Media for cold image transfer

• US 20030168156A1
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Graham, Paul D., Kitchin, Jonathan P., Engle, Lori P., Tweeten, David W., Samdahl, Lisa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/369,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20030168156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/230
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/006 Patterns of chemical products used for a specific purpose, e.g. pesticides, perfumes, adhesive patterns; use of microencapsulated material; Printing on smoking articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/025 by transferring ink from the master sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0256 the transferable ink pattern being obtained by means of a computer driven printer, e.g. an ink jet or laser printer, or by electrographic means
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/504 Backcoats
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/508 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/52 Macromolecular coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/529 characterised by the use of fluorine- or silicon-containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/17 Dry transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/1737 Decalcomanias provided with a particular decorative layer, e.g. specially adapted to allow the formation of a metallic or dyestuff on a substrate unsuitable for direct deposition
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/003 Transfer printing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]

Abstract

Image transfer media and methods of transferring images are provided. The image transfer media comprise a sheet having a nonporous micro-embossed surface topography comprising cavities on one major surface of the sheet and an ink release coating on the embossed surface, wherein said major surface has a surface energy of about 43 dyne/centimeter or less. A method of transferring an image to a substrate comprises the steps of (a) printing a selected image onto an imaging surface of an image transfer medium of the invention; (b) contacting the imaged micro-embossed surface with the substrate using pressure; and (c) removing the micro-embossed surface of the image transfer medium from the substrate.

Claims

1. A method of transferring an image to a substrate comprising the steps of:

(a) printing a selected image onto an imaging surface of an image transfer medium wherein the image transfer medium comprises a sheet having a back surface and a nonporous imaging surface having a micro-embossed surface topography comprising micro-embossed elements on one major surface of the sheet wherein said major surface has a surface energy of about 43 dyne/centimeter or less;

(b) contacting the imaged micro-embossed surface with the substrate using pressure; and

(c) removing the micro-embossed surface of the image transfer medium from the substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the image is selected on a computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the image is manipulated or modified on a computer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the image is manipulated by reversing, rotating, reducing, adjusting color, removing or adding background, removing or adding foreground, removing or adding images, adjusting the brightness of the image, and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the image is applied to the image transfer medium using inkjet printing techniques.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the substrate comprises cloth, wood, gypsum, sheet rock, plastic, glass, metal, ceramic, painted surfaces, paper, cardboard, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure applied to the back of the image transfer medium is by hand, rollers, stamps, or combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the image is created by printing ink onto the micro-embossed surface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least 20 percent of the ink is transferred to the substrate as measured by color density.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least 50 percent of the ink is transferred to the substrate as measured by color density.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least 75 percent of the ink is transferred to the substrate as measured by color density.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the image transfer medium has an ink release coating on the micro-embossed surface.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet comprises polydimethylsiloxane, fluorinated polymer, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, reactive silicones, or combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet has two or more layers.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed elements are cavities.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed elements are posts.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the micro-embossed elements are a combination of cavities and posts.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the nonporous imaging surface of the image transfer medium has an ink release coating thereon.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the ink release coating comprises fluorinated surfactants, silicone surfactants, silicones, fluorochemicals, polymers of silicones, polymers of fluorochemicals, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the ink release coating is a result of surface energy modifying additives in the sheet.