Patent · US Expired

Treatment of hot melt ink images

US5114747A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
5References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 6, 1991
Grant dateMay 19, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 6, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41M7/0027
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In the embodiment described in the specification, a hot melt ink coating such as an image on a substrate is treated in a continuous manner by moving it along a platen having a heating zone to melt drops of hot melt ink and cause them to spread on the substrate. The platen has a flat central portion and curved portions at each end with curvatures sufficient to prevent formation of cockle. At the output end of the heating zone, the substrate is moved continuously into a quenching zone where a cooling platent cools the substrate by thermal contact at a rapid rate of at least 50.degree. C. per second to prevent crystallization or frosting of the hot melt ink image thereby minimizing light transmission losses. After the quenching zone, the substrate is moved along a surface having a reverse curvature with respect to the curved portions of the heating platen to eliminate residual curvature of the substrate resulting from the curved portions of the heating platen.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.