Metallic Ink Surface Smoothing for Transfer Glossiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermal transfer apparatuses using metallic inks face challenges in achieving sufficient glossiness of metallic foils due to poor planarity of the contact surface, leading to insufficient glossiness when transferred onto a target medium.
Innovation Solution
A transfer medium manufacturing method involving the application of foil forming recording material with metallic particles to a base material, followed by surface smoothing in a partially-melted state using a smoothing unit, ensuring the surface contacting the target is even, thereby achieving sufficient glossiness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If metallic ink is ejected onto the intermediate transfer recording medium, then the metallic foil is formed and transferred onto the transfer target medium, but the surface of the metallic ink hardens in a bumpy state leading to poor planarity and insufficient glossiness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flattening agent to the metallic ink layer before it hardens completely, while the ink is still in a partially melted state. This preliminary action allows the flattening agent to smooth the bumpy surface before final hardening occurs, preventing the formation of permanent surface irregularities that would cause poor planarity and insufficient glossiness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the metallic ink by heating it to a partially melted state, making it more fluid and easier to flatten. This parameter change allows the flattening agent to effectively smooth the surface by flowing into and filling the bumps, thereby improving surface planarity and subsequent glossiness.
2Illumination intensity
If the metallic ink is transferred onto the transfer target medium in a bumpy state, then the transfer process completes, but the metallic foil has insufficient glossiness when viewed over the transfer target medium
Solution Approach 1:
The flattening agent is applied in advance to the metallic ink layer while it is still in a partially melted state, before the transfer process occurs. This preliminary flattening action ensures that the surface is smooth before transfer, which directly improves the glossiness of the final metallic foil on the transfer target medium.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition of the metallic ink from solid to partially melted state to enable effective flattening. In the partially melted state, the ink becomes more fluid and responsive to the flattening agent, allowing surface smoothing to occur effectively before the ink returns to its solid state for transfer.
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 ensures that the metallic foil transferred onto the target medium has sufficient glossiness and maintains the integrity of complex or simple image patterns during the transfer process.
Implementation Method 1
smoothing the surface of the foil forming recording material, the foil forming recording material having been applied to the base material in a partially-melted state in the applying
Data Source
AI summary
A transfer medium manufacturing method for manufacturing a transfer medium in which a foil forming recording material containing metallic particles capable of being transferred onto a target has been applied to a base material includes: applying the foil forming recording material to the base material; and smoothing the surface of the foil forming recording material applied to the base material in the applying, the foil forming recording material being in a partially-melted state.