Patent Application
20100092713
The present invention relates to an article for protecting the screens used in screen printing processes. One embodiment of the invention provides a screen protector with a a pressure sensitive adhesive that does not require the use of a filler or drying oven.
Screen printing has been used for many years to imprint images on various objects. Screen printing can be used to print on a variety of materials such as textiles, ceramics, wood, paper, glass, metal, and plastic. As such, screen printing can be used on a wide variety of products, such as clothing, plastic bottles, and product packaging. Screen printing is also used to print on compact discs and DVD's.
Screen printing typically utilizes a mesh screen comprised of a porous fabric, such as silk, attached to a square or rectangular frame, and an ink blocking stencil positioned on the screen. Ink is poured onto the screen and a squeegee, roller or other like device is moved across the mesh screen to move the ink through the open areas of the screen. The repeated back and forth action of the squeegee causes significant wear and tear on the mesh screen, which is typically made of silk or other porous fabric. Such screens are generally expensive, and therefore screen protectors have been developed to strengthen and protect the screen, and help prevent premature fraying of the screen. Such screen protectors are typically made of plastic, and have an adhesive on one side for attaching the protector to the back side of the screen. However, in order to use such screen protectors a filler material, such as the product sold under the name COATAZOL by Sun Chemical, must be applied to the screen before adhering the protector. The filler material is applied in any area where ink is not supposed to penetrate the screen, in order to prevent the ink from seeping into the adhesive of the screen protector, which typically causes the adhesive and protector to bubble up and peel off. Generally, after applying such fillers to the screen, it must be dried in an oven for approximately twenty minutes before the protector is attached. As such, applying and drying the filler material adds substantial time and costs to the screen printing process.
Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a screen protector for use on a mesh screen in a screen printing process that does not require the use of a filler. Another object of the invention is to provide a screen protector particularly suited for use in screen printing compact discs and DVD's.
These and other objects of the invention can be achieved in the various embodiments of the invention described below. In one embodiment of the invention, an article for protecting a mesh screen in a screen printing process includes a layer of protective material, and a pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface of the layer of protective material for adhering the layer to the mesh screen. The adhesive substantially retains its adhesion properties when in contact with ink.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the layer of protective material can be a polyester film, polypropylene film or polyethylene film.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensitive adhesive is comprised of a pressure sensitive acrylic based adhesive.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the layer of protective material remains substantially attached to the mesh screen when in contact with ink.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the adhesive prevents penetration of the ink through the mesh screen when the article is adhered to the screen.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a removable release liner covers the adhesive, such that the liner can be removed immediately prior to use of the article to expose the adhesive.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the layer of protective material has an opening therein for providing an area through which ink can pass through when the article is used on a mesh screen in a screen printing process.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the opening defined by the layer of protective material can be a substantially circular opening positioned proximate a center of the layer of protective material.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the substantially circular opening can have a diameter of about twelve centimeters.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a screen protector for use on a mesh screen in a screen printing process comprises a polymeric film, and a pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface of the polymeric film for adhering the film to the mesh screen. The screen protector supports the mesh screen and the adhesive substantially retains its adhesion properties when in contact with ink.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the polymeric film is comprised of polyester, polyethylene and/or polypropylene.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensitive adhesive can be a pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the polymeric film remains substantially attached to the mesh screen when in contact with ink.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the opening in the polymeric film comprises a substantially circular opening positioned proximate the center of the polymeric film. The circular opening can have a diameter of about twelve centimeters, so that the screen protector can be used in screen printing of compact discs and digital versatile discs (DVD's).
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of screen printing can include the steps of providing a mesh screen having a first side and a second side, and a screen protector comprising a polymeric film, a pressure sensitive adhesive positioned on a surface of the polymeric film for adhering the layer to the mesh screen, and a removable release liner covering the adhesive. The release liner is removed to expose the adhesive, and the protector is adhered to at least a portion of the first side of the mesh screen. Ink is poured onto the second side of the mesh screen.
According to another embodiment of the invention, no filler material is applied to the mesh screen.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the polymeric film remains substantially attached to the mesh screen when in contact with the ink, even when no filler is used.
Objects of the invention have been set forth above. Further objects and advantages of the present invention may become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like components throughout, a screen protector according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for use in a screen printing process is illustrated in
A pressure sensitive adhesive 14 is applied to the top surface of the protective polymeric film 12. The pressure sensitive adhesive 14 is preferably an acyrlic based pressure sensitive adhesive, such as the adhesive currently sold by Flexcon under the name optiFLEX® RESEAL. Other pressure sensitive adhesives that can be utilized in the protector 10 include, but are not limited to, rubber based pressure sensitive adhesives and hot melt pressure sensitive adhesives.
A removable release liner 20 is positioned over the top of the protective film 12, and covers the adhesive 14. The liner 20 can be separated into two sections 21, 22 to assist the user in peeling away the liner, as shown in
The screen protector 10 has an opening 18 formed therein for allowing ink to pass therethrough during screen printing. As shown in
In a preferred method of using the screen protector 10, the screen protector 10 can be utilized to protect and support a mesh screen 40 being used in a screen printing process. The mesh screen 40 can be comprised of silk or other porous fabric, such as is typically used in screen printing processes, and attached to a square frame 42. The user peels away the paper liner 20 from the rest of the protector, as shown in
As noted above, a circular opening 18 can be formed in the center of the protector 10. The circular opening 18 can have a diameter of about twelve centimeters, which is the standard diameter of many compact discs and digital versatile discs (DVD's). As such, the protector 10 is particularly suited for use in the screen printing of compact discs and DVD's. Although, it should be noted that the opening 18 in the protector 10 can be of any variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate the screen printing of all kinds of objects to be screen printed. Furthermore, the protector can have a plurality of openings 18 formed therein.
As shown in
A screen protector and a method of using same are described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. The foregoing description of the various embodiments of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the following claims and equivalents thereof
