Containers having high quality, weather resistant graphics on exterior surfaces [and process for manufacturing such containers]

Abstract

A method for making weather resistant packaging with high quality graphics on the exterior of packaging material wherein the desired graphics are printed on a thin vinyl sheet with an offset lithographic printing process using solventless, styrene-based, ultraviolet ink on the vinyl substrate. Optionally, a water-based coating can be applied over the cured ink to increase wear resistant attributes of the desired graphics. The vinyl sheet is attached to the packaging material, and an ultraviolet clear coat is placed over the combined vinyl sheet and packaging material. Finally, the combination is cut to form the weather resistant package having the desired graphics.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . A method for making a package having weather resistant, high quality graphics on its exterior, the method comprising: 
 (a) imprinting the desired graphics on one side of a thin vinyl substrate with a solventless, ultraviolet ink using an offset lithographic printing process;    (b) curing the ink with ultraviolet radiation;    (c) adhering the other side of the thin vinyl substrate to a fibrous sheet to form a combined flat fibrous sheet and vinyl substrate; and,    (d) forming the package from the combined flat fibrous sheet and vinyl substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ink is styrene-based.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising attaching the vinyl substrate to the packaging materials using adhesives placed on the backside of the vinyl substrate.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying a water-based coating after curing the ink and before forming the combined flat fibrous sheet and vinyl substrate.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising applying an ultraviolet clear coating to the combined flat fibrous sheet and vinyl substrate.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying an ultraviolet clear coating to the combined flat fibrous sheet and vinyl substrate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the fibrous sheet is made from cellulose.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the fibrous sheet is a solid fiber board.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the fibrous sheet is a corrugated board.  
     
     
         10 . A method of making a package having weather resistant, high quality graphics on its exterior, the method comprising: 
 (a) imprinting the desired graphics on one side of a thin vinyl substrate with a styrene-based ultraviolet ink using an offset lithographic printing process;    (b) curing the ink with ultraviolet radiation;    (c) adhering the other side of the thin vinyl substrate to a solid fiber board to form a combined solid fiber board and vinyl substrate;    (d) applying an ultraviolet clear coating to the combined solid fiber board and vinyl substrate;    (e) curing the clear coating; and,    (f) cutting and stitching the combined solid fiber board and vinyl substrate to form the package.    
     
     
         11 . A method of making a package having weather resistant, high quality graphics on its exterior, the method comprising: 
 (a) imprinting the desired graphics on one side of a thin vinyl substrate with a styrene-based ultraviolet ink using an offset lithographic printing process;    (b) curing the ink with ultraviolet radiation;    (c) applying a water-based coating over the cured ink.    (d) adhering the other side of the thin vinyl substrate to a solid fiber board to form a combined solid fiber board and vinyl substrate;    (e) applying an ultraviolet clear coating over the water-based coating;    (f) curing the clear coating; and,    (g) cutting and stitching the combined solid fiber board and vinyl substrate to form the package.    
     
     
         12 . A package having weather resistant, high quality graphics on its exterior, said package comprising: 
 (a) a solid fiber board forming the package;    (b) a thin vinyl substrate adhered to and covering the exterior of the solid fiber board; and    (c) a styrene-based ink printed on the vinyl substrate.    
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12  further comprising a water-based coating over the ink.  
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13  further comprising an ultraviolet clear coating over the water-based coating.  
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 12  further comprising an ultraviolet clear coating over the ink.