Method of manufacturing a multi-layer article
AssigneeLanda Labs (2012) Ltd.
InventorsBenzion Landa, Sagi Abramovich, Moshe Levanon, Helena Chechik
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Abstract
There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a multi-layered article including a finished outer surface optionally having particular surface properties. The article can be a self-supported strip having a smooth outer surface. The method is, for example, suitable for the preparation of multi-layered articles such as a flexible intermediate transfer member (ITM) for use in an indirect printing system. Uses of such articles are also disclosed.
Claims26
A method of manufacturing a self-supported strip having an at least partially cured surface coating, which method comprises:
- a. providing a fluid first curable material configured to be at least partially cured by a curing process;
- b. providing a carrier having a carrier contact surface, said carrier contact surface being wettable by said fluid first curable material, said carrier being configured to maintain structural integrity when subject to said curing process;
- c. applying said fluid first curable material onto said carrier, said fluid first curable material wetting said carrier contact surface to form a layer of said fluid first curable material on said carrier contact surface;
- d. at least partially curing said fluid first curable material to form said at least partially cured surface coating of the self-supported strip;
- and
- e. securing a flexible base to, or forming a flexible base on, a surface of the at least partially cured surface coating opposite said carrier, wherein said at least partially cured surface coating together with said flexible base are peelable from said carrier, to produce said self-supported strip.
A method of mounting an intermediate transfer member (ITM) on, or into, an indirect printer, comprising:
- providing an ITM with or without a carrier, the ITM being a self-supported strip manufactured by a process including:
- a. providing a fluid first curable material configured to be at least partially cured by a curing process,
- b. providing the carrier having a carrier contact surface, said carrier contact surface being wettable by said fluid first curable material, said carrier being configured to maintain structural integrity when subject to said curing process,
- c. forming a layer of said fluid first curable material on said carrier contact surface, with one side of said layer contacting said carrier contact surface, by applying said fluid first curable material onto said carrier, so that said fluid first curable material wets said carrier contact surface,
- d. at least partially curing said fluid first curable material to form said release layer of the self-supported strip, and
- e. securing a flexible base to, or forming a flexible base on, a surface of the release layer opposite said carrier, wherein said release layer together with said flexible base are peelable from said carrier, to produce said self-supported strip;
- mounting said ITM with or without the carrier, on or into an indirect printer, wherein said release layer is fully cured prior to said mounting;
- and
- prior to or subsequent to said mounting, separating said carrier from said release layer.
A self-supported strip, comprising a fully cured surface coating and a flexible base, wherein said fully cured surface coating in said self-supported strip is characterized by at least one of the following structural features:
- a decreasing defect density from a side of the fully cured surface coating which faces the flexible base to an opposite side of the fully cured surface coating;
- an average roughness of at most 250 nm on the opposite side;
- and
- a presence of defects, if any, on less than one percent of an area of the opposite side, after cleaning the opposite side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.