EP0457544A1 — Printing of reflective sheeting

Claim 1

Independent Claim 129 words

) A method of printing an image on a reflective sign comprising the steps of A. providing a first sign component having a surface comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyalkylacrylates, polyalkylmethacrylates, polyesters, vinyl polymers, polyurethanes, cellulose esters, fluoropolymers, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetals, ionomeric copolymers and copolymers of ethylene or propylene with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or vinyl acetate; B. providing a definition of an image to be printed on said first sign component; C. applying dry toner powder comprising: (1) colorant; and (2) binding agent which adheres to said surface; to portions of the surface corresponding to the definition of the image to be printed; and D. fusing the applied dry toner powder to form a fixed image borne upon the first sign component surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 129 words

) A method of printing an image on a reflective sign comprising the steps of A. providing a first sign component having a surface comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyalkylacrylates, polyalkylmethacrylates, polyesters, vinyl polymers, polyurethanes, cellulose esters, fluoropolymers, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetals, ionomeric copolymers and copolymers of ethylene or propylene with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or vinyl acetate; B. providing a definition of an image to be printed on said first sign component; C. applying dry toner powder comprising: (1) colorant; and (2) binding agent which adheres to said surface; to portions of the surface corresponding to the definition of the image to be printed; and D. fusing the applied dry toner powder to form a fixed image borne upon the first sign component surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

) The method of claim 1 wherein the binding agent comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyesters, vinyls, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetals, alkyl substituted acrylate polymers and alkyl substituted methacrylate polymers, wherein the alkyl substituents have from 1 to.9 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

) The method of claim 1 wherein the dry toner powder comprises: 1 % - 16% colorant; 64% - 98% binding agent which adheres to said surface; and 1 % - 20% charge carrier.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 61 words

) The method of claim 1 wherein the dry toner powder comprises: 6% - 12% colorant; 76% - 92% binder polymer which has a glass transition temperature of -15° to about 150°C which laminates at temperatures of from about 50°C to about 240°C to the first sign component surface and which adheres to said surface; and 2% - 12% charge carrier.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

) The method of claim 4 wherein the charge carrier comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of alkylacrylates having amine functionality, alkylmethacrylates having amine functionality, and azine dyes.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

) The method of claim 1 wherein step C is performed in an electrophotographic printing apparatus having a reusable surface for carrying the defined image.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 41 words

) The method of claim 6 further comprising: employing an image defining means which controls the image definition to be printed; and which comprises a computer in which is stored a raster map corresponding to the image definition to be printed.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 73 words

) The method of claim 7 further comprising: means for translating the stored raster map image to the reusable surface at a resolution of at least 79 dots per centimeter; wherein step B includes inputting the image to the computer; and the image defining means further comprises mea ns for scal ing the raster map to allow for the printing of alphanumeric images at least 6.0 centimeters high by the electrophotographic printing apparatus.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 95 words

) A reflective sign comprising a reflective sheet: A. having an image bearing surface, intended to be seen by an observer, which comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyalkylacrylates, polyalkylmethacrylates, polyesters, vinyl polymers, polyurethanes, cellulose esters, fluoropolymers, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetals, ionomeric copolymers and copolymers of ethylene or propylene with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or vinyl acetate; B. said image bearing surface having printed thereon an image derived from a solid toner comprising: (1) a colorant; (2) polymeric binding agent which adheres to said image bearing surface; and (3) a charge carrier.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 95 words

) A reflective sign comprising a reflective sheet: A. having an image bearing surface, intended to be seen by an observer, which comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyalkylacrylates, polyalkylmethacrylates, polyesters, vinyl polymers, polyurethanes, cellulose esters, fluoropolymers, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetals, ionomeric copolymers and copolymers of ethylene or propylene with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or vinyl acetate; B. said image bearing surface having printed thereon an image derived from a solid toner comprising: (1) a colorant; (2) polymeric binding agent which adheres to said image bearing surface; and (3) a charge carrier.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 50 words

) The sign of claim 9, wherein the charge carrier is selected from the group consisting of: acrylic polymers with functional groups having at least an amine nitrogen or quaternary ammonium nitrogen; methacrylic polymers with functional groups having at least an amine nitrogen or quaternary ammonium nitrogen; and azine dyes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 45 words

) The sign of claim 9, wherein the polymeric binding agent comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of polyesters, vinyls, polyolefins, polyvinyl acetals, alkyl substituted acrylate polymers and alkyl substituted methacrylate polymers, wherein the alkyl substituents have from 1 to 9 carbon atoms.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 73 words

) A light transmissive toner composition for application to a reflective sign surface comprising: 1% - 16% colorant 1% - 20% light transmissive charge carrier agent selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates having amine functionality and alkyl methacrylates having amine functionality; and 64% - 98% polymeric binding agent selected from the group consisting of polyesters, vinyl resins, and polyalkyl substituted acrylates and methacrylates wherein the alkyl substituents have 1-9 carbon atoms.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 73 words

) A light transmissive toner composition for application to a reflective sign surface comprising: 1% - 16% colorant 1% - 20% light transmissive charge carrier agent selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates having amine functionality and alkyl methacrylates having amine functionality; and 64% - 98% polymeric binding agent selected from the group consisting of polyesters, vinyl resins, and polyalkyl substituted acrylates and methacrylates wherein the alkyl substituents have 1-9 carbon atoms.

Printing of reflective sheeting

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