Decorated panel and process for making the same
OwnerLuciano A. Fuscoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A decorated panel and a process for manufacturing a decorated panel are disclosed. The decorated panel comprises a multi-layered system of linking, printing and finishing films laminated on opposite sides of a structural translucent core formed of a fiber layer impregnated with synthetic resin. The multi-layered system of plastic films allows the creation of new optical effects which include reproduction of the same color tones under different lighting conditions, pre-arranged superimposition of complementary images, double-sided printing, a combination of translucency and opacity, as well as other graphic possibilities. These panels are used for visual communication, advertising, signs, architecture and other applications.
Claims15
A decorated panel comprising:
- a structural translucent core comprising a fiber layer that have been impregnated with a synthetic resin composition and cured;
- each side of said core having at least one plastic film bonded to the synthetic resin composition of the core by cross-linking and lamination;
- at least one of said at least one plastic film containing images, text, or other decorations printed in ink of any color;
- and
- the outermost film on each side of the core having a thickness sufficient to provide protection from scratches, cuts, and impacts thereto.
A decorated panel comprising:
- a structural translucent core comprising a fiber layer including continuous strands that have been impregnated with a synthetic resin composition and cured;
- each side of said core having at least one plastic film layer bonded to the synthetic resin composition of the core by cross-linking and lamination;
- at least one of said at least one film layer containing images, text, or other decorations printed in ink of any color;
- and
- each of said at least one film layer having a thickness sufficient to provide protection from scratches, cuts, and impacts thereto, said decorated panel made by the process of:
- impregnating a fiber layer with a synthetic resin composition, thereby forming said structural translucent core;
- feeding a linking, printing, and finishing films from respective carrier reels onto platforms by means of floating devices which automatically correct possible geometrical irregularities in the carrier reels and control the tension in each film;
- coupling all the adjacent films by lamination with adhesive resin;
- laminating said multi-layered system of linking, printing, and finishing films on opposite sides of said structural translucent core;
- consolidating the laminate through a cylinder system;
- curing the continuous laminate of the multi-layered structure by a method selected from the group consisting of UV curing, thermal curing, or a combination of UV and thermal curing, with an appropriate mix of thermal catalysts and UV photo-initiators provided in the resin, the mix depending upon which curing method is selected;
- and
- collecting the multi-layered structure onto a reel and cutting off a selected length of panel with a cutting device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.