Digital transfer method for printing on a target surface

Abstract

A method for creating and transferring digitally created images on a film to a target surface via heat and / or pressure transfer using a modified large-format digital printer. The method generally comprises the steps of modifying a large-format digital printer to convert it from heat fused toner printing to cold toner printing, preparing a transfer film, creating a digital image, applying a release layer onto the transfer film, printing the image onto the release layer on the transfer film in a reverse mirror-image manner, applying an adhesive overtop said image, and pressure transferring the image onto the target substrate and peeling away the transfer film to selectively leave the image on the target substrate. The present method results in a cleaner, clearer more eye-catching graphic deposited in a more robust, wear-tolerant manner on a wider variety of substrates including rough and porous materials such as leather.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60 / 831,838 filed 19 Jul. 2006.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to digital printing and, more specifically, to a method for transferring digitally created images from film to a target surface via heat and / or pressure transfer. [0004] 2. Description of the Background [0005] Traditional offset printing processes involve a number of expensive and time-consuming steps, such as plate imaging and mounting. A number of manufacturers are now selling digital printers that print documents directly from electronic files to paper, or a variety of other substrates. These digital printers greatly simplify the printing process. Other than buying a digital printer and preparing a design to be printed, there are no other start-up costs or steps involved in the digital printing process. Thus, these printe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for the preparation and application of pressure and heat applied image transfers by modifying a large-format digital printer to convert it from heat fused toner printing to cold toner printing, utilizing a very narrow dye range for all coatings, and further making use of the differential thickness between the areas of a release layer where there is toner present and where there is no toner such that adhesive applied to the release layer over the image adheres more strongly to the image than the image does to the release layer. Thus, when transferred to a target surface with the application of pressure and / or heat, the dried adhesive layer attaches only in the image area to the target surface and the adhesive layer is peeled off except for the image area which is left attached to the target surface. This produces a high-resolution four color graphic with white: a cleaner, clearer more eye-catching graphic than previously possible.

[0014] In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention is a method for creating and transferring digitally created images on a film to a target surface via heat and / or pressure transfer using a modified large-format digital printer. The method generally comprises the steps of modifying a digital printer to convert it from a front and back heat fused toner printer, to a back fuser toner printer, preparing a transfer film, creating a digital image, applying a release layer onto the transfer film, printing the image onto the release layer on the transfer film in a reverse mirror-image manner, applying an adhesive overtop said image, heat and / or pressure transferring the image onto the target substrate and peeling away the transfer film to selectively leave the image on the target substrate. The present method results in a cleaner, clearer more eye-catching graphic deposited in a more robust, wear-tolerant manner on a wider variety of substrates including rough and porous materials such as leather.

Problems solved by technology

Traditional offset printing processes involve a number of expensive and time-consuming steps, such as plate imaging and mounting.

There have been several attempts to extend the digital printing process as described above to transfers, though such attempts have involved more or less complicated procedures and the use of particular materials with limitations as to the nature of the final target surface.

Images