Patent · US Expired

Indirect printing process for applying selective phase change ink compositions to substrates

US5372852A · kind A · utility

423Cited by
16References
38Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 25, 1992
Grant dateDec 13, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 25, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41J2002/012
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A phase change ink composition is indirectly applied to a substrate by raising the temperature of the phase change ink composition to form a liquid phase change ink composition, applying droplets of the phase change ink composition in a liquid phase to a liquid intermediate transfer surface on a solid support in a pattern using a device such as an ink jet printhead, solidifying the phase change ink composition on the liquid intermediate transfer surface, transferring the phase change ink composition from the liquid intermediate transfer surface to the substrate, and fixing the phase change ink composition to the substrate. The phase change ink composition is malleable when the ink is transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the substrate and is ductile after the ink has been transferred to the substrate and cooled to ambient temperature to preclude the ink from crumbling and cracking.

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