Abstract: Apparatus for forming an image, comprising a storage for storing a digitized image and a receiver. The receiver includes a matrix, a thermomeltable material disposed in the matrix having a transition temperature range which is above room temperature wherein the viscosity of the thermomeltable material decreases substantially from below to above the transition temperature range, and field-driven particles immersed in the thermomeltable material, so that the particles change optical densities in response to an applied electric field when the thermomeltable material is above the transition temperature range and is stable at temperatures below the transition temperature range. An array of electrodes selectively applies electric fields at an image forming position on the receiver. The apparatus heats the receiver to control the temperature of the receiver to control the response of the field-driven particles in the receiver.

Abstract: A electronic printing apparatus includes memory for storing a digitized image. A receiver is transported to an image forming position, the receiver including field-driven particles in a matrix that can change reflective density in response to an applied electric field. The apparatus further includes an array of electrodes for selectively applying electric fields at the image forming position across the receiver; a heater for heating the receiver to increase the temperature of the matrix so as to increase the mobility of the field-driven particles in the matrix; and electronic control circuitry coupled to the array for selectively applying voltages to the array so that fields are applied at the image forming position to the heated field-driven particles at particular locations on the receiver corresponding to pixels in response to the stored image whereby the electrode produces an image in the receiver corresponding to the stored image in the receiver.

Abstract: A reusable thermal dye donor element for a dye transfer thermal printer comprising: a base support having a plurality of wells which preferentially adsorb and desorb dye; and an overcoat on the base support which has a thickness less than the depth of the plurality of wells.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a dye layer and on the other side a slipping layer comprising a binder containing polyalkylsilsesquioxane particles wherein less than about 8% of the particles have a diameter of >0.8 .mu.m.

Abstract: A dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a coextensive subbing layer and at least one dye layer area comprising an image dye in a binder and another area comprising a transferable protection layer, the transferable protection layer area being approximately equal in size to the dye layer area, the transferable protection layer having associated therewith a release material comprising a multi-hydroxyl compound, the alkali or alkaline earth metal salt of an alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, or an organic phosphate ester.

Abstract: A dye-receiver element comprising a support having thereon a dye-receiving layer containing a thermally-transferred dye image, the dye-receiving layer having on top thereof a transparent protective sheet comprising a polyester resin containing an ultraviolet absorbing agent.

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) an organic polymeric or oligomeric acid which is capable of reprotonating said deprotonated cationic dye;b) a polymer having a Tg of less than about 19.degree. C. and having no or only slight acidity; andc) a monomeric, multifunctional organic acid with at least two acid groups attached.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermal transfer donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye layer being capable of being thermally transferred to a receiver element, wherein the polymeric binder is a phenoxy resin.

Abstract: A dye-receiver element comprising a support having thereon a dye-receiving layer containing a thermally-transferred dye image, the dye-receiving layer being laminated to a transparent protective sheet by means of an adhesive comprising a phenoxy resin.

Abstract: This invention relates to a thermal transfer donor element comprising a support having thereon a pigment layer comprising a pigment dispersed in a polymeric binder, said pigment layer being capable of being thermally transferred to a receiver element, wherein said polymeric binder is a phenoxy resin.

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.

Abstract: An interactive dye thermal transfer printing apparatus and process uses a dye donor layer and a dye receiver layer, passing the dye donor layer and the opposed receiver layer between a thermal print head and a platen heated to raise the temperature of the dye receiver layer to its glass transition temperature. The thermal print head is image-wise energized to diffuse dye from the dye donor layer to the dye receiver layer. At the same time, thermal energy is transferred from the platen to the dye receiver layer to provide energy to react the dye with the receiver layer.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, the dye image-receiving element containing crosslinked elastomeric beads having a Tg of 45.degree. C. or less, the elastomeric beads being made from an acrylic polymer, an acrylic copolymer or a styrenic copolymer, the elastomeric beads having from about 5 to about 40% by weight of a crosslinking agent, the beads having a particle size of from about 2 to about 20 .mu.m.

Abstract: A thermally-transferred metallizable dye comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, wherein the dye image-receiving layer comprises an extruded polymer comprising a transition metal ion salt of a carboxylic acid.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element comprising a reflective support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer having an overcoat layer thereon containing crosslinked elastomeric beads having a Tg of 45.degree. C. or less, the elastomeric beads being made from an acrylic polymer, an acrylic copolymer or a styrenic copolymer, the elastomeric beads having from about 5 to about 40% by weight of a crosslinking agent, the elastomeric beads having a particle size of less than about 1 .mu.m and are present at a coverage of from about 0.2 to about 1.0 g/m.sup.2.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a dye image-receiving layer, wherein the dye image-receiving layer is overcoated with a layer consisting of a water-soluble poly(ethylene oxide) polymer.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for receiving a thermally-transferred ionic dye comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer, wherein the dye image-receiving layer comprises an elastomeric binder with a Tg of less than 25.degree. C. and a polymeric mordant for the ionic dye dispersed in the binder.

Abstract: A process of forming a dye transfer image comprising imagewise-heating, by means of a thermal print head, a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a sublimable, metallizable dye precursor dispersed in a polymeric binder, and transferring a dye image to a dye-receiving element comprising a support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer containing a metal ion to form the dye transfer image, wherein the support of the dye-receiving layer is heated above ambient temperature from the side opposite to the side facing the thermal print head either prior to or during transfer of the thermal dye image.

Abstract: A process of forming a single color, dye ablation image having a reduced D-min comprising imagewise-heating, by means of a laser, a dye-ablative recording element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising an image dye dispersed in a polymeric binder having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, the laser exposure taking place through the dye side of the element, and removing the ablated image dye material by means of an air stream to obtain an image in the dye-ablative recording element, wherein the image dye is thermally bleachable and decomposes upon laser exposure.

Abstract: A cyan dye-donor element for thermal dye transfer imaging comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, wherein the dye comprises a mixture of at least two different 2-carbamoyl-4-[N-(p-aminoaryl)-imino]-1,4-naphthoquinone dyes, each of the dyes having the formula: ##STR1## with the proviso that at least 50% of the dye mixture is a dye having the formula: ##STR2## and with the further proviso that at least one of the other dyes in the mixture has the formula: ##STR3##