Seal Incorporated

Theodore H Krueger

Richard E Merrill

David B Spaulding

A dry system for forming and transferring images is provided. The system comprises a photoactive component comprising a tacky photohardenable layer on a selected carrier sheet and a transfer component comprising a frangible color layer on a selected carrier sheet. The two components are disposed with their photohardenable and color layers in air-free contact with one another and then subjected to irradiation with actinic radiation in accordance with a selected image pattern so as to cause selected portions of the photohardenable layer to harden and fuse to confronting portions of the color layer. Then the two components are separated whereby the fused portions of the color layer are separated from its carrier sheet and transferred to the photoactive component. Thereafter the color layer remaining on the transferable component is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Finally, the transferable component is positioned with its adhesive coating engaging a receptor substrate and the rear side of its carrier sheet is rubbed hard or burnished with a suitable implement so as to cause the remaining image-defining portions of the color layer to separate from its carrier sheet and adhere to the receptor substrate.

Dry transfer image systems

Dry transfer image systems with non-light sensitive frangible layer

The present invention constitutes a vacuum press for mounting and laminating graphic art objects such as photographs and the like. The press utilizes two pliable airtight membranes, a first membrane attached to and supported by a base frame and a second membrane positioned over the base frame, arranged to form an airtight chamber containing the workpiece. The second membrane is specifically chosen so as to have a contour-defining capability. Thus when the chamber is evacuated, exterior atmospheric pressure will collapse the chamber and compress the workpiece between the two membranes, and at the same time, the second membranes will image the upper surface contour of the workpiece so as to reveal any undesirable surface irregularities such as wrinkles or bubbles which might exist in the workpiece. This indication gives the operator an opportunity to remove the irregularities before mounting or laminating occurs. After the workpiece has been compressed, it is heated by one or more heating elements contained in the press to assist in bonding together the elements which make up the workpiece.

Vacuum press

The invention is a simplified roller-type apparatus for laminating articles in sheet form with transparent plastic laminating film. It comprises a heating station for heating the work and a pair of pressure rolls for bonding the film to one or both sides of each article. The heating station comprises a pair of vertically opposed flat plates that are separable to permit the work to be inserted between them, and means for heating the plates so that they act as sources of heat for activating the adhesive layer of the laminating film. In the preferred embodiment, the lower plate is fixed and the upper plate is mounted for vertical movement relative to the lower plate. The two plates also act as guides for directing the heated work into the nip formed by the pressure rolls.

Growing community of inventors

Wayland, MA, United States of America

Theodore H Krueger