Color toner containing sublimation dyes for use in electrophotographic imaging devices
AssigneeInternational Communication Materials, Inc.
InventorRichard J. Thompson
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Abstract
The invention relates to a commercially useful color thermal transfer dye sublimation toner comprising at least a binder resin and a sublimation dye component, the binder resin comprising a high molecular weight polymer having a molecular weight of above about 75,000, and a temperature, T1, of at least about 160° C. at which the viscosity is equal to 1×103, and the sublimation dye comprising a dye which sublimes at elevated temperatures above about 100° C. The invention further defines a process for the use of the toner.
Claims19
A process color thermal transfer dye sublimation toner comprising toner particles comprising a dye which sublimes at an elevated temperature above that at which a primary transfer sheet substrate is prepared from said toner by an electrophotographic print device, and a toner resin, said resin comprising at least a linear polymer having a T1 of at least about 160° C. at which the viscosity of said linear polymer is 1×103 and a molecular weight of at least about 75,000, said toner being characterized by substantially no transfer of toner components other than the sublimation dye upon secondary transfer of said toner at said elevated temperature from said primary transfer sheet substrate to a secondary substrate.
A transfer sheet comprising a substrate having disposed thereon by an electrophotographic printer an image from a full process color thermal transfer dye sublimation toner, said toner comprising a dye which sublimes at an elevated temperature above that at which said transfer sheet substrate is prepared, and a toner resin, said resin comprising at least a polymer having a T1 of at least about 160° C. at which the viscosity of said linear polymer is 1×103 and a molecular weight of at least about 75,000, said transfer sheet being further characterized by the retention on said transfer sheet of substantially all of said toner except for said dye upon the application of elevated temperatures of at least about 100° C. and suitable pressure to cause the sublimation and transfer of said dye to a secondary substrate.
A process color thermal transfer dye sublimation toner comprising toner particles comprising a dye which sublimes at an elevated temperature above that at which a primary transfer sheet substrate is prepared from said toner by an electrophotographic print device, and a toner resin, said resin comprising a polymer having a T1 of at least about 160° C. at which the viscosity of said polymer is 1×103 and a molecular weight of at least about 75,000, said toner being characterized by substantially no transfer of toner components other than the sublimation dye upon secondary transfer of said toner at said elevated temperature from said primary transfer sheet substrate to a secondary substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.