# US 9,873,278 B2 · Thermal transfer printing

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- Number: US 9,873,278 B2
- Document ID: US9873278B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/919,785
- Filed: 2009-02-20
- Published: 2011-01-06
- Granted: 2018-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 2008-02-29
- Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Applicants: Morven McAlpine; Christopher Bennett
- Inventors: Morven McAlpine; Christopher Bennett
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9873278B2

## CPC

- B41M 5/5218: {characterised by inorganic additives, e.g. pigments, clays}
- B41M 2205/02: Dye diffusion thermal transfer printing (D2T2)
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)

## Abstract

A receiver layer for use in dye diffusion thermal transfer printing includes a release agent and a swellable inorganic lamellar material that is at least partially in an exfoliated or intercalated state. The receiver layer may be thermally transferable. The swellable inorganic lamellar material may be a clay, which may be at least partially in the exfoliated state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon comprising a thermally transferable receiver layer for use in dye diffusion thermal transfer printing, wherein the thermal transfer ribbon comprises an elongate strip or ribbon of a substrate carrying
a plurality of panels of thermally transferable dyes and separate panels of the thermally transferable receiver layer, wherein the plurality of panels of thermally transferable dyes and the separate panels of the thermally transferable receiver layer contact a same surface of the substrate,
wherein the receiver layer comprises:
a release agent; and
a swellable inorganic lamellar material that is at least partially in an exfoliated or intercalated state,
wherein the separate panels of the thermally transferable receiver layer are positioned relative to the plurality of panels of thermally transferable dyes so the thermally transferable receiver layer of one of the separate panels can be transferred from the substrate prior to dye transfer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the swellable inorganic lamellar material is a clay.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 2, wherein the clay is at least partially in the exfoliated state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 1, wherein the swellable inorganic lamellar material is organically modified.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 1, which comprises from 0.5 to 8.0 wt % of the swellable inorganic lamellar material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 5, which comprises from 1.0 to 5.0 wt % of the swellable inorganic lamellar material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 1, further comprising a polymer resin.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 7 which comprises from 70 to 99.5 wt % of the polymer resin.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 7, wherein the polymer resin comprises a polyester.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A method of dye diffusion thermal transfer printing onto a receiving substrate comprising the steps of:
thermally transferring the thermally transferable receiver layer of one of the separate panels of the thermally transferable receiver layer from the dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon according to claim 1 onto the receiving substrate; and
transferring one or more dyes from one or more of the plurality of panels of thermally transferable dyes of the thermal transfer ribbon onto the transferred receiver layer on the receiving substrate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the swellable inorganic lamellar material of the dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon is a clay.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the swellable inorganic lamellar material of the dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon is organically modified.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the dye diffusion thermal transfer ribbon further comprises a polymer resin.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the polymer resin comprises a polyester.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the receiver layer further comprises a polymer resin.