Method for applying a hot melt ink to a substrate
AssigneeWillett International Limited
InventorJeffrey M. Ball
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a process for applying a thermoplastic image forming composition as a series of discrete droplets from a non-contact ink jet printing apparatus to form separate drops on a substrate moving relative to the apparatus, characterized in that the molten composition is thermally stable at the temperature of application and is applied at a temperature in excess of 100.degree. C. The invention can be used to apply the molten composition to a variety of substrates using on-demand or continuous non-contact ink jet application techniques. However, the invention is of especial use in the application of thermoplastic inks to non-porous substrates using an on-demand ink jet printer.
Claims15
A process for applying a thermoplastic composition to a substrate, comprising the steps of:
- moving the substrate past an application station at which is located a non-contact ink jet printing apparatus;
- operating the non-contact ink jet printing apparatus to apply the composition to the moving substrate as a series of discrete droplets, the composition being applied at a temperature in the range from 100.degree. to 160.degree. C., the composition being characterized as being thermally stable at the temperature of application and having a viscosity of from 2 to 20 Centipoise at the temperature of application.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.