US4510206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermal ink transfer recording
Assignee: Dennison Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1983-08-22
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Granted: 1985-04-09
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Expires: 2003-08-22
Abstract
Abstract A thermal ink transfer laminate wherein an ink design is transferred from a carrier support to an article, typically paper, by application of a thermal printing element to the nontransfer side of the carrier. The thermal ink transfer laminate is composed of a carrier support of paper or plastic film overcoated on one side with a heat sensitive ink coating. The heat sensitive ink coating is composed of a hot melt mix containing a coloring agent, a wax binder, and a resin binder. The coloring agent contains a dye dispersed in an unsaturated fatty acid medium. The wax binder contains a paraffin and microcrystalline wax. The coloring agent in combination with the wax binder greatly facilitates attainment of a drastic drop in melt viscosity of the design layer during thermal transfer onto a receiving article. The degree of transfer attained is virtually complete resulting in a transferred image of exceedingly high image clarity and definition. The heat sensitive coating permeates fibrous receiving articles during thermal transfer resulting in a nonraised, firmly anchored abrasion-resistent transferred image.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph J. Shuman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:22
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/392; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2813; Y10T428/2817; Y10T428/2822
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In a thermal ink transfer laminate of the type comprising a heat transferable coating on a thermally conductive support member, said support member comprising material selected from the group consisting of paper and plastic film for transfer of images formed on said transferable coating at a temperature above the melt temperature of the coating by contact of a heated printing element to a side of the support opposite said coating, said support member essentially not electrically conductive, said formed images transferred to a receiving article in contact with the transferable coating, wherein the improved heat transferable coating is a hot melt comprising: a wax binder comprising a paraffin wax; a resin binder; and a coloring agent comprising a dye dispersed in an unsaturated fatty acid having a carbon content between about C 10 to C 20 , said coloring agent effecting a sharp drop in the melt viscosity of the heat transferable coating to facilitate transfer of said formed images to the receiving article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In a thermal ink transfer laminate of the type comprising a heat transferable coating on a thermally conductive support member, said support member comprising material selected from the group consisting of paper and plastic film for transfer of images formed on said transferable coating at a temperature above the melt temperature of the coating by contact of a heated printing element to a side of the support opposite said coating, said support member essentially not electrically conductive, said formed images transferred to a receiving article in contact with the transferable coating, wherein the improved heat transferable coating is a hot melt comprising: a wax binder comprising a paraffin wax; a resin binder; and a coloring agent comprising a dye dispersed in an unsaturated fatty acid having a carbon content between about C 10 to C 20 , said coloring agent effecting a sharp drop in the melt viscosity of the heat transferable coating to facilitate transfer of said formed images to the receiving article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of nigrosine, methyl violet, and induline dye.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the coloring agent further comprises carbon black.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the coloring agent comprises between about 5 to 40 percent by weight of the heat transferable coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the paraffin wax comprises between about 25 to 75 percent by weight of the wax binder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the thermally conductive support is a thin paper sheet of high smoothness measuring between about 0 to 3 on the Sheffield scale of 0 to 100.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid has a carbon content between about C 15 to C 18 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 8 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid is a C 18 unsaturated fatty acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 8 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 10 wherein the unsaturated fatty acid is a cis isomer of a monounsaturated fatty acid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the wax binder further comprises carnauba wax.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 12 wherein the wax binder further comprises microcrystalline wax.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 12 wherein the resin binder comprises a polyethylene-based resin selected from the groups consisting of polyethylene and ethylene copolymers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 14 wherein the ethylene copolymer comprises ethylene and vinyl acetate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 1 wherein the heat transferable coating has a viscosity of less than about 900 centipoise at a temperature of 225° F.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 16 wherein the heat transferable coating has a viscosity of between about 150 centipoise to 900 centipoise at a temperature of 225° F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 16 wherein the heat transferable coating has a viscosity between about 150 centipoise to 500 centipoise.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thermal ink transfer laminate as in claim 16 wherein the coating has a drop melt point between about 130° F. to 225° F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-04-08 | 1988-10-08 | 1989-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-04-08 | 1992-10-08 | 1993-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-04-08 | 1996-10-08 | 1997-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |