CA2148240C - On-demand production of lat imaging films - Google Patents
On-demand production of lat imaging films Download PDFInfo
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- CA2148240C CA2148240C CA002148240A CA2148240A CA2148240C CA 2148240 C CA2148240 C CA 2148240C CA 002148240 A CA002148240 A CA 002148240A CA 2148240 A CA2148240 A CA 2148240A CA 2148240 C CA2148240 C CA 2148240C
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- Prior art keywords
- imaging
- film
- lat
- laser
- topcoat
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
- B41M5/38207—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes characterised by aspects not provided for in groups B41M5/385 - B41M5/395
- B41M5/38214—Structural details, e.g. multilayer systems
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/24—Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/26—Processing photosensitive materials; Apparatus therefor
- G03F7/28—Processing photosensitive materials; Apparatus therefor for obtaining powder images
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
- B41M5/46—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography characterised by the light-to-heat converting means; characterised by the heat or radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers
- B41M5/465—Infra-red radiation-absorbing materials, e.g. dyes, metals, silicates, C black
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S430/00—Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product thereof
- Y10S430/165—Thermal imaging composition
Abstract
Unique laser ablation transfer ("LAT") imaging films presenting options of flexibility and versatility hitherto alien to this art are produced, on-demand, by toning appropriate substrate as to provide thereon an ablative discontinuous film topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of conventional or modified toner particulates.
Description
ON-DEMAND PRODUCTION OF LAT IMAGING FILMS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to the on-demand production of laser ablation transfer ("LAT") imaging films, and, more especially, to the on-demand (or on-line) economical production of LAT imaging films presenting options of flexibility hitherto unknown in laser ablation transfer imaging science ("LATIS").
Description of the Prior Art:
U.S. Patent No. 5,156,938 to Diane M. Foley et al, assigned to the assignee of the present application recounts the LATIS prior art and describes a unique method/system for simultaneously creating and transferring a contrasting pattern of intelligence on and from an ablation-transfer imaging medium to a receptor element in contiguous registration therewith that is not dependent upon contrast imaging materials that must absorb the imaging radiation, typically laser radiation, and is well adopted for such applications as, e.g., color proofing and printing, computer-to-plate, the security coding of various documents and the production of machine-readable or medical items, as well as for the production of masks for the graphic arts and printed circuit industries; the ablation-transfer imaging medium, per se, comprises a support substrate and an imaging radiation-, preferably a laser radiation-ablative topcoat essentially coextensive therewith, such ablative topcoat having a non-imaging ablation sensitizer and an imaging amount of a non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material ("CIM") contained therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to the on-demand production of laser ablation transfer ("LAT") imaging films, and, more especially, to the on-demand (or on-line) economical production of LAT imaging films presenting options of flexibility hitherto unknown in laser ablation transfer imaging science ("LATIS").
Description of the Prior Art:
U.S. Patent No. 5,156,938 to Diane M. Foley et al, assigned to the assignee of the present application recounts the LATIS prior art and describes a unique method/system for simultaneously creating and transferring a contrasting pattern of intelligence on and from an ablation-transfer imaging medium to a receptor element in contiguous registration therewith that is not dependent upon contrast imaging materials that must absorb the imaging radiation, typically laser radiation, and is well adopted for such applications as, e.g., color proofing and printing, computer-to-plate, the security coding of various documents and the production of machine-readable or medical items, as well as for the production of masks for the graphic arts and printed circuit industries; the ablation-transfer imaging medium, per se, comprises a support substrate and an imaging radiation-, preferably a laser radiation-ablative topcoat essentially coextensive therewith, such ablative topcoat having a non-imaging ablation sensitizer and an imaging amount of a non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material ("CIM") contained therein.
U.S. Patent No. 5,171,650 which issued on December 15, 1992 to Ellis et al and assigned to the assignee of the present application, describes improved ablation-transfer imaging media having greater sensitivity, requiring less sensitizer and threshold energy (thus permitting a greater range of mass to be transferred), and which additionally are kinetically more rapid and facilitate the ablative transfer to a receptor element of an imaging radiation-ablative topcoat containing virtually any type of contrast imaging material (whether sensitizing or non-sensitizing).
Such Ellis et al method/system for simultaneously creating and transferring a contrasting pattern of intelligence on and from a composite ablation-transfer imaging medium to a receptor element in contiguous registration therewith is improvedly radiation sensitive and versatile, is kinetically rapid and not dependent on a sensitized ablative topcoat, and is also very well adopted for such applications as, e.g., color proofing and printing, computer-to-plate, the security coding of various documents and the production of machine-readable or medical items, as well as for the production of masks for the graphic arts and printed circuit industries; the Ellis et al composite ablation-transfer imaging medium, per se, comprises a support substrate (i), at least one intermediate "dynamic release layer" (ii) essentially coextensive therewith and an imaging radiation-ablative carrier i C''~"~~ W~ 94/11785 PC'T/US93/11117 :rJ - , t t topcoat (iii) also essentially coextensive therewith, said imaging radiation-ablative carrier topcoat (iii) including an imaging amount of a contrast imaging material contained therein, whether or not itself including a laser absorber/sensitizer, and said at least one dynamic release layer (ii) absorbing such imaging radiation, typically laser radiation, at a rate sufficient to effect the imagewise ablation mass transfer of at least said carrier topcoat (iii).
By "dynamic release layer" is intended an intermediate layer that must interact with the imaging radiation to effect imagewise ablative transfer of at least the carrier topcoat onto a receptor element at an energy/fluence less than would be required in the absence thereof. The dynamic release layer ("DRL") is believed to release the carrier topcoat by effectively eliminating the adhesive forces that bond or consolidate the carrier topcoat with the support substrate.
Freferably, under the same conditions additional propulsion is simultaneously provided by the interaction of the imaging radiation therewith, e.g., by ablation of the dynamic release layer itself, thus further facilitating the imagewise ablative transfer of the entire carrier topcoat to a receptor element.
Representative DRLs per Ellis et al include metal, metal alloy, metal oxide and metal sulfide thin films, etc., and the organics.
Nonetheless, to date the LAT imaging films employed in, for example,. the Foley et al and Ellis ~30 et al LATIS' described above have been limited to those "permanent" films available from inventory, namely, pre-manufactured or pre-coated, and, thus, which inventory is typically inadequate to supply the complete spectrum of LAT imaging films that may be required for a particular application, e.g., not all colors, not all ~V~ 94/ 11 X85 PG.'I'JUS93111'd 1 >~ y I
2~~~~4~
Such Ellis et al method/system for simultaneously creating and transferring a contrasting pattern of intelligence on and from a composite ablation-transfer imaging medium to a receptor element in contiguous registration therewith is improvedly radiation sensitive and versatile, is kinetically rapid and not dependent on a sensitized ablative topcoat, and is also very well adopted for such applications as, e.g., color proofing and printing, computer-to-plate, the security coding of various documents and the production of machine-readable or medical items, as well as for the production of masks for the graphic arts and printed circuit industries; the Ellis et al composite ablation-transfer imaging medium, per se, comprises a support substrate (i), at least one intermediate "dynamic release layer" (ii) essentially coextensive therewith and an imaging radiation-ablative carrier i C''~"~~ W~ 94/11785 PC'T/US93/11117 :rJ - , t t topcoat (iii) also essentially coextensive therewith, said imaging radiation-ablative carrier topcoat (iii) including an imaging amount of a contrast imaging material contained therein, whether or not itself including a laser absorber/sensitizer, and said at least one dynamic release layer (ii) absorbing such imaging radiation, typically laser radiation, at a rate sufficient to effect the imagewise ablation mass transfer of at least said carrier topcoat (iii).
By "dynamic release layer" is intended an intermediate layer that must interact with the imaging radiation to effect imagewise ablative transfer of at least the carrier topcoat onto a receptor element at an energy/fluence less than would be required in the absence thereof. The dynamic release layer ("DRL") is believed to release the carrier topcoat by effectively eliminating the adhesive forces that bond or consolidate the carrier topcoat with the support substrate.
Freferably, under the same conditions additional propulsion is simultaneously provided by the interaction of the imaging radiation therewith, e.g., by ablation of the dynamic release layer itself, thus further facilitating the imagewise ablative transfer of the entire carrier topcoat to a receptor element.
Representative DRLs per Ellis et al include metal, metal alloy, metal oxide and metal sulfide thin films, etc., and the organics.
Nonetheless, to date the LAT imaging films employed in, for example,. the Foley et al and Ellis ~30 et al LATIS' described above have been limited to those "permanent" films available from inventory, namely, pre-manufactured or pre-coated, and, thus, which inventory is typically inadequate to supply the complete spectrum of LAT imaging films that may be required for a particular application, e.g., not all colors, not all ~V~ 94/ 11 X85 PG.'I'JUS93111'd 1 >~ y I
2~~~~4~
color densities, not all~film thicknesses, etc., are .
usually available from inventory.
SRY OF TyiE IN9ENTION
Accordingly, a major object of the present invention is the provision of unique means for the on-demand or on-line production or generation, of LATIS
imaging films that offers the end user a degree of flexibility and versatility hitherto alien to this art.
Another object of this invention is the on-to demand production/generation of LAT imaging films having any one ar more of an essentially infinite number of contrast imaging material options, as well any one or more of an essentially infinite number of thicknesses and GIM densities..
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of unique means for the on-demand production/generation of LATIS raging films which entails conventional toning techniques utilizing conventional liquid or dry toners, or liquid or dry toners especially modified or customized as to be tailored to a specific desire or LATIS application.
Still another object.of this invention is the provision of such unique means employing conventional or customized toners that presents the option, whether from an economic and/or environmental standpoint, of recycling the unused toner from the non-imaged areas on imaged donor films.
And still another object of this invention is ' the provision of composite LAT imaging films comprising 30~ a discontinuous or "toned" ablative topcoat and, hence, ' that are improvedly laser radiation sensitive (by reason of the reduced adhesion of the discontinuous ablative topcoat to whatever substrate, whether or not including a DRL, in contradistinction to LAT imaging films which comprise a permanent, durably adhered continuous ablative topcoat ) .
Briefly, the present invention features the on-5 demand supply of appropriate substrate that will ultimately comprise the desired LAT film, and then on-site toning such substrate as to provide a unique composite film having a desired color or imaging functionality at a desired thickness or density, typically just prior to or immediately upstream of the actual imaging sequence.
According to one aspect the invention provides a composite LAT imaging film which comprises a support substrate, said support substrate comprising a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyurethane, a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polysulfone, a polystyrene, or a cellulosic; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin layer; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a process for the production of the composite LAT
imaging film referred to in the preceding paragraph, comprising toning said support substrate and dynamic release layer to provide thereon a laser-ablative, discontinuous film topcoat which comprises a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
According to yet another aspect the invention provides a composite LAT imaging film which comprises a support substrate; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin film; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
According to still another aspect, the invention provides a composite LAT imaging film which comprises a support substrate; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin film; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising at least one near infrared laser-absorber/sensitizer or a black body laser-absorber/sensitizer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram/schematic of one embodiment of on-demand production and immediate downstream imaging of unique LAT imaging films according to the present invention;
FIGURES 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrammatic/schematic representations of two embodiments of on-demand production of unique LAT imaging films per the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of particular toner apparatus for on-demand producing the unique LAT imaging films of this invention;
6a FIGURE 4 is a block diagram/schematic of another embodiment of on-demand production and immediate downstream imaging of LAT imaging films according to the present invention; and FIGURE 5 is another block diagram/schematic of a computer controlled system for the on-demand production and downstream imaging of LAT imaging films according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
More particularly according to the present invention, it will be immediately apparent that the subject "toning" or "toner" technique eliminates the requirement for manufactured (pre-coated) donor imaging sheets (films) and permits the end user much greater flexibility in imaging, e.g., in respect of required colors and densities, to meet any particular industry standard, whether United States, for example ANPA (American Newspaper Publishers' Association) and SWOP (Standards For Web Offset Publication), European, Japanese, etc.
By "toning" or "toner" technique is intended that a discontinuous film or coating is provided via any conventional means for applying toner particulates to a substrate, as opposed to, e.g., solvent coated continuous phase films. Such "toning" enhances the laser radiation sensitivity of the final product LAT film as a consequence of the lesser adhesive and cohesive forces bonding the imaging layer topcoat onto its supporting substrate.
6b It will thus be appreciated that conventional toning techniques are utilized per the present invention for the on-demand production of LAT imaging media that functionally and structurally correspond to those described in the aforesaid Foley et al, U.S. Patent 5,156,938 and Ellis et al, U.S. Patent 5,171,650 (hereinafter simply "Foley et al/Ellis et al"). The toners, per se, may be either conventional liquid or dry toners, or liquid or dry toners especially modified or customized t~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PGT/~JS93/11117 ~~~:~~ WO 94/117$5 as to be tailored to a specific LATIS application. Such toners, moreover, may either include or not include a laser absorber/sensitizer, albeit if a LAT imaging medium is to be produced corresponding to one described in Foley et al, the toner necessarily is or comprises an ablation sensitizes, with the toner particles themselves comprising the imaging.~amount of the contrast imaging material, characteristically the imaging amount of a non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material.
Too, the toner may reflect a high pigment to binder ratio, wherefrom the highest density prints can be obtained. Stated differently, the pigment to binder ratio is advantageously optimized for greatest sensitivity and color density. Also advantageously, the toner pigments are the same as the conventional printing ink pigments for proofing applications, and the binders should be selected as a function of the intended final application (for example ink receptive and durable materials for printing plates o~ easily fusible materials for paper receptor applications). The particle size of the toner pigments is likewise dependent on the desired final application. "Prolonged tacky toners'°, as described in U. S. Patent No.
4,461,823, are also envisaged, as are the toning methods described in~U. S. Patents Nos. 3,060,026 and 4,019,821 and in Held, Journal of Imaging Technolocty, 17, No. 1, pp. 18-21 (February/March 1991).
It will also be appreciated that toned 1.~AT
imaging media present a nntnber of distinct advantages versus the "permanent" or manufactured (pre-coated) variety. Notably, the toned LAT imaging media according to this invention manifest improved laser sensitivity by reason of the decreased adhesion of the toner to the support substrate therefor and the diminished cohesive forces because no continuous film is required to be WO 94111785 PCf/US93/1111 ~~ I
usually available from inventory.
SRY OF TyiE IN9ENTION
Accordingly, a major object of the present invention is the provision of unique means for the on-demand or on-line production or generation, of LATIS
imaging films that offers the end user a degree of flexibility and versatility hitherto alien to this art.
Another object of this invention is the on-to demand production/generation of LAT imaging films having any one ar more of an essentially infinite number of contrast imaging material options, as well any one or more of an essentially infinite number of thicknesses and GIM densities..
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of unique means for the on-demand production/generation of LATIS raging films which entails conventional toning techniques utilizing conventional liquid or dry toners, or liquid or dry toners especially modified or customized as to be tailored to a specific desire or LATIS application.
Still another object.of this invention is the provision of such unique means employing conventional or customized toners that presents the option, whether from an economic and/or environmental standpoint, of recycling the unused toner from the non-imaged areas on imaged donor films.
And still another object of this invention is ' the provision of composite LAT imaging films comprising 30~ a discontinuous or "toned" ablative topcoat and, hence, ' that are improvedly laser radiation sensitive (by reason of the reduced adhesion of the discontinuous ablative topcoat to whatever substrate, whether or not including a DRL, in contradistinction to LAT imaging films which comprise a permanent, durably adhered continuous ablative topcoat ) .
Briefly, the present invention features the on-5 demand supply of appropriate substrate that will ultimately comprise the desired LAT film, and then on-site toning such substrate as to provide a unique composite film having a desired color or imaging functionality at a desired thickness or density, typically just prior to or immediately upstream of the actual imaging sequence.
According to one aspect the invention provides a composite LAT imaging film which comprises a support substrate, said support substrate comprising a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyurethane, a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polysulfone, a polystyrene, or a cellulosic; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin layer; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a process for the production of the composite LAT
imaging film referred to in the preceding paragraph, comprising toning said support substrate and dynamic release layer to provide thereon a laser-ablative, discontinuous film topcoat which comprises a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
According to yet another aspect the invention provides a composite LAT imaging film which comprises a support substrate; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin film; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
According to still another aspect, the invention provides a composite LAT imaging film which comprises a support substrate; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin film; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising at least one near infrared laser-absorber/sensitizer or a black body laser-absorber/sensitizer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram/schematic of one embodiment of on-demand production and immediate downstream imaging of unique LAT imaging films according to the present invention;
FIGURES 2(a) and 2(b) are diagrammatic/schematic representations of two embodiments of on-demand production of unique LAT imaging films per the present invention;
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of particular toner apparatus for on-demand producing the unique LAT imaging films of this invention;
6a FIGURE 4 is a block diagram/schematic of another embodiment of on-demand production and immediate downstream imaging of LAT imaging films according to the present invention; and FIGURE 5 is another block diagram/schematic of a computer controlled system for the on-demand production and downstream imaging of LAT imaging films according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
More particularly according to the present invention, it will be immediately apparent that the subject "toning" or "toner" technique eliminates the requirement for manufactured (pre-coated) donor imaging sheets (films) and permits the end user much greater flexibility in imaging, e.g., in respect of required colors and densities, to meet any particular industry standard, whether United States, for example ANPA (American Newspaper Publishers' Association) and SWOP (Standards For Web Offset Publication), European, Japanese, etc.
By "toning" or "toner" technique is intended that a discontinuous film or coating is provided via any conventional means for applying toner particulates to a substrate, as opposed to, e.g., solvent coated continuous phase films. Such "toning" enhances the laser radiation sensitivity of the final product LAT film as a consequence of the lesser adhesive and cohesive forces bonding the imaging layer topcoat onto its supporting substrate.
6b It will thus be appreciated that conventional toning techniques are utilized per the present invention for the on-demand production of LAT imaging media that functionally and structurally correspond to those described in the aforesaid Foley et al, U.S. Patent 5,156,938 and Ellis et al, U.S. Patent 5,171,650 (hereinafter simply "Foley et al/Ellis et al"). The toners, per se, may be either conventional liquid or dry toners, or liquid or dry toners especially modified or customized t~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PGT/~JS93/11117 ~~~:~~ WO 94/117$5 as to be tailored to a specific LATIS application. Such toners, moreover, may either include or not include a laser absorber/sensitizer, albeit if a LAT imaging medium is to be produced corresponding to one described in Foley et al, the toner necessarily is or comprises an ablation sensitizes, with the toner particles themselves comprising the imaging.~amount of the contrast imaging material, characteristically the imaging amount of a non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material.
Too, the toner may reflect a high pigment to binder ratio, wherefrom the highest density prints can be obtained. Stated differently, the pigment to binder ratio is advantageously optimized for greatest sensitivity and color density. Also advantageously, the toner pigments are the same as the conventional printing ink pigments for proofing applications, and the binders should be selected as a function of the intended final application (for example ink receptive and durable materials for printing plates o~ easily fusible materials for paper receptor applications). The particle size of the toner pigments is likewise dependent on the desired final application. "Prolonged tacky toners'°, as described in U. S. Patent No.
4,461,823, are also envisaged, as are the toning methods described in~U. S. Patents Nos. 3,060,026 and 4,019,821 and in Held, Journal of Imaging Technolocty, 17, No. 1, pp. 18-21 (February/March 1991).
It will also be appreciated that toned 1.~AT
imaging media present a nntnber of distinct advantages versus the "permanent" or manufactured (pre-coated) variety. Notably, the toned LAT imaging media according to this invention manifest improved laser sensitivity by reason of the decreased adhesion of the toner to the support substrate therefor and the diminished cohesive forces because no continuous film is required to be WO 94111785 PCf/US93/1111 ~~ I
disintegrated/ablated. Further, any desired thickness and/or density of the toned ablative topcoat is readily provided by simple adjustment of the magnitude of charging and/or changing the duration of the dwell time that the toner is in contact with the support substrate to be toned. The economics of the respective systems should also be considered, namely, the economics of a toner system compare quite favorably vis-a-vis solvent coating that pr~duees a permanent continuous film.
1~ Likewise as regards environmental concerns, since the evolution of volatile organic compounds ("VOCs") is far mope problematical in solvent coating contexts. And per the present invention the ''unused" toner remaining on the film subsequent to the imaging sequence is easily recycled by simple stripping; the support substrate, e.g., a polyester base, can also be recycled in the usual manner. Equally as important, though, is the fact that on-demand production of LAT imaging films eliminates the requirement for a~ inventory of many thicknesses and/or densities of contrast imaging materials, makes more colors available, and offers the end user cost savings and that degree of flexibility and versatility indicated above hitherto alien to this art.
Moreover, the possibility exists that the investment in the toning hardware may be offset by decreased costs in the write engine laser, i.e., laser expenses may be reduced because of the greater sensitivity of toned LAT donor elements, namely, Diode Pumped Solid State lasers may be replaced by far less 3Q expensive semiconductor lasers not requiring modulators.
The "time-to-tone" may similarly be offset by reason of the more rapid write times allowed by more sensitive LAT
imaging media.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the LAT donor films are formed "on-demand" by charging a s ...:.
_. i~ti 94/11785 ~ ~ ~ ~ 2 4 ~ PCI'/11~93/11117 , metallized laser-transparent and laser-sensitive substrate, for example a support substrate~coated with a thin metal film dynamic release layer ( °°DRL'° ) as described in said copending Ellis et al '039 application, and then subjecting the charged substrate to liquid or dry toner treatment to provide a composite film having a desired color or imaging functionality at a desired thickness or density just prior to imaging.
The toning treatment is per se known to this 1~ art and characteristically entails a direct charging by applying a potential to the ground plane, e.g., of a metallized polyester film, or indirectly as by corona discharge.
These LAT donor films are subsequently biased in registration with a receptor element, preferably in a vacuum, on an external drum, inside a stationary internal drum or on a flatbed laser imaging device.
Laser ablation transfer imaging is then accomplished by A
the imagewise modulation of a scanned laser beam through appropriate optical components onto the donor/receptor composite. After imaging is complete the donor is separated from the receptor element revealing both a registered positive and a negative image.. The transfer process maybe repeated sequentially with other donor colorants to the same receptor to produce a multicolor, registered image, e.g., a direct digital color proof or print.
In this process unused toners or unimaged areas may be recovered for future use, an economical and environmental benefit.
In another preferred embodiment, the LAT donor films of this invention can be formed by blanketwise ultraviolet exposure of a photosensitive polymeric coating on the metal side of a laser-sensitive metallized laser-transparent base substrate producing a i Y.'i~ ~ \J
CVO 94/11785 PCT/US93/1111',~' r"~
~~~~~~~-:
tacky surface useful for dry toning with contrast , imaging materials, laser sensitized or unsensitized.
LAT imaging may be accomplished by biasing the thus , generated donor element into intimate contact with a 5 suitable receptor element on or within an imaging drum or flatbed and imagewise laser scanning. After imaging is complete the two elements are separated to reveal a registered positive~and a negative image.
Suitable support substrates per this invention 10 are those described in Foley et al/Ellis et al, namely, a glass, polyester, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyamide, polysulfone, polystyrene, cellulosic, etc. Zikewise as regards the receptor element, i.e., newsprint, paper, plastic, film, metal, fabric, etc., as well as the contrast imaging material, i.e., colorant, ultraviolet or infrared absorbing material, magnetic material, polymeric material, fluorescent material, conducting material, etc.
a Referring specifically to the Figures of 2o Drawing, FIGURh 1 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment o~ on-demand production of LAT imaging films according to the present invention via electrostatic toning technique, as well as the downstream imaging thereof and ultimate provision of appropriately imaged receptor element. Thus, appropriate substrate, e.g., a metallized polyester base, is transferred from donor , ~ , supply 1 to an electrostatic station 2 whereat said metallized base is electrically charged (for example directly, by applying a potential to the ground plane of the metallized polyester, or indirectly, by corona ~ _ discharge) and then is toned in conventional manner with either a liquid or dry toner, such toner either being i conventional and commercially available or being especially modified or customized, as indicated above, as to be tailored for a particular LATIS application.
i i i a ~~-:~" WO 94J11785 FCT/US93/11117 W
l1 The compasite imaging film is next advanced through an optional fusing or stabilizing station 3 (c~ith stabilization being tantamount to a partial fusing to enhance the durability thereof) and ultimately is biased in registration with preselected receptor element, indexed from receptor stock supply 4, in a laser imaging device 5. After imaging. has been completed, the donor imaging film is separated from the imaged receptor element providing both a registered positive and negative image. The imaged receptor element, for ' certain applications, is transferred through an output fuser 6 to securedly affix the imaging coating to the receptor element indicated by the reference numeral 7.
. The "spent" film can then be processed, as shown, to recover and recycle the untransferred toner therefrom to said electrostatic station 2, or, if desired, the remaining image can be fused, at station 8, to provide, e.g., a masking film or the like, recovered at site 9. It is also within they scope of the present 2o invention that either or both of the toning/imaging operations can be computer or numerically controlled by input of predetermined data from appropriate digital data files 10.
FIGURE 2(a) illustrates in greater detail the charging/toning sequence conducted~in the electrostatic station or module 2 shown in FIG. 1, employing, for example,,.an alumi~nizedv(DRL) polyester substrate as described in the aforesaid Ellis et al '039 application.
The apparatus for the toning operation .
conducted in said electrostatic station 2 is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 3, using cyan as a representative toner.
FIGURE 4 is a block diagram depicting a computer controlled or otherwise automated system for on-demand production of LAT imaging films according to PC'T/ZJS93/1111 'r' . ;
WO 94111785 p . ;:
r this invention either via electrostatic or "tacky surface" toning technique, as well as the.downstream s imaging of the toned substrate and ultimate production of appropriately imaged receptor element. In this embodiment appropriate substrate, e.g., a metallized polyester base or a metallized.polyester base coated with a photosensitive polymer on the metal side thereof, whether in sheet or in roll form,. is controlledly transferred from the donor supply 20 to a conditioning station 21 whereat said metallized base is~eiths~r electrically charged (as in the. embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(a)) or the photosensitive polymeric coating is blanketwise ultraviolet exposed to produce a tacky surface susceptible to dry toning, as is well known to this art (shown in greater detail in FIGURE
2(b)).
The conditioned substrate is next advanced to an automated toning station 22 and predetermined amount of suitable toner, whether liquid or dry, is uniformly applied thereto over the entirety of the conditioned face surface of the substrate. The toner may be, for examgle, a conventional yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) or black (K) toner, or may be of the customized type as hereinbefore discussed, indicated as "special." The resulting composite imaging film is then controlledly transported, after being cut into sheet form if originally suppfiied from a roll and, as in, the embodiment of FIG. 1, optionally after fusing the toner to the donor substrate at~station 23 for purposes of durability or avoiding the damaging effects of °'handling", to a laser imaging device 24. In said laser imaging device 24 the composite imaging film is automatically controlledly biased in registration with a preselected receptor element supplied from "inventory"
25 and therein imagewise laser irradiating said composite imaging film by means of appropriate LAT write engine to a predetermined pattern of intelligence with an intensity sufficient to effect the ablation mass transfer of the volume of the imagewise-exposed area of the laser radiation-ablative topcoat of said film onto said receptor element. After the imaging sequence has been completed, the donor imaging film is controlledly separated from the imaged receptor element to respectively provide both positive and negative images. The imaged receptor element, for certain applications optionally after transfer through an output fuser 26 to more securedly affix the imaging coating to the receptor element, is thence recovered as product, for example proof or print, printing plate, medical image, etc., as described in the aforesaid Foley et al/Ellis et al patents.
Also essentially as in FIG. l, the "spent" film or imaged donor element can then be processed to recover and recycle the untransferred toner therefrom, via toner recycle station 27, to said toner station 22, as well as to recover and recycle the polyester substrate, via polyester recycle station 28. Alternatively, the image remaining on the composite film can be fused, at station 29, to provide, e.g., a masking film product, etc., recovered at site 30.
Also alternatively, the imaged film can be biased in registration with another receptor element 31 and the unimaged topcoat remaining thereon can be transferred to said receptor element 31 and advantageously fused thereto to provide the imaged product 32.
FIGURE 5 is a block diagram depicting another computer controlled or CPU system (or Raster image processor 13a - "RIP") for on-demand production of LAT imaging films per the present invention through the imaging sequence in the laser imaging device 24. In WO 94/11785 ' P~'~'/US93/1111 w.:
..
.. 14 this instance, the metallized polyester base is provided in roll form from the donor supply 20, is electrostatically charged in the conditioning station 21 and is next advanced to a specialized toner station 22.
Such specialized toner station 22 comprises a carousel of different colorant toners, e.g., yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and,black (K). Depending upon the particular data input, the carousel is automatically indexed to the particular.color (toner) desired to be l0' uniformly applied over the entirety of the oppositely charged face surface of the substrate. The toner cartridge carousel provides a means for automated deposition of selected colors, and sequence when a roll fed donor substrate is employed. Sheet fed operation may be accomplished via multiple sheet/charging/toning stations configured to deliver donor elements to the write engine.
It too will be appreciated that LAT imaging films having an absorption band in a region of the near infrared spectrum, as described in Foley et al/Ellis et al, are also hereby provided.
Lastly, while the present invention.has been described in terms such as "on-demand" or "on-line", it will be apparent that the subject.LAT imaging films produced by toning appropriate substrate need not necessarily be contemporaneously or immediately imaged;
rather, 'such taa'ed~ films' may themselves be stored in' i inventory until later time - at least in this event the ablative topcoats thereof are advantageously at least partially fused or stabilized as a safeguard against damage that may be occasioned by handling or storage.
In order to illustrate the present invention and the advantages thereof, the following specific examples are given, it being understood that same are intended only as illustrative and in nowise limitative.
EXAMPLE i:
Production of toned donor elements:
A 3.6 mil sheet of polyester (ICI-505), one side of which comprised a 30 A vacuum deposited layer of 5 aluminum, was placed into a reservoir of commercial liquid cyan toner (supplied by Hewlett Packard).
Specific substrate toner densities were achieved by maintaining a 1 kV DC potential difference between the aluminum layer, serving as the cathode, and a parallel l0 copper plate anode for various periods of time (10 to 45 seconds). The toned donor element was subsequently removed from the toner bath and air dried.
This process was repeated with magenta, yellow and black toners to produce the other three donor 15 elements required to ultimately produce a full color laser ablation transfer image on a receptor element.
EXAMPLE 2:
Laser ablation transfer imaqina:
The LAT imaging process was carried out using a Crosffield Datrax 765 Facsimile System. The write engine in this system employed a 16 watt Nd:YAG laser (emitting at 1064 um) to provide the imaging radiation (ca. 6-8 watts at the film plane for a 25 micron diameter spot). The toned donor sheets were sequentially placed toner side against a paper receptor sheet mounted on the natrax image transport truck.
* trade-mark WO 94/1175 PCT/US93/11~11.
-~~$~~~ , .
is Laser writing was accomplished at 8 watts (at film plane) and 3.200 lines per inch with the donor and the receptor held together in a vacuum (ca. 2s in. Hg).
Color separated digital image data files, matched with the various toner colors, were sequentially used to modulate the laser writing to ultimately produce a full color image on a common paper receptor sheet.
While the invention has been described in terms of various preferred embodiments, the skilled artisan will appreciate that' various modificatians, substitutions, omissions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be limited solely by the scope of the following claims, lindluding equivalents thereof.
1~ Likewise as regards environmental concerns, since the evolution of volatile organic compounds ("VOCs") is far mope problematical in solvent coating contexts. And per the present invention the ''unused" toner remaining on the film subsequent to the imaging sequence is easily recycled by simple stripping; the support substrate, e.g., a polyester base, can also be recycled in the usual manner. Equally as important, though, is the fact that on-demand production of LAT imaging films eliminates the requirement for a~ inventory of many thicknesses and/or densities of contrast imaging materials, makes more colors available, and offers the end user cost savings and that degree of flexibility and versatility indicated above hitherto alien to this art.
Moreover, the possibility exists that the investment in the toning hardware may be offset by decreased costs in the write engine laser, i.e., laser expenses may be reduced because of the greater sensitivity of toned LAT donor elements, namely, Diode Pumped Solid State lasers may be replaced by far less 3Q expensive semiconductor lasers not requiring modulators.
The "time-to-tone" may similarly be offset by reason of the more rapid write times allowed by more sensitive LAT
imaging media.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the LAT donor films are formed "on-demand" by charging a s ...:.
_. i~ti 94/11785 ~ ~ ~ ~ 2 4 ~ PCI'/11~93/11117 , metallized laser-transparent and laser-sensitive substrate, for example a support substrate~coated with a thin metal film dynamic release layer ( °°DRL'° ) as described in said copending Ellis et al '039 application, and then subjecting the charged substrate to liquid or dry toner treatment to provide a composite film having a desired color or imaging functionality at a desired thickness or density just prior to imaging.
The toning treatment is per se known to this 1~ art and characteristically entails a direct charging by applying a potential to the ground plane, e.g., of a metallized polyester film, or indirectly as by corona discharge.
These LAT donor films are subsequently biased in registration with a receptor element, preferably in a vacuum, on an external drum, inside a stationary internal drum or on a flatbed laser imaging device.
Laser ablation transfer imaging is then accomplished by A
the imagewise modulation of a scanned laser beam through appropriate optical components onto the donor/receptor composite. After imaging is complete the donor is separated from the receptor element revealing both a registered positive and a negative image.. The transfer process maybe repeated sequentially with other donor colorants to the same receptor to produce a multicolor, registered image, e.g., a direct digital color proof or print.
In this process unused toners or unimaged areas may be recovered for future use, an economical and environmental benefit.
In another preferred embodiment, the LAT donor films of this invention can be formed by blanketwise ultraviolet exposure of a photosensitive polymeric coating on the metal side of a laser-sensitive metallized laser-transparent base substrate producing a i Y.'i~ ~ \J
CVO 94/11785 PCT/US93/1111',~' r"~
~~~~~~~-:
tacky surface useful for dry toning with contrast , imaging materials, laser sensitized or unsensitized.
LAT imaging may be accomplished by biasing the thus , generated donor element into intimate contact with a 5 suitable receptor element on or within an imaging drum or flatbed and imagewise laser scanning. After imaging is complete the two elements are separated to reveal a registered positive~and a negative image.
Suitable support substrates per this invention 10 are those described in Foley et al/Ellis et al, namely, a glass, polyester, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyolefin, polyamide, polysulfone, polystyrene, cellulosic, etc. Zikewise as regards the receptor element, i.e., newsprint, paper, plastic, film, metal, fabric, etc., as well as the contrast imaging material, i.e., colorant, ultraviolet or infrared absorbing material, magnetic material, polymeric material, fluorescent material, conducting material, etc.
a Referring specifically to the Figures of 2o Drawing, FIGURh 1 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment o~ on-demand production of LAT imaging films according to the present invention via electrostatic toning technique, as well as the downstream imaging thereof and ultimate provision of appropriately imaged receptor element. Thus, appropriate substrate, e.g., a metallized polyester base, is transferred from donor , ~ , supply 1 to an electrostatic station 2 whereat said metallized base is electrically charged (for example directly, by applying a potential to the ground plane of the metallized polyester, or indirectly, by corona ~ _ discharge) and then is toned in conventional manner with either a liquid or dry toner, such toner either being i conventional and commercially available or being especially modified or customized, as indicated above, as to be tailored for a particular LATIS application.
i i i a ~~-:~" WO 94J11785 FCT/US93/11117 W
l1 The compasite imaging film is next advanced through an optional fusing or stabilizing station 3 (c~ith stabilization being tantamount to a partial fusing to enhance the durability thereof) and ultimately is biased in registration with preselected receptor element, indexed from receptor stock supply 4, in a laser imaging device 5. After imaging. has been completed, the donor imaging film is separated from the imaged receptor element providing both a registered positive and negative image. The imaged receptor element, for ' certain applications, is transferred through an output fuser 6 to securedly affix the imaging coating to the receptor element indicated by the reference numeral 7.
. The "spent" film can then be processed, as shown, to recover and recycle the untransferred toner therefrom to said electrostatic station 2, or, if desired, the remaining image can be fused, at station 8, to provide, e.g., a masking film or the like, recovered at site 9. It is also within they scope of the present 2o invention that either or both of the toning/imaging operations can be computer or numerically controlled by input of predetermined data from appropriate digital data files 10.
FIGURE 2(a) illustrates in greater detail the charging/toning sequence conducted~in the electrostatic station or module 2 shown in FIG. 1, employing, for example,,.an alumi~nizedv(DRL) polyester substrate as described in the aforesaid Ellis et al '039 application.
The apparatus for the toning operation .
conducted in said electrostatic station 2 is shown in greater detail in FIGURE 3, using cyan as a representative toner.
FIGURE 4 is a block diagram depicting a computer controlled or otherwise automated system for on-demand production of LAT imaging films according to PC'T/ZJS93/1111 'r' . ;
WO 94111785 p . ;:
r this invention either via electrostatic or "tacky surface" toning technique, as well as the.downstream s imaging of the toned substrate and ultimate production of appropriately imaged receptor element. In this embodiment appropriate substrate, e.g., a metallized polyester base or a metallized.polyester base coated with a photosensitive polymer on the metal side thereof, whether in sheet or in roll form,. is controlledly transferred from the donor supply 20 to a conditioning station 21 whereat said metallized base is~eiths~r electrically charged (as in the. embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2(a)) or the photosensitive polymeric coating is blanketwise ultraviolet exposed to produce a tacky surface susceptible to dry toning, as is well known to this art (shown in greater detail in FIGURE
2(b)).
The conditioned substrate is next advanced to an automated toning station 22 and predetermined amount of suitable toner, whether liquid or dry, is uniformly applied thereto over the entirety of the conditioned face surface of the substrate. The toner may be, for examgle, a conventional yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) or black (K) toner, or may be of the customized type as hereinbefore discussed, indicated as "special." The resulting composite imaging film is then controlledly transported, after being cut into sheet form if originally suppfiied from a roll and, as in, the embodiment of FIG. 1, optionally after fusing the toner to the donor substrate at~station 23 for purposes of durability or avoiding the damaging effects of °'handling", to a laser imaging device 24. In said laser imaging device 24 the composite imaging film is automatically controlledly biased in registration with a preselected receptor element supplied from "inventory"
25 and therein imagewise laser irradiating said composite imaging film by means of appropriate LAT write engine to a predetermined pattern of intelligence with an intensity sufficient to effect the ablation mass transfer of the volume of the imagewise-exposed area of the laser radiation-ablative topcoat of said film onto said receptor element. After the imaging sequence has been completed, the donor imaging film is controlledly separated from the imaged receptor element to respectively provide both positive and negative images. The imaged receptor element, for certain applications optionally after transfer through an output fuser 26 to more securedly affix the imaging coating to the receptor element, is thence recovered as product, for example proof or print, printing plate, medical image, etc., as described in the aforesaid Foley et al/Ellis et al patents.
Also essentially as in FIG. l, the "spent" film or imaged donor element can then be processed to recover and recycle the untransferred toner therefrom, via toner recycle station 27, to said toner station 22, as well as to recover and recycle the polyester substrate, via polyester recycle station 28. Alternatively, the image remaining on the composite film can be fused, at station 29, to provide, e.g., a masking film product, etc., recovered at site 30.
Also alternatively, the imaged film can be biased in registration with another receptor element 31 and the unimaged topcoat remaining thereon can be transferred to said receptor element 31 and advantageously fused thereto to provide the imaged product 32.
FIGURE 5 is a block diagram depicting another computer controlled or CPU system (or Raster image processor 13a - "RIP") for on-demand production of LAT imaging films per the present invention through the imaging sequence in the laser imaging device 24. In WO 94/11785 ' P~'~'/US93/1111 w.:
..
.. 14 this instance, the metallized polyester base is provided in roll form from the donor supply 20, is electrostatically charged in the conditioning station 21 and is next advanced to a specialized toner station 22.
Such specialized toner station 22 comprises a carousel of different colorant toners, e.g., yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and,black (K). Depending upon the particular data input, the carousel is automatically indexed to the particular.color (toner) desired to be l0' uniformly applied over the entirety of the oppositely charged face surface of the substrate. The toner cartridge carousel provides a means for automated deposition of selected colors, and sequence when a roll fed donor substrate is employed. Sheet fed operation may be accomplished via multiple sheet/charging/toning stations configured to deliver donor elements to the write engine.
It too will be appreciated that LAT imaging films having an absorption band in a region of the near infrared spectrum, as described in Foley et al/Ellis et al, are also hereby provided.
Lastly, while the present invention.has been described in terms such as "on-demand" or "on-line", it will be apparent that the subject.LAT imaging films produced by toning appropriate substrate need not necessarily be contemporaneously or immediately imaged;
rather, 'such taa'ed~ films' may themselves be stored in' i inventory until later time - at least in this event the ablative topcoats thereof are advantageously at least partially fused or stabilized as a safeguard against damage that may be occasioned by handling or storage.
In order to illustrate the present invention and the advantages thereof, the following specific examples are given, it being understood that same are intended only as illustrative and in nowise limitative.
EXAMPLE i:
Production of toned donor elements:
A 3.6 mil sheet of polyester (ICI-505), one side of which comprised a 30 A vacuum deposited layer of 5 aluminum, was placed into a reservoir of commercial liquid cyan toner (supplied by Hewlett Packard).
Specific substrate toner densities were achieved by maintaining a 1 kV DC potential difference between the aluminum layer, serving as the cathode, and a parallel l0 copper plate anode for various periods of time (10 to 45 seconds). The toned donor element was subsequently removed from the toner bath and air dried.
This process was repeated with magenta, yellow and black toners to produce the other three donor 15 elements required to ultimately produce a full color laser ablation transfer image on a receptor element.
EXAMPLE 2:
Laser ablation transfer imaqina:
The LAT imaging process was carried out using a Crosffield Datrax 765 Facsimile System. The write engine in this system employed a 16 watt Nd:YAG laser (emitting at 1064 um) to provide the imaging radiation (ca. 6-8 watts at the film plane for a 25 micron diameter spot). The toned donor sheets were sequentially placed toner side against a paper receptor sheet mounted on the natrax image transport truck.
* trade-mark WO 94/1175 PCT/US93/11~11.
-~~$~~~ , .
is Laser writing was accomplished at 8 watts (at film plane) and 3.200 lines per inch with the donor and the receptor held together in a vacuum (ca. 2s in. Hg).
Color separated digital image data files, matched with the various toner colors, were sequentially used to modulate the laser writing to ultimately produce a full color image on a common paper receptor sheet.
While the invention has been described in terms of various preferred embodiments, the skilled artisan will appreciate that' various modificatians, substitutions, omissions, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be limited solely by the scope of the following claims, lindluding equivalents thereof.
Claims (18)
1. A composite Laser Ablation Transfer (LAT) imaging film which comprises a support substrate, said support substrate comprising a polyester, a polycarbonate, a polyurethane, a polyolefin, a polyamide, a polysulfone, a polystyrene, or a cellulosic; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin layer;
and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
2. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 1, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a black body laser-absorber/sensitizer.
3. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 1, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a laser-absorber/sensitizer.
4. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 3, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising an imaging amount of a non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material.
5. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 3, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a non-imaging laser-absorber/sensitizer.
6. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 3, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising at least one near infrared laser-absorber/sensitizer.
7. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 4, said non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material comprising a colorant, an ultraviolet or infrared absorbing material, a magnetic material, a polymeric material, a fluorescent material, a conducting material, or mixture thereof.
8. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 4, said non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material comprising a yellow, magenta or cyan dye or pigment.
9. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 1, said support substrate comprising a polyester film and said at least one dynamic release layer comprising a thin metal film.
10. A process for the production of the composite LAT
imaging film as defined by claim 1, comprising applying to said support substrate and dynamic release layer a discontinuous film topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
imaging film as defined by claim 1, comprising applying to said support substrate and dynamic release layer a discontinuous film topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
11. The process as defined by claim 10, comprising on-demand toning said support substrate and dynamic release layer.
12. A composite Laser Ablation Transfer (LAT) imaging film which comprises a support substrate; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin film; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates.
13. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 12, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising an imaging amount of a non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material.
14. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 12, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising a laser-absorber/sensitizer.
15. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 14, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising at least one near infrared laser-absorber sensitizer.
16. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 13, said non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material comprising a colorant, an ultraviolet or infrared absorbing material, a magnetic material, a polymeric material, a fluorescent material, a conducting material, or mixture thereof.
17. The composite LAT imaging film as defined by claim 13, said non-ablation sensitizing contrast imaging material comprising a yellow, magenta or cyan dye or pigment.
18. A composite Laser Ablation Transfer (LAT) imaging film which comprises a support substrate; at least one intermediate dynamic release layer essentially coextensive therewith comprising a metal, metal oxide or metal sulfide thin film; and a laser radiation-ablative discontinuous film topcoat essentially coextensive therewith comprising a contrast imaging amount of toner particulates, said discontinuous film ablative topcoat comprising at least one near infrared laser-absorber/sensitizer or a black body laser-absorber/sensitizer.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US97848292A | 1992-11-18 | 1992-11-18 | |
| US07/978,482 | 1992-11-18 | ||
| PCT/US1993/011117 WO1994011785A1 (en) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-11-17 | On-demand production of lat imaging films |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2148240A1 CA2148240A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| CA2148240C true CA2148240C (en) | 2006-10-17 |
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ID=25526131
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002148240A Expired - Fee Related CA2148240C (en) | 1992-11-18 | 1993-11-17 | On-demand production of lat imaging films |
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| US (3) | US5681681A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0678200B1 (en) |
| JP (3) | JP3727652B2 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE213846T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU681610B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2148240C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69331640T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK0678200T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2172528T3 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994011785A1 (en) |
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| US6197474B1 (en) * | 1999-08-27 | 2001-03-06 | Eastman Kodak Company | Thermal color proofing process |
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| US6228555B1 (en) | 1999-12-28 | 2001-05-08 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Thermal mass transfer donor element |
| US6284425B1 (en) | 1999-12-28 | 2001-09-04 | 3M Innovative Properties | Thermal transfer donor element having a heat management underlayer |
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| US7005407B2 (en) * | 2000-11-21 | 2006-02-28 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Thermal imaging elements having improved stability |
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| DE60110459T2 (en) * | 2000-12-15 | 2006-01-26 | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Co., Wilmington | BEARING LAYER OF A DONOREL ELEMENT FOR ADJUSTING THE FOCUS OF A PICTURE GENERATING LASER |
| US6645681B2 (en) | 2000-12-15 | 2003-11-11 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Color filter |
| WO2002047917A2 (en) * | 2000-12-15 | 2002-06-20 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Receiver element for adjusting the focus of an imaging laser |
| JP2002240437A (en) * | 2001-02-19 | 2002-08-28 | Sharp Corp | Donor sheet for forming thin film, manufacturing method therefor, and organic electroluminescence element |
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| US3450531A (en) * | 1965-09-03 | 1969-06-17 | Xerox Corp | Adhesive imaging on photochromic layers |
| US3620726A (en) * | 1968-01-29 | 1971-11-16 | Du Pont | Process using colored particles to develop photohardenable imaging layers |
| US3787210A (en) * | 1971-09-30 | 1974-01-22 | Ncr | Laser recording technique using combustible blow-off |
| US3978247A (en) * | 1974-01-28 | 1976-08-31 | Rca Corporation | Transfer recording process |
| JPS57207261A (en) * | 1981-06-16 | 1982-12-18 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Formation of image |
| GB8410515D0 (en) * | 1984-04-25 | 1984-05-31 | Ici Plc | Laser-imageable assembly |
| JPS60255491A (en) * | 1984-06-01 | 1985-12-17 | Daicel Chem Ind Ltd | Laser recording film |
| JPS60262687A (en) * | 1984-06-11 | 1985-12-26 | Daicel Chem Ind Ltd | Laser recording film |
| US5171650A (en) * | 1990-10-04 | 1992-12-15 | Graphics Technology International, Inc. | Ablation-transfer imaging/recording |
| US5156938A (en) * | 1989-03-30 | 1992-10-20 | Graphics Technology International, Inc. | Ablation-transfer imaging/recording |
| US5278023A (en) * | 1992-11-16 | 1994-01-11 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Propellant-containing thermal transfer donor elements |
| WO1994011785A1 (en) * | 1992-11-18 | 1994-05-26 | Rexham Graphics Inc. | On-demand production of lat imaging films |
-
1993
- 1993-11-17 WO PCT/US1993/011117 patent/WO1994011785A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1993-11-17 DE DE69331640T patent/DE69331640T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-11-17 DK DK94901537T patent/DK0678200T3/en active
- 1993-11-17 CA CA002148240A patent/CA2148240C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-11-17 EP EP94901537A patent/EP0678200B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-11-17 ES ES94901537T patent/ES2172528T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-11-17 AT AT94901537T patent/ATE213846T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1993-11-17 JP JP51246094A patent/JP3727652B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-11-17 AU AU56090/94A patent/AU681610B2/en not_active Ceased
-
1995
- 1995-06-07 US US08/475,981 patent/US5681681A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-06-07 US US08/470,586 patent/US5612165A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1997
- 1997-10-28 US US08/959,329 patent/US5871884A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2003
- 2003-07-23 JP JP2003278685A patent/JP2004001557A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2005
- 2005-05-02 JP JP2005134691A patent/JP2006021522A/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2006021522A (en) | 2006-01-26 |
| WO1994011785A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| EP0678200A4 (en) | 1995-09-07 |
| JP3727652B2 (en) | 2005-12-14 |
| JP2004001557A (en) | 2004-01-08 |
| AU681610B2 (en) | 1997-09-04 |
| DE69331640D1 (en) | 2002-04-04 |
| DE69331640T2 (en) | 2002-09-05 |
| US5612165A (en) | 1997-03-18 |
| US5681681A (en) | 1997-10-28 |
| EP0678200B1 (en) | 2002-02-27 |
| US5871884A (en) | 1999-02-16 |
| JPH08504374A (en) | 1996-05-14 |
| ES2172528T3 (en) | 2002-10-01 |
| CA2148240A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| EP0678200A1 (en) | 1995-10-25 |
| AU5609094A (en) | 1994-06-08 |
| ATE213846T1 (en) | 2002-03-15 |
| DK0678200T3 (en) | 2002-04-22 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |