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US 5,598,202 AGranted
Method and apparatus for printing a graphic on fabric
AssigneeGerber Scientific Products, Inc.
InventorMary E. P. Peterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for printing a graphic on fabric using a thermal transfer printer is disclosed. According to the invention, a colorant which forms the graphic and a binder for adhering the colorant to the fabric are printed on only those portions of the fabric covered by the graphic. Thermal transfer ribbons for carrying out the method of printing are also disclosed.
Claims8
A method for printing a graphic on fabric, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a thermal transfer printer having a ribbon including a carrier layer and a layer of colorant supported on the carrier layer;
- (b) providing the thermal printer with data defining the graphic to be printed on the fabric;
- (c) coating a thermally stable substrate with a film of binder for the colorant
- (d) causing the thermal printer to print the colorant onto the substrate according to the data to form a print area on the substrate including binder and colorant and an adjacent non-print area of the substrate including the binder film only;
- (e) removing the binder film from the non-print area of the substrate;
- and
- (f) thermally transferring the colorant and binder from the print area of the substrate to the fabric to print the graphic on the fabric.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.