Method of manufacturing a décor paper or a décor foil with a plurality of printed designs and corresponding indicia, a décor paper or décor foil, and a laminated panel

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a decor paper (2) or a decor foil (2) may involve providing a printable substrate (4). A plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) and respectively corresponding indicia may be provided on the printable substrate. A decor paper or a decor foil is also provided. A method for manufacturing a laminate panel may involve providing a printed substrate having a plurality of printed motifs and respectively corresponding indicia. The indicia may be detected and extracted to adjust at least one process parameter based on embedded information. A method for manufacturing a laminate panel may also involve providing a relief in a surface of a top layer. The relief may include an indicium in the form of a topology. A laminate panel may be provided with two different types of indicia located on opposite sides of the panel.

Description

Method of manufacturing a decor paper or a decor foil with a plurality of printed designs and corresponding indicia, a decor paper or decor foil, and a laminated panel.The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a decor paper or a decor foil of the type used in panels having a decorative surface, or so-called decorative panels. Decorative panels may include, for example, floor panels, wall panels, ceiling panels, furniture panels, or similar. The invention further relates to a decor paper or a decor foil. In addition, the invention relates to panels having a decor paper or a decor foil and method for manufacturing panels having a decor paper or a decor foilDecor papers are typically heat pressed on top of a substrate for forming the decorative panels. The substrate may comprise a wood-based substrate, such as an MDF or HDF substrate (Medium or High Density Fiberboard), or a substrate material consisting of or essentially made of wood particleboard.Traditionally, the decor or pattern of such panels is printed on a paper sheet by means of offset or rotogravure printing. The obtained paper is taken up as a decorative paper in a so-called laminate panel. For manufacturing the panels the DPL process can be practiced. According to the DPL process (Direct Pressure Laminate) the already printed paper or decorative paper is provided with melamine resin to form a decorative layer. Afterwards a stack is formed that includes at least a plate shaped substrate, the decorative layer and possibly a protective layer on top of the decorative layer, wherein the protective layer or overlay is based on resin and / or paper as well. The stack is pressed and the press treatment results in a mutual connection or adherence of the decorative paper, the substrate, and the protective layer, as well as in a hardening of the resin present in the stack. As a result of the pressing operation, a decorative panel is obtained having a melamine surface, which can be highly wear resistant. At the bottom side of the plate shaped substrate a counter layer or balancing layer can be applied, or as an alternative a decorative layer might be attached to the bottom side as well, especially in the case of laminate panels for furniture. The counter layer or balancing layer or any other layer at the bottom side of the laminate panel restricts or prevents possible bending of thedecorative panel, and is applied in the same press treatment, for example by the provision of a resin carrying paper layer as the lowermost layer of the stack, at the side of the stack opposite said decorative layer. For examples of a DPL process reference is made to EP 1 290 290, from which it is further known to provide a relief in the melamine surface during the same press treatment or pressing operation, namely by bringing the melamine surface in contact with a structured press element, for example a structured press plate. Preferably, the relief can be in register with the pattern on the decorative layer.The printing of the paper sheet by means of an analog printing process, such as by rotogravure or offset printing, at affordable prices inevitably leads to large minimal order quantities of a particular decorative paper and restricts the attainable flexibility. A change of decor or pattern necessitates a standstill of the printing equipment of about 8 hours. This standstill time is needed for exchange of the printing rollers, the cleaning of the printing equipment and for adjusting the colors of the new decor or pattern to be printed.Instead of analog printing techniques, digital printing techniques, especially inkjet printing techniques, are becoming increasingly popular for the creation of decors or patterns. Such digital techniques can enhance the flexibility in the printing of decors significantly. Reference is amongst others made to the EP 1 872 959, WO 2011 / 124503, EP 1 857 511, EP 2 431 190, EP 2 293 946, WO 2014 / 084787, WO 2015 / 140682 and the WO 2015 / 118451, where such techniques are disclosed.According to convention, decor papers may be provided on supply rolls, wherein only one design (or pattern or motif) is provided on each supply roll. Each supply roll is dedicated to a particular design. In this way, subsequent manufacture of decorative panels may be carried out in a consistent and reliable manner. This is because a dedicated supply roll with a particular design will have a specified ink load and therefore specified parameters associated with processes such as resin impregnation and thermal or UV drying that may be applied during panel manufacture. Although this conventional wisdom is generally thought to provide acceptable performance, it is not without shortcomings. For example, it is time consuming and inefficient to swap out dedicatedsupply rolls when it is desirable to manufacture decorative panels having different decors. Changing a supply roll necessitates a standstill of the panel manufacturing equipment. The standstill time is needed to physically change the supply roll. Further, depending on the ink load of the design, swapping out dedicated supply rolls may involve manually adjusting parameters associated with processes such as resin impregnation and thermal or UV drying that may be applied during panel manufacture. It is also expensive to maintain and store numerous supply rolls with dedicated designs. All of this inevitably leads to large minimal order quantities of a particular decorative panel and restricts the attainable flexibility.Decor foils are also typically thermally laminated on top of a substrate for forming decorative panels. The panels can comprise a polymeric based substrate, preferably thermoplastic based substrate, such as PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), PP (Polypropylene), LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile), SPC (Solid Polymer Composite) or WPC (Wood polymer composite) based substrate. The invention can further relate to mineral-based board of cement-based board, like for example, fiber cement based board or magnesium oxide based board.Traditionally, the decor or pattern of such panels is printed on a thermoplastic sheet by means of offset or rotogravure printing. The obtained sheet is taken up as a decorative sheet in a decorative panel. For manufacturing the decorative panels thermal lamination or gluing can be practiced. According to the thermal lamination process the already printed sheet is fixed with action of heat and pressure on top of a substrate. Alternatively, the decorative sheet can be thermal laminated to a surface of a transparent or translucent thermoplastic protective layer. In this latter case, after thermal lamination, a stack is formed comprising at least a plate shaped substrate, the decorative sheet and the protective layer. The stack can result in a mutual connection or adherence of the layers after thermal lamination or gluing of the decorative sheet on top of the plate shaped substrate. As a result, a decorative panel is obtained. It is possible to provide a relief in the surface of the panel, for example in the protective layer, during the same thermal lamination operation, namely by bringing the protective layer in contact with a structuredpress element, for example a structured roller. Preferably, the relief can be in register with the pattern on the decorative layer.The printing of the sheet by means of an analog printing process, such as by rotogravure or offset printing, at affordable prices inevitably leads to large minimal order quantities of a particular decorative sheet and restricts the attainable flexibility. A change of decor or pattern necessitates a standstill of the printing equipment of about 8 hours. This standstill time is needed for exchange of the printing rollers, the cleaning of the printing equipment and for adjusting the colors of the new decor or pattern to be printed.Instead of analog printing techniques, digital printing techniques, especially inkjet printing techniques, are becoming increasingly popular for the creation of decors or patterns. Such digital techniques can enhance the flexibility in the printing of decors significantly. Reference is amongst others made to the US 9,885,188, US 11,059,320 and the WO 2020 / 161569, where such techniques are disclosed.According to convention, decor foils may be provided on a supply roll, wherein only one design (or pattern or motif) is provided on each supply roll. Each supply roll is dedicated to a particular design. In this way, subsequent manufacture of decorative panels may be carried out in a consistent and reliable manner. This is because a dedicated supply roll with a particular design will have a specified ink load and therefore specified parameters associated with processes such as thermal lamination and gluing that may be applied during panel manufacture. Although this conventional wisdom is generally thought to provide acceptable performance, it is not without shortcomings. For example, it is time consuming and inefficient to swap out dedicated supply rolls when it is desirable to manufacture decorative panels having different decors. Changing a supply roll necessitates a standstill of the panel manufacturing equipment. The standstill time is needed to physically change the supply roll. Further, depending on the ink load of the design, swapping out dedicated supply rolls may involve manually adjusting parameters associated with processes such as thermal lamination and gluing that may be applied during panel manufacture. It is also expensive to maintain and store numerous supplyrolls with dedicated designs. All of this inevitably leads to large minimal order quantities of a particular decorative panel and restricts the attainable flexibility.The present invention aims in the first place to provide an alternative solution, which, in accordance with several of its preferred embodiments, is directed to solve one or more of the problems arising in the state of the art.According to a first independent aspect, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a decor paper or a decor foil. The method involves providing a printable substrate. The printable substrate may be provided with a plurality of printed motifs that are sequentially printed in a longitudinal direction of the printable substrate. A plurality of indicia may be provided on the printable substrate respectively corresponding to the plurality of printed motifs. As an example of correspondence (or working relationship), each indicium may be embedded with information, e.g., an ink load or gurley value, specific to each respective printed motif.By way of example only, the indicium may be provided in the form of a printed mark, a printed barcode or QR code, a lasered code, or a watermark.The printable substrate may be provided with technical areas that are formed between adjacent printed motifs. The technical areas may extend in the width direction of the printable substrate. The indicia may be respectively provided in the technical areas, such that each indicium corresponds to a previously printed motif. Thus, during manufacture of the decor paper of foil, an indicium may provide ink load and / or gurley value information associated with a leading printed motif. The technical areas may be in the form of unprinted areas, excluding the area where the indicia may be printed. During use of the decor paper or the decor foil for manufacturing the decorative panel, the technical areas may be cut off and discarded.In an alternative embodiment, the indicia may be integrated into the respective printed motifs. Here, the indicia may be “hidden” meaning that the difference in contrast between the applied indicia and the underlying printed motifs would be so subtle that theindicia would not be noticed by a casual observer, yet sufficient enough that the indicia would be detectable and extractable using an optical scanner, e.g., a camera, a reader, and / or an encoder, and associated algorithms. As another alternative, the indicia may be “invisible ” and applied to the printable substrate using invisible inks that fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) or infrared (IR) light, which are only visible to the human eye when a UV light source is applied. Such inks may behave just like other printing inks, and can be applied by inkjet, thermal transfer, and other conventional printing methods, not requiring any specialized equipment. In this alternative, a UV or an IR light source would be implemented in combination with an optical scanner to make the indicia detectable and extractable. In either alternative, there would be no need for technical areas, which would increase the area of the printable substrate available for the printed motifs. Further, the hidden or invisible indicia may remain in the finished decorative panel.Embodiments of the present invention also relate to the decor papers or the decor foils that are obtained using the methods of the first aspect of the present invention. According to a second independent aspect, the invention relates to a decor paper or a decor foil having a printable substrate provided with a plurality of printed motifs that are located along a longitudinal direction of the printable substrate. A plurality of indicia may be provided on the printable substrate respectively corresponding to the plurality of printed motifs. Each indicium may be embedded with information, e.g., an ink load or gurley value, specific to each respective printed motif.In an embodiment, each respective indicium may be unique and distinct from other indicia provided on the decor paper or the decor foil.The motifs and the indicia may be printed using digital techniques. Preferably the digital printing technique can be inkjet printing. Preferably for printing the digital printed motif, a digital inkjet printer is applied that allows to jet ink droplets with a volume of less than 50 picoliters. The inventors have found that working with droplets having a volume of 15 picoliters or less, for example of 10 picoliters, brings considerable advantages regarding the limitation of dry weight of deposited inks. Preferably a digital inkjet printeris applied that allows to work with ink droplets of several volumes in one and the same print, or with so-called halftone or gray scale. The possibility of half tone or gray scale printing enables further limitation of the dry weight of deposited ink while maintaining an excellent print definition. Preferably a digital inkjet printer is applied that allows to attain a definition of at least 200 dpi, or even better at least 300 dpi (dots per inch), even more preferably at least 600 dpi. Preferably the digital inkjet printer is of the single pass type, wherein the paper layer or foil is provided with the printed pattern or motif in a single continuous relative movement of the paper layer or foil with respect to the printer or print heads. It is not excluded that other digital inkjet printers are used to put the invention into practice, such as so-called multi-pass or plotter type printers. It is noted that printers of the multi-pass type have the advantage that any failing nozzle can be hidden by the print of a subsequent pass. In this type of printers, the nozzles or paper or foil can be shifted somewhat in between passes, such that on a particular location of the paper or foil dots are printed by several nozzles. With a multi-pass equipment, or even with a plotter it is possible to perform automatic maintenance or cleaning in between subsequent passes, when needed.The digitally printed motif and the indicia can be printed with pigment containing inks. The digitally printed motif and the indicia can be printed with solvent-based, UV-curable or, preferably, water-based inks. It is also possible to use a combination of these inks, like for example UV-curable water-based inks. The digital printing can be performed by printing an amount of ink below 20 g / sqm. The digital printing can also be performed by providing the paper or foil with an amount of pigments below lOg / sqm, preferably below 7 g / sqm. Preferably the digitally printed motif can comprise a decor that can be a wood imitating or stone imitating decor or any other desired pattern or drawing.In some embodiments of the invention, the digitally printed motif can comprise functional pigments like for example photosensitive pigments, thermosensitive pigments, pressure sensitive pigments. The functional pigments are pigments configured to provide a response to an external solicitation like for example a change of color in response to a change of temperature, irradiation with a specific radiation or pressure applied on the motif.An ink receiver layer may be provided below the digital printed motif. The ink receiver layer can improve the quality of the digital print for example by improving ink absorbency of the paper or foil, in particular by reducing ink bleeding and controlling the dot gain. The ink receiver layer can further provide for improved dot gain and color gamut.The ink receiver layer can be provided through analog coating or printing techniques, like rotogravure or flexographic print. Preferably, the ink receiver layer can be provided in a substantially uniform manner, for example it can be provided substantially in the same quantity on the surface of the paper or foil. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the ink receiver layer can be provided accorded to a pattern that can preferably be in register with the pattern of the printed pattern (or motif), preferably with a digital pattern provided upon the ink receiver layer itself. In this way, it may be possible to reduce the quantity of inkjet receiving substance forming the ink receiver layer thereby limiting the cost of the decor paper or decor foil.The ink receiver layer may comprise at least a binder. According to the most preferred embodiment, for the binder in the ink receiver layer at least or mainly polyvinyl alcohols are used.According to variants, the ink receiver layer includes, as a binder, a polymer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl cellulose; hydroxyethylmethyl cellulose; hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose; hydroxybutylmethyl cellulose; methyl cellulose; sodium carboxymethyl cellulose; sodium carboxymethylhydroxethyl cellulose; water soluble ethylhydroxyethyl cellulose; cellulose sulfate; polyvinylalcohol, vinylalcohol copolymers; polyvinyl acetate; polyvinyl acetal; polyvinyl pyrrolidone; polyacrylamide; acrylamide / acrylic acid copolymer; polystyrene, styrene copolymers; acrylic or methacrylic polymers; styrene / acrylic copolymers; ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer; vinyl-methyl ether / maleic acid copolymer; poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid); poly(diethylene triamine-co-adipic acid); polyvinyl pyridine; polyvinyl imidazole; polyethylene imineepichlorohydrin modified; polyethylene imine ethoxylated; ether bond-containing polymers such as polyethylene oxide (PEO), polypropylene oxide (PPO), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl ether (PVE); polyurethane; melamine resins; gelatin; carrageenan; dextran; gum arabic; casein; pectin; albumin; chitins; chitosans; starch; collagen derivatives; collodion and agar-agar. The most preferred variants for the binder are polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetates, ethylvinylacetates, block copolymers based on polyvinylacetate, block copolymers based on polyvinylalcohol, acrylates, latexes, polyvinyl derivaties, VCVAC derivatives, polyurethanes based on polyols and isocyanates, polyurethanes based on polycarbamates and polyaldehydes, e.g. both as a watery dispersion / emulsion or a watery or solvent solution.As stated above preferred binders for the ink receiver layer include polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), but according to variants a vinylalcohol copolymer or modified polyvinyl alcohol may be applied. The modified polyvinyl alcohol may be a cationic type polyvinyl alcohol, such as the cationic polyvinyl alcohol grades from Kuraray, such as POVAL C506, POVAL Cl 18 from Nippon Goshei.Preferably, the paper or foil is provided with 0.2 to 10 g / m2, and preferably between 0.5 and 5 g / m2, dry coating weight of a binder in the ink receiver layer.Although not essential, according to the most preferred embodiment, the ink receiver layer comprises less than the 20%, preferably less than the 10% by weight of pigment or water absorbing substance, even more preferably the ink receiver layer is free from any pigment or water absorbing substance. Reducing the quantity of pigment or water absorbing substance can help improving the transparency of the ink receiver layer. Anyway, according to alternative embodiments, the ink receiver layer can comprise pigments, in this case at least or mainly silica particles are used. Preferably the silica particles are silane treated. Silane treatment of the pigments, in general, enhances dust release properties of the attained ink receiver layer and the thus treated paper or thermoplastic foil. The silane treatment may relate to a treatment with a coupling agent such as amino-organo-silanes, hydroxysilanes, dipodal silanes and / or other silanes. Preferably, the coupling agent is chosen such that the risk of yellowing upon aging of theattained ink receiver layer is low. Preferably, the coupling agent forms 0.1 to 10% of the total wet weight of the ink receiver layer.According to variants, for the pigment of the ink receiver layer at least or mainly particles are used chosen from the list consisting of calcium carbonate, silica, alumina, aluminosilicates, ordered mesoporous materials, modified silica, organosilica, modified organosilica, organoalumina, modified alumina, aluminates, modified aluminates, organoaluminates, modified organoaluminates, zeolites, metal organic frameworks and porous polar polymers.Preferably the pigment of the ink receiver layer has a BET surface area between 10 and 1600 m2 / g, and preferably between 15 and 500 m2 / g.It is to be noted that, the ink receiver layer can comprise also a crosslinking agent for the crosslinking reaction of the polymeric substance itself. In case of presence of a crosslinking agent this is preferably selected from the group comprising: aldehydes, polyaldehydes, dialdehydes, alcohols, boronic acid, borax, polyalcohols, carbamates, polycarbamates, carbonic acids, glyoxal based agent, zirconium-based agents, titanates and polycarbonic acids.The ink receiver layer can further comprise a dispersant. A dispersant is an oligomer or polymer which stabilize the liquid dispersions of pigment against flocculation. The dispersant can comprise polycarboxylates, polyphosphates, a polyionic polymer, preferably polyDADMAC (Polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride) polyamine or alumina salts.Preferably, the ink receiver layer is provided with less than 10%, more preferably less than 5% based on dry coating weight of dispersant, for example between 5 and 0.1%.The ink receiver layer can also comprise a flocculant, preferably a metal salt, preferably a cationic metal salt. Preferably said metal salt is chosen from the list consisting of CaC12, MgC12, CaBr2, MgBr2, CMA (Calcium Magnesium Acetate), NH4C1, Calcium Acetate,ZrC14, calcium nitrate and Magnesium Acetate. The positive ion of the dissolved metal salt will tend to neutralize the electrosteric stabilization function of the pigment. The most preferred cationic metal salts are CaC12, MgC12, CMA, Calcium Acetate, calcium nitrate and Magnesium Acetate, as the inventors have obtained the best results with these ink reactive compounds. The flocculant can also be chosen from the list consisting of sodiumaluminate, a double sulphate salt such as alum, polyaluminumchloride, polyacrylate, dicyandiamide (e.g. Floquat DI5 from SNF) and polyacrylamide. The flocculating agent pulls the ink pigments out of the ink dispersion. Thereby the pigments are prevented from penetration to far down into the ink receiver layer. Mainly the vehicle of the ink, e.g. the water in the case of waterbased inks, is absorbed deeper down into the ink receiver layer.Preferably, ink receiver coating is provided with 20 to 70 %, based on dry coating weight of flocculating agent, in particular of metal salt.In a particular embodiment the ink receiver layer can be acidic. In particular can comprise one or more acid components. The acid component can be either organic or inorganic. Preferred examples of acid components are citric acid, formic acid, lactic acid, propionic acid or a combination thereof. Preferably the acid component can show a pH 5, more preferably below 4,5. The acid component has the function of destabilizing the ink dispersion and is generally used as an alternative to the above mentioned metal salts.The ink receiver layer may also comprise one or more of the following agents:Agents altering, more particularly lowering, the pH of the ink receiver layer. Preferably the pH of the ink receiver layer composition is lowered to pH 5 or lower, by selecting the amount and type of the substance, which selection is within the ambit of the skilled person. Preferably the substance is chosen from the list consisting of formic acid, tartaric acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, AlCh and boronic acid. An adjusted, more particularly lowered pH, preferably to pH 5 or less, increases the chemical affinity of the inkjet receiver coating with the ink and will interfere with theelectrosteric stabilization function on the pigment, such that the dispersion of the pigments in the ink will become destabilized quickly.- Particle surface modifying agents or coupling agents: between 0.05 and 5 g / m2, preferably between 0.2 and 2 g / m2, e.g. chosen from the non-limiting list consisting of amino silanes, ureido silanes, aldehyde silanes, tetraethylorthosilicate, siliazanes, organically modified silanes, organically modified siliazanes, chlorosilanes, organically modified chlorosilanes, bissilanes, organobissilanes, silsesquioxanes, polysilsesquioxnes, silane oligomers, organically modified silane oligomers, bissilane oligomers, organically modified bissilane oligomers, oligomeric silsesquioxanes, and oligomeric polysilsesquioxanes.Additives: wetting agent between 0.05 and 0.5 g / m2; and / or defoaming agent between 0.05 and 0.5 g / m2; and / or fungicide between 0.05 and 0.5 g / m2.According to the most preferred embodiment the ink receiver layer is applied in one step in order to form a unique layer having the ink receiver layer. Anyway, it is not excluded that the ink receiver layer is applied in at least two partial steps, wherein respectively a first layer with a first composition and, subsequently, a second layer is applied with a second composition wherein the first and the second composition may be either be the same or different compositions.Preferably the starting paper layer or the starting thermoplastic foil has a base weight of 40 to 130 g / m2, e.g. between 60 and 90 g / m2.Preferably, in the case of a paper layer, the decor paper obtained using the method of the invention, i.e. including the ink receiver layer and the printed motifs, has a Gurley value of between 10 and 60 seconds, and preferably between 12 and 50 seconds. Preferably, the paper layer can show, after performing the method, an increase of the Gurley value of less than 30% more preferably less than 20% based on the initial Gurley value of the starting paper layer. It is to be noted that the above indicated Gurley value of the printed paper layer is definitely lower than other coated paper layers, such a low Gurley value improves the resin impregnation capability of the paper layer, so that the paper layers areparticularly suitable in use for decoration of panels, like for furniture or floor, wall of ceiling panels where the decorative paper is impregnated with melamine resin before lamination onto a supporting board. The obtained decor paper shows a resin penetration time lower than 3 sec.In an alternative embodiment, instead of a paper layer, a thermoplastic foil, such as polyvinylchloride (PVC) foil, polypropylene (PP) foil, polyethylene (PE) foil, polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) foil or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foil can be used. In case of presence of binder, the preferred binder for use on such thermoplastic foils is polyurethane based, acrylate based, or polyvinyl acetate based.In the preferred example the decor paper or decor foil is manufactured in a so-called roll to roll process, wherein the paper or foil is uncoiled from a first roll, printed, and then wound up again on a second roll. Preferably the paper or the foil is provided with the printed motifs, the indicia, and the ink receiver layer before being wound up on the second roll. In an alternative embodiment, after printing the paper or the foil is cut into sheets that are ready to be laminated onto a substrate.A third independent aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a laminate panel, wherein the panel at least comprises a substrate material and a provided thereon top layer with a printed decor. The top layer may include a decor paper or a decor foil on the basis of a decor paper or a decor foil in accordance with the second independent aspect and / or obtained by means of a method in accordance with the first independent aspect and / or the preferred embodiments of these aspects.The decor paper or the decor foil may include a printable substrate provided with a plurality of printed motifs that are located along a longitudinal direction of the printable substrate. A plurality of indicia may be provided on the printable substrate respectively corresponding to the plurality of printed motifs. As an example of correspondence (or working relationship), each indicium may be embedded with information, e.g., an ink load or gurley value, specific to each respective printed motif. As the decor paper or the decor foil is fed from a supply roll, the printed side of the substrate moves across anoptical scanner. The optical scanner detects and extracts the indicia. Based on the embedded information from a particular indicium associated with a specific printed motif, various parameters of subsequent processes in the manufacturing of the laminate panel can be adjusted automatically, and without stopping the production line. Subsequent processes that may be adjusted include, but are not limited to, resin impregnation, thermal or UV drying, thermal lamination, and / or gluing processes. Additional process parameters that may be varied based on the indicia are discussed in more detail below.In a preferred embodiment the top layer is substantially formed from thermosetting resin and one or more paper layers, wherein the paper layers comprise the decor paper.

[0001] Alternatively the top layer can be substantially formed from thermoplastic material including one or more thermoplastic foils, wherein the thermoplastic foils comprise the decor foil.In the preferred embodiment the decor paper can be impregnated with an amount of thermosetting resin and attached to the substrate material by means of a hot-pressing treatment. Alternatively, the decor foil can be attached to the substrate material by means of a hot-pressing treatment.In the preferred embodiment the decor paper layer is provided with an amount of thermosetting resin equaling 40 to 250% dry weight of resin as compared to the weight of the paper. Experiments have shown that this range of applied resin provides for a sufficient impregnation of the paper, that avoids splitting to a large extent, and that stabilizes the dimension of the paper to a high degree.Preferably the decor paper can be provided with such an amount of thermosetting resin, that at least the paper core is satisfied with the resin. Such satisfaction can be reached when an amount of resin is provided that corresponds to at least 1.5 or at least 2 times the paper weight. It should be clear that the resin, which is provided on the decor paper, is not necessarily only available in the core of the paper, but may form surface layers onboth flat sides of the paper. The ink receiver layer may then be present on the surface of the paper with the intermediary of such a surface layer of thermosetting resin.Preferably, the obtained resin provided paper layer, i.e. after provision of the thermosetting resin, has a relative humidity lower than 15%, and still better of 10% by weight or lower.Preferably the step of providing the paper layer with thermosetting resin involves applying a mixture of water and the resin on the decor paper. The application of the mixture might involve immersion of the decor paper in a bath of the mixture and / or spraying, jetting or otherwise coating the mixture on the decor paper. Preferably the resin is provided in a dosed manner, for example by using one or more squeezing rollers and / or doctor blades to set the amount of resin added to the decor paper.Preferably the thermosetting resin is a melamine-based resin, more particularly a melamine formaldehyde resin with a formaldehyde to melamine ratio of 1.4 to 2. Such melamine-based resin is a resin that polycondensates while exposed to heat in a pressing operation. Other examples of such thermosetting resins leading to a similar polycondensation reaction include ureum-formaldehyde based resins and phenolformaldehyde based resins. It is not excluded that other resins like water-based polyurethane dispersions or water-based acrylic dispersions may be used, as well as mixed combination thereof.As is clear from the above, the method of the third aspect of the invention may involve the step of hot pressing the printed and resin provided decor paper, at least to cure the resin of the obtained resin provided decor paper. Preferably the method of the invention forms part of a DPL process as above described, wherein the printed resin provided decor paper of the invention is taken up in the stack to be pressed as the decorative layer. It is of course not excluded that the method of the invention would form part of a CPL (Compact Laminate) or an HPL (High Pressure Laminate) process in which the decorative layer is hot pressed at least with a plurality of resin impregnated core paper layers, e.g., of so called Kraft paper, forming a substrate underneath the decorative layer,and wherein the obtained pressed and cured laminate layer, or laminate board is, in the case of an HPL, glued to a further substrate, such as to a particle board or an MDF or HDF board.Preferably a wear layer, for example a resin layer is applied above the decor paper, e.g. by way of an overlay, i.e. a resin provided carrier layer, or a liquid coating, preferably while the decor paper is laying on the substrate, either loosely or already connected or adhered thereto.In the case of a decor thermoplastic foil, the wear layer can preferably be a transparent thermoplastic foil or in form of a lacquer layer or in form a TPU layer. The wear layer can be formed by a curable substance, like in case of lacquer, for example UV curable, electron beam curable or acid curable lacquer.Preferably, the method may further include a step of applying a counter layer or balancing layer at the surface of the substrate opposite the printed paper layer. In case of a paperbased decor layer, the counter layer or balancing layer preferably comprises a paper layer and thermosetting resin, preferably the same resin as the top layer. Preferably the mutual adherence of the plate-shaped substrate, the possible counter layer and the possible transparent or translucent layer is obtained in one and the same press treatment. These steps may be taken up in a DPL process.It is further clear that the decor paper or the decor foil obtained in the first aspect of the invention and / or according to the second aspect of the invention is suitable for being used as part of a top layer in a method for manufacturing floor panels, furniture panels, ceiling panels and / or wall panels.It is clear that the printed pattern, the plate-shaped substrates, the paper layers and thermoplastic layers mentioned above may be divided during the methods of the invention for obtaining their respective final dimensions. The panels obtained by means of a DPL press treatment or similar are preferably sawn or otherwise divided. Other treatments of the obtained panels are of course not excluded.The method according to the third independent aspect can further comprise the step of providing the panel, preferably the substrate thereof, with coupling elements.According to a fourth independent aspect of the present invention, indicia may be provided in the top most surface of the laminate panel. These indicia can be embossed in an overlay or wear layer included in the top layer. As will be discussed in more detail below, the embossed indicia may be provided in the form of a specific topology or pattern that represents commercial information specific to the laminate panel being produced. By way of example only, such commercial information may include, but is not limited to, the materials included in the laminate panel, trace information, installation instructions, care and maintenance instructions, etc.The embossed indicia may be “hidden ” meaning that a difference in gloss degree between the embossed indicia and the surfaces surrounding the embossed indicia would be so subtle that the embossed indicia would not be noticed by a casual observer, yet sufficient enough that the indicia would be detectable and extractable using, for example, an optical scanner such as a monochrome USB camera with video resolution of 60fps, an LED light source, and associated algorithms.According to a fifth independent aspect of the present invention, two different types of indicia can be provided on opposite sides of one panel, or one board that has been subdivided from the larger panel. Here, the decorative side of the panel or board may include a first indicium as described with respect to the first and / or the fourth independent aspects of the invention, and the opposite side of the panel or board may be provided with a second indicium. Because the first indicium is provided on the decorative side of the board, it is preferable that it be “hidden,” meaning that the first indicium would not be noticed by a casual observer, yet detectable and extractable using an optical scanner, for example. The first indicium could be imbedded with information to alter process parameters during panel manufacture (the first aspect) or an embossed indicium that represents commercial information specific to the laminate panel being produced. The second indicium on the opposite or back side of the panel could be in the form a QRcode, a barcode, a watermark, or a lasered code with embedded information, e.g. , generic information regarding substrate composition. The second indicium could also be used for anticounterfeit two factor authentication.With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, in the following, as an example without any limitative character, several preferred forms of embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:Fig. 1 shows a decor paper according to a non-limiting embodiment;Fig. 2 shows a top view of the decor paper in Fig. 1 according to a non-limiting embodiment;Fig. 3 shows a method for manufacturing the decor paper in Fig. 1 according to a non-limiting embodiment;Fig. 4 shows a decorative panel incorporating the decor paper in Fig. 1 according to a non-limiting embodiment;Fig. 5 shows a method for manufacturing the decorative panel in Fig. 4 according to a non-limiting embodiment;Fig. 6 shows a decor foil according to a non-limiting embodiment;Fig. 7 shows a method for manufacturing the decor foil in Fig. 6 according to a non-limiting embodiment;Fig. 8 shows a decorative panel incorporating the decor paper in Fig. 6 according to a non-limiting embodiment; andFig. 9 shows a method for manufacturing the decorative panel in Fig. 8 according to a non-limiting embodiment.Non-limiting embodiments may be practiced with a decor paper. As shown in Fig. 1, a decor paper 2 may include a printable substrate in the form of a paper sheet 4 having an ink receiver coating 5 on one of its surfaces. The paper sheet 4 may include a weight of about 70 grams per square meter and a starting Gurley value below 30s. The ink receiver coating 5 may comprise polyvinyl-alcohol as binder, silica particles as pigments and a cationic metal salt chosen from the list consisting of CaC12, MgC12, CaBr2, MgBr2,CMA (Calcium Magnesium Acetate), NH4C1, Calcium Acetate, ZrC14, calcium nitrate and Magnesium Acetate.The ink receiver coating 5 may be provided in a predetermined amount between 0.5 g / sqm and 5 g / sqm on the paper sheet 4.A plurality of printed motifs 16, 18 is printed on the ink receiver coating by inkjet printing so to provide an amount of ink between 0.01 gsm and 5 gsm dry weight. The ink is preferably water-based pigment containing ink.The printed motifs 16, 18 are more clearly shown in Fig. 2. In this non-limiting embodiment, one of the printed motifs 16 may be a wood imitating decor and the other printed motif 18 may be a stone imitating decor, but the invention is not limited in this regard. For example, more or less than two printed motifs may be provided, and a printed motif may be any other desired pattern or drawing. The motifs 16, 18 can be sequentially printed relative to a printing direction D, which is a relative motion between the printable substrate 4 and the printing unit.A technical area 17 is located between each printed motif 16, 18. In this embodiment, the jetting of ink from the printing unit may be interrupted to form the technical area 17. Thus, the technical area 17 may be in the form of an unprinted area, with the exception of an indicium 20. The indicium 20 may be a barcode, for example, embedded with information specific to a previously printed motif, in this instance, the printed motif 18. In Fig. 2, the motif 18 would be printed, followed by the corresponding indicium 20, followed by the motif 16, and so on.Technical areas 17 may avoided when the indicia 20 are invisible or hidden in the printed motifs 16, 18. Here, the printed motifs 16, 18 may be contiguous (joining each other) in the printing direction D. In this case, each indicium 20 may be provided on a trailing end of a respective corresponding printed motif. Furthermore, an optical scanner may be provided with an integrated light source to facilitate detection and extraction of the indicia 20.Fig. 3 illustrates one possible method for printing the decor paper 2 shown in Fig. 1. The paper sheet 4 may be un-wound from a starting roll 21 and coated with the ink receiver coating 5 in a coating station 23. The coated paper sheet is then fed to an inkjet printer 24. The printer 24, in this example, relates to a printer of the single pass type. The inkjet printer 24 is commanded for printing the plurality of motifs 16, 18 and the corresponding indicia 20 on the coated paper sheet 22 thereby forming a printed decor 25 on the coated paper sheet 22. The printed sheet 22 is optionally dried in a dryer 26 to finally obtain the decor paper 2 that is subsequently wound up on a second roll 28.It will be appreciated that relative to the print direction D, an indicium 20 corresponds to a previously printed motif 18. However, when unwound from the second roll 28 (or supply roll), the same indicium 20 can be considered to correspond to a trailing motif 18. This is because the decor paper 2 will be unwound from the second roll 28 (or supply roll) in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the decor paper onto the second roll 28 during the printing method shown in Fig. 3.The obtained decor paper 2 can be included in a decorative layer 27 of a decorative panel 30 as illustrated in Fig. 4. The obtained decorative panels 30 at least comprise a substrate 31, for example of HDF or MDF, and a top layer 32. The top layer 32 comprises the decorative layer 27. In the example, the decorative panel 30 is a floor panel comprising coupling means 33 on the long and short edges for coupling with adjacent floor panels in a floor covering. As illustrated in Fig. 4 such coupling means or coupling parts 33 can basically have the shape of a tongue and a groove.To this aim, the decor paper 2 may be used in laminate panel manufacturing process, some steps of which are illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 5 shows that the decor paper 2 can be unwound from a starting roll 28 (or supply roll) and impregnated with a melamine resin 6, in particular a melamine-based resin. The decor paper 2 is taken from the starting roll 28 and transported to a first impregnation station 8 where the decor paper 2 is immersed in a bath 9 of the thermosetting resin 6, more particularly a mixture of water and thermosetting resin composition. The decor paper is then allowed to rest while in thiscase being transported upwards. The resting allows for the resin 6 to penetrate the core of the paper sheet 4. The decor paper 2 then comes into a second impregnation station 10 where the decor paper 2 is, in this case, again immersed in a second bath 11 of resin 6, more particularly a mixture of water and resin. A set of squeezing rollers 12 allows to dose the amount of resin applied to the decor paper 2.In the example several doctor blades 13 are available for partially removing resin 6 at the surface of the resin provided decor paper 2.The decor paper 2 is then dried and its residual humidity level is brought to below 10% to obtain the decorative layer 27. In the example, hot air ovens 14 are used, but alternatively other heating equipment can be used, such as microwave or infrared drying equipment. After drying in the oven 14, the decorative layer 27 is cut into sheets 29. The technical areas 17 and the indicia 20 may be cut off and discarded during the sheet cutting operation.As illustrated in Fig. 5, an optical scanner 50 is configured to detect and extract the indicia 20 provided on the decor paper 2 fed from the starting roll 28. The optical scanner 50 may be connected to a control unit 52 that is connected to the impregnation stations 8, 10 and the hot air ovens 14. The control unit 52 can be a personal computer, for example. Based on the information received from the optical scanner 50, the control unit 52 may automatically change parameters to adjust resin load and / or drying conditions for a particular printed motif unwound from the starting roll 28 and entering the laminate panel manufacturing process. By way of example only, the adjustable parameters relating to the resin load at the impregnation stations may include the speed of the impregnation channel, the viscosity of the resin, the impregnation may be pressurized, and / or the resin may be heated. By way of example only, the adjustable parameters relating to the drying conditions at the ovens 14 may include temperature, time in the ovens, and / or hot air volume displacement rates. In this way, various process parameter can be automatically adjusted as different printed motifs, which may have different ink loads, are sequentially unwound from the supply roll 28.Fig. 5 further illustrates that a sheet of the decorative layer 27 is taken up in a stack to be pressed in a short daylight press 40 between upper and lower press plates 41, 42. The stack comprises from bottom to top a counter layer 43, a plate shaped substrate 31, the abovementioned resin provided decorative layer 27 and a wear layer 44. The counter layer 43 and the wear layer 44 both comprise a paper sheet 45, in case of the wear layer 44 called overlay paper, and resin 6. The stack is then pressed and the press treatment results in a mutual connection between the constituent layers 27-43-44 including the substrate 31, of the stack, as well as in a hardening or curing of the available resin 6. More particularly here a polycondensation reaction of the melamine-based resin takes place, having water as a by-product.The upper press plate 41 is a structured press plates having a structure relief 46 that provides a relief in the melamine surface of the panel 30 during the same press treatment, by bringing the structured surface of the upper press plate 41 into contact with the melamine of the wear layer 44. The relief can be in register with the printed decor.The structured relief 46 may include a relief portion 47 that embosses an indicia 48 (see Fig. 4) in the form of a specific topology or pattern in the surface of the wear layer 44. The embossed indicia 48 may represent information that may relate to, for example, installation and / or maintenance of a decorative panel 30. The embossed indicia 48 can be detectable and extractable using an optical scanner that detects a difference in gloss degree between the embossed indicia 48 and the surface of the panel 30 surrounding the embossed indicia 48.In alternative embodiments, two different types of indicia can be provided on opposite sides of a decorative panel 30. Here, the decorative side of the panel 30 may include a first indicium, such as the indicium 20 shown in Fig. 2 and / or the embossed indicium 48 shown in Fig. 4. It will be appreciated that the first indicium may be invisible or hidden as described above so as not to detract from the aesthetic of the panel. The first indicium could be imbedded with information to alter process parameters during panel manufacture as shown in Fig. 5, or an embossed indicium 48 that represents commercial information specific to the laminate panel being produced.A second indicium may be provided on the opposite or back side of the panel. The second indicium may be provided on the counter layer 43 in the form a QR code, a barcode, a watermark, or a lasered code with embedded information. The embedded information may be generic information regarding substrate composition. For example, a second indicium may indicate an HDF board of “type X” that is being used for 200 designs and 10 various press plates. The second indicium could also be used for anticounterfeit two factor authentication. The second indicium may be detected and extracted by an optical scanner.Non-limiting embodiment may also be practiced with a decor foil. As shown in Fig. 6, a decor foil 62 may include a printable substrate in the form of a PVC sheet 64 having a thickness ranging between 40 micron and 200 micron.A plurality of printed motifs 16, 18 is printed on the PVC sheet 64 by inkjet printing so to provide an amount of ink between 0.01 g / m2and 5 g / m2dry weight. The ink is preferably a UV curable pigment containing ink. The invention is not, however, limited in this regard as water-based inks, solvent-based ink, oil-based inks or UV curing inks or hydro-UV inks can be suitably implemented. It may be preferable that the inks are UV curing inks or hydro-UV inks since their use doesn’t necessarily require the previous application of a primer on the substrate, although in some embodiments water-based inks can be preferred because their lower cost and good adhesion in particular with vinylic materials. It is also not excluded that an ink receiver coating is provided on the PVC sheet 64 and printed upon.The printed motifs may be like those shown and describe above with reference to Fig. 2. For example, one of the printed motifs 16 may be a wood imitating decor and the other printed motif 18 may be a stone imitating decor, but the invention is not limited in this regard. Further, a technical area 17 and an indicium 20 may be located between adjacent printed motifs 16, 18. The technical areas 17 and the indicia 20 may be like those shown and described above with reference to Fig. 2, including embodiments implementing hidden indicia and invisible indicia that may not include technical areas.Fig. 7 illustrates one possible method for printing the decor foil 62 shown in Fig. 6. The printable PVC sheet 64 may be unwound from a starting roll 81 and fed to an inkjet printer 84, like the inkjet printer 24 described above with reference to Fig. 3. The inkjet printer 84 is commanded for printing the plurality of motifs 16, 18 and the corresponding indicia 20 on the PVC sheet 64 thereby forming a printed decor 85 on the printed PVC sheet 82. The printed sheet 82 may be optionally dried in a dryer 86 to finally obtain the decor foil 62 that is subsequently wound up on a second roll 88. In this example, the dryer 86 may be a UV curing station.The obtained decor foil 62 can be used as a decorative layer 87 of a decorative panel 90, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The decorative panels 90 at least comprise a substrate 91, for example made of PVC, preferably SPC, and a top layer 92. The top layer 92 comprises the decorative layer 87 and a protective layer 65 (not shown in Fig. 8). In the example, the decorative panel 90 is a floor panel comprising coupling means 33 on the long and short edges for coupling with adjacent floor panels in a floor covering. As illustrated in Fig. 8 such coupling means or coupling parts 33 can basically have the shape of a tongue and a groove.To this aim, the decor foil 62 may be used in a laminate panel manufacturing process, some steps of which are illustrated in Fig. 9. In particular, Fig. 9 shows that the decor foil 62 can be unwound from a starting roll 88 (or supply roll) and thermally laminated below a protective layer 65 unwound from a supply roll 7 to obtain the laminated top layer 92. More specifically, the decor foil 62 and the protective layer 65 may be unwound and transported to a lamination station 68 where one or more lamination rollers 69 apply pressure and heat to the decor foil 62 and the protective layer 65 to attach them together thereby obtaining the laminated top layer 92. The top layer 92 is, for example, subsequently rolled onto a second roll 76 or cut into sheets.At least one of the lamination rollers 69 may be a structured roller having a structure relief that provides a relief at least in the protective layer 65 during the same thermallamination. The relief formed in the protective layer 65 can be made in register with the printed decor leading to a higher quality of the panel.Fig. 9 further illustrates that the top layer 92 may glued on top of the substrate layer 91 to form the panel 90. A coating roller 34 provides a glue on the underside of the top layer 92 and subsequently the top layer 92 is pressed on the substrate layer 91 with rollers 95. A cutter 36 cuts at least the top layer 92 in order to obtain the panel 90. In an alternative embodiment the top layer 92 or the sole decorative layer 87 can be thermal laminated on top of the substrate layer 91.As illustrated in Fig. 9, an optical scanner 110 is configured to detect and extract the indicia 20 provided on the decor foil 62 fed from the starting roll 88. The optical scanner 110 may be connected to a control unit 112 that is connected to the lamination station 68. The control unit 112 can be a personal computer, for example. Based on the information received from the optical scanner, the control unit 112 may automatically change parameters to adjust thermal lamination conditions for a particular printed motif unwound from the starting roll 88 and entering the laminate panel manufacturing process. In this way, various process parameters can be automatically adjusted as different printed motifs, which may have different ink loads, are sequentially unwound from the supply roll 88. By way of example only, the adjustable parameters relating to conditions at the lamination station 68 may include the transport speed through the station 68, the temperature / heat / pressure applied by the rollers 69, and / or the number of rollers 69 that are active. In this way, various process parameter can be automatically adjusted as different printed motifs, which may have different ink loads, are sequentially unwound from the supply roll 88.As noted above, at least one of the lamination rollers 69 may be a structured roller having a structure relief that provides a relief at least in the protective layer 65. The structured relief of the roller 69 may include a relief portion that embosses an indicia 108 (see Fig. 8) in the form of a specific topology or pattern in the surface of the protective layer 65. The embossed indicia 108 may represent information that may relate to, for example,installation and / or maintenance of a decorative panel 90. The embossed indicia 108 may be like those shown and described above with reference to Fig. 4.In alternative embodiments, two different types of indicia can be provided on opposite sides of a decorative panel 90. Here, the decorative side of the panel 90 may include a first indicium, such as the indicium 20 shown in Fig. 2 and / or the embossed indicium 108 shown in Fig. 8. It will be appreciated that the first indicium may be invisible or hidden as described above so as not to detract from the aesthetic of the panel. The first indicium could be imbedded with information to alter process parameters during panel manufacture as shown in Fig. 9, or an embossed indicium 108 that represents commercial information specific to the laminate panel being produced.A second indicium may be provided on the opposite or back side of the panel. The second indicium may be provided on the substrate 91 in the form a QR code, a barcode, a watermark, or a lasered code with embedded information. The embedded information may be generic information regarding substrate composition. For example, a second indicium may indicate an SPC board of “type X” that is being used for 200 designs and 10 various structured lamination rollers. The second indicium could also be used for anticounterfeit two factor authentication. The second indicium may be detected and extracted by an optical scanner.The present invention is in no way limited to the above described embodiments, but such methods, paper layers, panel may be realized according to several variants without leaving the scope of the invention.Further, as is clear from the content of the description, the present invention relates to one or more of the items as listed below:1. A method for manufacturing a decor paper or foil a decor foil, the method comprising providing a printable substrate (4, 64), providing a plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) on the printable substrate (4, 64), wherein the printed motifs are sequentiallyprinted in a longitudinal direction of the printable substrate, providing a plurality of indicia (20) on the printable substrate that respectfully correspond to the plurality of printed motifs.2. The method according to item 1, wherein the indicia (20) and the printed motifs (16, 18) are provided using an inkjet printer (24, 84).3. The method according to item 1 or 2, further comprising forming a technical area (17) between adjacent printed motifs (16, 18), and printing an indicium in each technical area.4. The method according to item 3, wherein each technical area (17) includes only one indicium (20).5. The method according to item 3 or 4, wherein each technical area (17) extends in a width direction of the printable substrate (4, 64).6. The method according to any one of items 3-5, wherein each technical area (17) is an unprinted area on the printable substrate (4, 64).7. The method according to any one of items 3-6, wherein each indicium (20) corresponds to a previously printed motif relative to a printing direction (D).8. The method according to item 1, wherein the indicia (20) are printed within the corresponding printed motifs (16, 18).9. The method according to item 8, wherein the indicia (20) are printed with invisible inks.10. The method according to item 8 or 9, wherein the plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) are contiguous in a printing direction (D).11. The method according to any one of items 8-10, wherein each indicium (20) is provided on a trailing end of a respective corresponding printed motif relative to a printing direction (D).12. The method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the indicia (20) are provided in the form of a printed mark, a printed barcode or QR code, a lasered code, or a watermark.13. The method according to item 12, wherein the indicia (20) are detectable and extractable using an optical scanner.14. The method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein each indicium (20) is embedded with information specific to each respective printed motif.15. The method according to item 14, wherein the information is an ink load or gurley value associated with a respective printed motif.16. The method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the printable substrate is a paper sheet.17. The method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the printable substrate is a thermoplastic sheet.18. The method according to any one of the preceding items, wherein the printable substrate is unwound from a starting roll, printed upon, and then wound onto a second roll.19. A decor paper or a decor foil comprising a printable substrate (4, 64), a plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) provided on the printable substrate (4, 64), wherein the printed motifs are sequentially located along a longitudinal direction of the printable substrate, and a plurality of indicia (20) provided on the printable substrate that respectfully correspond to the plurality of printed motifs.20. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 19, wherein the indicia (20) and the printed motifs (16, 18) are provided using an inkjet printer (24, 84).21. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 19 or 20, further comprising a plurality of technical areas (17) respectively situated between adjacent printed motifs (16, 18), wherein an indicium is located in each technical area.22. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 21, wherein each technical area (17) includes only one indicium (20).23. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 21 or 22, wherein each technical area (17) extends in a width direction of the printable substrate (4, 64).24. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of items 21-23, wherein each technical area (17) is an unprinted area on the printable substrate (4, 64).25. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of items 21-24, wherein each indicium (20) corresponds to an immediately adjacent printed motif.26. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 19, wherein the indicia (20) are printed within the corresponding printed motifs (16, 18).27. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 26, wherein the indicia (20) are printed with invisible inks.28. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 26 or 27, wherein the plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) are contiguous in a printing direction (D).29. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of items 26-28, wherein each indicium (20) is provided on an end portion of a respective corresponding printed motif.30. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of items 19-29, wherein each of the indicia (20) is a printed mark, a printed barcode or QR code, a lasered code, or a watermark.31. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 30, wherein the indicia (20) are detectable and extractable using an optical scanner.32. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of item 19-31, wherein each indicium (20) is embedded with information specific to each respective printed motif.33. The decor paper or the decor foil according to item 32, wherein the information is an ink load or gurley value associated with a respective printed motif.34. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of items 19-33, wherein the printable substrate is a paper sheet.35. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of items 19-34, wherein the printable substrate is a thermoplastic sheet.36. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of items 19-35, wherein the printable substrate with the printed motifs and corresponding indicia is wound up on a roll.37. A method for manufacturing a laminate panel (30, 90) including a top layer (32, 92) provided on a substrate (31, 91), the top layer including a printed decor (25, 85), the method comprising providing a printed substrate (2, 62) having a plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) and a plurality of indicia (20) that respectfully correspond to the plurality of printed motifs, wherein each indicium is embedded with information specific to each respective printed motif, detecting and extracting at least one indicium (20), andadjusting at least one process parameter based on the embedded information from the at least one indicium.38. The method according to item 37, wherein the embedded information is an ink load or a gurley value associated with a respective printed motif (16, 18).39. The method according to item 37 or 38, further comprising moving the printed substrate across an optical scanner (50, 110) to detect and extract the at least one indicium (20).40. The method according to any one of items 37-39, wherein the printed substrate is a decor paper (2) having a paper sheet substrate (4) provided with the printed motifs (16, 18) and the indicia (20).41. The method according to item 40, further comprising unwinding the decor paper (2) from a supply roll (28), feeding the decor paper (2) to an impregnation station (8, 10) where the decor paper (2) is immersed in a bath (9, 11) of resin (6), and feeding the decor paper (2) to heating equipment (14) to dry the decor paper (2).42. The method according to item 41, wherein adjusting the at least one process parameter changes a resin load applied at the impregnation station (8, 10) and / or drying conditions at the heating equipment (14).43. The method according to item 42, wherein the at least one process parameter is a speed of an impregnation channel, a viscosity of the resin, a pressure of impregnation, a temperature of the resin, a temperature of the heating equipment, an amount of time in the heating equipment, and / or a hot air volume displacement rate.44. The method according to item 41 , further comprising transporting the decor paper (2) across an optical scanner (50) to detect and extract the at least one indicium (20), sending the embedded information to a control unit (52) that is coupled to the impregnation station (8, 10) and the heating equipment (14), wherein the control unit(52) adjusts process parameters associated with the impregnation stations (8, 10) and / or the heating equipment (14) based on the embedded information received from the optical scanner (50).45. The method according to any one of items 37-39, wherein the printed substrate is a decor foil (62) having a thermoplastic sheet substrate (64) provided with the printed motifs (16, 18) and the indicia (20).46. The method according to item 45, further comprising unwinding the decor foil (62) from a supply roll (88), feeding the decor foil (62) to a lamination station (68) including lamination rollers (69) where the decor foil (62) is laminated to a protective sheet (65).47. The method according to item 46, wherein adjusting the at least one process parameter changes lamination conditions at the lamination station (68).48. The method according to item 47, wherein the at least one process parameter is a transport speed of the decor foil (62) through the lamination station (68), a temperature of the lamination rollers (69), a pressure applied by the lamination rollers (69), and / or the number of lamination roller (69) that are active.49. The method according to item 46, further comprising transporting the decor foil (62) across an optical scanner (110) to detect and extract the at least one indicium (20), sending the embedded information to a control unit (112) that is coupled to the lamination station (68), wherein the control unit (112) adjusts process parameters associated with the lamination station (68) based on the embedded information received from the optical scanner (110).50. A method for manufacturing a laminate panel (30, 90) including a top layer (32, 92) with a printed decor (25, 85), the method comprising providing the top layer (32, 92), providing a relief in a surface of the top layer (32, 92), the relief being in register with the printed decor (25, 85), wherein the relief includes an indicium (48, 108) in the formof a topology that represents information specific to the laminate panel (30, 90), wherein the indicium (48, 108) is detectable and extractable from the relief using an optical scanner based on a difference in gloss degree between the indicium (48, 108) and the surface surrounding the indicium (48, 108).51. The method according to item 50, wherein the indicium (48, 108) is superposed above the printed decor (25, 85).52. The method according to item 50 or 51, wherein the information includes materials in the laminate panel, trace information, installation instructions, and / or maintenance instructions.53. The method according to any one of item 50-52, wherein providing the top layer (32, 92) involves laminating a wear layer (44, 65) onto a printed substrate (2, 62), and wherein the method comprises providing the indicium (48, 108) in the wear layer (44, 65).54. The method according to item 53, wherein the indicium (48, 108) is provided by pressing a structured press plate (41) or a structured lamination roller (69) against the wear layer (44, 65).55. A laminate panel (30, 90) comprising a substrate (31, 91), a top layer (32, 92) provided on the substrate (31, 91), the top layer including a printed decor (25, 85), a first indicium (48, 108) provided in a surface of the top layer, wherein the first indicium (48, 108) is superposed above the printed decor (25, 85) and is in the form of a topology that represents information specific to the laminate panel (30, 90), and a second indicium provided in an opposite surface of the laminate panel (30, 90) that faces away from the top layer, wherein each of the first and the second indicia are detectable and extractable using an optical scanner to provide information specific to the laminate panel (30, 90).

Claims

Claims1. A method for manufacturing a decor paper or foil a decor foil, the method comprising providing a printable substrate (4, 64), providing a plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) on the printable substrate (4, 64), wherein the printed motifs are sequentially printed in a longitudinal direction of the printable substrate, providing a plurality of indicia (20) on the printable substrate that respectfully correspond to the plurality of printed motifs.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicia (20) and the printed motifs (16, 18) are provided using an inkjet printer (24, 84).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising forming a technical area (17) between adjacent printed motifs (16, 18), and printing an indicium in each technical area.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein each technical area (17) includes only one indicium (20).

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each technical area (17) extends in a width direction of the printable substrate (4, 64).

6. The method according to any one of claims 3-5, wherein each technical area (17) is an unprinted area on the printable substrate (4, 64).

7. The method according to any one of claims 3-6, wherein each indicium (20) corresponds to a previously printed motif relative to a printing direction (D).

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicia (20) are printed within the corresponding printed motifs (16, 18).

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the indicia (20) are printed with invisible inks.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) are contiguous in a printing direction (D).

11. The method according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein each indicium (20) is provided on a trailing end of a respective corresponding printed motif relative to a printing direction (D).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the indicia (20) are provided in the form of a printed mark, a printed barcode or QR code, a lasered code, or a watermark.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the indicia (20) are detectable and extractable using an optical scanner.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each indicium (20) is embedded with information specific to each respective printed motif.

15. The method according to claiml4, wherein the information is an ink load or gurley value associated with a respective printed motif.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the printable substrate is a paper sheet.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the printable substrate is a thermoplastic sheet.

18. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the printable substrate is unwound from a starting roll, printed upon, and then wound onto a second roll.

19. A decor paper or a decor foil comprising a printable substrate (4, 64), a plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) provided on the printable substrate (4, 64), wherein the printed motifs are sequentially located along a longitudinal direction of the printable substrate, and a plurality of indicia (20) provided on the printable substrate that respectfully correspond to the plurality of printed motifs.

20. The decor paper or the decor foil according to claim 19, wherein the indicia (20) and the printed motifs (16, 18) are provided using an inkjet printer (24, 84).

21. The decor paper or the decor foil according to claim 19 or 20, further comprising a plurality of technical areas (17) respectively situated between adjacent printed motifs (16, 18), wherein an indicium is located in each technical area.

22. The decor paper or the decor foil according to claim 21, wherein each technical area (17) includes only one indicium (20).

23. The decor paper or the decor foil according to claim 21 or 22, wherein each technical area (17) extends in a width direction of the printable substrate (4, 64).

24. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of claims 21-23, wherein each technical area (17) is an unprinted area on the printable substrate (4, 64).

25. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of claims 21-24, wherein each indicium (20) corresponds to an immediately adjacent printed motif.

26. The decor paper or the decor foil according to claim 19, wherein the indicia (20) are printed within the corresponding printed motifs (16, 18).

27. The decor paper or the decor foil according to claim 26, wherein the indicia (20) are printed with invisible inks.

28. The decor paper or the decor foil according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the plurality of printed motifs (16, 18) are contiguous in a printing direction (D).

29. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of claims 26-28, wherein each indicium (20) is provided on an end portion of a respective corresponding printed motif.

30. The decor paper or the decor foil according to any one of claims 19-29, wherein each of the indicia (20) is a printed mark, a printed barcode or QR code, a lasered code, or a watermark.

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