US 12,103,318 B2
Thermal transfer ribbon assembly comprising a metal layer and a protective coating layer
Suwit John Sangkaratana, Crown Point, IN (US); and Daniel Szumski, Saint John, IN (US)
Assigned to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/682,403.
Application 17/682,403 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/667,190, filed on Oct. 29, 2019, granted, now 11,279,144.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/753,428, filed on Oct. 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0176711 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B41J 2/325 (2006.01); B41J 31/05 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 2/325 (2013.01) [B41J 31/05 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of introducing one or more of a reflective, refractive, or diffractive image to a substrate by use of thermal transfer printing, the method comprising:
simultaneously transferring a defined portion of each of a protective coating layer, an image layer, and an adhesive layer from a carrier film of a thermal transfer ribbon to the substrate while the thermal transfer ribbon moves in a direction along a surface of the substrate by selectively applying heat to the defined portions of the thermal transfer ribbon, the image layer including a material that is one or more of a reflective material, a refractive material, or a diffractive material;
adhering the defined portions of the image layer and the protective coating layer that were transferred to the substrate using the adhesive layer; and
subsequent to transferring the defined portions of the protective coating layer, the image layer, and the adhesive layer, providing durability to the defined portion of the image layer that is transferred to the substrate by cross-linking the defined portion of the protective coating layer that is over the defined portion of the image layer by exposing the defined portions to a radiation source.