Patent ID: 6409330
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: B41J,B41M,C09D

Abstract:
A sublimation transfer ink-jet recording method comprising the steps of: providing an ink composition comprising a heat transferable dye, a glycol ether, an acetylene glycol surfactant and water; said heat transferable dye having a heat activation temperature at which the dye sublimates, said heat activation temperature being above room temperature; printing the ink composition by ink jet recording onto an intermediate transfer medium to form a latent image on the intermediate transfer medium; putting the intermediate transfer medium on the surface of a receptor object; and heating the intermediate transfer medium and the receptor object at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient time to sublimate the heat transferable dye and to deposit the sublimated dye onto the surface of the receptor object, wherein the heating comprises the steps of raising the temperature of the intermediate transfer medium and the receptor object from room temperature to the heat activation temperature of the heat transferable dye or above; holding the intermediate transfer medium and the receptor object at the heat activation temperature of the heat transferable dye or above; and then decreasing the temperature of the intermediate transfer medium and the receptor object to room temperature.