Avery Dennison Corporation

Shiaonung J Su

Ghanshyam H Popat

Frederick N Miekka

Omar S Attia

Andre M Saint

Brett Ulrich

Thomas Mammen

Robert Valadez

H Paul Barker

Raymond G Kubit

Yehuda Ozari

Fred N Miekka

Graham Yeadon

Gustav Allen Ray

Paul Keller

James P Akeley

Jessie C Reaves

Richard R Vargas

Henry Lum, Jr

Peter R Von Kleist

An image transfer assembly ( ) receives an image printed from an ink jet printer. The assembly ( ) provides a device to transfer the printed image onto an image-receiving surface. The assembly ( ) has a flexible substrate ( ) on one side, and an upper surface ( ) on the other side that is substantially permeable to ink jet printer ink and that is non-tacky prior to printing. The assembly ( ) has an adhesive or polymer layer ( ) in between the upper surface ( ) and the flexible substrate ( ). After printing with a water-based ink jet printer ink, the user may apply the assembly ( ) to a substrate, such as a window or other surface, and remove the flexible substrate ( ), thereby leaving the layer ( ) that bears the image on the substrate. In one of several alternative embodiments, the layer ( ) is divided into discrete zones that are separated from one another along boundaries.

Water-activated polymers and adhesive image transfer technique

A dissolvable pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided. The adhesive comprises an emulsion acrylic copolymer formed from a plurality of monomers comprising an alkyl (meth)acrylate, an N-vinyl lactam monomer, and at least one hydroxy (meth)acrylate ester, and preferably at least one modifying monomer. The copolymer is preferably blended with one or more post-additive to enhance its dissolvability. Preferably the copolymer has a weight average molecular weight less than about 120,000.

Water-soluble pressure-sensitive adhesives

A versatile method for the manufacturing of image transfer sheets which provide users with cold transferring images without using supplemental heat in the course of image transfer to a wide variety of substrates includes printing an image with water-based ink onto an image transfer sheet that has a coating of water-accepting adhesive. A method of manufacturing image transfer sheets includes first applying a water impermeable layer onto a flexible substrate. A layer of water-activatable adhesive is applied upon the water impermeable layer. The adhesive is then dried in a dryer with dehumidified air. A water permeable detack layer is then applied upon the layer of adhesive. In a particular embodiment, the sheet further includes a water-accepting image holding layer in between the water-accepting adhesive layer and the water impermeable layer. The image holding layer becomes water-resisting when heated to within a range of activation temperatures.

Image transfer sheets and a method of manufacturing the same

Water-activatable acrylic polymers and image transfer constructions made therewith are provided. The polymers are non-tacky to the touch when dry, but become tacky when activated by water, such as the water in the ink of an ink jet printer. The polymers are acrylic copolymers prepared by emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture that preferably includes at least one alkyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, methacrylic acid and acrylic acid. Image transfer sheets made with the water-activatable polymers include a flexible backing, at least one water-impermeable layer, at least one layer of water-activatable polymers, and a protective detack layer.

Water-activatable polymers for ink jet-imprintable constructions

A versatile method of cold transferring images without using supplemental heat in the course of image transfer to a wide variety of substrates includes printing an image with water-based ink onto an image transfer sheet that has a coating of water-accepting adhesive. The sheet is then applied to the substrate to transfer only the portions of the adhesive that bear the image onto the substrate, with the remainder of the adhesive remaining attached to the sheet. A method of manufacturing image transfer sheets includes first applying a water impermeable layer onto a flexible substrate. A layer of water-activatable adhesive is applied upon the water impermeable layer. The adhesive is then dried in a dryer with dehumidified air. A water permeable detack layer is then applied upon the layer of adhesive. A sheet for transferring an image that has been printed onto the sheet with a water-based ink has a flexible backing layer and one or more water-accepting layers with water activatable adhesive that are printed with a printing press and/or coated onto the flexible backing layer. A water-impermeable layer is disposed in between the adhesive and the backing layer. A detack layer may be applied onto the layer of adhesive. A water permeable colored, tinted, or reflective water-permeable layer may be between the detack layer and the water-accepting layer, or a colorant may be added to the detack layer. One embodiment includes a water-permeable layer of cross-linker in between the detack layer the water-accepting layer, wherein said water-accepting layer becomes water-resisting when water-based ink flows through said layer of cross-linker and into said water-accepting layer. In another embodiment, the water-accepting layer includes both adhesive and cross-linker, wherein the water-accepting layer is adapted to become water-resisting when the adhesive and the cross-linker react when the water-accepting layer is heated. In another embodiment, the sheet further includes a water-accepting image holding layer in between the water-accepting adhesive layer and the water impermeable layer. The image holding layer becomes water-resisting when heated to within a range of activation temperatures.

General purpose permanent, environmentally benign, pressure-sensitive adhesives and self-adhesive postage stamps and other laminate constructions are provided. In one embodiment, the PSA is an inherently, acrylic copolymer prepared by emulsion polymerization of 27 to 29% di-(2-ethylhexyl) maleate, 19 to 21% vinyl acetate, 40 to 43% ethylhexyl acrylate, 5 to 10% methyl methacrylate, 1% acrylic acid, and 1% methacrylic acid. Notably, no multifunctional monomers having a cyanurate or phosphate moiety are included in the polymer, and the polymer is substantially uncrosslinked.

Stamp adhesive

Repulpable PSA compositions and constructions that exhibit high adhesive performance on a wide range of substrates are provided. In one embodiment, a PSA composition comprises a blend of two emulsion acrylic copolymers. The first type is a repulpable, emulsion acrylic copolymer that passes TAPPI UM 213. Preferably, the copolymer is prepared by sequential polymerization. The second type of copolymer is a non-repulpable, gpp or removable, repositionable, emulsion acrylic copolymer, also preferably prepared by sequential polymerization. The PSA compositions are inherently tacky and can be used in labels and tapes. In addition, they can be added to other PSAs as external tackifiers.

Repulpable, pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions

Water-activatable polymers for ink-jet imprintable constructions

Water dispersible, hydrophilic, repulpable, water-activatable, acrylic polymers are provided. The polymers are non-tacky when dry, but become tacky when wet, and exhibit high peel strength on a variety of substrates. The polymers comprise an acrylic-based polymer prepared by emulsion polymerization of 40 to 70% by weight of one or more alkyl acrylates, the alkyl group of which has from 4 to 8 carbon atoms; 10 to 20% by weight of methacrylate; 2 to 15% by weight of vinyl acetate; and 10 to 25 percent by weight of methacrylic acid and/or acrylic acid; and a positive amount up to about 30% by weight of methyl methacrylate. Some embodiments also include a short chain hydroxyalkyl methacrylate. Also provided are ink jet-imprintable, water-activatable constructions comprising a layer of water-activatable polymer, coated on a release liner or other surface. Optionally, a water-resistant transparent film layer is disposed between the polymer and release liner or used in place of the release liner. The constructions are suitable for use in ink jet printers and can be used to transfer an image to a substrate.

Water-activatable polymers and printable constructions

There is provided a removable, repositionable and guillotinable pressure-sensitive construction comprising a backing having thereon an acrylic emulsion adhesive modified by a wax surfactant or mixtures thereof.

Removable and guillotinable emulsion pressure-sensitive adhesives

A low viscosity hot melt acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive polymer is formed by bulk polymerization of at least one alkyl acrylate monomer containing from about 4 to 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and present in an amount of from about 60 to about 95% by weight of the polymer, from 1 to about 10% by weight of a copolymerizable amide monomer, from 1 to 10% by weight of a copolymerizble carboxylic acid, and a positive amount up to about 6% by weight of the monomers of a copolymerizable anhydride, said polymer formed thermally reversible crosslinks with a metal cation having a valence of from 2 to 4. Viscosity of the polymer is typically from 2 to 8 Pa.s at 150.degree. C. as formed and increases up to 100 Pa.s at 150.degree. C. on addition of the metal cation.

Growing community of inventors

Cerritos, CA, United States of America

Shiaonung J Su