Mixture of dye-containing beads for laser-induced thermal dye transfer

• US 5,234,891 A
• Filed: 12/17/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Thompson, Danny R., Machell, Thomas A., Burberry, Mitchell S., Noonan, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, BRUCE H
• Application Number:
  US07/992,236
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• Field of Search: 8/471, 428/195, 428/323, 428/327, 428/478.2, 428/508-510, 428/913, 428/914, 430/200, 430/201, 430/945, 503/227
• US Class Current: 503/227
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/345 by thermal transfer of dyes or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/395 Macromolecular additives, e.g. binders
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/46 characterised by the light-to-heat converting means; characterised by the heat or radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/465 Infrared radiation-absorbing materials, e.g. dyes, metals, silicates, C black
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 430/146 Laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31768 Natural source-type polyamide [e.g., casein, gelatin, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31884 Regenerated or modified cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31888 Addition polymer of hydrocarbon[s] only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31891 Where addition polymer is an ester or halide

Abstract

This invention relates to a multicolor dye donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a single dye layer comprising a mixture of at least two different colors of solid, homogeneous beads, each of which contains an image dye, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, the beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and the beads of each color being sensitized to a different wavelength.

Claims

1. A multicolor dye donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a single dye layer comprising a mixture of at least two different colors of solid, homogeneous beads, each of which contains an image dye, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and said beads of each said color being sensitized to a different wavelength.

2. The element of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is gelatin.

3. The element of claim 1 wherein said binder is cellulose acetate propionate or nitrocellulose.

4. The element of claim 1 wherein said beads are approximately 0.1 to about 20 μ

m in size.

5. The element of claim 1 wherein said beads are employed at a concentration of about 40 to about by weight, based on the total coating weight of the bead-vehicle mixture.

6. The element of claim 1 wherein each said laser light-absorbing material is a dye.

7. A process of forming a multicolor laser-induced thermal dye transfer image comprising:

a) contacting a multicolor dye donor element comprising a support having thereon a single dye layer comprising a mixture of at least two different colors of solid, homogeneous beads, each of which contains an image dye, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and said beads of each said color being sensitized to a different wavelength, with a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer;

b) imagewise-heating said dye-donor element by means of a laser; and

c) transferring a dye image to said dye-receiving element to form said multicolor laser-induced thermal dye transfer image.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein said vehicle is gelatin.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein said binder is cellulose acetate propionate or nitrocellulose.

10. The process of claim 7 wherein said beads are approximately 0.1 to about 20 μ

m in size.

11. The process of claim 7 wherein said beads are employed at a concentration of about 40 to about 90% by weight, based on the total coating weight of the bead-vehicle mixture.

12. The process of claim 7 wherein each said laser light-absorbing material is a dye.

13. A thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:

(a) a multicolor dye donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a single dye layer comprising a mixture of at least two different colors of solid, homogeneous beads, each of which contains an image dye, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and said beads of each said color being sensitized to a different wavelength, and

(b) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, said dye-receiving element being in superposed relationship with said dye-donor element so that said dye layer is in contact with said dye image-receiving layer.

14. The assemblage of claim 13 wherein said vehicle is gelatin.

15. The assemblage of claim 13 wherein said binder is cellulose acetate propionate or nitrocellulose.

16. The assemblage of claim 13 wherein said beads are approximately 0.1 to about 20 μ

m in size.

17. The assemblage of claim 13 wherein said beads are employed at a concentration of about 40 to about 90% by weight, based on the total coating weight of the bead-vehicle mixture.

18. The assemblage of claim 13 wherein each said laser light-absorbing material is a dye.