US 2015/0174886 A1 · PHOTOSENSITIVE STENCILS AND METHODS

Abstract

A photosensitive stencil includes a porous stencil carrier that can be a sheet of woven material with crisscrossing filaments. The stencil carrier is coated with a photopolymer emulsion that is water based to form a stencil blank. In use, a light mask is disposed atop the stencil blank. The light mask can be contained on a sheet of paper or a transparent film. Alternatively the stencil blank is fed through an inkjet printer and the light mask is printed directly onto the stencil blank using common inks. The stencil blank is then exposed to light for a few minutes, which cross-links the photopolymer emulsion in unmasked regions. After exposure, the stencil blank is developed by being washed out with water. The water removes emulsion and adhesive, where present, within areas that were masked by the light mask, revealing open or open regions through which ink or paint can be applied.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method for making a stencil blank for subsequent use in making a final stencil from the stencil blank, said method comprising:

a) providing a support carrier having a smooth flat surface;
b) pre-coating the smooth flat surface of the support carrier with a film of photosensitive emulsion for forming a pre-coated emulsion film having a smooth flat surface mirroring the smooth flat surface of the carrier;
c) applying a stencil carrier to the pre-coated emulsion film, said stencil carrier having openings sized to pass art media such as ink, paints, pastes and fillers;
d) applying a primary coating of photosensitive emulsion to the stencil carrier so that it permeates the openings of the stencil carrier and bonds with the pre-coated emulsion film,
wherein said photosensitive emulsion used for the pre-coated emulsion film and the primary coating is soluble in water in its native state and being formulated to become insoluble to water when exposed to light during the subsequent use of the stencil blank, thereby becoming firm and fixed in the stencil carrier;
e) applying an adhesive on the primary coating of photosensitive emulsion;
and
f) applying a protective release sheet over the adhesive.

5 more elements

A method for making a stencil blank for subsequent use in making a final stencil from the stencil blank, said method comprising:

a) providing a support carrier having a smooth flat surface;
b) applying an adhesive coating on the smooth flat surface of the support carrier;
c) applying a stencil carrier to the adhesive coating, said stencil carrier having openings sized to pass art media such as ink, paints, pastes and fillers;
and
d) applying a coating of photosensitive emulsion to the stencil carrier so that it permeates the openings of the stencil carrier and bonds with the pre-coated emulsion film, wherein said photosensitive emulsion is soluble in water in its native state and being formulated to become insoluble to water when exposed to light during the subsequent use of the stencil blank, thereby becoming firm and fixed in the stencil carrier.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Photosensitive stencils and methods

Life of this patent

Photosensitive stencils and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25