Abstract: Successive Digital Ink Jet printing heads decorate ceramic/glass and other wares; for ceramics/glassware an adhesion-promoting coating material is DIJ-applied on the print site; a DIJ-printable coating is overlaid, followed by a DIJ-applied background colour, the required decoration is DIJ-applied on the area, and a protective transparent coating is then DIJ-overlaid. Most layers are cured/dried with U/V and/or I/R and/or Hot-air. Successive impact-protective layers can be DIJ printed. Other DIJ-printed wares include flat ware, metal-ware, pens, markers and pencils, DVD and CD discs, which wares may not require adhesion promoting material or printable under-coating. The work stations may overlie one or more carousels which transport the wares.

Abstract: Decoration is applied to a predetermined area of a product, first applying an adhesion-promoting coating material to the surface area to be decorated; applying a second, printable coating to the same area, applying the decoration in the area, and then applying a protective transparent coating over the decoration. Some products may be dip coated, printed and protectively dip-coated. Others may have discrete areas coated, printed and protected, using digitally controlled air brush material applications. Other applications may utilize digitally controlled printing machines. For planar articles such as discs (DVD's and CD's) the FLEXOGRAPHIC (Trademark) or the transfer pad process may be used, in which adhesion-promoting, decorative and protective coatings are applied by a sequence of rollers or pads.

Abstract: A range of damage and wear-susceptible articles, including such as drinkware and flatware, and heat-susceptible articles, have a tough, protective plastic coating applied in sealing, protective relation with a surface portion. The protective coating may hermetically seal underlying decorative material, including toxic materials. Digital ink jet printing may be applied directly or by transfer, including pad transfer. A plastic undercoating incorporating an adhesion promoting additive may first be applied by DIJ printing or by flow coating. The impact resistance of drinking glasses can be improved ten-fold with a hard, visually undetectible 5-mil outer coating selected from polyesters and other polymers, polyurethanes and acrylates having the desired visual, toughness and bonding characteristics. With u.v. curing, high speed economic automated line production, the process is applicable to a wide range of articles.

Abstract: A range of damage and wear-susceptible articles, including such as drinkware and flatware, and heat-susceptible articles, have a tough, protective plastic coating applied in sealing, protective relation with a surface portion. The protective coating may hermetically seal underlying decorative material, including toxic materials. Digital ink jet printing may be applied directly or by transfer, including pad transfer. A plastic undercoating incorporating an adhesion promoting additive may first be applied by DIJ printing or by flow coating. The impact resistance of drinking glasses can be improved ten-fold with a hard, visually undetectible 5-mil outer coating selected from polyesters and other polymers, polyurethanes and acrylates having the desired visual, toughness and bonding characteristics. With u.v. curing, high speed economic automated line production, the process is applicable to a wide range of articles.

Abstract: House wares, including frangible wares, comprising glassware, earthenware including china, and ceramics, the glassware including dishes and vessels such as drinking glasses, are coated with a protective plastic coating, usually including an initial adhesion-promoting silane, and a coating of urethane, such as a high temperature urethane to give protection to the underlying layers, and to the article, including protection within a commercial dishwasher. The silane combines with glass, and couples strongly with urethane. The urethane is highly receptive to decoration, which may be transferred or printed onto the urethane surface. If sublimation is applied to the decoration, then subsequent application of a sealing outer coat of urethane may prove unnecessary.

Abstract: An eye shade and method of producing an eye shade are disclosed. The eye shade comprises a bill member with a curved inner edge and a flange portion upstanding from the inner edge. A rim band or member with a straight lower edge is secured to the flange preferably by spot welding, and upon the rim band being bent about a vertical axis the bill portion is curved about a vertical axis and a downwardly inclined axis. The bill and rim portions are preferably molded in a planar form of flexible plastic. At this stage, if desired, they may be printed. The securement of the bill and rim may be by spot welding. Perspiration and elastic head bands are then mounted on the rim.