Optical disk, method of forming image on optical disk, image forming apparatus and adhesive layer transfer sheet

• US 6,649,004 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Inventors: Kita, Tatsuya, Ueno, Takeshi, Shibasaki, Naoji
• Primary Examiner(s): LORENGO, JERRY A
• Application Number:
  US09/820,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20010010851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 156/230, 156/233, 156/235, 156/238, 156/240, 156/241, 156/247, 156/277, 156/288, 156/540, 156/581, 156/582, 156/583, 156/583.4, 427/146, 427/147, 427/148, 427/162, 427/164, 428/42.1, 428/42.3, 428/195, 428/200, 428/201, 428/207, 428/914, 400/120.01, 400/120.03, 400/120.04, 400/120.16, 400/48, 347/171, 347/173, 347/174
• US Class Current: 156/230
• 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 5/345 by thermal transfer of dyes or pigments
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/38257 characterised by the use of an intermediate receptor
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0027 using protective coatings or layers by lamination or by fusion of the coatings or layers
• 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: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/21 Circular sheet or circular blank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24843 with heat sealable or heat releasable adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24934 including paper layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2839 with release or antistick coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2861 having readily strippable combined with readily readhearable properties [e.g., stick-ons, etc.]

Abstract

An image forming method for forming an image on an optical disk includes forming the image on an intermediate transfer medium or on an image receptive layer separably formed on one surface of the intermediate transfer medium. The intermediate transfer medium and the optical disk are laid so that the surface of the intermediate transfer medium carrying the image and the surface of the optical disk are in close contact with each other. Heat and/or pressure is applied to the intermediate transfer medium to transfer the image or the image receptive layer carrying the image to the optical disk to form a label on the optical disk.

Claims

1. A method of forming an image on an optical disk comprising the steps of:

preparing a thermal transfer sheet comprising a thermal transfer base sheet and at least a color layer formed on one surface of the thermal transfer base sheet, and an intermediate transfer medium comprising an intermediate transfer base sheet and at least an image receptive layer formed on one surface of the intermediate transfer base sheet;

forming the image on the image receptive layer of the intermediate transfer medium by laying the thermal transfer sheet and the intermediate transfer medium one on top of the other with the color layer and the image receptive layer in close contact with each other, compressing the thermal transfer sheet and the intermediate transfer medium between a thermal head and a platen roller, and selectively energizing heating elements of the thermal head according to image data to transfer a thermomigratory coloring matter contained in the color layer of the thermal transfer sheet from the color layer of the thermal transfer sheet to the image receptive layer of the intermediate transfer medium; and

transferring the image receptive layer carrying the image from the intermediate thermal transfer medium to the optical disk by heating the intermediate transfer medium pressed against the optical disk, wherein

the step of transferring the image receptive layer carrying the image to the surface of the optical disk comprises pressing the intermediate transfer medium against the optical disk and heating the intermediate transfer medium with a heat roller having a pattern corresponding to that of the optical disk.

2. A method of forming an image on an optical disk, according to claim 1, wherein

the intermediate transfer medium is pressed against the optical disk and heated with the heat roller having a surface temperature in the range of 50 to 200° C. and a surface speed in the range of 5 to 100 nun/sec.

3. A method of forming an image on an optical disk, according to claim 1, wherein

the heat roller and the optical disk are set in register before pressing the intermediate transfer medium against the optical disk and heating the intermediate transfer medium, and then the heat roller is rotated at the same speed as conveying speed of the optical disk.