EB pattern profile printing

• US 20030087072A1
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Huffer, Scott W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/209
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/00 Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns printing apparatus or machines of special type or for particular purposes B41F17/00; special designs or pictures per se B44F; manufacturing printed circuits using printing techniques H05K3/12 ; manufacturing organic semiconductor devices using printing techniques H10K71/13
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/008 Sequential or multiple printing, e.g. on previously printed background; Mirror printing; Recto-verso printing; using a combination of different printing techniques; Printing of patterns visible in reflection and by transparency; by superposing printed artifacts
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/06 Veined printings; Fluorescent printings; Stereoscopic images; Imitated patterns, e.g. tissues, textiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24901 including coloring matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer

Abstract

The present invention provides a printing process and a printed product in which a coating is combined with an additive that lowers the surface tension of the dried coating. The coating pattern is printed on a substrate, and is cured using electron beam (“EB”) processing. An ink is printed on top of the dried coating pattern. The ink flows away from the coating due to the difference in surface tension, forming a pattern of raised ink between the pattern and the coating.

Claims

1. A printing process comprising the steps of:

a) providing a coating;

b) adding a surface tension lowering additive to the coating;

c) printing the coating onto a substrate in a pattern;

d) curing the coating by electron beam processing;

e) applying an ink over the substrate and the printed coating;

f) allowing the ink to flow from the coating pattern areas to the non-pattern areas; and

g) allowing the ink to dry in the form of raised profile ridges.

2. The printing process of claim 1 wherein the coating is printed in a pattern of substantially parallel lines.

3. The printing process of claim 2 wherein the coating pattern is printed such that non-printed areas remain between the substantially parallel lines of printed coating.

4. The printing process of claim 2 wherein the ink forms raised ridges oriented along the printed coating pattern.

5. The printing process of claim 1 wherein the coating is a resin.

6. The printing process of claim 5 wherein the resin coating is clear.

7. The printing process of claim 1 wherein the coating is a varnish.

8. The printing process of claim 1 wherein the coating is a pattern of colored inks.

9. The printing process of claim 1 wherein the coating is a metallic ink.

10. The printing process of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a reflective surface.

11. The printing process of claim 10 wherein the reflective surface is a metallized film.

12. The printing process of claim 10 wherein the reflective surface is a foil.

13. The printing process of claim 1 wherein the substrate is a clear film.

15. A printed product comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) a coating having a surface tension lowering additive, the coating printed in a pattern onto the substrate and cured using electron beam processing; and

c) an ink printed over the cured coating pattern and forming a raised pattern within the non-coated areas of the substrate.

14. A printing process as claimed in claim 17 wherein the additive is hydroxy-modified polyether silane.

16. The printed product of claim 15, wherein the coating pattern comprises substantially parallel lines.

17. The printed product of claim 15 wherein the coating additive is hydroxy-modified polyether silane.

18. The printed product of claim 15 wherein the substrate is a metallized film.

19. The printed product of claim 15 wherein the coating is a metallic ink.