JPS60161189A - Method of uniformly transferring color change coating to display body and transfer ribbon used for said method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transfer method, particularly to a display body (1ndi c+'1to
The present invention relates to a method for uniformly transferring a color conversion coating film onto a bar-shaped display body that develops color uniformly upon constant exposure.

Transfer printing has previously been used in a variety of environments, particularly in the printing of pigment-containing waxy compositions such as carbon blanks. Generally, this type of ribbon method involves providing a ribbon with a continuous coating of a pigment-containing formulation on one side;
The ribbon is affixed on its opposite side to a typeface or other shaped object, thereby effecting the transfer of a tangible coating, such as an alphanumeric symbol, to a support such as paper. For such applications, only rough uniformity of the transferred coating is required.

Printing formulations, particularly inks, are applied to papers for various uses that undergo color transformations due to subsequent environmental factors or handling of the printed paper. Such changes are seen in the field of safety printing (where a latent image is printed so that it only develops color when exposed to specific environmental conditions) and in the field of one-time printing to indicate that an accident has occurred. 4.180.204, 1979).
December 25th). Even in this type of application, it is not critical that the developed color has a high degree of uniformity, either within a single figure or between successive figures.

Formulations containing diacetylenic compounds (and other acetylenic compositions) are used as indicators of cumulative temperature or radiation exposure in U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,946 (Iiter et al.
1976); No. 4.189.399 (Itel, 1
980); No. 4.389.217 (Bowman et al., 1
983); and No. 4.208.186 (K Itel, 1980).

According to the opinion of these published specifications, the gradation of color development has been shown to be significant. However, these gradations are based on observation with the naked eye and are therefore based on a reflectance of 10%.
The following changes are not expected to be significant. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,399, FIG. U.S. patent application Ser. The reading time of the adopted display containing the acetylene compound is shown.

In such systems, small reflectance differences on the order of 1-2% have been measured and correlated with different levels of cumulative temperature and other cumulative environmental exposures.

It is therefore highly desirable for systems of this type to provide displays that exhibit highly reproducible and uniform color development. Furthermore, for acetylenic compounds and most other color conversion compositions, it is clear that uniformity of the coating layer may be a necessary condition for uniformity of color development (as measured by reflectance and emissivity). The display of U.S. Patent Application No. 469,880 uses various techniques to print uniform bars and other shapes on paper. This type of technique used various inks containing solvents in which acetylenic compounds were dispersed together with other components. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4.215.208 (Yee et al., 1980);
European Patent Application No. 47.918 (Araipi Co., Ltd., March 24, 1982); U.S. Patent No. 3.5
No. 01,297 (Cremins, 1970) Specifications 1
Please refer to.

Very uniform color conversion coatings can be applied to the display in the form of bars or other shapes to provide highly reproducible and uniform readings in the manner described in U.S. Patent Application No. 468,880. I found out what can be done. By the transfer method, uniform coatings having various shapes can be applied using various known color conversion compositions, especially acetylene color conversion compositions. Therefore, the present invention includes (
, z) conveying a flat elongated indicia through a first adjustment position It of the application station; (b) transporting the uniformly coated flat elongate ribbon substantially parallel to the indicia in the first adjustment position; , the ribbon is conveyed through a second adjustment position of the coating station, and the ribbon is placed on a support (b).
acking), and (c) a uniform peelable coating on the side adjacent the display at the application station of the support, and (c) an opposite side of the peelable coating on selected portions of the support. applying sufficient pressure to transfer the releasable coating to adjacent selected portions of the display at an application station, the coating being exposed to environmental traces. The method includes applying a uniform color conversion coating to selected areas of a large number of displays (fc) containing components that exhibit reproducible color conversion in response to fc.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the elongate indicator and the uniformly coated elongate ribbon both move through the application station at a constant speed, and the pressure is applied to the rollers or bongs that move the soil. Includes those provided by the style θ.

This method is particularly suitable for transferring coatings in the form of bars extending in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the ribbon (which is also generally parallel to the direction of movement of the display).

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the method of the present invention in which a roller is used to apply pressure to a ribbon (shown) to transfer the coating to a series of holes (not shown).
FIG.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the multilayer label being transported into position for printing, but with the rollers still retracted.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, with the roller applying pressure to transfer the coating to the display.

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along the ribbon of FIG. 3, showing the coating film before transfer (right side) and the remaining coating film after transfer (left side).

FIG. 5 shows a slightly modified ribbon similar to FIG. 4, in which case the coating is wider than the smaller roller.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, showing a ribbon used in a second embodiment of the invention, in which the path of the rollers is not parallel to, but perpendicular to, the path of the ribbon.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a first form of display printed by the method of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a second form of display printed by the method of the present invention.

The invention may be described by first considering the specific form shown in the drawings and then by taking into account various materials, alternatives and broader forms of the invention. FIG. 1 shows the apparatus used in the method of the invention and will be described in more detail below in connection with points 12 and 3. In FIG. 1, the movable block lO has a top idler which is open to contact at the bottom and provides an annular surface which rotates freely about an axis extending horizontally in approximately the direction shown. The roller is installed in a rotatable state.Block 1
0 is attached to a series of guide 8 bars and a drive shaft 14 connected to an air cylinder assembly or other controllable power means, which lowers the entire liplock 10, thereby causing the annular surface of the top idler roller 12 to descend.

A stationary lower block 16 is fixedly disposed below the upper block, on which a bottom eye roller roller 18 is rotatable providing an annular surface for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the top eye roller roller 12. It is installed in These two idler rollers are such that when the block 10 is completely lowered, the annular surfaces of these two rollers almost touch each other, and the space between them when they are closest is parallel to the two rotation axes. It is arranged to be a uniform height slot that extends. Guide bars 20 extend parallel to the rotation axes of the top idler roller 12 and bottom idler roller 18 on the left and right sides of this slot.
and 22 (shown as attached to the air/ring assembly, but may be attached to other fixed parts of the structure as desired) are fixedly attached. and guide bars 20 and 2.
The plane between 2 becomes 2 when the block 10 is completely lowered.
It extends through the slot formed between the rollers at or slightly above the fold. The incoming ribbon 24 is conducted downward toward the guide bar 20, passes directly under the guide bar 20, passes through the slot, heads to the chisel 22, passes under the guide bar 22, and is returned to the top left as a used ribbon 38. Continue towards. Ribbon guide 8
Due to the free movement over bars 20 and 22, guide bars 20 and 22 are also free to rotate.

Referring to FIG. 2, elements 10-38 correspond to elements with the same numbers as in FIG. Flat label stock (5t
ock, stand 1113) 30 guide bar 2 from right to left
0 and 22 and above the bottom idler roller ]8. The label stock 32 includes a barcode 34 and a reference rectangle (raf).
A series of seams 32 with printed numbers 36 on them are fixed to the top surface thereof. The label stock is arranged so that the rectangle 32 passes through the slot between the guide rollers 12 and 18 below the ribbon 24.

The stock moves at a uniform speed from right to left, e.g. a bin, take-off roll, or tenter (not shown).
Move by other means. Each guide rectangle 3
6 passes through the printing station (slot) between the two eye pillar rollers and directly below the ribbon 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, movable block 10 has been lowered so that top idler roller 12 is in contact with ribbon 24 directly adjacent reference rectangle 36 of a particular label 32C. This contact provides uniform pressure between the two guide rollers and causes the movement of ribbon 24 and label 32C to rotate each idler roller (top idler roller 12 rotates in a clockwise direction and bottom idler roller 18 rotates in parallel). (counterclockwise rotation). When the movable block 10 is in this lowered position, the ribbon is pulled at a uniform speed. This will generally correspond to the speed of the label stock 30. The speed of the ribbon can be adjusted by take-up rollers as the stock is wound up, or more preferably by the ribbon being propelled by the label once both the ribbon and label stock are pressed together between the rollers. The appearance of the reference rectangles of labels 32a and 32b that have passed through the printing station are compared to labels 32d132g that have not passed through the printing station.
When compared with the reference rectangle 36 of 32f and 32f, the eye pillar roller 1
2 and 18, it can be seen that it is transferred onto each label that passes through the printing station.

In order to protect the transfer material, the ribbon 24 essentially moves beyond the guide 8 parts 20 and 22 only when the movable block 10 is lowered, and further ensures that the reference rectangle 36 is located between the two guide rollers. Advantageously, this only occurs when in a slot. Such conditions can be detected by repeated timing cycles controlled electrically or mechanically, or by recognizing the entry of a rectangle into the slot or by placing a certain distance to the right of the slot. Movable block 1 only if the condition occurs
It can be controlled by a sensor that lowers the zero and moves the ribbon.

Referring to FIG. 4, the result of such side fall can be seen. In other words, the ribbon 24 that has not passed through the slot
has a continuous rod-shaped coating film, and the ribbon 38 that has passed through the slot has a series of long strips 38a from which the coating film is transferred, and a series of thin strips between which the coating film remains. 1) There is a knob 38h. generally thin struts)
It is desirable that the knob 38b remain so that if non-uniformity occurs in completing a coating on one display, it will not initiate non-uniform coating on the next display. However, there is usually no need to continue the movement of the ribbon after the movable block has retracted upward. This is because the length of the I-son is negligible as it is used for contraction or movement simply by releasing the pressure on the ribbon as the movable block 10 is retracted upwardly. As long as this loosening is contracted forward (to the left) rather than pulled back (to the right), it is generally sufficient to form a bulge 38h of residual coating. In certain preferred forms of the invention, ribbon winding is accomplished by a relatively high speed, low torque motor that drives a spool that takes up slack in the IJ H4 when the block is lowered and initially retracted. be exposed.

Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that a uniform continuous coating can be applied to this operation and a series of bars of the same width can be transferred as a uniform coating. As long as a constant width is maintained during processing of the ribbon 24, the two idler rollers 12 and 1
The width of 8 can be the same or wider to achieve the same effect.

However, greater precision in bar width may be desirable and/or it may be desirable to use a single ribbon flexibly to form bars of different widths.

In such cases, the width of at least one of the idler rollers (with interchange if a different width is desired) should correspond exactly to the desired bar width (the width of the other eye [Para-roller should be of the same width) or wider), in which case the width of the coating on the ribbon may be wider. The rollers (first to
The lower roller 18 in Figure 3 has a larger width, and the roller that contacts the back side of the ribbon (upper roller 12 in Figures 1 to 3) has a smaller width, which reduces the width of the coat being transferred. Good to control.

The width of the coating relative to this controlled width may be equal or smaller (resulting in the structure of the coating on the exiting ribbon 38 of FIG. 4), or it may be wider than the strip. As shown in Figure 5, if the coating film is wider, the ribbon 12 entering
4 has a wider coating than the area 138a (from which the coating was transferred in the exiting ribbon 138), so the remaining area 1-38b is wider than the separated remaining strip 38b shown in FIG. Contains slightly more phase material (and has a rectangular chain shape).

It should also be appreciated that in Figures 1-3, the path of the roller is parallel to the path of both the ribbon and the foil. In such a case, there is no need to interrupt the movement of the display body during the coating film transfer step 1. However, in some cases the indicia may be conveyed discontinuously, stopping when the indicia is in a coating station, and then being adjacently moved by driven rollers that transfer the coating in the form of bars or other shapes to the indicia. It may be desirable to apply pressure to the ribbon. In such a case,
The rollers may run parallel to, perpendicular to, or at an angle to the running path of the display. FIG. 6 shows a ribbon in which the bars are transferred in a direction perpendicular to the running path of the ribbon (which may be parallel or perpendicular to the running path of the display). With such a shape, a wider coating (in the lengthwise direction of the bar) can be used and less ribbon length can be used. However, this shape is not preferred since it requires the movement of the display to be discontinuous compared to the shapes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The method of the present invention can be carried out by making various modifications to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3. For example, the lower roller can be retracted instead of the upper roller, or the entire shape can be reversed. It is also possible to drive one or both of the idler rollers. Additionally, the movable shaft 10 may be provided with needles or other fixed surfaces, and/or the underside of the stock 30 attached to the stationary lower block 16 may be provided with a flat surface or other fixed surface. However, it is generally believed that these two rollers provide a relatively high degree of uniformity in the application of pressure. Furthermore, rather than obtaining a uniform width by using a uniform coating on the tape 24 or a uniform width of the two eye pillar rollers, different shapes can be obtained simply by modifying the surface between the idler rollers. It seems possible to form a Also, one roller has a flat surface and the other has a printing surface (
For example, it is also possible to consider replacing the print surface.

It is also possible, for example, for a series of adjacent roller pairs (placed next to each other to simultaneously coat the same indicia, or arranged in a straight line - to coat different parts of the indicia) to simultaneously pass the indicia. ), it is also possible to apply a coating film on other areas at the same time. When parallel roller pairs are used, the coating is applied either from parallel coating bars on a single ribbon or from Z- (for each successive coating bar, one on each of two or more ribbons). The membrane bar can be transferred (passing between a pair of rollers). Using sequentially arranged roller pairs and employing a controlled exposure step between transfer steps, the effects described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,217 can be achieved;
i.e. activation (generally with chemicals, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,032)
osi et al., 1983, columns 9-11), the printed bar can be subjected to a controlled light exposure (generally radiation exposure). By synchronizing the application operation between the idler rollers with the printing of the barcode 34, the coating on the reference rectangle 36 can be used as an application strip of a protective layer (e.g. a UV absorbing layer) or to carry additional information on the label. It is also considered to have.

Such additional printing can, for example, represent a particular case quantity of the carton to be displayed (the existing bar is uniform from label to label, whereas this additional barcode indicates a hierarchy).

FIG. 7 shows a label 232 applied by two pairs of rollers of this type. Label 232 is product identification barcode 2
33 (°'9 in human readable form)
(machine-readable shape corresponding to "1fl O"), first display body identification code 234 (machine-readable shape corresponding to "10"), and second display body identification code 23
5 (machine-readable shape corresponding to "24"). Reference element 236 is printed as a rectangle with a vertical stripe in the center, forming three vertical reference bars. According to this method, coating streaks 237a and 237b are transferred with respect to reflectance relative to adjacent reference bars and unprinted areas according to the method described in U.S. Patent No. 469.88 (1). Measured.Display body identification code 23
4 and 235 correspond to the materials (or pre-exposure levels) of indicator coatings 237a and 237b.

FIG. 8 shows a simpler human display label that can be produced by the method of the invention. In this case, the coating streak 137 is centered between the previously printed reference bars 136α and 136b. In some displays with this and other constructions, the entire display (or at least 37
．． 137α or the portion having 237a and 237h) is desirably coated with a protective film, especially one that absorbs ultraviolet rays.

The coating present on the tape 24 is similar to that of the above-referenced U.S. Pat.
No. 2440 specifications (especially regarding monitoring of radiation exposure)
, or any of the acetylenic substances shown in pending US patent application Ser. This type of acetylenic material is produced using various waxes and other materials as described in U.S. Pat.
25,470 (Elbert et al., 1974) and 3,825,437 (Breyer, 1974). Examples of formulations are shown in the Examples of the invention.

Additionally, other materials that change color in response to exposure to the environment can be included in the coating composition. Examples include, for example, spiropyrans and various substances known to be sensitive to radiation, such as hexahydroquinethylaminotriphenylnitrile.

In addition, small amounts of pigments may optionally be included in the coating formulation to provide macroscopic color (preferably not available at the wavelengths at which reflectance is being measured for useful purposes), thereby improving the coating composition. It would be advantageous to be able to easily identify labels that are coated with membranes. Other suitable and alternative label features are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 469, cited above.
, No. 880, the description of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In ribbon production, a composition containing all of the components of the final coating plus a volatile solvent or volatile solvent mixture is applied to the support. Such solvents or solvent mixtures are evaporated before the ribbon is used in the transfer process of the present invention. This process differs in several respects from ink formulations that themselves contain volatile solvents. First, evaporation of the solvent does not occur in the printing operation zone, but instead occurs in the zone where the ribbon is produced (generally a more controllable environment). Transfer may be performed immediately before. Ribbons are generally smaller than labels and are therefore suitable for acetylenic compounds (which polymerize rapidly) used to monitor cumulative temperature exposure of highly perishable products (e.g., refrigerated or frozen foods). , are easier to store in a controlled environment, especially at very low temperatures. Finally, temperature exposure as the solvent evaporates from the display and possible label-to-label variations are eliminated. Temperature exposure during solvent evaporation from smaller ribbons is easier to uniform and allows for a controlled degree of partial polymerization if desired (two acetylenic bars). (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,217 for an indicator containing one of which is partially polymerized).

Example formula [CH3CH2NHC(0)II+1(CH2C-C
, -+-2 Pending U.S. Patent Application No. 514.39
9 (Prezio Ng et al., incorporated herein by reference), the color conversion compound N, N/
/ -x, 6-hexa-24-rhein-diyl-bis(N/-ethylurea) was ground into particles with a diameter of 1 μm or less and blended as a pigment in the following ink.

Diureaziin 84π (weight) Resin 22.5 Ascorbic acid 22% Toluene 113 Isopropanol 333% Rapeseed oil 179 Mineral oil 44% Appetizer Uniret (UN Engineering RE) from Union Canf Company
Z) This ink is made of +l-reamide resin, commercially available under the trademark 2931.
1l'm) and 5/16 inch (8 dragons) wide continuous H
z l) Wet coating thickness on ethylene film 0. (+ (
The coating was 112-0.0013 inches (30-33 μm). After drying for about 3 minutes under ambient conditions, the coating has a dry coating thickness of Q, 0006-0. (100 inches (15~
18 μm). Toluene and inopropa/
It is believed that the -ol (and not other ingredients) evaporated during drying of the ribbon.

1' pin pressure sensitivity (pinfeea pres8ure
We used 5-ensitivs label stock, also known as "stitching stock", which is 44 inches wide (
12 cm) copy paper support sort on which each 4 inch (10 cnt) long and 17//1 wide
6 inches (3,6 cm) (D) A series of labels are attached to the hotplate 2, including a barcode (as shown in box 34 in Figure 3) and a rectangular reference bar (as shown in Figure 3).
6) was not printed completely. Each reference rectangle has an outer contour of 3/4 inch (19 mm) x 15//32 inch (11,9 mm) and an inner contour of 19//32 inch (15 im) , old capital, contained uniformly dark streaks 5//64 inches (2 mm) wide on the bottom and sides.

The ribbon and label stock were conveyed through the apparatus shown in Figures 1-3 by striking the label stock with pins rotating at a speed of 2.5 cm/min. Top roller 12 has an outer diameter of 0375 inches (9.5 mm)
It was a cylindrical ball bearing (painted) with an inner diameter of 0125 inches (3.i8 mm) and a height of 55 inches (3.9 m, m) (of which 1/8 inch - 3 threads were cylindrical). The direction of the 1 loop to be struck should be 75 mm narrower than 8 mm wide.

The bottom roller 18 has an outer diameter of 1125 inches (28.6 m
, m') cylindrical shape with inner diameter 0.500 inches (12,7 m + π) and cylinder height 0312 inches (8 mm), ']
It was a sale bear IJ (Top roller-12
11 prefectures, 7111 cities).

Constant F giant 11ifl before slot between rectangular corollers
When the air pressure is sensed at
There is a force of 1 between the +-tub roller and the bottom roller, which causes them to move at a speed of 2.5 cm/min,
The coating is placed on each label at the middle width of the reference rectangle and covers the entire 1g//3□ inch (15*m) interior height of each rectangle, 1/8 inch (3+nm') @ It was transcribed as a line. As shown in Figure 5, the ribbon has a length of 62 inches (1"F +
m) had a region 138a.

The bars transferred to the label were evaluated using a Macbeth Model II Printing Contrast Meter (Colo Morgan, Co., Ltd., Newberg, New York, New York, New York, NY), and the bars were evaluated with a
Diameter o, oos inches at 32'nm (0,20m
The reflectance of the spot m) was measured. The spot-to-spot variation averaged 3% of the total scale reflection.

Visually, the bars were of very good quality, with no voids and sharp edge definition.

Alternative Formulations Ribbons were made as in Example 1 using several inks as described below.

Example 1 - Source trowel-μ' and diureadiin 8.4 4.4 +-0,4131,
] (1,5 resin 22,511.8 ], 1,010
．． 210.1 Ascorbic acid 2.2 1.1 1.1
．． (1,61,4 toluene 11,3 14.4]
, 3,5 11.8], 2.4 isozoro/? Knoll
33,3 57,2 53,6 49,3 49.3 Rapeseed oil 17.9 8.9 8,3 10.5 111
．． 5 Mineral Oil 4.42.2 2.1 4.5 4.8 Of formulations A-D, formulation 1 gave the best ribbon (tested on a typewriter).

The use of other resins in place of polyamide resins, other volatile components in place of luene/innopro, ξnol, and other wax-like substances in place of rapeseed oil/mineral oil is well known to those skilled in the art. should be understood. Other antioxidants can be used in place of ascorbic acid, and all ingredients can be optimized in proportion by routine experimentation.

Fixed pigments such as silicates, amorphous adhesives, and fumed silica can be added from JK. It is also possible to add color to the coating from the beginning by adding alcohol-soluble dyes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus for carrying out a first embodiment of the method of the invention which uses rollers to apply pressure to a ribbon to transfer a coating to a series of labels. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a number of labels being transported into position for printing (rollers still retracted). FIG. 3 is a view of transferring the coating to the display. Figure 4 shows the ribbon of Figure 3 showing the coating before transfer (on the right) and the remaining coating after transfer (on the left). FIG. 5 shows a slightly modified ribbon similar to FIG. 4, in which case the coating is wider than the roller. FIG. Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5, showing a ribbon used in the configuration of the present invention, in which the path of the rollers is not parallel to, but perpendicular to, the path of the ribbon; FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first type of printed display body. FIG. 8 is a top view of a second type of display body printed by the method of the present invention. In these drawings, each number is as follows: ] 0: Block (upper side); 12: L-knob eye full roller 14: Drive shaft; 16: Block (lower side) 18
: , 1 item Muai Toru Roller; 2 (1, 22:
Guide bar 24, separate, 224: Ribbon (entering side); 3
0: Ra〈Rustonok; 32 (32a-r), zz2
Label 34: Barcode; 36: Reference rectangle 31 (, 138, 238: Ribbon (used) 38b
, 138b, 238b :233, 234.235
: Bar coat 8236: Reference element 137, 136 (Z, 136/l, 237 (Z,
237b: Paint film streaks F/G-/ 80-2 F/G-7

Claims (1)

[Claims] (■) (α) A flat long display body is conveyed with the coating stay/fun at a different first adjustment position, (hl) A flat long ribbon uniformly coated is conveying the ribbon through a second adjustment position of the application station substantially parallel to the indicator in the first adjustment position, the ribbon being a support;
(c) a uniform peelable coating applied to the surface of the support on the side adjacent to the display at said coating station; and (c) a peelable coating applied to the exposed portion of the support. 1, applying sufficient pressure to transfer the peelable coating to adjacent selected portions of the display at an application station; A method for applying a uniform color conversion coating film to selected areas of a large number of display bodies, characterized in that the film contains a component that exhibits a reproducible color conversion in response to environmental exposure. (2) The flat elongate display and the coated flat elongate ribbon are conveyed through the coating station in substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular directions.
The method described in section. (3) Applying sufficient pressure (c) comprises contacting the opposite side of the support with a stationary building surface while the flat ribbon is being transported. the method of. (4) applying sufficient pressure (C) to a track consisting of a specific area on the support corresponding to an adjacent selected area of the display at a substantially constant pressure on the opposite side of the support; 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising rotating a roller along the axis. (5) The method according to claim 4, wherein the coated flat elongated ribbon is conveyed at substantially the same speed as the elongated label. (6) A method according to claim 5, wherein the coated flat elongate ribbon is conveyed by a force ('C) transmitted through the flat elongate label. Claim 1: Each flat length of uniformly coated ribbon is conveyed through a coating station and pressure is applied to each ribbon to transfer the coating to a selected portion of the display. (8) The indicator comprises at least one printed reference bar of uniform reflectance, and the selected portion of the indicator is adjacent to and substantially parallel to the reference bar. It is a bar,
A method according to claim 1. (9) (α) a continuous flat support extending in a first direction;
and (hl) consisting of a continuous strip of coating releasably applied on a first plane of this continuous flat support extending continuously in a first direction, such that the continuous strip of coating has a uniform thickness. (10) A patented transfer ribbon comprising a number of continuous strips of coating, each of which exhibits different color conversion behavior. The transfer ribbon according to claim 9.