CA1212581A - Thermal transfer printing processes with electroerosion and materials therefor - Google Patents
Thermal transfer printing processes with electroerosion and materials thereforInfo
- Publication number
- CA1212581A CA1212581A CA000444840A CA444840A CA1212581A CA 1212581 A CA1212581 A CA 1212581A CA 000444840 A CA000444840 A CA 000444840A CA 444840 A CA444840 A CA 444840A CA 1212581 A CA1212581 A CA 1212581A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- ink
- electroerosion
- radiant energy
- layer
- support
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
- B41M5/42—Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers
- B41M5/426—Intermediate, backcoat, or covering layers characterised by inorganic compounds, e.g. metals, metal salts, metal complexes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
- B41M5/48—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)
- Impression-Transfer Materials And Handling Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING PROCESSES
WITH ELECTROEROSION AND MATERIALS THEREFOR
ABSTRACT
Processes for thermal transfer printing. are disclosed which comprise electroerosion printing to produce an image bearing element and exposing the imaged element to irradiation so as to permit transfer of thermographic ink from an associated ink layer or ink-containing element onto an ink receiving substrate thus producing copies of the image carried by the image bearing element.
Also, described are products for use in such processes.
WITH ELECTROEROSION AND MATERIALS THEREFOR
ABSTRACT
Processes for thermal transfer printing. are disclosed which comprise electroerosion printing to produce an image bearing element and exposing the imaged element to irradiation so as to permit transfer of thermographic ink from an associated ink layer or ink-containing element onto an ink receiving substrate thus producing copies of the image carried by the image bearing element.
Also, described are products for use in such processes.
Description
THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING PROCESSES
WIl~ ELECTROEROS ION AND MATERIALS I~IEREFOR
DESCRIPTION
Technical Field The invention relates to thermal transfer print-ing processes utilizing electroerosion printing and materials for use in such processes_ Electroerosion printing is a technique for pro-ducing markings, such as, letters, numbers, symbols, patterns, such as, circuit patterns, or o~her legible or coded indicia on recording material in response to an electric signal which removes or erodes material from the surface of the recording material as the result of spark initiation or arcing.
The surface which is eroded or removed to provi~e such indicia on the recording material is usually a thin film of conductive material which is vaporized in response to localized heating asso-ciated with arcing which is initiated by apply-ing an electric curren t to an electrode in con-tact with the surface of a recording material comprising the thin conductive film on a non-conductive backing or support. In the present state of the technolosy, the thin conductive film is usually a thin film of vaporizable metal, such as, aluminum. Electroerosion materials and processes are useful to produce directly, human readable images, photomasks, etc. For a number substrate and a hard surfaced metal film. Sub-strates of paper and various pol~ners have heen 3l~3L~5~
employed with thicknesses on the order of 2 to 5 mil; as the erodible conductive layer metal films, such as, vapor deposited aluminum films of a thickness on the order of 400 A to 10,000 A
have been utilized. For details on materials heretofore used in electroerosion printing, see U.S. Patent 4,082,902, Suzuki, and U.S. Patent 4,086,853, Figov.
While the imaged electroerosion materials pro-duced by electroerosion printing as described areuseful in themselves and are capable of providing machine or human readable graphics, it is desir-able to expand the utility of such imaged sheets to permit theix use in generati~g copies, e.g:, copies of improved esthetic appearance or read-ability or copies on paper of higher quali~y than is normally used in electroerosion printing; and it is also desirable to expand the use of mate-rials imaged by electroerosion into other areas, such as, the printing of multicolor indicia on an image receiving sheet, and to permit the'use of a tape or ribbon form of the electroerosion mate~
rial in a typewriter-like device, as well as ln other related applications.
Prior Art Thermographic transfer printing processes are known as exemplified in U.S. Patents 3,122,998, Raczynski et al, 3,384,015, Ne~man, and 3,736,873, Newman. Raczynski broadly describes the transfer of an infrared responsive ink from a supply sheet to a copy sheet by assembling the two in contact with an original and exposincJ the assemblage to infrared (radiant energy) to cause ~ Z ~ 2 S ~ ~
ink from the supply sheet to transfer selecti~ely to the copy sheet. Newman '015 describes speci-fic thermographic materials for improving thermo-graphic transfer processes of the general kind described in the Raczynski patent. Newman '873 describes a thermographic planographic printing plate incorporating a special plastic film foundation.
Other representatiYe thermographic and electro-thermographic processes and materials are dis-closed in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,441,940, Salaman et al, 3,744,611, Montanari et al, and 3,792,266, Gundlach.
For basic disclosures of electroerosion processes and materials refer to the above-cited Suzuki and Fi~ patents.
None of the patents discussed or mentioned above pertains to the use of electroerosion processing or the unique integration of electroerosion and thermographic processing and material as is contemplated in our invention.
Summary of the Invention !
In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that graphic reproductions or copies of an electroerosion imaged original can be produced by a uni~ue coaction of electroerosion and thermographic processing. In particular by using an electroerosion recording material having a support which is capable of transmitting radian~ energy, especially light rich in infrared energy, and associating with the imaged electro-erosion recording material an element containing 4~ z~ ~ 5 ~ ~
ra~iation responsive ink, it has been found that images recorded on the electroerosion material may be copied onto a variety of image receiving substrates.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 of the drawing is a cross-sectional view of a basic electroerosion recording material used in the process of the invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the basic electroerosion material of Figure 1 after imaging.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the imaged basic electroerosion material of Figure 2 after the application of an ink layer over the upper or imaged surface thereof.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the imaged electroerosion recording material of Figure 2 having overlaid on the imaged surface thereof an ink-containing element.
.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mate-rial of Figure 3 shown in contact with a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate.
Figure 6 is a cross~sectional view of the mate-rial of Figure 4 shown in contact with a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate showing imaged areas which may be produced by processing the assemblied of Fi~ures 5! 6 and 8.
3LZ~Z58~ ~
~ 5 .
Figure 8 is a çross-sectional view of cm imaged electroerosion material shown in association with an ink-containing element representins an alter-native embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention is concerned with printing processes which rely upon a unique coaction of electroerosion printing and thermal transfer printing.
According to the invention, printing may be carried out on any suitable copy sheet or receiv-ing sheet or other image-receiving substrate by providing an electroerosion recording material which comprises a radiant energy transmitting support and a layer of radiant energy reflecting, conductive material on the support. The conduc-tive material must be capable of being removed by evaporation during electroerosion recording. In the most usual situation the radian~ energy reflecting, conductive material is a thin layer of aluminum deposited by sputtering or vacuùm evaporation. The foregoing electroerosion material is then subjected to electroerosion imaging. ~his produces areas where the radiant energy reflective, conducti~e material is removed, and radiant energy transmissive pathways are opened through the radiant energy trans-missive support. Before or after electroerosion imaging, the electroerosion recording material is overlaid on or contacted with an ink-containing layer or element. Where the te~ ink is used in this description any thermographically transfer-able imaging medium is contemplated, including
WIl~ ELECTROEROS ION AND MATERIALS I~IEREFOR
DESCRIPTION
Technical Field The invention relates to thermal transfer print-ing processes utilizing electroerosion printing and materials for use in such processes_ Electroerosion printing is a technique for pro-ducing markings, such as, letters, numbers, symbols, patterns, such as, circuit patterns, or o~her legible or coded indicia on recording material in response to an electric signal which removes or erodes material from the surface of the recording material as the result of spark initiation or arcing.
The surface which is eroded or removed to provi~e such indicia on the recording material is usually a thin film of conductive material which is vaporized in response to localized heating asso-ciated with arcing which is initiated by apply-ing an electric curren t to an electrode in con-tact with the surface of a recording material comprising the thin conductive film on a non-conductive backing or support. In the present state of the technolosy, the thin conductive film is usually a thin film of vaporizable metal, such as, aluminum. Electroerosion materials and processes are useful to produce directly, human readable images, photomasks, etc. For a number substrate and a hard surfaced metal film. Sub-strates of paper and various pol~ners have heen 3l~3L~5~
employed with thicknesses on the order of 2 to 5 mil; as the erodible conductive layer metal films, such as, vapor deposited aluminum films of a thickness on the order of 400 A to 10,000 A
have been utilized. For details on materials heretofore used in electroerosion printing, see U.S. Patent 4,082,902, Suzuki, and U.S. Patent 4,086,853, Figov.
While the imaged electroerosion materials pro-duced by electroerosion printing as described areuseful in themselves and are capable of providing machine or human readable graphics, it is desir-able to expand the utility of such imaged sheets to permit theix use in generati~g copies, e.g:, copies of improved esthetic appearance or read-ability or copies on paper of higher quali~y than is normally used in electroerosion printing; and it is also desirable to expand the use of mate-rials imaged by electroerosion into other areas, such as, the printing of multicolor indicia on an image receiving sheet, and to permit the'use of a tape or ribbon form of the electroerosion mate~
rial in a typewriter-like device, as well as ln other related applications.
Prior Art Thermographic transfer printing processes are known as exemplified in U.S. Patents 3,122,998, Raczynski et al, 3,384,015, Ne~man, and 3,736,873, Newman. Raczynski broadly describes the transfer of an infrared responsive ink from a supply sheet to a copy sheet by assembling the two in contact with an original and exposincJ the assemblage to infrared (radiant energy) to cause ~ Z ~ 2 S ~ ~
ink from the supply sheet to transfer selecti~ely to the copy sheet. Newman '015 describes speci-fic thermographic materials for improving thermo-graphic transfer processes of the general kind described in the Raczynski patent. Newman '873 describes a thermographic planographic printing plate incorporating a special plastic film foundation.
Other representatiYe thermographic and electro-thermographic processes and materials are dis-closed in U.S. Patents Nos. 3,441,940, Salaman et al, 3,744,611, Montanari et al, and 3,792,266, Gundlach.
For basic disclosures of electroerosion processes and materials refer to the above-cited Suzuki and Fi~ patents.
None of the patents discussed or mentioned above pertains to the use of electroerosion processing or the unique integration of electroerosion and thermographic processing and material as is contemplated in our invention.
Summary of the Invention !
In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that graphic reproductions or copies of an electroerosion imaged original can be produced by a uni~ue coaction of electroerosion and thermographic processing. In particular by using an electroerosion recording material having a support which is capable of transmitting radian~ energy, especially light rich in infrared energy, and associating with the imaged electro-erosion recording material an element containing 4~ z~ ~ 5 ~ ~
ra~iation responsive ink, it has been found that images recorded on the electroerosion material may be copied onto a variety of image receiving substrates.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 of the drawing is a cross-sectional view of a basic electroerosion recording material used in the process of the invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the basic electroerosion material of Figure 1 after imaging.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the imaged basic electroerosion material of Figure 2 after the application of an ink layer over the upper or imaged surface thereof.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the imaged electroerosion recording material of Figure 2 having overlaid on the imaged surface thereof an ink-containing element.
.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the mate-rial of Figure 3 shown in contact with a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate.
Figure 6 is a cross~sectional view of the mate-rial of Figure 4 shown in contact with a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate.
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate showing imaged areas which may be produced by processing the assemblied of Fi~ures 5! 6 and 8.
3LZ~Z58~ ~
~ 5 .
Figure 8 is a çross-sectional view of cm imaged electroerosion material shown in association with an ink-containing element representins an alter-native embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention is concerned with printing processes which rely upon a unique coaction of electroerosion printing and thermal transfer printing.
According to the invention, printing may be carried out on any suitable copy sheet or receiv-ing sheet or other image-receiving substrate by providing an electroerosion recording material which comprises a radiant energy transmitting support and a layer of radiant energy reflecting, conductive material on the support. The conduc-tive material must be capable of being removed by evaporation during electroerosion recording. In the most usual situation the radian~ energy reflecting, conductive material is a thin layer of aluminum deposited by sputtering or vacuùm evaporation. The foregoing electroerosion material is then subjected to electroerosion imaging. ~his produces areas where the radiant energy reflective, conducti~e material is removed, and radiant energy transmissive pathways are opened through the radiant energy trans-missive support. Before or after electroerosion imaging, the electroerosion recording material is overlaid on or contacted with an ink-containing layer or element. Where the te~ ink is used in this description any thermographically transfer-able imaging medium is contemplated, including
2~
.
vari colored media, colorless media, etc. The ink incorporated in this layer or e:Lement is non-transferable at normal ambient conditions as are encountered during storage, handling and the s like. However, the ink is selected so that, upon exposure to radiant energy, it becomes flowable and transferable onto a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate which is placed in contact with the ink while it is in the transfer-able state. Next, while i~ contact with a copysheet or image receiving sheet or substrate, the assembly is exposed to radiant energv, usually light which is rich in infrared energy. Upon irradiation and thermographic transfer of ink from irradiated areas of the ink layer or element to the copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate, an image is produced on the image receiving substrate which corresponds to the electroerosion recorded image.
According to this invention, excellent copies may be made from electroerosion recorded 'elements onto plain paper, thus improving the quality of the original, thereby upgrading esthetically the ~uality of the graphics from that which is produced when using economical, but esthetically unattractive, electroerosion paper. The inven-tion may also be employed to produce multicolored foils of plastic, aluminum, etc., and may also be used in an electroerosion typewriter-like device to produce imaged substrates.
In the process and materials of this invention any support material may be utilized in the electroerosion recording material provided that it is sufficiently transmissive wi~h respect to zs~
radiant energy, such as, light rich in infrared;
thus, upon irradiation from one side of such a support sufficient energy is transferred to the other side so that a radiation responsive or sensitive ink may be changed from a non-transfer-able to a transferable condition. For the elec-troerodible layer applied to the support any suitable material may be utilized provided that it is sufficiently conductive and erodible under electroerosion printing conditions to allow for the necessary imaying of the electroerosion material and provided that it is also substan-tially impermeable to and reflective of the radiant energy used in the process, e.g., inrared radiation.
As the support material a polyester is preferred.
For example a 2 mil thick film of polyester {MYLAR, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company).
The preferable electroerodible layer is an alumi-num film which may be applied by conventionaltechniques such as sputtering or vacuum~ evapora-tion. An aluminum film thickness of from about 400-500 A is satisfactory.
A cross section of the basic electroerosion material is illust~ated in Figure 1 of the draw-ing wherein the electroerosion recording mate-rial 1 is shown to comprise a radiant energy transmitting support 2 which may be transparent polyester or the like a~d a thin film of electro-erodible material 3 such as a film of aluminummetal.
As will be seen with reference to Figure 2 of the drawing the electroerosion recording material of 5~
. .
.
, Figure l may then subjected to electroerosion printing to evaporate portions of the electro-erodible layer 3, and to expose image-wise in areas 4 the underlying support 2. Processes for carrying out electroerosion recording are known and comprise contacting the electroerodible surface with one or more writing stylus(i) and applying a voltage of from 30 to 60 volts to evaporate the erodible layer in those areas where imaging is desired.
Next, the imaged electroerosion recording mate-rial, as illustrated in Figure 2, is coated with a radiant energy responsive, thermographic ink 5.
Alter~atively, as shown in Figure 4, the electro-erosion imaged material of Figure 2 may be over-laid with a discrete element 6 which contains a radiant energy responsive thermographic inX.
Next, as illustrated in Figure 5, the inked rnaterial of Figure 3 is ov~rlaid with a copy sheet or image-receiving sheet or sub~trate 7.
When this assembly is exposed to radiant energy, such as, light which is rich in infra~ed radia-tion, as i~dicated by the arrows 8, the energy is selectively transmitted to ink layer 5 in the imaged areas 4, but is reflected in the non-imaged areas 3. As a result the ink in layer 5 in the regions above imaged areas 4 becomes flowable and transferable to the receiving sheet 7. The receiving sheèt 7 may thereafter be separated to provide a discrete copy as shown in Figure 7 composed of the receiving sheet 7 and transferred ink images 9. The image transferred to the receiving sheet is e~livalent to the image seen by viewing the electroerosion recording filrn : ~2~2~i8~ -. .
from the dire~tion of the exposing source of radiant energy, e.g., an infrared source.
Similarly, as illustrated in Figure 6, where a discrete ink containing element 6 is overlaid on the imaged electroerosion recording material as shown in Figure 4, and a copy sheet or image-receiving sheet 7 is overlaid on the ink-contain-ing element 6, exposure of the assembly to radiant energy as indicated by arrows 8 will generate a copy by thermographic ink transfer, the copy being as illustrated in Figure 7.
- In the two types of thermographic/electroerosion printing processes and materials illustrated ln Figures 3-7, the ink-containing layer or element is shown to have been placed on the side of the electroerodible layer 3 which usually is a thin film of aluminum. It is believed that higher resolution should be attainable if the ink-con-taining layer or element is thus applied to aluminized side. However, the invention may also be practiced in a number of embodiments wherein the ink-containing layer or element is located on the side of support 2 away fxom the electroerodi-ble (aluminum) layer. SUCh an embodiment is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawing which shows an assembly composed of an electroerosion material 1 comprising a transparent support 2 and an electroerodible layer 3 which has been imaged in areas 4. An ink-containing elemer.t 10 is interposed between support 2 and copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate 7. Upon exposure to radiation as indicated by arrows 8, radiant energy responsive ink (~hermographic:ally transferable ink) in element or layer 10 is 51 3~ . .
rendered flowable or transferable and an image is transferred to receiving sheet 7 to produce a copy as shown in Figure 7.
In addition to making high quality copies of electroerosion imaged originals, the foregoing inventions could be utilized in several other practical applications, for example, as noted above, the inventions may be used in the produc-tion of multicolored Eoils. Using intermediate sheets impregnated with inks of different colors, colored foils can be generated. If different electroeroded primary sheets are used, each one - in conjunction with an intermediate sheet con-talning a differently colored ink but with the same receiving sheet, for example a transparent polyethylene terephthalate foil, a series of colored images may be applied to the foil. The principles of the invention may also be applied to provide a typewritPr-like system wherein an electroerosion recording material and ink element assembly in tape or ribbon form are sequentially passed through an electroerosion writing station and to a printing station, i.e., a station 'at which ~he electroerosion imaged material is exposed to radiant energy thereby transferring characters or other images to a receiving sheet which is in contact with the ink-containing element.
The invention has been described above and illus-trated in the drawings in terms of the basic, functional elements (layers, sheets, substrates, etc.) ~or carrying out the inventions. Other elements, e.g., intermediate layers, sheets or the like could also be incorpora-ted in the ZS~l processes and p~oducts of the inventions without departing from the spirit of our invention. For instance in the following example, a thin hard transparent layer is incorporated between the polyester support and the elec-troerodible alumi-num layer to improve the quality of the electro-erosion imaging step. This layer, however, does not interfere with or alter the essential func-tioning of the described inventions.
EXAMPLE
A sheet of transparent polyethylene terephthalate provided with a thin hard intermediate layer was coated with an aluminum film to form a basic electroerosion recording sheet. The sheet ~as then written upon by electroerosion recording according to standard practice. Next, the imaged sheet of electroerosion recording mateial was contacted with the uninked face of a PET type-writer ribbon. ~his assembly was then placed in contact with a sheet of plain white bo~d paper.
The resulting assembly was then inserted into a standard projection transparency machine and exposed to intense infrared light. Good thermo-graphic printing transfer was achieved and a legibl~ copy of the electroerosion image was obtained on the bond paper.
Various other copy sheets, recelving sheets, or other types of ink-receiving substrates~could be substituted for the bond paper in the foregoing example or in the other embodiments of the inven-tions described above.
~2~
Gnly the embodiment of the invention set forth in the above example has been carried out, but the other described embodiments are believed to be set forth with sufficient particularity so that S those of ordinary skill in the art will be readily enabled to practice these inventions.
While the invention has been described in connec-tion with certain preferred embodiments, other adaptations and embodiments of the invention may be made by those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.
.
vari colored media, colorless media, etc. The ink incorporated in this layer or e:Lement is non-transferable at normal ambient conditions as are encountered during storage, handling and the s like. However, the ink is selected so that, upon exposure to radiant energy, it becomes flowable and transferable onto a copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate which is placed in contact with the ink while it is in the transfer-able state. Next, while i~ contact with a copysheet or image receiving sheet or substrate, the assembly is exposed to radiant energv, usually light which is rich in infrared energy. Upon irradiation and thermographic transfer of ink from irradiated areas of the ink layer or element to the copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate, an image is produced on the image receiving substrate which corresponds to the electroerosion recorded image.
According to this invention, excellent copies may be made from electroerosion recorded 'elements onto plain paper, thus improving the quality of the original, thereby upgrading esthetically the ~uality of the graphics from that which is produced when using economical, but esthetically unattractive, electroerosion paper. The inven-tion may also be employed to produce multicolored foils of plastic, aluminum, etc., and may also be used in an electroerosion typewriter-like device to produce imaged substrates.
In the process and materials of this invention any support material may be utilized in the electroerosion recording material provided that it is sufficiently transmissive wi~h respect to zs~
radiant energy, such as, light rich in infrared;
thus, upon irradiation from one side of such a support sufficient energy is transferred to the other side so that a radiation responsive or sensitive ink may be changed from a non-transfer-able to a transferable condition. For the elec-troerodible layer applied to the support any suitable material may be utilized provided that it is sufficiently conductive and erodible under electroerosion printing conditions to allow for the necessary imaying of the electroerosion material and provided that it is also substan-tially impermeable to and reflective of the radiant energy used in the process, e.g., inrared radiation.
As the support material a polyester is preferred.
For example a 2 mil thick film of polyester {MYLAR, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company).
The preferable electroerodible layer is an alumi-num film which may be applied by conventionaltechniques such as sputtering or vacuum~ evapora-tion. An aluminum film thickness of from about 400-500 A is satisfactory.
A cross section of the basic electroerosion material is illust~ated in Figure 1 of the draw-ing wherein the electroerosion recording mate-rial 1 is shown to comprise a radiant energy transmitting support 2 which may be transparent polyester or the like a~d a thin film of electro-erodible material 3 such as a film of aluminummetal.
As will be seen with reference to Figure 2 of the drawing the electroerosion recording material of 5~
. .
.
, Figure l may then subjected to electroerosion printing to evaporate portions of the electro-erodible layer 3, and to expose image-wise in areas 4 the underlying support 2. Processes for carrying out electroerosion recording are known and comprise contacting the electroerodible surface with one or more writing stylus(i) and applying a voltage of from 30 to 60 volts to evaporate the erodible layer in those areas where imaging is desired.
Next, the imaged electroerosion recording mate-rial, as illustrated in Figure 2, is coated with a radiant energy responsive, thermographic ink 5.
Alter~atively, as shown in Figure 4, the electro-erosion imaged material of Figure 2 may be over-laid with a discrete element 6 which contains a radiant energy responsive thermographic inX.
Next, as illustrated in Figure 5, the inked rnaterial of Figure 3 is ov~rlaid with a copy sheet or image-receiving sheet or sub~trate 7.
When this assembly is exposed to radiant energy, such as, light which is rich in infra~ed radia-tion, as i~dicated by the arrows 8, the energy is selectively transmitted to ink layer 5 in the imaged areas 4, but is reflected in the non-imaged areas 3. As a result the ink in layer 5 in the regions above imaged areas 4 becomes flowable and transferable to the receiving sheet 7. The receiving sheèt 7 may thereafter be separated to provide a discrete copy as shown in Figure 7 composed of the receiving sheet 7 and transferred ink images 9. The image transferred to the receiving sheet is e~livalent to the image seen by viewing the electroerosion recording filrn : ~2~2~i8~ -. .
from the dire~tion of the exposing source of radiant energy, e.g., an infrared source.
Similarly, as illustrated in Figure 6, where a discrete ink containing element 6 is overlaid on the imaged electroerosion recording material as shown in Figure 4, and a copy sheet or image-receiving sheet 7 is overlaid on the ink-contain-ing element 6, exposure of the assembly to radiant energy as indicated by arrows 8 will generate a copy by thermographic ink transfer, the copy being as illustrated in Figure 7.
- In the two types of thermographic/electroerosion printing processes and materials illustrated ln Figures 3-7, the ink-containing layer or element is shown to have been placed on the side of the electroerodible layer 3 which usually is a thin film of aluminum. It is believed that higher resolution should be attainable if the ink-con-taining layer or element is thus applied to aluminized side. However, the invention may also be practiced in a number of embodiments wherein the ink-containing layer or element is located on the side of support 2 away fxom the electroerodi-ble (aluminum) layer. SUCh an embodiment is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawing which shows an assembly composed of an electroerosion material 1 comprising a transparent support 2 and an electroerodible layer 3 which has been imaged in areas 4. An ink-containing elemer.t 10 is interposed between support 2 and copy sheet or image receiving sheet or substrate 7. Upon exposure to radiation as indicated by arrows 8, radiant energy responsive ink (~hermographic:ally transferable ink) in element or layer 10 is 51 3~ . .
rendered flowable or transferable and an image is transferred to receiving sheet 7 to produce a copy as shown in Figure 7.
In addition to making high quality copies of electroerosion imaged originals, the foregoing inventions could be utilized in several other practical applications, for example, as noted above, the inventions may be used in the produc-tion of multicolored Eoils. Using intermediate sheets impregnated with inks of different colors, colored foils can be generated. If different electroeroded primary sheets are used, each one - in conjunction with an intermediate sheet con-talning a differently colored ink but with the same receiving sheet, for example a transparent polyethylene terephthalate foil, a series of colored images may be applied to the foil. The principles of the invention may also be applied to provide a typewritPr-like system wherein an electroerosion recording material and ink element assembly in tape or ribbon form are sequentially passed through an electroerosion writing station and to a printing station, i.e., a station 'at which ~he electroerosion imaged material is exposed to radiant energy thereby transferring characters or other images to a receiving sheet which is in contact with the ink-containing element.
The invention has been described above and illus-trated in the drawings in terms of the basic, functional elements (layers, sheets, substrates, etc.) ~or carrying out the inventions. Other elements, e.g., intermediate layers, sheets or the like could also be incorpora-ted in the ZS~l processes and p~oducts of the inventions without departing from the spirit of our invention. For instance in the following example, a thin hard transparent layer is incorporated between the polyester support and the elec-troerodible alumi-num layer to improve the quality of the electro-erosion imaging step. This layer, however, does not interfere with or alter the essential func-tioning of the described inventions.
EXAMPLE
A sheet of transparent polyethylene terephthalate provided with a thin hard intermediate layer was coated with an aluminum film to form a basic electroerosion recording sheet. The sheet ~as then written upon by electroerosion recording according to standard practice. Next, the imaged sheet of electroerosion recording mateial was contacted with the uninked face of a PET type-writer ribbon. ~his assembly was then placed in contact with a sheet of plain white bo~d paper.
The resulting assembly was then inserted into a standard projection transparency machine and exposed to intense infrared light. Good thermo-graphic printing transfer was achieved and a legibl~ copy of the electroerosion image was obtained on the bond paper.
Various other copy sheets, recelving sheets, or other types of ink-receiving substrates~could be substituted for the bond paper in the foregoing example or in the other embodiments of the inven-tions described above.
~2~
Gnly the embodiment of the invention set forth in the above example has been carried out, but the other described embodiments are believed to be set forth with sufficient particularity so that S those of ordinary skill in the art will be readily enabled to practice these inventions.
While the invention has been described in connec-tion with certain preferred embodiments, other adaptations and embodiments of the invention may be made by those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.
Claims (12)
1. A process for printing comprising a) forming an assembly of i) a sheet of electroerosion recording material comprising a radiant energy trans-missive support and, on said support, a layer of conductive material which is sub-stantially impermeable to and reflective of radiant energy used in the process, said conductive material being capable of being removed during electroerosion recording, said sheet of electroerosion recording having been subjected to electroerosion printing selectively to remove portions of said conductive material thus forming imaged areas in said electroerosion recording material, which imaged areas provide light transmissive paths through said transparent support, ii) an ink-containing layer or element in an overlaying or underlaying relationship to said imaged electroerosion recording mate-rial, said ink being substantially non-transferable at normal ambient conditions, but being responsive to radiant energy so that said ink, upon exposure to radiant energy, becomes flowable and is capable of being transferred to an ink-receiving member, and iii) an ink-receiving substrate in contact with said ink-containing layer or element, and b) exposing said assembly to radiant energy, said energy being directed onto said assembly from the side of the assembly opposite to the side on which said ink receiving substrate is located, to cause said ink to become flowable selectively in areas overlaying said imaged areas, and causing said ink to be transferred to said ink receiving substrate producing ink images corresponding to the imaged areas of said electroerosion recording material.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein said ink-con-taining layer or element is located in said assembly in overlaying relationship to the electroerosion printed surface of said electroerosion recording material.
3. The process of claim 1 wherein said ink-con-taining layer or element is located in said assembly in overlaying relationship co the support of said electroerosion recording material.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein said support comprises a radiant energy transmissive polymer.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein said support comprises a radiant energy transmissive polymer.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein said layer of conductive material comprises a thin film of electroerodible aluminum.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein said layer of conductive material comprises a thin film of electroerodible aluminum.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein said radiant energy comprises infrared radiant energy.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said radiant energy comprises infrared radiant energy.
10. An electroerosion recording material for use in thermographic printing comprising a radiant energy transmissive support, on said support, a layer of conductive material which is impermeable to and reflec-tive of radiant energy, said conductive material being capable of being removed during electroerosion recording, and a layer or element containing radiation responsive, thermographic ink, said ink containing layer or element being positioned opposite the side of said support on which said layer of conductive material is posi-tioned, so that after electroerosion record-ing has been accomplished to produce radiant energy transmissive imaged areas in said layer of conductive material, and upon irradiation from the side of said support on which said layer of conductive material is positioned, said ink is capable of being selectively rendered transferable to an ink-receiving substrate.
11. The article of claim 10 wherein said support comprises a radiant energy transmissive polymer.
12. The article of claim 11 wherein said layer of conductive material comprises a thin film of electroerodible aluminum.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US47003883A | 1983-02-28 | 1983-02-28 | |
| US470,038 | 1983-02-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1212581A true CA1212581A (en) | 1986-10-14 |
Family
ID=23866021
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000444840A Expired CA1212581A (en) | 1983-02-28 | 1984-01-06 | Thermal transfer printing processes with electroerosion and materials therefor |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0117407A3 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS59159397A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1212581A (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0258836B1 (en) * | 1986-09-01 | 1992-08-12 | Tomoegawa Paper Co. Ltd. | Transfer recording medium and method of transfer recording using the same |
| DE10025539A1 (en) * | 2000-05-23 | 2001-11-29 | Diehl Ako Stiftung Gmbh & Co | Heating device used for a household appliance, e.g. a washing machine or dishwasher, comprises a ceramic-filled polymer layer arranged between a surface of the appliance to be heated and an electrically conducting heating foil |
| CN112406344A (en) * | 2020-11-11 | 2021-02-26 | 青岛嘉泽包装有限公司 | Preparation method of color hot stamping tipping paper |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1156996A (en) * | 1965-10-23 | 1969-07-02 | Pitney Bowes Inc | Thermographic Copying Process |
| JPS535637A (en) * | 1976-07-05 | 1978-01-19 | Fujitsu Ltd | Recording medium for thermal transfer |
| JPS5395047A (en) * | 1977-01-31 | 1978-08-19 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Discharge recording film |
| JPS5417036A (en) * | 1977-07-07 | 1979-02-08 | Fujitsu Ltd | Thermal transfer type recording method |
-
1983
- 1983-12-19 JP JP58238028A patent/JPS59159397A/en active Pending
-
1984
- 1984-01-06 CA CA000444840A patent/CA1212581A/en not_active Expired
- 1984-01-17 EP EP84100444A patent/EP0117407A3/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS59159397A (en) | 1984-09-08 |
| EP0117407A3 (en) | 1985-12-11 |
| EP0117407A2 (en) | 1984-09-05 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |