Patents Assigned to UNILIN BV
  • Patent number: 11970020
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a floor board comprises the steps of supplying a panel, printing a curable substance or surface removing substance onto the panel in a predefined pattern for creating an elevation on the panel at the pattern or removing a portion of the surface of the panel at the pattern, respectively, and curing the curable substance or removing any reaction products of the surface removing substance and the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Bruno Vermeulen
  • Patent number: 11959286
    Abstract: A method for making a floor or wall panel has a foamed polymer core. A foamable polymer powder is foamed between two conveyor belts in the forming zone of a steel belt press. The sum of the thicknesses of the two conveyor belts and the total thickness of the layers at the entrance of the steel belt press is less than or equal to the opening of the steel belt press at the entrance of the steel belt press. The sum of the thicknesses of the two conveyor belts and the total thickness of the substrate at the outlet of the steel belt press is equal to the opening of the steel belt press at the outlet of the steel belt press and greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the two conveyor belts and the total thickness of the layers at the entrance of the steel belt press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventors: Kristof Van Vlassenrode, Jochen Bossuyt
  • Patent number: 11939777
    Abstract: A wall or ceiling panel, which, on one side edge, comprises a male coupling part and, on an opposite side edge, comprises a female coupling part. The male coupling part comprises a tongue and the female coupling part comprises a groove. The groove is bordered by a front lip and a rear lip, with the characteristic that the panel forms a ceiling-high wall panel and/or has a length of at least 2400 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: UNILIN, BV
    Inventor: Jan De Rick
  • Patent number: 11933055
    Abstract: Floor covering, made of floor elements, which, at least at two opposite sides, comprise a male and a female coupling part, which allow that two of such floor elements can be interconnected at the respective sides at the respective sides by pushing one of these floor elements with the associated male coupling part, by means of a downward movement, home into the female coupling part of the other floor element, wherein at least one of said coupling parts, either the male coupling part or the female coupling part, is made as least partially in a filled synthetic material composite, such as extruded wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Unilin, BV
    Inventor: Mark Cappelle
  • Patent number: 11840850
    Abstract: A panel including at least a substrate of thermoplastic material and a top layer with a printed decor and a translucent or transparent wear layer. The substrate has a thickness larger than one half of the thickness of the entire panel, and the substrate at least includes two layers, where the two layers each include thermoplastic material. A first one of the two layers further includes at least 60 percent by weight of filler materials and a second one of the two layers includes less fillers or is not filled, and is situated above the first one of the two layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: UNILIN, BV
    Inventors: Martin Segaert, Christophe Naeyaert
  • Publication number: 20230191800
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a paper layer having a printed pattern for use in panels that at least include a substrate and a top layer. The top layer includes the paper layer. The method may involve providing the paper layer with an inkjet receiver coating by transporting the paper layer relative to a coater in a coating direction. The coated paper layer may be provided with at least a portion of the printed pattern using a digital inkjet printer that includes a housing containing print heads. Providing the printed pattern may involve using water based pigment containing inks. The printed pattern may include a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction substantially corresponding to the coating direction. Providing the printed pattern may involve a relative motion between the digital inkjet printer and the paper layer during a printing operation in a printing direction substantially corresponding or substantially opposite to the coating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicants: UNILIN BV, AGFA, NV
    Inventors: Benjamin CLEMENT, Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Patrick VAN DEN BERGEN, Rudi VANHOOYDONCK
  • Patent number: 11613133
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a paper layer having a printed pattern for use in panels that at least include a substrate and a top layer. The top layer includes the paper layer. The method may involve providing the paper layer with an inkjet receiver coating by transporting the paper layer relative to a coater in a coating direction. The coated paper layer may be provided with at least a portion of the printed pattern using a digital inkjet printer that includes a housing containing print heads. Providing the printed pattern may involve using water based pigment containing inks. The printed pattern may include a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction substantially corresponding to the coating direction. Providing the printed pattern may involve a relative motion between the digital inkjet printer and the paper layer during a printing operation in a printing direction substantially corresponding or substantially opposite to the coating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: UNILIN BV, AGFA, NV
    Inventors: Benjamin Clement, Laurent Meersseman, Patrick Van Den Bergen, Rudi Vanhooydonck
  • Patent number: 11554577
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a floor covering product includes the steps of forming a single- or multilayered substrate by extruding of synthetic material-based material in a layer shape; laminating at least one continuous film to the substrate; and impressing the at least one continuous film using a roller provided with a relief on its surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Christophe Naeyaert
  • Publication number: 20210213757
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a paper layer having a printed pattern for use in panels that at least include a substrate and a top layer. The top layer includes the paper layer. The method may involve providing the paper layer with an inkjet receiver coating by transporting the paper layer relative to a coater in a coating direction. The coated paper layer may be provided with at least a portion of the printed pattern using a digital inkjet printer that includes a housing containing print heads. Providing the printed pattern may involve using water based pigment containing inks. The printed pattern may include a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction substantially corresponding to the coating direction. Providing the printed pattern may involve a relative motion between the digital inkjet printer and the paper layer during a printing operation in a printing direction substantially corresponding or substantially opposite to the coating direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicants: UNILIN BV, AGFA, NV
    Inventors: Benjamin CLEMENT, Laurent MEERSSEMAN, Patrick VAN DEN BERGEN, Rudi VANHOOYDONCK
  • Publication number: 20210156153
    Abstract: A method may be provided for manufacturing a floor panel having a substrate and a top layer. The top layer may have a decorative layer that includes a digital print and a transparent or translucent wear layer. The method may involve providing the substrate with the digital print by jetting one or more inks from a set of inks using a digital inkjet printer. The ink may include a binding agent that is present in an amount below 20 percent by weight of the ink. The translucent or transparent wear layer may be laminated on top of the digital print.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Benjamin CLEMENT
  • Publication number: 20210146710
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a paper or a thermoplastic foil or a vitrimeric foil printable with an inkjet printer for use as a decor paper, respectively a decor foil in a laminate or laminated panel. The method may involve providing a paper layer, respectively a foil. At least one side of the paper layer, respectively of the foil, may be coated with an inkjet receiver coating that includes at least pigment and binder. The inkjet receiver coating may include an ink reactive compound. The papers and foils may be provided with a printed pattern and used as a decor in the panels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: UNILIN, BV
    Inventors: Benjamin CLEMENT, Matthias IDE, Sam LEDEGEN
  • Patent number: 11008762
    Abstract: A floor panel has a substrate and a decorative layer of wood veneer provided thereon having a thickness of 1 millimeter or less. The substrate has an average density of more than 750 kilograms per cubic meter. The floor panel is rectangular and oblong and comprises a pair of opposite short edges and a pair of opposite long edges. The floor panel, on at least said two opposite long edges, is provided with coupling means allowing that two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the coupled panels and in a horizontal direction in this plane and perpendicular to the respective edge. The wood veneer and/or the substrate immediately underneath the wood veneer is treated at least at the short edges with a fluoro copolymer or a polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventors: Frank Loncke, Luc Vanhastel, Laurent Meersseman
  • Patent number: 10994555
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing panels having a decorative surface, wherein the panels at least include a substrate and a top layer, and wherein the top layer includes a paper layer having a printed pattern. The method may involve providing the paper layer with an inkjet receiver coating by transporting the paper layer relative to a coater in a coating direction. The coated paper layer may be provided with at least a portion of the printed pattern using a digital inkjet printer that includes a housing containing print heads. The printed pattern may be a wood motif having wood nerves extending generally in a nerve direction that substantially corresponds to the coating direction. Providing the printed pattern may involve a relative motion between the digital inkjet printer and the paper layer during a printing operation in a printing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: UNILIN BV, AGFA, NV
    Inventors: Benjamin Clement, Laurent Meersseman, Patrick Van Den Bergen, Rudi Vanhooydonck
  • Publication number: 20210114401
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a printed paper layer. The method may involve providing the paper layer with a printed pattern. Providing the printed pattern may involve depositing water based inks using a digital inkjet printer. The water based inks may be pigment containing inks. The dry weight of the deposited pigment containing inks may be lower than 9 grams per square meter. The paper layer may include an inkjet receiver coating, such that the inks are deposited on the inkjet receiver coating. The paper layer may have a mean air resistance according to the Gurley method (Tappi T460) of below 30 seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Benjamin CLEMENT
  • Patent number: 10982700
    Abstract: A composed element includes at least two panel-shaped elements, such as a locking tongue and groove connection, that are arranged to be coupled to each other at an angle, either directly or indirectly by means of an intermediate piece. The connection includes, at least at one of the panel-shaped elements, a tongue or groove, cooperable with a groove or tongue provided on the other panel-shaped element or on the intermediate piece. The tongue includes a split tongue, with at least a first part and a second part, and a slit located therebetween. A locking part is located at the outer side of at least said first part wherein the slit, seen in cross-section of the tongue, defines at least one side, the course of which, seen in cross-section, deviates from the main direction belonging to the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventors: Mark Cappelle, Luc Deman
  • Patent number: 10975581
    Abstract: A set of floor panels is intended for installing a floor in a room. The set comprises a plurality of first floor panels having a common shape and dimension, and one or more second floor panels showing an adaptation of the common shape and/or the common dimension. The adaptation is performed corresponding to the aforementioned room. A method for composing such set of floor panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventors: Jasper De Jaeger, Kristof Vangeenberghe, Bram Verschatse, Mark Cappelle
  • Patent number: 10941579
    Abstract: A method may be provided for manufacturing a floor panel having a decorative upper side formed by a top layer. The top layer may have at least a decorative layer that includes a digital print and a transparent or translucent wear layer. The method may involve providing a film. The digital print may be provided on the film by jetting one or more inks from a set of inks onto the film using a digital inkjet printer. A primer or adhesion layer may be provided on the digital print or on the translucent or transparent wear layer. The film and the transparent or translucent wear layer may be laminated such that the digital print is in between the film and the transparent or translucent wear layer, and the primer or adhesion layer is between the digital print and the transparent or translucent wear layer. The primer or adhesion layer may be provided by applying the primer or an adhesion promoting substance with at least one roller or by using a print head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Benjamin Clement
  • Patent number: 10940680
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a floor covering product comprises at least a first step of forming a single- or multi-layered substrate by consolidating synthetic material-based starting material. The method comprises a second step after the first step, which is performed in line with the first step. The at least one continuous film is laminated onto the substrate, and the laminating is performed by means of a belt press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventor: Christophe Naeyaert
  • Patent number: 10935063
    Abstract: A composed element includes at least two panel-shaped elements, which each have an edge zone in which coupling means are present in a profiled part respectively extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective edge zone, and each including an end face extending transversely to the respective edge zone. The profiled parts allow the coupling of the panel-shaped elements together in an interlocking manner. At least one of the panel-shaped elements includes an arrangement which hides from view at least a portion of the profiled part formed at the pertaining edge zone at the location of the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: UNILIN BV
    Inventors: Luc Maertens, Mark Cappelle, Luc Vanhastel, Luc Deman, Guy Van Hooydonck
  • Publication number: 20210053335
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing panels with a substrate and a decorative top layer that may include a printed motif and a transparent or translucent protective layer formed there above. The method may involve applying a first and a second finishing layer for forming a first and a second portion of the protective layer. Recesses may be formed at the surface of the second finishing layer. Hard particles may be provided in the first finishing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: UNILIN, BV
    Inventor: Bruno VERMEULEN