Dye-diffusion printing process for metal cans - involves heat-shrinking dyed label around can and soaking off again after print transfer to metal

摘要

Metal containers such as cans (12) are printed when empty by dye diffusion transfer. The dyes are first printed onto a paper web (34), whichis cut into individual carrier webs (46). Each carrier web is secured in the manner of a label to a container by an adhesive. Upon being heated (40) to effect dye transfer, the web comes into intimate contact with a receptive coating (pre-applied to the container) solely by virtue of its own shrinkage. The carrier web and adhesive are subsequently removed by water spray (42) leaving the markings printed directly onto the metal.