Layer transfer process for image production and apparatus to preform the process

Claim 1

An apparatus to perform a layer transfer process for image production, wherein an image carrier comprising a photohardenable layer on a support is exposed to light to modify the surface tackiness of the photohardenable layer in predetermined areas to accept a color layer from a color carrier, the image carrier and color carrier are brought into contact with each other under a high enough pressure that the image carrier and/or color carrier are compressed at least temporarily on their mutually facing surfaces containing peaks and valleys so that the sum of the compression depths equals at least the sum of the local peak-to-valley distances of the color carrier and image carrier, and the color carrier is removed from the image carrier so that color remains on the predetermined areas of the image carrier; wherein the apparatus comprises at least one roll nip formed by two rolls, the roll nip being formed by two hard rolls of different diameters, wherein said rolls are mutually offset relative to the feed direction of the image carrier, wherein the wrap angle of the color carrier around the associated roll is greater than the wrap angle of the image carrier around the same roll, wherein both rolls are each reinforced over their length perpendicularly to the feed direction by a bracing device and wherein pressure can be applied pneumatically on at least one bracing device.

Claim 2

An apparatus to perform a layer transfer process for image production, wherein an image carrier comprising a photohardenable layer on a support is exposed to light to modify the surface tackiness of the photohardenable layer in predetermined areas to accept a color layer from a color carrier, the image carrier and color carrier are brought into contact with each other under a high enough pressure that the image carrier and/or color carrier are compressed at least temporarily on their mutually facing surfaces containing peaks and valleys so that the sum of the compression depths equals at least the sum of the local peak-to-valley distances of the color carrier and image carrier, and the color carrier is removed from the image carrier so that color remains on the predetermined areas of the image carrier; wherein the apparatus comprises at least one roll nip formed by two rolls, the roll nip being formed by two hard rolls of different diameters, wherein said rolls are mutually offset relative to the feed direction of the image carrier, wherein the wrap angle of the color carrier around the associated roll is greater than the wrap angle of the image carrier around the same roll, wherein both rolls are each reinforced over their length perpendicularly to the feed direction by a bracing device and wherein pressure can be applied pneumatically on at least one bracing device.

Claim 3

An apparatus for use in transferring a color layer from a color carrier to an image carrier having imagewise modified tacky areas on a surface thereof, said apparatus comprising: a) at least one roll nip formed by two hard rolls, one of said rolls being in wrapped engagement with the color carrier and the other roll being in wrapped engagement with the image carrier, wherein said image carrier comprises a photohardenable layer on a support which has been imagewise exposed to light to modify the surface tackiness of the photohardenable layer in predetermined areas; and b) means for effecting pressure at said at least one roll nip such that the color carrier and/or image carrier are compressed at least temporarily on their mutually facing surfaces containing peaks and valleys so that the sum of the compression depths equals at least the sum of the local peak-to-valley distances of the color carrier and image carrier, whereby upon removal of the color carrier from the image carrier, color remains on the predetermined areas of the image carrier.

Claim 4

An apparatus for use in transferring a color layer from a color carrier to an image carrier having imagewise modified tacky areas on a surface thereof, said apparatus comprising: a) at least one roll nip formed by two hard rolls, one of said rolls being in wrapped engagement with the color carrier and the other roll being in wrapped engagement with the image carrier, wherein said image carrier comprises a photohardenable layer on a support which has been imagewise exposed to light to modify the surface tackiness of the photohardenable layer in predetermined areas; and b) means for effecting pressure at said at least one roll nip such that the color carrier and/or image carrier are compressed at least temporarily on their mutually facing surfaces containing peaks and valleys so that the sum of the compression depths equals at least the sum of the local peak-to-valley distances of the color carrier and image carrier, whereby upon removal of the color carrier from the image carrier, color remains on the predetermined areas of the image carrier.