KR20100074201A - Peeling imaged media from a substrate - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for imaging a media is provided which includes supporting a substrate and the media in a layered configuration. An imaging head is operated to image the media by directing radiation beams towards a surface of the imaged media while effecting relative movement between the imaging head and the support. A roller is brought into contact with the imaged media. The roller can be brought into contact with an un-imaged region of the surface of the imaged media, the un-imaged region corresponding to a region of the surface of the imaged media that is not impinged by the radiation beams. The un-imaged region could be an edge portion of the media. Relative movement is effected between an axis of rotation of the roller and the support to cause the roller to roll on the regions of the surface of the imaged media impinged by the radiation beams.

Description

Method and apparatus for imaging media {PEELING IMAGED MEDIA FROM A SUBSTRATE}

This application is directed to US Provisional Application No. 61 / 049,423, filed May 1, 2008, US Application No. 11 / 975,418, filed October 17, 2007, and US application, filed September 26, 2008. Claim number 12 / 238,625 as a priority.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for peeling or removing media from a substrate. Certain embodiments of the present invention are provided in imaging machines in which a medium comprising donor material is imaged to add donor material onto the substrate and, after imaging, is removed from the substrate.

Color displays, such as liquid crystal displays, typically include color filters used to provide color to the pixels. One technique for manufacturing color filters includes a laser-induced thermal transfer process. Certain conventional thermal transfer processes are schematically illustrated in FIG. 1A. A donor element 12 (commonly referred to as a "donor sheet") is applied over the substrate 10 (commonly referred to as a "receiver element"). In the case of color filter manufacture, the substrate 10 is typically made of glass and has a generally planar shape. The donor element 12 is typically a relatively thin and relatively flexible sheet relative to the substrate 10. The donor element 12 may for example consist of plastic. Donor element 12 comprises a donor material (not shown). Donor materials may include colorants, pigments, and the like, used to make color filters.

The donor element 12 is exposed in image form to selectively transfer donor material from the donor element 12 to the substrate 10. Certain exposure methods include controlling the radiation source to emit a radiation beam. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, one or more controllable lasers 14 are used to provide one or more corresponding laser beams 16. In the presently preferred technique, the laser beam (s) 16 induce the transfer of the donor material from the imaged area of the donor element 12 to the corresponding area of the substrate 10. The controllable laser (s) 14 are relatively easy to modulate and include diode laser (s) having a relatively low cost and a relatively small size. Such laser (s) 14 are controllable to expose the donor element 12 directly in image form. In some embodiments, a mask (not shown) is used to expose the donor element 12 in image form.

When the donor material is transferred in image form from the donor element 12 to the substrate 10, it is generally necessary to remove the imaged donor element 12 from the substrate 10. For example, during manufacture of the color filter, the first donor element 12 can be used to apply a red dye to the substrate 10 and the second donor element 12 can be used to apply a green dye and The three donor element 12 can be used to apply a blue dye. After use, a given imaged donor element 12 is removed from the substrate 10 before subsequent donor element 12 is applied and used.

In various conventional techniques, the donor element 12 is removed from the substrate 10 using a roller 18 that includes one or more suction features 20. The roller 18 is moved near the edge 12A of the donor element 12 (as shown by arrow 19) and suction is performed through the suction feature 20 so that the edge of the donor element 12 ( 12A) is fixed to the suction feature 20. The roller 18 is then rotated (as shown by the arrow 22) and moved (as indicated by the arrow 24) to move the donor element 12 from the substrate 10 to the roller 18. It is wound onto the circumferential surface 18A, thereby causing the donor element 12 to be peeled from the substrate 10.

In some cases, during the removal process, some donor material corresponding to the exposed area of donor element 12 may remain partially fixed to donor element 12 rather than being fixed to substrate 10 as intended. It may be difficult to remove donor element 12 from substrate 10 once the donor material is partially secured to donor element 12. In some cases, removal of the donor element 12 from the substrate 10 may cause irregular separation between some donor material transferred to the substrate 10 and some donor material that remains attached to the donor element 12. have. For example, FIG. 1B shows a portion of donor element 12 disposed on top of substrate 10. The area of the donor element 12 is exposed to form an imaged area 25. The imaged area 25 is separated from the non-imaged area 27 by the imaged edge 25A. However, rather than clearly separating at the imaged edge 25A while removing donor material 12 from the substrate 10, within a larger area in the imaged area 25 near the imaged area 25A. Can be made. As shown in FIG. 1C, after the donor element 12 is removed, the donor material may not remain evenly distributed along the area of the substrate 10 corresponding to the imaged edge 25A. Rather, the amount of donor material transferred and retained in this region may be less than desired and the distribution of donor elements transferred along this region may be uneven. This may cause deformation of edge 25B, including fragmentation and other various discontinuities. These cleaved edges can cause visible artifacts that are unsatisfactory for the final image. In addition, the donor material may extend into the non-imaged area 27, which is also undesirable.

It is generally desirable to provide a method and apparatus for more efficiently removing imaged media from a substrate.

It is generally desirable to provide a method and apparatus for more efficiently removing a donor element from a substrate after the donor material has been transferred from the donor element to the substrate.

The present invention relates to a method of imaging a medium. The medium is disposed on a support that holds the substrate and the medium in a layered configuration. The imaging head is operative to image the medium by directing the radiation beam onto the surface of the medium being imaged while relative movement is made between the imaging head and the support. A roller, such as an idler roller, contacts the imaged media. This roller may contact an unimaged area of the surface of the imaged medium, which corresponds to the area of the surface of the imaged medium to which no radiation beam is applied. The non-imaged area may be an edge portion of the medium.

The roller is rotatable about an axis of rotation. As relative movement occurs between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support, the roller is rolled along the rolling direction on the area of the surface of the imaged medium to which the radiation beam is applied. The roller may be rolled on the surface of the imaged medium along the direction away from the edge portion. The imaged medium is then removed from the substrate. In one embodiment, the imaged media can be removed by wrapping a portion of the aged media over a portion of the cylindrical surface of the roller and at the same time filling the imaged media from the substrate. The peeling direction may be the same direction as the rolling direction or may be the opposite direction. In one embodiment, the rolling direction may be parallel to the scan direction, the direction of delivery of the support or the direction of the stripe feature formed on the substrate, but need not be so.

After the imaged media has been removed from the substrate, additional media can be placed in a layered configuration on the substrate on the support. Additional media may be imaged while relative movement is made between the imaging head and the support. The further media imaged may be removed from the substrate during the relative movement between the rotational axis of the roller and the support.

In one embodiment, a take up roller can be used to spool a portion of the imaged media without rolling the take up roller onto the surface of the media. A portion of the imaged media may be spooled onto the take up roller while removing the imaged media from the substrate.

In one embodiment, a brake, such as a magnetic particle brake or other suitable brake, is used to selectively apply a drag to the roller while rolling the roller on a portion of the surface of the imaged medium.

In another embodiment, a method of imaging a medium includes providing a substrate in a layered configuration and a support for supporting the medium. The imaging head emits a radiation beam toward the medium while the medium and the substrate are in a layered configuration to image the medium. The roller contacts the surface of the imaged medium. Braking, for example rotary braking, is selectively applied to the rollers while rolling the rollers on the surface of the imaged media. This braking can be applied by a brake or by actuating the actuator. The imaged medium is removed from the substrate. The roller may be rolled on the surface of the imaged media before or at the same time as the imaged media is peeled from the substrate.

In one embodiment, the rollers can be rolled along a number of different directions on the surface of the imaged media and braking can be selectively applied at different times and at different degrees when the rollers are rolled on the surface along each direction. The roller may be rolled on the surface of the imaged media while maintaining the imaged media and substrate in a layered configuration. The roller may be rolled on the surface of the imaged media while filling the media from the substrate. The contact roller can roll the imaged media on the surface and a portion of the imaged media can be wrapped over a portion of the surface of the contact roller while filling the imaged media from the substrate. This take up roller can be used to spool the surface of the imaged media without rolling the take up roller onto the surface of the imaged media. The imaged media can be filled from the substrate while the portion of the imaged media is spooled onto the take up roller.

In another embodiment, the substrate is supported on the support. The donor element is placed on the substrate after supporting the substrate on the support. The imaging head is operative to image the donor element by directing the radiation beam onto the donor element. The rotatable roller about the axis of rotation contacts the surface of the imaged donor element. A number of relative movements occur between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element such that the roller rolls one or more imaged regions of the imaged donor element several times. The rollers may be rolled in the same direction or in different directions each time they are rolled on one or more imaged areas.

Brake or other device as the roller rolls on one or more regions of the imaged donor element during one relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element rather than during another relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element Different amounts of braking can be applied to the rollers through.

The imaged donor element is removed from the substrate during the relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element. The substrate is removed from the support after the imaged donor element is removed from the substrate. The substrate is not removed from the support during any of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element.

After the imaged donor element is removed from the substrate, a second donor element can be placed on the substrate and imaged. The second donor element can be removed from the substrate while the relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged second donor element occurs.

Rolling the roller on the area of the imaged donor element can reduce edge discontinuities that occur along the edge of the feature when the donor element is peeled from the substrate. By using a brake configured to increase the amount of braking applied to the rollers when the rollers are rolled on the area of the imaged donor element, the donor material is transferred to and maintained on the surface of the substrate when the imaged donor element is peeled from the substrate. The amount is adjusted.

In another embodiment, an apparatus for imaging media is provided, the apparatus including a substrate and a support configured to support the media in a layered configuration. The imaging head is configured to emit a radiation beam into the medium to image the medium. A roller is provided and the brake selectively applies braking to this roller. The chassis supports the rollers such that the rollers are rotatable relative to the chassis. A roller, which may include one or more controllers, operates the imaging head to emit a radiation beam towards the media. The rollers cause relative movement between the chassis and the support to move the rollers in the vicinity of the imaged media while the imaged media and substrate are maintained in a layered configuration. The controller causes a number of relative movements between the chassis and the support causing the roller to roll multiple times on the surface of the imaged media. The roller may also control the brake to selectively change the braking applied to the roller between one relative movement between the chassis and the support and another relative movement between the chassis and the support.

1A illustrates a conventional thermal transfer process for filling an imaged donor element from a substrate,
1B and 1C show the shape of edge discontinuities that occur when an imaged donor element is typically peeled from a substrate,
2a schematically illustrates a plan view of an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the imaging system of FIG. 2A;
2C schematically illustrates rolling a contact roller onto an imaged donor element prior to removing the imaged donor element from the substrate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
2D, 2E and 2F schematically illustrate a series of operations used by the sheet removal apparatus to remove the donor element of FIG. 2C in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a schematic force diagram illustrating the movement of a contact roller as the contact roller rolls on an imaged donor element carried by a substrate;

In the following detailed description, details are provided to provide a more thorough understanding to those skilled in the art. However, well known elements have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. In addition, the drawings need not be drawn to scale, some of which may be exaggerated for clarity.

3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of removing an imaged medium supported on a substrate in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The various steps shown in FIG. 3 are described with reference to apparatus 100, some of which are shown in FIGS. 2A-2F in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. This is for illustrative purposes only and other suitable image forming apparatus may be used in the present invention. In step 300, the medium is processed to form an image. In this exemplary embodiment, the image is formed by an imaging technique (ie, also known as an exposure technique). Imaging techniques use radiation beams (eg, laser beams) to form an image on a surface. These images can be formed in a variety of ways. For example, imaging techniques can alter the nature or properties of an image modifiable layer to form an image thereon. Imaging techniques can be used to remove a surface to form an image thereon. Imaging techniques can be used to facilitate the transfer of donor material to a surface to form an image thereon.

In this exemplary embodiment, for example, a thermal transfer process is used and the medium includes donor element 112. An imaging head 102 is provided that includes a radiation source such as a laser (not shown) to transfer donor material (also not shown) from the donor element 112 to the surface of the substrate 110 (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2A). being). Imaging head 102 may include one or more channels 114. In this exemplary embodiment, the imaging head 102 includes an arrangement of channels 114, each channel 114 being individually controllable to emit a radiation beam 116 (not shown in FIG. 2A). Imaging head 102 is operative to direct radiation beam 116 such that radiation beam 116 is applied on various regions of donor element 112. Imaging electronics 103 controls the emission of radiation beam 116 from channel 102 in accordance with image data 104 provided by controller 108.

In this exemplary embodiment, the substrate 110, the imaging head 102, or a combination thereof moves relative to each other while the channel 114 is controlled in response to the image data 104 such that the radiation beam 116 Is scanned over donor element 112 in image format. In some cases, imaging head 102 is static and substrate 110 moves. In other cases, the substrate 110 is static and the imaging head 102 is moved. In other cases, imaging head 102 and substrate 110 move. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, imaging head 102 exposes donor 112 in a stepwise and repetitive manner. In these embodiments, relative movement between imaging head 102 and donor element 112 may occur between exposure shots. In other cases, donor element 112 may be too large to be imaged within a single exposure or scan. Multiple exposures or scans of the imaging head 102 may be required to complete the image.

Any suitable mechanism can be applied to move the imaging head 102 relative to the substrate 10. Flat marking systems are typically used to form an image on a surface that includes a substantially flat orientation. US Pat. No. 6,957,773 to Gelbart describes a fast flat imager suitable for display panel exposure. In some demonstrative embodiments, a suitably flexible substrate may be secured to the outer or inner surface of the “drum-shaped” support to affect image formation on the display assembly.

2A shows a schematic top view of an image forming system of apparatus 100. In FIG. 2A, the support 101 is provided to support the substrate 110 and the donor element 112 in a layered configuration. In this exemplary embodiment, the support 101 is configured to transport the substrate 110 and the donor element 112 along a path aligned with the main scan axis 42. In this embodiment, the support 101 is movable along multiple transport directions (ie, forward 42A and reverse 42B). The forward direction 42A is opposite to the reverse direction 42B. The support base 101 reciprocates between the forward direction 42A and the reverse direction 42B. The imaging head 102 is movably supported on a support 105 holding the support 101. In this exemplary embodiment, the imaging head 102 is movable along a path aligned with the sub scan axis 44. In this embodiment, the imaging head 102 is movable to move away along the direction 44A and close along the direction 44B. The away direction 44A is the opposite direction to the closer direction 44B. In this exemplary embodiment, imaging head 102 may scan the radiation beam 116 bidirectionally over the donor element 102 to form an image. Bidirectional scanning techniques can enhance imaging productivity because scans are made in each of the opposite scan directions.

Movement system 109 may be provided to cause movement of support 101 and / or imaging head 102 and include appropriate drives, transmission members, and / or guide members. Movement system 109 may include one or more movement systems. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that separate motion systems may be used to operate different systems within the device 100.

Controller 108, which may include one or more controllers, is used to control one or more systems of device 100, including, but not limited to, movement system 109. The controller 108 may control the imaging head to cause the image data 104 to be transferred to the imaging head 102 and emit a radiation beam 116 in accordance with this data. Controller 108 may control a system other than device 100. The controller 108 may be configured to execute appropriate software and include one or more data processors with appropriate hardware, which may be, by way of non-limiting example, accessible memory, logic circuits, drivers, amplifiers, A / Ds. And D / A converters, input / output ports, and the like. Controller 108 may include, but is not limited to, a microprocessor, computer on chip, computer CPU or any other suitable microcontroller. Controller 108 may be associated with a material handling system.

2B shows a schematic partial cross-sectional view of an image forming system of apparatus 100. In the illustrated thermal transfer process, substrate 110 may be secured to support 101 via various techniques (eg, suction) that are well known in the art. In this illustrated embodiment, the donor element 112 is disposed in a layered configuration with the substrate 110 where the donor element 112 is placed on the substrate 110 after the substrate 110 is supported on the support 101. In order to preserve image quality, it is desirable to ensure that donor element 112 does not move relative to substrate 110 during imaging. As shown in FIG. 2B, the support 101 includes stands 118 spaced laterally from the edge of the substrate 110 and having a height substantially similar to the thickness of the substrate 110. The support 101 also includes one or more suction features 120 that apply suction to the space 122 between the stand 118 and the substrate 110. This suction secures the donor element 112 to the substrate 110. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are other additional and / or alternative techniques for securing the donor element 112 to the substrate 110 and that the present invention includes such additional and / or another donor element fixing technique. Will know.

Transfer of donor material from donor element 112 to substrate 110 may be implemented using, for example, various laser induced thermal transfer techniques. Examples of laser induced thermal transfer processes used in the present invention include laser induced "dye transfer" processes, laser induced "melt transfer" processes, laser induced "elimination transfer" processes, and laser induced "mass transfer" processes.

In general, the configuration of substrate 110, donor element 112, and donor material depends on the particular imaging application. In certain embodiments, imaging device 100 is used to fabricate color filters for display on substrate 110. In this embodiment, the substrate 110 typically consists of a transparent material (eg glass), the donor element 112 typically consists of plastic and the donor material typically comprises one or more colorants. Such colorants can include, for example, suitable dye-based or pigment-based compositions. The donor material may also include one or more suitable bonding materials.

In the illustrated embodiment, the imaging head 102 is forced to emit the radiation beam 116 such that the radiation beam 116 is applied to various areas of the imaged area 112B of the donor element 112. Thus, region 112A of donor element 112 remains as an unimaged region and in some cases provides a border around imaged region 112B. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the donor material is only transferred from the donor element 112 onto the imaged area 110B of the substrate 110 and not onto the non-imaged area 110A of the substrate 110. . In the illustrated embodiment, the portion 113 of the non-imaged area 112A spans over the substrate 110 and is supported by the stand 118.

At the end of the imaging process, donor element 112 is removed from substrate 110. In this exemplary embodiment, the donor element 112 is preferably removed from the substrate 110 in a manner that reduces the presence of cleavage and other discontinuities at the edges of the various features formed on the substrate 110.

2C shows a schematic partial side view showing one end of the support 110, the substrate 110, and the imaged donor element 112. Removing the imaged donor element 112 from the substrate 110 is performed by the sheet removing device 129 which in this example forms part of the device 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet removal apparatus 129 is chassis 136 by chassis 136 and a corresponding pair of roller couplings (contact roller coupling 138 and take-up roller coupling 140). ), A plurality of rollers (ie, contact roller 130 and take-up roller 132) mechanically coupled.

The rollers 130 and 132 preferably have a substantially cylindrical shape. Contact roller coupling 138 and take-up roller coupling 140 allow their respective rollers 130, 132 to rotate about their corresponding axis of rotation 130A, 132A. In the illustrated embodiment, the take up roller coupling 140 includes an actuator 133 that causes movement of the axis 132A of the take-up roller 132 relative to the chassis 136. Actuator 133 is referred to herein as a "take-up roller axis-position actuator 133." The take-up roller axis-position actuator 133 may be controlled by the controller 108 using the signal 135. The take-up roller axis-position actuator 133 may generally comprise any suitably coupled actuator. Non-limiting examples of actuators that can be used to provide take-up roller axis-position actuators 133 include electronic motors and / or air actuators.

In the illustrated embodiment, the take-up roller coupling 140 also includes a take-up roller rotary actuator 139 which causes rotation of the take-up roller 132 about its axis of rotation. The take-up roller rotating actuator 139 may be controlled by the controller 108 using the signal 141. Preferably, the take-up roller rotating actuator 139 may generally comprise any suitably configured actuator.

In the embodiment shown, take-up roller 132 also includes one or more suction features 134. Suction feature 134 may include orifices coupled in fluid communication with suction source 143. As is known in the art, the intake source 143 may include a mechanism for generating a positive or negative pressure difference, such as a suitably configured pump or the like. Suction source 143 may be controlled by controller 108 using signal 145, which may include one or more valves or similar components (not shown) associated with suction application by suction source 143. .

In the illustrated embodiment, the contact roller 130 is a non-driven "idler" controller. The sheet removal device 129 may also include one or more chassis-position actuators 131 that cause relative movement between the support 101 and the chassis 136. The relative movement between the support 101 and the chassis 136 causes a corresponding movement between the support 101 and the rollers 130, 132. In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis-position actuator 131 causes movement of the chassis 136 relative to the support 101 to cause relative movement between the support 101 and the chassis 136. In yet another embodiment, the chassis-position actuator 131 causes the movement of the support 101 relative to the chassis 136 to cause relative movement between the support 101 and the chassis 136. Chassis-position actuator 131 may generally include any one or more suitably coupled actuators. Non-limiting examples of actuators that may be used to provide chassis-position actuator 131 include suitably coupled electronic motors and / or air actuators.

If it is desired to remove the imaged donor element 112 from the substrate 110, the controller 108 may generate a signal that causes the chassis-position actuator 131 to cause relative movement between the chassis 136 and the support 101. By use, the chassis 136 and the rest of the sheet removal device 129 are disposed near one edge portion 115A of the donor element 112 (see FIG. 2C). In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet removal apparatus 129 approaches the donor element 112 from the vertical direction. In yet another embodiment, the chassis-position actuator 131 allows the sheet removal device 129 to access the donor element 112 (or the donor element 112 to the sheet removal device 129) from another direction. can do. In step 310, the sheet removal apparatus 129 moves toward the donor element 112 until the contact roller 130 contacts the donor element 112. Preferably, contact roller 130 contacts donor element 112 in non-imaging region 112A (ie, outside imaged region 112B). This contact position between the contact roller 130 and the donor sheet 112 is not essential to the present invention, but it is possible to avoid the collision of the contact roller 130 in the imaged area 112B of the donor element 112 and such a collision. To prevent any corresponding degradation of the image in the corresponding imaged area 110B of the substrate 110 that may result from. In this exemplary embodiment, the take-up roller 132 was not in contact with the donor element 112. In this example, the take-up roller axis-position actuator 133 is controlled such that the take-up roller 132 does not contact the donor element 112.

In step 320, the contact roller 130 is rolled on the surface of the portion of the imaged donor element 112. In this exemplary embodiment, the contact roller 130 is rolled on the area of the donor element 112 to which the radiation beam is applied during step 300. In this exemplary embodiment, the contact roller 130 passes through the imaged area 112B from the non-imaged area 112A near the edge portion 115A and the unimaged area 112A near the edge portion 115B. Rolling along the path extending to. The controller 108 uses the contact roller 130 using signals that cause the chassis-position actuator 131 to move the chassis 136 (including the rollers 130, 132) along the rolling direction (shown by arrow 148A). ) Roll on supported donor element 112. In this exemplary embodiment, the contact roller 130 rotates (as shown by arrow 144) as it rolls on the imaged donor element 112. As shown in FIG. 2C, this causes the axis of rotation 130A of the contact roller 130 to move along the direction of arrow 148A. 2C shows that the contact roller 130 is rolled on the imaged donor element 112 while the imaged donor element 112 and the substrate 110 are still disposed in their layered configuration.

Surprisingly, when the inventors roll a roller, such as contact roller 130, onto the imaged donor element 112, the presence of artifacts such as edge discontinuities when the imaged donor element 112 is subsequently removed from the substrate 110 Assume that can be reduced. In particular, the inventors have noted that rolling of the imaged donor element 112 before removing it from the substrate 110 may result in disruption of the donor material at the edge of the imaged feature, particularly when the donor element 112 is peeled from the substrate 110. It has been found that this can be reduced. Although the inventors do not wish to be limited to any particular theory, one possible reason for the improvement in the visible properties of the formed image is that the donor element imaged as the contact roller 130 is rolled on the imaged donor element 112. May be due to “micro-deviation” between 112 and substrate 110. However, it should be understood that improved image characteristics as provided by the present invention may be achieved by additional or another cause.

4 shows a schematic of the force representing the movement of the contact roller 130 as the contact roller 130 is rolled on the support donor element 112. Except for the interface force F, all forces and moments are shown to act on the contact roller 130. The force acting on the contact roller 130 includes a load W acting on the contact roller 130. The load W may include a force acting on the contact roller 130 by the chassis-position actuator 131. Force P represents the force required to move the contact roller along the direction of arrow 148A on the surface of supported donor element 112, which is provided by chassis-position actuator 131 in this exemplary embodiment. . Couple M represents partial resistance or braking acting on the contact roller and opposite the direction of rotation of arrow 144. This braking can be caused by a variety of factors, including partial resistance of the bearings (not shown) of the contact roller coupling 138. The contact roller 130 may include a compliant surface that may cause various deformations at the point of contact between the roller 130 and the supported donor element 112. This variant is shown in region 170 of FIG. 4. These deformations can cause the contact between the contact roller 130 and the donor element 112 to occur over a predetermined area that can cause a "rolling resistance" rather than a single contact line. Although the deformation shown in FIG. 4 is limited to the contact roller 130, it should be understood that deformation may also occur on the surface on which the roller rolls. 4 shows the reaction force R applied at point 171 as a result of the force applied across this area by the donor element 112 supported on the contact roller 130. The point 171 is not located directly below the axis of rotation 130A, but slightly before it. Point 171 is displaced from center of rotation 172 by distance b. The distance b is known in the art as a coefficient of rolling resistance. However, it should be noted that b is not a coefficient without magnitude because it is expressed in units of length. The element of reaction force R is the friction force f ₁ between the contact roller 130 and the supported donor element 112. The interface force F is also present between the donor element 112 and the substrate 110. The radius of the contact roller 130 is shown as "r".

The sum of the moments acting on the contact roller 130 around the point 171 can be represented by the following relationship (ie, the roller is assumed to move at a constant speed).

The sum of the forces acting on the contact roller 130 along the moving direction 148A of the contact roller 130 may be represented by the following relational expression (ie, the roller is assumed to move at a constant speed).

By recombining relations (1) and (2), the following relations can be established.

If these parameters are combined so that the frictional force f ₁ exceeds the interface force F, some deviation may occur between the donor element 112 and the substrate 110. Small amounts of deviation, referred to as micro-deviation, can occur in the region of the donor element-substrate interface near the contact region. The interfacial force F may depend on a variety of factors, which may be associated with a hold down force between the imaged donor element 112 and the substrate 110 (e.g., with the donor element 112). Various friction parameters related to the suction applied between the substrate 10), the load W and the donor element-substrate interface. Other factors may include cutting forces that must be overwhelming to shear the donor material at the boundaries of the various image features formed. If the frictional force f1 is large enough to exceed the interfacial force F, the donor material at the boundary of the imaged feature may be cut because the imaged donor near the feature boundary where the frictional force f1 is imaged Because it causes local cutting of the element 112. Local cutting of the donor material may reduce the amount of disruption that may occur at the imaged feature boundaries when the imaged donor element 112 is peeled from the substrate 110. The inventors of the present invention, when rolling the contact roller 130 across the imaged area 112A, forms an imaged area 110B of the substrate 110 when the imaged donor element 112 is removed from the substrate 110. It has been found that the reduction of artifacts along the edge of the feature can be significantly facilitated.

The friction force f ₁ can be increased to the desired level in various ways. The relationship 3 suggests that the friction force f ₁ can be increased by increasing the load W or by using a contact roller 130 with a reduced radius r. This may be done in various embodiments of the present invention, but in another embodiment of the present invention various factors may be associated with these parameters to limit the degree of allowable change. For example, an excessive increase in the load W can cause sufficient contact stress to damage the donor material delivered to the substrate 110 and degrade the visible quality of the final image. Reducing the size of the contact roller 130 may cause undesirable deflection of the roller, which may adversely affect the ability of the contact roller 130 to roll uniformly over the donor element 112. Reducing the size of the contact roller 130 may also promote the aforementioned contact stress problem. Increasing the load W can also increase the interfacial force F.

In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the contact roller 130 provides a coefficient b of rolling resistance sufficient to achieve the desired image quality when the imaged donor element 112 is peeled from the substrate 110. It includes materials or geometries. In certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, various frictional properties between the contact roller 130 and the donor element 112 are adjusted to achieve the desired image quality. These frictional attributes may include, for example, adjusting material attributes of one or both of the contact roller 130 and the donor element 112 to change the associated friction coefficient.

The relation (3) also suggests that the frictional force f1 can be increased by increasing the braking generated by the couple M. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2C, the brake 200 is used to selectively adjust the braking for the contact roller 130 to a desired level suitable to reduce artifacts such as the edge discontinuity described above. . The brake 200 is controlled by a signal 201 to selectively apply a desired amount of braking to the contact roller 130 when the contact roller 130 is rolled over the surface of the supported donor element 112. The brake 200 is driven by various actuators controlled by the signal 201. The use of the brake 200 may be particularly advantageous in applications where the contact roller 130 performs a variety of different functions. Unlike some other parameters, the amount of braking applied to the contact rollers required by a particular function can be easily tailored by appropriately driving the brake 200 according to the desired amount of braking required by that function. In this regard, the brake 200 is selectively driven in accordance with the requirements of the specific function required by the contact roller 130 to allow the contact roller 130 to perform different functions. In this exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one of the functions of the brake 200 is to improve the visual quality of the formed image when the imaged donor element 112 is subsequently removed from the substrate 110. Is to selectively apply a sufficient amount of braking to the contact roller 130 for a while. In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the contact roller 130 is adapted such that the donor element 112 is subsequently rolled along a rolling direction substantially parallel to the peeling direction to remove the donor element 112 from the substrate 110. Controlled.

In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, debris generated by the braking operation of the brake 200 is undesirable in certain applications (eg, the formation of color filters in a clean indoor environment). In these embodiments, a brake 200 is preferred that minimizes the generation of such debris. Such brakes may include, for example, magnetic particle brakes and hysteresis brakes.

In the illustrated embodiment, the brake 200 is selectively controlled to apply rotary braking to the contact roller 130. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, braking can be selectively used in other ways. For example, the contact roller 130 may be a drive roller that is controlled to move the chassis 136 when the contact roller 130 is driven to roll over the imaged donor element 112. Various actuators can be controlled to selectively apply forces that limit movement of the chassis 136. Various actuators can be controlled to selectively apply linear braking to the chassis 136.

Suitable parameters for rolling the contact roller 130 over the supported donor element 112 will depend on the material properties of the substrate of the donor element 112, the donor material, and various factors that may include the substrate 120. Parameters such as applied braking are typically determined by trial and error.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the contact roller 130 is formed in a rolling direction (ie, arrow 148A in FIG. 2C) substantially parallel to the direction of movement in which the support 101 is conveyed during the image forming step 300. Direction). In this exemplary embodiment, the rolling direction is substantially parallel to the main-scan axis 42. In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the rolling direction may be substantially parallel to the direction in which the radiation beam was scanned during imaging of the donor element 112. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the pattern of features may be imaged at 300. The imaged features in the pattern may be repeated along one or more directions and the contact roller 130 may be controlled to roll along a rolling direction that is substantially parallel to one of these one or more directions. In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, a pattern of continuous stripe features or blocked stripe features may be imaged during step 300. The contact roller 130 may be controlled to roll along a rolling direction that is substantially parallel to the direction in which continuous or blocked stripe features extend. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the various imaged features formed during step 300 may be formed in an orientation selected according to the particular rolling direction in which contact roller 130 is subsequently rolled. The specific orientation of the imaged features may be selected to facilitate improvement of the visual quality of the final image when the contact roller 130 is rolled on the donor element 112 and the donor element 112 is subsequently removed from the substrate 110. Can be.

The imaged donor element 112 is removed from the substrate 110 in step 330. In this exemplary embodiment, the donor element 112 is removed after the contact roller 130 rolls across the imaged area 112B to the unimaged area 112A near the edge portion 115B. As shown in FIG. 2, the signal 135 causes the take-up roller axis-position actuator 133 to move the take-up roller 132 near the imaged donor element 112. Preferably, the take-up roller 132 moves near the unimaged area 112A of the donor element 112 at a location far from the imaged area 112B rather than the position of the contact roller 130. In this exemplary embodiment, the take-up roller 132 moves near the portion 113 of the unimaged area 112A. In the presently preferred embodiment, the take-up roller 132 moves near the portion 113 at a position that at least partially overlays the stand 118. In some embodiments, the take-up roller 132 is an unimaged area 112A at a location farther from the edge of the substrate 110 than the suction feature 120 that secures the donor element 112 to the substrate 110. Move nearby.

When take-up roller 132 is in contact with donor element 112, controller 108 uses signal 145 to cause suction source 143 to suck through suction feature 134. Suction application through the suction feature 143 allows a portion of the non-imaged area 112A (including the edge portion 115B) to be attached to the take-up roller 132 (ie, the suction feature 134 is A portion of the unimaged area 112A is secured to the take-up roller 132). In some embodiments, the take-up roller 132 is directly applied with suction to contact the donor element 112 of the non-imaged area 112A and secure the donor element 112 to the take-up roller 132. do. In yet another embodiment, the take-up roller 132 need not contact the donor element 112 before suction is applied. In this embodiment, when suction is applied through the suction feature 134, a portion of the donor element 112 may be pulled towards this take-up roller 132 before being secured to the take-up roller 132. In some embodiments, the controller 108 may stop or reduce the suction applied by the suction feature 120 before or during the application of the suction through the suction feature 134.

In certain embodiments, the suction feature 134 is located at one or more known locations on the cylindrical surface of the take-up roller 132. In this embodiment, the controller 108 preferably uses the signal 141 to operate the take-up roller rotary actuator 139 in a “position mode”. In position mode operation, the controller 108 uses a control technique that causes the actuator 139 to move the take-up roller 132 at any speed (within its controllable speed range) to achieve the desired position. As shown in FIG. 2D, the preferred location of the take-up roller 132 is where the suction feature 134 is located close to the donor element 112. In the exemplary embodiment, the take-up roller 132 is shown having suction features only in one circumferential position on the cylindrical surface. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the take-up roller 132 may include suction features at multiple circumferential positions on the cylindrical surface.

2E shows that when the edge portion 115B of the donor element 112 is fixed on the cylindrical surface of the take-up roller 132, the controller 108 uses the signal 135 to take-up roller axis-position actuator. 133 causes the take-up roller 132 to move away from the substrate 110 (ie, at least in the direction with the components in the direction of arrow 146). As can be seen by comparing FIGS. 2D and 2E, the take-up roller axis-position actuator 133 causes relative movement of the take-up roller 132 relative to the chassis 136 and the contact roller 130. However, the chassis 136 and the contact roller 130 are kept in the same position. When the take-up roller 132 moves in this manner, the edge portion 115B of the donor element 112 and the predetermined non-imaged area 112A move in a direction away from the support 101.

As shown in FIG. 2E, the contact roller 130 may preferably remain in contact with the donor element 112 and exert a force against it. Thus, a portion of the donor element 112 on one side of the contact roller 130 (ie, the side away from the take-up roller 132) remains in contact with the substrate 110 while the contact roller 130 A portion of donor element 112 on its opposite side (ie, the same side as take-up roller 132) is peeled from substrate 110 and bent along the circumferential surface of contact roller 130. Properties of the contact roller 130 (ie diameter and / or material forming its circumferential surface) and / or properties of the manner in which the contact roller 130 contacts the donor element 112 (eg, such contact Force and / or pressure) can be used to control the effective contact area between the donor element 112 and the substrate 110 immediately before peeling. In some embodiments, the effective area between contact roller 130 and donor element 112 is less than 10% of the circumferential surface area of contact roller 130. In another embodiment, this ratio is less than 5%. In some embodiments, the force applied between the contact roller 130 and the donor element 112 is less than the gravity acting on the contact roller 130 (ie, the chassis 136 is part of the weight of the contact roller 130). Support).

Movement of the take-up roller 132 away from the substrate 110 may also include movement of the take-up roller 132 along one or more directions that are tangent to the substrate 110. For example, the take-up roller axial position actuator 133 causes the take-up roller 132 to move along a curved path. During movement of take-up roller 132 away from substrate 110, controller 108 uses signal 141 to take-up roller rotary actuator 139 to take-up about its axis 132A. Pivot roller 132. This pivotal movement of the take-up roller 132 either tensions the looseness of the portion of the imaged donor element 112 filled from the substrate 110 or the desired inflation force on this portion of the imaged donor element 112. Can be used to maintain During this period, the controller 108 uses the signal 141 to control the take-up roller rotary actuator 139 in a "torque mode". In toggle mode operation, the controller 108 uses a control technique that causes the actuator 139 to move the take-up roller 132 at any speed (its controllable speed range) to track the desired torque.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the amount of travel of the take-up roller 132 by the take-up roller axis-position actuator 133 may vary to achieve the desired filling angle θ. In the exemplary embodiment, when the contact roller 130 and the take-up roller 132 have substantially the same size, the peeling angle θ may be equal to the angle between the rotation axes 130A, 132A of the rollers 130, 132. will be. In some embodiments, the filling angle θ is less than thirty (30) degrees, depending in part on the medium (ie, donor material, substrate 110, and donor element 112). In the presently preferred embodiment, the filling angle θ is less than five degrees.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2F, the controller 108 uses the signal 137 to direct the chassis position actuator 131 to the chassis 136 (including the rollers 130, 132) in the direction of the arrow 148B. Take-up roller rotation actuator 139 simultaneously rotates take-up roller 132 in the direction of arrow 147 relative to chassis 136 and support 101 using signal 141. Let it be This simultaneous movement of the chassis 136 and rotation of the take-up roller 132 pull the donor element around the contact roller 130 and fill the donor element 112 from the substrate 110. The contact roller 130 rotates in the direction of arrow 146 when rolled along the peeling direction (ie, the direction of arrow 148A) on the imaged donor element 112. As shown in FIG. 2F, this rotation causes the axis of rotation 130A of the contact roller 130 to move along the direction of arrow 148B. In this exemplary embodiment, the direction of arrow 148B is opposite to the direction of arrow 148A in which contact roller 130 is rolled in step 320. In this exemplary embodiment, the peeling direction associated with the movement of the contact roller 130 during step 330 is opposite the rolling direction associated with the movement of the contact roller 130 during step 320.

Preferably, during this seat peeling process, the controller 108 uses the signal 141 to operate the take-up roller rotary actuator 139 in a " torque mode " in which the controller 108 has the desired torque. The take-up roller 132 is rotated at any speed (within its controllable speed range) to achieve. When the take-up roller rotary actuator 139 operates to track this desired torque in torque mode, the peeling tension for the donor element 112 remains relatively close to the desired peeling tension. In yet another embodiment, the controller 108 operates the take-up roller rotary actuator 139 in "position mode" using the signal 141 to track the position synchronized with the translational position of the chassis 136. .

When take-up roller 132 rotates in the direction of arrow 147 and translates in the direction of arrow 148B, donor element 112 is “spooled up” by take-up roller 132. "I.e., wrap the cylindrical surface of take-up roller 132). Contact roller 130 may maintain contact with a portion of donor element 112 that is still present on substrate 110 and may apply a force against donor element 112. As described above, in the exemplary embodiment, the contact roller 130 is an idler roller. The contact roller 130 prevents the donor element 112 from separating too early from the substrate 110 and ensures that the donor element 112 is separated from the substrate 110 at the desired peeling angle θ.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the brake 200 is configured to allow the contact roller to be imaged while separating and removing the imaged donor element 112 from the substrate 110 than during the post imaging rolling sequence corresponding to step 320. When rolling on the surface of the donor element 112 it is controlled to apply different amounts of braking to the contact roller 130. That is, a number of relative movements between the axis of rotation 130A of the contact roller 130 and the imaged donor element 112 and the support 101 are performed so that the contact roller is multiple times on the imaged area 112B (ie, step 320). And 330). During one of a number of relative movements, the donor element 112 was removed from the substrate 110 by the peeling method described above. In this exemplary embodiment, the brake 200 was selectively controlled to apply different amounts of braking to the contact roller 130 during each relative movement. The different amount of braking applied selectively may comprise an amount of braking greater or less than the amount of braking applied in step 320. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the brake 200 is controlled to apply a smaller amount of braking during step 330 than step 320. In this embodiment, virtually no additional braking was applied to the contact roller 130 by the brake 200 while removing the donor element 112 from the substrate 110. However, it should be noted that the brake 200 can provide some form of minimal braking even if it is not driven. The brake 200 can be driven to apply varying amounts of braking to change the duration for the contact roller 130 and these amounts and duration will vary depending on the requirements of the application including the contact roller 130. Can be. The brake 200 may be controlled to selectively apply different amounts of braking to the contact roller 130 at various locations along the path through which the contact roller 130 is rolled.

Simultaneous rotation and translation of the contact roller 130 and the take-up roller 132 during the sheet peeling operation also prevents a "print through" effect. The print through effect may occur when the donor element wraps around the roller when the roller translates to fill the donor element from the base substrate (see FIG. 1A). Since the media edges may have a thickness that cannot be ignored, the portion of the donor element that is not filled due to the edges of the media initially fixed to the rollers may exhibit discontinuities when the fixed edges are rolled. Since the take-up roller 132 is spaced apart from the substrate 110, an image transferred onto the substrate 110 may have a portion of the donor sheet 112 wound on the take-up roller 132 at the edge portion 115B. It is not affected when overlapping. The thickness variation caused by the edge portion 115B of the donor element 112 does not affect the image transmitted on the substrate 110.

When the contact roller 130 approaches the edge portion 115A of the donor element 112, the controller 108 uses a signal 137 so that the chassis-position actuator 131 moves the chassis 136 into the donor element ( Rotate away take-up roller 132 so that take-up roller rotation actuator 139 tightens the “tail” of donor element 112 using signal 141 to move away from 112. Let it be The controller 108 may operate the take-up roller rotary actuator 139 in position mode while removing this portion of the donor element 112.

Once the donor element 112 is removed from the substrate 110, a second donor element 112 (eg, a donor element 112 of another color) may be disposed on the substrate 110 and the present invention is presented. A similar manner to one can be used to further image the second donor element 112 and remove the second donor element 112 once it has been imaged. In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate 110 is removed from the support 101 at step 340. Donor element removal apparatus 129 need not remove substrate 110 from support 101 because other mechanisms known in the art may be used. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the substrate 110 is provided between the axis of rotation 130A of the enabled contact roller 130 and the imaged donor element 112 such that the contact roller rolls multiple times on the imaged area 112B. None of the multiple relative movements are removed from the support 101.

Before removing the imaged donor element 112 from the substrate 110, an "pre-rolling operation" of the imaged donor element 11 may be used to remove the donor element 112 from the substrate 110. You can reduce artifacts. In particular, when the imaged donor element 112 is peeled from the substrate, the amount of donor material that is transferred to and maintained on the surface of the substrate 110 may pre-contact the contact roller 130 on the imaged donor element 112 before removing it. It can be adjusted by rolling. Artifacts, such as edge discontinuities, can be reduced by this adjustment of the amount of donor material that is delivered and maintained on the surface of the substrate. In this regard, the inventors found that variations in the amount and distribution of donor material that are intended to be delivered to a particular area of the substrate 110 are particularly significant when the particular area is near the edge portion of the feature formed on the substrate 110. It can be reduced by rolling the contact roller 130 on the donor element 112 before removing it from it.

In this exemplary embodiment, the same contact roller 130 was used in both the prerolling step and the peeling step, but one skilled in the art will quickly see that a different rolling member may be used in each of these steps. Contact roller 130 may include a roller having a function dedicated to only the pre-rolling side of the present invention.

Various embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to manufacturing color filters for various displays. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the display may be an LCD display. In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the display may be an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. OLED displays can include different configurations. For example, in a manner similar to LCD displays, features of different colors can be formed in color filters used in conjunction with white OLED sources. Alternatively, different color illumination sources within the display may be formed using different OLED materials in various embodiments of the present invention. In these embodiments, OLED based illumination sources control the emission of color light by themselves without necessarily requiring a passive color filter. OLED materials can be transferred to a suitable medium. OLED material can be delivered to the receiving element via a laser induced thermal transfer technique.

Although the present invention has been described using, for example, applications in display and electronic device manufacturing, the methods described herein may be used in other applications, including those used for biomedical imaging for lab-on-a-chip (LOC) manufacturing. It can also be applied directly to the application. The invention is also applicable to other technologies such as medical, printing and electronic manufacturing techniques.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

reference mark

10: substrate

12: donor element

12A: Edge

14: laser

16: laser beam

18: roller

18A: circumferential surface

19: arrow

20: suction feature

22: arrow

24: arrow

25: imaged area

25A: Imaged Edge

25B: Edge

27: non-imaging area

42: main scan axis

42A: Omnidirectional

42B: reverse

44: sub-scan axis

44A: away

44B: Closer Direction

100: device

101: support

102: Imaging Head

103: imaging electronics

104: Imaging Data

105: support

108: controller

109: movement system

110: substrate

110A: Unimaged Area

110B: imaged area

112A: Unimaged Area

112B: imaged area

113: part

114: channel

115A: Donor Element Edge Part

115B: Donor Element Edge Part

116: radiation beam

118: stand

120: suction feature

122: space

129: sheet removing device

130: contact roller

130A: axis of rotation

131: Chassis-Position Actuator

132A: axis of rotation

132: take-up roller

133: Take-up Roller Shaft-Position Actuator

134: suction feature

135: signal

136: chassis

137: signal

138: Contact Roller Curling

139: Take-Up Roller Rotary Actuator

140: take-up roller coupling

141: signal

143: suction source

144: arrow

145: signal

146: arrow

147: arrow

148A: Arrow

148B: Arrows

170: area

171: branch

200: brake

201: signal

300: step

310: step

320: step

330: step

340: step

W: load

P: force

M: Couple

b: rolling resistance coefficient

R: reaction force

f1: frictional force

f: interfacial force

r: radius

θ: peeling angle

Claims (51)

A method of imaging a medium,
Providing a support configured to support a substrate and the medium in a layered configuration;
Operating the imaging head to image the medium by directing a radiation beam towards the surface of the imaged medium while generating a relative movement between the imaging head and the support;
Contacting the rotatable roller about the axis of rotation with the imaged medium;
Generating relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support to cause the roller to roll on an area of the surface of the imaged medium to which the radiation beam is applied;
Removing the imaged medium from the substrate after rolling the roller on an area of the surface of the imaged medium to which the radiation beam has been applied;
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
After the imaged medium is removed from the substrate, the method further comprises:
Supporting additional media and the substrate on the support;
Imaging the additional medium while generating relative movement between the imaging head and the support;
Removing the imaged additional medium from the substrate while generating a relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support;
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
The roller contacts a non-imaged area of the surface of the imaged medium, the unimaged area corresponding to an area of the surface of the imaged medium on which the radiation beam is not applied.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 3, wherein
The non-imaged area includes an edge portion of the medium, and the occurrence of relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support causes the roller to roll on the surface of the imaged medium along a direction away from the edge portion.
Method of imaging the medium. The method of claim 1,
The roller is an idler roller
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
Removing the imaged media from the substrate includes filling the imaged media from the substrate.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method according to claim 6,
Removing the imaged media from the substrate while generating additional relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support to cause the roller to roll on a portion of the surface of the imaged media.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method according to claim 6,
Wrapping the portion of the imaged medium over the portion of the cylindrical surface of the roller while peeling the imaged medium from the substrate.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method according to claim 6,
Providing a contact roller configured to roll on the surface of the imaged medium, the method comprising: placing a portion of the imaged medium over a portion of the cylindrical surface of the contact roller while filling the imaged medium from the substrate; Further comprising the step of wrapping
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
Providing a take-up roller configured to spool a portion of the imaged medium without rolling a take-up roller on the surface of the medium, the method comprising: Spooling a portion of the imaged medium onto the take-up roller while removing the imaged medium from the substrate;
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 9,
Generating relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support to cause the roller to roll in accordance with the rolling direction on the surface of the imaged medium to which the radiation beam is applied;
Filling the imaged media from the substrate while generating a relative movement between the contact roller and the support to cause the contact roller to roll along a peeling direction on a portion of the surface of the imaged media. Wherein the peeling direction is substantially parallel to the rolling direction
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 11,
The rolling direction and the peeling direction are opposite directions
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
The imaging head is operative to image the medium by scanning the radiation beam onto the surface of the imaged medium along a scan direction,
The method further comprises generating a relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support to cause the roller to roll along a rolling direction substantially parallel to the scan direction on an area of the surface of the imaged medium to which the radiation beam is applied. Containing
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
Imaging the medium while moving one of the support and the imaging head along a conveying direction, wherein the occurrence of relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support is dependent upon the surface of the imaged medium to which the radiation beam has been applied. Allowing the roller on the area to roll along a rolling direction substantially parallel to the conveying direction
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
Selectively applying a drag to the roller while the roller is rolling on a portion of the surface of the imaged media
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
Providing a brake configured to selectively apply braking to the roller while the roller is rolling on a portion of the surface of the imaged media;
Method of imaging the medium.
17. The method of claim 16,
The brake is one of magnetic particle brake and hysteresis brake
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
The medium is a donor element and the method transfers donor material from the donor element to the substrate to direct the radiation beam towards the donor element to form a striped feature on the substrate. Operating the imaging head, wherein the stripe feature generates a relative movement between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support such that the roller is rolled over the area of the surface of the medium to which the radiation beam is applied. Extending along a direction substantially parallel to the rolling direction on the surface of the imaged media
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 1,
Removing the substrate from the support after removing the imaged media from the substrate.
Method of imaging the medium.
A method of imaging a medium,
Providing a support configured to support a substrate and the media in a layered configuration;
Operating an imaging head to emit the radiation beam towards the medium while imaging the medium while maintaining the medium and the substrate in the layered configuration;
Contacting a roller to the surface of the imaged medium;
Selectively applying braking to the rollers while rolling the rollers on the surface of the imaged media;
Removing the imaged medium from the substrate.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Selectively applying rotary braking to the roller while rolling the roller onto the surface of the imaged media
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Providing a brake operably connected to the roller, the brake configured to selectively apply braking to the roller while rolling the roller on a surface of the imaged medium
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Selectively actuating an actuator to selectively apply rotational braking to the roller while rolling the roller on the surface of the imaged media;
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Removing the imaged media from the substrate includes filling the imaged media from the substrate.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Removing the imaged media from the substrate while rolling the roller on the surface of the imaged media
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 24,
Peeling the imaged media from the substrate after rolling the roller on the surface of the imaged media
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Rolling the rollers along a plurality of different directions on the surface of the imaged media, and selectively applying different amounts of braking to the rollers when the rollers are rolling on the surface
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 24,
Rolling the roller on the surface of the imaged medium while maintaining the imaged medium and the substrate in the layered configuration, and peeling the medium from the substrate while rolling the roller on the surface of the imaged medium Comprising the steps of
Method of imaging the medium.
29. The method of claim 28,
Selectively applying braking to the rollers while rolling the rollers on the surface of the imaged media is greater than when the rollers peel the imaged media from the substrate while rolling on the surface of the imaged media, Applying a different amount of braking to the roller when the roller rolls on the surface of the imaged medium while maintaining the imaged medium and the substrate in the layered configuration;
Method of imaging the medium.
29. The method of claim 28,
Selectively applying braking to the rollers while rolling the rollers on the surface of the imaged media is greater than when the rollers peel the imaged media from the substrate while rolling on the surface of the imaged media, Applying a large amount of braking to the roller when the roller rolls on the surface of the imaged medium while maintaining the imaged medium and the substrate in the layered configuration;
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 24,
Providing a contact roller configured to roll on the surface of the imaged medium, the method further comprising: placing a portion of the imaged medium over a portion of the surface of the contact roller while peeling the imaged medium from the substrate; Further comprising the step of wrapping
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 24,
Providing a take-up roller configured to spool a portion of the imaged media without rolling the take-up roller on the surface of the imaged media, the method comprising: removing the imaged media from the substrate; Spooling a portion of the imaged media on the take-up roller while filling
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Imaging the medium using a thermal transfer process
Method of imaging the medium.

The method of claim 20,
The roller is an idler roller
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 20,
Removing the substrate from the support after removing the imaged media from the substrate.
Method of imaging the medium.
A method of imaging a donor element,
Supporting the substrate on a support;
Placing the donor element on the substrate after supporting the substrate on the support;
Operating an imaging head to image the donor element by directing a radiation beam towards the donor element;
Contacting the rotatable roller about the axis of rotation with the surface of the imaged donor element;
Generating a plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element such that the roller rolls one or more imaged regions of the imaged donor element multiple times;
Removing the imaged donor element from the substrate during a relative movement of one of a plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element;
Removing the substrate from the support after the imaged donor element has been removed from the substrate, wherein the substrate is free for any of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element. Not removed from the support
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 36,
Generating a plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element includes generating relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the support.
Method of imaging the medium.

The method of claim 36,
After the imaged donor element is removed from the substrate, the method further comprises:
Disposing a second donor element on the substrate;
Imaging the second donor element with the imaging head;
Removing the second donor element from the substrate while generating a plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged second donor element.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 36,
Due to the two relative movements of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element, the rollers roll along different directions on one or more imaged regions of the imaged donor element.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 36,
Due to the two relative movements of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element, the rollers roll along opposite directions on one or more imaged regions of the imaged donor element.
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 36,
One of the imaged donor elements during one relative movement of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the rollers and the imaged donor element than during other relative movements of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element Applying a different amount of braking to the roller when the roller rolls on the above imaged area
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 36,
One of the imaged donor elements during one relative movement of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the rollers and the imaged donor element than during other relative movements of the plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element Applying a greater amount of braking to the roller when the roller rolls on the above imaged area;
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 36,
Providing a brake configured to selectively apply braking to the roller while generating a plurality of relative movements between the axis of rotation of the roller and the imaged donor element
Method of imaging the medium.
The method of claim 36,
The roller is an idler roller
Method of imaging the medium.
An apparatus for imaging a medium,
A support configured to support the substrate and the medium in a layered configuration;
An imaging head configured to emit a radiation beam towards the medium to image the medium;
With rollers,
A brake configured to selectively apply braking to the roller,
A chassis configured to support the roller such that the roller is rotatable relative to the chassis;
Including a controller,
The controller,
Operate the imaging head to emit the radiation beam towards the medium,
Generate a relative movement between the chassis and the support to move the roller near the imaged media while maintaining the media and the substrate in the layered configuration,
Generate a number of relative movements between the chassis and the support such that the roller rolls multiple times on the surface of the imaged media,
Control the brake to selectively vary the braking applied to the roller between one relative movement of the plurality of relative movements between the chassis and the support and another relative movement of the plurality of relative movements between the chassis and the support. Configured to
Device for imaging media.
The method of claim 45,
The imaged medium is filled from the substrate during one of the plurality of relative movements between the chassis and the support.
Device for imaging media.
The method of claim 46,
A take-up roller, wherein the take-up roller is configured to spool a portion of the imaged media without rolling the take-up roller on the surface of the imaged media, and the controller is configured to Further configured to spool a portion of the imaged media onto the take-up roller while filling media from the substrate.
Device for imaging media.
In the imaging method,
Placing the donor element and the substrate in a layered configuration,
Providing an imaging head configured to image the donor element by transferring a donor material from the donor element to the surface of the substrate to direct a radiation beam towards the donor element to form a feature on the surface of the substrate;
Moving the roller near the surface of the imaged donor element;
Filling the imaged donor element from the substrate;
Prior to filling the imaged donor element from the substrate, the roller may be configured to adjust the amount of donor material that remains transferred to the surface of the substrate when the imaged donor element is filled from the substrate. Generating relative movement between the roller and the imaged donor element to roll on an area of the element.
Imaging Method.
49. The method of claim 48 wherein
Generating relative movement between the roller and the imaged donor element such that the roller rolls on an area of the imaged donor element reduces edge discontinuity along the edge of the feature when the donor element is peeled from the substrate. The height is
Imaging Method.
49. The method of claim 48 wherein
Is applied to the roller when the roller rolls over an area of the imaged donor element to adjust the amount of donor material that remains transferred to the surface of the substrate when the imaged donor element is peeled from the substrate. Providing a brake configured to increase the amount of braking;
Imaging Method.
In the imaging method,
Placing the donor element and the substrate in a layered configuration,
Providing an imaging head configured to image the donor element by directing a radiation beam towards the donor element;
Transferring donor material from the donor element onto the surface of the substrate to form a feature on the surface of the substrate;
Moving the roller near the surface of the imaged donor element;
Filling the imaged donor element from the substrate;
Prior to filling the imaged donor element from the substrate, the roller may be configured to adjust the amount of donor material transferred to the surface of the substrate when the imaged donor element is filled from the substrate. Generating a relative movement between the roller and the imaged donor element to roll on an area
Imaging Method.

Images