Inkjet Transfer Medium Layering with Controlled Ink Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transfer printing methods face challenges in achieving high production speed while maintaining image quality and transferability due to ink application issues, leading to potential blurring and reduced rubbing fastness.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the sequential application of color, base, and adhesive inks using an inkjet method, with specific adhesion amounts and ratios, to form layers on a transfer medium, ensuring optimal ink adhesion without exceeding the medium's capacity, thereby improving productivity and image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If base ink and adhesive liquid are applied in the same pass to improve production speed, then productivity increases, but image quality deteriorates due to blurring when ink amount exceeds medium capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction speedVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ink application process into three separate passes: first applying color ink, then base ink, and finally adhesive ink. This segmentation allows each ink type to be applied at optimal amounts without exceeding the medium's capacity, preventing blurring while maintaining high productivity through efficient sequential processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies inks in controlled partial amounts across three passes rather than excessive amounts in one pass. By distributing the total ink application across multiple passes with specific adhesion amount controls (A for color ink, B for base ink, C for adhesive ink where A≤C and B≤C), the method prevents overflow and blurring while ensuring complete coverage and optimal adhesion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If total adhesion amount is increased to improve transferability, then transferability improves, but rubbing fastness deteriorates due to excessive ink saturation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransferabilityVSAvoidrubbing fastness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the adhesion amount parameters A, B, and C for color ink, base ink, and adhesive ink respectively, with the constraint that A≤C and B≤C. This parameter control ensures the total adhesion amount remains within the optimal range (230 g/m2 or less) that balances transferability and rubbing fastness, preventing ink saturation while ensuring complete transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite ink system with three distinct ink compositions: color ink containing coloring material, base ink containing resin and water, and adhesive ink containing adhesive resin and water. Each component serves a specific function and their combined adhesion amounts are controlled to achieve both high transferability and rubbing fastness without excessive saturation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If adhesion amount of adhesive ink is reduced to prevent blurring, then image quality improves, but transferability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidtransferability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different adhesion amounts to different ink types based on their specific functions: color ink (adhesion amount A) for image formation, base ink (adhesion amount B) for substrate support, and adhesive ink (adhesion amount C) for transfer bonding. The constraint A≤C and B≤C ensures the adhesive ink provides sufficient adhesion for transferability while the total amount remains controlled to prevent blurring, optimizing both image quality and transferability locally for each ink layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method enhances transferability, dry and wet rubbing fastness, and image quality by balancing ink adhesion amounts and compositions, reducing blurring and ensuring efficient transfer to various surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

ejecting a color ink by an ink jet method to form a first layer on a transfer medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInk jet method:

Data Source

PatentUS20250303772A1Method For Producing Transfer Medium

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

Provided is a method for producing a transfer medium, the method including ejecting a color ink by an ink jet method to form a first layer on a transfer medium having a release layer, ejecting a base ink by an ink jet method to form a second layer so as to be overlaid on the first layer, and ejecting an adhesive ink by an ink jet method to form a third layer so as to be overlaid on the second layer. The adhesive ink contains a resin and water. The base ink contains a base pigment, a resin, and water. An adhesion amount C of the adhesive ink is equal to or larger than an adhesion amount A of the color ink. An adhesion amount B of the base ink is equal to or larger than the adhesion amount A of the color ink. A total adhesion amount of the color ink, the base ink, and the adhesive ink is 230 g/m2 or less.