Method for removing solidified ink or varnish using adhesive strips

Abstract

A method for removing solidified ink or varnish from a surface includes applying a cleaning agent to the ink on the surface. The cleaning agent applied to the ink on the surface is substantially solvent-free and water-based and reduces adhesion between the ink and the surface without dissolving the ink. An adhesive side or face of a single-sided or single face adhesive element is applied to the surface. As the adhesive element is removed from the surface, the ink that has been treated with the cleaning agent but is undissolved adheres to the adhesive element and is thus removed from the surface together with the adhesive element without splitting.

Claims

1. A method for removing ink from a surface of an object, the method comprising the following steps: applying a cleaning agent to treat a solidified layer of ink on the surface, the cleaning agent applied to the solidified layer of ink on the surface being substantially solvent-free and water-based, permeating the solidified layer of ink and reducing adhesion of the solidified layer of ink to the surface without dissolving the solidified layer of ink; applying an adhesive side of a one-sided adhesive element to the treated solidified layer of ink on the surface; and removing the adhesive element from the surface together with substantially entire treated solidified layer of ink adhering to the adhesive element, causing the entire treated solidified layer of ink adhering to the adhesive element and having been treated with the cleaning agent but being substantially undissolved to adhere to the adhesive element without splitting.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: initially applying the cleaning agent to an impermeable flexible carrier medium; applying the carrier medium with the cleaning agent to the surface to be treated; and removing the carrier medium from the surface, leaving a thin film of the cleaning agent on the surface.

3. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises applying the cleaning agent directly to the adhesive element and applying the cleaning agent to the surface together with the adhesive element.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: providing the cleaning agent in capsules disposed on the adhesive element; opening the capsules as the adhesive element is pressed onto the surface; and releasing and dispersing the cleaning agent between the adhesive element and the surface.

5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises applying the cleaning agent to the surface using an inkjet head.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises applying the cleaning agent only to edge regions of an area of the surface covered with solidified ink.

7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises removing excess cleaning agent using a liquid-absorbent cloth.

8. The method according to claim 7, which further comprises rinsing with water and subsequently drying a part of the surface having been treated with the cleaning agent.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent is a gel.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ink to be removed is a layer of ink having been cured by UV light.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ink to be removed is a layer of ink having been cured thermally or oxidatively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, plan view of a surface covered by a UV-cured layer of ink;

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same surface having areas to which a cleaning agent has been applied;

(3) FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same surface with an adhesive film applied to the areas that have been treated with cleaning agent; and

(4) FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same surface after the adhesive film has been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a surface 1 covered by a UV-cured layer of ink 2. An inkjet head 5 applies a solvent-free cleaning agent 3 to a part of the surface 1. The cleaning agent 3 reduces adhesion of the UV-cured layer of ink 2 to the surface 1 without dissolving the layer of ink 2. FIG. 2 illustrates the surface 1 with the applied cleaning agent 3. After a residence time of approximately three minutes, excess cleaning agent 3 is removed by using a liquid-absorbent cloth 6. The surface part that has been treated with cleaning agent 3 is rinsed with water 7 and dried, for instance by using a cloth 8 or a blower. After the drying step, an adhesive film 4 is applied to the surface part that has been treated with cleaning agent 3 as shown in FIG. 3. This adhesive film 4 is removed immediately after application to the surface 1. The ink 2 that has been treated with the cleaning agent 3 adheres to the adhesive film 4 and is removed from the surface 1 together with the adhesive film 4. FIG. 4 illustrates the surface 1 or an area 1a thereof that has been partially freed of UV-cured ink 2 in accordance with the present method.