Patent ID: 6348168
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: B41K

Abstract:
In a method of preparing pre-inked impression members for marking devices such as hand stamps, which comprisesproviding a molding device delineating a molding space open at its top and having in its bottom cavities complementary in shape to desired indicia of said impression members, filling said cavities and said molding space with a layer of a gelatinous premix of heat-coalesceable thermoplastic resin particles and liquid ink, placing over said space and against said layer of premix covering means capable of confining solids in said layer essentially to the boundaries of said molding space upon heating of said layer, while holding said covering means in place under pressure, heating said layer so as to convert it by fusion of said resin particles into a resilient ink-containing microporous resin structure, and after said heating removing said covering means and recovering the molded product, the improvement wherein said covering means comprises a pliable parting sheet coated on a side thereof contacting said layer of premix with a substantially resin-impermeable yet ink-permeable layer of fine particles substantially non-adherent to the resin of said premix.