Textured heat transfer label

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9349305-B2
Application number	US-201313903385-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2013
Priority date	Jan 8, 2013
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A textured heat transfer label includes a textured portion formed from a highly cross-linked UV ink and a thermoplastic background ink. The textured heat transferable label can also include metalized portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A textured heat transfer label, comprising:
a carrier;
a textured layer on the carrier, the textured layer including a raised portion and an unprinted portion, wherein the unprinted portion defines a graphic pattern, the raised portion formed from a UV curable ink formulated from one or more of an epoxy, a polyurethane, a polymethacrylate, a polyethylene vinyl acetate, a polyvinyl chloride, a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, a functionalized vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, and a chlorinated halogenated polyolefin; and
a background layer disposed over the textured layer so as to extend across both the raised portion and the unprinted portion, wherein the UV curable ink is not present between the carrier and the background layer in the unprinted portion;
wherein the background layer is configured to transfer and adhere to a substrate upon application of heat and pressure, and the textured layer is configured to remain bonded to the background layer providing a raised textured surface, wherein the background layer is configured to soften and become tacky when subjected to heat and pressure, wherein an adhesion between the background layer and the substrate is greater than an adhesion between the background layer and the carrier when subjected to heat and pressure.

2. A textured heat transfer label, comprising:
a carrier;
a textured layer on the carrier, the textured layer including a raised portion and an unprinted portion, wherein the unprinted portion defines a graphic pattern, the raised portion formed from a UV curable ink formulated from one or more of an epoxy, a polyurethane, a polymethacrylate, a polyethylene vinyl acetate, a polyvinyl chloride, a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, a functionalized vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, and a chlorinated halogenated polyolefin; and
a background layer disposed over the textured layer so as to extend across both the raised portion and the unprinted portion, wherein the UV curable ink is not present between the carrier and the background layer in the unprinted portion;
wherein the background layer is configured to transfer and adhere to a substrate upon application of heat and pressure, and the textured layer is configured to remain bonded to the background layer providing a raised textured surface, wherein the background layer is formed from a thermoplastic ink, and
wherein an adhesion between the textured layer and the background layer is greater than an adhesion between the textured layer and the carrier when subjected to heat and pressure.

3. The textured heat transfer label of claim 1 , wherein the raised portion is defined by a strip of printed area including the unprinted portion defining the graphic pattern.

4. The texture heat transfer label of claim 1 , wherein the background layer is printed over the textured layer on the carrier.

5. The textured heat transfer label of claim 1 , wherein an adhesion between the textured layer and the background layer is greater than an adhesion between the textured layer and the carrier when subjected to heat and pressure.

6. The texture heat transfer label of claim 1 , wherein the carrier includes a release layer, wherein the textured layer and the background layer are applied on the release layer.

7. A method of making a textured heat transfer label, comprising steps of:
printing a textured layer including a raised portion and an unprinted portion on a carrier, wherein printing the textured layer includes printing a strip of a UV curable ink defining the unprinted portion, wherein the raised portion is defined by the strip of UV curable ink on the carrier, and a graphic pattern is defined by the unprinted portion in the strip of UV curable ink the UV curable ink formulated from one or more of an epoxy, a polyurethane, a polymethacrylate, a polyethylene vinyl acetate, a polyvinyl chloride, a vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, a functionalized vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate copolymer, and a chlorinated halogenated polyolefin;
curing the textured layer; and
printing a background layer over the cured textured layer on the carrier so as to extend across both the raised portion and the unprinted portion, wherein the UV curable ink is not present between the carrier and the background layer in the unprinted portion.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein printing the textured layer includes applying multiple passes of a UV curable ink to achieve a desired height of the raised portion.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein curing the textured layer comprises exposing the printed textured layer to a UV energy source.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Colella Michael B

Classifications

• B41M2205/12

  Preparation of material for subsequent imaging, e.g. corona treatment, simultaneous coating, pre-treatments · CPC title

• B44C1/162

  Decalcomanias with a transfer layer comprising indicia with definite outlines such as letters and with means facilitating the desired fitting to the permanent base · CPC title

• Y10T428/24355

  Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.] · CPC title

• B44C1/1712 Primary

  Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive · CPC title

• G09F2003/0211

  Transfer or thermo-sensitive · CPC title