Inkjet process for three-dimensional relief on tiles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11633972-B2
Application number	US-202017085069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 8, 2018
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

A technique is described for the application of three-dimensional (3D) relief to a substrate such as a ceramic tile using digital inkjet technology. In an example embodiment, the introduced technique includes application of binder ink to a portion of the surface of a substrate using a digital inkjet process. This binder ink forms a barrier layer which protects the portion of the surface of the substrate. Next, a brushing process is applied to remove unprotected portions of the substrate, thereby forming the 3D relief in the substrate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for forming a three-dimensional (3D) relief in a substrate, the system comprising:
a digital inkjet printer configured to:
apply binder ink to a first region of a surface of the substrate to form a protective barrier over the first region of the surface of the substrate based on a relief pattern; and
apply solvent ink to the substrate to cause at least some of the binder ink to sink into the substrate such that the protective barrier is at a gradient depth relative to the surface of the substrate; and
a mechanical brusher configured to:
brush the substrate to remove material from an unprotected second region of the substrate to form the 3D relief.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input includes a digital image of the relief pattern and wherein the digital inkjet printer is configured to apply the binder ink by:
processing the received digital image to determine the first region of the surface of the substrate; and
propelling droplets of the binder ink at the first region of the surface of the substrate to recreate the relief pattern.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the binder ink includes a resin solution.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a double charged ceramic tile including a top layer of absorbent material upon which ink can be applied using digital inkjet printing.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a glazing apparatus configured to apply a glaze to the surface of the substrate after the 3D relief has been formed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the digital inkjet printer is further configured to:
apply color ink to the surface of the substrate after the 3D relief has been formed.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an automated kiln configured to fire the substrate after the 3D relief has been formed to produce a ceramic tile.

8. A method for operating a system for forming a three-dimensional (3D) relief in a substrate, the method comprising:
applying, by a digital inkjet printer of the system, binder ink to a first region of a surface of the substrate to form a protective barrier over the first region of the surface of the substrate based on a relief pattern;
applying, by the digital inkjet printer, solvent ink to the substrate to cause at least some of the binder ink to sink into the substrate such that the protective barrier is at a gradient depth relative to the surface of the substrate; and
brushing, by a mechanical brusher of the system, the substrate to remove material from an unprotected second region of the substrate to form the 3D relief.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the input includes a digital image of the relief pattern and wherein the digital inkjet printer applies the binder ink by:
processing the received digital image to determine the first region of the surface of the substrate; and
propelling droplets of the binder ink at the first region of the surface of the substrate to recreate the relief pattern.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the binder ink includes a resin solution.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the substrate is a double charged ceramic tile including a top layer of absorbent material upon which ink can be applied using digital inkjet printing.

12. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
applying, by a glazing apparatus of the system, a glaze to the surface of the substrate after the 3D relief has been formed.

13. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
applying, by the digital inkjet printer, color ink to the surface of the substrate after the 3D relief has been formed.

14. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
firing, by an automated kiln of the system, the substrate after the 3D relief has been formed to produce a ceramic tile.

Assignees

• Electronics For Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Zavada Mark
• Tennis Matthew
• Weber David
• Meranto Alexander
• Carratalá Carlos
• Badenes Fernando Tomás
• Fage Louis Justus
• GOOD Ursula
• Edwards Paul Andrew
• Roggers Robert
• Hansen John

Classifications

• B41J2/21

  for multi-colour printing · CPC title

• B41M3/06

  Veined printings; Fluorescent printings; Stereoscopic images; Imitated patterns, e.g. tissues, textiles · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B28B11/044

  with glaze or engobe or enamel or varnish · CPC title

• B41M7/009

  using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat · CPC title