Patent ID: 6990904
Filing Date: 2006-01-31
Classification: B41M,B44C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A process for manufacturing an imaged ceramic product with specified design properties, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the design properties desired for said imaged ceramic product; (b) electronically transmitting an order for said imaged ceramic product with said desired design properties to a fabricator of an imaged decal assembly; (c) fabricating said imaged decal assembly comprising a digital printed image wherein said imaged decal assembly is comprised of a flexible support and, disposed on said support, a ceramic ink image, and wherein said ceramic ink image is comprised of from about 15 to about 75 weight percent of a solid, volatilizable carbonaceous binder, when said solid, volatilizable, carbonaceous binder is heated at a temperature greater than 500 degrees Centigrade for at least 6 minutes in an atmosphere containing at least about 15 volume percent of oxygen, the binder is substantially volatilized such that less than about 5 weight percent of said carbonaceous binder remains as a solid phase, wherein said ceramic ink image comprises from about 23 to about 75 weight percent of a film-forming glass frit; (d) transferring said digital printed image to a ceramic substrate to produce a digitally printed ceramic substrate assembly; and (e) heat treating said digitally printed ceramic substrate assembly to produce said imaged ceramic product.