Patent ID: 6394595
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: B05D,B41J,B41M

Abstract:
An apparatus for dry printing a multicolor image on a surface of a substrate using cholesteric liquid crystal pigment materials made from cholesteric liquid crystal flakes tuned to predetermined bands of color, said apparatus comprising:a binder material applicator, said binder material applicator including an ink jet print head configured to apply a binder material to the substrate; a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) pigment applicator configured to apply a patterned layer of cholesteric liquid crystal flakes to the binder material, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal flakes adhere to the binder material; and a pigment aligner which is discrete from said pigment applicator, and which is configured to align the cholesteric liquid crystal flakes in a direction substantially parallel with the surface of the substrate.