Multicolor, multilayer dye-doner element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer

• US 5,240,900 A
• Filed: 12/17/1992
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Burberry, Mitchell S.
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, BRUCE H
• Application Number:
  US07/992,351
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 8/471, 428/195, 428/212, 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 2205/02 Dye diffusion thermal transfer printing (D2T2)
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/345 by thermal transfer of dyes or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/38228 characterised by the use of two or more ink layers
• 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 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• 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, multilayer dye donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a first dye layer comprising a homogeneously-dispersed mixture of an image dye having a certain color, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, the first dye layer being overcoated with at least one additional dye layer comprising solid, homogeneous beads which contain an image dye having a different color than that of the first dye layer, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, the beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and the beads of each additional dye layer being sensitized to a different wavelength.

Claims

1. A multicolor, multilayer dye donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a first dye layer comprising a homogeneously-dispersed mixture of an image dye having a certain color, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said first dye layer being overcoated with at least one additional dye layer comprising solid, homogeneous beads which contain an image dye having a different color than that of said first dye layer, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and said beads of each said additional dye layer 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 in said additional layer 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 90% 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, multilayer dye donor element comprising a support having thereon a first dye layer comprising a homogeneously-dispersed mixture of an image dye having a certain color, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said first dye layer being overcoated with at least one additional dye layer comprising solid, homogeneous beads which contain an image dye having a different color than that of said first dye layer, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and said beads of each said additional dye layer 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 in said additional layer 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, multilayer dye donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a first dye layer comprising a homogeneously-dispersed mixture of an image dye having a certain color, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said first dye layer being overcoated with at least one additional dye layer comprising solid, homogeneous beads which contain an image dye having a different color than that of said first dye layer, a binder and a laser light-absorbing material, said beads being dispersed in a vehicle, and said beads of each said additional dye layer 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 in said additional dye layer 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.