Patent US3703143A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3703143A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal transfer sheet and method of thermally transferring images
Assignee: Bell and Howell Co
•
Filing: 1970-02-16
•
Granted: 1972-11-21
•
Expires: 1990-02-16
Abstract
Abstract This invention prevents an improved thermal transfer sheet and method of thermally transferring images. The transferability of images in a thermal transfer process is greatly improved by utilizing a thermal transfer sheet comprising a reticulated or discontinuous layer of transfer material.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Gaynor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:57
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/38278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A thermal-transfer sheet for use in a duplicating process in which an original image is irradiated while in contact with the thermal-transfer sheet and transfer material on the thermal-transfer sheet is transferred to an image receiving sheet in the form of the original image comprising: a carrier web; and a regular array of minute transfer material islands disposed on said web over an area larger than the original image, said transfer material islands having a greatest lateral dimension smaller than 0.01 inch and having high radiation absorption characteristics relative to said web and being capable of becoming plastic upon the absorption of heat such that upon becoming plastic said transfer material islandS may be physically transferred from said web to an image receiving sheet in the form of the original image.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A thermal-transfer sheet for use in a duplicating process in which an original image is irradiated while in contact with the thermal-transfer sheet and transfer material on the thermal-transfer sheet is transferred to an image receiving sheet in the form of the original image comprising: a carrier web; and a regular array of minute transfer material islands disposed on said web over an area larger than the original image, said transfer material islands having a greatest lateral dimension smaller than 0.01 inch and having high radiation absorption characteristics relative to said web and being capable of becoming plastic upon the absorption of heat such that upon becoming plastic said transfer material islandS may be physically transferred from said web to an image receiving sheet in the form of the original image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transfer sheet set forth in claim 1 wherein the discontinuities of transfer material between adjacent islands do not exceed 0.01.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transfer sheet set forth in claim 2 wherein said islands are substantially square.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transfer sheet set forth in claim 2 wherein said islands are substantially square and disposed in a checker-board array.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transfer sheet set forth in claim 2 wherein said islands are substantially circular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transfer sheet set forth in claim 2 wherein said islands are substantially triangular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The transfer sheet set forth in claim 2 wherein said islands are substantially polygonal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of transferring an original image comprising; forming a multi-layer assemblage of an original image, a transfer sheet and an image receiving surface, said transfer sheet comprising a carrier web and a regular array of minute transfer material islands having a greatest lateral dimension smaller than 0.1'''' disposed on said web over an area greater than the original image, said image receiving surface being contiguous with said transfer material islands; irradiating said multi-layer assemblage with sufficient energy to plasticize only the said transfer material islands which are superimposed with said original image; applying pressure to said assemblage; and separating said image receiving surface from said multi-layer assemblage whereby the plasticized transfer material islands are disposed on said image receiving surface in the form of said original image.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of transferring an original image comprising; forming a multi-layer assemblage of an original image, a transfer sheet and an image receiving surface, said transfer sheet comprising a carrier web and a regular array of minute transfer material islands having a greatest lateral dimension smaller than 0.1'''' disposed on said web over an area greater than the original image, said image receiving surface being contiguous with said transfer material islands; irradiating said multi-layer assemblage with sufficient energy to plasticize only the said transfer material islands which are superimposed with said original image; applying pressure to said assemblage; and separating said image receiving surface from said multi-layer assemblage whereby the plasticized transfer material islands are disposed on said image receiving surface in the form of said original image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method set forth in claim 8 wherein the dis-continuities in said transfer material between adjacent islands do not exceed 0.01 inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1888154A
Cited
US3185086A
Cited
US3122998A
Cited
US3354817A
Cited
US3347696A
Cited
US3384015A
Cited
US3363557A
Cited
US3455239A
Cited
US3396401A
Cited
US3496333A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |