The present disclosure relates to formulations for use with an intermediate transfer members of indirect printing systems and printing methods utilizing same. The present disclosure further relates to intermediate transfer members having a release layer surface covered with the formulations of the invention. The present disclosure also relates to printed substrates, printed articles and printed patterns produced using the formulations of the invention and to kits comprising the formulations.

The present disclosure relates to formulations for use with an intermediate transfer members of indirect printing systems and printing methods utilizing same. The present disclosure further relates to intermediate transfer members having a release layer surface covered with the formulations of the invention. The present disclosure also relates to printed substrates, printed articles and printed patterns produced using the formulations of the invention and to kits comprising the formulations.

An apparatus for producing a transfer medium is equipped with: a printing unit that receives image data that represents an image to be printed and prints a print image onto a peelable sheet based on the image data; an adhesive liquid coating unit that coats an adhesive liquid on the peelable sheet on which the print image has been printed; and a control unit that controls the adhesive liquid coating unit such that an adhesive liquid is coated onto a printed image within a transfer region, from between the transfer region to be transferred onto a target medium for transfer and a non-transfer region not to be transferred onto the target medium for transfer, which are included in the printed image.

The present invention relates to transfer media for transferring a functional active ingredient to a surface of an article by means of heat, to methods for preparing such transfer media and for providing of a surface of an article with a functional active ingredient. The transfer media can be used in various technical fields.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system comprises a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

Method and system for thermal transfer printing are disclosed. The system comprises a transfer member having an imaging surface on the front side, a coating station at which a monolayer of particles made of, or coated with, a thermoplastic polymer is applied to the imaging surface, an imaging station at which electromagnetic radiation (EM) is applied via the rear side of the transfer member to selected regions of the particles-coated imaging surface to render the particles thereon tacky within the selected regions, and a transfer station at which only the regions of the particles coating that have been rendered tacky are transferred to a substrate. The transfer member includes on its rear side a body transparent to EM radiation and on its front side an EM radiation absorbing layer, the imaging surface being formed on, or as part of, the absorbing layer.

There are provided an image transfer sheet for leaving no air bubbles between an image layer and a transfer target object, a method for manufacturing the image transfer sheet and a method for transferring an image. An image transfer method, comprising the steps of: forming a glue layer by pressure-gluing a glued sheet, defined by a substrate and a glue layer provided on a lower surface of the substrate, onto an upper surface of a release paper, having many fine recesses, and subsequently peeling and removing the substrate and exposing the glue layer; printing ink on the exposed upper surface of the glue layer by a non-contact printer to thereby provide an image layer on part of the glue layer; affixing a transfer film on the glue layer provided with the image layer, wherein the transfer film is releasable from the image layer and easily adhesive to the glue layer, and causing the transfer film to contact with a lower surface of the transfer film onto the image layer where there is the image layer, and with the glue layer where there is no image layer; peeling and removing only the release paper from the image transfer sheet; pressure-gluing the lower surface of the glue layer of the image transfer sheet, with the release paper removed, onto a transfer target object; and peeling and removing the transfer film from the image transfer sheet pressure-glued to the transfer target object.

An intermediate transfer member (ITM) for use in a printing system to transport an ink image from an image forming station to an impression station for transfer of the ink image from the ITM onto a printing substrate, wherein the ITM is an endless flexible belt of substantially uniform width which, during use, passes over drive and guide rollers and is guided through at least the image forming station by means of guide channels that receive formations provided on both lateral edges of the belt, wherein the formations on a first edge differ from the formations on the second edge by being configured for providing the elasticity desired to maintain the belt taut when the belt is guided through their respective lateral channels.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method of indirect printing with an aqueous ink formulation applied to the surface of the intermediate transfer member. Related apparatus, systems and treatment formulations are disclosed herein.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto one or more surfaces of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. The apparatuses and methods may include providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of one or more surfaces of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the one or more surfaces of the article.