CA1116990A - Manufacture of signs - Google Patents
Manufacture of signsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1116990A CA1116990A CA000312627A CA312627A CA1116990A CA 1116990 A CA1116990 A CA 1116990A CA 000312627 A CA000312627 A CA 000312627A CA 312627 A CA312627 A CA 312627A CA 1116990 A CA1116990 A CA 1116990A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- indicia
- sheet
- sign
- temporary support
- support sheet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
- B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
- B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
- B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like
- B44C1/162—Decalcomanias with a transfer layer comprising indicia with definite outlines such as letters and with means facilitating the desired fitting to the permanent base
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
- B41M3/12—Transfer pictures or the like, e.g. decalcomanias
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
- B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
- B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
- B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like
- B44C1/165—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like for decalcomanias; sheet material therefor
- B44C1/17—Dry transfer
- B44C1/1712—Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
- B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
- B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
- B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like
- B44C1/165—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like for decalcomanias; sheet material therefor
- B44C1/17—Dry transfer
- B44C1/1712—Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive
- B44C1/1725—Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive using an intermediate support
Landscapes
- Decoration By Transfer Pictures (AREA)
- Printing Methods (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE
A method of making a sign is described which comprises taking a transfer material and a temporary support sheet, the transfer material comprising a transparent or translu-cent carrier sheet bearing on one side a plurality of transferable indicia, which are either sufficiently adhesive as such to enable their transfer to the support sheet or which bear a layer of adhesive on their face remote from the carrier sheet, or which are non adhesive but transferable by virtue of a coating of adhesive on the temporary support sheet, the adhesive if cresent being adapted to adhere the indicia to the temporary support sheet more strongly than they adhere to the carrier sheet, and wherein the material of the indicia is adhesive under the application of heat and pressure, transferring indicia from the transfer material to the temporary support sheet in the desired order to build up the desired legend for the sign, and applying the transferred indicia under heat and pressure to the surface of a transparent or translucent sheet, e.g. of acrylic plastics, to form the sign. After such transfer the indicia may be overcoated, e.g. with a contrasting colour background. The legend is read through the transparent or translucent sheet which protects it against abrasion or other damage.
A method of making a sign is described which comprises taking a transfer material and a temporary support sheet, the transfer material comprising a transparent or translu-cent carrier sheet bearing on one side a plurality of transferable indicia, which are either sufficiently adhesive as such to enable their transfer to the support sheet or which bear a layer of adhesive on their face remote from the carrier sheet, or which are non adhesive but transferable by virtue of a coating of adhesive on the temporary support sheet, the adhesive if cresent being adapted to adhere the indicia to the temporary support sheet more strongly than they adhere to the carrier sheet, and wherein the material of the indicia is adhesive under the application of heat and pressure, transferring indicia from the transfer material to the temporary support sheet in the desired order to build up the desired legend for the sign, and applying the transferred indicia under heat and pressure to the surface of a transparent or translucent sheet, e.g. of acrylic plastics, to form the sign. After such transfer the indicia may be overcoated, e.g. with a contrasting colour background. The legend is read through the transparent or translucent sheet which protects it against abrasion or other damage.
Description
~1~6~90 This invention relates to sign manufacture and particularly to sign manufacturing using transfer materials.
Dry transfer lettering materials have been known for many years and are described for example in British Patent Specifications 959610 and 954459. Such dry transfer materials conventionally consist of a flexible, transparent or translucent plastics film on which are arranged a plurality of transferably indicia, usually alphabetic letters, numbers and punctuation marks. On top of each indicium is a coating of adhesive which enables the indicium to be transferred from the carrier sheet and adhered to a receptor surface. In order to facilitate such transfer, the relative mechanical characteristics of the indicium and the carrier sheet may be so chosen that the bond between the carrier sheet and the indicium may be weakened or broken by local stretching of the carrier sheet effected by rubbing over the back of the carrier sheet in the region of an indicium with a suitable stylus. This system is described in Specification 959670.
Such dry transfer materials have been used widely for some years in various applications. Because of the relatively fragile nature of the ink film of which the indicia are composed, such materials are generally unsuited for the production of signs which may be exposed to the weather, cleaning by detergent solutions or the like and accordingly in the manufacture of signs, where it is desired to use preformed lettering rather than hand-printed lettering, there ' , ' ' ::
.
_ 3 _ 1~169~
has been a tendency to use die-cut vinyl letter rather than dry transfer lettering. Dry transfer lettering may be used in constructing a composite sign where the lettering is over-laid by a protective sheet e.g. the lettering on a suitable carrier such as paper may be inserted in a frame and pro-tected by a glass or plastics cover through which the lettering is visible. Such systems are generally unsatisfactory and tend sometimes to be unsightly.
We have now found that visually much more pleasing signs which have the advantage of high durability may be pro-duced using a special dual-purpose transfer material.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of making a sign using a transfer material, which method comprises taking a transfer material and a temporary support sheet, the transfer material comprising a light transmitting carrier sheet bearing on one side a plurality of transferable indicia, transferring the indicia by applving the transfer material to the temporary support sheet, applying pressure to the carrier sheet in the region of each desired indicium and peeling away the carrier sheet to leave the indicium adhered to the temporary support sheet in the desired order to build up the desired legend for the sign, bringing the so transferred indicia into contact with the surface of a light-transmitting sign sheet, and applying heat and pressure to the assembly of temporary support sheet and sign sheet, the formulation of the material from which the indicia are made being such that, on removal of the support sheet, the indicia remain on the sign sheet.
Thus in particular the transfer material comprises a transparent or translucent carrier sheet bearing on one side a plurality of transferable indicia, which are either - ~ - ;
~116990 inherently su~ficiently adhesive -to enable their transfer to the support sheet or which each bear a layer of adhesi-~e on their face ren!ote from the carrier sheet or which are non adhesive but transferable by virtue o~ a coating of 5 adhesive on the temporary support sheet, the adhesive i~
present being adapted to adhere the indicia to the temporary support sheet more s-trongly than they adhere -to the carrier sheet~ and wherein the material of the indicia is adhesive under the application of heat and pressure.
The hea-t and pressure should be sufficient -to cause the indicia -to adhere to the ligh-t transmi-tting (transparent or translucent) sign sheet more s-trongly -than they are adhered -to the temporary support sheet. The temporary support shee-t can -then be stripped away and if desi.red -the 15 indicia covered by a layer of suitable material, e.g. paint, which accordingly consti-tutes a background -to the indicia in the sign as viewed The background may also be pro~i.ded by a coloured paper or ~oil adh~red o~er the ind:icla or held agains-t them. Al~ernati~ely, the layer may be provided by 20 transferring a cGIoured 1.ayer ~rom a blocking foil under pressure and, if neG~ssary~ heating.
Because, und~r the ~ction of the heat and pressure, the indicia come into intimate contact with the surface o~
the transparen~ or translucent sign shee-t, that sur~ace is 25-totall.y "we-tted" and the indicia appear op-tically dense and perIectly flat. The indicia in the sign are protected by the transparent or -translucent sheet through wi.lich they are viewed, which may accordingly be chosen for that purpose.
The transparent or translucent sheet may be of glass but is 5 preferabl,y of a plastics ma-terial e.g. an acrylic plastics ma-terial; most preferred are polyvinylchloride, cellulose triac,etate and polymethylrnetl1acryla-te e.~. those sold under the Registered. Trade Marks PEP~SPEX and PLEXIGLAS.
~he property of the indicia that they s~lould be 10 adhesiv~ under t,he action of heat and pressure may be impa.rted to the indicia e.g. by constructing them on a basis of a the ~ plastic polymeric material which softens to tacky adhesive condition on the appl.ication of heat.
Alternati.vely a thermosettable material which likewise 15 softens initially on heatin~ may be used as a base material. In such a case, the finished sign may be rendered exceptionally heat-stable by heati.ng after its manufacture so as to cure the thermo~st,ta~)le base - to ~'hard thermoset film adherent to the trar.sp~rent 2C or translucent sheet. ~he ind.icia may thus be re~arded as bcin~ formed of a hot meIt or heat seal ad~h~sive to~ether with ~ su:itable pib~ment or dyes"uff tc render the area of the iudicium visible.
Preferabl,y ~1~ tranQfer material used in the 25 method of the present invention is constructed generally as a d.r~y tran~fer ma-terial of the stretch release t~pe g~
i.e. as described in British Patent Specification 959670.
The indicia are preferably formed by screen printing using an appropriate printing ink and subsequently the whole printed area of the sheet including the spaces between the indicia is supercoated with a substantially non-tacky pressure sensitive adhesive. The indicia may also be formed, in known fashion, by printing an indicium area in a colourless carrier film and a visible image in coloured ink. The film may be printed by screen printing and the visible image by e.g. gravure, letterpress or lithographic printing, either before or after the film is printed. Sub-stantially non-tacky pressure-sensitive adhesives are generally not particularly strong, and indeed use may have to ~e made of the stretch release technique mentioned above in order to ensure that a relatively weak adhesive has sufficient pu].ling power to remove the indicia from the carrier sheet when the dry transfer material is used. The fact that the bond produced by heat and pressure between the indicia and the transparent or translucent sheet through which they are to be viewed is generally very much stronger than the adhesive bond produced by the adhesive of the transfer material or on the temporary support sheet enahles the temporary support sheet on to which the indicia were originally transferred when the message or the like was being composed to be peeled away, either hot or cold, to leave the indicia firmly adherent to the transparent or translucent sign sheet.
1~ 90 The individual components of the preferred dry transfer materials for use in the method of the invention will now be described in detail.
CARRIER SHEET:
The carrier sheet of the transfer material of the present invention may be any of those conventionally used in the manufacture of dry transfer lettering sheets.
Transparent or translucent plastics films are preferred, most preferably polyethylene, styrene/butadiene copolymers, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate films. Coated papers may also be used. The thickness of the film is preferably 0.1 to 0.15 mm.
The carrier sheet may have a release coating on the surface carrying the indicia.
INDICIA:
The indicia may be formed of a printing ink based on a film forming polymeric thermoplastic material. Both plastisol and organosol inks may be used and inks may be used which while based on the thermosetting polymeric materials have an adequate content of modifying agents to give the overall indicia thermoplastic heat seal or hot melt adhesive properties. For example, inks based on nitrocellulose may be given thermoplastic heat seal properties by a suitable choice of plasticiser; polymeric plasticisers, used at a sufficiently high level, impart the desired properties while still enabling the indicia to be printed without difficulty, and enabling the production of dry transfer materials 1~116990 working by so-called "stretch release", as described in British Patent Specification 959670. The indicia may be simply applied by a single printing process or they may be built up in a number of layers, which may vary, and which 5 are applied by successive printing processes. Alternatively, it is possible to produce appropriate indicia photographically by modifying one of the known photographic methods of producing dry transfer materials. Such methods are described inter alia in British Patent Specifications 1079661, 1291960 and 1364627. The melting or softening point of the indicia should be chosen with care and particularly having regard to the types of transparent or translucent sheet on to which the indicia are to be adhered.
ADHESIVE:
As noted in the above, the adhesive is preferably of a substantially non-tacky pressure sensitive type.
Preferred adhesives consist of a highly tacky polymeric component such as polyisobutylene, polyvinyl ethyl ether, polyvinyl isobutyl ether, or a mixture containing one or more of these toyether with a tack-modifying or tack-reducing component. Typical tack-reducing components are finely divided mineral materials, particularly finely divided silica and waxy materials such as natural or synthetic waxes.
The formulation of the inks constituting the indicia may be chosen relative to the intended use of the material. For example, if it is desired to use the .
, 1~699~
material in the manufacture of signs which are to consist of a sheet of acrylic plastics through which the indicia are to be viewed, the indicia may be formulated so as to be compatible chemically with the material of the transparent or translucent sheet. Likewise, if the transparent or translucent sheet is of polyvinylchloride, the ink may be chosen to give an ink which is compatible therewith and can be easily heat sealed on to such a surface with visually satisfactory results. Types of plastics sheets which may be used in the manufacture of signs include polymethylmethacrylate sheets of the types noted above, polyvinylchloride sheets, polystyrene sheets, polyethylene and polypropylene sheets, polycarbonate sheets and cellulose triacetate sheets.
Suitable materials for the temporary support sheets are plastics films such as polyethylene terephthalate sheet, various treated papers, and, for example, aluminium foil.
Such temporary support material should of course by able to withstand the heat applied during the step of adhering the indicia to the transparent or translucent sheet under heat and pressure. Likewise, the adhesive forminy part of the transfer material of the present invention should not be adversely affected by the heat and pressure used to adhere the indic.ia to the surface of the transparent or translucent sheet. In particular, the adhesive should not melt at too low a temperature, which would give rise to slippage between the indicia and temporary support sheet during the 1~16990 heat transfer step. Particularly preferred adhesives comprise a highly tacky thermoplastic polymeric component together with an appropriate quantity of a finely divided silica to reduce the overall tack of the adhesive.
~he adhesive is preferably solvent soluble in a non-solvent for the transparent or translucent sheet.
This enables any residues of adhesive to be clearly cleaned off the sign, so producing a clean finish. It is particularly important to remove such residues if the indicia are to be overcoated with a sprayed paint coating. In the Examples given below, the adhesives can be dissolved in hexane or heptane.
If an error is made, it is preferable to enable the transferred indicia to be removable either from the temporary support sheet or from the transparent or trans-lucent base sheet by solvent action also. The indicia in the examples below may be removed by dissolving in industrial methylated spirits.
If the transparent or translucent sheet on to which the indicia are to be transferred is very thin, e.g.
is a thin plastics foil, that sheet may be backed up during the heat transfer step by a suitable rigid backing.
The following examples will serve to illustrate the invention. In these examples all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated.
~699~1 E~AMPLE 1 A printing ink was formulated as follows:
A mixture was made up of:
methylmethacrylate copolymer 20 parts ethylene glycol ethylether acetate 68 parts and polyvinylchloride, polyvinylacetate copolymer*(Vinylite VYHH ex. 11 parts *Bakelitel 43 parts by weight of this mixture were then triple roll milled together with 9 parts by weight of aniline black pigment, 0.2 parts by weight of fumed silica (*Aerosil 300 ex. Degussa) and 3.8 parts by weight ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate. Milling was continued to Hegman Gauge 7.
Thereafter, 24 further parts by weight of the mixture, 10 parts by weight of a 40~ by weight solution of methyl methacrylate/butyl methacrylate copolymer (*Paraloid B66 ex. Rohm and Haas) in ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate and 10 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate copolymer solution (40% by weight *Paraloid B82 ex. Rohm and Haas in ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate) were added and the mixture stirred to homogeneity.
The black ink so made was used to print letters onto 150 micron thick sheets of high density polyethylene.
Silk screen process printi~g was ~se~, pril~ting being through a 240 mesh screen. The printed images were dried on a belt drier for 30 seconds dwell time at 60C.
; * trade mark ~69~0 An adhesive was made up as follows:
The following ingredients were stirred together in the proportions by weight given:
Fumed silica (*Aerosil R972 ex. Degussa) 8.0 parts Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (*Exsol 145/160, ex. Esso) 48.0 parts Polyisobutylene solution (Low molecular weight Oppanol B10 ex. BASF 30% by weight solids solution in *Exsol 145/160) 7.7 parts Polyisobutylene solution (High molecular weight *Oppanol B50 ex. BASF 20% by weight solution in Exsol 145/160)20.0 parts Polybutene (Low molecular weight *Hyvis 10. Ex. B.P. Chemicals Ltd.)13.8 parts The last ingredient was added to the others while hot stirring at 50 to 60C.
99.0 parts by weight of a 10% by weight solution of polyethylene wax was then added. The polyethylene wax was type ACP6 ex. Allied Chemicals Limited and the solvent was Exsol 145/160.
Finally, a molten 50% by wei~ght solution of a fatty amide (*Oleamide, *Crodamide O ex. Croda Chemicals) in Exsol 145/160 was added and stirring continued to produce a homogeneous adhesive.
This adhesive was applied by screen printing an overall layer through a 240 mesh screen onto the previously printed polyethyle!ne sheets. The adhesive coating was dried by passing the sheets through a belt dryer at a 30 second dwell time at 65C. The transfer sheets so produced were protected by interleaving with siliconised vegetable parchment paper sheets.
* Trademark Using the transfer materials so produced in the usual way, a word was built up from individual letters on a 50 micron thick sheet of polyethylene terephthalate film (*Melinex ex. I.C.I.). The film bearing the letters was then passed with the letters in contact with a 2mm sheet of polymethyl methacrylate (*Perspex ex ICI Limited) through a heated nip. The temperature of the nip rolls was 170C and the assembly was passed between them at a rate of 4m/minute.
The polyethylene terephthalate sheet was then peeled away from the polymethyl methacrylate sheet to leave the letters firmly adherent to the surface of the polymethyl methacrylate sheet and the right way round then viewed through that sheet. The slide of the sheet bearing the letters was then oversprayed with spray paint to give a sign in which the black letters stood out clearly against the coloured paint background and which had a generally pleasing appearance.
The following ingredients were mixed together in the following proportions by weight:
Rutile titanium dioxide (grade R-HD3 ex.
British Titan Products)29 parts Copolymer mixture (as in Example 1) 43 parts Fumed silica (Aerosil 300 ex. Degussa) 0.2 parts Ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate 7.8 parts This mixture was dispersed on a triple roll mill until a fineness of 7 on a Hegman Gauge was achieved and there was then added 10 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate ~' *Trademark :, : .
11~6~9(:~
butyl methacrylate copolymer solution (as in Example 1) and 10 parts by weight of a methyl methacrylate copolymer solution (as in Example 1).
Dry transfer sheets were prepared by printing this ink as in Example 1 onto 150 micron thick high density poly-ethylene sheets and subsequently drying and adhesing those sheets exactly as in Example 1.
Words were made up using these sheets in the usual way by transferring individual letters onto 50 micron polyethylene terephthalate sheets. The sheet bearing the words was then passed together with a lmm thick transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet through a heated nip. The nip temperature was 120C and the polyethylene terephthalate and PVC sheet were passed through at a speed of 4m/minute. After passing through the nip, the polyethylene terephthalate sheet could be peeled away to leave the white letters adhered to the PVC sheet. The side of the PVC sheet bearing the letters was then sprayed over with black cellulose lacquer and air dried.
The resulting sign was of pleasing appearance.
It was found that higher operating speeds could be used in conjunction with higher nip temperatures, for example a nip temperature of 160C and a pass speed of 9m/minute.
If high temperatures are used with low speeds, there is a tendency to distortion of the PVC sheet.
The black ink of Example 1 was used to print indicia on 100 micron high density polyethylene sheets by screen printing using a 61T mesh.
9~
The indicia so printed were overprinted in register using colourless carrier film of the following formulation:
Fumed silica (Aerosil 130V ex Degussa) 2.8 parts Polymeric plasticiser (*Uralac 923/68 ex Synthetic Resins Ltd) 30.0 parts Monomeric plasticiser (*Howflex SP
ex Laporte) 3.7 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate 99.5 parts Cellulose nitrate (33% DHX 3/5 in butanol) 63.9 parts After each printing, the sheets were belt dried with a 40 second clwell time at 85C.
The sheets were then overprinted overall with an adhesive of the following formulation:
Fumed silica (Aerosil 300 ex Degussa) 8.8 parts Aliphati.c hydrocarbon solvent (ECS 2033 ex Esso) 76.9 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 26.0 parts Xylene 10.3 parts Po].yviny~l ethyl ether (low viscosity ex Uni.on Carbide) 16.0 parts Polyvinyl ethyl ether (high viscosity ex Union Carbide) 2.0 parts Polyterpene resin (A125 ex R.H. Cole Co.) 3.2 par~s The adhe!sive was printed through a lOOT mesh and subsequently dried by passing the transfer materials through a belt dryer with a 40 second dwell time at 85C.
* Trademark ~\~
~1~6~gO
The transfer material so made was used to build up words on 50 micron thick polyethylene terephthalate sheets (*Melinex Grade S ex. I.C.I.) and the legend so formed placed in contact with polymethyl methacrylate sheets 2mm thick. The assembly of polymethyl methacrylate sheet and letter bearing polyethylene terephthalate sheet was then passed through a heated nip. The nip was heated to 180C and speed was 8 m/min. The polyethylene terephthalate sheet could then be peeled away to leave the letters firmly adhering to the polymethyl methacrylate sheet.
In order to show up those letters, the polymethyl methacrylate sheet was then backed with a backing of retro-reflective material (e.g. *Scotchlite ex 3M Company or a microbead-containing paint~ to form, when framed, a vehicle identification plate or so-called "numberplate", which was of pleasing appearance and very legible.
Example 1 was repeated but using white and black inks made up as follows:
First a base medium was made up by mixing together Poly methyl methacrylate *(Plexigum P 24. ex-Cornelius Chemical Co.) 90 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate 110 parts Di ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate 5 parts Aromatic hydrocarbon fraction boiling between 168 - 200C *(Aromasol H. ex-I.C.I.)10 parts * Trademark ~! ~
, . . . - , - . . . : . :
`: ~
~165~
This base medium was then used to make up ink(s) of the following formulation:
Base medium 215 parts Butyl phthallyl butyl glycollate *(Reomol 4PG. ex - CIBA-GEIGY) 9 parts Amide Wax *(Dehysol wax) 2.6 parts Titanium dioxide (Rutile grade RH472 68 parts ex-Laporte) or Carbon black *(Elftex 150 ex-Cabot carbon) 14 parts The ingredients were premixed using a palette knife and then ground on a triple roller mill to ~egman gauge 7 degree of fineness.
The ink~s) thus produced were used as in Examples 1 and 4 for making signs and numberplates; similar satisfactory results were obtained.
If it is desired to use very fine detail indicia, the indicia may be printed in two stages: first a general area is printed using an ink as noted above but not containing pigment to depos:it: a colourless carrier film. Thereafter, the fine detail :indicia are printed on the area with the coloured ink. A:Lt:ernatively the indicia may be printed first and then overprinted with clear film area. Because the colourless carrier film is based on an acrylic polymer it does not adversely affect the appearance of the finished sign.
Example 1 was repeated using black and white inks of the following composition, and using an adhesive as set out below:
~ I
ll~G~90 White Ink %
Cellulose nitrate (33~ n-butanol damped in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate)48.3 Polymeric Plasticiser (Paraplex G25 ex Rohm & Haas) 14.0 Titanium Dioxide 30-0 Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (oxitol~7.7 The ink was triple roll milled to Hegman 7 and the final viscosity was adjusted for printing with oxitol acetate.
Black Ink Cellulose nitrate (33% n-butanol damped in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate)62.5 Polymeric Plasticiser *(Paraplex G25 ex Rohm & Haas). 16.5 Carbon Black 7.5 Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 9.5 Dehysol wax (ex Henkel & Cie GmbH) ) flow 2.0 *Modaflow (ex Monsanto Chemicals Ltd)) agents 2.0 The ink was triple roll milled to Hegman 7 and the final viscosity adjusted for printing with oxitol acetate.
Adhesive %
Fumed silica (Aerosil R972 ex Degussa) 4.0 Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (Exsol 145/160 ex Esso) 17.2 oleamide (Crodamide '0' ex Croda Chemicals Limited) 10.12 Polyisobutylene solution (low molecular weight Oppanol B10 ex BASF 50% by weight in Exsol 145/160) 2.33 ,~
* Trademark .~ -6~9~
Adhesive %
Polyisobutylene solution (High molecular weight Oppanol B50 ex BASF 20% by weight in Exsol 145/160) 10.00 Polybutene (Medium molecular weight Hyvis 30 ex B.P. Chemicals Ltd.) 6.89 Polyethylene wax solution (Type ACP6 ex Allied Chemicals Ltd. 10% by weight dispersed in Exsol 145/160). 49.46 Similar very satisfactory results were obtained.
Dry transfer lettering materials have been known for many years and are described for example in British Patent Specifications 959610 and 954459. Such dry transfer materials conventionally consist of a flexible, transparent or translucent plastics film on which are arranged a plurality of transferably indicia, usually alphabetic letters, numbers and punctuation marks. On top of each indicium is a coating of adhesive which enables the indicium to be transferred from the carrier sheet and adhered to a receptor surface. In order to facilitate such transfer, the relative mechanical characteristics of the indicium and the carrier sheet may be so chosen that the bond between the carrier sheet and the indicium may be weakened or broken by local stretching of the carrier sheet effected by rubbing over the back of the carrier sheet in the region of an indicium with a suitable stylus. This system is described in Specification 959670.
Such dry transfer materials have been used widely for some years in various applications. Because of the relatively fragile nature of the ink film of which the indicia are composed, such materials are generally unsuited for the production of signs which may be exposed to the weather, cleaning by detergent solutions or the like and accordingly in the manufacture of signs, where it is desired to use preformed lettering rather than hand-printed lettering, there ' , ' ' ::
.
_ 3 _ 1~169~
has been a tendency to use die-cut vinyl letter rather than dry transfer lettering. Dry transfer lettering may be used in constructing a composite sign where the lettering is over-laid by a protective sheet e.g. the lettering on a suitable carrier such as paper may be inserted in a frame and pro-tected by a glass or plastics cover through which the lettering is visible. Such systems are generally unsatisfactory and tend sometimes to be unsightly.
We have now found that visually much more pleasing signs which have the advantage of high durability may be pro-duced using a special dual-purpose transfer material.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of making a sign using a transfer material, which method comprises taking a transfer material and a temporary support sheet, the transfer material comprising a light transmitting carrier sheet bearing on one side a plurality of transferable indicia, transferring the indicia by applving the transfer material to the temporary support sheet, applying pressure to the carrier sheet in the region of each desired indicium and peeling away the carrier sheet to leave the indicium adhered to the temporary support sheet in the desired order to build up the desired legend for the sign, bringing the so transferred indicia into contact with the surface of a light-transmitting sign sheet, and applying heat and pressure to the assembly of temporary support sheet and sign sheet, the formulation of the material from which the indicia are made being such that, on removal of the support sheet, the indicia remain on the sign sheet.
Thus in particular the transfer material comprises a transparent or translucent carrier sheet bearing on one side a plurality of transferable indicia, which are either - ~ - ;
~116990 inherently su~ficiently adhesive -to enable their transfer to the support sheet or which each bear a layer of adhesi-~e on their face ren!ote from the carrier sheet or which are non adhesive but transferable by virtue o~ a coating of 5 adhesive on the temporary support sheet, the adhesive i~
present being adapted to adhere the indicia to the temporary support sheet more s-trongly than they adhere -to the carrier sheet~ and wherein the material of the indicia is adhesive under the application of heat and pressure.
The hea-t and pressure should be sufficient -to cause the indicia -to adhere to the ligh-t transmi-tting (transparent or translucent) sign sheet more s-trongly -than they are adhered -to the temporary support sheet. The temporary support shee-t can -then be stripped away and if desi.red -the 15 indicia covered by a layer of suitable material, e.g. paint, which accordingly consti-tutes a background -to the indicia in the sign as viewed The background may also be pro~i.ded by a coloured paper or ~oil adh~red o~er the ind:icla or held agains-t them. Al~ernati~ely, the layer may be provided by 20 transferring a cGIoured 1.ayer ~rom a blocking foil under pressure and, if neG~ssary~ heating.
Because, und~r the ~ction of the heat and pressure, the indicia come into intimate contact with the surface o~
the transparen~ or translucent sign shee-t, that sur~ace is 25-totall.y "we-tted" and the indicia appear op-tically dense and perIectly flat. The indicia in the sign are protected by the transparent or -translucent sheet through wi.lich they are viewed, which may accordingly be chosen for that purpose.
The transparent or translucent sheet may be of glass but is 5 preferabl,y of a plastics ma-terial e.g. an acrylic plastics ma-terial; most preferred are polyvinylchloride, cellulose triac,etate and polymethylrnetl1acryla-te e.~. those sold under the Registered. Trade Marks PEP~SPEX and PLEXIGLAS.
~he property of the indicia that they s~lould be 10 adhesiv~ under t,he action of heat and pressure may be impa.rted to the indicia e.g. by constructing them on a basis of a the ~ plastic polymeric material which softens to tacky adhesive condition on the appl.ication of heat.
Alternati.vely a thermosettable material which likewise 15 softens initially on heatin~ may be used as a base material. In such a case, the finished sign may be rendered exceptionally heat-stable by heati.ng after its manufacture so as to cure the thermo~st,ta~)le base - to ~'hard thermoset film adherent to the trar.sp~rent 2C or translucent sheet. ~he ind.icia may thus be re~arded as bcin~ formed of a hot meIt or heat seal ad~h~sive to~ether with ~ su:itable pib~ment or dyes"uff tc render the area of the iudicium visible.
Preferabl,y ~1~ tranQfer material used in the 25 method of the present invention is constructed generally as a d.r~y tran~fer ma-terial of the stretch release t~pe g~
i.e. as described in British Patent Specification 959670.
The indicia are preferably formed by screen printing using an appropriate printing ink and subsequently the whole printed area of the sheet including the spaces between the indicia is supercoated with a substantially non-tacky pressure sensitive adhesive. The indicia may also be formed, in known fashion, by printing an indicium area in a colourless carrier film and a visible image in coloured ink. The film may be printed by screen printing and the visible image by e.g. gravure, letterpress or lithographic printing, either before or after the film is printed. Sub-stantially non-tacky pressure-sensitive adhesives are generally not particularly strong, and indeed use may have to ~e made of the stretch release technique mentioned above in order to ensure that a relatively weak adhesive has sufficient pu].ling power to remove the indicia from the carrier sheet when the dry transfer material is used. The fact that the bond produced by heat and pressure between the indicia and the transparent or translucent sheet through which they are to be viewed is generally very much stronger than the adhesive bond produced by the adhesive of the transfer material or on the temporary support sheet enahles the temporary support sheet on to which the indicia were originally transferred when the message or the like was being composed to be peeled away, either hot or cold, to leave the indicia firmly adherent to the transparent or translucent sign sheet.
1~ 90 The individual components of the preferred dry transfer materials for use in the method of the invention will now be described in detail.
CARRIER SHEET:
The carrier sheet of the transfer material of the present invention may be any of those conventionally used in the manufacture of dry transfer lettering sheets.
Transparent or translucent plastics films are preferred, most preferably polyethylene, styrene/butadiene copolymers, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate films. Coated papers may also be used. The thickness of the film is preferably 0.1 to 0.15 mm.
The carrier sheet may have a release coating on the surface carrying the indicia.
INDICIA:
The indicia may be formed of a printing ink based on a film forming polymeric thermoplastic material. Both plastisol and organosol inks may be used and inks may be used which while based on the thermosetting polymeric materials have an adequate content of modifying agents to give the overall indicia thermoplastic heat seal or hot melt adhesive properties. For example, inks based on nitrocellulose may be given thermoplastic heat seal properties by a suitable choice of plasticiser; polymeric plasticisers, used at a sufficiently high level, impart the desired properties while still enabling the indicia to be printed without difficulty, and enabling the production of dry transfer materials 1~116990 working by so-called "stretch release", as described in British Patent Specification 959670. The indicia may be simply applied by a single printing process or they may be built up in a number of layers, which may vary, and which 5 are applied by successive printing processes. Alternatively, it is possible to produce appropriate indicia photographically by modifying one of the known photographic methods of producing dry transfer materials. Such methods are described inter alia in British Patent Specifications 1079661, 1291960 and 1364627. The melting or softening point of the indicia should be chosen with care and particularly having regard to the types of transparent or translucent sheet on to which the indicia are to be adhered.
ADHESIVE:
As noted in the above, the adhesive is preferably of a substantially non-tacky pressure sensitive type.
Preferred adhesives consist of a highly tacky polymeric component such as polyisobutylene, polyvinyl ethyl ether, polyvinyl isobutyl ether, or a mixture containing one or more of these toyether with a tack-modifying or tack-reducing component. Typical tack-reducing components are finely divided mineral materials, particularly finely divided silica and waxy materials such as natural or synthetic waxes.
The formulation of the inks constituting the indicia may be chosen relative to the intended use of the material. For example, if it is desired to use the .
, 1~699~
material in the manufacture of signs which are to consist of a sheet of acrylic plastics through which the indicia are to be viewed, the indicia may be formulated so as to be compatible chemically with the material of the transparent or translucent sheet. Likewise, if the transparent or translucent sheet is of polyvinylchloride, the ink may be chosen to give an ink which is compatible therewith and can be easily heat sealed on to such a surface with visually satisfactory results. Types of plastics sheets which may be used in the manufacture of signs include polymethylmethacrylate sheets of the types noted above, polyvinylchloride sheets, polystyrene sheets, polyethylene and polypropylene sheets, polycarbonate sheets and cellulose triacetate sheets.
Suitable materials for the temporary support sheets are plastics films such as polyethylene terephthalate sheet, various treated papers, and, for example, aluminium foil.
Such temporary support material should of course by able to withstand the heat applied during the step of adhering the indicia to the transparent or translucent sheet under heat and pressure. Likewise, the adhesive forminy part of the transfer material of the present invention should not be adversely affected by the heat and pressure used to adhere the indic.ia to the surface of the transparent or translucent sheet. In particular, the adhesive should not melt at too low a temperature, which would give rise to slippage between the indicia and temporary support sheet during the 1~16990 heat transfer step. Particularly preferred adhesives comprise a highly tacky thermoplastic polymeric component together with an appropriate quantity of a finely divided silica to reduce the overall tack of the adhesive.
~he adhesive is preferably solvent soluble in a non-solvent for the transparent or translucent sheet.
This enables any residues of adhesive to be clearly cleaned off the sign, so producing a clean finish. It is particularly important to remove such residues if the indicia are to be overcoated with a sprayed paint coating. In the Examples given below, the adhesives can be dissolved in hexane or heptane.
If an error is made, it is preferable to enable the transferred indicia to be removable either from the temporary support sheet or from the transparent or trans-lucent base sheet by solvent action also. The indicia in the examples below may be removed by dissolving in industrial methylated spirits.
If the transparent or translucent sheet on to which the indicia are to be transferred is very thin, e.g.
is a thin plastics foil, that sheet may be backed up during the heat transfer step by a suitable rigid backing.
The following examples will serve to illustrate the invention. In these examples all parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise stated.
~699~1 E~AMPLE 1 A printing ink was formulated as follows:
A mixture was made up of:
methylmethacrylate copolymer 20 parts ethylene glycol ethylether acetate 68 parts and polyvinylchloride, polyvinylacetate copolymer*(Vinylite VYHH ex. 11 parts *Bakelitel 43 parts by weight of this mixture were then triple roll milled together with 9 parts by weight of aniline black pigment, 0.2 parts by weight of fumed silica (*Aerosil 300 ex. Degussa) and 3.8 parts by weight ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate. Milling was continued to Hegman Gauge 7.
Thereafter, 24 further parts by weight of the mixture, 10 parts by weight of a 40~ by weight solution of methyl methacrylate/butyl methacrylate copolymer (*Paraloid B66 ex. Rohm and Haas) in ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate and 10 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate copolymer solution (40% by weight *Paraloid B82 ex. Rohm and Haas in ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate) were added and the mixture stirred to homogeneity.
The black ink so made was used to print letters onto 150 micron thick sheets of high density polyethylene.
Silk screen process printi~g was ~se~, pril~ting being through a 240 mesh screen. The printed images were dried on a belt drier for 30 seconds dwell time at 60C.
; * trade mark ~69~0 An adhesive was made up as follows:
The following ingredients were stirred together in the proportions by weight given:
Fumed silica (*Aerosil R972 ex. Degussa) 8.0 parts Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (*Exsol 145/160, ex. Esso) 48.0 parts Polyisobutylene solution (Low molecular weight Oppanol B10 ex. BASF 30% by weight solids solution in *Exsol 145/160) 7.7 parts Polyisobutylene solution (High molecular weight *Oppanol B50 ex. BASF 20% by weight solution in Exsol 145/160)20.0 parts Polybutene (Low molecular weight *Hyvis 10. Ex. B.P. Chemicals Ltd.)13.8 parts The last ingredient was added to the others while hot stirring at 50 to 60C.
99.0 parts by weight of a 10% by weight solution of polyethylene wax was then added. The polyethylene wax was type ACP6 ex. Allied Chemicals Limited and the solvent was Exsol 145/160.
Finally, a molten 50% by wei~ght solution of a fatty amide (*Oleamide, *Crodamide O ex. Croda Chemicals) in Exsol 145/160 was added and stirring continued to produce a homogeneous adhesive.
This adhesive was applied by screen printing an overall layer through a 240 mesh screen onto the previously printed polyethyle!ne sheets. The adhesive coating was dried by passing the sheets through a belt dryer at a 30 second dwell time at 65C. The transfer sheets so produced were protected by interleaving with siliconised vegetable parchment paper sheets.
* Trademark Using the transfer materials so produced in the usual way, a word was built up from individual letters on a 50 micron thick sheet of polyethylene terephthalate film (*Melinex ex. I.C.I.). The film bearing the letters was then passed with the letters in contact with a 2mm sheet of polymethyl methacrylate (*Perspex ex ICI Limited) through a heated nip. The temperature of the nip rolls was 170C and the assembly was passed between them at a rate of 4m/minute.
The polyethylene terephthalate sheet was then peeled away from the polymethyl methacrylate sheet to leave the letters firmly adherent to the surface of the polymethyl methacrylate sheet and the right way round then viewed through that sheet. The slide of the sheet bearing the letters was then oversprayed with spray paint to give a sign in which the black letters stood out clearly against the coloured paint background and which had a generally pleasing appearance.
The following ingredients were mixed together in the following proportions by weight:
Rutile titanium dioxide (grade R-HD3 ex.
British Titan Products)29 parts Copolymer mixture (as in Example 1) 43 parts Fumed silica (Aerosil 300 ex. Degussa) 0.2 parts Ethylene glycol mono ethyl ether acetate 7.8 parts This mixture was dispersed on a triple roll mill until a fineness of 7 on a Hegman Gauge was achieved and there was then added 10 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate ~' *Trademark :, : .
11~6~9(:~
butyl methacrylate copolymer solution (as in Example 1) and 10 parts by weight of a methyl methacrylate copolymer solution (as in Example 1).
Dry transfer sheets were prepared by printing this ink as in Example 1 onto 150 micron thick high density poly-ethylene sheets and subsequently drying and adhesing those sheets exactly as in Example 1.
Words were made up using these sheets in the usual way by transferring individual letters onto 50 micron polyethylene terephthalate sheets. The sheet bearing the words was then passed together with a lmm thick transparent polyvinyl chloride sheet through a heated nip. The nip temperature was 120C and the polyethylene terephthalate and PVC sheet were passed through at a speed of 4m/minute. After passing through the nip, the polyethylene terephthalate sheet could be peeled away to leave the white letters adhered to the PVC sheet. The side of the PVC sheet bearing the letters was then sprayed over with black cellulose lacquer and air dried.
The resulting sign was of pleasing appearance.
It was found that higher operating speeds could be used in conjunction with higher nip temperatures, for example a nip temperature of 160C and a pass speed of 9m/minute.
If high temperatures are used with low speeds, there is a tendency to distortion of the PVC sheet.
The black ink of Example 1 was used to print indicia on 100 micron high density polyethylene sheets by screen printing using a 61T mesh.
9~
The indicia so printed were overprinted in register using colourless carrier film of the following formulation:
Fumed silica (Aerosil 130V ex Degussa) 2.8 parts Polymeric plasticiser (*Uralac 923/68 ex Synthetic Resins Ltd) 30.0 parts Monomeric plasticiser (*Howflex SP
ex Laporte) 3.7 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate 99.5 parts Cellulose nitrate (33% DHX 3/5 in butanol) 63.9 parts After each printing, the sheets were belt dried with a 40 second clwell time at 85C.
The sheets were then overprinted overall with an adhesive of the following formulation:
Fumed silica (Aerosil 300 ex Degussa) 8.8 parts Aliphati.c hydrocarbon solvent (ECS 2033 ex Esso) 76.9 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 26.0 parts Xylene 10.3 parts Po].yviny~l ethyl ether (low viscosity ex Uni.on Carbide) 16.0 parts Polyvinyl ethyl ether (high viscosity ex Union Carbide) 2.0 parts Polyterpene resin (A125 ex R.H. Cole Co.) 3.2 par~s The adhe!sive was printed through a lOOT mesh and subsequently dried by passing the transfer materials through a belt dryer with a 40 second dwell time at 85C.
* Trademark ~\~
~1~6~gO
The transfer material so made was used to build up words on 50 micron thick polyethylene terephthalate sheets (*Melinex Grade S ex. I.C.I.) and the legend so formed placed in contact with polymethyl methacrylate sheets 2mm thick. The assembly of polymethyl methacrylate sheet and letter bearing polyethylene terephthalate sheet was then passed through a heated nip. The nip was heated to 180C and speed was 8 m/min. The polyethylene terephthalate sheet could then be peeled away to leave the letters firmly adhering to the polymethyl methacrylate sheet.
In order to show up those letters, the polymethyl methacrylate sheet was then backed with a backing of retro-reflective material (e.g. *Scotchlite ex 3M Company or a microbead-containing paint~ to form, when framed, a vehicle identification plate or so-called "numberplate", which was of pleasing appearance and very legible.
Example 1 was repeated but using white and black inks made up as follows:
First a base medium was made up by mixing together Poly methyl methacrylate *(Plexigum P 24. ex-Cornelius Chemical Co.) 90 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate 110 parts Di ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate 5 parts Aromatic hydrocarbon fraction boiling between 168 - 200C *(Aromasol H. ex-I.C.I.)10 parts * Trademark ~! ~
, . . . - , - . . . : . :
`: ~
~165~
This base medium was then used to make up ink(s) of the following formulation:
Base medium 215 parts Butyl phthallyl butyl glycollate *(Reomol 4PG. ex - CIBA-GEIGY) 9 parts Amide Wax *(Dehysol wax) 2.6 parts Titanium dioxide (Rutile grade RH472 68 parts ex-Laporte) or Carbon black *(Elftex 150 ex-Cabot carbon) 14 parts The ingredients were premixed using a palette knife and then ground on a triple roller mill to ~egman gauge 7 degree of fineness.
The ink~s) thus produced were used as in Examples 1 and 4 for making signs and numberplates; similar satisfactory results were obtained.
If it is desired to use very fine detail indicia, the indicia may be printed in two stages: first a general area is printed using an ink as noted above but not containing pigment to depos:it: a colourless carrier film. Thereafter, the fine detail :indicia are printed on the area with the coloured ink. A:Lt:ernatively the indicia may be printed first and then overprinted with clear film area. Because the colourless carrier film is based on an acrylic polymer it does not adversely affect the appearance of the finished sign.
Example 1 was repeated using black and white inks of the following composition, and using an adhesive as set out below:
~ I
ll~G~90 White Ink %
Cellulose nitrate (33~ n-butanol damped in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate)48.3 Polymeric Plasticiser (Paraplex G25 ex Rohm & Haas) 14.0 Titanium Dioxide 30-0 Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (oxitol~7.7 The ink was triple roll milled to Hegman 7 and the final viscosity was adjusted for printing with oxitol acetate.
Black Ink Cellulose nitrate (33% n-butanol damped in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate)62.5 Polymeric Plasticiser *(Paraplex G25 ex Rohm & Haas). 16.5 Carbon Black 7.5 Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 9.5 Dehysol wax (ex Henkel & Cie GmbH) ) flow 2.0 *Modaflow (ex Monsanto Chemicals Ltd)) agents 2.0 The ink was triple roll milled to Hegman 7 and the final viscosity adjusted for printing with oxitol acetate.
Adhesive %
Fumed silica (Aerosil R972 ex Degussa) 4.0 Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (Exsol 145/160 ex Esso) 17.2 oleamide (Crodamide '0' ex Croda Chemicals Limited) 10.12 Polyisobutylene solution (low molecular weight Oppanol B10 ex BASF 50% by weight in Exsol 145/160) 2.33 ,~
* Trademark .~ -6~9~
Adhesive %
Polyisobutylene solution (High molecular weight Oppanol B50 ex BASF 20% by weight in Exsol 145/160) 10.00 Polybutene (Medium molecular weight Hyvis 30 ex B.P. Chemicals Ltd.) 6.89 Polyethylene wax solution (Type ACP6 ex Allied Chemicals Ltd. 10% by weight dispersed in Exsol 145/160). 49.46 Similar very satisfactory results were obtained.
Claims (9)
1. A method of making a sign using a transfer material, which method comprises taking a transfer material and a temporary support sheet, the transfer material comprising a light transmitting carrier sheet bearing on one side a plurality of transferable indicia, transferring the indicia by applying the transfer material to the temporary support sheet, applying pressure to the carrier sheet in the region of each desired indicium and peeling away the carrier sheet to leave the indicium adhered to the temporary support sheet in the desired order to build up the desired legend for the sign, bringing the so transferred indicia into contact with the surface of a light-transmitting sign sheet, and applying heat and pressure to the assembly of temporary support sheet and sign sheet, the formulation of the material from which the indicia are made being such that, on removal of the support sheet, the indicia remain on the sign sheet.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia of the transfer material are inherently sufficiently adhesive to enable their transfer to the temporary support sheet.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia of the transfer material each bear a layer of adhesive permitting their transfer to the temporary support sheet.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the surface of the temporary support sheet on to which the indicia are transferred is provided with a coating of adhesive of sufficient strength to enable transfer of the indicia from the transfer material to the temporary support sheet.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia of the transfer material are formed on a basis of a thermoplastic polymeric material which under the action of heat softens to a tacky condition.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia of the transfer material are formed of a nitrocellulose based ink having a sufficient proportion of polymeric plasticiser to impart to the indicia thermoplastic heat seal properties,
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia are brought into contact with the sign sheet under heat and pressure by passing an assembly of the temporary support sheet, the indicia forming the sign legend and the sign sheet through a heated nip between rollers.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sign sheet is of an acrylic plastics material, polyvinylchloride or cellulose triacetate.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein after removal of the temporary support sheet, the surface of the sign sheet bearing the indicia is coated with a layer of colour contrasting with that of the indicia.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB41245/77 | 1977-10-04 | ||
| GB4124577 | 1977-10-04 | ||
| US90377078A | 1978-05-08 | 1978-05-08 | |
| US903,770 | 1978-05-08 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1116990A true CA1116990A (en) | 1982-01-26 |
Family
ID=26264629
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000312627A Expired CA1116990A (en) | 1977-10-04 | 1978-10-03 | Manufacture of signs |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5921312B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7806536A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1116990A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH637780A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2842139C2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES473936A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2405136A1 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1108136B (en) |
| MX (1) | MX150015A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL185763C (en) |
| SE (1) | SE442279B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3931292A1 (en) * | 1989-09-20 | 1990-04-19 | Karlheinz Knoch | Identity badge - made of transparent plastic with contrasting coat of paint covering transferred letters or symbols |
| DE10357321A1 (en) | 2003-12-05 | 2005-07-21 | Tesa Ag | Hochtackige adhesive, process for their preparation and their use |
| US8372232B2 (en) | 2004-07-20 | 2013-02-12 | Neenah Paper, Inc. | Heat transfer materials and method of use thereof |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3607525A (en) * | 1968-07-17 | 1971-09-21 | Oscar R F Strom | Method for transfer of a picture from an initial support to a new support |
| GB1290403A (en) * | 1970-04-29 | 1972-09-27 |
-
1978
- 1978-09-28 DE DE2842139A patent/DE2842139C2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-09-29 SE SE7810251A patent/SE442279B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1978-10-02 BR BR7806536A patent/BR7806536A/en unknown
- 1978-10-03 CA CA000312627A patent/CA1116990A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-03 CH CH1027278A patent/CH637780A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1978-10-03 JP JP53121915A patent/JPS5921312B2/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-03 IT IT69283/78A patent/IT1108136B/en active
- 1978-10-04 ES ES473936A patent/ES473936A1/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-04 MX MX175112A patent/MX150015A/en unknown
- 1978-10-04 NL NLAANVRAGE7810029,A patent/NL185763C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1978-10-04 FR FR7828349A patent/FR2405136A1/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2405136A1 (en) | 1979-05-04 |
| SE7810251L (en) | 1979-04-05 |
| ES473936A1 (en) | 1979-06-01 |
| NL185763C (en) | 1990-07-16 |
| SE442279B (en) | 1985-12-16 |
| FR2405136B1 (en) | 1984-12-21 |
| MX150015A (en) | 1984-03-02 |
| DE2842139A1 (en) | 1979-04-12 |
| IT1108136B (en) | 1985-12-02 |
| JPS5478209A (en) | 1979-06-22 |
| NL7810029A (en) | 1979-04-06 |
| DE2842139C2 (en) | 1983-12-08 |
| BR7806536A (en) | 1979-05-15 |
| CH637780A5 (en) | 1983-08-15 |
| IT7869283A0 (en) | 1978-10-03 |
| JPS5921312B2 (en) | 1984-05-18 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |