Digital binder printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11065889-B2
Application number	US-201916531490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2019
Priority date	Jul 26, 2012
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A method and equipment to form a digital image on a surface by applying a powder layer including colour pigments on the surfaces, bonding a part of the powder and removing the non-bonded powder from the surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Equipment to provide a digital image on a building panel, wherein the equipment comprises a digital coating head, a powder scattering unit, a curing oven and a powder removal system wherein:
the digital coating head is adapted to apply a liquid substance on the panel, the powder scattering unit is adapted to apply a powder layer comprising colour pigments on the panel, wherein the liquid substance is adapted to bond a part of the powder to the panel, the curing oven is adapted to cure the liquid substance and the powder removal system is adapted to remove the non-bonded powder from the panel, and
wherein the powder removal system is based on an air stream and optionally a vacuum.

2. A method of forming a digitally printed image with colour pigments on a surface of a building panel, the method comprising forming at least two layers of digital prints, each layer being formed by:
scattering colour pigments on the surface;
bonding a part of the colour pigments to the surface; and
removing the non-bonded colour pigments from the surface such that a layer of a digital print is formed by the bonded colour pigments.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the colour pigments are bonded to a binder.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the binder is separately applied on the surface of the building panel.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the binder is a liquid substance.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the liquid substance is water-based.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the liquid substance is UV curable and wherein the method further comprises exposing the liquid substance to UV light.

8. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the binder is a powder.

9. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the binder comprises a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the colour pigments are mixed with a binder.

11. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said at least two layers are positioned above each other.

12. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said at least two layers are positioned next to each other.

13. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said at least two layers comprises a first layer and a second layer, a color of the second layer being different that a color of the first layer.

14. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said at least two layers comprises a first layer and a second layer, the non-bonded colour pigments of the first layer being removed before forming the second layer.

15. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the surface of the building panel comprises a thermosetting resin.

16. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the surface of the building panel is a paper layer or a foil, or wherein the surface of the building panel comprises a powder layer or a stabilized powder layer.

17. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the building panel is a floor panel, a wall panel, or a furniture component.

18. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the building panel is a floor panel comprising a mechanical locking system for vertical and horizontal locking.

19. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the step of bonding said part of the colour pigments to the surface comprises applying a liquid substance by a digital coating head.

20. The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising applying heat and pressure to the surface of the building panel.

Assignees

• Ceraloc Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Pervan Darko

Classifications

• B41J11/00214 Primary

  using UV radiation · CPC title

• B41J2/485

  characterised by the process of building-up characters {or image elements} applicable to two or more kinds of printing or marking processes · CPC title

• B05D2401/32

  applied as powders · CPC title

• B41M7/0081

  using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams · CPC title

• E04F15/102

  of fibrous or chipped materials, e.g. bonded with synthetic resins · CPC title