Digital thermal binder and powder printing
A method of forming a digital print on a surface ( 2 ) by applying powder of dry ink ( 15 ) including colorants ( 7 ) on the surface, bonding a part of the dry ink ( 15 ) powder to the surface ( 2 ) by a digital heating print head ( 80 ) such that the digital print is formed by the bonded dry ink colorants ( 7 ) and removing non-bonded dry ink ( 15 ) from the surface ( 2 ).
1. A method of forming a digital print on a surface, wherein the method comprises:
applying a powder of dry ink comprising colorants on the surface;
bonding a part of the powder of dry ink to the surface by heating a portion of a transfer surface such that the dry ink heats up and the digital print is formed by bonded colorants of the dry ink; and
removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface,
wherein said portion of the transfer surface is heated by a digital heating print head.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the digital heating print head comprises a plurality of heating elements.
3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the heating elements apply varying amounts of heat.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transfer surface is in contact with the digital heating print head and the dry ink.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transfer surface is provided between the dry ink and the heating print head.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the transfer surface slides against the digital heating print head.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface is said transfer surface.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the print is transferred from the transfer surface to a receiving surface.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the print is pressed on the receiving surface by rollers.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the receiving surface is a board material, a powder, a paper, a foil, a textile material, a base coating, a metal, solid wood, wood veneer, a wood based sheet material, cork, linoleum, polymer material, ceramic, a carpet or wall paper.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of a pre-pressing unit, vacuum applied on the surface or oscillation is used for increasing a contact between the dry ink particles and the surface during the heat bonding.
12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , the method further comprising:
applying a second powder of dry ink comprising colorants on a portion the surface where the powder of dry ink was previously applied;
bonding a part of the second powder of dry ink to the surface by heating a portion of a transfer surface such that the dry ink heats up and the digital print is formed by bonded colorants of the dry ink; and
removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface.
13. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dry resin or the surface comprises a heat sensitive resin.
14. A method of forming a digital print on a surface, wherein the method comprises:
applying a powder of dry ink comprising colorants on the surface;
bonding a part of the powder of dry ink to the surface by heating a portion of a transfer surface such that the dry ink heats up and the digital print is formed by bonded colorants of the dry ink; and
removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface,
wherein the transfer surface is a heat transfer foil.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the heat transfer foil is a paper, a foil, or a textile material.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the heat transfer foil comprises copper or aluminum.
17. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the transfer surface comprises individual elements that are embedded in a heat insulating carrier.
18. The method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein heat is provided to the dry ink through the transfer surface.
19. A method of forming a digital print on a surface, wherein the method comprises:
applying a powder of dry ink comprising colorants on the surface;
bonding a part of the powder of dry ink to the surface by heating a portion of a transfer surface such that the dry ink heats up and the digital print is formed by bonded colorants of the dry ink; and
removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface,
wherein said portion of the transfer surface is heated prior to the application of the dry ink to the surface.
20. A method of forming a digital print on a surface, wherein the method comprises:
applying a powder of dry ink comprising colorants on the surface;
bonding a part of the powder of dry ink to the surface by heating a portion of a transfer surface such that the dry ink heats up and the digital print is formed by bonded colorants of the dry ink; and
removing non-bonded dry ink from the surface,
wherein the surface is a board material, a powder, a paper, a foil, a textile material, a base coating, a metal, solid wood, wood veneer, a wood based sheet material, cork, linoleum, polymer material, ceramic, a carpet or wall paper.