Patent ID: 8012290
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B32B,B33Y,B44C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a three-dimensionally contoured laminated article, comprising the steps: a) providing a transfer-printing medium having sublimatable ink or dye thereon; b) providing a stack of material layers including a substrate and a cover layer disposed directly or indirectly on said substrate, wherein said cover layer has an exposed outer surface; c) bringing said transfer-printing medium into contact with said outer surface of said cover layer; d) heating and pressing together said transfer-printing medium and said stack of material layers between two heated press tools, thereby forming a laminated body of said stack of material layers and transfer-printing said sublimatable ink or dye from said transfer-printing medium onto said outer surface of said cover layer; and e) after said step d), pressing and molding said laminated body at an elevated molding temperature so as to deform said laminated body to form thereof said three-dimensionally contoured laminated article, wherein said outer surface of said cover layer forms an outer surface of said article, and said ink or dye forms a surface decoration on said outer surface of said article; wherein said step d) is carried out in one work stroke in a laminating and transfer-printing station including said heated press tools, and said step e) is carried out in a further work stroke in a molding station distinct from said laminating and transfer-printing station, after completion of and separately from said step d) but while said laminated body is still at said elevated molding temperature from said heating to or above said elevated molding temperature in said step d) without additional heating after said step d).