Thermal transfer material, and printing method and printer used with the same

• US 6,416,923 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Takao
• Primary Examiner(s): Schilling, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US09/971,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20020009662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 430/138, 430/256, 430/259, 430/200, 430/257, 430/262, 430/263, 430/964, 430/348, 503/227, 503/201, 503/208, 347/103, 347/106, 347/212, 347/175
• US Class Current: 430/200
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/355 Control circuits for heating-element selection
• 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 5/035 by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design , e.g. sublistatic B41M5/0256 takes precedence; printing on textiles D06P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0355 characterised by the macromolecular coating or impregnation used to obtain dye receptive properties
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/345 by thermal transfer of dyes or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 430/165 Thermal imaging composition

Abstract

A thermal transfer material includes a support. A release layer is overlaid on the support. A coloring transfer layer is overlaid on the release layer, has thermoplasticity, and is colorable by being exposed and then pressurized. In a printer for use with the thermal transfer material, an image is formed by exposing the coloring transfer layer. The coloring transfer layer is placed on image receiving material after the image is formed. The thermal transfer material is heated and pressurized while the coloring transfer layer is placed on, so as to color the image and transfer the coloring transfer layer to the image receiving material.

Claims

1. A printing method in which a thermal transfer material is used;

wherein said thermal transfer material comprises a support, a release layer overlaid on said support, and a coloring transfer layer, overlaid on said release layer, having thermoplasticity, and colorable by being exposed and pressurized;

said printing method comprising the steps of;

forming a latent image by exposing said coloring transfer layer;

placing said coloring transfer layer on an image receiving material after said latent image is formed; and

heating and pressurizing said thermal transfer material while said coloring transfer layer is placed on said image receiving material, making said latent image visible and transferring said coloring transfer layer to said image receiving material at substantially the same time.