A printing system is disclosed for thermal transfer printing onto a surface of a substrate. The system comprises a transfer member having opposite front and rear sides with an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which energy is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which said imaging surface of said transfer member and the substrate surface are pressed against each other to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of only the regions of the particle coating that have been rendered tacky. In the invention, the imaging station comprises a thermal print head in thermal contact with the rear side of the transfer member and operative to apply energy to the particles on the imaging surface by heat conduction through the transfer member.

A method and apparatus for thermal transfer printing onto selected regions of a substrate are disclosed. The method comprises: a) providing a transfer member having an imaging surface; b) coating the imaging surface with particles formed of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer; c) removing substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the imaging surface to leave a uniform monolayer particle coating on the imaging surface; d) applying energy to selected regions of the imaging surface to heat and render tacky particles of corresponding regions of the monolayer coating; and e) pressing at least portions of the imaging surface and the substrate surface against one another, either during and/or after application of energy, to cause transfer to the surface of the substrate of the particles of the corresponding regions that have been rendered tacky. The monolayer coating can be replenished with new particles and the cycle repeated.

There are provided a light irradiation device and a light irradiation system which are capable of correcting changes in optical power output. A light irradiation device includes: a substrate having an upper surface provided with a first recess and a second recess; a light-emitting element located in the first recess, the light-emitting element emitting ultraviolet light; and a detecting element located in the second recess, the detecting element being capable of detecting ultraviolet light.

There are provided a light irradiation device and a light irradiation system which are capable of correcting changes in optical power output. A light irradiation device includes: a substrate having an upper surface provided with a first recess and a second recess; a light-emitting element located in the first recess, the light-emitting element emitting ultraviolet light; and a detecting element located in the second recess, the detecting element being capable of detecting ultraviolet light.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system comprises a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

An optical print head, including: an elongated substrate having a line-shaped region in which light-emitting elements are arranged; an optical member condensing light from the light-emitting elements onto an irradiation target; a holding member holding the optical member; a base member holding the substrate and the holding member; an integrated circuit mounted in a first region in proximity of an end in a longitudinal direction of the substrate on a first surface of the substrate facing the base member, heat being generated in the integrated circuit during optical writing; and a thermally conductive member between the integrated circuit and the base member. In the optical print head, the holding member has a support portion contacting the substrate in a second region at a position differing from the first region in plan view on a second surface of the substrate not facing the base member.

An optical print head, including: an elongated substrate having a line-shaped region in which light-emitting elements are arranged; an optical member condensing light from the light-emitting elements onto an irradiation target; a holding member holding the optical member; a base member holding the substrate and the holding member; an integrated circuit mounted in a first region in proximity of an end in a longitudinal direction of the substrate on a first surface of the substrate facing the base member, heat being generated in the integrated circuit during optical writing; and a thermally conductive member between the integrated circuit and the base member. In the optical print head, the holding member has a support portion contacting the substrate in a second region at a position differing from the first region in plan view on a second surface of the substrate not facing the base member.

There is disclosed a layered article that can be used in indirect printing, in analog or digital processes. The layered article, when configured as a transfer member, may serve to receive an ink in any form, allow the ink to be treated so as to form an ink image, and permit the application of the ink image on a substrate. The transfer member comprises a support layer and an imaging layer, which may be formed of a silicon matrix including dispersed carbon black particles. Methods for preparing the same are also disclosed.

A patterning apparatus is provided. The patterning apparatus includes a plurality of liquid jet units arranged in one or more groups and configured to jet an anti-etching liquid onto a surface of a substrate. The patterning apparatus also includes a plurality of exposure units configured to expose light on the anti-etching liquid jetted on the surface of the substrate to heat and cure the jetted anti-etching liquid to form anti-etching patterns on the surface of the substrate. Further, the patterning apparatus includes a control unit configured to control motion status and jetting status of the plurality of liquid jet units and motion status and exposure status of the plurality of exposure units, so as to form the anti-etching patterns at a predetermined line width and thickness.

A patterning apparatus is provided. The patterning apparatus includes a plurality of liquid jet units arranged in one or more groups and configured to jet an anti-etching liquid onto a surface of a substrate. The patterning apparatus also includes a plurality of exposure units configured to expose light on the anti-etching liquid jetted on the surface of the substrate to heat and cure the jetted anti-etching liquid to form anti-etching patterns on the surface of the substrate. Further, the patterning apparatus includes a control unit configured to control motion status and jetting status of the plurality of liquid jet units and motion status and exposure status of the plurality of exposure units, so as to form the anti-etching patterns at a predetermined line width and thickness.