Method for manufacturing improved data display retroreflective sheeting
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsThomas F. Look, Robert V. O'Keefe, Craig A. Schmidt, Bruce D. Orensteen, Joseph M. McGrath, Steven E. Poss, Thomas I. Bradshaw, Franklin C. Bradshaw
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A portable system and method for printing variable information indicia on a reflective sign comprises providing a first polymeric sign component having a surface suitable for receiving a printed image. A definition of an image to be printed on the first sign component is provided to a portable computer. Indicia in the form of images is then rapidly transferred to the surface of the first sign component.
Claims52
A method of making a durable, weather-resistant retroreflective article, the article having buried, readable indicia printed by a thermal printer, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing first and second polymeric layers, one of said layers being retroreflective and one being non-retroreflective, one of said layers having at least one surface suitable for receiving print indicia from a thermal printer;
- b) providing a definition of an image to a computer, the image to be printed as indicia on said at least one surface by said printer;
- c) generating a computerized version of the image with the computer;
- d) employing the thermal printer to transfer the computerized version of the image to the at least one surface using a wax colorant/binder to form said print indicia;
- and
- e) adhering the first and second polymer layers together, so that the print indicia is positioned between the first and second layers.
A method of making a combination secure information retroreflective article, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supplying a previously printed retroreflective sheeting having nonvariable print indicia printed thereon;
- b) selecting a second sheeting material comprising a liner material having a die cut area and a peripheral area and having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on one of its major surfaces;
- c) providing a definition of an image to a computer, the image to be printed as variable print indicia on said die cut area of the liner material by a thermal printer;
- d) generating a computerized version of the image with the computer;
- e) employing the thermal printer to transfer the computerized version of the image to the die cut area of the liner material using a wax colorant/binder to form said variable print indicia;
- and
- f) adhering the retroreflective sheeting to the pressure sensitive adhesive of the second sheeting material.
A method of making a durable, weather-resistant retroreflective article, the article having buried, readable indicia printed by an inkjet printer, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing first and second polymeric layers, one of the layers being retroreflective and one being non-retroreflective, one of the layers having at least one surface suitable for receiving print indicia from an inkjet printer;
- b) providing a definition of an image to a computer, the image to be printed as indicia on the at least one surface by the inkjet printer;
- c) generating a computerized version of the image with the computer;
- d) employing the inkjet printer to transfer the computerized version of the image to the at least one surface, thus forming the print indicia;
- and
- e) adhering the first and second polymer layers together, so that the print indicia is positioned between the first and second layers.
A method of making a combination secure information retroreflective article, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) supplying a previously printed retroreflective sheeting having nonvariable print indicia printed thereon;
- b) selecting a second sheeting material comprising a liner material having a die cut area and a peripheral area and having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on one of its major surfaces;
- c) providing a definition of an image to a computer, the image to be printed as variable print indicia on said die cut area of the liner material by an inkjet printer;
- d) generating a computerized version of the image with the computer;
- e) employing the inkjet printer to transfer the computerized version of the image to the die cut area of the liner material to form the variable print indicia;
- and
- f) adhering the retroreflective sheeting to the pressure sensitive adhesive of the second sheeting material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.