IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,686,227
Granted Patent B2
US 12,686,227 · App. 18/539,947 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Method for manufacturing panels having a decorative surface

Inventor: Benjamin Clement (Waregem, BE)
Assignee: Unilin, BV
B44C5/04B41J2/01B44C5/0469B41M5/5218B41M5/5254
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,686,227
App. No.
18/539,947
Filed
Dec 14, 2023
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2853
USPC
347/101
Abstract

A method is provided for manufacturing a printed paper layer. The method may involve providing the paper layer with a printed pattern. Providing the printed pattern may involve depositing water based inks using a digital inkjet printer. The water based inks may be pigment containing inks. The dry weight of the deposited pigment containing inks may be lower than 9 grams per square meter. The paper layer may include an inkjet receiver coating, such that the inks are deposited on the inkjet receiver coating. The total volume of the deposited pigment containing inks may be less than 15 milliliter.

Claims (26)

1 . A method for manufacturing a printed paper layer for use in laminate floor panels, the method comprising:

providing the paper layer with a printed pattern representing a wood pattern;

wherein providing the printed pattern involves depositing water based inks using a digital inkjet printer;

wherein the water based inks are pigment containing inks;

wherein the dry weight of the deposited pigment containing inks is lower than 9 grams per square meter;

wherein the paper layer at least includes an inkjet receiver coating, such that the inks are deposited on the inkjet receiver coating;

wherein the total volume of the deposited pigment containing inks is less than 15 milliliter; and

wherein the printed pattern covers a majority of a surface of the paper layer;

wherein the paper layer is a non-white colored, pigmented, and/or dyed base paper.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inkjet receiver coating includes a binder or a polymer and a pigment.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, starch, gelatin, cationic additives, precipitated calcium carbonate, polymer latex, vinylacetate/ethylene copolymer, and carboxymethylcellulose.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the pigment to binder ratio in the inkjet receiver coating is between 10:90 and 90:10.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the polymer is a hydrophilic polymer.

6 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the pigment/polymer ratio in the inkjet receiver coating is at least 2.

7 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the pigment of the inkjet receiver coating is silica.

8 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the pigment of the inkjet receiver coating has a mean particle size of 0.01 to 40 micrometer.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inkjet receiver coating has a weight of 0.5 to 10 grams per square meter.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the paper layer is suitable for rotogravure.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the paper layer has a weight between 60 and 90 grams per square meter.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the inkjet receiver coating includes a pigment having a pore volume of 0.5 to 3 ml/g.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the paper layer comprises titanium oxide as a whitening agent.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pigment containing inks include organic pigments.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pigments of the pigment containing inks have an average particle size of less than 250 nanometer.

16 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the total volume of the deposited pigment containing ink is less than 10 milliliter.

17 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dry weight of the deposited pigment containing ink is 5 grams per square meter or less.

18 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dry weight of the deposited pigment containing ink is 4 grams per square meter or less.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Mar 18, 2024
From: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
To: UNILIN BV
Reel/Frame 066805/0445 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2023
From: CLEMENT, BENJAMIN
To: FLOORING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, SARL
Reel/Frame 065872/0286 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 14150782 · Jan 10, 2014 · regional
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17823622 · Aug 31, 2022
Continuation 17136448 · Dec 29, 2020
Continuation 16580566 · Sep 24, 2019
Continuation 15689294 · Aug 29, 2017
Continuation 15110582 · Jan 6, 2015
Related Publication 20240109364A1 · Apr 4, 2024
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