US4775657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Overcoat for dye image-receiving layer used in thermal dye transfer
Assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-02-11
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Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2008-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprises a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, such as a polycarbonate, coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, such as a polyester or a polyurethane, the overcoat layer having a T g of at least 40° C. less than the T g of the dye image-receiving layer. Use of the overcoat layer of the invention helps to destratify the dye and improves stability of the transferred dyes to light.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel J. Harrison
- 👤 Paul D. Yacobucci
- 👤 Kin K. Lum
- 👤 David B. Bailey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/40; B41M5/42; B41M5/44; B41M7/00; B41M7/0027; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31507; Y10T428/31551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
In a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a thermally-transferred dye image in a dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein said dye image-receiving layer is coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, said overcoat layer having a T g of at least 40° C. less than the T g of said dye image-receiving layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a thermally-transferred dye image in a dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein said dye image-receiving layer is coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, said overcoat layer having a T g of at least 40° C. less than the T g of said dye image-receiving layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The element of claim 1 wherein said condensation polymer is a polyester.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The element of claim 2 wherein said polyester is polycaprolactone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The element of claim 2 wherein said polyester is poly(butylene adipate).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The element of claim 2 wherein said polyester is a polycarbonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The element of claim 1 wherein said condensation polymer is a polyurethane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The element of claim 1 wherein said dye image-receiving layer is a bisphenol-A polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight of at least about 25,000.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The element of claim 7 wherein said bisphenol-A polycarbonate comprises recurring units having the formula: ##STR5## wherein n is from about 100 to about 500.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The element of claim 1 wherein said support is paper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a process of forming a dye transfer image comprising imagewise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and transferring a dye image to a dye-receiving element to form said dye transfer image, said dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein said dye image-receiving layer is coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, said overcoat layer having a T g of at least 40° C. less than the T g of said dye image-receiving layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
In a process of forming a dye transfer image comprising imagewise-heating a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and transferring a dye image to a dye-receiving element to form said dye transfer image, said dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein said dye image-receiving layer is coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, said overcoat layer having a T g of at least 40° C. less than the T g of said dye image-receiving layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said condensation polymer is a polyester.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 11 wherein said polyester is a polycarbonate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said condensation polymer is a polyurethane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 10 wherein said support for the dye-donor element comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate) which is coated with sequential repeating areas of cyan, magenta and yellow dye, and said process steps are sequentially performed for each color to obtain a three-color dye transfer image.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising: (a) a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer, and (b) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, said dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with said dye-donor element so that said dye layer is in contact with said dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein said dye image-receiving layer is coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, said overcoat layer having a T g of at least 40° C. less than the T g of said dye image-receiving layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising: (a) a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer, and (b) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, said dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with said dye-donor element so that said dye layer is in contact with said dye image-receiving layer, the improvement wherein said dye image-receiving layer is coated with an overcoat layer comprising a condensation polymer comprising recurring units of a linear chain having at least four carbon atoms, said overcoat layer having a T g of at least 40° C. less than the T g of said dye image-receiving layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The assemblage of claim 15 wherein the support of said dye image-receiving element is paper and said dye image-receiving layer is a bisphenol-A polycarbonate having a number average molecular weight of at least about 25,000.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The assemblage of claim 15 wherein said condensation polymer is a polyester.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The assemblage of claim 17 wherein said polyester is a polycarbonate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The assemblage of claim 15 wherein said condensation polymer is a polyurethane.
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) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |