Imperial Chemical Industries Limited

Kenneth West Hutt

Ian Richard Stephenson

Richard A Hann

Ha Cong Tran

Laurence John Robinson

Alan John Harry

Dafydd G Davies

Paul David Pester

Dye diffusion thermal transfer printing

Laser dye thermal transfer printing

Data-recordal using fibre lasers

Printing methods and apparatus for thermal transferring dye from a dye donor to a dye receiver wherein electromagnetic radiation such as a laser beam is applied through the dye receiver to effect dye transfer. Either or both of the dye donor and the dye receiver used with such printing methods and apparatus can be in the form of individual sheets or continuous ribbons and may be either stationary or moving. In various embodiments, the dye receiver is held between a convex surface of a rigid support plate and the dye donor during thermal transfer of dye. A variety of methods and devices for providing electromagnetic radiation and for transporting dye donors and dye receivers during printing are also disclosed.

Printing method and apparatus

35mm format transparencies

A dyesheet for light-induced thermal transfer printing comprises a substrate having on one side a dyecoat comprising a first polymeric binder containing at least one thermal transfer dye dissolved or dispersed therein, and between the dyecoat and the substrate an absorber coat comprising a polymeric material through which the dye molecules diffuse less readily under printing conditions than they do through the dyecoat binder.

Thermal transfer printing dyesheet

A dye sheet for light induced thermal printing of images onto a transparent receiver sheet, with a reflective layer positioned such that laser light projected through the receiver sheet and not absorbed on the first pass through the dye sheet is reflected back so as to be absorbed on a second pass, is disclosed. An assembly for light induced thermal printing and a method of thermal printing are also disclosed.

Thermal transfer printing dye sheet

Thermal transfer printing receiver sheet and method

A dyesheet for light-induced thermal transfer printing comprises a substrate having on one side a dyecoat comprising a polymeric binder containing at least one thermal transfer dye dissolved or dispersed therein, an absorber coat of polymeric material comprising an absorber for the inducing light, and between the dyecoat and the absorber coat an interlayer of organic polymer through which the dye molecules diffuse less readily under printing conditions than they do through the dyecoat binder.

Growing community of inventors

Essex, United Kingdom

Kenneth West Hutt