High Speed Photo-Printing Apparatus

Abstract

A thermal printer is disclosed which includes a plurality of thermal print heads, each of the plurality of thermal print heads being operable to print a distinct one of a plurality of colors. The plurality of thermal print heads may print output at a plurality of spatial resolutions. The thermal printer may include dot size varying means for varying perceived levels of color printed by the thermal printer by varying sizes of dots printed by the plurality of thermal print heads. The printer may perform various image processing steps on an image to be printed, such as tone scale adjustment, thermal history control, and common mode voltage correction, to improve the perceived quality of the printed image. The thermal printer may be incorporated into a digital photo-printing vending machine for printing images provided by a customer.

1 - 44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . A digital photo-printing vending machine comprising:
 image data input means for receiving an input image from a digital camera provided by a customer;   output means for printing the input image to produce a digital photograph; and   means for providing the digital photograph to the customer.   
   
   
       46 . The digital photo-printing vending machine of  claim 45 , wherein the image data input means comprises a receptacle for receiving the digital camera, the receptacle including an electrical connector for connecting to an output port of the digital camera. 
   
   
       47 . The digital photo-printing vending machine of  claim 45 , wherein the image data input means comprises a wireless receiver for receiving the input image from the digital camera over a wireless connection. 
   
   
       48 . The digital photo-printing vending machine of  claim 45 , further comprising means for withholding the digital camera from the customer subsequent to printing the input image. 
   
   
       49 . The digital photo-printing apparatus of  claim 45 , further comprising disabling means for preventing the digital camera from capturing additional digital photographs. 
   
   
       50 . The digital photo-printing vending machine of  claim 49 , wherein the disabling means comprises:
 means for identifying the number of digital photographs stored within a memory of the digital camera;   means for determining whether the identified number of digital photographs exceeds a maximum number of digital photographs; and means for preventing the digital camera from capturing additional digital photographs if it is determined that the identified number of digital photographs exceeds the maximum number of digital photographs.   
   
   
       51 . The digital photo-printing vending machine of  claim 49 , wherein the disabling means comprises:
 means for identifying an amount of time that the digital camera has been in use;   means for determining whether the identified amount of time exceeds a maximum amount of time; and   means for preventing the digital camera from capturing additional digital photographs if it is determined that the identified amount of time exceeds the maximum amount of time.   
   
   
       52 - 84 . (canceled) 
   
   
       85 . A method for use by a digital photo-printing vending machine, the method comprising steps of:
 receiving an input image from a digital camera provided by a customer; printing the input image to produce a digital photograph; and providing the digital photograph to the customer.   
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the receiving step comprises a step of receiving the digital camera into a receptacle, the receptacle including an electrical connector for connecting to an output port of the digital camera. 
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the receiving step comprises a step of receiving the input image from the digital camera over a wireless connection. 
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 85 , further comprising a step of:
 withholding the digital camera from the customer subsequent to printing the input image.   
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 85 , further comprising a step of:
 preventing the digital camera from capturing additional digital photographs.   
   
   
       90 . The method of claim  9 , wherein the preventing step comprises steps of:
 identifying the number of digital photographs stored within a memory of the digital camera;   determining whether the identified number of digital photographs exceeds a maximum number of digital photographs; and   preventing the digital camera from capturing additional digital photographs if it is determined that the identified number of digital photographs exceeds the maximum number of digital photographs.   
   
   
       91 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the preventing step comprises steps of:
 identifying an amount of time that the digital camera has been in use;   determining whether the identified amount of time exceeds a maximum amount of time; and   preventing the digital camera from capturing additional digital photographs if it is determined that the identified amount of time exceeds the maximum amount of time.