US 6,640,717 B2Granted

Method of forming image on card and apparatus therefor

AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation

InventorsZenta Kosaka, Kazuaki Morozumi, Kunihiko Matsuhashi, Yoshiki Minowa

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Abstract

There are provided a method of forming an image on a card and an apparatus therefor, which are capable of properly carrying out printing of an image on a card and protection of the printed image in a simplified manner without changing the size of the card. A card is used which has an ink-fixing layer laminated on a surface of a substrate layer and an ink image-receiving layer peelably laminated on a surface of the ink-fixing layer. An image is printed on the card, while feeding the card, by an ink jet printing method using a sublimable dye ink. The card printed with the image is conveyed to a heating source, and subjected to heat treatment by the heating source to cause diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer, and color development to form an image. The ink image-receiving layer is peeled off the card after the heat treatment.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method of forming an image on a card having a substrate layer, and an ink-fixing layer laminated on the surface of the substrate layer, comprising the steps of:

printing an image on a transfer sheet by an ink jet printing method by using a sublimable dye ink while unrolling and feeding a roll of the transfer sheet, the transfer sheet having a substrate layer, and an ink image-receiving layer laminated on a surface of the substrate layer, whereby the sublimable dye ink is caused to be held by the ink image-receiving layer;
affixing the transfer sheet to the card by pressure while applying heat thereto, with an image-formed portion of the transfer sheet and the ink-fixing layer of the card being positioned and overlaid upon each other, thereby causing diffusion of the sublimable dye ink held in the ink image-receiving layer in the ink-fixing layer and color development to form an image;
and
peeling the transfer sheet off the card by taking up the transfer sheet into a roll.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/035,040Filed 27 Dec 2001
Priority: JP 2001-00382911 Jan 2001
Published: US 2002/0112637 A122 Aug 2002
Granted: 4 Nov 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

B41J 11/00212
Using irradiation: controlling the irradiation means, e.g. image-based controlling of the irradiation zone or control of the duration or intensity…
B41J 2/01
Characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material: ink jet
B41J 11/00216
Using irradiation: using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves
B41J 13/12
Sheet holders, retainers , movable guides, or stationary guides: specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards,…