Ultraviolet (uv) heat-activated laminating adhesive for an inkjet printing process

Abstract

Apparatus, compositions, and systems for ultraviolet (UV) heat-activated laminating adhesives applied via an inkjet printing process are disclosed. A system includes a first inkjet mechanism configured to deposit ink in a particular pattern onto a surface of a rigid medium. A second inkjet mechanism is configured to deposit a laminating adhesive onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium. A pair of stainless steel plates is configured to receive an overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive deposited onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium. The overlay film layer is positioned such that a surface of the overlay film layer faces the laminating adhesive. Pressure and heat are applied to the overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive to laminate the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more actuators;   a first inkjet mechanism coupled to the one or more actuators and configured to deposit ink in a particular pattern onto a surface of a rigid medium when driven by the one or more actuators;   a second inkjet mechanism coupled to the one or more actuators and configured to deposit a laminating adhesive onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium when driven by the one or more actuators; and   a pair of stainless steel plates coupled to the one or more actuators and configured to:   receive an overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive deposited onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium when driven by the one or more actuators, the overlay film layer positioned such that a surface of the overlay film layer faces the laminating adhesive; and   apply pressure to the overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive to laminate the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of stainless steel plates is configured to:
 apply heat to the overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive when driven by the one or more actuators.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising:
 a pair of platens coupled to the one or more actuators and configured to:
 receive the heat from a heat source; and 
 apply the heat and the pressure to the stainless steel plates when driven by the one or more actuators. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , comprising:
 a lamination press coupled to the one or more actuators and configured to:
 drive the one or more actuators; and 
 convey the heat from the heat source to the pair of platens. 
   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an ultraviolet (UV) light source coupled to the one or more actuators and configured to:
 cure the particular pattern printed onto the surface of the rigid medium; and 
 cure the laminating adhesive deposited onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of stainless steel plates is configured to:
 create a bond between the overlay film layer and the rigid medium using the laminating adhesive, the bond having a peel strength greater than 7 pound-force (lbf) or 31.1376 newtons (n).   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the overlay film layer comprises at least one of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure is in a range from 1000 to 1800 pound-force (lbf), and wherein the pressure is applied for two to four minutes. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to:
 cool the rigid medium for twenty-four to thirty-six hours after applying the pressure.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an ultraviolet (UV) light source coupled to the one or more actuators and configured to:
 cure the laminating adhesive by radiating the laminating adhesive using UV radiation of subtype A (UVA) having a wavelength in a range of 320 to 400 nanometers (nm), wherein the laminating adhesive comprises Norrish Type 1. 
   
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 depositing, by a first inkjet mechanism coupled to one or more actuators of a system, ink in a particular pattern onto a surface of a rigid medium when driven by the one or more actuators;   depositing, by a second inkjet mechanism coupled to the one or more actuators, a laminating adhesive onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium when driven by the one or more actuators; and   receiving, by a pair of stainless steel plates coupled to the one or more actuators, an overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive deposited onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium when driven by the one or more actuators, the overlay film layer positioned such that a surface of the overlay film layer faces the laminating adhesive; and   applying, by the pair of stainless steel plates, pressure to the overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive to laminate the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 applying, by the pair of stainless steel plates driven by the one or more actuators, heat to the overlay film layer and the laminating adhesive when the pair of stainless steel plates is driven by the one or more actuators.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising:
 receiving, by a pair of platens coupled to the one or more actuators, the heat from a heat source; and   applying, by the pair of platens, the heat and the pressure to the stainless steel plates when the pair of platens is driven by the one or more actuators.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 driving, by a lamination press coupled to the one or more actuators, the one or more actuators; and   conveying, by the lamination press, the heat from the heat source to the pair of platens.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 curing, by an ultraviolet (UV) light source coupled to the one or more actuators, the particular pattern printed onto the surface of the rigid medium; and   curing, by the UV light source, the laminating adhesive deposited onto the particular pattern printed on the surface of the rigid medium.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 creating, by the pair of stainless steel plates, a bond between the overlay film layer and the rigid medium using the laminating adhesive, the bond having a peel strength greater than 7 pound-force (lbf) or 31.1376 newtons (n).   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the overlay film layer comprises at least one of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure is in a range from 1000 to 1800 pound-force (lbf), and wherein the pressure is applied for two to four minutes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 cooling, by the system, the rigid medium for twenty-four to thirty-six hours after applying the pressure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 curing, by an ultraviolet (UV) light source coupled to the one or more actuators the laminating adhesive by radiating the laminating adhesive using UV radiation of subtype A (UVA) having a wavelength in a range of 320 to 400 nanometers (nm), wherein the laminating adhesive comprises Norrish Type 1.