Radiation-curable thermal printing ink and ink ribbons and methods of making, using and printing using the same
AssigneeSony Chemical Corporation of America
InventorsJeffrey F. Taylor, John T. Whalen, Lara A. Reed, Richard G. Crooks, Marlee A. Vrbanic
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Abstract
A radiation-curable ink, a method of making the ink, a thermal transfer printer ribbon having a radiation-curable ink layer, and a thermal transfer printer with an actinic energy source are provided. A method of thermal transfer printing using an ink ribbon having radiation-curable components is also provided. The radiation curable components of the ink can be thermally dried and are cured after printing of an image on a receiving article.
Claims28
A radiation-curable thermal printing ink comprising:
- about 1 to 90% by weight of at least one radiation-curable monomer or oligomer,
- about 1 to 15% by weight of a photoinitiator, and
- about 1 to 25% by weight of at least one coating additive,
- wherein the ink is thermally dried prior to printing, and remains in the uncured state.
A radiation-curable thermal printing ink ribbon comprising a substrate and an ink layer, said ink layer comprising about 1 to 90% by weight of at least one radiation-curable monomer or oligomer, about 1 to 15% by weight of a photoinitiator, and about 1 to 25% by weight of at least one coating additive, wherein said ink layer is thermally dried prior to printing and the radiation curable monomer or oligomer remains in the uncured state until after printing, at which time exposure of the monomer or oligomer to actinic radiation will result in a thermoset structure which will not flow when heated and is of enhanced durability.
A method of making a radiation-curable thermal printing ink ribbon comprising:
- coating a substrate with a radiation-curable ink layer and thermally drying the ink layer, wherein the ink layer comprises about 1 to 90% by weight of at least one radiation-curable monomer or oligomer, about 1 to 15% by weight of a photoinitiator, and about 1 to 25% by weight of at least one coating additive, and wherein said ink layer is thermally dried prior to printing and the radiation curable monomer or oligomer remains in the uncured state until after printing, at which time exposure of the monomer or oligomer to actinic radiation will result in a thermoset structure which will not flow when heated and is of enhanced durability.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.