CN116133870A

CN116133870A - Multicolor thermoprinting printing system

Info

Publication number: CN116133870A
Application number: CN202180057840.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 肯尼思·博德; 迈克尔·科莱拉; 丹妮拉·伊萨列
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2020-10-02
Filing date: 2021-10-01
Publication date: 2023-05-16
Also published as: KR20230078713A; WO2022072765A1; BR112022026524A2; EP4221987A1; MX2022015989A

Abstract

A method includes moving polychromatic bands over a target object. The multi-color ribbon has a lower layer and an upper layer of ink or pigment. The method further includes applying heat and pressure to the polychromatic color ribbon to transfer a coating of ink or pigment to the target object, and removing at least a portion of a lower layer of ink or pigment transferred to the target object to expose at least a portion of an upper layer of ink or pigment transferred to the target object.

Description

Multicolor thermoprinting printing system

Cross reference to related applications

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 17/489,896 (filed on 9, 2021), which claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 63/086,869 (filed on 2, 10, 2020), and which is part of the continued application of international patent application No. PCT/US2021/037445 (filed on 15, 2021), which claims priority to U.S. patent application No. 63/040,834 (filed on 18, 6, 2020). The entire disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.

Background

Technical Field

The subject matter described herein relates to a thermal printing system.

Background

Some known print ribbons for use in stamping systems provide a single color that is transferred through the stamp to the article to be printed. One problem with this technique is that only a single color is used for printing on the article. However, to print a plurality of different colors on an article, it is often necessary to use a plurality of different color bands having different colors. This may greatly extend the time required to decorate a target object because multiple rolls of ribbon may need to be used and the same article may need to be printed multiple times or by multiple impressions.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment, a method includes moving polychromatic bands over a target object. The polychromatic color ribbon has a lower layer and an upper layer of ink or pigment. The method further includes applying heat and pressure on the polychromatic color ribbon to transfer a cover layer of ink or pigment onto a target object, and removing at least a portion of the lower layer of the ink or pigment transferred onto the target object to expose at least a portion of the upper layer of the ink or pigment to be transferred onto the target object.

In one embodiment, a multi-color ribbon configured for use in a thermal printing system is provided. The multi-color ribbon includes an elongated carrier that extends continuously from a first end to a second end, and a plurality of different color inks or pigments disposed in different layers of the elongated carrier between the first end and the second end of the elongated carrier. The elongated carrier is configured to move over a target object upon application of heat and pressure thereto to transfer two or more of the different layers of the different color inks or pigments onto the target object to thermoprint the two or more layers of the different color inks or pigments onto the target object.

In one embodiment, a thermal printing system includes a heated stamp configured to stamp a multi-color ribbon having a cover layer of a different color ink or pigment to transfer the layer of the different color ink or pigment onto a target object, and an ablation assembly configured to generate ablation energy for the layer of the different color ink or pigment on the target object, remove at least a portion of an upper layer of the different color ink or pigment on the target object, and expose a potential layer of the different color ink or pigment on the target object.

Drawings

The subject matter of the present invention can be understood by reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a hot stamping printing system;

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a thermoprinted polychromatic ribbon shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates another example of a stamping multi-color ribbon;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a top view of one example of the target object illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart of one embodiment of a multicolor hot stamping printing method;

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another example of a polychromatic color ribbon along section line 6-6 shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates another example of the thermal printing system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates one example of an ablation assembly; and

fig. 9 shows a flowchart of one example of a hot stamping printing method.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a thermal printing system 100. The printing system 100 includes an unwind spool 102 having a polychromatic ribbon 104 mounted thereon. The ribbon 104 extends from an unwind spool 102 to a wind-up spool 106. The ribbon 104 is unwound from the unwind spool 102 to the wind-up spool 106 along a ribbon or ribbon direction 108. The web or ribbon direction 108 represents the direction of movement of the ribbon 104 (e.g., from the unwind spool 102 to the wind-up spool 106) during printing. As the ribbon 104 moves along the web or ribbon direction 108, the heated stamp 110 presses against the ribbon 104 along a transfer direction 112. The pressure and heat of the stamp 110 transfer at least a portion of the coating from the ribbon 104 onto a target object 116 to be printed, such as an Intravenous (IV) bag, card, document, or any of a variety of other objects. Such development on the target object 116 transfers the pigment or ink in the ink ribbon 104 to the target object 116. The ink or pigment may be a coating formed from one or more polymeric binders and one or more colored pigments.

The target object 116 may be one of several target objects 116 that are continuously printed on by the printing system 100. For example, several target objects 116 may be moved in the machine direction to print continuously on the target objects 116. The machine direction along which the target object 116 moves may be the same as the web or film direction 108 or may be different from the web or film direction 108. The machine direction may be orthogonal to the web or film direction 108 (e.g., into or out of the plane of fig. 1) or at another angle to the web or film direction 108.

In contrast to some known thermal print ribbons having only a single color of ink (coating) or pigment in the ribbon, the ribbon 104 includes multiple colors of ink or pigment in different areas of the ribbon 104. Two or more of these colors may be transferred from the ribbon 104 to the target object 116 in a single pass of the stamp 110.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of the polychromatic ribbon 104 shown in fig. 1. As shown, the ribbon 104 is an elongated carrier 214 that extends continuously from the rear end 200 to the front end 202. The carrier 214 may also be referred to as a film 214 or carrier film 214. The front end 202 may be the end of the ribbon 104 that is initially coupled to the winding spool 106. During the printing process described above in connection with fig. 1, the ribbon 104 may be pulled in the ribbon direction 108.

The ribbon 104 includes

different regions

204, 206, 208 having different color inks or pigments. In the illustrated example, the ribbon 104 includes

elongated regions

204, 206, 208 that extend from one end 200 to an opposite end 202, respectively. These

regions

204, 206, 208 are elongated in the machine direction 108 during the hot stamping process. Although three

regions

204, 206, 208 are shown, the ink ribbon 104 may alternatively include two regions (such that the ink ribbon 104 has two different color inks or pigments) or more than three regions (such that the ink ribbon 104 has three or more different color inks or pigments).

Fig. 3 shows another example of a polychromatic color ribbon 304. The ink ribbon 304 may replace the ink ribbon 104 shown in fig. 1 and 2 during the hot stamping process. The ribbon 304 is an elongated carrier 314 that extends continuously from the rear end 300 to the front end 302. The carrier 314 may alternatively be referred to as a film 314 or carrier film 314. Similar to the ribbon 104, the front end 302 may be the end of the ribbon 304 that is initially coupled to the winding spool 106. During the printing process described above in connection with fig. 1, the ribbon 304 may be pulled in the machine direction 108.

The ribbon 304 includes

different regions

304, 306, 308 having different colored inks or pigments. These

regions

304, 306, 308 are alternatively referred to as panels. In the illustrated example, the ribbon 304 includes

elongated regions

304, 306, 308 that do not extend from one end 300 to the opposite end 302. For example, the

regions

304, 306, 308 extend from one edge 310 of the ribbon 304 across the entire width of the ribbon 304 to an opposite edge 312 of the ribbon 304, each

edge

310, 312 extending from one end 300 to the other end 302. In contrast, none of the

regions

204, 206, 208 in the ribbon 104 extend across the entire width of the ribbon 104 from one edge 310 to the opposite edge 312 as in ribbon 304. Instead, the region 204 in the ribbon 104 extends partially (e.g., one third of the length) from one edge to the opposite edge, the region 206 extends partially (e.g., another third of the length) from the region 204 to the opposite edge, and the region 208 extends from the region 206 to the opposite edge. Although three

regions

304, 306, 308 are shown, the ink ribbon 304 may alternatively include two regions (such that the ink ribbon 304 has two different color inks or pigments) or more than three regions (such that the ink ribbon 304 has three or more different color inks or pigments).

Fig. 4 schematically shows a top view of an example of the target object 116 shown in fig. 1 and 2. The viewable side of the target object 116 in fig. 4 may be the surface contacted by the

ink ribbon

104 or 304 when the stamp 110 presses against the

ink ribbon

104 or 304 to transfer ink or pigment from the

ink ribbon

104 or 304.

The placement of different inks in the

bands

104, 304 may allow or prevent the transfer of different color inks or pigments to different areas of the target object 116. During printing with either

ribbon

104, 304, a single stamping of the stamp 110 may transfer multiple different color inks from the

ribbon

104, 304 onto the target object 116. For example, the stamp 110 may simultaneously stamp

multiple regions

204, 206, and/or 208 of the ribbon 104 to simultaneously transfer different color inks from the stamped

regions

204, 206, and/or 208. However, because the

different regions

204, 206, 208 of the band 104 are moving over the

different regions

404, 406, 408 of the target object 116, the band 104 may only be able to transfer a certain color to

certain regions

404, 406, 408 of the target object 116.

For example, as the region 204 of the ribbon 104 moves over the first region 404 of the target object 116, the ribbon 104 may be able to transfer the ink color in the region 204 onto the first region 404 of the target object 116. When neither the region 206 of the ribbon 104 nor the region 208 is moving over the first region 404 of the target object 116, the ribbon 104 may not transfer ink or pigment having the other color in the

region

206 or 208 onto the first region 404 of the target object 116.

Similarly, as the region 206 of the ribbon 104 moves over this second region 406 of the target object 116, the ribbon 104 may be able to transfer ink color in the region 206 onto a different second region 406 of the target object 116. In the illustrated example, the second region 406 does not overlap the first region 404. When neither the region 204 of the ribbon 104 nor the region 208 is moving over the second region 406 of the target object 116, the ribbon 104 may not transfer ink or pigment having the other color in the

region

204 or 208 onto the second region 406 of the target object 116.

As the region 208 of the ribbon 104 moves over this third region 408 of the target object 116, the ribbon 104 may transfer the ink color in the region 208 onto a different third region 408 of the target object 116. In the illustrated example, the third region 408 does not overlap with the first region 404 or the second region 406. When neither the region 202 of the ribbon 104 nor the region 204 is moving over the third region 408 of the target object 116, the ribbon 104 may not transfer ink or pigment having the other color in the

region

202 or 204 onto the third region 408 of the target object 116.

Conversely, the ribbon 304 may transfer any ink or pigment in any of the

regions

304, 306, 308 extending across the width of the ribbon 304 to any region on the target object 116 (over which the ribbon 304 moves during stamping of the stamp). For example, ink or pigment in the region 304 may be transferred to any of the

regions

404, 406, 408, ink or pigment in the region 306 may be transferred to any of the

regions

404, 406, 408, and ink or pigment in the region 308 may be transferred to any of the

regions

404, 406, 408, as each of the

regions

304, 306, 308 extends across the entire width of the ribbon 304.

The

color bands

104, 304 may be used to change the shade or color of the ink transferred from any of the

regions

204, 206, 208, 304, 306, 308. For example, the same stamp 110 may repeatedly punch the

ribbon

104, 304 in one or more of the

regions

204, 206, 208, 304, 306, 308 to overprint the same location on the target object 116. Such overprinting may increase the amount of ink transferred onto the target object 116. The ink repeatedly transferred from the

bands

104, 304 may come from the

same region

204, 206, 208, 304, 306, 308 to change the shade (e.g., darken) of the color transferred to the target object 116. With respect to the ribbon 304, the stamp 110 may repeatedly punch

different areas

304, 306, 308 of the ribbon 304 at the same location of the target object 116 to transfer and mix multiple colors at the same location or area of the target object 116. For example, the stamp 110 may stamp the region 304 at one location of the target object 116 and then stamp the

region

306 or 308 at the same location of the target object 116 to mix the ink color in the region 304 with the ink in the

region

306 or 308 on the target object 116.

Transferring different color inks or pigments to different locations on the target object 116 and/or overprinting onto the target object 116 may transfer multiple different colors from the

color bands

104, 304 onto the target object 116 during a single pass of the

color bands

104, 304 through the target object 116 and/or during a single stamping of the stamp 110 onto the target object 116. For example, the

ribbon

104, 304 may be unwound from the unwind spool 102 to the wind-up spool 106 at a time while transferring a plurality of different colors to the target object 116 (or multiple target objects 116).

Different stamps 110 may be used to transfer different color inks or pigments from the

ribbons

104, 304. For example, the stamp 110 may be changed to print on different target objects 116, with different stamps 110 thermoprinting different information (e.g., different alphanumeric strings) using a plurality of different colors.

Fig. 5 illustrates a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 500 for multicolor hot stamping. The method 500 may include operations described herein to transfer multiple different colors in a stamping system using the ribbon 104, 304 (or another ribbon, different regions of the ribbon having different color inks or pigments). At 502, polychromatic bands are acquired. As described above, such a ribbon may have elongated regions of different color inks or pigments extending end-to-end along the length of the ribbon. Alternatively, the ribbon may have a panel comprising different colored inks or pigments, the different regions extending edge-to-edge along the width of the ribbon.

At 504, the ribbon moves over one or more target objects at a single pass of the ribbon. For example, the ribbon may be unwound from one spool at a time and wound onto another spool while passing over one or more target objects. At 506, the stamp punches two or more different of the regions or panels of the ribbon. This action transfers two or more different colors from the color band onto the target object. Thus, during a single pass of the ribbon, a plurality of different colors may be printed onto each of one or more target objects.

In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes moving a polychromatic color ribbon over a target object. The polychromatic ribbon has different color inks or pigments in different regions of the polychromatic ribbon. The method further includes applying heat and pressure on the polychromatic ribbon to transfer two or more different color inks or pigments onto the target object during a single pass of the polychromatic ribbon across the target object.

Optionally, the multi-color ribbon moves across the target object in a ribbon direction, different regions of the multi-color ribbon being elongated in the ribbon direction from one end of the multi-color ribbon along a length of the multi-color ribbon to an opposite end of the multi-color ribbon.

Optionally, the polychromatic band moves across the target object in a web direction, different regions of the polychromatic band extending from one edge of the polychromatic band to an opposite lateral edge of the polychromatic band.

Optionally, heat and pressure are applied to transfer two or more different color inks or pigments to different locations of the target object.

Optionally, the heat and pressure are applied to change the shade of at least one different color ink or pigment transferred multiple times to the same location on the target object during a single pass of the polychromatic band across the target object.

Optionally, the heat and pressure are applied to mix two or more different color inks or pigments multiple times at the same location on the target object during a single pass of the polychromatic band across the target object.

In one embodiment, a multi-color ribbon configured for use in a thermal printing system is provided. The multi-color ribbon includes an elongated carrier extending continuously from a first end to an opposite end, and a plurality of different color inks or pigments disposed in different regions of the elongated carrier between the first end and the second end of the elongated carrier. The elongate carrier is configured to move across a target object with application of heat and pressure to the elongate carrier to transfer two or more of the different color inks or pigments onto the target object during a single pass of the elongate carrier across the target object to thermoprint two or more of the different color inks onto the target object.

Optionally, the areas of the elongate carrier having different colours of ink or pigment are elongate channels extending continuously from the first end of the carrier to the second end of the carrier.

Optionally, the ribbon includes opposed first and second edges each extending from a first end of the ribbon to the second end of the ribbon. The region of the elongate carrier having different colour inks or pigments may be a panel which extends continuously from the first edge of the carrier to the second edge of the carrier.

Optionally, the different color inks are disposed in different regions of the elongate carrier such that two or more of the different color inks or pigments are transferred to different locations on the target object.

Optionally, the different colored inks or pigments are disposed in different regions of the elongate carrier such that two or more of the different colored inks are transferred multiple times onto the same location of the target object during a single pass of the polychromatic ink across the target object.

Optionally, the different colored inks or pigments are disposed in different regions of the elongate carrier such that two or more of the different colored inks or pigments are transferred multiple times onto the same location of the target object during a single pass of the polychromatic ink across the target object.

In one embodiment, a multicolor stamping ribbon is provided that includes an elongated carrier configured to unwind from a first spool and wind onto a second spool of a stamping printing system, and two or more different color inks or pigments disposed in one or more different channels or different panels of the carrier. The different color inks or pigments are positioned on the carrier such that two or more different color inks or pigments are transferred to one or more common or different locations of a target object printed by the thermal printing system.

Optionally, the two or more different colored inks or pigments are in different channels of the carrier.

Optionally, the different channels of the carrier are elongated in directions extending in a direction in which the carrier unwinds from the first reel and winds onto the second reel.

Optionally, the two or more different color inks or pigments in different channels of the carrier such that the two or more different color inks or pigments are transferred to different locations of the target object.

Optionally, the two or more different colored inks or pigments are in different panels of the carrier.

Optionally, the different panels of the carrier are oriented in directions that extend perpendicular to the direction in which the carrier is unwound from the first reel and wound onto the second reel.

The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. "optional" or "optionally" means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description may include instances where the event occurs and instances where it does not. Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a numerical value modified by one or more terms, such as "about," "substantially," and "approximately," may not be limited to the precise numerical value specified. In at least some cases, the approximate representation may correspond to the accuracy of the instrument measuring the value. Here and throughout the specification and claims, range limitations may be combined and/or interchanged, such ranges may be identified and include all the sub-ranges contained therein unless context or language indicates otherwise.

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another example of polychromatic color ribbon 104 along section line 6-6 shown in fig. 2. The ribbon 104 may include

multiple layers

600, 602 of different color inks or pigments in at least one of the regions or

channels

204, 206, 208. The upper or exposed layer 600 may be ink or pigment visible along the top or exposed surface of the ribbon 104, such as the layer visible in

regions

204, 206, or 208 in fig. 2. The lower or covered layer 602 may be a different color ink or pigment that is positioned below the upper or exposed layer 600 and between the upper layer 600 and the elongated carrier 214. For example, the upper layer 600 may include or be formed of red, green, white, or blue ink or pigment, and the lower layer 602 may include or be formed of black ink or pigment. In one embodiment, the lower or cover layer 602 is not visible through the upper or exposed layer 600.

In one embodiment, only one of the

regions

204, 206, 208 includes the

different color layers

600, 602. Alternatively, two or more of the

regions

204, 206, 208 comprise the

different color layers

600, 602. In one embodiment, two or more of the

regions

204, 206, 208 include the

different color layers

600, 602, the potential layers or overburden 602 may be the same color in the

different regions

204, 206, and/or 208 or may be different colors in the

different regions

204, 206, 208. For example, the potential layer 602 under the red ink or pigment in the region 204 may be a black ink or pigment, and the potential layer 602 under the black ink or pigment in the region 206 may be a red, yellow, or white ink or pigment.

Fig. 7 shows another example of the thermal printing system 100 shown in fig. 1. In the thermal printing system 100, during printing with the multi-layer ribbon 104 having the

different color layers

600, 602, the upper layer 600 may face the target object 116 such that the upper layer 600 is closer to the target object 116 and the carrier 214 is closer to the heated stamp 110. The heated stamp 110 punches the ribbon 104 and transfers at least a portion of the ink or pigment from the ribbon 104 onto the target object 116 to be printed, such as an intravenous bag. This development on the target object 116 transfers the pigment or ink in the ink ribbon 104 to the target object 116. Such a development may also transfer multiple layers of different color inks or pigments onto the target object 116. For example, the ink or pigment in the upper layer 600 may be transferred onto the surface of the target object, and the ink or pigment in the potential layer 602 may be transferred onto the ink or pigment from the upper layer 600. This may result in the ink or pigment transferred from the upper layer 600 onto the target object 116 being covered and hidden from view by the ink or pigment transferred from the potential layer 602 onto the target object 116. For example, if the upper layer 600 includes a black ink or pigment and the potential layer 602 includes a white ink or pigment, the stamping of the heated stamp 110 on the ribbon 104 may transfer the black ink or pigment to the surface of the target object 116, with the white ink or pigment on top of the black ink or pigment.

Alternatively, the

multiple layers

806, 808 may be transferred onto the target object 116 using another printing technique, such as gravure printing, screen printing, or the like.

Fig. 8 illustrates one example of an ablation assembly 800. The ablation assembly 800 includes an energy source 802 that directs energy 804 toward the target object 116 to remove one or more upper or exposed layers 806 (or portions of layers 806) of ink or pigment on the target object. For example, the energy source 802 may be a laser light source that emits laser light toward the target object 116 to remove one or more portions of the ink or pigment printed on the target object 116 in the upper or exposed layer 806 to expose the underlying ink or pigment on the target object 116 in the underlying layer 808. The upper or exposed layer 806 of ink or pigment may be transferred from the lower layer 602 in the ribbon 104 onto the target object 116, while the lower or cover layer 808 of ink or pigment may be transferred from the upper layer 600 in the ribbon 104 onto the target object 116.

For example, the ink ribbon 104 may be used to transfer the ink or pigment in the upper layer 600 shown in FIG. 6 to the surface of the target object 106 and to transfer the ink or pigment in the lower layer 602 shown in FIG. 6 onto the ink or pigment on the target object 116 that was transferred from the upper layer 600. The energy emitted by the energy source 802 may ablate or otherwise remove portions of the ink or pigment (visible ink or pigment on the target object 116) from the lower layer 602 to expose the potential ink or pigment (previously invisible) from the upper layer 600.

The ablation assembly 800 may be used to form variable data on the target object 116 using the ink or

pigment layers

600, 602 transferred onto the target object 116. The stamping system 100 can transfer constant information or data to the target object 116, and the ablation assembly 800 can remove portions of the transferred ink or pigment to form variable information or data on the target object. For example, the ribbon 104 may be used to transfer the same indicia (e.g., images, text, numbers, etc.) onto several of the target objects 116, the ribbon 104 having the ink or

pigment layers

600, 602. Such common marks printed on several target objects 116 may be invariable data, as the marks do not change for multiple target objects 116. The ablation assembly 800 may then remove different portions of the ink or pigment transferred onto the target object 116 from the underlying layer 602. The portion of the ink or pigment that is removed may be different for each of two or more target objects 116 to expose different portions of the underlying ink or pigment on the target objects 116. The different exposed portions of the underlying ink or pigment may be variable data because the different exposed portions of different target objects 116 form different indicia. For example, the different exposed portion may be a unique identifier, bar code, serial number, or the like of the target object 116.

Fig. 9 shows a flow chart of one example of a method 900 for hot stamping printing. The method 900 may represent operations performed by the system 100 and the component 800 (which may be included in the system 100 or separate from the system 100). At 902, a polychromatic color ribbon moves over one or more target objects. As described above, the ink ribbon may comprise overlapping layers of different color inks or pigments. While one embodiment of the ink ribbon includes two layers of pigment or ink, alternatively the ink ribbon may have three or more layers of pigment or ink overlaid or covered.

At 904, the stamp punches the ribbon. This action transfers two or more layers of different color inks or pigments from the ribbon onto the target object. At 906, the upper layers of these different color inks or pigments are at least partially removed by ablating the upper layers of inks or pigments that were transferred from the ribbon at 904. This may expose potential layers of different color inks or pigments. As described above, the ablation may be performed on the target object by forming variable data or variable marks.

In one embodiment, a method includes moving polychromatic bands over a target object. The polychromatic color ribbon has a lower layer and an upper layer of ink or pigment. The method further includes applying heat and pressure on the polychromatic color ribbon to transfer the upper layer of the ink or pigment onto the target object and removing at least a portion of the lower layer of the ink or pigment transferred onto the target object to expose at least a portion of the upper layer of the ink or pigment transferred onto the target object.

Optionally, the inks or pigments of the lower layer and the upper layer are different color inks or pigments.

Optionally, the lower layer of the ink or pigment in the polychromatic color band is transferred as an upper layer onto the target object, and the upper layer of the ink or pigment in the polychromatic color band is transferred as a lower layer onto the target object.

Optionally, the at least part of the lower layer of the color ink or pigment is removed to form variable data on the target object.

Optionally, laser ablation is used to remove the at least a portion of the underlying layer of the color ink or pigment.

In one embodiment, a multi-color ribbon configured for use in a thermal printing system is provided. The ink ribbon includes an elongated carrier that extends continuously from a first end to an opposite end, and a plurality of different colored inks or pigments disposed in different layers of the elongated carrier between the first end and the second end of the elongated carrier. The elongated carrier is configured to move over a target object with application of heat and pressure to the elongated carrier to transfer two or more of the different layers of the different color inks or pigments onto the target object to thermoprint the two or more layers of the different color inks onto the target object.

In one embodiment, a stamping system includes a heated stamp configured to stamp a multi-color ribbon having a cover layer of a different color ink or pigment to transfer the layer of the different color ink or pigment onto a target object, and an ablation assembly configured to generate ablation energy for the layer of the different color ink or pigment on the target object, remove at least a portion of the upper layer of the different color ink or pigment on the target object, and expose a potential layer of the different color ink or pigment on the target object.

Optionally, the heated stamp is configured to stamp the multi-color ribbon such that the lower layer of the ink or pigment in the multi-color ribbon is transferred as an upper layer onto the target object and the upper layer of the ink or pigment in the multi-color ribbon is transferred as a lower layer onto the target object.

Optionally, the ablation assembly is configured to remove the at least a portion of the underlying layer of the ink or pigment to form variable data on the target object.

This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The claims define the patentable scope of the disclosure, and include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. These other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

moving a polychromatic color ribbon over a target object, the polychromatic color ribbon having a cover layer comprising lower and upper layers of ink or pigment;

applying heat and pressure on the polychromatic ribbon to transfer the coating of the ink or pigment onto the target object; and

removing at least a portion of the lower layer of the ink or pigment transferred onto the target object to expose at least a portion of the upper layer of the ink or pigment transferred onto the target object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower layer and the upper layer of the ink or pigment are different color inks or pigments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower layer of the ink or pigment in the polychromatic color band is transferred onto the target object as an upper target object layer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper layer of the ink or pigment in the polychromatic color band is transferred onto the target object as a lower target object layer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the lower layer of the ink or pigment in the polychromatic color band is transferred onto the target object as an upper target object layer and the upper layer of the ink or pigment in the polychromatic color band is transferred onto the target object as a lower target object layer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the underlying layer of the ink or pigment is removed to form variable data on the target object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the underlying layer of the ink or pigment is removed using laser ablation.

8. A multi-color ribbon configured for use in a thermal printing system, the multi-color ribbon comprising:

an elongated carrier extending continuously from a first end to an opposite end; and

a plurality of different colored inks or pigments disposed in different cover layers of said elongated carrier between said first end and said opposite end of said elongated carrier,

wherein the elongate carrier is configured to move over a target object upon application of heat and pressure thereto to transfer two or more different color inks or pigments in the different cover layers onto the target object.

9. The ribbon of claim 8, wherein the cover layer comprises a lower layer and an upper layer, the lower layer comprising a different color ink or pigment than the upper layer.

10. The ribbon of claim 9, wherein the lower layer is configured to be transferred onto the target object as an upper target object layer.

11. The ribbon of claim 9, wherein the upper layer of the ink or pigment in the multi-color ribbon is transferred onto the target object as a lower target object layer.

12. The ribbon of claim 9, wherein the lower layer is configured to transfer onto the target object as an upper target object layer and the upper layer is configured to transfer onto the target object as a lower target object layer.

13. The ribbon of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the underlying layer is configured to be removable to form variable data on the target object.

14. The ribbon of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the underlying layer is configured to be removed using laser ablation.

15. A thermal printing system comprising:

a heated stamp configured to stamp a multi-color ribbon having a cover layer of different color inks or pigments to transfer the cover layer of different color inks or pigments onto a target object; and

an ablation assembly configured to generate ablation energy for the blanket of the different color ink or pigment on the target object and to expose a potential layer of the blanket of the different color ink or pigment on the target object.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the ablation assembly is configured to remove at least a portion of an upper layer of the cover layer of the different color ink or pigment on the target object.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the heated stamp is configured to stamp the multi-color ribbon such that a lower layer of the cover layer of the different color ink or pigment is transferred as an upper layer onto the target object.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the heated stamp is configured to stamp the multi-color ribbon such that an upper layer of the cover layer of the different color inks or pigments in the multi-color ribbon is transferred as a lower layer onto the target object.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the heated stamp is configured to stamp the polychromatic band such that a lower layer of the overlay layer is transferred as an upper layer onto the target object and an upper layer of the overlay layer is transferred as a lower layer onto the target object.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the ablation assembly is configured to remove at least a portion of an underlying layer of the overlay layer to form variable data on the target object.