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EP0228835A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Receptor film for thermal mass transfer printing

Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1986-12-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-12-08
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to thermal mass transfer printing, and, in particular to a novel receptor sheet for such printing. Pigmented wax from a donor sheet normally used in thermal mass transfer printing does not reliably adhere to bare, untreated polyethylene terephthalate film because lack of compliance of the surfaces of the donor sheet and receptor sheet makes contact between pigmented wax of the donor sheet and image receptive surface of the receptor sheet difficult. The receptor sheet of this invention is suitable for use in thermal mass transfer printing and comprises a polymeric backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof a wax-compatible, image receptive layer having a softening temperature in the range of about 30°C to about 90"C, the surface of said image receptive layer having a higher critical surface tension than the donor material of the donor sheet from which pigmented wax is transferred to the receptor sheet to form images thereon. A preferred receptor sheet comprises a backing made of polyethylene terephthalate and an image receptive layer formed from a blend of wax and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald J. Minnesota Mining And Williams
  • 👤 Marvin R. Minnesota Mining And Kammin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 09:27
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/50; B41M5/52; B41M5/5254; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/24901; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/31; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31801; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31938

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 67 words
A receptor sheet suitable for receiving donor material in an imagewise manner from a donor sheet by means of thermal mass transfer printing comprising a backing having on at least one major surface thereof an image receptive layer comprising a wax-compatible material having a softening temperature of about 30°C to about 90°C, and a critical surface tension exceeding that of the donor material of the donor sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 67 words
A receptor sheet suitable for receiving donor material in an imagewise manner from a donor sheet by means of thermal mass transfer printing comprising a backing having on at least one major surface thereof an image receptive layer comprising a wax-compatible material having a softening temperature of about 30°C to about 90°C, and a critical surface tension exceeding that of the donor material of the donor sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the backing is a sheet of flexible, polymeric material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
The sheet of claim 2 wherein the backing is transparent to visible light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 11 words
The sheet of claim 2 wherein the backing is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the image receptive layer is transparent to visible light.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the image receptive layer comprises a polymeric material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
The sheet of claim 6 wherein the image receptive layer further comprises a wax.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
The sheet of claim 6 wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consistinq of polycaprolactonel, chlorinated polyolefin, block copolymers of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene, and copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the critical surface tension of the image receptive layer is equal to or greater than 31 dynes per centimeter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the coefficient of static friction of the image receptive layer is less than about 0.50.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 18 words
The sheet of claim 1 wherein the image receptive layer and the backing are transparent to visible light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 105 words
A method of forming an image on a receptor sheet comprising the steps of: a. providing the receptor sheet of claim 1, b. transferring image-forming material borne on a donor sheet in an imagewise manner to the image receptive layer of said receptor sheet. 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said donor sheet comprises a backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof a layer of transferable image-forming material. 14. The method of claim 11 wherein said image-forming material comprises wax and a coloring agent. 15. The method of claim 11 wherein said transfer of image-forming material is effected by heat and pressure.

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