Thermal transfer recording system

US6537410B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Polaroid Corporation · US

Inventors

• Michael J. Arnost · North Andover, US
• Alain Bouchard · Boston, US
• Yongqi Deng · Beijing, CN
• Edward J. Dombrowski · Asheboro, US
• Russell Gaudiana · Merrimack, US
• Serajul Haque · Braintree, US
• Fariza B. Hasan · Waltham, US
• John Marshall · Somerville, US
• Stephen J. Telfer · Arlington, US
• William T. Vetterling · Lexington, US
• Michael S. Viola · Burlington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 21, 2000
• Grant date: Mar 25, 2003
• Expiry date: Apr 21, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41M5/38207
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

There is described a thermal recording system which utilizes a donor element comprising a substrate and a thermal transfer material layer having a dye-containing phase which is amorphous and wherein the dye or dyes present in the amorphous phase form a continuous film. Imagewise heating of the medium transfers portions of the transfer layer to a receiver sheet, thus forming an image. The transfer layer may also include a non-dye phase comprising a thermal solvent. During the heating of the donor element, the crystalline thermal solvent melts and dissolves or liquefies at least a portion of the dye-containing phase, thereby lowering the temperature at which transfer of the transfer layer occurs.