Sawgrass Systems, Inc.

Other

Kimberlee Thompson

Ming Xu

Barbara J Wagner

Xiaorong Cai

A color image is digitally printed onto an intermediate transfer medium. The image is subsequently transferred from the intermediate transfer medium to a final substrate, which may be a cellulosic textile, such as cotton. Bonding of the color images is provided by the reaction between compounds selected from each of two chemical groups contained in the intermediate transfer medium. The first groups comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, such as isocyanate or epoxy groups. The second group comprises compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen after a conversion process. The functional groups of one or both reactive chemical groups may be protected either by blocking with internal or external blocking agents or by a physical barrier such as encapsulating agents. The blocking agents are removed by the application of energy, such as heat, during the transfer of the image from the intermediate transfer medium to the final substrate. The intermediate transfer medium may be comprised of additional components which may be combined with either or both of the above two chemical groups, or applied as separate layers. Examples of such components are a thermally expandable material, an exothermic chemical, a release agent, and/or absorbent material. Transferred images so produced have a soft hand, particularly when applied to a textile, and excellent fade and abrasion resistance.

Intermediate transfer recording medium

A method of printing using an ink or meltable ink layer which comprises dyes, pigments or other colorants. Bonding and/or crosslinking of the colorants is provided by the reaction between compounds selected from each of two chemical groups. The first group comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen. The second group comprises compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen after a conversion process. Either the first group or the second group is present in the ink, and an image is printed with the ink onto a substrate. The substrate comprises either the first or second group, as appropriate, to set up a later reaction with the ink. The reaction is delayed until the image is subsequently transferred to another substrate or is permanently fixed on the substrate, by the presence of protecting or blocking agents, which are removed by the application of heat or other energy. Upon reaction, the colorant is bonded to the substrate.

Digital transfer printing process

A method of digitally printing reactive ink contained in a heat meltable ink layer comprising dyes or pigments or other colorants, using a thermal printer. The ink layer comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, and compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or functional groups capable of conversion to active hydrogen containing groups. The reactive ink contains one or more blocking agents which prevent initiation of the reaction during thermal printing. An image is thermally printed onto a substrate, at a first temperature, so that the ink is not reacted during the process of printing on to the medium. The image is subsequently transferred or permanently fixed on the substrate by the application of heat and pressure, which removes the blocking agent and reacts the ink, bonding the colorant to the substrate.

Digital thermal printing process using reactive ink

Substrate reactive printing process

A method of digitally printing a liquid ink by means of a printer which uses liquid ink such as an ink jet printer. The ink contains dyes or pigments or other colorants, a liquid carrier, and compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, and compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or functional groups capable of conversion to active hydrogen containing groups. One or more emulsifying agents emulsify the liquid ink. An image is printed onto a substrate, at a relatively low temperature, so that the ink is not activated during the process of printing on to the medium. The image is subsequently transferred or permanently fixed on the substrate by the application of heat and pressure, which activates the ink, and bonds the colorant to the substrate. The reactive compounds may be blocked with blocking agents which are removed by the application of heat or other energy during activation of the ink.

Ink jet printing process using reactive inks

A color image is printed onto a first substrate, which acts as an intermediate medium, using lithography, intaglio, gravure, relief printing or other printing process which uses plates. The image is subsequently transferred from the intermediate medium to a final substrate, which may be a textile of natural fabric, such as cotton. Bonding and/or crosslinking of the color images are provided by the reaction between compounds selected from each of two chemical groups. The first group comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, such as isocyanate or epoxy groups. The second group comprises compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen after a conversion process. The functional groups of one or both reactive chemical groups are protected either by chemical blocking with blocking agents or by physical barrier such as encapsulating agents. The blocking agents are removed by the application of heat during the transfer of the image from the first substrate to the final substrate.

Reactive ink printing process

A method of printing an ink or meltable ink layer which comprises dyes or pigments or other colorants. The ink or ink melt layer comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, and compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or functional groups capable of conversion to active hydrogen containing groups. An image is printed onto a substrate, at a relatively low temperature, so that the ink is not activated during the process of printing on to the medium. The image is subsequently transferred or permanently fixed on the substrate by the application of heat and pressure, which activates the ink, and bonds the colorant to the substrate. The reactive compounds may be blocked with blocking agents which are removed by the application of heat or other energy during activation of the ink.

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Mt. Pleasant, SC, United States of America

Kimberlee Thompson