Perimeter coating alignment

Abstract

A method of forming a scratch resistant color ink pattern of multi-color coatings ( 5 ) onto a see-through panel ( 6 ) with exact registration between successive color coatings of the pattern. The method of the invention includes the steps of: providing a base material ( 1 ) having an ink printable release coating on one side thereof; applying a first color coating of ceramic ink ( 75 ) to the printable release coating side of the base material ( 1 ); applying at least one additional color coating of ceramic ink ( 76 ) over at least a portion of the first color coating of ceramic ink ( 75 ); perforating the base material to provide a pattern of light passages ( 28 ) therethrough, the light passages ( 28 ) defining aligned edges of successive color coatings of ceramic inks to ensure exact registration between said successive color coatings of ceramic inks; transferring the pattern of color coatings of ceramic inks ( 5 ) onto a surface of a see-through panel ( 6 ); and heating the see-through panel ( 6 ) to fuse said pattern of color coatings of ceramic inks ( 5 ) onto said surface of said see-through panel ( 6 ). In one embodiment, the base material ( 1 ) consists of water slide paper and such that the pattern of color coatings is wetted and transferred to the see-through panel by water slide transfer. In another embodiment, the base material consists of heat transfer paper and the pattern of color coatings is transferred by application of heat and pressure or just pressure alone.

1. A method of forming a pattern of color coatings onto a light permeable panel with exact registration between successive color coatings along defined edges of the pattern, and wherein the panel with the pattern of color coatings formed thereon for use as a one-way vision panel, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a base material having an ink printable release coating on one side thereof;  
 b) applying a first color coating to the printable release coating side or said base material;  
 c) applying at least one additional color coating over at least a portion of said first color coating;  
 d) perforating said base material with said color coatings to provide a pattern of perforate and non-perforate portions to achieve exact registration of said at least one additional color coating with said first color coating for achieving one-way vision effects;  
 e) transferring said pattern of color coatings from said non-perforate portions of said base material onto a surface of a light permeable panel maintaining the exact registration; and  
 f) heating said light permeable panel to fuse said pattern of color coatings onto said surface of said light permeable panel.  
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 a) said base material comprises water slide paper; and  
 b) said step of transferring said pattern of color coatings includes wetting said base material to release said pattern of applied color coatings therefrom for water slide transfer to said light permeable panel.  
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of said color coatings is opaque. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3  wherein said color coatings comprise ceramic ink. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3  wherein said color coatings comprise enamel. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 2  which includes the step of applying at least one coating of metalized material over at least a portion of said printable release coating side of said base material prior to applying said first color coating. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1  wherein:
 a) said base material comprises heat transfer paper;  
 b) said step of transferring said pattern of color coatings includes applying pressure and heat to said heat transfer paper to release said pattern of applied color coatings therefrom.  
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7  wherein at least one of said color coatings is opaque. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8  wherein said color coatings comprise ceramic ink. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 8  wherein said color coatings comprise enamel. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 7  which includes the step of applying at least one coating of metalized material over at least a portion of said printable release coating side of said base material prior to applying said first color coating. 
     
     
       12. A method of forming a laminate pattern of color coatings onto a light permeable panel with exact registration between successive color coatings along defined edges of the pattern, and wherein the panel with the laminate pattern of color coatings formed thereon for use as a one-way vision panel, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a base material having an ink printable release coating on one side thereof;  
 b) cutting the base material to provide a desired pattern of perforate and non perforate portions for attaining exact registration of successively applied layers of color coatings suitable for one-way vision effects;  
 c) applying a first color coating to the non-perforate portions of the printable release coating side of the base material;  
 d) applying at least one additional color coating over at least a portion of the first color coating, the application of the additional color coating to the first color coating defining a laminate pattern of color coatings with exact registration along defined edges of the remaining non-perforate portions of the cut base material;  
 e) transferring the laminate pattern of color coatings onto a surface of a light permeable panel maintaining the exact registration; and  
 f) heating the light permeable panel to fuse the laminate pattern of color coatings onto the surface of the light permeable panel.  
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12  wherein:
 a) the base material comprises water slide paper; and  
 b) the step of transferring the laminate pattern of color coatings includes wetting said the material to release the laminate pattern of applied color coatings therefrom for water slide transfer to the light permeable panel.  
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13  wherein at least one of the color coatings is opaque. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the color coatings comprise ceramic ink. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 14  wherein the color coatings comprise enamel. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 13  which includes the step of applying at least one coating of metalized material over at least a portion of the non-perforate portions of the printable release coating side of the base material prior to applying the first color coating. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 12  wherein:
 a) the base material comprises heat transfer paper;  
 b) the step of transferring the laminate pattern of color coatings includes applying pressure and heat to the heat transfer paper to release the laminate pattern of applied color coatings therefrom.  
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18  wherein at least one of the color coatings is opaque. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 19  wherein the color coatings comprise ceramic ink. 
     
     
       21. The method according to  claim 19  wherein the color coatings comprise enamel. 
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 18  which includes the step of applying at least one coating of metalized material over at least a portion of the non-perforate portions of the printable release coating side of the base material prior to applying the first color coating. 
     
     
       23. A method of forming a pattern of at least two coatings onto a base substrate to achieve edge alignment between at least a part of each of said coatings along at least a part of one edge of said pattern, the method comprising the steps of:
   a )  providing a substrate comprising at least one base;        b )  applying a first coating to at least a part of said base;        c )  applying at least a second coating over at least a portion of said first coating; and        d )  during formation of said pattern, modifying at least a portion of said first coating over - covered by said second coating by applying energy thereto via an over - covering region of said second coating such that a characteristic of said first coating is altered;        wherein said edge alignment is achieved without mechanically altering an edge portion of either applied coating.