Patent ID: 6083656
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: B41M,B44C,D06P,D06Q,G03C,G03F,G03G,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of restoration of a previously imaged receiving element, which comprises the steps of:placing a stick resistant overlay sheet over said previously imaged receiving element comprising transfer coating, image and non-image areas substantially embedded in said imaged receiving element and having valleys or pores on the surface thereof, andpressing the stick resistant overlay sheet with a hand held heated iron in order to re-press said transfer coating and image and non-image areas into said valleys or pores of the imaged element so as to restore the clarity of the original image on the imaged element and to provide a re-condensed vibrancy of original color when present, said re-pressing of the imaged element occurring before or after laundering to prevent loss of color vibrancy or said re-pressing occurs at a time after said previously imaged receiving element loses clarity of image or vibrancy of the image with the passage of time or by usage, wherein:(i) the transfer coating is comprised of a first thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers, and ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, and ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers and which melts in the range of from about 65 to about 180 degrees Celsius, and a second thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and which melts in the range of from about 65 to about 180 degrees Celsius, or(ii) the transfer coating is comprised of about 15 to about 80 percent by weight of a film-forming binder selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyolefins, and waxes and from about 85 to about 20 percent by weight of a powdered thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, waxes, epoxy polymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein each of said film-forming binder and said powdered thermoplastic polymer melts in the range of from about 65.degree. C. to about 180 degrees Celsius and said powdered thermoplastic polymer consists of particles of about 2 to about 50 micrometers in diameter, or(iii) the transfer coating is comprised of a binder selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyolefins, and waxes and which melts in the range of from about 65 to about 180 degrees Celsius, and about 15 to about 80 percent by weight of a binder selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyolefins, and waxes and from about 85 to about 20 percent by weight of a powdered thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, waxes, epoxy polymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, wherein each of said binder and said powdered thermoplastic polymer melts in the range of from about 65.degree. C. to about 180 degrees Celsius and said powdered thermoplastic polymer consists of particles of about 2 to about 50 micrometers in diameter, or(iv) the transfer coating is comprised of a thermoplastic polymer having dimensions of less than about 50 micrometers, from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of a binder, based on the weight of the thermoplastic polymer, and from about 0.2 to about 10 weight percent of an ink viscosity modifier, based on the weight of the thermoplastic polymer, or(v) the transfer coating is comprised of a material which melts from about 65 to about 180.degree. C. and comprises particles of a thermoplastic polymer having dimensions of less than about 50 micrometers, from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of a binder, based on the thermoplastic polymer, and from about 2 to about 20 weight percent of a cationic polymer, based on the weight of the thermoplastic polymer, or(vi) the transfer coating melts from about 65 to about 180.degree. C. and comprises particles of a thermoplastic polymer having dimensions of less than about 50 micrometers, from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of a film-forming binder, based on the thermoplastic polymer, and from about 2 to about 20 weight percent of a cationic polymer, based on the weight of the thermoplastic polymer.