Method of printing retroreflective sheeting and articles
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsThanh-Huong T. Do, Thomas F. Look, Bruce D. Orensteen
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of printing retroreflective sheeting and corresponding articles. The invention is useful for improving the print quality, particularly for contact printing methods such as thermal mass transfer printing.
Claims31
A method of printing a retroreflective substrate comprising:
- a) providing a substrate comprising:
- i) a retroreflective layer;
- ii) an adhesive layer disposed on the retroreflective layer;
- and
- iii) an ink-receptive layer disposed on the adhesive layer wherein the ink-receptive layer has a thickness of less than 1 mil;
- and
- b) printing the ink-receptive layer.
A method of printing a retroreflective substrate comprising:
- a) providing a substrate comprising:
- i) a retroreflective layer comprising a first major surface and second major surface;
- ii) an adhesive layer disposed above the first major surface layer of the retroreflective layer;
- and
- iii) an ink-receptive layer disposed above the adhesive layer;
- and
- b) printing the ink-receptive layer;
- wherein the print quality is improved by at least one integer according to the Print Quality Rating Scale.
An imaged retroreflective article comprising:
- a) sheeting comprising:
- i) a retroreflective layer;
- ii) an adhesive layer disposed on the retroreflective layer;
- and
- iii) an ink-receptive layer disposed on the adhesive layer, wherein the ink-receptive layer has a thickness of less than 1 mil;
- and
- b) a printed image on the ink-receptive layer.
Thermal mass printable retroreflective sheeting comprising:
- a) a retroreflective layer comprising a first major surface and second major surface;
- b) an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface layer of the retroreflective layer;
- and
- c) an ink-receptive layer disposed on the adhesive layer;
- wherein the ink-receptive layer has a thickness of less than 1 mil.
A method of printing a retroreflective substrate comprising:
- a) providing a substrate comprising:
- i) a retroreflective layer;
- ii) an adhesive layer disposed on the retroreflective layer;
- and
- iii) an ink-receptive layer disposed on the adhesive layer wherein the ink-receptive layer comprises an acrylic-based polymer or urethane-based polymer;
- and
- b) printing the ink-receptive layer.
An imaged retroreflective article comprising:
- a) sheeting comprising:
- i) a retroreflective layer;
- ii) an adhesive layer disposed on the retroreflective layer;
- and
- iii) an ink-receptive layer disposed on the adhesive layer, wherein the ink-receptive layer comprises an acrylic-based polymer or urethane-based polymer;
- and
- b) a printed image on the ink-receptive layer.
Thermal mass printable retroreflective sheeting comprising:
- a) a retroreflective layer comprising a first major surface and second major surface;
- b) an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface layer of the retroreflective layer;
- and
- c) an ink-receptive layer disposed on the adhesive layer;
- wherein the ink-receptive layer comprises an acrylic-based polymer or urethane-based polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.