Thermal transfer printing
US7102660B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/0283
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An article for receiving an image by thermal transfer printing includes an image-receiving surface of plastics material coated with a layer of dye-receptive material capable of accepting an image by means of a dye thermal transfer process, wherein the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the dye receptive material is at least 50° C. lower than the softening point of the plastics material of the image-receiving surface. By having a difference between the softening point of the plastics material article surface and the Tg of the material coated thereon of at least 50° C. it is possible to achieve printing in a single step transfer process of high density images without distortion of the plastics material. The invention can be used with three-dimensional articles possibly having compound curves, including casings for mobile telephones made of polymers such as polycarbonate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.