Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPLICATION TO FABRIC OF HEAT-ACTIVATED TRANSFERS
The contents of Provisional Application U.S. Serial
Number 60/013,193 filed March 13, 1996, on which the
present application is based
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for
applying an image to a receptor element using two
heating steps.
The. major user of color copiers to treat-a
personalized transfers are copy shops (e. g. Kinko's)
which use commercial laser color copiers, such as the
Canon #500/700/800 or the Xerox Spectrum. The machines
cost $30,000 and more. A commercial heat press is
required to effect transfer.
Because a commercial press is necessary, the stores
must also carry an inventory of apparel since the
consumer can not shop elsewhere and apply a transfer at
home. Presently, transferring images to receptor
elements require costly machines, combined with the
requirement far an inventory of appare'1, a commercial
and costly heat press (.e.g. $4,000+). These demands
prevent consumers from havinc, easy access within the
course of one's everyday living experience.
2c
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For the past 20 years, transfers could only be
printed at copy stores, plus a few high traffic
specialty locations, such as amusement parks, tourist
centers, etc. Access to these machines was limited.
First, not many of the copy shops would spend the
$30,000-50,000 per machine. Certainly not the smaller
shops in more remote areas. Second, most frequently, T-
shirt personalization is an impulse and very few people
have occasion to visit copy centers frequently, or on a
somewhat regular basis. Third, the copy centers would
be required to have at least one commercial heat press
(as hand ironing was impossible), plus a variety of T-
shirts in different sizes. This in-store inventory of
shirts was necessary, because the imaged transfer had to
be pressed into the garment at the store. Fourth, copy
centers have no desire to carry an assortment of apparel
in differing designs and sizes.
Traditionally, copy centers in the imaging transfer
business do not inventory anything other than T-shirts
and, on occasion, a baseball jersey and cap. The
consumer had no range of choices with regard to gift
items, such as pillowcases, barbecue aprons, tote bags,
windbreakers, sweatshirts, etc. And certainly no range
of colors.
Supermarkets, Drugstores, etc., find it is not cost
effective to devote so many resources (i.e. costly
copier, commercial press, and wide range of apparel in
inventory) for the return on investment. Consequently,
consumers lose because they do not have routine access
to obtain personally imaged apparel.
No supermarket or mass merchandiser (eg. K-Mart,
Wal-Mart, etc.) has the personnel, the time, or the
space to have the copier, along with compulsory
commercial heat press, plus a wide range of garments.
However, offering the many store visitors, in high
traffic locations cited above, the capability to copy a
photo just being received in the store after development
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of film, or a wallet photo, a prom picture, graduation
picture, or simple "refrigerator art" provides a
significantly better opportunity to both the consumer
and the store management.
One problem in the art is that the internal heat of
toner laser imaging devices exceeds the melt point of
any "hand ironable" transfer. The problem has been
apparent for 20 years when Xerox introduced its first
commercial toner color copier. In 20 years, no one has
found a successful method to achieve hand ironing of
toner laser transfers.
The modifications will follow description of the
fundamental 20 years inability to hand iron laser toner
transfers. All transfers must have a meltpoint higher
than the fuser rollers within toner copiers. This
meltpoint is a combination of temperature, the amount of
time that the transfer is in contact with fuser roller,
and pressure applied to transfer as it passes over the
roller.
Papers are available but each can only pass through
the copier with an imprinted image, and not melt when
undergoing the printing procedure. However, because the
meltpoint must be so high (350-400° F for 20 seconds)
the transfer must be heat pressed. Should one try to
hand iron, the iron would have to be, at its highest
temperature, over each area, one at a time and for 20
seconds, until the 8.5"x11" or 11"x17" transfer had been
completely covered with the iron for 20 seconds. Ch t~
8.5"x11" size, it would require about eight (8)
changings of the location of the iron to press the
entire surface. It is inevitable that when the last
. position of the iron had been completed, the iron placed
upon the table, and peel of transfer begun, you will
often find that the first sections of those transfers
which had been pressed had since cooled and the transfer
must, inevitably with many current "hot peel," stick to
the fabric. The consumer could never peel the transfer
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from the fabric without a great deal of drag (i.e.,
resistance to peel). This drag would lift the piles of
the fabric upward thus leaving the color unprotected at
the extreme tips of the fibers. The present inventor
found that if the colored coating is not compressed into
the fabric, color will be significantly lost in
laundering, coatings will develop cracks, feel will be
rough, and colors are less vibrant.
This inability to hand iron is a universal problem
today, with exceptions only in degree. Some coatings
are marginally acceptable, others are not. Therefore,
the restrictions for both consumer and the stores remain
intact, as they have for 20 years.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to overcome
the problems identified above.
The present invention improves adhesion and image
quality of an image that has been transferred (e. g.
imaged transfer) after it has been applied to a receptor
element such as a fabric. This is achieved by re-
ironing the already transferred image utilizing a
material resistant to sticking (i.e. a tack resistant
material such as silicone paper) between the hand-held
iron and the transferred image on the receptor element.
This is necessary in many, but not all, instances so as
to drive the coatings which have been transferred from
the support sheet of the transfer material to the
receptor element (i.e. fabric) deep into the gaps and
valleys of the receptor element. The repress method of
the invention also compresses any loose fabric thereby
making the colors more vibrant.
There are two reasons why some coatings are more
significantly improved than others with a second press
(re-iron):
1. The support sheet of some transfers are so
rigid and thick as to prevent hand pressure from the
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iron to drive the coatings into the gaps. If the paper
is too thick or rigid, it spans the tiny gaps in the
fabric and simply prevents an iron, with the energy of
one's hand, to drive the coatings sufficiently into the
5 fabric.
' 2. Some coatings do not melt as readily (e. g.
liquify) as others when exposed to heat (and pressure).
Therefore, the iron must remain at a given location for
a longer period of time. As a result, the initial
starting location of the iron will have cooled so as to
create greater drag or resistance of peel.
In the instance of printing/copier devices which
require a high degree of internal heat, coatings must
have a melt point so high as to exceed that of the
printer. The higher the melt point the higher the
temperature that is required for release. The higher
the temperature, the greater the drag because the
initial positions have cooled to varying degrees. As a
result, the coatings will simply rest atop the fabric
and span crevices rather than follow the texture and
fill the gaps.
Reasons for the necessity of either a rigid support
or higher melt point coatings are:
1. Many cassette feeders require a stiffer paper
to avoid jamming.
2. Some copiers/printers require stiffer paper to
avoid j amming as the paper passes through the various
internal processes. In those instances, a more pliable
support sheet will get "hung up" at certain junctions
and create an unacceptable incidence of jamming.
3. As previously mentioned, some coatings require
a a formula which results in a higher melt point to avoid
activating and wreaking havoc with the interior of the
device.
Those coatings with higher melt points will not
flow into the valleys of the fabric with the pressure of
only a hand iron. Presently, the only method in the art
to achieve adequate transfer from support sheet to
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' . -
' 6
fabric of the imaged coatings is with the use of a
commercial heat press. The repress method of the
,
present invention overcomes the problem in the. art.
A ' hand-ironable transfer: would enable many
locations, which currently do- not offer Personalized
Apparel services because of the many restrictions, to
provide this service and enjoy a profit.
Thus; in one embodiment, of the invention, the
consumer would simply have a copy (i:a. color) made of
a photo or artwor.~k (e. g. greeting cards) onto a hand
ironable transfer material. Then he/she,could shop for
the specific receptor element of preference, varying
from pillowcases, aprons, nite/beach/baseball jerseys,
t-shirts, etc. upon which to transfer the image (i.e. an
imaged transfer) in accordance with the process of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION O~' THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully
understood from the detailed description given
hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings tahich are
given by way of il7.ustration only, and thus, are not
limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a transfer
material using Cycolor (trademark of Mead Corporation, Dayton,
Ohio) technology which may be used in the claimed process; and
FIG. 2 illustrates the first of two ironing steps
for ironing an image onto a tee shirt or the like.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With the present invention, the consumer could copy
or reproduce the image of his/her choice onto known
transfer products, shop for the best receptor element
such as an apparel of choice, and iron the transfer to
a garment at home. Thousands of hitherto unavailable
locations could now provide the capability to consumers
to personalize apparel for giving or wearing. These
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many new locations would enjoy a significant new profit
opportunity, with a minimum investment in space,
personnel, and assorted apparel.
The advantages of "Hot Peel Transfers" of the
present invention:
1. Laser copiers could be located in supermarkets,
super drug stores, mass merchandisers, etc.
2. Millions of consumers, worldwide, can copy
beautiful color images for transfer to fabric at home.
The present inventions) enable consumers to hand
iron transfers to fabric, thus allowing for the benefits
herein mentioned.
A fabric consists of peaks and valleys. The degree
of both are determined by the diameter of the fiber and
the tightness of the weave. A fine fiber, tightly
woven, will have many fewer valleys and of lesser depth
than a heavier yarn loosely woven. As a result of this
uneven surface, a burden is placed upon the transfer
coatings (i.e. carrier material which is capable of both
release and adhesion, plus the image). They must be
driven into the valleys as well as cover the surface of
the strands to prevent or at least reduce cracking of
the surface after the transfer has been applied. A
commercial heat press has sufficient pressure to drive
the coatings deeply into the valleys of the fabric. A
hand iron does not.
The reason that the hand iron is not sufficient to
drive the coatings into the valleys is that the support
sheet is sufficiently rigid to resist the hand pressure.
As a result, the coatings actually "span" the valleys
rather than penetrate into them.
The reasons why it is imperative not to allow the
coatings to merely rest upon the fabric surface are:
1. Stress cracks will appear as the garment is
worn.
2. Washability is minimized and colors are
destined to fade significantly after only 2-5 washings.
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When coatings are properly integrated into the
fabric, one can expect a minimum of 25 washings, and,
more often than not, well above 50.
3. The stiffness is objectionable. "HAND" as it
is referred to within the imprinted sportswear industry,
is of extreme importance to consumers. Softness is a
major consideration.
4. Colors should be vivid. When the support
sheet is peeled from the fabric after having been hand
ironed, the tiny fabric tips tend to "lift" , rather than
remain condensed as they would with a heat press.
It f first appears as though color has been lost , but
after re-pressing, the intensity of color improves
markedly.
The re-press method enables one to use a copier
such as the family Canon Laser Copiers wherever it is
available, in order to copy or print the desired image
onto a transfer material at a retail location and hand
iron the personalized imaged transfers at home.
Although the melt point must be high and the paper
rigid so as to prevent excessive jamming, the consumer
can iron small sections at a time and peel at maximum
heat. By doing small sections (e. g. 3 X 4) one can work
his/her way over the entire transfer, one small area
after another, and peel the support sheet before it
begins to cool.
The more it cools, the greater the resistance
between the coatings and the support sheet. The greater
the pull of paper (i.e. resistance), the less the gaps
will be filled. The consequences are defined above.
However, by ironing in small sections to minimize
resistance, and then re-ironing, one can drive the
coatings with highest melt points and stiffest of
support sheets deeply into the fabric.
The re-pressing with a hand iron is beneficial,
even necessary, in many situations, as described above.
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Existing transfer materials therefore provide an
adequate transfer of most of the desired image to the
receptor element. However, in order to ensure the
transfer of all or substantially all of the desired
image to the receptor element without the above-
mentioned shortfalls of quality and protection, the
present inventor recognized that an additional heating
step after transfer would be useful in improving the
home imaged transfer process.
Therefore, the use of a non-stick, tack-free
overlay sheet, such as a silicone sheet, provides a
distinct advantage because it is considerably less rigid
than the original support for the transfer material and
the consumer can apply pressure for a much longer time.
The additional time is made possible because the
coatings do not stick to the non-stick, tack-free
overlay sheet (e. g. silicone paper) and the consumer
does not have to worry about spending additional
pressing time which would otherwise result in excessive
adhesion or drag of support sheet to receptor surface.
It is imperative that an overlay sheet is placed
over the imaged fabric before contact with the iron is
made in the re-pressing process. If not, the coatings
would simply activate (e.g. remelt) and adhere to the
iron. The garment would be ruined. An overlay sheet
must be made of a material which resists ~~sticking~~ of
the transferred image thereto so as to prevent remelted
coatings from sticking to the re-press sheet. Treated
papers, such as teflon or silicone, are some examples of
stick-resistant re-press papers (e. g. overlay sheets).
With use of a non-stick, tack-free overlay sheet, one
can apply full body weight for as long as a minute or
more, but most commonly at about 15 seconds per position
of the iron at the maximum iron temperature. This
drives the coatings deeply into the fabric and
compresses any loose fabric. The receptor element is
allowed to cool for a minute or so, and the overlay is
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peeled with no resistance. No coatings will have
adhered to the overlay sheet and a vivid, soft, highly
washable, and crack-resistant image will remain on the
item of the consumer's choice.
5 Because of the use of a hand iron for home
application of the transfer, the consumer is not
"locked" into the very narrow choice of apparel in the
very few locations where the transfer copy service is
currently available. The consumer can simply copy the
10 desired image onto conventional transfer material,
select from a wide variety of fabric garments readily
available in retail stores and, by utilizing the method
of the invention, apply transfer at home without the
problems identified above (i.e. incomplete transfer).
The tack-resistant and stick-resistant overlay,
such as commercially available silicone paper, could be
included in a kit along with a conventional transfer
material and ironing instructions and provided to the
consumer in a small bag for home application. This kit
could be purchased and the transfer material could be
imaged by conventional means such as by copying or
printing either at a business having a copier or printer
or at home (with a personal computer and printer)
thereby providing an imaged transfer material. The
image is then transferred according to the process of
the present invention.
The use of a non-stick overlay allows for a quality
transfer created by a larger selection of color imaging
devices found in a vast assortment of readily accessible
locations. Consumers will have new opportunities to
wear and give personalized items. They will not be
limited to a select few stores (copy - centers
primarily), a very limited selection of items, primarily
white t-shirts, and will also enjoy a considerably
reduced price.
For example, copy-centers have a captive audience.
The consumer must choose the items which the store
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offers because it must be pressed on site. The store
gets what the traf f is wil l bear for a ~~ finished product ~~
(e. g. $12.00-$14.95 in 1997 dollars is an accurate
average for a personalized t-shirt). With the ability
to iron at home made possible by the overlay and re-
press method of the invention, the consumer needs only
copy (i.e. color) the desired image onto a transfer
material ($3.95-$5.95) and transfer the image to a T-
shirt ($3.50). The savings on an imaged T-shirt would
minimally approximate $5.00. One could have a
personalized sweatshirt, nite-shirt, or nylon
windbreaker for the same, or slightly higher, than the
current average cost for a T-shirt. Therefore, the
overlay and re-press method provides for the consumer
greater access, lower prices, and much greater selection
of personalized items.
Although commercially available silicone paper is
the preferred material for use in the second heating
step of the invention, other similar materials may be
used. For instance, if tackiness or stickiness is not
an extremely severe problem, bond paper, wax paper, or
butcher paper may be substituted for the silicone paper.
The amount of anti-stick property of the overlay sheet
depends on the tackiness of the transfer material which
is selected. The choice of suitable non-stick overlay
sheets is therefor readily determined by one of ordinary
skill in the art.
The preferred procedure of the invention is as
follows
1. Hand ironing the rear surface of the imaged
transfer material in order to transfer the image to
fabric and peeling away the support sheet. (The imaged
transfer material comprises (i) a support, a transfer
layer capable of release without water and capable of
providing adhesion, and an image receptive layer, or
(ii) a support and a combined transfer/image receptive
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layer. Separate surface adhesives- are entirely
unnecessary.)
2. Placing a thin silicone sheet over the imaged
fabric (i.e. imaged transfer) and pressing with a hand
held iron to drive the coatings into the valleys of the
fabric.
When the silicone sheet is pressed with the iron
over the coatings immediately after the original
transfer had been applied, it gives the fabric a softer
feel because it has filled the voids in the fabric and
significantly reduces cracking of the surface because
the voids are not spanned but rather filled.
Because the coatings have been compressed more so
with the silicone than without, the colors are
significantly more resistant to laundering than they
would otherwise be.
After fabric which has received a transferred image
and has been laundered several times, the fibers of said
fabric begin to lift. The result is the appearance of
a color loss which in fact, is not a true loss as much
as it is the appearance of the loss because the fibers
are no longer as condensed or compressed as they had
originally been immediately subsequent to transfer. The
invention re-condenses the fibers, thus restoring the
original vibrancy of the colors. Thus, the process of
the invention can be used on an aged or previously used
imaged receptor element such as fabric in order to
restore the color of the original image.
The overlay sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) can be
reused to infinity because nothing adheres to it.
Therefore, after multiple washings have created the
appearance of color loss, the color vibrancy can be
regained by simply placing the silicone sheet over the
imaged area and repressing the fibers, thus condensing
the fabric. The result will be a return to something
very close to the original color. This process can be
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repeated and repeated after multiple washings and each
time the vibrancy of the color will be regained.
The receptor element may be any desired receiver,
such as textile, leather, ceramic, wool, glass, plastic
or even metal having pores (i.e. metal sign).
Preferably, the receptor element is a shirt, tee shirt
or the like. Other suitable receptor surfaces include
canvas, paper, or receptor supports used by the museum
or conservatory industry. However, any receptor capable
of receiving the imaging material (e. g. image and non-
image areas) of the transfer material or imaging sheet
and imparting the desired washproof properties is within
the scope of the invention.
Energy applied to the rear surface of the element
is by heat and/or pressure via ironing with a hand held
iron as opposed to a commercial heat press. The dry
release transfer materials of the invention (as opposed
to wet release materials) are preferably capable of
receiving images from color laser copiers and/or
printers. However, they are equally capable of
receiving. images from color ink jet printers or from
black and white printers. Other commercially available
copiers or printers that may image the transfer
materials utilized in the present invention include
thermal wax ribbon printers/copiers such as Seiko 5401,
Sharp CX 5000 model color copier and Toshiba 5400 model.
Panasonic, Fargo, Cal Comp and Mitsubishi also
manufacture thermal ribbon printers and/or copiers which
may be used.
As stated above, the invention is applicable to
transfer paper currently utilized in laser printing.
The most popular models and the ones typically used for
fabric transfers axe Canon Laser copiers 500, 600, 700
and 800 models.
The invention is further applicable to transfer
paper currently utilized in ink jet printing. For
instance, CANON has a well known Bubble Jet line of
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transfer products that may be utilized in their
printers. Other manufacturers of Ink Jet copiers and/or
printers include Hewlett-Packard, Epson, Xerox, Lexmark,
Mannesman Tally and Hitachi.
Basically, any known or future developed copier or
printer that is able to image a transfer material may be
used.
Most preferably, the process of the invention takes
place in the absence of steam.
l0 Further, the process of the present invention
operates in the pressure range that the typical user may
apply by pressing with a conventional hand held iron
present in virtually every household in the United
States. The process of the invention preferably
excludes pressures attainable with commercially
available heat press equipment. Indeed, with the advent
of transfer materials for home use (i.e. where there are
no commercial heat presses), the inventor observed a
problem not previously known in the art and the solution
thereto. That is, the problem addressed by the present
inventor was a result of home use of transfer products
and processes that presently are most successfully
commercially conducted. In the absence of commercial
equipment in the home, the inventor found the solution
to the problem of incomplete transfer of the desired
image. More specifically, the consumer was not able to
provide enough pressure during the home transfer process
as compared to the use of commercial heat press
equipment, sometimes resulting in a less than perfect
transfer. The present inventor overcame this problem.
One requirement of a suitable transfer coating of
the invention is that it adhere strongly to fibrous
supports, and optionally to glassy supports.
The transfer carrier layer in the transfer material
used in the invention must also be capable of transfer
from the support (e.g, imaging sheet) and adherence to
a receptor support without the requirement of a separate
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surface adhesive layer. without being bound by any
theory, upon back surface heating of the support, the
carrier would undergo a solid to solution phase
transition resulting in a transfer to the receiving
5 layer. Edge to edge adhesion, to the receiving layer,
would occur upon cooling of the carrier onto the
receiving layer. Upon cooling, an image layer would be
completely transferred onto the receiving layer with an
excess of carrier providing mechanical and thermal
10 stability, as wel3 as washability.
The transfer carrier layer of the transfer material
should provide a colorfast image (s. g. washproof or wash
resistant) when transferred to the receptor surface.
That is, upon washing the receptor element (e.g. tee
15 shirt), the image should remain intact on the receptor
element.
Suitable transfer materials include the
compositions from U.S. Patent Nos. 5,501,902, 5,271,990
and 5,242,739.
The present irivention is most preferably directed
to the -use of dry. transfer materials known in the art
such as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,501,902,
5,271,9'90 and 5,242,739. That is, dry release transfer
materials per se are well known in the art, and any
suitable dry release transfer material may be used in
the invention. More specifically, the preferred dry
release transfer materials of the present invention do
not contain a water soluble material for wet release.
Canon creative products T-Shirt Transfers TR-101
may be used. Other suitable transfer materials include
those described in U.S. Patent Nor. 4,773,95 and
4,980,224 including a transfer sheet known: as
"TRANSEEZEE" (trademark of Kimberly-Clark Corporation,
Irving, Texas) manufactured by Kimberly-Clark Corporation
or any other commercially available transfer sheet which
has a substrate with a coating which is transferable to
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a receptor sheet upon the application of heat or
pressure to the back of the substrate, and that is
coated with, for instance, Singapore Dammar Resin. The
image-receptive heat transfer papers of U.S. Patent Nos.
5,501,902, 5,271,990, and 5,242,739 may also be used.
These papers generally have at least one film layer
comprised of a thermoplastic polymer on a support.
Also, Cycolor transfer materials as disclosed U.S.
Patent Nos. 5,139,917 and 5,236,801 and Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/030,933 filed November 15,
1996, entitled "Imaging Transfer System and Process for
Transferring Image and Non-Image Areas Thereof to
Receptor Element" to Donald S. Hare may be used, or
silver halide transfer materials as disclosed in
copending applications U.S. Serial Nos. 08/659,700 and
08/479,409 and Provisional Application Serial No.
60/029,917 filed November 4, 1996, entitled "Silver
Halide Photographic Material and Method of Applying a
Photographic Image to a Receptor Element" to Donald S.
Hare and Scott A. Williams may be used. Common among
all of these transfer materials is a carrier material
which is capable of both dry release and adhesion.
Suitable dry release transfer materials may
comprise (i) any known suitable support in the field of
transfer materials (i.e. paper, plastic coated papers,
PET resins, etc.), and (ii) coated on the support a
release/transfer material (e. g. carrier) that is capable
of receiving an image thereon (i.e. via photocopying or
printing) such as Singapore Dammar resin, Batavia Dammar
resin, accroide (yucca) resin, East India resins, Kauri
resins, Manila resins, pontianak, and acrylics.
The invention is preferably applicable to printers
or copiers that can handle a transfer sheet. That is,
the invention is applicable to use in, for instance, ink
jet printers and copiers, thermal wax ribbon printers
and copiers, laser toner copiers, Canon color laser
copiers, etc. Whenever the transfer is used and it is
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necessary to drive the transfer image into the valleys
of the receptor sheet, the process of the present
invention should be used. The process of the invention
fills the valleys of the receptor element, thereby
filling the voids left by the initial transfer. This
additional heating step prevents cracking of the
transferred image and improved launderability. By using
a second heat step with a second sheet (i.e.
commercially available silicone paper) that is generally
softer and less rigid than, for instance, the original
paper backing of the original transfer material, the
image is transferred into the receptor element (i.e.
textile) providing the final product with a more
compliant feel. The process of the invention should not
be used with copiers/printers that overheat the transfer
material (i.e. heating above the melting point of the
transfer carrier) during the imaging stage.
Another embodiment of the invention relates to cold
peel, as follows:
1. A base paper for the coatings.
2. The inside of the base paper, that which will
be in contact with the coatings, must be of an easy
release such as silicone. This will allow for easy
peeling of support sheet (i.e. silicone) from coatings
before ironing of transfer.
3. After the coatings, with support sheet have
passed through the copier, the silicone support is
peeled from the coatings.
4. The coatings, now appearing as a "film" rather
than a full bodied transfer, are placed into position
atop the fabric.
5. A silicone sheet is then placed directly over
the coatings (film).
6. Set the iron to "hottest" and press the
coatings, protected by the silicone sheet, into the
fabric. The "ironer" can press as firmly and for as
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long as he/she chooses, in each position. Recommend 20
seconds at each of 8 positions.
7. After last position has been pressed, one or
two passes should be made over the entire surface to
press down the areas in the surface of the iron where
the steam holes are located.
An easy and complete peel of paper will result.
The cause for the ease and totality of the paper
release is the result of the coatings first having been
removed from the support sheet which had to have been
thicker, more steady, and a restriction of heat
permeability to carry the coatings then the printing
process.
Once the coatings were removed from this support
sheet, a silicone (thin sheet placed over this film),
one could iron for a full 20 seconds, (or longer if
needed), the surface circled with the iron after the
pressing. It makes no difference if the first positions
have cooled, because it is desirable for the entire
surface to cool. The silicone sheet, used to protect
coatings from surface of iron, release easily and
completely from coatings when cold. This is in contrast
from transfers in existence today which must be peeled
hot. This is impossible to do with a hand iron because
first positions of iron will have cooled by time last
position has been pressed.
Methods of transferring an image to a receptor
element are also disclosed in the above-mentioned
patents. That is, the transfer materials per se
utilized in the present invention are known in the art,
as are methods for transferring the images to the
receptor element using a single heat transfer step.
The amount of time needed to press the non-stick,
non-tacky sheet with a hand iron in order to press the
transfer coating into valleys of the receptor element
varies depending on the success of the initial transfer
and the temperature of the iron. The amount of time for
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19
repress is that which is necessary to drive the coating
into the receptor element or alternatively to condense
the fibers to restore color vibrancy. For example, the
time that the iron is placed over a specific area that
the iron covers may be anywhere from 5 seconds to 90
seconds, preferably from 8 seconds to 60 seconds, and
more preferably from 15 to 30 seconds per position. The
iron may be repositioned in consecutive order until the
area that the transfer covers has been pressed in its
entirety.
The invention is applicable to the following
transfer materials. However, the invention is not
limited to the following transfer materials.
IMAGE RECEPTIVE HEAT TRANSFER PAPERS OF U.S. PATENT NO.
5,271,990
The process of the present invention is further
applicable to the image receptive heat transfer
materials of U.S. Patent No. 5,271,990. For instance,
the present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) placing an image on an image-receptive heat
transfer material (i.e., by thermal ribbon printers,
impact ribbon printers, dot matrix printers, crayons,
printing or copying with a photocopier) which comprises
a flexible cellulosic nonwoven web base sheet
having top and bottom surfaces,
an image-receptive melt-transfer film layer
overlaying the top surface of said base sheet, which
image-receptive melt-transfer film layer is comprised of
a thermoplastic polymer selected from the group
consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, and ethylene-
vinyl acetate copolymers and which melts in the range of
from about 65 to about 180 degrees Celsius, in which the
exposed surface of said image-receptive melt-transfer
layer has a smoothness value, independent of the
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smoothness of the base sheet, of at least about 10
cc/minute as measured by a Sheffield Smoothness Tester,
(b) positioning the top or front surface of the
transfer material having the image thereon against a
5 receptor element,
(c) applying heat to the rear or bottom surface of
the transfer material having the image thereon to
transfer the image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
10 (d) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
15 (f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
20 element which comprises the steps of:
(a) placing an image on an image-receptive heat
transfer material (e. g. by thermal ribbon printers,
impact ribbon printers, laser printers, dot matrix
printers, crayons, or copying with a photocopier), which
comprises:
a flexible cellulosic nonwoven web base sheet
having top and bottom surfaces,
a melt extruded, melt-transfer film layer
overlaying the top surface of said base sheet, which
melt transfer film layer is comprised of a first
thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting
of polyolefins, polyesters, and ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymers, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, and
ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers and which melts in the
range of from about 65 to about 180 degrees Celsius, and
a melt-extruded, image receptive film layer
overlaying said melt-transfer layer, which image
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receptive film layer is comprised of a second
thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting
of polyolefins, polyesters, and ethylene-vinyl acetate
copolymers and which melts in the range of from about 65
to about 180 degrees Celsius, in which the exposed
surface of said image-receptive film layer has a
smoothness value, independent of the smoothness of the
base sheet, of at least about 10 cc/minute as measured
by a Sheffield Smoothness Tester,
(b) positioning the top or front surface of the
transfer material having the image thereon against a
receptor element,
(c) applying heat to the rear or bottom surface of
the transfer material having the image thereon to
transfer the image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(d) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
IMAGE RECEPTIVE HEAT TRANSFER PAPERS OF U.S. PATENT NO.
5,242,739
The process of the present invention is further
applicable to the image receptive heat transfer
materials of U.S. Patent No. 5,242,739. For instance,
the present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) placing an image on an image-receptive heat
transfer material (e. g. by thermal ribbon printers,
impact ribbon printers, laser printers, dot matrix
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22
printers, crayons, or copying with a photocopier), which
comprises:
a flexible cellulosic nonwoven web base sheet
having top and bottom surfaces,
an image-receptive melt-transfer film layer
overlaying the top surface of said base sheet, which
image-receptive melt-transfer film layer comprises about
to about 80 percent by weight of a film-forming
binder selected from the group consisting of ethylene-
10 acrylic acid copolymers, polyolefins, and waxes and from
about 85 to about 20 percent by weight of a powdered
thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting
of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, waxes, epoxy
polymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, and
15 ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein each of said
film-forming binder and said powdered thermoplastic
polymer melts in the range of from about 65°C to about
180 degrees Celsius and said powdered thermoplastic
polymer consists of particles which are from about 2 to
about 50 micrometers in diameter,
(b) positioning the top or front surface of the
transfer material having the image thereon against a
receptor element,
(c) applying heat to the rear or bottom surface of
the transfer material having the image thereon to
transfer the image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(d) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
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The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) placing an image on an image-receptive heat
transfer paper (e. g. by thermal ribbon printers, impact
ribbon printers, laser printers, dot matrix printers,
crayons, or copying with a photocopier), which
comprises:
a flexible cellulosic nonwoven web base sheet
having top and bottom surfaces,
a melt transfer film layer overlaying the top
surface of said base sheet, which melt transfer film
layer comprises a film forming binder selected from the
group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers,
polyolefins, and waxes and which melts in the range of
from about,65 to about 180 degrees Celsius, and
an image-receptive film layer overlaying said melt-
transfer film layer, which image-receptive film layer
comprises about 15 to about 80 percent by weight of a
film-forming binder selected from the group consisting
of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyolefins, and
waxes and from about 85 to about 20 percent by weight of
a powdered thermoplastic polymer selected from the group
consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides,
waxes, epoxy polymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers,
and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein each of
said film-forming binder and said powdered thermoplastic
polymer melts in the range of from about 65°C to about
180 degrees Celsius and said powdered thermoplastic
polymer consists of particles which are from about 2 to
about 50 micrometers in diameter,
(b) positioning the top or front surface of the
transfer material having the image thereon against a
receptor element,
(c) applying heat to the rear or bottom surface of
the transfer material having the image thereon to
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24
transfer the image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(d) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e.g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged fabric, and
(f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
IMAGE RECEPTIVE HEAT TRANSFER PAPERS OF U.S. PATENT N0.
5,501,902
The process of the present invention is further
applicable to the image receptive heat transfer
materials of U.S. Patent No. 5,501,902. For instance,
the present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) placing an image on an image-receptive heat
transfer material having first and second surfaces (e.g.
by laser printers, ink jet printers, dot-matrix
printers, silk screening, direct and offset gravure
printers, and photocopying), which comprises:
a first layer defining the first surface, said
first layer having a front and rear surface, and
a second layer defining the second surface, which
layer comprises particles of a thermoplastic polymer
having largest dimensions of less than about 50
micrometers, from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of
a film-forming binder, based on the weight of the
thermoplastic polymer, and from about 0.2 to about 10
weight percent of an ink viscosity modifier, based on
the weight of the thermoplastic polymer,
(b) positioning the second layer of the transfer
material having the image thereon against a receptor
element,
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(c) applying heat to a rear surface of the
transfer material having the image thereon to transfer
the image and non-image area to the receptor element,
(d) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
5 receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
10 sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
15 (a) placing an image on an image-receptive heat
transfer material having a front and rear surface (e. g.
by laser printers, ink jet printers, dot-matrix
printers, silk screening, direct and offset gravure
printers, and photocopying), which comprises:
20 a first layer having first and second surfaces and
selected from the group consisting of films and
cellulosic nonwoven webs; and
a second layer which is receptive to ink jet ink
overlaying the first surface of the first layer, which
25 second layer melts from about 65 to about 180°C and
comprises particles of a thermoplastic polymer having
largest dimensions of less than about 50 micrometers,
from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of a film-
forming binder, based on the thermoplastic polymer, and
from about 2 to about 20 weight percent of a cationic
polymer, based on the weight of the thermoplastic
polymer,
(b) positioning the second layer of the transfer
material having the image thereon against a receptor
element,
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26
(c) applying heat to the rear surface of the
transfer material having the image thereon to transfer
the image and non-image area to the receptor element,
(d) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) placing an image on an image-receptive heat
transfer material having a front and rear surface (e. g.
by laser printers, ink jet printers, dot-matrix
printers, silk screening, direct and offset gravure
printers, and photocopying), which comprises:
a first layer having first and second surfaces and
selected from the group consisting of films and
cellulosic nonwoven webs; and
a third layer overlaying the first surface of the
first layer; and
a second layer which is receptive to ink jet ink
overlaying the second layer, which second layer melts
from about 65 to about 180°C and comprises particles of
a thermoplastic polymer having largest dimensions of
less than about 50 micrometers, from about 10 to about
50 weight percent of a film-forming binder, based on the
thermoplastic polymer, and from about 2 to about 20
weight percent of a cationic polymer, based on the
weight of the thermoplastic polymer,
(b) positioning the second layer of the transfer
material having the image thereon against a receptor
element,
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27
(c) applying heat to the rear surface of the
transfer material having the image thereon to transfer
the image and non-image area to the receptor element,
(d) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
CYCOLOR TRANSFER MATERIALS
The process of the invention is applicable to
Cycolor transfer materials of U. S . Patent Nos . 5 , 13 9 , 917
and 5,236,801.
A representative imaging sheet that may be used in
the invention is the imaging sheet of U.S. Patent No.
5, 139, 917. This imaging sheet is set forth in FIG. 1
and is generally represented by reference numeral 10.
The imaging sheet 10 includes a support 12 having a
transfer coating layer 120 and a photosensitive layer 14
on one surface thereof. The layer 14 includes
photosensitive microcapsules 16 and a developer resin
(e. g., phenolic) 18. The microcapsules 16 and developer
resin 18 do not need to be coated in the same layer, but
can be coated in contiguous layers with the
microcapsules underlying or overlying a layer of the
developer resin. The support 12 may be a polymeric
film. If the support 12 is transparent, the imaging
sheet can be exposed from either surface. The developer
layer 18 is not necessarily a film but may consist of
finely divided dispersion particles. Similarly,
developer layer 18 is not necessarily contiguous but may
be interrupted by pores or capillaries.
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28
Accordingly, the present invention also relates to
a method of transferring image and non-image areas to a
receptor element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise an imaging system, which
comprises:
a support having a front and rear surface,
a transfer coating on said front surface of the
support comprising a material capable of holding
developed image and non-image areas that can be
transferred to a receptor surface upon the application
of heat to the rear surface of the support, said
transfer coating layer capable of stripping from said
front surface of the support and adhering to said
receptor surface by liquefying and releasing from said
support when heated and resolidifying within and around
fibers of said receptor surface when heat is removed,
said resolidified liquid seals the transferred image and
non-image areas to the receptor surface rendering the
transferred image washproof or wash resistant, and
20 a layer of microcapsules on said transfer coating,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
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(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet .
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise an imaging system,
comprising (i) an imaging sheet and developer material
carried on said imaging sheet, or (ii) an imaging sheet
and a developer carried on a separate developer sheet,
the imaging sheet having a layer of an encapsulated
radiation curable photosensitive composition, said
imaging system capable of forming images by image-wise
exposing said imaging sheet to radiation actinic with
respect to said photosensitive composition, and
rupturing or dissolving capsules in the presence of said
developer material to form an image, wherein a transfer
coating on a front surface of a support of the imaging
sheet, developer sheet or both comprising a material
capable of holding developed image and non-image areas
that can be transferred to a receptor surface upon the
application of heat to the rear surface of the support,
said transfer coating layer capable of stripping from
said front surface of the support and adhering to said
receptor surface by liquefying and releasing from said
support when heated and resolidifying within and around
ffibers of said receptor surface when heat is removed,
said resolidified liquid coating seals the transferred
image and non-image areas to the receptor surface
rendering the transferred image washproof or wash
resistant,
(b) developing the 7Tf1ac7P-w; ca a~rr,r,~o,a o, ~",."....~ ~
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
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element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention, and
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
5 developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
10 (e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
I5 The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise a transfer imaging system
in which images are formed by image-wise reaction of one
20 or more chromogenic materials and a developer, said
system comprising,
an imaging sheet comprising a first substrate,
a radiation curable composition which undergoes an
increase in viscosity upon exposure to actinic
25 radiation,
a coating on one surface of said first substrate
comprising said chromogenic material and said radiation
curable composition,
said radiation curable composition being
30 encapsulated in rupturable capsules as an internal
phase, and
a developer sheet comprising a second substrate
having a front and rear surface,
a transfer coating on said front surface of the
second substrate comprising a material capable of
holding developed image and non-image areas that can be
transferred to a receptor surface upon the application
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of heat to the rear surface of the- support, said
transfer coating layer capable of stripping from said
front surface of the support and adhering to said
receptor surface by liquefying and releasing from said
support when heated and resolidifying within and around
fibers of said receptor surface when heat is removed,
said resolidified liquid coating seals the transferred
image and non-image areas to the receptor surface
rendering the transferred image washproof or wash
resistant, and
a developer material on said transfer coating
capable of reacting with said chromogenic material to
form an image on the surface of said second substrate,
wherein images are formed by image-wise exposing
said coating to actinic radiation, and rupturing
capsules in the image areas with said coating in facial
contact with said developer sheet such that said
internal phase is image-wise released from said ruptured
capsules and there is image-wise transfer of said
chromogenic material to said developer sheet and a
patterned image-forming reaction occurs between said
chromogenic material and said developer material,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
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(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet .
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise a transfer imaging system
in which images are formed by image-wise reaction of one
or more chromogenic materials and a developer, said
system comprising,
an imaging sheet comprising a first substrate,
a chromogenic material,
a photodepolymerizable composition which undergoes
a decrease in viscosity upon exposure to actinic
radiation,
a coating on one surface of said first substrate
comprising said chromogenic material and said
photodepolymerizable composition,
said photodepolymerizable composition being
encapsulated in rupturable capsules as an internal
phase, and
a developer sheet comprising a second substrate
having a front and rear surface,
a transfer coating on said front surface of the
second substrate comprising a material capable of
holding developed image and non-image areas that can be
transferred to a receptor surface upon the application
of heat to the rear surface of the support, said
transfer coating layer capable of stripping from said
front surface of the support and adhering to said
receptor surface by liquefying and releasing from said
support when heated and resolidifying within and around
fibers of said receptor surface when heat is removed,
said resolidified liquid coating seals the transferred
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image and non-image areas to the receptor surface
rendering the transferred image washproof or wash
resistant, and
a developer material on said transfer coating
capable of reacting with said chromogenic material to
form an image on the surface of said second substrate,
wherein images are formed by image-wise exposing
said coating to actinic radiation, and rupturing
capsules in the image areas with said coating in facial
contact with said developer sheet such that said
internal phase is image-wise released from said ruptured
capsules and there is image-wise transfer of said
chromogenic material to said developer sheet and a
patterned image-forming reaction occurs between said
chromogenic material and said developer material,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet .
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
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(a) exposing image-wise an imaging material
comprising a support having a front and rear surface, a
transfer coating on said front surface of the support
comprising a material capable of holding developed image
and non-image areas that can be transferred to a
receptor surface upon the application of heat to the
rear surface of the support, said transfer coating layer
capable of stripping from said front surface of the
support and adhering to said receptor surface by
liquefying and releasing from said support when heated
and resolidifying within and around fibers of said
receptor surface when heat is removed, said resolidified
liquid coating seals the transferred image and non-image
areas to the receptor surface rendering the transferred
image washproof or wash resistant, and a layer of
photosensitive microparticles on one surface of said
support, said microparticles including an image-forming
agent and a photosensitive composition containing a
polymer which is capable of undergoing cationically
initiated depolymerization and photoinitiator including
a silver halide and an organo silver salt, wherein,
after exposing said microparticle to radiation, said
microparticles, directly or with additional processing,
release said image-forming agent or become permeable to
a developer which reacts with said image-forming agent
to form a visible image,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
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(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
5 element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method of
10 transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps af:
(a) exposing image-wise a color imaging system
comprising:
an imaging sheet having a front and rear surface,
15 a transfer coating on said front surface of the
imaging sheet comprising a material capable of holding
developed image and non-image areas that can be
transferred to a receptor surface upon the application
of heat to the rear surface of the imaging sheet, said
20 transfer coating layer capable of stripping from said
front surface of the support and adhering to said
receptor surface by liquefying and releasing from said
support when heated and resolidifying within and around
fibers of said receptor surface when heat is removed,
25 said resolidified liquid coating seals the transferred
image and non-image areas to the receptor surface
rendering the transferred image washproof or wash
resistant, and dry developer material carried on said
imaging sheet, or
30 an imaging sheet, a separate image receiving
developer sheet having a front and rear surface and
having said transfer coating and a dry developer
material on said front surface,
said imaging sheet having on one surface thereof a
35 coating and a dry developer material on said front
surface,
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36
said imaging sheet having on one surface thereof a
coating comprising a cyan color precursor,
a radiation curable photosensitive composition
associated with said cyan color precursor,
a magenta color precursor,
a radiation curable photosensitive composition
associated with said magenta color precursor,
a yellow color precursor, and
a radiation curable photosensitive composition
associated with said yellow color precursor,
said radiation curable photosensitive compositions
having distinct sensitivities and being encapsulated in
pressure rupturable capsules as an internal phase,
said capsules having discrete capsule walls,
said cyan, magenta and yellow color precursors
being soluble in said associated photosensitive
compositions or solvents for said color precursors being
encapsulated with said associated photosensitive
compositions and
said color precursors being present in said
capsules with said photosensitive compositions or in
said discrete walls;
said imaging system being capable of forming images
by image-wise exposing said imaging sheet to radiation
actinic with respect to said photosensitive
compositions, and rupturing at least said capsules
containing photosensitive compositions unexposed by said
actinic radiation in the presence of said developer
material to form an image by reaction of said color
precursors with said developer material,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
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(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
sheet such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet .
The process of the invention is applicable to
Cycolor transfer material of Provisional Application No.
60/030,933, filed on November 15, 1996, entitled
"Imaging Transfer System and Process for Transferring
Image and Non-Image Areas Thereof to a Receptor
Element," to Donald S. Hare. The present invention thus
also relates to a method of transferring image and non-
image areas to a receptor element which comprises the
steps of
(a) exposing image-wise an imaging system, which
comprises:
a support having a front and rear surface,
at least one layer of microcapsules or at least one
layer of microcapsules and developer in the same layer
or at least one layer of microcapsules and developer in
separate layers, on said front surface of the support,
wherein the microcapsules or developer or microcapsules
and developer are dispersed in a carrier which is
capable of transferring and adhering developed image and
non-image areas from said front surface of said support
upon the application of heat energy to the rear surface
of the support, said carrier strips from said front
surface of the support by liquefying and releasing from
said support when heated, said liquefied carrier
providing adherence to a receptor element by flowing
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onto said receptor element and solidifying thereon, said
adherence does not require an external adhesive layer,
with the proviso that the carrier is not capable of
reacting to form an image, and when the microcapsules
are present together in the same layer as the carrier,
the carrier has a particle size which is the same as or
smaller than that of the microcapsules, and
an optional protective layer of clear
thermoplastic,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f ) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise an imaging system, which
comprises:
a support having a front and rear surface,
at least one layer of microcapsules on said front
surface of the support, wherein the microcapsules are
dispersed in a carrier which is capable of transferring
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and adhering developed image and non-image areas from
said front surface of said support upon the application
of heat energy to the rear surface of the support, said
carrier strips from said front surface of the support by
liquefying and releasing from said support when heated,
said liquefied carrier providing adherence to a receptor
element by flowing onto said receptor element and
solidifying thereon, said adherence does not require an
external adhesive layer, with the proviso that the
carrier is not capable of reacting to form an image, and
when the microcapsules are present together in the same
layer as the carrier, the carrier has a particle size
which is the same as or smaller than that of the
microcapsules, and
an optional protective layer of clear
thermoplastic,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the non-stick or tack-free overlay
sheet (e.g. silicone sheet) by hand ironing to drive the
coating into the fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
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The present' invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise an imaging system, which
5 comprises:
a support having a front and rear surface,
at least one layer of microcapsules and developer
in the same layer on said front surface of the support,
wherein the microcapsules and developer are dispersed in
10 a carrier which is capable of transferring and adhering
developed image and non-image areas from said front
surface of said support upon the application of heat
energy to the rear surface of the support, said carrier
strips from said front surface of the support by
15 liquefying and releasing from said support when heated,
said liquefied carrier providing adherence to a receptor
element by flowing onto said receptor element and
solidifying thereon, said adherence does not require an
external adhesive layer, with the proviso that the
20 carrier is not capable of reacting to form an image, and
when the microcapsules are present together in the same
layer as the carrier, the carrier has a particle size
which is the same or smaller than that of the
microcapsules,
25 an optional protective layer of clear
thermoplastic,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
30 element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
35 developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
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(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise an imaging system
comprising (i) an imaging sheet and developer material
carried on said imaging sheet, or (ii) an imaging sheet
and a developer carried on a separate developer sheet,
the imaging sheet having a layer of an encapsulated
radiation curable photosensitive composition, said
imaging system capable of forming images by image-wise
exposing said imaging sheet to radiation actinic with
respect to said photosensitive composition, and
rupturing or dissolving capsules in the presence of said
developer material to form an image, wherein at least
one layer of microcapsules or at least one layer of
microcapsules and developer in the same layer, or at
least one layer of microcapsules and developer in
separate layers, on said front surface of the support,
wherein the microcapsules or developer or microcapsules
and developer are dispersed in a carrier which is
capable of transferring and adhering developed image and
non-image areas from said front surface of said support
upon the application of heat energy to the rear surface
of the support, said carrier strips from said front
surface of the support by liquefying and releasing from
said support when heated, said liquefied carrier
providing adherence to a receptor element by flowing
onto said receptor element and solidifying thereon, said
adherence does not require an external adhesive layer,
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with the proviso that the carrier is -not capable of
reacting to form an image, and when the microcapsules
are present together in the same layer as the carrier,
the carrier has a particle size which is the same as or
smaller than that of the microcapsules,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(g) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention also relates to a method of
transferring image and non-image areas to a receptor
element which comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing image-wise an imaging material
comprising a support having a front and rear surface,
and a layer of photosensitive microparticles on one
surface of said support, wherein the microparticles are
dispersed in a carrier which is capable of transferring
and adhering developed image and non-image areas from
said front surface of said support upon the application
of heat energy to the rear surface of the support, said
carrier strips from said front surface of the support by
liquefying and releasing from said support when heated,
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said liquefied carrier providing adherence to a receptor
element by flowing onto said receptor element and
solidifying thereon, said adherence does not require an
external adhesive layer, with the proviso that the
carrier is not capable of reacting to form an image, and
when the microcapsules are present together in the same
layer as the carrier, the carrier has a particle size
which is the same as or smaller than that of the
microcapsules, said microparticles including an image-
forming agent and a photosensitive composition
containing a polymer which is capable of undergoing
cationically-initiated depolymerization and
photoinitiator including a silver halide and an organo
silver salt, wherein, after exposing said microparticle
to radiation, said microparticles, directly or with
additional processing, release said image-forming agent
or become permeable to a developer which reacts with
said image-forming agent to form a visible image,
(b) developing the image-wise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of the developed
element or positioning the undeveloped element prior to
development against a receptor element, said developed
element or undeveloped element containing the transfer
layer of the invention,
(d) applying heat to the rear surface of the
developed or undeveloped element to transfer the
developed image and non-image area to the receptor
element,
(e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e.g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged fabric, and
(g) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
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The imaged transfer material also encompasses the
imaged developer or receiver sheet as defined in U.S.
Patent No. 5,236,801 and the above-mentioned Provisional
Application to Donald S. Hare filed on November 15,
1996. The present invention also relates to a method
of applying an image to a receptor element, which
comprises the steps of:
(a) exposing imagewise an imaging system which
comprises, a support having a front and rear surface, at
least one layer of (e. g. photosensitive or thermal
sensitive) microcapsules, or at least one layer of (e. g.
photosensitive or thermal-sensitive) microcapsules and
developer in the same layer, or at least one layer of
(e. g. photosensitive or thermal-sensitive) microcapsules
and developer in separate layers, on said front surface
of the support, wherein said microcapsules, or developer
or both are dispersed in the carrier of the invention,
said carrier preferably having a melting point of at
least 100°C, and which is capable of transferring and
adhering developed image and non-image areas from said
front surface of said support upon the application of
heat energy to the rear surface of the support, said
carrier strips from said front surface of the support by
liquefying and releasing from said support when heated,
said liquefied carrier providing adherence to a receptor
element by flowing onto said receptor element and
solidifying thereon, said adherence does not require an
external (e. g. surface) adhesive layer and preferably
occurs in an area at least coextensive with the area of
said microcapsules, with the proviso that the carrier is
not capable of reacting (e.g. with a color precursor) to
form an image, and an optional layer of clear
thermoplastic material (i.e. preferably, the particle
size of the carrier is the same as or smaller than that
of the microcapsules, for example, from 1-20
micrometers),
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(b) developing the imagewise exposed element to
form an image,
(c) positioning the front surface of said
developed element (or positioning the undeveloped
5 element prior to development) against said receptor
element,
(d) applying energy (e.g heat) to the rear surface
of the element to transfer the developed image and
nonimage area to said receptor element,
10 (e) peeling away the support to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(f) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
15 (g) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
TRANSFER MATERIAL CONTAINING ENERGY SENSITIVE RESIN OF
U.S. PATENT 4,980,224
20 The invention is further applicable to the transfer
sheet of U.S. Patent 4,980,224. Thus, the present
invention further relates to a method of applying an
image to a receptor element, which comprises the steps
of
25 (a) generating an image on an obverse surface of
a transfer sheet, said transfer sheet including a
substrate, a first coating on said substrate of material
transferable from said substrate to a receptor surface
by the application of heat or pressure thereto, and a
30 second coating on said first coating, said second
coating consisting essentially of a mixture of Singapore
Dammar resin and abrasive particles to form an abrasive
surface for increasing the receptivity of the transfer
sheet;
35 (b) positioning that obverse surface of said
transfer sheet against said receptor element,
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(c) applying energy (e.g. heat and/or pressure) to
the rear of said transfer sheet to transfer said image
to said receptor element,
(d) peeling away the substrate to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The present invention further relates to a method
of applying an image to a receptor element, which
comprises the steps of:
(a) generating an image on an obverse surface of
a transfer sheet, said transfer sheet including a
substrate, a first coating on said substrate of material
transferable from said substrate to a receptor surface
by the application of heat or pressure thereto, and a
second coating on said first coating, said second
coating consisting essentially of a mixture of resin and
sugar granules to form an abrasive surface for
increasing the receptivity of the transfer sheet;
(b) positioning that obverse surface of said
transfer sheet against said receptor element,
(c) applying energy (e.g. heat and/or pressure) to
the rear of said transfer sheet to transfer said image
to said receptor element,
(d) peeling away the substrate to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(e) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e.g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged fabric, and
(f) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
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TRANSFER MATERIAL CONTAINING ENERGY SENSITIVE RESIN OF
U.S. PATENT 4,966,815
The invention is further applicable to the transfer
sheet of U.S. Patent 4,966,815. Thus, the present
invention further relates to a method of applying an
image to a receptor element, which comprises the steps
of
(a) electronically generating an image,
(b) electronically transferring said image to a
printer,
(c) printing said image with the aid of said
printer on an obverse surface of a transfer sheet, said
transfer sheet including a substrate with a first
coating thereon transferable therefrom to said fabric by
the application of heat or pressure thereto, and a
second coating on said first coating, said second
coating defining said obverse face and comprising
Singapore Dammar resin;
(d) positioning that obverse surface of said
transfer sheet against said receptor element,
(e) applying energy (e.g. heat and/or pressure) to
the rear of said transfer sheet to transfer said image
to said receptor element,
(f) peeling away the substrate to obtain an imaged
receptor element such as a fabric,
(g) placing a non-stick or tack-free overlay sheet
(e. g. thin silicone sheet) over the imaged receptor
element such as a fabric, and
(h) pressing the overlay sheet (e. g. silicone
sheet) by hand ironing to drive the coating into the
fabric and removing the overlay sheet.
The benefits of the present invention are
applicable to laser, black and white, and color copiers
and printers as well as other copiers and printers such
as ink jet.
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The following examples are provided for a further
understanding of the invention, however, the invention
is not to be construed as being limited thereto.
COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE
The following instructions are taken directly from
the instructions using Canon T-Shirt Transfers TR-101.
Items required:
-Canon T-shirt Transfer paper TR-101
-Canon Color Bubble Jet BJC-4000 series or BJC-600
series printer.
-Cotton or cotton-poly blend garment or fabric.
Light colors work best.
-Household hand iron.
-Pillow case.
-Ironing Surface- use on formica or glass surface
only. Do not use ironing board. Be sure that the
ironing surface is smooth and free of any imperfections
(scratches, dents, etc) as it will affect the transfer.
Printing the transfer:
-Insert one transfer sheet into printer with the
blank side face up. Do not insert more than one
transfer sheet into printer at a time. If lead edge is
curled, straighten before feeding.
-Set the paper selection lever to the back
position.
-Use any application to create the image.
-Before printing the image, make sure that "Media
Options" setting in the printer driver has been set to
"Back Print Film". This setting will print the image in
reverse on the transfer media so that it will appear
correctly when it is ironed on.
Preparing the transfer:
-For best results cut away the unprinted portion of
the transfer, coming as close to the printed area as
possible. If an unprinted portion of the transfer is
applied to the fabric it will cause the fabric to become
stiff .
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49
Ironing Instructions:
The following numbered steps correspond to the
steps in the directions in Canon T-Shirt Transfers TR-
101 (copyright 1995); CST-4051-002.
1. Pre-heat iron on "highest" setting for 8
minutes.
2. Place the pillowcase, with the seam overhanging
the edge, on the ironing surface.
3. Fold the pillowcase in half, with the seam
still hanging over the edge of the ironing surface.
4. Place the garment onto the wrinkle-free
pillowcase centering the area of the garment which will
receive the printed transfer over the pillowcase. Be
sure garment is wrinkle-free.
5. Center transfer, printed side down onto the
garment (making certain the entire transfer is over the
pillowcase).
-Before ironing, make a small fold in lower left
corner of transfer. Only 1/4" fold is necessary. Do not
fold beyond the edge of printed area underneath. This
fold will provide a good grip from which to peel the
transfer.
6. Place the iron over both edges of the transfer,
beginning in the upper left corner. The hand iron will
always be positioned point facing down for each step.
7. Starting from one edge, push iron slowly along
the long side of the transfer for at least 15 seconds
using firm body pressure while pressing down on iron.
Be certain iron overlaps all edges of transfer. While
pushing iron, count 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 up to 15,000.
This will take approximately 15 seconds.
8. Reposition iron over both edges of the transfer
beginning in the lower left corner.
9. Starting from one edge, push iron slowly along
long side of transfer for 15 seconds using firm body
pressure while pressing down iron. Be certain iron
overlaps all edges of transfer.
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10. Repeat Steps 6 through 9.
11. Immediately reheat entire surface by making 10
complete circles with iron over the transfer, being
absolutely certain that the flat bottom of the iron
5 covers the entire surface of the transfer paying special
attention to all edges and corners.
12. Immediately place iron aside, beginning with
folded-in corner, peel transfer from fabric using firm,
steady pressure. If transfer is difficult to peel from
10 shirt, do not fight it. Simply reheat that section of
transfer which does not release by making three light
circles, covering all edges and corners with flat part
of iron. Place iron down immediately and peel while
hot.
15 13. Gently smooth the fabric with your hands and
allow to cool for at least at 2 minutes.
INVENTIVE EXAMPLE 1
Repeat steps 1-12 of the comparative example.
After step 12 or optionally after step 13, place a
20 silicone sheet over the imaged fabric. Press the
silicone sheet by hand ironing at the highest setting on
the iron to drive the coating into the valleys of the
fabric by repeating steps 6-9 of the Comparative Example
(with the silicone sheet), except change the time from
25 15 to 30 seconds for each of steps 7 and 9.
INVENTIVE EXAMPLE 2
Referring to FIG. 2, the method of applying the
image and non-image areas to a receptor element will be
described. The imaging sheet 50 is prepared, exposed
30 and developed to form an image as in Example 1 of U.S.
Patent No. 5,139,917. A receptor element (e.g., tee
shirt 62) is laid flat as illustrated, on an appropriate
support surface, and the front surface of the imaging
sheet 50 is positioned on the tee-shirt. An iron 64 is
35 run and pressed across the back 52A of the imaging
sheet. The image and non-image areas are transferred to
the tee-shirt and the support is removed and discarded.
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Place a silicone sheet over the imaged~fabric. Press
- the silicone sheet by hand ironing at the highest
setting on the iron to drive the coating ,into the
valleys~'~of the fabric by repeating steps 6-9 of the
Comparative Example (with the silicone sheet), except
change the time from 15 to 30 seconds for each of steps
7 and 9.
The invention being thus described, it will be
obvious~that the same may be varied in many ways. Such
variations are not, to be regarded as a departure from
the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all
such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of
the following claims.
