GB2317364A

GB2317364A - Printed graphic image support

Info

Publication number: GB2317364A
Application number: GB9619855A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Wallace
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-24
Filing date: 1996-09-24
Publication date: 1998-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-24
Also published as: GB2317364B; GB9619855D0

Abstract

A printed graphic image support has a homogeneous opaque backing layer 6 of about 300 to 750 microns thickness such as PVC. A graphic image 1 is printed onto a paper sheet 2 which is directly bonded to the backing layer 6. A finish overlaminate film layer 5 is bonded to the paper sheet 2. In an alternative, the graphic image 1 is mirror printed onto the back of a clear film layer 5 which is bonded directly to the backing layer 6.

Description

PRINTED GRAPHIC IMAGE SUPPORT The invention relates to supports for printed graphic images and in particular to supports for printed graphic images used with so-called pop-up display systems.

The pop-up display system is designed for the exhibition market to give exhibitors a very quick and economical method of installing a complete exhibition stand in situ at the exhibition premises without the need for specialist labour.

This is achieved by a specially engineered 'lattice work' metal frame which can be raised by one person. Once the 'lattice frame' is raised and in position it is secured by sets of integral clips. The frame is then made more stable by metal vertical struts being clipped into the lattice frame. Some systems also have horizontal struts. These struts are generally made of ferrous steel so that they will accept the adhesion of magnetic material. (Some struts have the magnetic material as an integral unit.) Once the frame is in position complete with clips and struts it is ready to receive the graphic images.

The supports used for the graphic images can be virtually of any design but are of a predesignated width and height which may vary from system to system. These images are approximately 750mm wide by 2.3 metres high but will vary depending on the manufacturer. The top of the graphic image support may have pre-designed slots to attach to studs on the main frame which assist in positioning the full graphic image. Magnetic strips are adhered to the back of the graphic image support along the edges. These magnetic strips 'cling' to the ferrous vertical struts (or to and opposite pole magnetic material) on the 'lattice' frame thereby allowing the graphic design or image to hang in the required registered position. The next image is then placed alongside in register and so on until the graphic is complete.

The invention relates to the method by which the total graphic image support is constructed so that it achieves the required criteria of combined rigidity, thickness, opacity and quality whilst reducing the manufacturing and laminating time. Also, to eliminate wherever possible the various materials from 'piping' or delaminating. This is generally caused when the complete graphic image supports are rolled on themselves for despatch. Generally it is accepted that about 500 microns is a suitable overall thickness but this may vary from 400 to 750 microns.

The printed image can be achieved by many printing methods depending on quantity. As exhibitions are generally 'one offs' or a very short run of a quality image the most common printing methods are electrostatic, ink jet, thermal wax or resin transfer or a variation of these systems. A generic term for these systems is digital printing systems and this invention is designed for use with digital printing systems. Although the method of achieving the aforementioned criteria may vary the following method is the common to most manufacturers/ printers.

The graphic image is printed on paper or suitable material. This image is then encapsulated between two layers of clear film of the appropriate thickness. If the graphic image requires a specific finish then the appropriate overlaminate is applied. Due to ambient light at exhibitions virtually all images require some form of opaque material being applied to the back of the graphic image. This prevents the 'lattice work' or other unwanted images showing through to the front of the graphic which would detract severely from the quality of the image on display. This opaque material can vary from 50 microns upward and may be a variety of materials. The opaque material may have a pressure sensitive adhesive or may be applied by using a double side pressure sensitive adhesive. The above method can mean one pass through an encapsulator/laminator to apply the graphic image between the clear encapsulating films, one pass for the specific finish material and another pass for applying the opaque material, ie. three encapsulator/laminator passes of five materials. In some special cases this can be achieved in two passes.

Therefore generally to achieve the required criteria the completed graphic image support can be as follows: top or first layer of special required finish; second layer is clear encapsulating film of required calliper; third layer is the printed image on paper; fourth layer is clear encapsulating film of required calliper; and fifth layer is opaque backing layer of required density and calliper which is itself generally formed of two or three separate layers.

It can be seen that this is a complex process of various laminates which may have varying degrees of dimensional stability in materials, with potential wastage factors and great difficulty in preventing 'piping' when the graphic images are coiled for transit or packaging.

The proposed support is different and original because it proposes to use a homogeneous backing layer of a highly opaque material of approximately 400-600 micron calliper of the correct 'handle' with an integral heat activated or pressure sensitive adhesive. The graphic image is printed onto paper which is directly bonded to the backing layer. A finish layer is bonded directly onto the paper layer. This method needs one pass through the encapsulator/laminator, combines the second, fourth and fifth layers in one and means only a three ply laminate.

Because the backing layer is a single material with a proposed high white finish, additional economies and time saving can be achieved by under-surface 'mirror' printing of the graphic image onto a clear film either by the electrostatic, ink jet method or other digital printing system and directly laminating to the backing layer. The white base colour of the backing layer combined with the adhesive will act as a white background thereby eliminating the need for a paper print. By printing under surface on clear material one automatically protects the print image without the need for an additional overlaminating material. This means a two ply laminate and again only one pass through the encapsulator/ laminator.

The prior art and embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a graphic image support of the prior art; Figure 2 shows a graphic image support in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 shows an alternative graphic image support in accordance with the invention.

In the prior support of Figure 1, the graphic image 1 is printed on a sheet of paper 2. The sheet of paper 2 is encapsulated between two layers 3 and 4 of clear film to provide a certain amount of rigidity and "handle". To protect the image and to give it either a gloss or matt finish, an overlaminate film layer 5 is applied. Finally, to give the product the required opacity, an opaque backing layer 6 is applied. The backing layer 6 is about 50-100 microns thick and is itself comprised of more than one layer. For example, it may consist of a silver layer between two layers of polyester film. The prior support thus consists of at least five laminar elements, with adhesive 7 provided between.

In a first embodiment of the invention, appropriate for electrostatic printing, shown in Figure 2, the support comprises only three layers. The graphic image 1 is again printed on a sheet of paper 2. The paper 2 is directly covered by an overlaminate film layer 5 to give the required finish but the encapsulating film layers 3 and 4 are omitted.

The required rigidity and handle in this embodiment is provided by the backing layer 6 which consists of a single homogeneous sheet of high white opaque plastic/filmic material. The layer 6 may be of PVC or similar filmic material formed with opacitizers in the mix. The layer 6 may be from about 300 microns to about 750 microns thick and is preferably about 400-600 microns thick. The layers of the support are bonded together by adhesive 7.

In a second embodiment, appropriate for ink jet printing, shown in Figure 3, the graphic image 1 is mirror printed onto the back of a clear film layer 5, typically polyester film, and the layer 5 is bonded by adhesive directly to the backing layer 6 which is formed as in the case of the Figure 2 embodiment.

The backing layer 6 will be supplied to the manufacturer with an integral adhesive layer 7. To form the support of Figure 2, the leading edge of the paper sheet 2 with the image printed thereon, is placed in register onto the backing layer 6 and the leading edge of the finish layer 5 is placed in register on the paper sheet 2. The three layers are then passed through an encapsulator/laminator in a single pass. It is advantageous if the adhesives are heat activated, although they could be pressure sensitive. To form the support of Figure 3, the layer 5 is put in register with the backing layer 6 and passed therewith through the encapsulator/ laminator.

Claims

1. A printed graphic image support comprising a homogeneous opaque backing layer having a thickness of between 300-750 microns.

2. A support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the backing layer has a thickness of about 400-600 microns.

3. A support as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the backing layer is formed of PVC or similar filmic material with opacitizers in the mix.

4. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the graphic image is printed on a paper sheet which is bonded directly to the backing layer.

5. A support as claimed in Claim 4, further comprising a clear finish film layer applied directly to the paper sheet.

6. A support as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the graphic image is mirror printed onto the back of a clear film layer which is bonded directly to the backing layer.

7. A printed graphic image support substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.