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US 6,294,308 B1Granted
Thermal imaging process and products using image rigidification
AssigneeE. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
InventorsJonathan V. Caspar, Harvey Walter Taylor, Jr., Gregory C. Weed, Rolf S. Gabrielsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved processes and products for laser thermal imaging are described. These improved processes and products utilize an image rigidification element and significantly reduce halftone dot movement, swath boundary cracking and banding.
Claims41
A method for making a color image comprising:
- (1) imagewise exposing to laser radiation a laserable assemblage comprising:
- (A) a thermally imageable element comprising a thermally imageable layer which comprises a colorant and a polymeric binder, the colorant consisting of a pigment;
- and
- (B) a receiver element in contact with the thermally imageable layer of the thermally imageable element;
- the receiver element comprising:
- (a) an image receiving layer;
- and
- (b) a receiver support;
- whereby the exposed areas of the thermally imageable layer are transferred to the receiver element to form a colored image on the image receiving layer;
- (2) separating the thermally imageable element (A) from the receiver element (B), thereby revealing the colored image on the image receiving layer of the receiver element;
- (3) contacting the colored image on the image receiving layer of the receiver element with an image rigidification element comprising:
- (c) a support having a release surface, and
- (d) a thermoplastic polymer layer,
- the colored image being adjacent to the thermoplastic polymer layer during said contacting whereby the colored image is encased between the thermoplastic polymer layer and the image receiving layer of the receiver element;
- (4) removing the support having a release surface thereby revealing the thermoplastic polymer layer;
- and
- (5) contacting the revealed thermoplastic polymer layer from step (4) with a permanent substrate.
14 more elements
A method for making a color image comprising:
- (1) imagewise exposing to laser radiation a laserable assemblage comprising:
- (A) a thermally imageable element comprising a thermally imageable layer;
- and
- (B) a receiver element in contact with the thermally imageable layer of the thermally imageable element;
- the receiver element comprising:
- (a) an image receiving layer;
- (b) a receiver support;
- and
- (C) the thermally imageable element comprising a near infrared absorbing dye or the image receiving layer comprising a near infrared absorbing dye;
- whereby the exposed areas of the thermally imageable layer are transferred to the receiver element to form a colored image on the image receiving layer;
- (2) separating the thermally imageable element (A) from the receiver element (B), thereby revealing the colored image on the image receiving layer of the receiver element;
- (3) contacting the colored image on the image receiving layer of the receiver element with an image rigidification element comprising:
- (c) a support having a release surface, and
- (d) a thermoplastic polymer layer comprising an NIR dye bleaching agent, the colored image being adjacent to the thermoplastic polymer layer during said contacting whereby the colored image is encased between the thermoplastic polymer layer and the image receiving layer of the receiver element;
- (4) removing the support having a release surface thereby revealing the thermoplastic polymer layer;
- and
- (5) contacting the revealed thermoplastic polymer layer from step (4) with a permanent substrate.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.