Method for making translucent colored-backed films and continuous length made thereby
OwnerRonald W. Lowtherinventor
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Abstract
A method is described for making colored backed film material using a polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film having a first face and a second face opposite the first face. The method comprises the steps of coating the first face of the PVF film with an ink-receptive coating. A carrier is then statically laminated to the second face of the PVF film. Using a rotary web printing apparatus, an acrylic ink is then continuously applied onto the first face of the PVF film. After drying the ink, the PVF film is separated from the carrier and the colored PVF film is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and provided with a release paper.
Claims7
A method for making a polyvinyl fluoride film with a translucent acrylic ink thereon, the film having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, said film having a carrier sheet temporarily adhered to the second face of the polyvinyl fluoride film, comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a custom-colored translucent acrylic ink by first dispersing at least first and second pigments in a clear varnish and then adding a solvent to the dispersion, the acrylic ink having a viscosity of approximately 500 centipoise;
- (b) treating the first face to make the polyvinyl fluoride film receptive to translucent acrylic ink;
- (c) continuously applying the custom-colored translucent acrylic ink onto the treated first face using a seamless metal rotary screen applicator that enables application of the translucent acrylic ink in a substantially uniform layer along an entire length of the polyvinyl fluoride film at a speed between approximately 10 and 12 meters per minute and wherein said ink layer is substantially devoid of visually discernible ink joins, such that when the inked film is supported on a substrate and backlit, substantially no color gradations are visible in the translucent ink;
- and
- (d) drying the translucent ink coated polyvinyl fluoride film in an oven at a temperature range between approximately 170 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit.
A continuous length of a laminate comprising a polyvinyl fluoride film having a colored translucent acrylic ink thereon, a pressure sensitive adhesive adhered to the ink, and a backing paper which is strippable from the pressure sensitive adhesive, the continuous length formed by:
- (a) forming a custom-colored translucent acrylic ink by first dispersing at least first and second pigments in a clear vanish and then adding a solvent to the dispersion, the acrylic ink having a viscosity of approximately 500 centipoise;
- (b) temporarily adhering a carrier to a face of the polyvinyl fluoride film;
- (c) treating an opposed face of the polyvinyl fluoride film to make the opposed face of the film receptive to translucent acrylic inks;
- (d) continuously applying the custom-colored translucent acrylic ink onto the treated first face using a seamless metal rotary screen applicator that enables application of the translucent acrylic ink in a substantially uniform layer along an entire length of the polyvinyl fluoride film at a speed between approximately 10 and 12 meters per minute and wherein said ink layer is substantially devoid of visually discernible ink joins, such that when the inked film is supported on a substrate and backlit, substantially no color gradations are visible in the translucent ink;
- (e) drying the translucent ink coated polyvinyl fluoride film in an oven at a temperature range between approximately 170 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit;
- and
- (f) stripping the carrier from the face.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.