Patents Assigned to Sawgrass Systems, Inc.
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Patent number: 6540345Abstract: A process for printing and transferring an image from a receiver sheet having a thermally transferable film to a final substrate. Only the imaged area of the film is transferred and permanently fixed to a final substrate, while the non-imaged area is processed to have little or no affinity for the final substrate, and is not bound to the final substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Barbara Wagner, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6488370Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a printed a by printing heat activated ink solids in a non activated form onto a medium in a desired image by means of an ink jet printer. The invention is printed using ink or dye compositions comprising heat activated ink or dye solids. The ink compositions used to print the medium are solid at ambient temperature when used with phase change ink jet printers, and are emulsions when used with liquid ink jet printers such as free flow and bubble jet printers. The dye solids are printed in the desired design by means of a printer onto a substrate, which becomes the printed medium. The substrate may be paper, or it may be other material.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Hale, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6486903Abstract: A coated media is printed with ink. The area of the media which is not covered with ink is cured by exposure to radiation, and the printed image is transferred to a final substrate. The media is coated with a radiation curable coating. Upon exposure to electron beam or ultraviolet radiation, the coating in the exposed, non-imaged, area cures, and becomes permanently bonded to the base sheet. The ink layer of the imaged area effectively blocks, absorbs and/or reflects the radiation and does not allow polymerization under the imaged area. The image is transferred to a final substrate by placing the image in contact with the final substrate, followed by the application of energy. The image is permanently bonded to the final substrate. No overprint, or non-imaged area, that is visible or which may be felt by touching, is transferred to the final substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2000Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Barbara Wagner, Ming Xu
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Publication number: 20020135648Abstract: A method of printing using an ink or meltable ink layer which comprises dyes, pigments or other colorants. Bonding and/or crosslinking of the colorants is provided by the reaction between compounds selected from each of two chemical groups. The first group comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen. The second group comprises compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen after a conversion process. Either the first group or the second group is present in the ink, and an image is printed with the ink onto a substrate. The substrate comprises either the first or second group, as appropriate, to set up a later reaction with the ink. The reaction is delayed until the image is subsequently transferred to another substrate or is permanently fixed on the substrate, by the presence of protecting or blocking agents, which are removed by the application of heat or other energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Applicant: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Kimberlee Thompson, Barbara Wagner, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6450098Abstract: An image is printed on a substrate by means of a computer driven printer using heat activated dyes, without activating the dyes during the process of printing onto the substrate. The dyes are subsequently activated by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the substrate to activate the dyes.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2000Date of Patent: September 17, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Hale, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6447629Abstract: A method of digitally printing reactive ink contained in a heat meltable ink layer comprising dyes or pigments or other colorants, using a thermal printer. The ink layer comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, and compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or functional groups capable of conversion to active hydrogen containing groups. The reactive ink contains one or more blocking agents which prevent initiation of the reaction during thermal printing. An image is thermally printed onto a substrate, at a first temperature, so that the ink is not reacted during the process of printing on to the medium. The image is subsequently transferred or permanently fixed on the substrate by the application of heat and pressure, which removes the blocking agent and reacts the ink, bonding the colorant to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2000Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Kimberlee Thompson, Barbara Wagner, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6439710Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a printed a by printing heat activated ink solids in a non activated form onto a medium in a desired image by means of an ink jet printer. The invention is printed using ink or dye compositions comprising heat activated ink or dye solids. The ink compositions used to print the medium are solid at ambient temperature when used with phase change ink jet printers, and are emulsions when used with liquid ink jet printers such as free flow and bubble jet printers. The dye solids are printed in the desired design by means of a printer onto a substrate, which becomes the printed medium. The substrate may be paper, or it may be other material.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1999Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Hale, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6425331Abstract: An image is printed on a substrate by means of a computer driven printer using heat activated dyes, without activating the dyes during the process of printing onto the substrate. The dyes are susequently activated by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the substrate to activate the dyes.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1998Date of Patent: July 30, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ming Xu, Nathan Hale
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Patent number: 6402313Abstract: A method of printing using an ink or meltable ink layer which comprises dyes, pigments or other colorants. Bonding and/or crosslinking of the colorants is provided by the reaction between compounds selected from each of two chemical groups. The first group comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen. The second group comprises compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen after a conversion process. Either the first group or the second group is present in the ink, and an image is printed with the ink onto a substrate. The substrate comprises either the first or second group, as appropriate, to set up a later reaction with the ink. The reaction is delayed until the image is subsequently transferred to another substrate or is permanently fixed on the substrate, by the presence of protecting or blocking agents, which are removed by the application of heat or other energy.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ming Xu, Kimberlee Thompson, Barbara Wagner
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Publication number: 20020050221Abstract: An image is printed on a substrate by means of a computer driven printer using heat activated dyes, without activating the dyes during the process of printing onto the substrate. The dyes are susequently activated by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the substrate to activate the dyes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 1998Publication date: May 2, 2002Applicant: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: MING XU, NATHAN HALE
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Patent number: 6348939Abstract: A formulation and method of printing an ink or meltable ink layer having reactive dyes or mixtures of reactive dyes and disperse dyes as colorants. The ink or ink melt layer also includes an alkaline substance, a binder, and optionally, a heat-activated printing additive. Permanently bonded color images are provided by the reaction between the reactive dye and the final substrate, which may be any cellulosic, protein, or polyamide fiber material, or mixtures with polyester. Reaction occurs upon heat activation of the printed ink image.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1999Date of Patent: February 19, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ming Xu, Barbara J. Wagner
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Patent number: 6341856Abstract: A method of digitally printing a liquid ink by means of a printer which uses liquid ink such as an ink jet printer. The ink contains dyes or pigments or other colorants, a liquid carrier, and compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, and compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or functional groups capable of conversion to active hydrogen containing groups. One or more emulsifying agents emulsify the liquid ink. An image is printed onto a substrate, at a relatively low temperature, so that the ink is not activated during the process of printing on to the medium. The image is subsequently transferred or permanently fixed on the substrate by the application of heat and pressure, which activates the ink, and bonds the colorant to the substrate. The reactive compounds may be blocked with blocking agents which are removed by the application of heat or other energy during activation of the ink.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2000Date of Patent: January 29, 2002Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Kimberlee Thompson, Xiaorong Cai, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6152038Abstract: An intermediate media having a transferable UV stabilizer receives a printed image. A transferable UV absorber and/or free radical scavenger is present. The image, or dye layer, and UV stabilizer are transferred to a final substrate during subsequent heat transfer and activation. Alternatively, the UV stabilizer may be heat transferred from the intermediate transfer media onto a previously transferred image. The UV stabilizer is resistant to laundering at elevated temperatures after transfer and imparts no hand to the final substrate. The intermediate transfer media may comprise multiple layers including a layer containing one or more UV stabilizers. A release layer may be applied beneath the UV stabilizer layer. The release and UV stabilizer layers may sit beneath a dye screening layer. One layer may be a liquid permeable, gas impermeable membrane.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1999Date of Patent: November 28, 2000Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Barbara Wagner, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 6105502Abstract: A color image is printed onto a first substrate, which acts as an intermediate medium, using lithography, intaglio, gravure, relief printing or other printing process which uses plates. The image is subsequently transferred from the intermediate medium to a final substrate, which may be a textile of natural fabric, such as cotton.Bonding and/or crosslinking of the color images are provided by the reaction between compounds selected from each of two chemical groups. The first group comprises compounds with functional groups capable of reacting with active hydrogen, such as isocyanate or epoxy groups. The second group comprises compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen, or compounds with functional groups containing active hydrogen after a conversion process. The functional groups of one or both reactive chemical groups are protected either by chemical blocking with blocking agents or by physical barrier such as encapsulating agents.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Barbara Wagner, Kimberlee Thompson, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 5830263Abstract: A method of printing a liquid ink which is produced from a heat activated dye which is selected from a limited group of dyes which are capable of transfer at low energy. A printer which uses liquid ink, such as an ink jet printer, prints an image onto an intermediate substrate medium. The dyes contained in the ink are not substantially activated during the process of printing on to the medium. The image formed by the printed ink is transferred from the medium to a final substrate by the application of heat and pressure for a short period of time to activate the ink. The dye and dispersing/emulsifying agent(s) are selected from a limited group to produce an ink which permits thermal transfer at low energy, with the resulting image, as deposited on the final substrate, having an optical density of 1.0 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1997Date of Patent: November 3, 1998Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Hale, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 5746816Abstract: A liquid ink is produced for practicing a method of printing the liquid ink onto a medium for subsequent thermal transfer to a substrate. Insoluble heat activated dyes, such as sublimation or dye diffusion dyes, are heated to above their melting temperature to the same phase as the solvent, which is usually water. Additives and/or stabilizers are added to form micelle particles upon cooling of the material, without separation of the insoluble components, to produce the liquid ink.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 1996Date of Patent: May 5, 1998Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventor: Ming Xu
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Patent number: 5734396Abstract: An image is printed on a medium by means of a computer driven printer using an ink composition comprising heat activated dye solids, without activating the dye solids during the process of printing onto the medium. The image is transferred from the medium to the object on which the image is to permanently appear by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate the dye and transfer the image to the object. The liquid form of the ink composition uses a liquid carrier and an emulsifying enforcing agent which has an affinity for the dye. The emulsifying enforcing agent shields the heat activated dye both prior to, and during, the printing process.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 1995Date of Patent: March 31, 1998Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nathan S. Hale, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 5644988Abstract: An image is permanently transferred to a substrate having a cotton component, or other component which is absorbent or porous, from a medium printed with the image by a thermal printer using heat activated ink. A polymer surface preparation material and the ink are transferred by the thermal printer to the medium from a ribbon containing the ink and the surface preparation material, without activating the ink or the surface preparation material. The image is transferred from the medium to the substrate by applying sufficient heat and pressure to the medium to activate and transfer the ink and the surface preparation material, with the surface preparation material bonding the ink to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 1996Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ming Xu, Nathan S. Hale
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Patent number: 5642141Abstract: A method of printing a liquid ink which is produced from a heat activated dye which is selected from a limited group of dyes which are capable of transfer at low energy. A printer which uses liquid ink, such as an ink jet printer, prints an image onto an intermediate substrate medium. The dyes contained in the ink are not substantially activated during the process of printing on to the medium. The image formed by the printed ink is transferred from the medium to a final substrate by the application of heat and pressure for a short period of time to activate the ink. The dye and dispersing/emulsifying agent(s) are selected from a limited group to produce an ink which permits thermal transfer at low energy, with the resulting image, as deposited on the final substrate, having an optical density of 1.0 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1996Date of Patent: June 24, 1997Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Hale, Ming Xu
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Patent number: 5640180Abstract: A method of printing a liquid ink which is produced from a heat activated dye which is selected from a limited group of dyes which are capable of transfer at low energy. A printer which uses liquid ink, such as an ink jet printer, prints an image onto an intermediate substrate medium. The dyes contained in the ink are not substantially activated during the process of printing on to the medium. The image formed by the printed ink is transferred from the medium to a final substrate by the application of heat and pressure for a short period of time to activate the ink. The dye and dispersing/emulsifying agent(s) are selected from a limited group to produce an ink which permits thermal transfer at low energy, with the resulting image, as deposited on the final substrate, having an optical density of 1.0 or greater.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1996Date of Patent: June 17, 1997Assignee: Sawgrass Systems, Inc.Inventors: Nathan Hale, Ming Xu