WO2001039988A1

WO2001039988A1 - Printed products

Info

Publication number: WO2001039988A1
Application number: PCT/IE2000/000143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Halpin; Angela Halpin
Original assignee: Celtic Illuminations Limited
Priority date: 1999-11-30
Filing date: 2000-11-30
Publication date: 2001-06-07
Also published as: AU1726701A

Abstract

The invention shows a method for producing a greeting card (1) by applying a design to an inner rear cover (4), surrounding the applied design with a spacer frame (41) and applying a window sheet to the spacer frame. The transparent image window decorated using a diapositive screen to define a raised image boundary and coloured designs.

Description

PRINTED PRODUCTS

The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to printed products and more particularly to a method for producing such products.

Decoration of greeting cards and similar items to add value is common practice. Images are presented on the item to both increase visual appeal and to customise the card for specialist requirements. For example, cartoon characters and seasonal scenes are often presented on cakes for special events.

A variety of presentation methods used to produce these images are known. Known techniques have varied little over the last number of years and therefore it is difficult to find an unusual or visually distinctive greeting card.

There is therefore a need for a method for producing printed products, which will be both appealing and distinctive.

Accordingly, the invention provides a method for producing a greeting card by performing the steps of applying a design to an inner rear cover, surrounding the applied design with a spacer frame, applying a window frame having a transparent image window to the spacer frame, the transparent image window being formed by performing the steps of: -

preparing a screen printing frame;

degreasing the prepared printing frame;

drying the degreased frame;

applying a film to the dried frame;

applying a film to the film and dried frame; positioning a diapositive screen on the screen and exposing to Ultra Violet (UV) light to define a raised image boundary; and

washing the exposed screen.

Preferably the step of preparing the screen printing frame comprises the further steps of:-

defining a support frame with hollow sections; and

stretching a woven fabric with a predefined woven thread diameter across the frame.

Preferably the fabric is polyester fabric.

In a preferred arrangement, the degreased film is dried at room temperature.

Preferably, applying a decorative image to a polycarbonate film produces the diapositive screen.

In a preferred embodiment, the diapositive screen has a plurality of spaced apart decorative images.

Preferably, the polycarbonate film is transparent.

In a preferred arrangement the film is decorated on both faces.

Ideally, the decoration is applied in two operations, the first operation being performed to define a raised image boundary and the second operation being performed to add colour to the defined boundary. The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates by way of example only, an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: -

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a greeting card produced in accordance with the invention;

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a greeting card produced in accordance with the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The card 1 has a cover sheet 2, a window sheet 3 and a background sheet 4. The cover sheet 2, window sheet 3 and background sheet 4 are shown here as a single card folded along fold lines 5 but it will be appreciated that individual sheets may be joined to obtain the same effect.

The window sheet 3 defines a window 30 for receiving a transparent image sheet 31 which will be described in more detail below. The background sheet 4 also has an image 40 which may be applied to the sheet 4 or alternatively directly printed using screen printing or any other suitable printing technique. A spacer 41 to separate the window sheet 3 from the background sheet 4 when the card 1 is closed surrounds the image 40.

The image sheet 31 is produced by firstly obtaining a 0.375mm thick polished polycarbonate transparent film 32. The film 32 has a pressure sensitive adhesive material applied on one side and a masking material applied with static on the alternate side. The film 32 is then cut to the desired dimensions. The static applied material is then removed. The dimensioned film 32 then has art work applied. The front side is decorated by successively applying using prepared screens (see below) ultraviolet curable inks. The successive application of acrylated monomer blend, IBOA and N-Ninyl-2-Pyrrolidone defines an embossed artwork piece. The rear surface is decorated using acrylated oligomers, acrylated monomers and Ν-Vinyl-2-Pyrrolidone.

The screens mentioned above are generated using photographic film or films. Diapositives are generated for the various designs. Multiple images may be dimensioned as required. The general steps in production are preparing a screen printing frame; degreasing the prepared printing frame; drying the degreased frame; applying a film to the dried frame; applying a film to the film and dried frame; positioning a diapositive screen on the screen and exposing to Ultra Violet (UN) light; and washing the exposed screen.

The screen printing frame consists of a hollow aluminium outer frame across which is stretched a woven polyester fabric of a defined woven thread diameter.

It is an important feature of this invention that the application of the artwork is achieved in two stages. A first application defining outer boundaries or embossed limits for the art work and the second for adding colour to the design within these boundaries. These boundaries may be used for effect to give a three dimensional appearance and also to provide colour separation boundaries in multicoloured designs. This provides an aesthetically distinct and attractive greeting card.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for producing a greeting card (1) by performing the steps of applying a design to an inner rear cover, surrounding the applied design with a spacer frame (41), applying a window frame having a transparent image window (31) to the spacer frame, the transparent image window being formed by performing the steps of : -

preparing a screen printing frame;

degreasing the prepared printing frame;

drying the degreased frame;

applying a film to the dried frame;

applying a film to the film and dried frame;

positioning a diapositive screen on the screen and exposing to Ultra Violet (UN) light to define a raised image boundary; and

washing the exposed screen.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of preparing the screen printing frame comprises the further steps of:-

defining a support frame with hollow sections; and

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the degreased film is dried at room temperature.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in which the diapositive screen is produced by applying a decorative image to a polycarbonate film.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the diapositive screen has a plurality of spaced apart decorative images.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the decoration is applied in two operations, a first operation being performed to define a raised image boundary and a second operation being performed to add colour to or within the defined boundary.