Abstract: A covercoated transfer sheet for transferring images to a ceramic substrate. The covercoated transfer sheet contains a flat, flexible substrate and a transferable covercoat releaseably bound to the flat, flexible substrate. When the transferable covercoat is printed with an image to form an imaged covercoat, the image has a higher adhesion to the covercoat than the covercoat has to the flexible substrate. The imaged covercoat has an elongation to break of at least about 1 percent, and it can be separated from the flexible substrate with a peel force of less than about 30 grams per centimeter.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon with a flexible substrate and, disposed above the substrate, a frosting ink layer. The frosting ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 0.25 to about 15 grams per square meter and it contains from about 15 to about 94.5 weight percent of a solid, volatilizable carbonaceous binder, from about 5 to about 75 weight percent of a film-forming glass flux, and at least about 0.1 weight percent of opacifying agent.

Abstract: A ceramic decal assembly containing a ceramic substrate, a layer of adhesive contiguous with the substrate, and a ceramic decal contiguous with the layer of adhesive.

Abstract: A process for preparing a ceramic decal in which a printed image is applied to a backing sheet, and a covercoating is then applied to the printed substrate. A digitally printed ceramic colorant image is applied to the backing sheet; metal oxide colorant with a refractive index of greater than about 1.6 is used as the colorant. Thereafter, the printed image is covercoated with an overcoat containing frit and binder. The total amount of frit applied in the process divided by the total amount of colorant used is at least 2, and the frit used has a melting temperature of at least 550 degrees Centigrade.

Abstract: A covercoated transfer sheet for transferring images to a ceramic substrate. The covercoated transfer sheet contains a flat, flexible substrate and a transferable covercoat releaseably bound to the flat, flexible substrate. When the transferable covercoat is printed with an image to form an imaged covercoat, the image has a higher adhesion to the covercoat than the covercoat has to the flexible substrate. The imaged covercoat has an elongation to break of at least about 1 percent, and it can be separated from the flexible substrate with a peel force of less than about 30 grams per centimeter.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for re-applying dye to a dye donor element of a dye transfer thermal printer. A reservoir contains a supply of dye that is thermally transferred from the reservoir to the dye donor element by diffusion of dye into the dye donor element. The reservoir has a diffusion controlled permeation membrane through which dye is delivered to the dye donor element, while inhibiting diffusion of a binder, whereby the dye diffuses between the reservoir and the dye donor element but the binder does not.

Abstract: A process for preparing a ceramic decal in which a printed image is applied to a backing sheet, and a covercoating is then applied to the printed substrate. A digitally printed ceramic colorant image is applied to the backing sheet; metal oxide colorant with a refractive index of greater than about 1.6 is used as the colorant. Thereafter, the printed image is covercoated with an overcoat containing frit and binder. The total amount of frit applied in the process divided by the total amount of colorant used is at least 2, and the frit used has a melting temperature of at least 550 degrees Centigrade.

Abstract: A thermal transfer ribbon with a flexible substrate and, disposed above the substrate, a frosting ink layer. The frosting ink layer is present at a coating weight of from about 2 to about 15 grams per square meter and it contains from about 15 to about 94.5 weight percent of a solid, volatilizable carbonaceous binder, from about 5 to about 75 weight percent of a film-forming glass flux, and at least about 0.5 weight percent of opacifying agent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a ceramic decal in which a printed image is applied to a backing sheet, and a covercoating is then applied to the printed substrate. A digitally printed ceramic colorant image is applied to the backing sheet; metal oxide colorant with a refractive index of greater than about 1.6 is used as the colorant. Thereafter, the printed image is covercoated with an overcoat containing frit and binder. The total amount of frit applied in the process divided by the total amount of colorant used is at least 2, and the frit used has a melting temperature of at least 550 degrees Centigrade.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for re-applying dye to a dye donor element of a dye transfer thermal printer. A reservoir contains a supply of dye that is thermally transferred from the reservoir to the dye donor element by diffusion of dye into the dye donor element. The reservoir has a diffusion controlled permeation membrane through which dye is delivered to the dye donor element, while inhibiting diffusion of a binder, whereby the dye diffuses between the reservoir and the dye donor element but the binder does not.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus for producing a non-emissive display having a plurality of pixels on a substrate and the pixels being defined by intersecting electrodes includes a plurality of reservoirs containing fluids including solid-phase field-driven particles; a print head located in a printing position having at least one nozzle connected to a reservoir; and producing a signal associated with the position of the substrate relative to the print head. The substrate is moved in a first direction to the printing position in response to the signal. The signal causes the print head to eject drops of the fluids from the nozzles at the intersecting electrodes on the substrate and for providing relative movement in a second direction between the print head and the substrate for fluids to be transferred to subsequent intersecting electrodes.

Abstract: A thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:(I) a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having a N--H group which is part of a conjugated system, and(II) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, the dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with the dye-donor element so that the dye layer is in contact with the polymeric dye image-receiving layer, the polymeric dye image-receiving layer comprising a mixture ofa) a polymer having a Tg of less than about 19.degree. C. and having no or only slight acidity; andb) an acidic material containing at least 0.0007 meq/m.sup.

Abstract: Improved point source electromagnetic radiation emitters including a dispersing element that radiates electromagnetic radiation over a very wide conical angle of approaching about 180.degree.. This light dispersing element can be in any one or more of several illustrated forms such as a light diffusing spherical or hemispherical element, a planar diffusing plate, a tapered light guide, a plano-concave lens, a convex mirror, a light pipe with a large numerical aperture, or the like. The emitter of this invention may be fixed to an object and tracked in a 3-dimensional volume by a system using electro-optical position sensors in order to determine the spatial location of the emitters and therefore to determine, by geometry, the position and orientation of the object. The electromagnetic radiation generator is preferably disposed remote from the emitter and is electrically and magnetically isolated from the emitter. A common optical fiber provides transmission of the radiation from the generator to the emitter.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for re-applying dye to a dye donor element of a dye transfer thermal printer. A reservoir contains a supply of dye that is thermally transferred from the reservoir to the dye donor element by diffusion of dye into the dye donor element. The reservoir has a diffusion controlled permeation membrane through which dye is delivered to the dye donor element, while inhibiting diffusion of a binder, whereby the dye diffuses between the reservoir and the dye donor element but the binder does not.

Abstract: This invention relates to a dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising an image dye in a polymeric binder, and wherein the dye layer also contains a plasticizer comprising a chlorinated paraffin.

Abstract: A multicolor dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer capable of producing improved color gamut comprising a support having thereon a set of sequential repeating dye patches of yellow, magenta and cyan image dyes dispersed in a polymeric binder, the element also having at least one additional dye patch comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye of each such additional dye patch which, when transferred to a dye image-receiving layer before or after transfer of the original yellow, magenta and cyan image dyes, has a hue measured at its maximum density which is outside the color gamut defined by the hues of the original transferred yellow, magenta and cyan image dyes by more than 5 CIELAB .DELTA.E.sub.c units.

Abstract: A thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:(I) a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having a N--H group which is part of a conjugated system, and(II) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, the dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with the dye-donor element so that the dye layer is in contact with the polymeric dye image-receiving layer, the polymeric dye image-receiving layer comprising a mixture ofa) a polymer having a Tg of less than about 19.degree. C. and having no or only slight acidity; andb) an acidic clay capable of reprotonating the deprotonated cationic dye.

Abstract: A hybrid imaging system is capable of using both ink jet technology and thermal dye transfer technology for producing images on a dye-receiving element of the type having a support and a polymeric dye image-receiving layer that contains an organic acid capable of reprotonating the deprotonated cationic dye from both ink jet ink and dye-donor ribbon. The imaging system includes a print path adapted to accept such a dye-receiving element, and a dye-receiving element transport mechanism adapted to advance a dye-receiving element along the print path. An ink jet imaging assemblage is located along the print path for selectively producing images on the dye-receiving element using ink jet inks having a dye dispersed in an aqueous ink, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having an N-H group which is part of a conjugated system.

Abstract: Ion selective membranes and ion selective electrode constructions which include ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), a reduced amount of plasticizer and an ion selective material. The ion selective membranes have a low crystallinity. In certain embodiments, the ion selective membranes may further include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a salt or a combination thereof. The ion selective membrane can be incorporated into an ion selective electrode construction. Methods of manufacturing the ion selective membranes and ion selective electrode constructions are provided.

Abstract: A thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising:(a) a dye-donor dement comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye being a deprotonated cationic dye which is capable of being reprotonated to a cationic dye having a N--H group which is part of a conjugated system, and(b) a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a polymeric dye image-receiving layer, the dye-receiving element being in a superposed relationship with the dye-donor element so that the dye layer is in contact with the polymeric dye image-receiving layer, the polymeric dye image-receiving layer comprising a mixture of an organic polymeric or oligomeric acid which is capable of reprotonating the deprotonated cationic dye and a polymer having a Tg of less than about 19.degree. C. and having no or only slight acidity.