Opaque Heat Transfer Sheets for Precise Images on Colored Substrates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current heat transfer papers require coating of non-image areas, which stiffens and reduces porosity of substrates, making it difficult to achieve precise image transfer, especially around intricate designs, and often necessitates weeding processes that are cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a toner printable sheet and a coating transfer sheet with a meltable coating layer, where the meltable coating layer is transferred only to the imaged areas, allowing for a weedable heat transfer process without the need for cutting, enabling precise image transfer on substrates with opaque areas and uncoated non-opaque areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the transferable coating is applied to the entire heat transfer paper surface, then the image transfer can be achieved, but the substrate becomes stiffened and less porous, reducing its ability to absorb moisture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage transfer precisionVSAvoidsubstrate porosity reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating different surface properties in different areas of the heat transfer paper. The printed areas have transferable coating that transfers to the substrate, while the unprinted areas remain without coating, maintaining substrate porosity and moisture absorption capability in those regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the heat transfer paper surface into printed imaged areas and unprinted unimaged areas. This segmentation allows selective transfer of the transferable coating only to areas where an image is present, preventing unnecessary coating on the entire substrate surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the transferable coating is applied to the entire heat transfer paper surface, then the image transfer can be achieved, but the weeding process becomes difficult and cumbersome, especially around intricate graphic designs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage transfer precisionVSAvoidweeding process ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the heat transfer paper into printed and unprinted areas, eliminating the need for manual weeding. The unprinted areas naturally remain without transferable coating, so no cutting or removal work is required around intricate graphic designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the transferable coating application to only the necessary printed areas through the printing process itself, rather than applying coating to the entire surface and then removing unnecessary portions through weeding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If the transferable coating is applied to the entire heat transfer paper surface, then the image transfer can be achieved, but the overall area of the substrate that is coated with the transferable coating increases, reducing the beneficial uncoated areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage transfer completenessVSAvoiduncoated substrate area

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by restricting the transferable coating to only the printed imaged areas where image transfer is needed. The unprinted areas remain uncoated, preserving substrate properties and increasing the beneficial uncoated area on the final product.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by applying the transferable coating only to the extent necessary for image transfer (printed areas), rather than applying it excessively to the entire substrate surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

This method allows for easy, precise application of opaque images on substrates without the need for weeding, maintaining substrate porosity and ease of use with common printing and heat press equipment, suitable for dark or colored substrates.

Implementation Method 1

The images are transferred to the article by means of heat and pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a coating transfer sheet with a meltable coating layer, where the meltable coating layer is transferred only to the imaged areas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentUS8236122B2Heat transfer methods and sheets for applying an image to a colored substrate

Publication Date: 2012.08.07 NEENAH INC

AI summary

A method of forming an opaque image on a substrate is generally provided. The method generally includes the use of three papers: a toner printable sheet, a coating transfer sheet, and an opaque transfer sheet. Toner printing can be utilized to print an image on the toner printable sheet, and then the toner ink can be utilized to remove a portion of a melt coating layer from the coating transfer sheet to form an intermediate imaged coated transfer sheet. This intermediate imaged coated transfer sheet and the opaque transfer sheet can then be utilized to form an image, defined by the opaque areas, on a substrate.