Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing colour demonstrating means, the method comprising of providing a substrate and applying a pigment-containing coating to the substrate. The invention also relates to a device for manufacturing colour demonstrating means, the colour demonstrating means comprising a substrate and a pigment-containing coating applied to the substrate, the device comprising supply means for supplying the substrate and applicator means for applying the coating to the substrate. The invention also relates to colour demonstrating means comprising a substrate and a pigment-containing coating applied to the substrate. This therefore concerns means for demonstrating colours, such as a colour fan deck, a set of colour cards or a colour sample book.

Background of the invention

Colour demonstrating means, such as a colour fan deck, a set of colour cards or a colour sample book, for the purpose of demonstrating colours are known. In the manufacture thereof a coating, for instance of paint or ink, with one or more specific colours is applied to a substrate, for instance to paper. The coating then has to dry, wherein solvent, generally a volatile organic compound, evaporates from the applied layer. Drying and evaporation are accelerated by heating the substrate with the coating applied thereto in a drying device provided for the purpose. However, such a drying device takes up a great deal of space and consumes a large amount of energy. Drying also takes a long time and the final result is usually of lower quality, whereby there is a high percentage of waste in practice. In addition, legislation relating to the use of and exposure to volatile organic compounds is becoming increasingly stringent. The present invention now provides an improved solution which does not have the stated drawbacks, or at least does so to lesser extent.

Summary of the invention

The invention provides a method according to claim 1, a device according to claim 13 and colour demonstrating means according to claim 14. Curing of the material of the coating by means of the radiation takes little time and requires little energy. A drying device which takes up a great deal of space and consumes a large amount of energy is now no longer necessary. The final result is found in practice to be of high quality, whereby there is a low percentage of waste. Nor are any undesirable volatile organic compounds released during the process, or at least much fewer than in the case of usual coatings.

An electron beam, visible light, infrared light or ultraviolet light can for instance be used as radiation. The composition of the material of the coating and the type of radiation must of course be matched to each other. A material which at least partially polymerizes under the influence of an electron beam is found to suffice particularly well. The substrate can comprise for instance paper, a metal, a plastic, glass, wood or a textile. Combinations of materials are also possible.

Exemplary embodiments

In a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention paper is supplied, for instance from a roll, to applicator means with which a pigment-containing coating is applied to the paper. The application of the coating can take place in a manner known in the field.

The paper can consist of one or more layers and optionally be pretreated with for instance an impregnating agent or be provided with for instance an adhesive layer or primer. In other embodiments the substrate can be of another material, such as cardboard, metal or plastic or even glass, wood or a textile, or combinations thereof.

The coating consists of a material which polymerizes under the influence of an electron beam. In other embodiments a material can be selected which cures under the influence of for instance visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.

The coating can consist of a plurality of zones, for instance strips, with different colours, which are for instance applied in a single operating cycle. Following curing the paper or other substrate with the cured coating can be further processed to form colour demonstrating means, such as a colour fan deck, a set of colour cards or a colour sample book, in a manner known in the field.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the given exemplary embodiments, but that diverse variants which will be obvious to a skilled person are possible within the scope of the invention.