Apparatus and method for microcontact printing using a pressurized roller

US8950324B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Tracie J. Berniard · Saint Paul, US
• Matthew H. Frey · Maplewood, US
• Lance E. Behymer · Woodbury, US
• Mikhail L. Pekurovsky · Bloomington, US
• Richard W. Greger · Corning, US
• Daniel P. Meehan · Saint Paul, US
• Jonathan J. O'Hare · East Greenwich, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 17, 2010
• Grant date: Feb 10, 2015
• Expiry date: Mar 7, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41M3/00
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for microcontact printing are described. The microcontact printing apparatus includes a planar stamp and a pressurized roller. The pressurized roller includes an inflatable bladder that can be inflated by a fluid to a pressure that reduces printing defects such as voids and stamp collapse. A substrate is disposed between the pressurized roller and a stamp coated with an ink of functionalizing molecules. As the pressurized roller moves over the substrate, at least a portion of the functionalizing molecules are transferred from the stamp to the substrate in the desired pattern.