Ncr Corporation

David J Rainbow

Richard D Puckett

There is provided by the present invention, a thermal transfer ribbon for printing directly on cartons without the use of labels and a method for using the same.

Receptive layer for thermal transfer printing on cartons

A thermal transfer medium with widely variable properties is obtained through the use of a thermosoftenable coating with regions or layers with distinct viscosity values and hot tack properties. The top surface of the coating has a high concentration of polymers obtained from selectively curable monomers and the bottom surface of the coating has a high concentration of uncured monomers which are selectively curable. The top surface of the coating provides high adhesion to a receiving substrate and the bottom surface of the coating provides reduced adhesion to the supporting substrate of the thermal transfer medium. This allows for rapid transfer and high adhesion to a receiving substrate. Selected thermal transfer media will form images on rough stock and/or will form images with high speed printers. Methods for preparing such thermal transfer media comprise forming a coating containing selectively curable monomers and/or oligomers on a flexible supporting substrate and curing a portion of selectively curable monomers at the top surface of the coating to form polymers, preferably by exposure to visible or UV light.

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Centerville, OH, United States of America

David J Rainbow