US4710782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current-applying thermal transfer film
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
•
Filing: 1986-08-28
•
Granted: 1987-12-01
•
Expires: 2006-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A current activated thermal transfer film especially suitable as a non-impact printing ribbon is provided. The film has a thin uniform support layer with a resistance layer disposed on one surface and an ink layer is disposed on the opposed surface of the support layer. The resistance layer primarily includes conductive particles dispersed uniformly in a durable thermoplastic polyester copolymer resin.
Inventors
- 👤 Seiichi Hayashi
- 👤 Takashi Nakamura
- 👤 Hisayuki Tanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:35
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/3825; B41J; B41J31/00; B41J31/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A current-applying thermal transfer film, comprising: a support layer; a current-applying exothermic resistance layer disposed on one surface of the support layer, the resistance layer including about 10 to 40 wt % conductive dispersion particles (Ck), about 45 to 75 wt % thermoplastic polyester copolymer (Cs), and about 2 to 15 wt % cellulose nitrate; and an ink layer disposed on the opposed surface of the support layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A current-applying thermal transfer film, comprising: a support layer; a current-applying exothermic resistance layer disposed on one surface of the support layer, the resistance layer including about 10 to 40 wt % conductive dispersion particles (Ck), about 45 to 75 wt % thermoplastic polyester copolymer (Cs), and about 2 to 15 wt % cellulose nitrate; and an ink layer disposed on the opposed surface of the support layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the support layer is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the support layer is biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate that is stretched and thermoset.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the conductive dispersion particles are selected from the group consisting of metal powders of aluminum, copper, iron, lead, nickel, molybdenum and silver, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, carbon black powders, graphite and acetylene black.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyester copolymer is formed from about 40 to 70 mol % terephthalic acid and 40 to 70 mol % ethylene glycol and at least one additional acid component and at least one additional divalent alcohol component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 5, wherein the additional acid component is selected from the group consisting of isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid and trimellitic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 5, wherein the additional divalent alcohol component is selected from the group consisting of tetramethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, pentaerythritol, trimethylopropane and the ethylene oxide addition product of bisphenol A.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyester copolymer is soluble in a solvent mixture of methyl ethyl ketone and toluene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyester copolymer does not have a melting point when measured with a differential calorimeter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polyester copolymer is soluble in a solvent mixture of methy ethyl ketone and toluene in weights-mixing ratio of 1:1 and does not possess any melting point when measured with a differential calorimeter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 2, wherein the polyethlene terephthalate support layer has a thickness of about 1 to 10 μm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1 wherein, the cellulose nitrate has a viscosity of 100 to 300 seconds using a JIS K-6703 test method.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein cellulose nitrate has a nitrogen content of between about 10.7 to 12.2%.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 1, wherein the total content of Ck+Cs+Cn is about 85-100 wt % of the resistance layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The current-applying thermal transfer film of claim 14, wherein the remainer of the resistance layer is selected from the group the consisting of a dispersing agent, a moisture-proof agent, a softener, an anti-static agent, an antioxidant, a heat resistance-reinforcing agent, an adhesion-reinforcing agent and an additional resin selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane resin, a vinyl cloride - vinyl acetate copolymer, and butyral.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4309117A
Cited
US4400100A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-30 | 1991-06-01 | 1991-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-30 | 1995-06-01 | 1995-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-30 | 1999-06-01 | 1999-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |