US4209582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of preparing screen printing stencils using novel compounds and compositions
Assignee: Arthur D Little Inc
•
Filing: 1978-12-18
•
Granted: 1980-06-24
•
Expires: 1998-12-18
Abstract
Abstract Screen printing stencils are prepared by affixing to a printing screen substrate an indicia-defining, ultraviolet-sensitive film and cross-linking the film by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The coating compositions used to form the film comprise copolyacrylate/polyurethane block copolymers, in which the copolyacrylate blocks are copolymers of at least one hydroxy-containing acrylate and at least one acrylate or methacrylate which may be partially substituted with bromine, ultraviolet initiators and cross-linking monomers. Screen printing stencils are provided which are compatible with both water-based and oil-based inks. The disclosed screen printing stencils are used in improved screen-printing methods.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E. Merrill
- 👤 Arthur A. Massucco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:13
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41C; B41C1/00; B41C1/14; B41M; B41M1/00; B41M1/12; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/004; G03F7/038; G03F7/12; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S522/00; Y10S522/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of preparing a screen printing stencil, characterized by the step of affixing to a printing screen a film configured to define a predetermined indicia pattern, said film comprising a UV-initiated cross-linking agent and a block copolymer, said block copolymer being formed of blocks of copolyacrylate and polyurethane, said copolyacrylate comprising a copolymer of a hydroxy-containing acrylate and a second acrylate component which comprises one or more esters of a non-hydroxy-containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, said film defining said indicia pattern being formed by applying said film to a support to form thereon a photoexposing and cross-linkable film, cross-linking said cross-linkable film in the areas corresponding to said desired indicia pattern and removing the noncross-linked film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of preparing a screen printing stencil, characterized by the step of affixing to a printing screen a film configured to define a predetermined indicia pattern, said film comprising a UV-initiated cross-linking agent and a block copolymer, said block copolymer being formed of blocks of copolyacrylate and polyurethane, said copolyacrylate comprising a copolymer of a hydroxy-containing acrylate and a second acrylate component which comprises one or more esters of a non-hydroxy-containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, said film defining said indicia pattern being formed by applying said film to a support to form thereon a photoexposing and cross-linkable film, cross-linking said cross-linkable film in the areas corresponding to said desired indicia pattern and removing the noncross-linked film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support is a temporary film support and the method includes the step of transferring said film defining said indicia pattern to said printing screen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said indicia pattern is formed by photoexposing said cross-linkable film on said temporary film support to ultraviolet radiation thereby to at least partially cross-link said block copolymer in said film, and said removing step comprises developing said indicia pattern by dissolving out said noncross-linked film prior to said step of transferring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said indicia pattern is formed by cutting said cross-linkable film prior to said step of transferring said cross-linkable film defining said indicia pattern to said printing screen; said step of removing said noncross-linked film is performed during said cutting prior to said transferring; and said step of cross-linking is performed subsequent to said step of transferring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support is a temporary film support and the method includes the step of transferring said film to said printing screen after said step of cross-linking but prior to said step of removing said noncross-linked film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support is a temporary film support and the method includes the step of transferring said cross-linkable film to said printing screen prior to said steps of cross-linking and removing said noncross-linked film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said support is said printing screen and said coating containing said block copolymer is applied directly to said printing screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said block copolymer comprises from about 60% to about 90% of copolyacrylate and from about 10% to about 40% of polyurethane by block copolymer weight, said copolyacrylate comprising from about 50% to about 95% of said hydroxy-containing acrylate and from about 5% to about 50% of said second acrylate component by copolyacrylate weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said copolyacrylate includes up to about 15% by copolyacrylate weight of acrylic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said blocks of said polyurethane are formed from at least one polyether.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said blocks of said polyurethane are formed from two polyethers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said polyethers are polyoxybutylene and polyoxyethylene, the amount of said polyoxybutylene used being up to about 70% of the total weight of said polyethers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said block copolymer comprises from about 60% to about 90% copolyacrylate and from about 10% to about 40% polyurethane by block copolymer weight, said copolyacrylate comprising from about 50% to about 95% of said hydroxy-containing acrylate and from about 5% to about 50% of said second acrylate component by copolyacrylate weight and said polyurethane is formed of polyoxybutylene and polyoxyethylene used in a weight ratio of from about 10 to 90 to about 70 to 30.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said second acrylate component is partially substituted with bromine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said copolyacrylate includes up to about 15% by copolyacrylate weight of methyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate or acrylic acid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said block copolymer comprises about 80% copolyacrylate and about 20% polyurethane by weight, said copolyacrylate comprising about 60% 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and about 40% 2,3-dibromopropyl methacrylate by weight.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polyurethane blocks include a chain extender.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said chain extender is butane diol.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coating includes a pigment.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of preparing a screen printing stencil, comprising the steps of (a) affixing to a temporary support a coating composition comprising (1) a block copolymer formed of blocks of copolyacrylate and polyurethane, said copolyacrylate comprising a copolymer of a hydroxy-containing acrylate and a second acrylate component which comprises one or more esters of a non-hydroxy-containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, (2) a solvent, (3) an ultraviolet initiator, and (4) at least one cross-linking promoter; (b) drying said coating composition to form an ultraviolet-cross-linkable film on said support; (c) producing a predetermined indicia pattern in said film; (d) transferring said indicia pattern to a printing screen; and (e) exposing said indicia pattern on said screen to ultraviolet radiation thereby to form a printing screen stencil.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of preparing a screen printing stencil, comprising the steps of (a) affixing to a temporary support a coating composition comprising (1) a block copolymer formed of blocks of copolyacrylate and polyurethane, said copolyacrylate comprising a copolymer of a hydroxy-containing acrylate and a second acrylate component which comprises one or more esters of a non-hydroxy-containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, (2) a solvent, (3) an ultraviolet initiator, and (4) at least one cross-linking promoter; (b) drying said coating composition to form an ultraviolet-cross-linkable film on said support; (c) producing a predetermined indicia pattern in said film; (d) transferring said indicia pattern to a printing screen; and (e) exposing said indicia pattern on said screen to ultraviolet radiation thereby to form a printing screen stencil.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said producing said indicia pattern in said film comprises the steps of (a) exposing said film on said support to ultraviolet radiation through a master defining said indicia as a transparent pattern for a time sufficient to at least partially cross-link said film in areas corresponding to said transparent pattern; and (b) developing said indicia pattern by removing from said support sheet that portion of said film which is not cross-linked during said exposing step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said step of transferring said indicia pattern to said printing screen is carried out subsequently to said steps of exposing said film and of developing said indicia pattern.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 21 wherein said step of transferring said indicia pattern to said printing screen is carried out subsequently to said step of exposing said film and prior to the step of developing said indicia pattern.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said step of producing said indicia pattern in said film comprises cutting said film prior to transferring said indicia pattern to said printing screen and removing the film portions around said indicia pattern prior to said transferring.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said blocks of said polyurethane are formed from two polyethers.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method in accordance with claim 25 wherein said polyethers are polyoxybutylene and polyoxyethylene, the amount of said polyoxybutylene used being up to about 70 weight % of the total weight of said polyethers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said ultraviolet initiator is phenanthrenequinone or uranyl nitrate at a concentration of from about 0.01% to about 5% by total copolymer weight.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said cross-linking promoter is a multifunctional olefin cross-linking agent present in an amount up to about 20% by total block copolymer weight.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein said coating composition also contains from about 0`% to about 3% by total block copolymer weight of a pigment.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of preparing a screen printing stencil, comprising the steps of (a) affixing to a printing screen a film formed by drying a coating composition comprising (1) a block copolymer formed of blocks of a copolyacrylate and a polyurethane, said copolyacrylate comprising a copolymer of a hydroxy-containing acrylate and a second acrylate component which comprises one or more esters of a non-hydroxy-containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, (2) a solvent removable in said drying, (3) an ultraviolet initiator, and (4) at least one cross-linking promoter; (b) producing in said coating a predetermined indicia pattern by exposing said film on said printing screen to ultraviolet radiation through a master defining said indicia as a transparent pattern to cross-link said film in areas corresponding to said transparent pattern, and (c) developing said inidica pattern by removing from said printing screen substrate that portion of said coating which is not cross-linked by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
157 words
A method of preparing a screen printing stencil, comprising the steps of (a) affixing to a printing screen a film formed by drying a coating composition comprising (1) a block copolymer formed of blocks of a copolyacrylate and a polyurethane, said copolyacrylate comprising a copolymer of a hydroxy-containing acrylate and a second acrylate component which comprises one or more esters of a non-hydroxy-containing acrylic acid or methacrylic acid or mixtures thereof, (2) a solvent removable in said drying, (3) an ultraviolet initiator, and (4) at least one cross-linking promoter; (b) producing in said coating a predetermined indicia pattern by exposing said film on said printing screen to ultraviolet radiation through a master defining said indicia as a transparent pattern to cross-link said film in areas corresponding to said transparent pattern, and (c) developing said inidica pattern by removing from said printing screen substrate that portion of said coating which is not cross-linked by exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said step of affixing said film to said printing screen comprises first forming said film on temporary support and then transferring said film to said printing screen.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said blocks of said polyurethane are formed from two polyethers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein said polyethers are polyoxybutylene and polyoxyethylene, the amount of said polyoxybutylene used bein up to about 70% of the total weight of said polyethers.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said ultraviolet initiator is phenanthrenequinone or uranyl nitrate at a concentration of from about 0.01% to about 5% by total block copolymer weight.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said at least one cross-linking promoter is a multifunctional olefin cross-linking agent present in an amount up to about 20% by total block copolymer weight.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein said coating composition also contains from about 0.1% to about 3% by total block copolymer weight of a pigment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3035004A
Cited
US3257476A
Cited
US3291859A
Cited
US3459790A
Cited
US3493500A
Cited
US3850770A
Cited
US3773857A
Cited
US3960572A
Cited
US4006024A
Cited
US3865898A
Cited
US3932401A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-06-24 | 1983-12-24 | 1984-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-24 | 1987-12-24 | 1988-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-24 | 1991-12-24 | 1992-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |