The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 29, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 20, 2000
Kimberlee Thompson, Mt. Pleasant, SC (US);
Xiaorong Cai, Charleston, SC (US);
Ming Xu, Mt. Pleasant, SC (US);
Sawgrass Systems, Inc., Mt. Pleasant, SC (US);
Abstract
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.