US4914079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermal transfer ink medium and method of printing
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corp
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Filing: 1987-10-05
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Granted: 1990-04-03
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Expires: 2007-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A thermal transfer ink medium including a heat resistant support layer having an ink layer thereon and an ink transfer layer or film on the ink layer is provided. Printing is performed by applying thermal energy to selected portions of the thermal transfer ink medium in accordance with image signals. The ink transfer layer and selected portions of the ink layer are transferred to a transfer medium by selective activation of the ink layer. By providing the ink transfer layer, the ink is maintained as a cohesive body and transfer is not affected by the surface roughness of the transfer medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Katsumori Takei
- 👤 Hitoshi Fukushima
- 👤 Kohei Iwamoto
- 👤 Hiroto Nakamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:33
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/382; B41M5/38257; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264; Y10T428/265; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2839; Y10T428/2848; Y10T428/2852; Y10T428/2857; Y10T428/2878; Y10T428/2883; Y10T428/2891; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31652; Y10T428/31663; Y10T428/31721; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31801
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A thermal transfer ink medium for transferring an image to a transfer medium, comprising: a support layer; an ink layer disposed on the support layer; a release layer disposed on the ink layer; an ink transfer layer including one of a film forming thermoplastic and a cross-linking organic material disposed on the release layer, the ink transfer layer formed in a manner to be transferred to the transfer medium as a uniform film during printing to form a substantially uniform ink transfer film surface on the transfer medium for receiving selected portions of the ink layer for forming a desired sharp image on the transfer medium; the ink layer formed so that selected portions of the ink layer corresponding to an image to be printed can be separated from non-selected portions by the selective application of heat and the selected portions can be transferred to the transfer layer film on the transfer medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A thermal transfer ink medium for transferring an image to a transfer medium, comprising: a support layer; an ink layer disposed on the support layer; a release layer disposed on the ink layer; an ink transfer layer including one of a film forming thermoplastic and a cross-linking organic material disposed on the release layer, the ink transfer layer formed in a manner to be transferred to the transfer medium as a uniform film during printing to form a substantially uniform ink transfer film surface on the transfer medium for receiving selected portions of the ink layer for forming a desired sharp image on the transfer medium; the ink layer formed so that selected portions of the ink layer corresponding to an image to be printed can be separated from non-selected portions by the selective application of heat and the selected portions can be transferred to the transfer layer film on the transfer medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 1, wherein the support layer is a member of the group consisting of condenser paper, polyethylene terephthalate, polyether sulfone, polyetherether ketone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyimide and polyamide imide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 1, wherein the ink layer has a melting point between about 40° and 200° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 1, wherein the ink medium further includes an adhesive layer disposed on the ink transfer layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 4, wherein the adhesive layer is formed of a member of the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyvinyl ether, polyacrylic ester, polyterpene, rosin, oil, hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of printing an image on a transfer medium using a thermal transfer ink medium having at least a heat-resistant support layer, a thermoplastic ink layer provided on the support layer, a release layer disposed on the ink layer and an ink transfer layer that includes one of a film forming thermoplastic and cross-linking organic material provided on the release layer, comprising: placing the ink transfer layer in contact with the transfer medium; selectively applying thermal energy to the support layer in accordance with the image signals in an amount sufficient to cause the ink in the portions corresponding to the image to be printed to form a latent image on the ink transfer layer; adhering the ink transfer layer as a continuous film supporting the selected portions of ink corresponding to the latent image to the transfer medium; and removing the support layer and the non-selected portion of the ink layer from the ink transfer layer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of printing an image on a transfer medium using a thermal transfer ink medium having at least a heat-resistant support layer, a thermoplastic ink layer provided on the support layer, a release layer disposed on the ink layer and an ink transfer layer that includes one of a film forming thermoplastic and cross-linking organic material provided on the release layer, comprising: placing the ink transfer layer in contact with the transfer medium; selectively applying thermal energy to the support layer in accordance with the image signals in an amount sufficient to cause the ink in the portions corresponding to the image to be printed to form a latent image on the ink transfer layer; adhering the ink transfer layer as a continuous film supporting the selected portions of ink corresponding to the latent image to the transfer medium; and removing the support layer and the non-selected portion of the ink layer from the ink transfer layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of printing of claim 6, wherein the latent image on the transfer medium is formed by transferring portions of ink to the ink transfer layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of printing of claim 6, wherein the latent image is formed by transferring ink by sublimation into the ink transfer layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of printing of claim 6, wherein the portions of ink corresponding to the image are transferred to the ink transfer layer at the same time the ink transfer layer is adhered to the transfer medium.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of printing of claim 6, wherein the ink is transferred to the ink transfer layer, and subsequently the ink transfer layer is adhered to the transfer medium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of printing of claim 6, wherein the ink transfer layer is adhered directly to the transfer medium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of printing of claim 6, wherein the transferred ink is contacted directly to the transfer medium and the ink transfer layer is disposed on the transferred ink.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A thermal transfer ink medium, comprising: a support layer; an ink layer disposed on the support layer; a release layer disposed on the ink layer; and an ink transfer layer including one of a film forming thermoplastic and cross-linking organic material disposed on the ink layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A thermal transfer ink medium, comprising: a support layer; an ink layer disposed on the support layer; a release layer disposed on the ink layer; and an ink transfer layer including one of a film forming thermoplastic and cross-linking organic material disposed on the ink layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 13, wherein the support layer is a heat resistant material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 13, wherein the support layer has a thickness between about 1 and 20 μm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 13, wherein the ink layer includes at least a thermoplastic material having a dye, pigment or mixture thereof dispersed therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 16, wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of natural wax, oil wax, compound wax, fatty amides, fatty esters, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene ethyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, styrenebutadiene copolymers, methylmethacrylic resin and mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 16, wherein the thermoplastic ink layer contains between about 50 and 99% by weight of thermoplastic material and between about 1 and 50% by weight of dye or pigment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 13, wherein the ink layer includes a sublimatable dye.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 19, wherein the ink layer further includes a binder selected from the group consisting of phenol, rosin, polyamide, alkylcellulose, acrylic acid, maleic acid and mixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 20, wherein the ink layer contains between about 50 and 99.5% by weight of binder and between about 0.5 and 50% by weight of sublimatable dye.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 13, wherein the ink layer has a thickness between about 0.1 and 20 μm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 13, wherein the ink transfer layer is a thin polymeric film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 23, wherein the ink transfer layer is a thermoplastic material or cross-linking material
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 13, wherein the ink medium further includes an adhesive layer disposed on the ink transfer layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 25, wherein the adhesive layer includes a member selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyvinyl ether, polyacrylic ester, polyterpene, rosin, oil, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
A thermal transfer ink medium, comprising: a support layer; a thermoplastic ink layer disposed on the support layer; an ink transfer layer disposed on the ink layer; and an adhesive layer disposed on the ink transfer layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
A thermal transfer ink medium, comprising: a support layer; a thermoplastic ink layer disposed on the support layer; an ink transfer layer disposed on the ink layer; and an adhesive layer disposed on the ink transfer layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 27, wherein the adhesive layer includes a member of the group consisting of natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, polyvinyl ether, polyacrylic ester, polyterpene, rosin, oil, hydrocarbons and combinations thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 27, wherein the ink layer includes at least a thermoplastic material having a dye, pigment or mixture thereof disbursed therein.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 27, wherein the ink layer has a melting point between about 40° and 200° C.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 27, wherein the thermoplastic ink layer contains between about 50 and 99% by wt. of thermoplastic material and between about 1 and 50% by wt. of dye or pigment.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal transfer ink medium of claim 27, wherein the ink transfer layer is a thin polymeric film.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of printing an image on a transfer medium using a thermal transfer ink medium having at least a heat-resistant support layer, a thermoplastic ink layer provided on a support layer, an ink transfer layer provided on the ink layer and an adhesive layer provided on the ink transfer layer, comprising: placing the adhesive layer in contact with the transfer medium; selectively applying thermal energy to the support layer in accordance with image signals in an amount sufficient to cause the ink in the portions corresponding to the image to be printed to form a latent image on the ink transfer layer; adhering the ink transfer layer as a continuous film supporting the selected portions of ink corresponding to the latent image to the transfer medium; and removing the support layer and the non-selected portion of the ink layer from the ink transfer layer.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of printing an image on a transfer medium using a thermal transfer ink medium having at least a heat-resistant support layer, a thermoplastic ink layer provided on a support layer, an ink transfer layer provided on the ink layer and an adhesive layer provided on the ink transfer layer, comprising: placing the adhesive layer in contact with the transfer medium; selectively applying thermal energy to the support layer in accordance with image signals in an amount sufficient to cause the ink in the portions corresponding to the image to be printed to form a latent image on the ink transfer layer; adhering the ink transfer layer as a continuous film supporting the selected portions of ink corresponding to the latent image to the transfer medium; and removing the support layer and the non-selected portion of the ink layer from the ink transfer layer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the portions of ink corresponding to the image are transferred to the ink transfer layer at the same time the ink transfer layer is adhered to the transfer medium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33, wherein the ink is transferred to the ink transfer layer, and subsequently the ink transfer layer is adhered to the transfer medium.
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) | 1993-04-02 | 1993-10-02 | 1994-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-02 | 1997-10-02 | 1998-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-02 | 2001-10-02 | 2002-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |