TRANSFER FILM AND MEMBRANE COVERINGS FOR PANEL PRODUCTS

Abstract

A membrane covered panel and a membrane covered panel production method are provided wherein an elastomeric membrane, and preferably, an aqueous elastomeric resin-based membrane, is applied to a finished panel construct, prior to pressing of the membrane covered panel. The method is used to produce panels which can be used in the production of flooring materials, wall panels, furniture, countertops, and the like. The membrane is applied to a transfer film, which transfer film can be removed at any time prior to, or after the pressing operation. The panels produced have a durable but elastic surface which can protect the surfaces of the panel construct. The elastomeric covering on the panel construct also preferably provides a surface which is abrasion resistant, and provides better acoustical properties while providing a soft touch haptic surface.

Claims

1-62. (canceled)

63. A process for the production of a covered panel comprising: applying a membrane produced from an elastomeric resin-based material, to a panel construct so that said membrane is adjacent to a surface of said panel construct; wherein said membrane is formed by applying an elastomeric resin-based material, in a liquid form, to a transfer film, and drying said liquid film so as to form said membrane on said transfer film, wherein said formed membrane is removably attached to said transfer film, and positioning said membrane on said panel construct so that said membrane is positioned adjacent to a surface of the panel construct, and pressing the resultant membrane covered panel construct, under conditions of heat and pressure, for sufficient time to cure said elastomeric resin-based material, and bond said membrane to said panel construct, wherein said elastomeric resin-based material is a solution or dispersion of an elastomeric resin in water, or another solvent, and said elastomeric resin-based material is based on a resin selected from polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene-based resins; Ethylene vinyl acetate; Ethylene vinyl alcohol; Polyesters; Polyolefin, modified Melamine-based thermoset resins; Urea and Urea modified resins; ESI (ethylene styrene interpolymer), or any of the styrene acrylic copolymers and Acrylic resins; rubber based materials including NBR (nitrile Butadiene), SBR (styrene butadiene), or CR (chloroprene), silicone, fluorocarbon, acrylamide, epichlorohydrin, and/or carboxylated, and natural and synthetic latexes.

64. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said applying step comprises providing a transfer film on which the membrane is present, removing said membrane from said transfer film to produce a transfer film-free membrane, and then applying said transfer film-free membrane to the surface of a panel construct so that the membrane is positioned adjacent to a surface of the panel construct.

65. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said elastomeric resin-based material is a water-borne solution or dispersion of an elastomeric polyurethane-based resin, and preferably a water based, UV-resistant, aliphatic polyurethane resin.

66. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said elastomeric resin-based material is applied to said transfer film, using a technique selected from spray coating, roller coating, curtain coating, and dip coating.

67. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said membrane is produced from one or more layers of a resin material, and wherein any or all of said layers of elastomeric resin-based material are dried after each resin layer application by air drying at ambient temperature, or by drying each layer in an oven at a temperature of less than 130 C. for a time period of between 30 seconds and 5 minutes in order to avoid or minimize any curing of the applied elastomeric resin-based material.

68. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein the membrane covered panel construct is heated and pressed in a press at pressures of between 10 to 80 kg/cm.sup.2 and more preferably at pressures of between 20 and 60 kg/cm.sup.2, and wherein said membrane covered panel construct is heated and pressed in a press at a temperature of between 100 C. and 220 C., and more preferably at a temperature of between 110 C. and 150 C., for a time period of less than 2 minutes, and more preferably, for a time period of less than 30 seconds, and most preferably, for a time period of less than 15 seconds.

69. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said transfer film is a film material which temporarily adheres to the membrane material, both before and after the pressing operation, and wherein said transfer film can be peeled, or otherwise removed from the membrane material, without any damage to the membrane material or the transfer film.

70. The process as claimed in claim 69, wherein said transfer film is not removed from said membrane covered panel until after installation or use of said membrane covered panel.

71. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said membrane covered panel construct, is pressed in a press, under heat and pressure in a batch pressing device, or in a continuous pressing device.

72. The process as claimed in claim 71, wherein said press includes smooth or textured press plate, and wherein the smooth or textured surface of the plate will be transferred to the surface of the membrane covered panel.

73. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said transfer film includes a smooth or textured surface, and wherein the smooth or textured surface of the transfer film will be transferred to the surface of the membrane covered panel.

74. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said panel construct is particleboard, MDF (medium density fibreboard) board, HDF (high density fibreboard) board, OSB (oriented strand board), a multi-layer glued wood veneer applied to plywood or engineered wood panels or applied to the surface of a composite panel, laminated panels for use in the production of flooring, furniture panels and wall panels, panels having a core layer to which a surface layer of cork has been applied, linoleum, pressed wood powders, an HPL (high pressure laminate) material, or a PVC based panel, a panel produced by direct printing of a pattern directly on to the upper surface of another panel, a panel construct based on panels having a core material comprised of one of more layers of a plastic material, a luxury vinyl tile (LVT), a vinyl plank, or a WPC (wood plastic composites) panel.

75. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said panel construct is a solid wood plank or board, a metal panel, a glass panel, a ceramic or porcelain panel, or a plastic panel.

76. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein the thickness of said membrane applied to said panel construct is from 1 micron to 3 mm, and wherein said membrane is applied to said panel construct at a level of from 3 to 150 grams per square meter, more preferably at a level between 5 and 100 grams per square meter, and most preferably, at a level between 40 and 80 grams per square meter, after drying.

77. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said membrane contains wear particles selected from ceramic particles, and corundum or other aluminum oxide particles, and wherein said wear particles are between 50 and 300 microns in size and are transparent after the pressing operation.

78. The process as claimed in claim 63, wherein said resin material additionally comprises a coupling agent, a surfactant or other surface modifying agent, release agent, or an amine based reaction catalyst or cross-linking agent, or wherein said resin material additionally comprises colorants, stains, dry or liquid inks or pigments, fire and flame retardants, internal mold release additives, UV protectants, anti-bacterial agents, anti-microbial agents, oleophobic materials, antistatic agents or flattening agents.

79. A membrane covered panel comprising one or more layers of a resin material applied as a membrane to the surface of a panel construct, wherein said membrane is formed by applying an elastomeric resin in a liquid form to a transfer film so as to be removably attached to said transfer film, and wherein said membrane is bonded to the surface of panel construct by use of a pressing operation so as to cure said resin material, and bond said membrane to a surface of said panel construct, and wherein said elastomeric resin-based material is a solution or dispersion of an elastomeric resin in water, or another solvent, and said resin-based material is a resin selected from polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene-based resins; Ethylene vinyl acetate; Ethylene vinyl alcohol; Polyesters; Polyolefin, modified Melamine-based thermoset resins; Urea and Urea modified resins; ESI (ethylene styrene interpolymer), or any of the styrene acrylic copolymers and Acrylic resins; rubber based materials including NBR (nitrile Butadiene), SBR (styrene butadiene), or CR (chloroprene), silicone, fluorocarbon, acrylamide, epichlorohydrin, and/or carboxylated, and natural and synthetic latexes.

80. The membrane covered panel as claimed in claim 79, wherein said membrane is temporarily affixed to a transfer film, and wherein said transfer film is removed from said membrane after installation or use of said membrane covered panel.

81. A membrane for use in coating a panel construct, comprising: an elastomeric resin-based material, based on plastic-based materials, melamine-based materials, acrylic-based materials, or a polyurethane based material, and mixtures thereof, wherein said membrane is formed by applying an elastomeric resin in a liquid form to a transfer film so as to be removably attached to said transfer film, and wherein said elastomeric resin-based material is a solution or dispersion of an elastomeric resin in water, or another solvent, and wherein said resin-based material is a resin selected from polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene-based resins; Ethylene vinyl acetate; Ethylene vinyl alcohol; Polyesters; Polyolefin, modified Melamine-based thermoset resins; Urea and Urea modified resins; ESI (ethylene styrene interpolymer), or any of the styrene acrylic copolymers and Acrylic resins; rubber based materials including NBR (nitrile Butadiene), SBR (styrene butadiene), or CR (chloroprene), silicone, fluorocarbon, acrylamide, epichlorohydrin, and/or carboxylated, and natural and synthetic latexes.

82. A method of producing a membrane, which membrane is adapted for creation of a panel construct as claimed in claim 17, comprising: applying an elastomeric resin-based material in a liquid form to a transfer film, and drying the liquid elastomeric resin to form said membrane, wherein said elastomeric resin-based material is a solution or dispersion of an elastomeric resin in water, or another solvent, and wherein said resin-based material is a resin selected from polyurethane, polyethylene or polypropylene-based resins; Ethylene vinyl acetate; Ethylene vinyl alcohol; Polyesters; Polyolefin, modified Melamine-based thermoset resins; Urea and Urea modified resins; ESI (ethylene styrene interpolymer), or any of the styrene acrylic copolymers and Acrylic resins; rubber based materials including NBR (nitrile Butadiene), SBR (styrene butadiene), or CR (chloroprene), silicone, fluorocarbon, acrylamide, epichlorohydrin, and/or carboxylated, and natural and synthetic latexes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0093] Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only in association with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0094] FIG. 1 is a side view of a PET transfer film with lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, as described in Example 1;

[0095] FIG. 2 is a side view of the membrane covered PET transfer film of FIG. 1, shown above a laminate floor panel which will be used as the panel construct;

[0096] FIG. 3 is a side view of a the membrane covered PET transfer film and laminated flooring panel, shown in FIG. 2, in a press, prior to pressing;

[0097] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the membrane covered PET transfer film and laminated flooring panel of FIG. 3, after pressing;

[0098] FIG. 5 is a side view of a PET transfer film with a lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, positioned to be pressed over an OSB panel construct;

[0099] FIG. 6 is a side view of a PET transfer film with a lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, positioned to be pressed to a further panel construct consisting of a particleboard core layer, a melamine-based decorative paper, and a melamine-based backing layer;

[0100] FIG. 7 is a side view of a PET transfer film with lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, positioned to be pressed over a panel construct consisting of a wood veneer layer, a particle board panel, and a wood veneer backer, to form an elastomeric membrane covered wood veneer furniture panel;

[0101] FIG. 8 is a side view of PET transfer films, with a covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, pressed over the upper and lower surfaces of a panel construct consisting of an upper and lower wood veneer layers on the surfaces of a particleboard panel;

[0102] FIG. 9 is a side view of a PET transfer film with a lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, pressed over a panel construct consisting of a linoleum floor panel, in order to form an elastomeric resin membrane covered linoleum floor panel;

[0103] FIG. 10 is a side view of a PET transfer film with a lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, pressed over a panel construct consisting of a LVT layer over an HDF core, to form an elastomeric membrane covered LVT panel;

[0104] FIG. 11 is a side view of a PET transfer film with a lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, pressed over a panel construct consisting of a 5-ply plywood panel;

[0105] FIG. 12 is a side view of a PET transfer film with a lower covering of an elastomeric resin membrane, pressed over a panel construct consisting of an HPL panel having a melamine dcor layer, a kraft paper layer treated with phenolic resin and a second kraft paper layer treated with phenolic resin, to form an elastomeric resin membrane covered HPL panel;

[0106] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a production line which can be used to continuously produce the PET transfer film with a covering of an elastomeric resin membrane; and

[0107] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a continuous production line used to produce a roll of an elastomeric resin membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0108] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following examples and figures in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example only. In the figures, like reference numerals depict like elements.

[0109] It is expressly understood, however, that the figures are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0110] Also, unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the exemplified features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination. Also, it should be understood that the drawings are not to scale.

EXAMPLES

[0111] The examples described hereinbelow make reference to the drawings, and as such, reference numbers related to the figures are provided in the examples.

Example 1

[0112] A 5 mil PET transfer film (1) was covered with an aqueous dispersion of elastomeric resin-based material, comprised of a mixture of 125 g of WB420 (available from Purchem Systems Inc.), as a water-based elastomeric aliphatic polyurethane resin-based material having a solids content of 40% by weight, 7 g of WB475 (Purchem) of an 60% solids, water-based amine crosslinking agent, and 4 g of AD-200R (Purchem) as a 55% solids, aqueous fluoro-based release agent. The aqueous dispersion was applied to one side of the transfer film (1), as seen in FIG. 1, using a curtain coater, to create a 4 mil thick membrane (2) on the transfer film (1). Together, these components form a membrane covered transfer film (3).

[0113] While the dispersion can be applied in multiple layers, in this example, membrane (2) was applied to transfer film (1) as a single layer, and this single layer was dried in an oven at 80 C. for 3 minutes to remove moisture. The final weight of the membrane (2) on the transfer film (1) was 30 grams per square meter.

[0114] The membrane covered transfer film (3) was placed over a flooring panel (8) which, in this example, is the panel construct intended for covering in the manner of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2. Flooring panel (8) consists of a melamine impregnated overlay paper (4) which includes corundum particles; a melamine impregnated printed decor paper (5), an HDF panel (6), and a melamine impregnated balancing layer (7).

[0115] The assembly consisting of the membrane covered transfer film (3) and flooring panel (8) was placed in a heated press (9), as shown in FIG. 3. Press (9) has an upper platen (10) with an upper press plate (11) and a lower platen (12) with a lower press plate (13). Both the upper and lower press plates (11, 13) are heated to a surface temperature of 200 C. The upper press plate (11) has a smooth surface texture (14).

[0116] The membrane covered PET transfer film (3) was placed so that the elastomeric resin based membrane (2) was adjacent to the upper surface of flooring panel (8), and this combination was pressed in press (9). The press pressure used was 45 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was 15 seconds.

[0117] After the press cycle was completed, the resultant hot panel (15) as shown in FIG. 4, was removed from the press and allowed to cool. In FIG. 4, the PET transfer film (1) is shown as being partially removed in order to expose a covered panel (16) consisting of a 3 mil thickness, smooth elastomeric resin-based membrane (2) on a prior art panel construct (8). The membrane provides the resultant panel with a soft elastomeric upper surface covering having excellent transparency.

Example 2

[0118] The membrane covered transfer membrane (3) of Example 1 was used to cover a panel construct (21) consisting of an OSB pressboard material (22). The components are shown in FIG. 5. After pressing in a press, as described in Example 1, and removal of transfer film (1), an elastomeric membrane covered OSB board (not shown), having a soft upper surface, was produced.

Example 3

[0119] The membrane covered transfer membrane (3) of Example 1 was used to cover a panel construct (25) consisting of a pre-formed panel consisting of a particleboard core layer (26), a melamine-based decorative paper layer (27), and a melamine-based backing layer (28). The components are shown in FIG. 6. After pressing in a press, as described in Example 1, and removal of transfer film (1), an elastomeric membrane covered decorative particleboard panel (not shown) suitable for use as a furniture panel, having a soft upper surface, was produced.

Example 4

[0120] A 2 mil PET transfer film (31), as shown in FIG. 7, was covered with an aqueous dispersion of an elastomeric resin-based material, consisting of a mixture of 100 g of WB420 (available from Purchem Systems Inc.), as a water-based elastomeric aliphatic polyurethane, and 25 g of WB-100 (Purchem) as a second, more elastic, water-based aliphatic polyurethane, with both polyurethanes having a solids content of 40% by weight, 7 g of WB475 (Purchem) of an 60% solids, water-based amine crosslinking agent, 4 g of AD-200R (Purchem) as a 55% solids, aqueous fluoro-based release agent, and 10 parts by weight of 150 micron corundum particles, to form membrane (32). The aqueous dispersion was applied in two layers, to one side of the transfer film (31) using a roller coater. Each layer of the dispersion applied was dried in a lab oven at 80 C. for 3 minutes to remove moisture, and thus form membrane (32) on transfer film (31). Together, these items form a membrane covered transfer film (33) having a membrane covering, applied at a weight of 35 grams per square meter, which includes corundum particles.

[0121] The membrane covered transfer film (33) was placed over the upper surface of a previously prepared panel construct (35) consisting of upper wood veneer surface (36), and a lower wood veneer backing layer (37) bonded to a particleboard core (38), as shown in FIG. 7. The assembly was placed in a heated press with a surface temperature of 160 C. for both the upper and lower press plates. The PET covered transfer film (33) was placed so that the membrane covering material (32) contacts the upper wood veneer layer (36). The press pressure was set to 30 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was set to 20 seconds.

[0122] After the press cycle was completed, the hot panel was removed from the press and allowed to cool. The PET transfer film (31) was removed from the upper and lower surfaces to expose a membrane covered, natural wood veneer panel (not shown), with a soft, abrasion resistant elastomeric upper surface covering having excellent transparency.

Example 5

[0123] The membrane covered transfer membrane (33) described in Example 4 was placed over the upper and lower surfaces of a pre-existing panel construct (40) consisting of upper and lower cork veneer surfaces (41) which have been bonded to a HDF core (42), as shown in FIG. 8.

[0124] The complete assembly was placed in a heated press which has a surface temperature of 110 C. for both the upper and lower press plates. The membrane covered transfer films (33) are placed so that the membrane (32) contacts the upper and lower wood veneer layers (41). The press pressure was set to 15 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was set to 180 seconds.

[0125] After the press cycle was completed, the hot panel was removed from the hot press and placed in a cold press for 180 seconds to cool under pressure. The PET transfer film (31) was removed from the upper and lower surfaces, to expose a fully covered, natural cork veneer panel (not shown) with a soft, abrasion resistant elastomeric surface covering on both surface, and having excellent transparency.

Example 6

[0126] The membrane covered transfer film (33) described in Example 4, was prepared. In this example however, the transfer film (31) was peeled away from membrane (32) to leave only the membrane covering material. Membrane (32) was placed over a previously prepared panel construct (45) consisting of pre-existing panel having an upper linoleum surface (46) and a lower cork surface (47) bonded to a HDF core (48), as shown in FIG. 9.

[0127] The assembly was placed in a heated press with a surface temperature of 110 C. for both the upper and lower press plates. The upper press plate includes a wood-grain texture.

[0128] The membrane (21) was placed so as to contact the upper linoleum surface (31). The press pressure was set to 15 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was set to 180 seconds.

[0129] After the press cycle was completed, the hot panel was removed from the hot press and placed in a cold press for 180 seconds to cool under pressure. The resultant panel (not shown) had a membrane covered, textured, upper linoleum panel surface with a soft, abrasion resistant elastomeric surface covering having excellent transparency.

Example 7

[0130] A PET transfer film (51) was covered with a membrane (52) in the manner described in Example 4. In this case, however, PET transfer film (51) has a textured surface (54) on one side of the film, and membrane (52) was formed on this side of film (51). Together, these items form a membrane covered transfer film (53).

[0131] The membrane covered transfer film (53) was placed over a previously prepared panel construct (55) consisting of an LVT surface (56) bonded to a HDF core (57), as shown in FIG. 10.

[0132] The assembly was placed in a heated press with a surface temperature of 100 C. for both the upper and lower press plates. The upper press plate includes a smooth surface texture. The press pressure was set to 15 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was set to 180 seconds.

[0133] After the press cycle was completed, the hot panel was removed and allowed to cool. The PET transfer film was removed to expose a fully covered, textured, LVT panel surface with a soft, abrasion resistant elastomeric surface covering and excellent transparency.

Example 8

[0134] The membrane covered transfer film (33) described in Example 4, was prepared. The membrane covered transfer film (33) was placed over a previously prepared plywood panel construct (58) having five plies of a wood layers (59), as shown in FIG. 11.

[0135] The assembly was placed in a heated press with a surface temperature of 100 C. for both the upper and lower press plates. The upper press plate includes a smooth surface texture. The press pressure was set to 15 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was set to 180 seconds.

[0136] After the press cycle was completed, the hot panel was removed and allowed to cool. The PET transfer film was removed to expose a smooth plywood panel having a soft, abrasion resistant elastomeric surface covering and excellent transparency.

Example 9

[0137] The membrane covered transfer film (33) described in Example 4, was again prepared, and placed over a previously prepared HPL panel as panel construct (60) consisting of a melamine decor layer (61), a kraft paper layer treated with phenolic resin (62) and a second kraft paper layer (63) treated with phenolic resin, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0138] The assembly was placed in a heated press with a surface temperature of 110 C. for both the upper and lower press plates. The upper press plate includes a wood-grain texture. The membrane (21) was placed so as to contact the upper dcor layer surface (51). The press pressure was set to 15 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was set to 180 seconds.

[0139] After the press cycle was completed, the hot panel was removed from the hot press and placed in a cold press for 180 seconds to cool under pressure. The resultant panel had a membrane covered, textured, upper surface with a soft, abrasion resistant elastomeric surface covering having excellent transparency.

Example 10

[0140] An aqueous dispersion of a mixture of 100 g of ENCOR 2173, available from Arkema, as a water-based acrylic, and having a solids content of 40%, was mixed with 5 g of WB475 (Purchem) of an 60% solids, water based amine crosslinking agent, and 3.5 g of AD-200R (Purchem) as a 55% solids, aqueous fluoro-based release agent, was prepared by spray coating the liquid material on to a 6 mil polyethylene transfer film.

[0141] The resultant acrylic membrane was placed over a previously prepared panel construct consisting of a pre-existing, prior art flooring panel consisting of a melamine impregnated overlay paper which includes corundum particles, a melamine impregnated printed decor paper, an HDF panel, and a melamine impregnated balancing layer. The structure of this assembly was similar to that shown in FIG. 2.

[0142] The assembly was placed in a heated press with a surface temperature of 140 C. for both the upper and lower press plates. The upper press plate includes a wood-grain texture. The membrane was placed so as to contact the upper laminated flooring panel surface. The press pressure was set to 15 kg/cm.sup.2 and the press time was set to 180 seconds.

[0143] After the press cycle was completed, the hot panel was removed from the hot press and placed in a cold press for 180 seconds to cool under pressure. The resultant panel had an acrylic membrane covered, textured, upper panel surface with a soft, abrasion resistant elastomeric surface covering having excellent transparency.

[0144] In FIG. 13, an exemplary illustration of one possible approach to produce the membrane cover transfer film, as shown in FIG. 1, is provided. In FIG. 13, a production assembly (70) is shown having a PET transfer film (71) shown in a roll (72) supported on a stand (73). Film (71) is fed from roll (72) and travels through a roller coater (75) wherein an aqueous layer of an elastomeric based resin material, such as the formulation described in Example 1, 4 or 10, is applied to one surface of film (71), and thus provide a membrane (76) on one side of film (71). Membrane covered film (71, 76) passes through a drying oven (77) to dry off the water from the solution. Membrane covered film (71, 76) is then fed through several idler rollers in order to to aid in drying membrane (76) and to cool the membrane covered film (71, 76). At this stage, the cooled, dry membrane covered film (71, 76) is rolled onto a finished roll (78) positioned on a second stand (79).

[0145] If desired, an optional roll of paper (80) can be provided so that a paper layer (81) can be inserted between the layers of the membrane covered film (71, 76) in roll (78).

[0146] In FIG. 14, an exemplary illustration of one possible approach to produce the membrane cover material, as shown in FIG. 9, is provided. In FIG. 14, a production assembly (85) is shown having a PET transfer film (86) shown in a roll (87) supported on a stand (88). Film (86) is fed from roll (87) and travels through a roller coater (84) wherein an aqueous layer of an elastomeric based resin material, such as the formulation described in Example 1, 4 or 10, is applied to one surface of film (86), and thus provide a membrane (89) on one side of film (86). Membrane covered film (86, 89) passes through a drying oven (90) to dry off the water from the solution. Membrane covered film (86, 89) is then fed through several idler rollers in order to to aid in drying membrane (89) and to cool the membrane covered film (86, 89).

[0147] At this stage, the cooled, dry membrane covered film (86, 89) is fed to roller (91), and membrane (89) is peeled from film (86). Peeled membrane (89) is fed to a finished product roll (92) positioned on a second stand (93).

[0148] Again, if desired, an optional roll of paper (94) can be provided so that a paper layer (95) can be inserted between the layers of the membrane (89) in roll (92).

[0149] After membrane (89) is peeled from film (86), the film (86) can be rolled onto a further roller (96). This collected roll (96) of transfer film (86) can be re-used, and can later be used as transfer film roll (87) for subsequent operations.

[0150] Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a process for producing a membrane covered panel construct which fully satisfies the goals, objects, and advantages set forth hereinbefore. Therefore, having described specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that alternatives, modifications and variations thereof may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and that it is intended that the present specification embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

[0151] Unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

[0152] Additionally, for clarity and unless otherwise stated, the word comprises and variations of the word such as comprising and comprises, when used in the description and claims of the present specification, is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. It will also be understood that the term comprising, or the like, can be replaced by the phrase consisting of or by the phrase consisting essentially of so that the claims can be limited to the exact formulations described in the description or claims, without additional materials being present.

[0153] Moreover, the words substantially or essentially, when used with an adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic; e.g., substantially planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting characteristics associated with a planar element.

[0154] Further, use of the terms he, him, or his, is not intended to be specifically directed to persons of the masculine gender, and could easily be read as she, her, or hers, respectively.

[0155] Also, while this discussion has addressed prior art known to the inventor, it is not an admission that all art discussed is citable against the present application.