Coatings for vinyl and canvas particularly permitting ink-jet printing
AssigneeTriton Digital Imaging Systems, Inc.
InventorWade Bowers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and related compositions for preparing a substrate for printing are described. The invention comprises coating a non-paper substrate with an adherent base coat and a hydrophilic top coat. The base coat adheres to the substrate and the top coat, which is applied to the base coat and adheres to it, provides an ink receptive surface on which ink pigment can be deposited. A base coating composition comprises a type-A gelatin and an acrylic polymer. A top coating composition comprises a type-A or type-B gelatin and a hydrophilic organic polymer. A base- and top-coated substrate of the invention is particularly suited for use with ink-jet printers that employ aqueous-based inks. Printing substrates include such materials as canvas, leather, polymeric films and sheets, and the like.
Claims40
A method for coating a paper-free substrate in preparation for printing thereon with a pigmented aqueous ink having pigment in a water carrier, the method comprising:
- applying to the substrate a base coating comprised of a first gelatin and a first organic polymer;
- and
- applying to the base coating a hydrophilic top coating composed of a second gelatin in which water of the aqueous ink is absorbed and a second organic polymer reducing solubility of the ink's pigment in the ink's water carrier, which hydrophilic coating both (i) adheres to the base coat and (ii) precipitates pigment from any pigmented aqueous ink that is printed upon the top coating.
A method of preparing a paper-free substrate so that the substrate accepts and retains a water-based ink during printing, the preparation method comprising:
- (a) coating a paper-free substrate with a base coat containing a first polymer which chemically adheres to the substrate, and a first gelatin;
- and
- (b) coating the base-coated substrate with an ink-receptive top coat containing a second polymer and a second gelatin, which second gelatin adheres to the first gelatin of the base coat and absorbs water from the water-based ink.
A coated sheet printable with a water-based ink, the coated sheet comprising:
- a sheet free of paper;
- a base coat adhered to the sheet, the base coat including a first gelatin and a water-soluble polymer;
- and
- a top coat adhered to the base coat, the top coat including a second gelatin that accepts and retains water from a water-based ink, and a hydrophilic water-soluble polymer,
- wherein when a water-based ink including water and pigment is applied to the top coat then at least some of the water of the ink is absorbed by the second gelatin of the top coat, and the hydrophilic water-soluble polymer is dissolved into the ink, so that the ink pigment is deposited substantially onto the top coat;
- there in the top and the base coats render the sheet printable with the water-based ink.
A coated vinyl sheet printable with a water-based ink having pigment, the coated vinyl sheet comprising:
- a polyvinyl sheet;
- a base coat adhered to the polyvinyl sheet, the base coat including an acid-process gelatin and an acrylic co-polymer by action of both which relation and polymer the base coat adheres to the polyvinyl sheet;
- and
- a top coat adhered to the base coat, the top coat including (i) an acid-process gelatin by action of which the top coat adheres to the base coat, the gelatin also being a receptor of water, and (ii) a water-soluble hydrophilic polymer,
- wherein when a water-based ink including water and ink pigment is applied to the top coat then
- the water within the ink is absorbed by the acid-process gelatin of the top coat, and
- at least a portion of the hydrophilic water-soluble polymer is dissolved into the ink, there in precipitating a depositing of the ink pigment from the ink onto the polyvinyl sheet.
A coated fabric web printable with a water-based ink, the coated fabric web comprising:
- a fabric web;
- a base coat adhered to the fabric web, the base coat including an acid-process gelatin and an acrylic co-polymer by action of which the base coat adheres to the fabric web;
- and
- a top coat adhered to the base coat, the top coat including (i) an alkaline-process gelatin by action of which the top coat adheres to the base coat, the gelatin being a receptor of water, and (ii) a water-soluble hydrophilic polymer,
- wherein when a water-based ink including water and pigment is applied to the top coat then
- the water within the ink is absorbed by the gelatin of the top coat, and
- at least a portion of the hydrophilic water-soluble polymer is dissolved into the water of the ink, there in precipitating depositing of the ink pigment from the ink onto the fabric web.
A printing method comprising applying a water-based ink to a non-porous paper-free substrate, the substrate coated with an adherent base layer and a hydrophilic top layer.
A printing system comprising;
- an ink-jet printer;
- a paper-free substrate coated with an adherent first layer and a hydrophilic top-layer;
- and
- a computer means for controllably imprinting a desired ink pattern on the substrate with the ink-jet printer.
A method for coating a paper-free substrate in preparation for printing thereon comprising:
- first applying to the substrate a coating composition containing a gelatin and a polymer adherent to the substrate as a first layer;
- and
- second applying a hydrophilic polymer as a second layer.
A method for coating a paper-free substrate in preparation for printing thereon with a water-based ink comprising:
- applying to the paper-free substrate a base coat comprised of a first organic polymer that adheres to the substrate;
- and
- applying to the base coat a hydrophilic top coat comprising a hydrophilic material and a water-soluble polymer, which top coat both (i) adheres to the base coating and (ii) absorbs water in the water-based ink.
A coated non-porous paper-free sheet printable with a water-based ink, the coated non-porous paper-free sheet comprising:
- a non-porous paper-free sheet;
- a base coat, including (i) a water-soluble polymer and (ii) a first material that adhere to the sheet;
- and
- a top coat, including (i) a hydrophilic water-soluble polymer and (ii) a second material that adheres to the first material, that both (i) adheres to the base coat, and (ii) absorbs water from a water-based ink.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.