to perform the deletion process after printing all three color separations (cyan, magenta and yellow color separation) of the image to be printed. Alternatively, in the case of a number of images to be printed, the erasing operation may be performed, for example, also after the printing of the number of images to be printed. The term "after printing" is to be understood broadly in this sense.

When erasing the image of the image to be printed vaporized dye is printed on another printing paper 3, in this embodiment. In order to avoid that the image to be deleted of the image to be printed on the other printing paper 3 can be seen, it can be provided to move the printing paper 3 during the deletion process in a manner deviating from the printing process, for example, randomly back and forth or not at all , Alternatively, however, it could also be imagined that the erasing unit 30 comprises a dye-receiving unit (not shown in the figure), e.g. a kind of shell or other container for containing the vaporized dye. For this purpose, additional means (not shown in the figure) would possibly be required here in order to replace the roll 1 by the dye absorption unit during the deletion process. The dye receiving unit could be removed and taught to the thermal sublimation printer 300 as needed. Conceivable would be both reusable solutions and "disposable" variants.

As with reference to the Fig. 2 described, the dye carrier sheet 5, in this example, provided with a plurality of dye fields NF of a sublimable dye for a total number, for example 400, images to be printed. When printing the total number of images to be printed, images of the printing images are formed on the dye carrier sheet 5.

In a particular embodiment of the first implementation variant of the deletion process, the receiving unit 10 may be adapted to move the dye carrier sheet 5 after printing the total number of images to be printed so that the plurality of dye fields NF is moved back along the extinguishing heater 31 (here the thermal head 21) , This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, for example, a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) on the coil 8 engages to completely unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 of the coil 9 and completely wound on the spool 8. The erasing unit 30 erases, in this particular embodiment, the images of the images to be printed when the plurality of dye fields NF are moved back after printing the total number of images to be printed by means of the erasing heating element 31. This particular embodiment makes it possible to erase only after the complete use of the Perform dye carrier sheet.

In a particular embodiment of the second implementation variant of the deletion process, the receiving unit 10 may be adapted, the dye carrier sheet 5 after the Printing the total number of images to be printed to move so that the plurality of dye fields NF moves back and then on the extinguishing heater 31 (in this case the thermal head 21) along moved forward again. This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, such as a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) on the spool 8 acts to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 successively from the spool 9 and fully wound on the spool 8, and that the drive unit on the spool 9 attacks in order to subsequently unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 again successively from the spool 8 and to completely wind it up on the spool 9. The erasing unit 30 deletes, in this particular embodiment, the images of the images to be printed when resetting the plurality of dye fields NF after printing the total number of images to be printed by means of the erasing heater 31. Also, this particular embodiment makes it possible to delete only after the complete use to carry out the dye carrier sheet.

Fig. 4 shows schematically and exemplarily a sectional view of a second embodiment of a printing device 300 according to the invention, here a thermal sublimation printer. The thermal sublimation printer 300 corresponds in its construction and in its printing functionality to that in the Fig. 1 Also shown here is the printing of an image to be printed on the printing paper 3 (dye receiver element) by selectively heating the dye carrier sheet 5 (dye carrier element) corresponding to the image to be printed by means of the thermal head 21 (pressure heating). By the selective heating, as with reference to the Fig. 1 described, a first amount of the dye of the dye field 6y vaporized and transferred from the dye carrier sheet 5 on the printing paper 3 while a second amount of the dye of the dye field 6y remains on the dye carrier sheet 5, whereby an image of the image to be printed on the dye carrier sheet 5 is formed.

In contrast to that in the Fig. 1 However, as shown in the conventional thermal sublimation printer 100, the thermal sublimation printer 300 includes an erasing unit 40 for erasing the image of the image to be printed. The deletion of the image of the image to be printed is effected here by the fact that the erase unit 40 heats the dye carrier film 5 in order to at least partially vaporize the second quantity of the dye of the dye field 6 y remaining on the dye carrier film 5.

The printing unit 20 of the thermal sublimation printer 300 comprises, as described with reference to FIGS Fig. 1 described, the thermal head 21 by means of which the printing unit 20, the dye carrier sheet 5 is selectively heated to print the image to be printed. In this embodiment, the erase unit 40 comprises an additional erase heater 41, ie, different from the (existing) thermal head 21, with which the erase unit 40 heats the dye carrier sheet 5 for erasing the image of the image to be printed. A corresponding activation of the additional extinguishing heating element 41 can be achieved, for example, by means of an additional, that is, with reference to FIG Fig. 1 described pressure control unit 22 different extinguishing control unit 42 done. Alternatively, however, the pressure control unit 22 may be provided for controlling the extinguishing heater 41. Possible implementation variants of the deletion process are described in more detail below:

As with reference to the Fig. 1 described, the recording unit 10 moves the dye carrier sheet 5 during printing so that the dye field 6y is moved along the thermal head 21 along. The erase heating element 41 is disposed downstream of the thermal head 21 with respect to the direction of movement of the ink field 6y upon printing.

In a first implementation variant of the deletion process, the deleting unit 40 may be adapted to delete the image of the image to be printed when advancing the dye field 6y during printing by means of the thermal head 21 subsequently arranged, additional extinguishing heater 41. This first variant makes it possible to carry out the deletion process directly when printing a color separation (in this example, the yellow color separation) of the image to be printed.

In a second implementation variant of the deletion process, the receiving unit 10 may be adapted to move the dye carrier sheet 5 after printing so that the dye field 6y is moved back along the extinguishing heater 41 (here the additional extinguishing heater 41). This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, such as a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) engages the spool 8 to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 from the spool 9 and wind on the spool 8. The erase unit 40 erases, in this second variant, the image of the image to be printed when the dye field 6y is moved back after printing by means of the erase heating element 41. This second variant makes it possible, for example, to erase the image after printing a color separation (in this example of the yellow color separation) of the image to be printed, or else to carry out the deletion process after printing all three color separations (cyan, magenta and yellow color separation) of the image to be printed. Alternatively, in the case of a number of images to be printed, the erasing operation may be performed, for example, also after the printing of the number of images to be printed. The term "after printing" is to be understood broadly in this sense.

In a third implementation variant of the deletion process, the recording unit 10 may be adapted to move the dye carrier sheet 5 after printing so that the dye field 6y moved back and then on the extinguishing heater 41 (here, the additional extinguishing heater 41) is moved along along again. This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, such as a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) engages the spool 8 to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 from the spool 9 and wind on the spool 8, and that the drive unit engages the spool 9 Thereafter, to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 successively from the spool 8 and wind it up on the spool 9. The erase unit 40 erases, in this third variant, the image of the image to be printed when resetting the dye field 6y after printing by means of the Erschheizelementes 41. This third variant allows, for example, the deletion process after printing a color separation (in this Example of the yellow color separation) of the image to be printed, or to perform the deletion process after printing all three color separations (cyan, magenta and yellow color separation) of the image to be printed. Alternatively, in the case of a number of images to be printed, the erasing operation may be performed, for example, also after the printing of the number of images to be printed. The term "after printing" is to be understood broadly in this sense.

The erasing unit 40 comprises, in this embodiment, a dye-receiving unit 43, eg, a kind of tray or other container, for receiving dye evaporated upon erasing the image of the image to be printed. The dye-receiving unit 43 can be removed and taught to the thermal sublimation printer 300 as needed. Conceivable are both reusable solutions and "disposable" variants. Alternatively, one could imagine, however, to print the evaporated dye on another printing paper 3. These would be additional, with reference to the Fig. 1 described role 1 comparable means (not shown in the figure) required. To avoid having to delete the image to be printed Picture on the further printing paper 3 can be seen, it could be provided to move the printing paper 3 during the deletion process in a manner deviating from the printing process, for example, at random back and forth or not at all.

As with reference to the Fig. 2 described, the dye carrier sheet 5, in this example, provided with a plurality of dye fields NF of a sublimable dye for a total number, for example 400, images to be printed. When printing the total number of images to be printed, images of the printing images are formed on the dye carrier sheet 5.

In a particular embodiment of the second implementation variant of the deletion process, the receiving unit 10 may be adapted to move the dye carrier sheet 5 after printing the total number of images to be printed so that the plurality of dye fields NF on the extinguishing heater 41 (here, the additional extinguishing heater 41) moves back along becomes. This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, for example, a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) on the coil 8 engages to completely unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 of the coil 9 and completely wound on the spool 8. The erasing unit 40 deletes, in this particular embodiment, the images of the images to be printed upon retraction of the plurality of dye fields NF after printing the total number of images to be printed by means of the quenching heater 41. This particular configuration makes it possible to delete only after the complete use of the Perform dye carrier sheet.

In a particular embodiment of the third implementation variant of the deletion process, the receiving unit 10 may be adapted to move the dye carrier sheet 5 after printing the total number of images to be printed so that the plurality of dye fields NF moved back and then on the extinguishing heater 41 (here, the additional extinguishing heater 41) is moved forward again. This can for example be done by referring to the Fig. 1 described drive unit, such as a suitable motor, the receiving unit 10 (not shown in the figure) on the spool 8 acts to unwind the dye carrier sheet 5 successively from the spool 9 and fully wound on the spool 8, and that the drive unit on the spool 9 attacks to the colorant carrier sheet 5 thereafter again successively unwound from the spool 8 and on the spool 9 completely wind. The erasing unit 40 deletes, in this particular embodiment, the images of the images to be printed in resuming the plurality of dye fields NF after printing the total number of images to be printed by means of the erasing heater 41. Also, this particular configuration makes it possible to erase only after the complete use to carry out the dye carrier sheet.

Fig. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a printing method according to the invention. The printing method can be used, for example, with one of the with reference to 3 and 4 described printing devices 200, 300 are performed.

In step A1, a dye carrier member 5 provided with a dye panel 6y of a sublimable dye is picked up by a pickup unit 10.

In step A2, an image to be printed is printed on a dye receptor element 3 by selectively heating the dye carrier member 5 corresponding to the image to be printed by a printing unit 20, whereby selective heating evaporates a first amount of the dye of the dye field 6y and removes it from the dye carrier member 5 Dye receiver element 3 is transferred while a second amount of the dye of the dye field 6y remains on the dye carrier element 5, whereby an image of the image to be printed on the dye carrier element 5 is formed.

In step A3, the image of the image to be printed is erased by an erasing unit 30, 40.

The other possible embodiments of the printing method, a practitioner practicing the invention directly and directly to the description in the 3 and 4 shown printing devices 200, 300 refer.

Fig. 6 shows schematically and exemplarily a sectional view of a first embodiment of an extinguishing device 400 according to the invention, for example, as an accessory device for in the Fig. 1 shown, conventional printing device 100 may be provided. The erasing device 400 comprises a recording unit 50 for receiving a dye carrier element 5 (eg a dye carrier foil) provided with a dye field 6y of a sublimable dye, and an erasing unit 30 for erasing an image of an image to be printed formed on the dye-carrier member 5 by a printing unit 20 for printing the image to be printed on a dye-receiver member 3 (eg, printing paper) included in the printing apparatus 100 selectively heating the dye-carrier member 5 according to the image to be printed; wherein the selective heating evaporates a first amount of the dye of the dye field 6y and transfers it from the dye carrier member 5 to the dye receiver member 3 while leaving a second amount of the dye of the dye panel 6y on the dye carrier member 5.

The deletion of the image of the image to be printed is effected here by the fact that the erase unit 60 heats the dye carrier element 5 in order to at least partially vaporize the second quantity of dye of the dye field 6 y remaining on the dye carrier element 5. For this purpose, the erase unit 60 comprises an erase heating element 61 with which the erase unit 60 heats the dye carrier element 5 for erasing the image of the image to be printed. A corresponding drive of the extinguishing heater 61 may be e.g. via a suitable extinguishing control unit 62.

The possible implementation variants of the deletion process, a practitioner practicing the invention directly and directly to the description of in the Fig. 4 see shown printing device 300.

The erasing unit 60 comprises, in this embodiment, a dye-receiving unit 63, eg, a kind of tray or other container, for receiving dye evaporated upon erasing the image of the image to be printed. The dye-receiving unit 63 may be removed and taught to the extinguishing device 400 as needed. Conceivable are both reusable solutions and "disposable" variants. Alternatively, one could imagine, however, to print the evaporated dye on a printing paper 3. These would be additional, with reference to the Fig. 1 described role 1 comparable means (not shown in the figure) required. In order to avoid that the image to be deleted of the image to be printed on the other printing paper 3 is recognizable, it could be provided to move the printing paper 3 during the deletion process in a manner deviating from the printing process, for example, randomly back and forth or not at all ,

Fig. 7 shows schematically and exemplarily a sectional view of a second embodiment of an extinguishing device 500 according to the invention, for example, as an accessory device for those in the Fig. 1 shown, conventional printing device 100 may be provided. The erasing device 400 comprises a recording unit 70 for receiving a dye carrier element 5 provided with a dye field 6y of a sublimable dye, and an erasing unit 80 for erasing an image of an image to be printed, which is formed on the dye carrier element 5 by a printing unit 20 comprised by the printing device 100 for printing the image to be printed on a dye receptor element 3, the dye carrier member 5 selectively heated according to the image to be printed, wherein the selective heating evaporates a first amount of the dye of the dye field 6y and is transferred from the dye carrier member 5 to the dye receiver member 3 while a second amount of the dye of the dye field 6y remains on the dye carrier element 5.

The erasure of the image of the image to be printed is effected here in that the erasing unit 80 comminutes the dye-carrier element 5, e.g. shreds. For this purpose, the erasing unit 80 comprises suitable shredding means 81, here two cutting rollers, and a residue receiving unit 82, e.g. a kind of shell or other container, for receiving incurred during comminution of the dye carrier element 5 residues. The residue receiving unit 82 may be removed and taught to the extinguishing device 500 as needed. The receiving unit 70 comprises, in this embodiment, two guide rollers 71 for guiding the dye carrier element 5 to the comminuting means 81. However, other embodiments may also be designed differently.

Fig. 8 shows a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an erase method according to the invention. The erasing method can be used, for example, with one of the methods described with reference to FIGS Fig. 6 and 7 described extinguishing devices 400, 500 are performed.

In step B1, a dye carrier member 5 provided with a dye panel 6y of a sublimable dye is picked up by a pickup unit 50, 70.

In step B2, an image of an image to be printed formed on the dye-carrier member 5 by heating a printing unit 20 comprising a printing apparatus 100 to print the image to be printed on a dye-receiver member 3 selectively heats the dye-carrier member 5 according to the image to be printed by the selective heating, a first amount of the dye of the dye field 6y evaporates and from the dye carrier element 5 to the dye receiver element 3 is transferred while a second amount of the dye of the dye field 6y remains on the dye carrier member 5, deleted by a deleting unit 60, 80.

The other possible embodiments of the erasing method, a practitioner practicing the invention directly and directly to the description in the Fig. 6 and 7 Remove shown erasing devices 400, 500.

In the above-described embodiments, the dye-receiving element 3 is a suitable printing paper. However, in other embodiments, the dye receptor member 3 may be something else, such as a synthetic fabric for or from a garment, a plastic card for e.g. an ID card or the like or even a three-dimensional object with a suitable printable surface.

The erase unit 30, 40, 60, in the embodiments described above, heats the dye carrier sheet 5 to at least partially vaporize the second amount of the dye of the ink sheet 6y remaining on the dye carrier sheet 5 and thereby erase the image of the image to be printed. By the phrase "at least in part" is meant here that the remaining on the dye carrier sheet 5 second amount of the dye of the dye field 6y (or the dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y) must be evaporated only in so far as the image of the image to be printed unrecognizable and thus from the used dye carrier sheet 5 is no longer reconstructed. On the one hand, this can be achieved by complete evaporation, but on the other hand, it is also conceivable to extinguish only a portion of the dye remaining on the dye carrier sheet 5 of the dye of the dye field 6y (or of the dye fields 6c, 6m, 6y), where actually an "information" about the image to be printed is available. These areas could, for example, be provided with an integrated sensor unit, e.g. a camera unit (not shown in the figures).

The dye-carrier member 5, in the embodiments described above, is a dye-carrier sheet suitable for printing color images to be printed (color images). The dye carrier sheet 5 is provided for each of the three primary colors cyan, magenta and yellow with a corresponding dye field 6c, 6m, 6y and with another field 7 of a colorless fixative for finishing and protecting the surface of the printing paper 3 (dye receiver element). It is understood that the dye carrier element 5 also be a dye carrier sheet provided with dye fields for other basic printing inks or for a smaller or larger number of basic printing inks can. In other embodiments, the dye carrier element 5 could also be something completely different, eg a dye carrier plate for a single image to be printed.

It is understood that the receiving units 10, 50 and the Löstehheiten 30, 40, 60 may be configured the same or respectively. In this sense, in particular, that with reference to the Fig. 4 described printing device 300 said also for in the Fig. 6 shown erasing device 400.

Other variations of the disclosed embodiments may be understood and carried out by one skilled in the art after considering the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

In the claims, the words "comprising" and "comprising" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" does not exclude a plurality.

A single unit or device can perform the functions of several elements listed in the claims. The fact that individual functions and / or elements are listed in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these functions and / or elements could not be used to advantage.

The reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting the subject matter and the scope of the claims to these references.

Claims (18)

Printing device (200, 300) comprising: - A recording unit (10) for receiving a provided with a dye field (6y) of a sublimable dye dye carrier element (5); - A printing unit (20) for printing an image to be printed on a dye receiver element (3) by selectively heating the dye carrier element (5) corresponding to the image to be printed, wherein the selective heating evaporates a first amount of the dye of the dye field (6y) and of the dye-carrier member (5) is transferred to the dye-receiving member (3) while leaving a second amount of the dye of the dye panel (6y) on the dye-carrier member (5), thereby forming an image of the image to be printed on the dye-carrier member (5); - An erase unit (30, 40) for erasing the image of the image to be printed. A printing apparatus (200, 300) according to claim 1, wherein the erasing unit (30, 40) is adapted to heat the dye-carrier member (5) at least in part over the second amount of the dye of the dye panel (6y) remaining on the dye-carrier member (5) To evaporate and thereby delete the image of the image to be printed. A printing apparatus (200) according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit (20) comprises a print heating element (21) for selectively heating the dye carrier member (5) for printing the image to be printed, and wherein the erasing unit (30) is adapted to the print heating element (21). also as an erase heating element (31) for heating the dye carrier element (5) to erase the image of the image to be printed. A printing apparatus (300) according to claim 2, wherein the printing unit (20) comprises a print heating element (21) for selectively heating the dye carrier member (5) for printing the image to be printed, and wherein the erasing unit (40) comprises an additional erasing heater (41) for heating of the dye carrier element (5) for erasing the image of the image to be printed. A printing apparatus (300) according to claim 4, wherein the recording unit (10) is adapted to move the dye-carrier member (5) during printing so as to advance the dye panel (6y) along the print-heating member (21), the additional one Extinguishing heater (41) with respect to the direction of movement of the dye field (6y) during printing the pressure heating element (21) is arranged below. A printing apparatus (300) according to claim 5, wherein the erasing unit (40) is adapted to erase the image of the image to be printed advancing the ink field (6y) upon printing by means of the additional erasing heating element (41) arranged subsequent to the printing heating element (21). A printing apparatus (200, 300) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the recording unit (10) is adapted to move the dye-carrier member (5) during printing so as to advance the dye panel (6y) along the print-heating member (21). and after printing, moving the dye-carrier member (5) so as to move the dye panel (6y) back along the erasing heater (31, 41), and wherein the erasing unit (30, 40) is adapted to image the image to be printed Move back the dye field (6y) after printing by means of the extinguishing heater (31, 41) to delete. A printing apparatus (200, 300) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the recording unit (10) is adapted to move the dye-carrier member (5) during printing so as to advance the dye panel (6y) along the print-heating member (21). and after printing, moving the dye-carrier member (5) to move the dye panel (6y) back and thereafter advancing along the erasing heater (31, 41), and wherein the erasing unit (30, 40) is adjusted, the image of to be printed image when Wiederbeforbewegen the dye field (6y) after printing by means of the Erschheizheizeses (31, 41) to delete. A printing apparatus (200, 300) according to claim 7, wherein the dye-carrier member (5) is provided with a plurality of dye fields (NF) of a sublimable dye for a total number of images to be printed, wherein images of the images to be printed are printed in printing the total number of images to be printed the colorant carrier element (5) is formed, wherein the receiver unit (10) is adapted to move the colorant carrier element (5) after printing the total number of images to be printed such that the plurality of color fields (NF) are along the quenching heater element (31, 41) and wherein the erasing unit (30, 40) is adapted to erase the images of the images to be printed upon retracing the plurality of dye fields (NF) after printing the total number of images to be printed by the erasing heater (31, 41). A printing apparatus (200, 300) according to claim 8, wherein the dye-carrier member (5) is provided with a plurality of dye panels (NF) of a sublimable dye for a total number of images to be printed, wherein images of the images to be printed are printed in printing the total number of images to be printed the dye-carrier element (5) is formed, wherein the recording unit (10) is adapted to move the dye-carrier element (5) after printing the total number of images to be printed so that the plurality of dye fields (NF) are moved back and then to the quenching heater (31, 41) is advanced again, and wherein the erasing unit (30, 40) is adapted to print the images of the images to be printed in resuming the plurality of dye fields (NF) after printing the total number of images to be printed by the erasing heater (31, 41). to delete. A printing apparatus (200, 300) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the erasing unit (30, 40) comprises a dye-receiving unit (43) for picking up dye evaporated upon erasing the image of the image to be printed. A printing apparatus (200, 300) according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the erasing heating element (31, 41) is a thermal head. Printing method, comprising: - receiving (A1) a dye carrier element (5) provided with a dye field (6y) of a sublimable dye through a receiving unit (10); Printing (A2) an image to be printed on a dye-receiver element (3) by selectively heating the dye-carrier element (5) corresponding to the image to be printed by a printing unit (20), wherein by selective heating a first quantity of the dye of the dye field (6y) vaporized and transferred from the dye carrier member (5) to the dye receptor member (3) while leaving a second amount of the dye of the dye field (6y) on the dye carrier member (5), thereby forming an image of the image to be printed on the dye carrier member (5), and; - Deleting (A3) the image of the image to be printed by a deleting unit (30, 40). Extinguishing device (400, 500), comprising: - A recording unit (50, 70) for receiving a provided with a dye field (6y) of a sublimable dye dye carrier element (5); an erasing unit (60, 80) for erasing an image of an image to be printed, which is formed on the dye-carrier member (5) by one of a printing apparatus (100) comprising printing unit (20) for printing the image to be printed on a dye receiver element (3) selectively heating the dye carrier element (5) in accordance with the image to be printed, wherein the selective heating evaporates a first amount of the dye of the dye field (6y) and from the dye carrier member (5) to the dye receptor member (3) while leaving a second amount of the dye of the dye field (6y) on the dye carrier member (5). The erasing device (400) of claim 14, wherein the erasing unit (60) is adapted to heat the dye carrier member (5) to at least partially vaporize and thereby retain the second amount of the dye of the dye panel (6y) remaining on the dye carrier member (5) delete the image of the image to be printed. The erasing device (400) according to claim 15, wherein the erasing unit (60) comprises an erasing heater (61) for heating the dye-carrier member (5) to erase the image of the image to be printed. The erasing device (500) of claim 14, wherein the erasing unit (80) is adapted to shred the dye-carrier member (5) and thereby erase the image of the image to be printed. Extinguishing method, comprising: - receiving (B1) a dye carrier element (5) provided with a dye field (6y) of a sublimable dye by a receiving unit (50, 70); Deleting (B2) an image of an image to be printed, which is formed on the dye carrier element (5) by a printing unit (20) comprising a printing device (100) for printing the image to be printed on a dye receptor element (3) 5) is selectively heated in accordance with the image to be printed, wherein the selective heating evaporates a first amount of the dye of the dye field (6y) and transfers it from the dye carrier element (5) to the dye receptor element (3) while a second amount of the dye of the dye field ( 6y) remains on the dye-carrier member (5) by a quenching unit (60, 80).

Images