WO2001025004A1

WO2001025004A1 - Glass attached to paper

Info

Publication number: WO2001025004A1
Application number: PCT/DK2000/000534
Authority: WO
Inventors: Flemming Thomas Dahlin
Original assignee: Flemming Thomas Dahlin
Priority date: 1999-09-29
Filing date: 2000-09-29
Publication date: 2001-04-12
Also published as: DK174191B1; DK199901383A; AU7405100A

Abstract

A product that consists of a paper print attached to glass which enables one to see a print on paper and eventually a printed or attached logo or text through the glass and the adhesive. It is done by using a polyvinyl acetate or polyurethane glue and apply it either manually or by using a glue roller or a k-string to the glass. Hereby occurs a product that e.g. looks like a piece of marble carrying logo or text which can be utilised as a surface in stores, banks, buildings, kitchens, food-chains etc. This enables the customer to advertise via a logo or text on the surface.

Description

GLASS ATTACHED TO PAPER.

The following invention relates to a laminate consisting of two adjacent layers - a glass layer and a unique layer which is pre-printed on the side facing the glass.

A product that is characterised by the use of a glass layer and a layer of plastic/vinyl, which is laminated together by UVA toughened glue, is described in GB publication, nr: 2230734. This product has limitations with regards to its appearance and its application. This is due to the use of UVA toughened glue along with a layer of plastic/ vinyl in its manufacture. This glue cannot dry "clear"; it cannot withstand the effects of hot/ cold, as well as having problems with regards to condensation. One could say that it is not damp resistant, which could result in the plastic/vinyl layer gradually peeling away from the glass over a period of time. Plastic/vinyl layers have limitations with regards to industrial use within the glass manufacturing industry as one cannot work with a product after a plastic/vinyl layer is applied. This means that one can only produce according to a pre-ordered/ specific size in addition to limitations with regards to matching existing decorative layers in the furniture/ laminating branches. Furthermore, there is also a limitation if one uses patterned/ ornamental glass or flat glass with a raised surface e.g. .a foil-leaf or an applied imprinted pattern - due to the inflexibility of the product.

The aim of the invention outlined in the first paragraph, is to produce a unique laminated layer that does not have these problems. This is achieved by inventing a laminate that is peculiar with regards to the fact that one uses paper instead of plastic /vinyl.

The idea behind the new product (a glass layer together with a layer of paper) is that one can present a glass covered with a paper imprint that has a firm logo or text printed on the paper.

The advantage /idea of the use of paper as this layer is that the paper is flexible and it is cheap to use.

One advantage of using paper ikvat is that one can use the glue in a solution that can evaporate into the paper. Furthermore one can achieve a very strong adherence when the glue comes in contact with the paper and the solution evaporates. This opens the possibilities for the use of polyvinyl acetate dispersion glue, which makes this unique layer damp resistant. This means that the surface is resistant to hot/ cold, it condenses without peeling away from the glass surface, as well as drying "clear" and without further discolouration . This gives many possibilities when we talk about the different ways of manufacture, e.g.: printing roll or vacuum printing with or without heat. One also has the possibility of manual glue /lamination if one wishes a smaller production or if a part of the production e.g. logo /text can be produced cheaper manually.

By using the manual method one can first apply the glue with a k- string or a "grouting comb" on the glass and thereafter apply the paper. It is important to dampen the paper beforehand with a spray gun so that the paper does not expand when it comes in contact with the glue. This eliminates the formation of bumps/air bubbles. When the paper is applied, one should roll or smooth any surplus glue and air bubbles away.

The advantage of using paper is its flexibility. When the paper is damp it becomes soft, therefore fitting comfortably to uneven surfaces - patterned/ ornamental glass. It also fits well on flat glass where a part of the glass has an extra layer applied e.g. self- adhesive foil - this creates an uneven surface which the paper is capable of adhering to without the formation of air bubbles or creases.

The statement that paper is cheap to use is obvious. This is based upon the fact that with glass/paper one can produce glass plates on a large scale and thereafter cut these plates down to the required size. One first cuts on the glass side and subsequently breaks it apart with a downward snap. Afterwards one lifts the piece of glass required upwards thereby tearing off the paper lengthwise with the original cut. The advantage of being able to produce a large sheet of glass and subsequently cut it down to the required size is that one can use industrial machinery within the glass manufacturing industry. This subsequently makes the glass much cheaper to produce.

Another advantage of using paper instead of plastic /vinyl is that one can use preprinted paper roll, which one can order from the furniture laminating industry. The fact that one can have a paper/ product, which follows the designs used in this branch, is a leap forward with regards to the use of this product. The intention is that the product should be a supplement/ competitor to this branch _but with a new function of being able to add a logo or text.

The process of industrial application of paper to glass could, for example, include the use of a polyvinyl acetate dispersion glue that consists of a mass of small "plastic balls" that lie suspended in liquid form within a dissolved solution of water. When the water, with the "plastic balls", soaks into the paper it creates a strong bond with the glass. At the same time, when the water evaporates the "plastic balls" bind together in a stable regular molecular structure. The properties of this structure mean that this is the most transparent and durable glue on the market. Its structure also means that the glue is damp resistant and UVA resistant. UVA resistance means that the glue does not become yellow with age.

The way in which the glue and paper is applied to the glass is by using a glue roller together with a print roller, in the production. See the diagrams where (1) the glass is slid under, where (2) is a glue roller for applying the glue and thereafter (3) guided into a synchronised printing roll where the paper is applied from a roll (4) with a gliding gear.

In addition one could also adhere the paper to the glass via other types of glue e.g.: non-foaming polyurethane glue, hot melt lime, warm activating glue, epoxy, resin and isocyanides, water and oil based lacquer, silicon and keratin glue along with UVA toughened glue.

Claims

PATENT REQUIREMENTS

Requirement 1 A laminate that consists of two adjacent layers - a glass layer and a unique layer which is pre-printed on the side facing the glass characterised by the unique layer being made of paper.

Requirement 2 According to requirement 1 is characterised by a logo/text being applied to the paper.

Requirement 3 According to requirement 1 is characterised by a logo/ text being applied to the glass.

Requirement 4 According to requirement 1-2-3 is characterised by being stuck together with the use of dispersion glue.