International Business Machines Corporation

Jan-Pieter Hoekstra

Keith S Pennington

Bradford J Factor

Ali Afzali-Ardakani

Mukesh K Desai

An improved printing member for use in a system wherein a current source, in combination with a resistive ribbon, produces heating in selected areas of the ribbon for effecting the formation of a printing pattern on the printing member, which member is composed of a first layer, having a predetermined melting temperature, and a heat-conducting layer which adheres to the first layer below its predetermined melting temperature and which adheres to said resistive ribbon at temperatures above said predetermined melting temperature, such that, when the second layer is heated to a temperature level above the predetermined melting temperature in selected areas forming a pattern to be printed, the selected areas will adhere to the resistive ribbon and release from the first layer. Consequently, when the resistive ribbon is in contact with the heat-conductive layer while at a temperature level above the predetermined melting temperature of the first layer and is then drawn away from the heat-conductive layer, the selected areas will be removed from the heat-conductive layer forming the pattern to be printed therein.

Direct negative and offset master production using thermal liftoff

An improved apparatus and process are described in which metal images are transferred to a softenable receiving layer using commercially available multi-stylus recording heads. The transfer medium is comprised of a resistive layer and a thin metal layer thereon. Electrical currents are provided by the recording styli of the multi-stylus recording head. Localized electrical currents in the resistive layer provide sufficient heat in the metal layer to soften regions of a metable receiving layer when it is brought into contact with said heated metal layer. Metal imaging for use in printed circuit board manufacture and in formation of printing masters can be transferred by this technique.

Growing community of inventors

Carmel, NY, United States of America

Jan-Pieter Hoekstra