US4686549A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Receptor sheet for thermal mass transfer printing
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1985-12-16
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Granted: 1987-08-11
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Expires: 2005-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Receptor sheet suitable for thermal mass transfer printing. The receptor sheet comprises a polymeric backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof a wax-compatible, image receptive layer having a softening temperature in the range of about 30° C. to about 90° C., the surface of said image receptive layer having a higher critical surface tension than the donor material of the donor sheet from which pigmented wax is transferred to the receptor sheet to form images thereon. A preferred receptor sheet comprises a backing made of polyethylene terephthalate and an image receptive layer formed from a blend of a wax and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J. Williams
- 👤 Marvin R. Kammin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:03
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/50; B41M5/52; B41M5/5254; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/24901; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/31; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31801; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A receptor sheet suitable for receiving donor material in an imagewise manner from a donor sheet by means of thermal mass transfer printing comprising a transparent backing having on at least one major surface thereof a transparent image receptive layer comprising a wax-compatible material having a softening temperature of about 30° C. to about 90° C., and a critical surface tension exceeding that of the donor material of the donor sheet, said image receptive layer sufficiently anchored to said backing to allow the image receptive layer to remain on the backing upon transfer of said donor material from said donor sheet to said image receptive layer, said receptor sheet having a haze value of less than 15%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A receptor sheet suitable for receiving donor material in an imagewise manner from a donor sheet by means of thermal mass transfer printing comprising a transparent backing having on at least one major surface thereof a transparent image receptive layer comprising a wax-compatible material having a softening temperature of about 30° C. to about 90° C., and a critical surface tension exceeding that of the donor material of the donor sheet, said image receptive layer sufficiently anchored to said backing to allow the image receptive layer to remain on the backing upon transfer of said donor material from said donor sheet to said image receptive layer, said receptor sheet having a haze value of less than 15%.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the backing is a sheet of flexible, polymeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sheet of claim 2 wherein the backing is transparent to visible light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The sheet of claim 2 wherein the backing is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the image receptive layer is transparent to visible light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the image receptive layer comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sheet of claim 6 wherein the image receptive layer further comprises a wax.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sheet of claim 6 wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polycaprolactones, chlorinated polyolefins, blends of chlorinated polyolefin and polymethyl methacrylate, block copolymers of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the critical surface tension of the image receptive layer is equal to or greater than 31 dynes per centimeter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the coefficient of static friction of the image receptive layer as measured against aluminum according to ASTM D1894 (1978) is less than about 0.50.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the image receptive layer and the backing are transparent to visible light.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of forming an image on a receptor sheet comprising the steps of: a. providing a receptor sheet comprising a transparent backing having on at least one major surface thereof a transparent image receptive layer comprising a wax-compatible material having a softening temperature of about 30° C. to about 90° C., and a critical surface tenison exceeding that of donor material of a donor sheet, said image receptive layer sufficiently anchored to said backing to allow the image receptive layer to remain on the backing upon transfer of said donor material from said donor sheet to said image receptive layer, said receptor sheet having a haze value of less than 15%, and b. transferring image-forming material borne on a donor sheet in an imagewise manner to the image receptive layer of said receptor sheet.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of forming an image on a receptor sheet comprising the steps of: a. providing a receptor sheet comprising a transparent backing having on at least one major surface thereof a transparent image receptive layer comprising a wax-compatible material having a softening temperature of about 30° C. to about 90° C., and a critical surface tenison exceeding that of donor material of a donor sheet, said image receptive layer sufficiently anchored to said backing to allow the image receptive layer to remain on the backing upon transfer of said donor material from said donor sheet to said image receptive layer, said receptor sheet having a haze value of less than 15%, and b. transferring image-forming material borne on a donor sheet in an imagewise manner to the image receptive layer of said receptor sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said donor sheet comprises a backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof a layer of transferable image-forming material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said image-forming material comprises wax and a coloring agent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said transfer of image-forming material is effected by heat and pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3898086A
Cited
GB2069160A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-08-10 | 1991-02-09 | 1991-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-08-10 | 1995-02-09 | 1995-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-08-10 | 1999-02-09 | 1999-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |