US5483321A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrographic element having a combined dielectric/adhesive layer and process for use in making an image
Assignee: Image Products Group LLC
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Filing: 1994-03-29
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Granted: 1996-01-09
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Expires: 2014-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A novel process is disclosed for the manufacture of protected, distortion-free, full-color electrographic images for use on large format posters, billboards and the like. A novel electrographic element is also disclosed, which includes a base, a release layer and a combined transparent dielectric and adhesive layer which is substantially tack-free, at ambient pressure and temperature. The novel electrographic imaging process includes the steps of: A) producing a toned image layer on the surface of the electrographic element and B) pressure laminating the receptor substrate, optionally at an elevated temperature to the toned image layer to form the completed electrographic image. The base and release layer may be stripped from the dielectric/adhesive layer which then serves to protect the transferred, toned, electrographically generated image from abrasion and environmental contaminants.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas A. Cahill
- 👤 Donald A. Brault
- 👤 Richard S. Himmelwright
- 👤 Dene H. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:05
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B38/00; B32B38/10; B32B38/14; B44; B44C; B44C1/00; B44C1/16; B44C1/165; B44C1/17; B44C1/1712; B44C1/1733; G; G03; G03G; G03G13/00; G03G13/22; G03G15/00; G03G15/14; G03G15/16; G03G15/1625; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/0202; G03G5/14; G03G5/142; G03G7/00; G03G7/0006; G03G7/002; G03G7/0026; G03G7/004; G03G7/0046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
An electrographic element for generating an image on a substrate, comprising: a) a conductive base having a front and a back side, b) a release layer on said front side, c) a single, substantially tack-free at ambient temperature, charge receptive combined transparent dielectric and adhesive layer on said release layer for accepting a charge deposited electrographically on its surface to form a latent image and whose adhesive properties are activated at a temperature which is above the ambient temperature of the electrographic element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
An electrographic element for generating an image on a substrate, comprising: a) a conductive base having a front and a back side, b) a release layer on said front side, c) a single, substantially tack-free at ambient temperature, charge receptive combined transparent dielectric and adhesive layer on said release layer for accepting a charge deposited electrographically on its surface to form a latent image and whose adhesive properties are activated at a temperature which is above the ambient temperature of the electrographic element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the conductive base further comprises a conductive layer on said back side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the conductive base comprises a flexible web or sheet material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrographic element of claim 3 wherein the conductive base comprises a conductive paper or a conductive coated paper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrographic element of claim 3 wherein the conductive base comprises a conductive film or a film coated with a conductive coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrographic element of claim 5 wherein the conductive coating is a film forming material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the conductive base comprises a metal foil or a metallized polymeric film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The element of claim 1 wherein the conductive base comprises a carrier layer having a front and a back side, and a conductive layer on the front side of the carrier layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the release layer has a surface energy of between 20 and 40 dynes/cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the release layer comprises a film forming Silicone polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrographic element of claim 10 wherein the release layer comprises an Electron beam cured Silicone release layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the release layer comprises a film forming fluoropolymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the release layer is conductive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrographic element of claim 13 wherein the conductive release layer comprises a quaternary ammonium polymer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrographic element of claim 13 wherein the conductive release layer comprises a film forming conductive material and a surfactant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrographic element of claim 1 wherein the release layer comprises a surfactant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
The element of claim 1 wherein the transparent combined dielectric and adhesive layer film comprises one or more of the following: polyurethanes; polyamides; polyolefins; polycarbonates; polystyrenes; and/or polymers or copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acids, esters, amides, or the like (such as polymethylmethacrylate), styrenes, acrylonitriles, vinyl esters, alkyd substituted vinyl esters, vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetals (e.g., polyvinyl butyral), vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene chloride, 1,4-dienes (e.g., butadiene, isoprene and the like): ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers; copolymers of styrene with acrylic and methacrylic monomers; modified cellulosic resins such as cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate; block copolymer thermoplastic rubbers (e.g., styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene block copolymer); and blends of the above.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The element of claim 1 wherein the transparent combined dielectric and adhesive layer has a thickness in the range of about 1 μm to about 20 μm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electrographic element for generating an image on a substrate, comprising: a) a conductive base having a front and a back side, b) a release layer on said front side, and c) a single, substantially tack-free at ambient temperature, combined transparent dielectric and adhesive layer on said release layer, comprising a film forming material having a dielectric constant of about 2 to 5, wherein the single combined adhesive and dielectric layer adhesive properties are activated at a temperature which is above ambient temperature of the electrographic element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electrographic element for generating an image on a substrate, comprising: a) a conductive base having a front and a back side, b) a release layer on said front side, and c) a single, substantially tack-free at ambient temperature, combined transparent dielectric and adhesive layer on said release layer, comprising a film forming material having a dielectric constant of about 2 to 5, wherein the single combined adhesive and dielectric layer adhesive properties are activated at a temperature which is above ambient temperature of the electrographic element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the conductive base further comprises a conductive layer on said back side.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the conductive base comprises a flexible web or sheet material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the conductive base comprises a conductive paper, a conductive film, or a film or paper coated with a conductive coating.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrographic element of claim 22 wherein the conductive coating is a film forming material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the conductive base comprises a metal foil or a metallized polymeric film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The element of claim 19 wherein the conductive base comprises a carrier layer having a front and a back side, and a conductive layer on the front side of the carrier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the release layer has a surface energy of between 20 and 40 dynes/cm 2 .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the release layer comprises a film forming Silicone polymer or a film forming fluoropolymer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrographic element of claim 27 wherein the release layer comprises an Electron beam cured Silicone release layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the release layer is conductive.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrographic element of claim 29 wherein the conductive release layer comprises a quaternary ammonium polymer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrographic element of claim 29 wherein the conductive release layer comprises a film forming conductive material and a surfactant.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrographic element of claim 19 wherein the release layer comprises a surfactant.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
108 words
The element of claim 19 wherein the film forming material in the combined dielectric and adhesive layer comprises one or more of the following: polyurethanes; polyamides; polyolefins; polycarbonates; polystyrenes; and/or polymers or copolymers of acrylic or methacrylic acids, esters, amides, or the like (such as polymethylmethacrylate),styrenes, acrylonitriles, vinyl esters, alkyd substituted vinyl esters, vinyl alcohol, vinyl acetals (e.g., polyvinyl butyral), vinyl chloride, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene chloride, 1,4-dienes (e.g., butadiene, isoprene and the like); ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymers; copolymers of styrene with acrylic and methacrylic monomers; modified cellulosic resins such as cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate; block copolymer thermoplastic rubbers (e.g., styrene/ethylene/butylene/styrene block copolymer); and blends of the above.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The element of claim 19 wherein the transparent combined dielectric and adhesive layer has a thickness in the range of about 1 μm to about 20 μm.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
159 words
A process for producing an imaged article comprising the steps of: A) depositing an electrostatic charge in image-wise fashion onto an image receptive surface of an electrographic element comprising in the order given; a) a conductive base, b) a release layer, and c) a single, substantially tack-free at ambient temperature, charge receptive combined transparent dielectric and adhesive layer on said release layer for accepting a charge deposited electrographically on its surface to form a latent image and whose adhesive properties are activated at a temperature which is above the ambient temperature of the electrographic element to form a latent image; B) applying a toner layer onto said electrostatic charge to produce a toned image receptive surface; C) contacting said toned image receptive surface of the electrographic element with a surface of a receptor substrate at a temperature sufficient to activate the combined dielectric and adhesive layer to adhere the electrographic element to the substrate to form the imaged article.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
159 words
A process for producing an imaged article comprising the steps of: A) depositing an electrostatic charge in image-wise fashion onto an image receptive surface of an electrographic element comprising in the order given; a) a conductive base, b) a release layer, and c) a single, substantially tack-free at ambient temperature, charge receptive combined transparent dielectric and adhesive layer on said release layer for accepting a charge deposited electrographically on its surface to form a latent image and whose adhesive properties are activated at a temperature which is above the ambient temperature of the electrographic element to form a latent image; B) applying a toner layer onto said electrostatic charge to produce a toned image receptive surface; C) contacting said toned image receptive surface of the electrographic element with a surface of a receptor substrate at a temperature sufficient to activate the combined dielectric and adhesive layer to adhere the electrographic element to the substrate to form the imaged article.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process in accordance with the process of claim 35 wherein the single combined dielectric and adhesive layer comprises a film forming material having a dielectric constant of about 2 to 5.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to the process of claim 36 further comprising the step (D) of removing the conductive base and the release layer from the combined dielectric and adhesive layer of the electrographic element adhered onto the receptor substrate following step (C) to form the imaged article.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 37 wherein in the contacting step (C), the receptor substrate is pressure laminated to the toned image receptive surface at a temperature of about 100° C. or greater.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 38 wherein in the contacting step (C), the receptor substrate is pressure laminated to the toned image receptive surface by passing the electrographic element and the receptor substrate in surface-to-surface contact through a nip of pressure rollers to form a laminate.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 39 wherein at least the receptor substrate or the electrographic element is heated to a temperature of about 100° C. or greater.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 39 wherein the conductive base is removed from a portion of the laminate within about 60 seconds from the time at which the portion of the laminate exits the nip of the pressure rollers.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process of claim 37 wherein in the contacting step (C), the receptor substrate is pressure laminated to the toned image receptive surface under an applied pressure between about 0.5 kg/cm 2 (7 p.s.i.) to about 100 kg/cm 2 (1422 p.s.i.).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-08 | 1999-07-10 | 2000-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-08 | 2003-07-10 | 2004-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-08 | 2007-07-10 | 2008-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |