US4871407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image recording material capable of forming three-dimensional images
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-07-21
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Granted: 1989-10-03
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Expires: 2008-07-21
Abstract
Abstract A sheet-like image recording material capable of forming a three-dimensional image. The image recording material comprises a sheet-like base material, a thermoexpansive coating layer formed by applying thermoexpansive microspheres onto the base material surface together with a binder, the thermoexpansive spheres being each formed by encapsulating a low boiling, vaporizable substance into a microcapsule of an thermoplastic resin, and a film layer bonded releasably onto the surface of the coating layer or the base material surface on the side where the coating layer is not provided. A toner image of a desired original image is formed on the film layer according to a electrophotographic method and then irradiated with light, whereby the toner image portion is heated selectively, so that the thermoexpansive layer expands to raise the image, thus affording a three-dimensional image. The toner image can be removed by peeling the film layer from the sheet-like image recording material.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeo Honma
- 👤 Kazuyoshi Hara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:47
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/22; G03G15/228; G03G13/00; G03G7/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1039; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/14; Y10T428/1424; Y10T428/1438; Y10T428/1462; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/24934; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249994; Y10T428/249995; Y10T428/249997; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/254; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31931; Y10T428/31935; Y10T428/31971; Y10T428/31989
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An image recording material for recording a toner-free, three-dimensional image suitable for use in a three-dimensional image forming method wherein a toner image of an original is formed on the recording material according to an electrophotographic method and heat is applied selectively to the image area formed by the toner to raise the image area, said image recording material comprising: a sheet of base material; a thermoexpansive coating layer formed by application on the base material, said thermoexpansive coating layer comprising thermoexpansive microspheres and a binder for bonding to the base material, said microspheres being dispersed in said binder; and a film layer releasably attached to an outer surface of said recording material, said film layer comprising a material which permits fixation of a toner image thereto and an adhesive layer which releasably bonds to said outer surface of said recording material, said film layer permitting the formation of a toner image thereon according to an electrophotographic method, whereby the toner image can be removed from said recording material by peeling said film layer from said recording material surface after the image area has been raised by the application of heat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
An image recording material for recording a toner-free, three-dimensional image suitable for use in a three-dimensional image forming method wherein a toner image of an original is formed on the recording material according to an electrophotographic method and heat is applied selectively to the image area formed by the toner to raise the image area, said image recording material comprising: a sheet of base material; a thermoexpansive coating layer formed by application on the base material, said thermoexpansive coating layer comprising thermoexpansive microspheres and a binder for bonding to the base material, said microspheres being dispersed in said binder; and a film layer releasably attached to an outer surface of said recording material, said film layer comprising a material which permits fixation of a toner image thereto and an adhesive layer which releasably bonds to said outer surface of said recording material, said film layer permitting the formation of a toner image thereon according to an electrophotographic method, whereby the toner image can be removed from said recording material by peeling said film layer from said recording material surface after the image area has been raised by the application of heat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said thermoexpansive microspheres are each formed by encapsulating a low boiling, vaporizable substance into a microcapsule of a thermoplastic synthetic resin, and wherein said binder comprises a thermoplastic synthetic resin as a principal component.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image recording material according to claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic binder resin is a member selected from the group consisting of vinyl acetate, acrylic acid ester, methacrylic acid ester and styrene-butadiene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image recording material according to claim 2, wherein said vaporizable substance comprises propane or butane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An image recording material according to claim 2, wherein said thermoplastic microcapsule resin is a member selected from the group consisting of vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, methacrylic acid ester-acrylonitrile copolymer and vinylidene chloride-acrylic acid ester copolymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said film layer is releasably attached to said thermoexpansive coating layer surface opposite that of said base material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
An image recording material according to claim 6, wherein said image recording material further comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the back of said base sheet and being releasably attached to a releasable sheet, whereupon the removal of the releasable sheet results in the pressure-sensitive adhesive remaining on the back of the base sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said film layer is releasably attached to said base material surface opposite that of said thermoexpansive coating layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said base material is a member selected from the group consisting of paper, synthetic paper, synthetic resin sheet, plywood and metal foil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said thermoexpansive microspheres comprise a granular, heat-sensitive, organic foaming agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An image recording material according to claim 10, wherein said foaming agent comprises azobisisobutyronitrile.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said thermoexpansive microspheres comprise a particle diameter of from 5 to 30 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said film layer material is a member selected from the group consisting of paper, synthetic paper and synthetic resin film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image recording material according to claim 1, wherein said film layer adhesive is vinyl acetate-based or acrylic acid-based.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing method for forming a toner-free, three-dimensional image on a recording material, which method comprises the steps of: providing a recording material, said recording material comprising a base material, a thermoexpansive coating layer provided on the base material, said thermoexpansive coating layer comprising thermoexpansive microspheres dispersed in a binder, and a film layer releasably attached to an outer surface of said recording material; forming a toner image of an original on said film layer of said recording material; applying heat selectively to the toner image area formed on said recording material, whereby the toner image-existing area is raised to effect a three-dimensional image recording; and peeling said film layer from the recording material, whereby the toner image is removed from said recording material surface and a toner-free, three-dimensional image is formed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image processing method for forming a toner-free, three-dimensional image on a recording material, which method comprises the steps of: providing a recording material, said recording material comprising a base material, a thermoexpansive coating layer provided on the base material, said thermoexpansive coating layer comprising thermoexpansive microspheres dispersed in a binder, and a film layer releasably attached to an outer surface of said recording material; forming a toner image of an original on said film layer of said recording material; applying heat selectively to the toner image area formed on said recording material, whereby the toner image-existing area is raised to effect a three-dimensional image recording; and peeling said film layer from the recording material, whereby the toner image is removed from said recording material surface and a toner-free, three-dimensional image is formed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image processing method according to claim 15, wherein said film layer is releasably attached to said thermoexpansive coating layer surface opposite that of said base material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
An image processing method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of removing a sheet being releasably attached to a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer which is provided on the back of said base sheet resulting in the pressure-sensitive adhesive remaining on the back of the base sheet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
An image processing method according to claim 15, wherein said film layer is releasably attached to said base material surface opposite that of said thermoexpansive coating layer.
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) | 1992-10-02 | 1993-04-03 | 1993-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-02 | 1997-04-03 | 1997-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-02 | 2001-04-03 | 2001-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |