Removable ultraviolet curable dye sublimation inks
AssigneeElectronics for Imaging, Inc.
InventorPaul Andrew Edwards
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Abstract
Various of the disclosed embodiments concern removable ultraviolet (UV) curable dye sublimation ink to be used in various printing systems and printing methods. In some embodiments, the ink includes a dye component, a UV curable component, and a soluble or solvent-sensitive component. In order to print an image on a substrate, the ink is heated to a temperature sufficient to cause sublimation of at least the dye component. During the sublimation process, the dye is able to permeate the substrate and form a printed image. After the transfer process has been completed, a solvent can be jetted onto the substrate that causes the soluble component to dissolve. The washing process ensures that any residual ink remaining on the surface of the substrate is substantially removed.
Claims20
A method of dye-sublimation printing, the method comprising:
- depositing a sublimation ink including a dye component, an ultraviolet (UV) curable component, and a soluble monofunctional monomer component directly onto a surface of a substrate;
- curing at least the UV curable component by exposing the sublimation ink to UV radiation;
- heating the sublimation ink to a temperature that is sufficient to cause the dye component to sublime, permeate the surface of the substrate, and form an image;
- and
- ejecting a solvent onto the substrate that causes the soluble monofunctional monomer component to dissolve, thereby substantially removing residual sublimation ink that did not permeate the surface of the substrate and was not used to form the image.
A solid ultraviolet (UV) curable dye-sublimation ink formulation comprising:
- a dye component configured to sublime and permeate into a substrate upon being heated to a sufficient temperature;
- a water-soluble monofunctional monomer component that allows residual ink that did not permeate the substrate during sublimation to be removed by a washing process;
- and
- a UV curable component that cures when exposed to UV radiation.
A method of dye-sublimation printing, the method comprising:
- depositing a sublimation ink including a dye component, a curable component, and a soluble monomer component directly onto a substrate;
- curing at least the curable component;
- heating the sublimation ink to a temperature that is sufficient to cause the dye component to sublime and permeate the substrate;
- and
- jetting a solvent onto the substrate that causes the soluble monomer component to dissolve, thereby substantially removing residual sublimation ink that did not permeate the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.