Ncr Corporation

Frank J Kenny

Richard D Puckett

Michael A Lorenz

Thomas C Miller, Jr

Monica N Lewis

An ink composition suitable for use in ink jet printing comprising a coloring agent and carrier therefor which additionally contains a magneto-rheological fluid to control the viscosity and flow properties of the ink composition during use.

Jet ink with a magneto-rheological fluid

Thermal transfer ribbons that contain mixtures of carbon black and/or other non-melting solids within the thermal transfer layer provide high density images and reduced melt viscosities for the thermal transfer layer where the mixtures contain at least three different sized particles or mixtures of particles and each of the different sized particles comprise 20 to less than 80 volume % of the total volume of the overall particle mixture. Each of the different sized particles also have particle size values which differ from each by a factor of at least 1.5.

Thermal transfer media with a mixture of non-melting solid particles of distinct sizes

A security paper with a thermoshrinking polymer layer as a security feature wherein the layer of thermoshrinking polymer shrinks and distorts the security paper when heated, demonstrating its authenticity.

Security paper with shrinking polymer security feature

There is provided by the present invention a coating formulation and thermal transfer medium and printer which provide printed images in a range of colors by employing thermal dye systems in the thermal transfer layers that form the images. The thermal dye systems contain at least two reactive dyes which react at different temperatures, an activator for the reactive dyes and optionally, a sensitizer for the reactive dyes. The use of multiple reactive dyes enables a range of colors to be produced from one thermal transfer ribbon using either a multihead thermal printer or a single head thermal printer operating at different print head energies.

Thermal transfer ribbon with thermal dye color palette

There is provided by the present invention coating formulations and thermal transfer ribbons that form printed images which contain conductive polymers. These formulations and ribbons also employ wax, polymer resin, a sensible material and, optionally solvent. Printers which employ such thermal transfer ribbons are also provided.

Thermal transfer ribbon with conductive polymers

There is provided by the present invention a coating formulation for thermal transfer ribbons which employ active plasticizers that reduce the softening temperature of the ink layer and volatilize from the ink layer or react with components therein when heated during transfer to provide images with high scratch and smear resistance.

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Centerville, OH, United States of America

Frank J Kenny