Having Plural Interactive Leaves Patents (Class 503/227)
  • Patent number: 9804550
    Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a second material with different solubility from that of a first material to a second position of a print medium where the second material comes into contact with the first material in a first position of the print medium, and a fixation unit configured to melt the second material transferred to the second position of the print medium, and fix the second material to the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9776446
    Abstract: A front face side substrate provided between a supporting member and a receiving layer of a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet. The front face side substrate includes a front face side layer provided on one surface of a substrate layer and a rear face side layer provided on another surface of the substrate layer. The substrate layer includes (A) a propylene-based polymer, (B) calcium carbonate, and (C) titanium oxide, and the weight of (A) is 70% by weight to 94.5% by weight, the weight of (B) is 5% by weight to 28% by weight, and the weight of (C) is 0.5% by weight to 3% by weight, based on the assumption that the total weight of (A), (B) and (C) is 100% by weight. The front face side layer includes a modified propylene-based polymer, and the rear face side layer includes a propylene-based polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignees: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals Tohcello, Inc.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Takahashi, Junpei Oomura, Hiroshi Matsuura, Hiroshi Honda
  • Patent number: 9773434
    Abstract: A laminate that possesses dye sublimation properties, particularly for use as tagless labels and embellishments for garments, apparel, fabric items and so forth such as sportswear fabrics, clothing and accessories is provided. The laminate includes a dye sublimation ink layer that overlies a substrate in which the dye sublimation ink interacts with the substrate's chemical make-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Osman N. Tanrikulu, Joseph Daley
  • Patent number: 9701146
    Abstract: An ink set contains a first ink containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a thiazole ring are bonded and a second ink containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a pyridinedione ring are bonded. A thermal transfer recording sheet has a first ink layer containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a thiazole ring are bonded and a second ink layer containing a compound in which a pyrazolone ring and a pyridinedione ring are bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koromo Shirota, Taichi Shintou, Masao Nakano
  • Patent number: 9604487
    Abstract: A recording material for thermal printing methods comprising a carrier and a dye-absorbing layer equipped for the thermal dye transfer, wherein a barrier layer is arranged between the carrier and the dye-absorbing layer and the barrier layer contains gelatine and a polymer binder dispersible in water, the gelatine and the polymer binder dispersible in water being cross-linked with one another, suitable for the production of photo-like images having very good dye migration behavior and without mottle effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Schoeller Technocell GmbH and Co. KG
    Inventor: Christoph Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 9543548
    Abstract: One surface of a first substrate provided with at least light-absorbing layers separately formed, partition layers each formed between the light-absorbing layers and having an inverse taper shape, and material layers formed on the light-absorbing layers and on the partition layers so that the material layers are separated from each other is disposed to face a deposition target surface of a second substrate; light irradiation is performed from the other surface of the first substrate, only the material layers in regions overlapped with the light-absorbing layers are heated and evaporated to the deposition target surface of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Seo, Kohei Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9527327
    Abstract: The purpose is to provide a protective layer transfer sheet and an intermediate transfer medium, in which a transfer layer has excellent foil tearing property during transfer and in which sufficient durability can be imparted to the thermally transferred image. The above problem is solved by a protective layer transfer sheet (100) in which a transfer layer (20) is provided on one surface of a substrate (1) so as to be peelable from the substrate (1), wherein the transfer layer (20) comprises a peeling layer (2) and a protective layer (3) which are layered in this order from the substrate; wherein the protective layer (3) includes an acrylic polyol resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of more than 80° C. or a polyester polyurethane resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of not less than 50° C.; and wherein the peeling layer includes at least one selected from a group consisting of polyester resins, acrylic urethane resins, and epoxy resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junpei Oomura, Kenzo Hayashi, Mitsuhiro Oota, Kano Sakamoto, Shinya Yoda
  • Patent number: 9508383
    Abstract: A method for creating a content in an electronic device is provided. The method includes acquiring first media data acquired by at least one external electronic device, acquiring second media data on a basis of at least a part of the first media data, recognizing a feature of the second media data acquired by the at least one external electronic device, and creating the content on a basis of at least a part of the feature of the second media data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Eun Kim, Chang-Gun Um, Seung-Heon Lee, Kyung-Ho Chae, Kyung-Il Lee
  • Patent number: 9478253
    Abstract: A method for creating a content in an electronic device is provided. The method includes acquiring first media data acquired by at least one external electronic device, acquiring second media data on a basis of at least a part of the first media data, recognizing a feature of the second media data acquired by the at least one external electronic device, and creating the content on a basis of at least a part of the feature of the second media data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Eun Kim, Chang-Gun Um, Seung-Heon Lee, Kyung-Ho Chae, Kyung-Il Lee
  • Patent number: 9464157
    Abstract: A polyurethane foam having excellent shape-following properties, which exhibits favorable comfort when worn on the human body, both during movement and at rest. The polyurethane foam contains a toluene diisocyanate and a polyether polyol as the main components, has a glass transition temperature, defined as the temperature corresponding with the peak value of the loss tangent, of not less than 0° C. and not more than 40° C., and in the temperature range from not less than 0° C. to not more than 40° C., the loss tangent in the frequency range from not less than 0.1 Hz to not more than 100 Hz is 0.4 or greater, and the average value of the loss tangent in the frequency range from not less than 0.1 Hz to not more than 1 Hz is not greater than the average value of the loss tangent in the frequency range from not less than 10 Hz to not more than 100 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: SMP Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Shunichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9446619
    Abstract: The invention relates to a special layer construction and a special film of plastic for the production of such a layer construction which is suitable for printing by means of dye diffusion thermal transfer printing, a process for the production thereof and a security and/or valuable document comprising such a layer construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Covestro Deutschland AG
    Inventors: Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Georgios Tziovaras, Mehmet-Cengiz Yesildag, Chung Leung Wong
  • Patent number: 9440473
    Abstract: This invention relates to a conductive thermal image receiver element that has an aqueous-based coatable dye-receiving layer comprising a water-dispersible acrylic polymer, a water-dispersible polyester, a water-dispersible conductive polymeric material and a surfactant. This invention also relates to a method for making this thermal image receiver element as well as method for using it to provide a dye image by thermal transfer from a donor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Teh-Ming Kung, Kathleen Bonsignore, Renee L. Daniels, Lianne Heath, John P. Olscamp, Kim Standish, Ellen L. Bennett, Peter J. Ghyzel, Joseph F. Janinek, John L. Muehlbauer, Walter E. Scott
  • Patent number: 9434198
    Abstract: A heat transferable material includes a heat transferable polymeric binder and a light stabilizer that is an N-oxyl radical derived from a hindered amine. The N-oxyl radical has the following formula (A) or formula (B): wherein R1, R2, R5, and R6 are each a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl or alkene, and R3 and R4 are each independently H, CH2CH3, CH3, OH, OR, COOH, COOR, or NH—C(?O)R, wherein R is a straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl or alkene, and having a molecular weight of 600 or less. At least one of R3 and R4 is not hydrogen. The heat transferable material can be in a section or patch on a thermal donor element to provide a protective overcoat material. A patch in the donor element can include a dye. The heat transferable material provides better image stability and improved iridescence when transferred to a receiver of some type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Vreeland, David George Foster
  • Patent number: 9381765
    Abstract: Disclosed are an intermediate transfer medium excelling in peel-off property on removing a transfer layer which include a protective layer with the aid of a peel-off layer of a thermal transfer sheet, and imparting a high durability to a print which is formed by transferring the transfer layer to a transfer receiving article, and retransferring the transfer layer onto the transfer receiving article easily, and a combination of the intermediate transfer medium and a thermal transfer sheet. The intermediate transfer medium includes a substrate sheet, a protective layer and a receiving layer which are layered on a surface of the substrate sheet. The protective layer includes two or more binder resins with mutually different number average molecular weights. A sum total of products, each calculated by multiplying the number average molecular weight of individual binder resin and its content ratio in the blend together, is ?3000 and ?17000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kano Sakamoto, Shinya Yoda
  • Patent number: 9365067
    Abstract: This invention relates to a conductive thermal image receiver element that has an aqueous-based coatable dye-receiving layer comprising a water-dispersible acrylic polymer, a water-dispersible polyester, a water-dispersible conductive polymeric material and a surfactant. This invention also relates to a method for making this thermal image receiver element as well as method for using it to provide a dye image by thermal transfer from a donor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Teh-Ming Kung, Kathleen Bonsignore, Renee L. Daniels, Lianne Heath, John P. Olscamp, Kim Standish, Ellen L. Bennett, Peter J. Ghyzel, Joseph F. Janinek, John L. Muehlbauer, Walter E. Scott
  • Patent number: 9355834
    Abstract: An adhesive transfer method includes depositing an adhesive on a first substrate, transferring a layer of the adhesive from the first substrate to an intermediate substrate, and transferring adhesive from the layer of the adhesive to at least one area of a second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Michael G. Groh
  • Patent number: 9321044
    Abstract: A catalyst-supporting porous film includes: a resin layer; and catalyst particles dispersed in the resin layer. The catalyst particles are unevenly distributed so as to be present at a surface of the resin layer. Preferably, the catalyst-supporting porous film includes a porous section and a supporting section for supporting the porous section. The number of catalyst particles per unit volume in the porous section is greater than the number of catalyst particles per unit volume in the supporting section. Thus, a catalyst-supporting porous film which has a high catalytic effect can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Wataru Horie
  • Patent number: 9278570
    Abstract: Provided is a protective layer transfer sheet which includes a protective layer, whereby it becomes possible to form an image on the protective layer set on a print without causing the abnormal transfer of a dye layer, the breakage of the dye layer and the like, and it also becomes possible to achieve a satisfactory level of plasticizer resistance of the print. The protective layer transfer sheet including a substrate and a protective layer peelably formed on the substrate, wherein the protective layer includes one or both of a cellulose ester having a number average molecular weight of not less than 15000 and not more than 30000 and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer having a number average molecular weight of not less than 15000 and not more than 30000, and a cellulose ester having a number average molecular weight of not more than 7000.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suguru Yabe, Yoshimasa Kobayashi, Kazumasa Maeda, Kazuya Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9272560
    Abstract: Provided is a thermal transfer sheet capable of repressing residue that accumulates before insertion of a heating element of the thermal head. In the thermal transfer sheet, a heat-resistant lubricating layer is formed on a surface of the substrate, wherein the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes one or more of layers which include a back face layer, the back face layer is arranged at a position farthest from the substrate, at least one layer which composes the heat-resistant lubricating layer includes a binder resin and organic minute particles which each has a polygonal shape, and a portion of surfaces of the organic minute particles protrude from a surface of the back layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoko Suzuki, Yoshimasa Kobayashi, Kano Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 9242496
    Abstract: A printed material (5) has a transparent base member (51), a first image layer (52) formed on the base member, an intermediate layer (53) formed on the first image layer, and a second image layer (54) formed on the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has a lower white background layer (531) positioned above the first image layer, a light blocking layer (532) positioned above the lower white background layer, and an upper white background layer (533) positioned above the light blocking layer. In the printed material, a thickness of the light blocking layer is uneven in conformity with undulation of the first image layer, and therefore a surface of the intermediate layer which is in contact with the second image layer is flat. With this structure, it is possible to prevent or suppress the undulation of the first image layer from appearing in the second image layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Nakano, Kazushi Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 9193204
    Abstract: Heat transfers are provided that have indicia for enhancing the appearance of color dye sublimated fabric material, such as apparel and accessories including sportswear fabrics. The label assembly includes a transfer portion protected by a releasable support portion. The transfer portion includes a multi-layer barrier containing at least two differently formulated barrier layers. The second such barrier layer extends outwardly beyond the perimeter edge of the first barrier layer, which perimeter edge had left a recess gap in the transfer portion, which recess gap is covered by the overhang margin of the second barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Liviu Dinescu, Osman Tanrikulu, Cary Moore
  • Patent number: 9159000
    Abstract: A device for making security marks by means of a plurality of simultaneously backing and printing dies, each with a pre-designed image. The device makes it possible to subject a sheet of paper to a novelty simultaneous abrasion and printing method of a security mark using the dies previously and smoothly inked by means of inking rollers with either one or more inks not visible to the naked eye, but revealable by one or more temporarily applicable revealing stimuli, wherein the security mark shows as authentication evidence a pre-designed image invisible to the naked eye, but which becomes visible in many different ways, and at least one second form of verification under a revealing stimulus, wherein all forms in which the images are revealed on the paper have an absolute matching location because they are produced simultaneously and by the same backing and printing die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: AVELINO LLC
    Inventor: Nicolas Tadeo Ciccone
  • Patent number: 9120327
    Abstract: A tape drive for transferring tape between a first spool and a second spool, the tape comprising at least one marker indicative of a property of the tape, the tape drive having: two spool supports, each of which is suitable for supporting a spool of tape, and a tape control system which includes: two motors and a controller for controlling the operation of the motors, each motor driving a respective one of the spool supports, and a detector that is operable, in use, to detect the presence of one or more markers on a portion of a tape, the tape control system being operable to identify a property of the tape according to the detected marker or markers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Markem-Imaje Industries Limited
    Inventor: Simon Starkey
  • Patent number: 9040453
    Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which excels in adhesiveness to a receiving layer and solvent resistance, and a manufacturing method thereof. In the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet, which includes a porous layer, a barrier layer, a receiving layer which are stacked in this order on a substrate, the porous layer includes a binder resin and hollow particles, and the barrier layer includes (i) (A) a first acrylic resin and (B) one or more kinds of resins selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyvinyl pyrrolidone type resins, polyester type urethane resin, and a second acrylic resin which differs from the first acrylic resin; or (ii) a polyvinyl pyrrolidone type resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Yamamuro, Katsuyuki Hirano
  • Patent number: 8969244
    Abstract: A thermal dye image receiver element has a substrate comprising a voided compliant layer and metalized layer. Disposed on the metalized layer is an opacifying layer that includes an opacifying agent and a dye receiving layer. This thermal dye image receiver element can be a duplex element with image receiving layers on both sides of the substrate, and it can be used in association with a thermal donor element to provide a thermal image on either or opposing sides of the receiver element. The metalized layer provides increased specular reflectance under resulting thermal dye images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Narasimharao Dontula, Somsack Chang, James S. Honan
  • Patent number: 8969245
    Abstract: A method for enabling D2T2 printing onto non-D2T2 printable substrates uses a diffusible primer material provided on a dye-sheet or ribbon. The primer comprises a polymer, a release agent and a plasticizer. The release agent and the plasticizer are diffused into the substrate, while the polymer remains on the dye-sheet or ribbon. Printing of the primer onto the PC substrate is controlled via a computer image program corresponding to a colored image. This computer image program also controls the printing of the colored image at the primed locations. Accordingly, image-wise treatment of a plastic material via the primer selectively renders the PC substrate surface D2T2 printable at the point of personalization, providing for a 100% PC full card body having the colored image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Renz, Morven McAlpine
  • Patent number: 8962112
    Abstract: In an intermediate transfer medium, a substrate, protective layers having a layered structure of two or more layers, and a receiving layer are layered in this order. One layer in the protective layers having the layered structure contains, as a main component, one material or a mixture of two or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyesters having a high polymerization degree, a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not less than 12,000 and a Tg of not less than 60° C., polycarbonates and polyester urethanes. Another layer in the protective layers having the layered structure contains one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl butyrals, polyvinyl acetals and polyvinyl pyrrolidones or includes a cationic resin, and the receiving layer contains a side chain-type aralkyl-modified silicone in an amount of 0.5-5% by weight on a base of the total weight of the receiving layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Yoda, Tadahiro Ishida, Mitsuhiro Oota
  • Patent number: 8951933
    Abstract: Disclosed are a polysiloxane-modified polyhydroxy polyurethane resin characterized by being derived from a reaction between a 5-membered cyclic carbonate polysiloxane compound represented by the below-described formula (1) and an amine compound, and its production process; and a resin composition, thermal recording medium, imitation leather, thermoplastic polyolefin resin skin material, weather strip material, and weather strip, all of which make use of the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd., Ukima Chemicals & Color Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hanada, Kazuya Kimura, Kenichi Takahashi, Osamu Kawakami, Manabu Uruno
  • Patent number: 8932985
    Abstract: A vinyl chloride-based resin latex which froths little when unreacted monomer remaining in the latex are recovered under heat and reduced-pressure conditions, and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet which has satisfactory water resistance, does not yellow during storage, and gives images having excellent durability and light resistance. The invention provides a vinyl chloride-based resin latex contains a copolymer containing a vinyl chloride and an epoxy-group-containing vinyl or contains vinyl chloride, an epoxy-group-containing vinyl, and a carboxylic acid vinyl ester, wherein a content of the epoxy-group-containing vinyl is 0.1% by weight or more but less than 3% by weight, and wherein the latex contains no surfactant, and has a solid concentration of 25% by weight or more; a process for producing the latex; and a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet obtained using the latex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Tosoh Corporation
    Inventors: Haruyasu Kitaguchi, Shinichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8916326
    Abstract: A thermal image receiver element dry image receiving layer has a Tg of at least 25° C. and is the outermost layer. The dry image receiving layer has a dry thickness of at least 0.5 ?m and up to and including 5 ?m. It comprises a water-dispersible release agent and a polymer binder matrix that consists essentially of: (1) a water-dispersible acrylic polymer comprising chemically reacted or chemically non-reacted hydroxyl, phospho, phosphonate, sulfo, sulfonate, carboxy, or carboxylate groups, and (2) a water-dispersible polyester that has a Tg of 30° C. or less. The water-dispersible acrylic polymer is present in an amount of at least 55 weight % and at a dry ratio to the water-dispersible polyester of at least 1:1. The thermal image receiver element can be used to prepare thermal dye images after thermal transfer from a thermal donor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventor: Teh-Ming Kung
  • Patent number: 8895221
    Abstract: A thermal image receiver element dry image receiving layer has a Tg of at least 25° C. as the outermost layer. The dry image receiving layer has a dry thickness of at least 0.5 ?m and up to and including 5 ?m. It comprises a polymer binder matrix that consists essentially of: (1) a water-dispersible acrylic polymer comprising chemically reacted or chemically non-reacted hydroxyl, phospho, phosphonate, sulfo, sulfonate, carboxy, or carboxylate groups, and (2) a water-dispersible polyester that has a Tg of 30° C. or less. The water-dispersible acrylic polymer is present in an amount of at least 55 weight % of the total dry image receiving layer weight and at a dry ratio to the water-dispersible polyester of at least 1:1 to and including 20:1. The thermal image receiver element can be used to prepare thermal dye images after thermal transfer from a thermal donor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Teh-Ming Kung, Peter John Ghyzel, John Leonard Muehlbauer
  • Patent number: 8859461
    Abstract: A decoration piece has: a design piece made of thermoplastic synthetic resin formed with a design and having an outer profile line; a lower layer; and a dye migration preventing layer arranged between the design piece and the lower layer, said dye migration preventing layer having an outer profile same as that of said design piece, said dye migration preventing layer capable of being adhered to both said design piece and the lower layer, said dye migration preventing layer capable of preventing any migrating of dye. The dye migration preventing layer includes a dye migration preventing film made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyamide MXD6, or a dye migration preventing film made of polyvinylidene chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Eiji Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8822376
    Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer sheet including a base sheet, and a dye receiving layer formed on the base sheet and containing a mixture of copolymer A including styrene and acrylonitrile as monomers and a copolymer B including 2-phenoxyethyl methacrylate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate as monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Teruki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8802592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a resin composition for protective layer transfer sheets which includes a polyester resin produced by polycondensing a polyhydric alcohol component containing a hydrogenated bisphenol A in an amount of 30 mol % or more and a polycarboxylic acid component containing a benzenedicarboxylic acid in an amount of 50 mol % or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Kao Corporation, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobumichi Kamiyoshi, Takashi Mukai, Toshifusa Hirano, Masahiro Yuki
  • Patent number: 8790756
    Abstract: A thermal-transfer laminate film includes a base film and an image protection layer. The image protection layer is provided an the base film and contains a thermoplastic resin and a pearl pigment, a content ratio of the pearl pigment with respect to 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic resin being 0.5 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Yasumatsu
  • Patent number: 8780155
    Abstract: The tape cassette used in a tape printing apparatus incorporates an ink ribbon including a thermal printing layer including a coloring layer containing wax and pigment coated on a base film and an adhesive layer coated on the coloring layer, and a congealing point of the thermal printing layer is controlled to be 89 degrees Celsius or higher and difference between a glass transition point of the thermal printing layer and a melting point of the thermal printing layer is controlled to be 23 degrees Celsius or smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hisako Tonishi
  • Patent number: 8735320
    Abstract: A novel method of transfer printing onto articles, particularly dark articles, is disclosed. A design, preferably in color, is printed onto a transfer sheet in sublimation dye using a commercially-available printer. White toner is then printed over at least a portion of the design using an electrostatic printing device. Heat and pressure are applied to transfer the design and the white toner to an article. In some preferred embodiments, the transfer sheet is a self-weeding transfer paper. In some preferred embodiments, the same printer is used to print both the sublimation dye design and the white toner. In some preferred embodiments, the color palette of the image is inverted prior to printing with white toner. The invention is particularly well suited to the transfer printing of dark textile articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Alfred W. La Costa
  • Patent number: 8728976
    Abstract: Provided is printing paper for printing a stereoscopic image, including a light-transmitting image-receiving layer (12) and a linear polarizing layer (14), wherein a linear polarizing layer is patterned in a first domain and a second domain whose directions of polarizing axes are at an angle of 90° with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Morishima
  • Patent number: 8691489
    Abstract: A thermal image receiver element dry image receiving layer has a Tg of at least 25° C. as the outermost layer. The dry image receiving layer has a dry thickness of at least 0.5 ?m and up to and including 5 ?m. It comprises a polymer binder matrix that consists essentially of: (1) a water-dispersible acrylic polymer comprising chemically reacted or chemically non-reacted hydroxyl, phospho, phosphonate, sulfo, sulfonate, carboxy, or carboxylate groups, and (2) a water-dispersible polyester that has a Tg of 30° C. or less. The water-dispersible acrylic polymer is present in an amount of at least 55 weight % of the total dry image receiving layer weight and at a dry ratio to the water-dispersible polyester of at least 1:1. The thermal image receiver element can be used to prepare thermal dye images after thermal transfer from a thermal donor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris, Inc.
    Inventors: Teh-Ming Kung, Peter J. Ghyzel, John L. Muehlbauer
  • Patent number: 8680008
    Abstract: A system for customizing a notebook computer cover is provided. A user station provides a user interface to select at least one image and to transmit the at least one image. A server receives the at least one image from the user station and formats the at least one selected image to fit a shape of the notebook computer cover. A printer prints the at least one image onto a predetermined fabric. A heat chamber heats the notebook computer cover in response to the predetermined fabric being placed on the notebook computer cover to vaporize the image from the predetermined fabric into a clear layer of the notebook computer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher D. Russo, Jerry J. Kim, Jonathan D. Hood
  • Patent number: 8680009
    Abstract: A thermal transfer sheet includes a thermal transfer dye layer containing a dye on one surface of a base material sheet and a heat-resistant lubricating layer on the other surface, wherein the heat-resistant lubricating layer contains a binder, spherical particles protruding from a surface of the heat-resistant lubricating layer, and tabular particles having an average particle diameter larger than or equal to the average particle diameter of the spherical particles, and the tabular particles have a specific surface area of 5 m2/g or more and an average particle diameter of 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Sawada
  • Patent number: 8673535
    Abstract: A thermal image receiver element dry image receiving layer has a Tg of at least 25° C. and is the outermost layer. The dry image receiving layer has a dry thickness of at least 0.5 ?m and up to and including 5 ?m. It comprises a water-dispersible release agent and a polymer binder matrix that consists essentially of: (1) a water-dispersible acrylic polymer comprising chemically reacted or chemically non-reacted hydroxyl, phospho, phosphonate, sulfo, sulfonate, carboxy, or carboxylate groups, and (2) a water-dispersible polyester that has a Tg of 30° C. or less. The water-dispersible acrylic polymer is present in an amount of at least 55 weight % and at a dry ratio to the water-dispersible polyester of at least 1:1. The thermal image receiver element can be used to prepare thermal dye images after thermal transfer from a thermal donor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventor: Teh-Ming Kung
  • Patent number: 8669204
    Abstract: A composition for a protection layer for a thermal transfer ribbon which is free of solvents and which contains an acrylate oligomer or polymer having a functionality lower than or equal to 3, a di- or triacrylate monomer and a slip agent which are UV-crosslinkable in the presence of a photoinitiator, capable of forming, after coating on a backing film and after UV crosslinking, a protection layer having a thickness lower than 1 ?m. The layer has a good adhesiveness and a low friction coefficient. The composition can particularly be used for the back (5) of a thermal transfer ribbon (1) applied on a surface of the backing film (2), the other surface of the film receiving at least one ink layer (3), while imparting flexibility and thermal and mechanical resistance to the ribbon (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Armor
    Inventors: Christophe Derennes, Pierre Guichard
  • Patent number: 8664158
    Abstract: An Ink transfer medium configured to receive and transfer an image on a bi-dimensional or tri-dimensional article by way of thermal transfer. The ink transfer medium includes a sub-layer made of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (APET), an image receiving coating, a barrier coating, a binding system, and an ink transfer coating which includes a layer having a combination of pigment systems formed by cellulose fibers, microspheres and silica. The barrier coating includes resins and mineral elements supporting the ink transfer coating applied on the APET film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Policrom Screens S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Vavassori Bisutti
  • Patent number: 8664159
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet including a dye receiving layer formed of a resin composition for thermal transfer image-receiving sheets, wherein said resin composition includes a resin composition (A) containing a graft polymer (A0) which contains a main chain segment (A1) formed of a polyester resin obtained by polycondensing an alcohol component containing an alkyleneoxide adduct of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane in an amount of 50 mol % or more with a carboxylic acid component, and a side chain segment (A2) formed of an addition polymer-based resin, and has a glass transition temperature of 50° C. or higher; and a resin composition (B) containing a resin (B0) and having a glass transition temperature lower by from 10 to 80° C. than the glass transition temperature of the resin composition (A), and to a process for producing the thermal transfer image-receiving sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuta Matsumoto, Nobumichi Kamiyoshi, Yoshiaki Ban, Takashi Mukai
  • Patent number: 8652996
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are irreversible thermochromic ink compositions including a solvent and a sublimable dye dissolved in the solvent. The solvent and the sublimable dye can be, optionally, encapsulated. Written marks made with the thermochromic ink compositions can be subjected to a force directing component and/or a heat source, to promote sublimation of the sublimable dye, thereby causing the written mark to change color or become substantially colorless.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sanford, L.P.
    Inventor: Wing Sum Vincent Kwan
  • Patent number: 8648010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal transfer image-receiving sheet including a dye receiving layer which contains a resin (A) including a graft polymer containing a main chain segment (A1) formed of a polyester resin having an acid value of from 5 to 40 mgKOH/g and a side chain segment (A2) formed of an addition polymer-based resin, wherein the segment (A1) is obtained by polycondensing an alcohol component containing an alkyleneoxide adduct of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane in an amount of 60 mol % or more with a carboxylic acid component, and the segment (A2) contains a constitutional unit derived from an aromatic group-containing addition-polymerizable monomer in an amount of 85% by weight or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Nobumichi Kamiyoshi, Takashi Mukai, Yoshiaki Ban, Yuuta Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8609583
    Abstract: A sublimation printing apparatus (1) which includes a tray (2) for receiving a three dimensional object (10) having a film (12) carrying sublimable ink, an infrared heater (3) mounted adjacent the tray (2) and a airflow inducing device (4). The infrared heater (3) is operable to direct infrared radiation toward the tray (2). The airflow inducing device (4) is operable to induce a flow of air across the film (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Peter John Hoggard
  • Patent number: 8609584
    Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer sheet including a thermal transfer dye layer formed on one surface of a base sheet and containing a dye and a heat resistant smooth layer formed on the other surface of the base sheet and containing a binder, a lubricant, and a filler. The binder contained in the heat resistant smooth layer is obtainable by mixing a polyvinyl acetoacetal resin with an acryl silicone resin which has a mass average molecular weight of 100,000 or more and is in the form of a powdery solid at an ordinary temperature at a ratio of 10 parts by mass or less of the acryl silicone resin relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl acetoacetal resin, and the heat resistant smooth layer further contains 10 parts by mass or more and 30 parts by mass or less of isocyanate relative to 100 parts by mass of the polyvinyl acetoacetal resin and phosphoric acid ester having a melting point of 50° C. or more as the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Sawada
  • Patent number: 8598076
    Abstract: A display device includes a thin film transistor substrate, a display layer, a patterned color resist layer, a patterned UV block layer and a transparent protective layer. The thin film transistor substrate has a substrate and a plurality of thin film transistors. The display layer is disposed on the thin film transistor substrate. The patterned color resist layer is disposed on the display layer. The patterned UV block layer is disposed on the patterned color resist layer. The transparent protective layer is disposed on the patterned UV block layer. The present invention also provides a laser transfer printing method for fabricating the color resist layer and the patterned UV block layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Fang-An Shu, Ted-Hong Shinn, Yao-Chou Tsai, Wen-Chung Tang