Multiple transfer of tacky image areas using prolonged tack toners

Claim 2

Process for image development of a substrate having a latent image, said image having toner-receptive and background areas, which comprises (a) applying to the latent image dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) reducing the temperature of the image below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner wherein the activated prolonged tack toner remains tacky, (d) further applying dry particles of prolonged tack toner to the tackified toned image, and (e) repeating steps (b) through (d) at least one time to increase the density of the toned image on the substrate.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1 wherein the latent image results from electrostatic imaging.

Claim 4

A process according to claim 1 wherein the latent image resultsffrom electromagnetic imaging.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1 wherein thelatent image toner-receptive areas are tacky and the background areas are nontacky.

Claim 6

A process for image development of a substrate having a latent image of tacky toner-receptive areas and nontacky, background areas, said substrate being a supported photosensitive layer which is photopolymerizable containing at least one free radical initiated, chain propagating, addition polymerizable compound containing at least one terminal ethylenic group, and an addition polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation, the process which comprises (a) applying to the latent image dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) reducing the temperature of the image below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner wherein the activated prolonged tack toner remains tacky, (d) further applying dry particles of prolonged tack toner to the tackified toned image, and (e) repeating steps (b) through (d) at least one time to increase the density of the toned image on the substrate.

Claim 7

A process for image development of a substrate having a latent image of tacky toner-receptive areas and nontacky, background areas, said substrate being a supported photosensitive layer which is photopolymerizable containing at least one free radical initiated, chain propagating, addition polymerizable compound containing at least one terminal ethylenic group, and an addition polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation, the process which comprises (a) applying to the latent image dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) reducing the temperature of the image below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner wherein the activated prolonged tack toner remains tacky, (d) further applying dry particles of prolonged tack toner to the tackified toned image, and (e) repeating steps (b) through (d) at least one time to increase the density of the toned image on the substrate.

Claim 8

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image, said image having toner-receptive and background areas, which comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and, while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, (e) reducing the temperature of the tackified toned image below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner wherein the toner remains tacky, (f) applying dry particulate prolonged tack toner over the remaining tacky toner on the substrate master, and (g) repeating steps (b) through (d) at least one time using a separate image receptor in step (c).

Claim 9

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image, said image having toner-receptive and background areas, which comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and, while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, (e) reducing the temperature of the tackified toned image below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner wherein the toner remains tacky, (f) applying dry particulate prolonged tack toner over the remaining tacky toner on the substrate master, and (g) repeating steps (b) through (d) at least one time using a separate image receptor in step (c).

Claim 10

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image, said image having toner-receptive and background areas, which comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and, while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, (e) reducing the temperature of the prolonged tack toner transferred to the image receptor below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner, and (f) applying additional dry particulate prolonged tack toner over the still tacky image to increase the density of the toned transferred image.

Claim 11

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image, said image having toner-receptive and background areas, which comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and, while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, (e) reducing the temperature of the prolonged tack toner transferred to the image receptor below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner, and (f) applying additional dry particulate prolonged tack toner over the still tacky image to increase the density of the toned transferred image.

Claim 12

A process according to claim 7 wherein steps (b) through (d) are repeated at least one time using a separate image receptor in step (c).

Claim 13

A process according to any one of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said latent image results from electrostatic imaging.

Claim 14

A process according to any one of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said latent image results from electromagnetic imaging.

Claim 15

A process according to any one of claims 6, 7 or 8 wherein said latent image toner-receptive areas are tacky and the background areas are nontacky.

Claim 16

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image, said image having toner receptive and background areas, said substrate master being a supported photosensitive layer which is photopolymerizable containing at least one free radical initiated, chain propagating, addition polymerizable compound containing at least one terminal ethylenic group, and an addition polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation, the process comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and, while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, (e) reducing the temperature of the tackified toned image below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner wherein the toner remains tacky, (f) applying dry particulate prolonged tack toner over the remaining tacky toner on the substrate master, and (g) repeating steps (b) through (d) at least one time using a separate image receptor in step (c).

Claim 17

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image, said image having toner receptive and background areas, said substrate master being a supported photosensitive layer which is photopolymerizable containing at least one free radical initiated, chain propagating, addition polymerizable compound containing at least one terminal ethylenic group, and an addition polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation, the process comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and, while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, (e) reducing the temperature of the tackified toned image below the activating temperature of the prolonged tack toner wherein the toner remains tacky, (f) applying dry particulate prolonged tack toner over the remaining tacky toner on the substrate master, and (g) repeating steps (b) through (d) at least one time using a separate image receptor in step (c).

Claim 18

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image having toner-receptive and background areas, which comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, steps (a) to (d) being repeated up to four times using a substrate master having tacky toner-receptive areas and nontacky background areas on each of up to four substrates formed therein by exposure with actinic radiation through different color separation transparencies and the transfer step is accomplished by transferring in register toners of appropriate color with respect to the separation transparencies onto a single image receptor.

Claim 19

A process for forming a toned image from a substrate master having a latent image having toner-receptive and background areas, which comprises (a) applying to the latent image of the substrate dry particles of a prolonged tack toner to produce a nontacky toned image, the prolonged tack toner comprising a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer or heat activatable tackifying agent for the polymer present in an amount greater than its compatibility level in the polymer, (b) heating the toned image to a temperature sufficient to activate the toner by rendering the toner tacky, (c) bringing the tacky toned substrate into intimate contact with an image receptor, and while the toner is still activated, (d) separating the substrate and image receptor whereby a portion of the activated prolonged tack toner transfers imagewise to the image receptor, steps (a) to (d) being repeated up to four times using a substrate master having tacky toner-receptive areas and nontacky background areas on each of up to four substrates formed therein by exposure with actinic radiation through different color separation transparencies and the transfer step is accomplished by transferring in register toners of appropriate color with respect to the separation transparencies onto a single image receptor.

Claim 20

A process according to claim 6 wherein the image receptor is paper.

Claim 21

A process according to claim 6 wherein the image receptor is a copper clad laminate board which after image transfer is subsequently etched or plated to form a printed circuit.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 6 wherein the image receptor is an aluminum plate and after image transfer the image is heated at a temperature up to 150° C., treated with lithographic solutions and inked to provide inked impressions on separate image receptors.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 16 wherein after image transfer, while the image is still tacky and prior to heating, the toned image is retoned with polymer particles.

Claim 24

A process according to any one of claims 1, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the prolonged tack toner comprises polystyrene and N-cyclohexyl-p-toluenesulfonamide.

Claim 25

A process according to any one of claims 1, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the prolonged tack toner comprises a copolymer of methylmethacrylate and methacrylic acid and triphenyl phosphate plasticizer.

Claim 26

A process according to any one of claims 1, 5, 6 or 7 wherein the prolonged tack toner comprises styrene maleic anhydride copolymer and triethyleneglycol dibenzoate.