# US 10,865,518 B2 · Paperless transfer printing method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,518 B2 - Document ID: US10865518B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/318,213 - Filed: 2017-02-16 - Published: 2019-08-29 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-27 - Assignees: Newtech Textile Technology Development (Shanghai) Co., Ltd; Po-Wen Chung - Applicants: Newtech Textile Technology Development (Shanghai) Co., LTD; Po-Wen Chung - Inventors: Po-Wen Chung - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865518B2 ## CPC - D06P 5/003: {Transfer printing} - B41F 16/00: Transfer printing apparatus - B41M 5/00: Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein (by using light-sensitive materials G03; electrography, magnetography G03G {; repeatedly usable boards or tablets for writing or drawing B43L1/00}) - B41M 5/03: by pressure - C09D 11/033: characterised by the solvent - C09D 11/037: characterised by the pigment - D06P 1/0052: {Dyeing with polymeric dyes} - D06P 1/16: using dispersed, e.g. acetate, dyestuffs - D06P 1/38: using reactive dyes - D06P 1/39: using acid dyes - D06P 1/44: using insoluble pigments or auxiliary substances, e.g. binders - D06P 5/007: {using non-subliming dyes} - D06P: DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM - B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L) - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) ## Abstract A paperless transfer printing method includes the following steps: (a) printing, by a printing machine, aqueous ink onto a transfer printing temporary carrier in a set pattern, wherein a surface of the transfer printing temporary carrier is made of an elastic polymer material and a surface tension of the aqueous ink is less than the critical surface tension of the transfer printing temporary carrier; (b) drying the to-be-transferred pattern on the transfer printing temporary carrier; (c) wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier by using an aqueous surface tension increasing liquid; and (d) separating the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid from the transfer printing temporary carrier at a tight-contact position between the transfer printing temporary carrier and the fabric, so that an aqueous ink dye is transferred onto the fiber of the fabric. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A paperless transfer printing method, comprising: (a) printing, by a printing machine, aqueous ink onto a transfer printing temporary carrier in a set pattern, wherein a surface of the transfer printing temporary carrier is made of an elastic polymer material, a critical surface tension of the surface of the transfer printing temporary carrier is between 25 mN/m and 45 mN/m, and a surface tension of the aqueous ink is less than the critical surface tension of the transfer printing temporary carrier; (b) drying the to-be-transferred pattern on the transfer printing temporary carrier; (c) wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier by using an aqueous surface tension increasing liquid, so that when the transfer printing temporary carrier is in tight contact with a fabric in a transfer printing device to transfer a pattern, the aqueous ink printed on the transfer printing temporary carrier is dissolved or dispersed into the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid to form an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion liquid, wherein a surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid is greater than the critical surface tension of the transfer printing temporary carrier and less than a surface tension of fiber of the fabric; and (d) separating the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid from the transfer printing temporary carrier at a tight-contact position between the transfer printing temporary carrier and the fabric, so that an aqueous ink dye is transferred onto the fiber of the fabric. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (a), the surface tension of the aqueous ink is less than the critical surface tension of the transfer printing temporary carrier by 1-4 mN/m. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein in the step (c), the transfer printing temporary carrier is wetted by using the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid carried in the fiber of the fabric by using an anilox roller or is directly wetted by using a quantitative humidification system, or is wetted by sizing the fabric with the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid by spraying. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer printing temporary carrier is a seamless blanket belt or a roller externally wrapped by the elastic polymer material layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the elastic polymer material is a polyurethane rubber or a polybutyl rubber, and critical surface tensions of the polyurethane rubber and the polybutyl rubber are 29 mN/m and 27 mN/m respectively. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein a Shore Hardness of the transfer printing temporary carrier is 85 to 95. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid is deionized water, or distilled water, or an aqueous solution into which a printing and dyeing auxiliary having a concentration below 5% is added, and does not comprise a surface active agent. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 7, wherein the printing and dyeing auxiliary is a color fixing agent and/or a thickening agent. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein a formula of the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid comprises components of: 0.5-1% of acetic acid, 0.5-1% of pH conditioning agent, 1-1.5% of chelating agent, 2-5% of hygroscopic agent, 1-3% of color fixing agent, and 0.05-0.5% of paste, wherein a sum of proportions of the components is adjusted to 100% by using water. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein a formula of the aqueous surface tension increasing liquid comprises components of: 10-20% of binder, 0.6-0.9% of slip agent, 3-5% of emulsifying agent, and 0.5% of defoaming agent, wherein a sum of proportions of the components is adjusted to 100% by using deionized water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the printing machine is a gravure printing machine, a flexo printing machine or a screen printing machine. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous ink is water-soluble reactive dye ink, water-soluble acid dye ink or water-dispersible disperse dye ink. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 12, wherein a formula of the water-soluble reactive dye ink comprises components of: 5-15% of printing paste, 15-40% of dye, 0.5-1% of anti-staining salt S, 5-8% of cosolvent, and 0.5-2% of leveling agent, wherein a sum of proportions of the components is adjusted to 100% by using water. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The aqueous ink paperless transfer printing method according to claim 12, wherein a formula of the water-soluble acid dye ink comprises components of: 20-40% of acid dye, 2-5% of urea, 2-5% of cosolvent, 1-1.5% of chelating agent, 0-0.8% of ammonium sulfate, and 2-5% of surface tension conditioning agent, wherein a sum of proportions of the components is adjusted to 100% by using water. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 12, wherein a formula of the water-dispersible disperse dye ink comprises components of: 15% to 45% of macromolecule disperse dye, 4% to 12% of paste, and 3% to 5% of dispersant, wherein a sum of proportions of the components is adjusted to 100% by using deionized water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a cellulose fiber fabric, and the surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid formed by wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier satisfies: 50 mN/m≤the surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid<70 mN/m. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a polyester fabric, and the surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid formed by wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier satisfies: 35 mN/m≤the surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid<43 mN/m. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a polyamide fabric, and the surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid formed by wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier satisfies: 35 mN/m≤the surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid<42 mN/m. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, wherein the fabric is a pure silk fabric, and the surface tension of the aqueous solution or the aqueous dispersion liquid formed by wetting the transfer printing temporary carrier satisfies: 40 mN/m≤the surface tension of the aqueous solution<49 mN/m. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The paperless transfer printing method according to claim 1, further comprising: performing color fixing, washing, and shaping to obtain a transfer printing-finished product after separating the fabric from the transfer printing temporary carrier.