Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for thermally printing a pre-selected dye image (45) onto a three dimensional object (16). The method involves placing an image carrier sheet (24) containing a pre-selected dye image (45) over the object (16). A flexible membrane (26) is lowered over the object (16) and the image carrier sheet (24). A vacuum is established under the membrane (26) causing the image carrier sheet (24) to conform to the shape of the object (16). The membrane (26) or image carrier sheet (24) carry flexible heating elements (36), which are heated, to thermally transfer the dye image (45) onto the object (16). The flexible heating elements (36) can be made by etching an electrical circuit in a metal foil (34) which is bonded to a film substrate (30).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images to three dimensional objects, having plastic outer surfaces, utilizing flexible carrier sheets bearing dyes in the mirror images of the preselected images, where the sheets are overlaid in registration with the objects and maintained in pressurized engagement therewith while the sheets and the objects are heated. The present invention includes a bed for receiving at least one three-dimensional object member thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet placed in registration on the object and a resiliently flexible membrane, which is positionable over the sheet on the member. A vacuum assembly of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane and the bed in order to draw the membrane into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet on the member thereby drawing the flexible sheet around the various surfaces of the three dimensional object.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images to three dimensional objects, having plastic outer surfaces, utilizing flexible carrier sheets bearing dyes in the mirror images of the preselected images, where the sheets are overlaid in registration with the objects and maintained in pressurized engagement therewith while the sheets and the objects are heated. The present invention includes a bed for receiving at least one three-dimensional object member thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet placed in registration on the object and a resiliently flexible membrane, which is positionable over the sheet on the member. A vacuum assembly of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane and the bed in order to draw the membrane into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet on the member thereby drawing the flexible sheet around the various surfaces of the three dimensional object.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying preselected dye images to three dimensional objects, having plastic outer surfaces, utilizing flexible carrier sheets bearing dyes in the mirror images of the preselected images, where the sheets are overlaid in registration with the objects and maintained in pressurized engagement therewith while the sheets and the objects are heated. The present invention includes a bed for receiving at least one three-dimensional object member thereon with a flexible dye bearing carrier sheet placed in registration on the object and a resiliently flexible membrane, which is positionable over the sheet on the member. A vacuum assembly of the apparatus is operable to evacuate the area between the membrane and the bed in order to draw the membrane into pressurized engagement with the flexible sheet on the member thereby drawing the flexible sheet around the various surfaces of the three dimensional object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for thermally printing a pre-selected dye image onto a three dimensional object using an improved dye carrier sheet comprising a film substrate coated with a dye-receptive layer. The dye carrier sheet has high shrink-force, tensile strength, melt strength, and infrared (IR) absorption properties, and can conform tightly to the object. The film substrate is made from an ionomer copolymer of: i) &agr;-olefins of the formula R—CH═CH2, wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, ii) &agr;,&bgr;-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids having 3 to 8 carbon atoms, and iii) optionally an additional monoethylenically unsaturated comonomer compound, wherein 10% to 90% of the carboxylic acid functional groups are ionized by neutralization via metallic ions distributed over the copolymer.

Abstract: A shielded plastic enclosure for housing electronic equipment is provided, on at least one interior surface thereof, with a layer of shielding composition which is a suspension of silver-coated magnetite particles in a U.V. cured cycloaliphatic epoxy resin. The layer of this shielding composition has a thickness sufficient to effectively shield against electromagnetic interference, radio frequency interference and electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: A method for producing a circuit board involves printing a U.V. curable ink onto a substrate in a desired circuit pattern and curing the ink by exposing it to a pulsed U.V. source or subjecting the circuit pattern prepared from a U.V. curable ink containing magnetite particles to a magnetic field to move the magnetite particles to the upper surface of the U.V. curable ink. Other embodiments include circuit boards made in accordance with these methods and the use of the U.V. curable ink as a shielding composition for enclosures housing electronic equipment.

Abstract: A method for producing a circuit board involves printing a U.V. curable ink onto a substrate in a desired circuit pattern and curing the ink by exposing it to a pulsed U.V. source or subjecting the circuit pattern prepared from a U.V. curable ink containing magnetite particles to a magnetic field to move the magnetite particles to the upper surface of the U.V. curable ink. Other embodiments include circuit boards made in accordance with these methods and the use of the U.V. curable ink as a shielding composition for enclosures housing electronic equipment.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a shielded plastic enclosure for housing electronic equipment involves applying to at least one interior surface of the enclosure a layer of shielding composition which is a suspension of silver-coated magnetite particles in a U.V. curable resin. The thickness of this layer of shielding material is such that it effectively shields against electromagnetic interference, radio frequency interference and electrostatic discharge. Thereafter the shielding material is cured by exposure to a U.V. source.

Abstract: A method for producing a circuit board involves printing a U.V. curable ink onto a substrate in a desired circuit pattern and curing the ink by exposing it to a pulsed U.V. source or subjecting the circuit pattern prepared from a U.V. curable ink containing magnetite particles to a magnetic field to move the magnetite particles to the upper surface of the U.V. curable ink. Other embodiments include circuit boards made in accordance with these methods and the use of the U.V. curable ink as a shielding composition for enclosures housing electronic equipment.

Abstract: A method for producing a circuit board involves printing a U.V. curable ink onto a substrate in a desired cirucit pattern and curing the ink by exposing it to a pulsed U.V. source or subjecting the circuit pattern prepared from a U.V. curable ink containing magnetite particles to a magnetic field to move the magnetite particles to the upper surface of the U.V. curable ink. Other embodiments include circuit boards made in accordance with these methods and the use of the U.V. curable ink as a shielding composition for enclosures housing electronic equipment.

Abstract: A method for producing a circuit board involves printing a U.V. curable ink onto a substrate in a desired circuit pattern and curing the ink by exposing it to a pulsed U.V. source having an output in the region between 360 nm and 420 nm in a pulsing manner consisting of 5 to 8 one-half second exposure periods where each exposure period is followed by a non-exposure period of about 2 to 3 seconds.

Abstract: A method for producing a circuit board having conductive circuit elements patterened on a non-conductive substrate involves printing a film of a U.V. curable ink composed of a suspension of silver-coated magnetite particles in a U.V. curable resin onto the substrate in a circuit pattern, subjecting the pattern to a magnetic field to move the magnetite particles to a position at or near the upper surface of the resin and effecting U.V. radiation cure of the U.V. curable ink.