Direct printing onto extruded PVC slats
AssigneePlastibec Inc.
InventorAngelo Sudano
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described is a process and system for direct printing of a decorative pattern onto an extruded PVC slat. The process includes providing a hot extruded PVC slat; directly contacting a surface of the hot extruded PVC slat with a direct printing cylinder as the slat is moved in a downstream direction, where the cylinder has a pattern with a cell structure that receives ink and rotates to directly apply the ink in the form of the pattern onto the surface of the hot extruded PVC slat. The process also includes controlling a temperature of the direct printing cylinder to inhibit drying of the ink while present on the direct printing cylinder.
Claims21
A process for direct printing of a decorative pattern onto an extruded PVC slat, comprising:
- providing an a extruded PVC slat;
- directly contacting a surface of the extruded PVC slat having a temperature above 300° F. with a direct printing cylinder as the slat is moved in a downstream direction, the direct printing cylinder having a cylindrical surface comprising a pattern with a cell structure composed of cavities in the cylindrical surface that receives ink and rotates to directly apply the ink in the form of the pattern onto the surface of the extruded PVC slat;
- controlling a temperature of the direct printing cylinder to inhibit drying of the ink while present on the direct printing cylinder;
- transporting the extruded PVC slat away from the direct printing cylinder;
- and then
- subjecting the extruded PVC slat to curing downstream of the direct printing cylinder in order to cure the ink onto the surface of the extruded PVC slat to produce a printed slat product.
A process for direct printing of a decorative pattern onto an extruded polymer slat, comprising:
- providing an extruded slat;
- feeding the extruded slat to a direct printing cylinder having a cylindrical surface and cavities provided in the cylindrical surface defining a pattern with a cell structure;
- providing ink within the cell structure to provide an ink-laden cylinder;
- directly contacting a surface of the extruded slat with the ink-laden cylinder as the extruded slat is moved in a downstream direction and while the extruded slat is at a temperature between 320° F. and 365° F., the ink-laden cylinder rotating to directly apply the ink in the form of the pattern onto the surface of the extruded slat;
- contacting the direct printing cylinder with a cooling fluid to maintain a temperature of the direct printing cylinder to inhibit drying of the ink while present on the direct printing cylinder;
- transporting the extruded slat away from the direct printing cylinder;
- and then subjecting the extruded slat to curing downstream of the direct printing cylinder in order to cure the ink onto the surface of the extruded slat to produce a printed slat product.
A system for direct printing of a decorative pattern onto an extruded PVC slat, comprising:
- a feed assembly for feeding PVC beads;
- an extruder having an inlet for receiving the PVC beads from the feed assembly, a main section for melting the beads, and an outlet for extruding a PVC slat;
- a printing station comprising:
- a frame;
- a direct printing cylinder mounted to the frame and comprising a cylindrical surface and cavities provided in the cylindrical surface defining a pattern with a cell structure, and being configured and positioned such that the cylindrical surface rotates and directly contacts the PVC slat moving in a downstream direction while at a temperature of at least 300° F.;
- an ink supply assembly containing ink and configured such that the direct printing cylinder receives ink therefrom for direct application to the PVC slat;
- a cooling system coupled to the direct printing cylinder for removing heat from the same;
- and
- a curing station located downstream in spaced apart relation with respect to the printing station and configured to cure the ink onto the surface of the PVC slat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.