Method for forming images and lamination of such images to a non-reactive substrate

Abstract

A method for forming images on a non-reactive substrate such as paper or plastic film is disclosed, comprising the steps of: image-wise exposing an imaging sheet, said imaging sheet comprising a support having a layer of photosensitive microcapsules on the surface thereof, said microcapsules containing a photohardenable or photosoftenable composition including a photoinitiator, and a color precursor; assembling said image-wise exposed imaging sheet with a developer sheet; subjecting said assembly to a uniform rupturing force to cause said photosensitive microcapsules to rupture and transfer an image-wise pattern of said color precursor to said developer sheet thereby forming an image thereon; separating said imaging sheet from said developer sheet; assembling said image-bearing developer sheet with a non-reactive substrate to form a second assembly; and subjecting said second assembly to heat and a uniform force to laminate said image bearing developer sheet to said non-reactive substrate.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for forming laminated images comprising the steps of: image-wise exposing an imaging sheet, said imaging sheet comprising a support having a layer of photosensitive microcapsules on the surface thereof, said microcapsules containing a photohardenable or photosoftenable composition and a color precursor;   assembling said image-wise exposed imaging sheet with a developer sheet, said developer sheet including a web having a layer of thermoplastic developer resin on the surface thereof, said resin being capable of reacting with said color precursor to form an image;   subjecting said assembly of said imaging sheet and said developer sheet to a uniform rupturing force to cause said photosensitive microcapsules to rupture and image-wise transfer said color precursor to said developer layer, wherein said color precursor reacts with said developer resin thereby forming an image thereon;   separating said imaging sheet from said developer sheet;   assembling said image-bearing developer sheet with a non-reactive substrate to form a second assembly;   subjecting said second assembly to heat and a uniform force to laminate said image-bearing developer sheet to said non-reactive substrate.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic developer resin is a phenolic resin. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein said phenolic resin is coated on said web as finely divided particles. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein said web is a transparent plastic film. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein said plastic film has a thickness of about 3 to 12 microns. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 4 wherein said plastic film is polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1 wherein said microcapsules contain a photohardenable composition. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 2 wherein said phenolic resin is a metallated phenolic resin. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 8 wherein said phenolic resin is a zincated phenolic resin. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 1 wherein said developer resin is an acrylic or vinylic resin. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 1 wherein said developer resin is a blend of a phenolic resin and an acrylic or vinylic resin. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 4 wherein said non-reactive substrate is selected from the group consisting of cast coated paper, magazine stock, and plastic film. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 wherein said non-reactive substrate is cast coated paper. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12 wherein said non-reactive substrate is magazine stock. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 12 wherein said non-reactive substrate is a transparent plastic film and said method is useful in forming transparencies. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 1 wherein said layer of microcapsules contains three sets of microcapsules sensitive to red, green and blue light respectively and said sets of microcapsules contain cyan, magenta and yellow image-forming agents respectively. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 wherein said laminated images are full color images. 
     
     
       18. A method for forming laminated images comprising the steps of: image-wise exposing an imaging sheet to actinic radiation, said imaging sheet comprising a support having a layer of photosensitive microcapsules on the surface thereof, said microcapsules comprising a photohardenable or photosoftenable composition and a color precursor;   assembling said image-wise exposed imaging sheet with a non-reactive substrate;   subjecting said assembly of said imaging sheet and said non-reactive substrate to a uniform rupturing force causing said photosensitive microcapsules to rupture and transfer an image-wise pattern of said color precursor to said non-reactive substrate forming a latent image thereon;   separating said imaging sheet from said latent image-bearing, non-reactive substrate;   assembling said latent image-bearing, non-reactive substrate with a developer sheet, to form a second assembly, said developer sheet including a web having a layer of thermoplastic developer resin on the surface thereof, wherein said resin reacts with said color precursor to form an image thereon; and   subjecting said second assembly to heat and a uniform force sufficient to laminate said developer sheet to said non-reactive substrate.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18 wherein said thermoplastic developer resin is a phenolic resin. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19 wherein said phenolic resin is coated on said web as finely divided particles. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 18 wherein said web is a transparent plastic film. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21 wherein said plastic film has a thickness of about 3 to 12 microns. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 21 wherein said plastic film is polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 18 wherein said microcapsules contain a photohardenable composition. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 19 wherein said phenolic resin is a metallated phenolic resin. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25 wherein said phenolic resin is a zincated phenolic resin. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 18 wherein said developer resin is an acrylic or vinylic resin. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 18 wherein said developer resin is a blend of a phenolic resin and an acrylic or vinylic resin. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 21 wherein said non-reactive substrate is selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic film, cardboard, container board, and glass. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 29 wherein said non-reactive substrate is paper. 
     
     
       31. The method of claim 30 wherein said non-reactive substrate is xerographic bond paper. 
     
     
       32. The method of claim 29 wherein said non-reactive substrate is a transparent plastic film and said method is useful in forming transparencies. 
     
     
       33. The method of claim 18 wherein said layer of microcapsules contains three sets of microcapsules sensitive to red, green and blue light respectively and said sets of microcapsules contain cyan, magenta and yellow image-forming agents respectively. 
     
     
       34. The method of claim 33 wherein said laminated images are full color images.