DE102021126737A1 - Method and device for providing a motif element arranged on a carrier layer - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for providing a motif element (14) arranged on a carrier layer (16) comprises providing a motif layer (12) on a carrier layer (16), the motif layer (12) having a motif element (14) with an outer contour (18) and a completely enclosed inner contour (22), so that within the motif layer (12) the outer contour (18) delimits the motif element from a border (20) and the inner contour (22) delimits the motif element (14) from an inner element (24). Furthermore, the motif element (14) is separated from the border (20) along the outer contour and the border (20) is removed from the carrier layer (16). The inner element (24) is also separated from the motif element (14) along the inner contour (22) in such a way that at the same time a carrier layer area of the carrier layer (16) lying under the inner element (24) is separated from the remaining carrier layer (16) also along the inner contour (22). 16) is separated. Finally, the inner member (24) is removed along with the backing portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method and a device for providing a motif element arranged on a carrier layer, in particular for weeding adhesive film motifs.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known from the printing industry to design motif elements such as individual letters, lettering, image elements, advertising slogans, logos and the like as adhesive films. As a result, the mostly printed motif elements can be applied to a wide variety of substrates after printing.

The application of a company name on a glass door can be mentioned here as an example.

Such motif elements are usually designed as a two-layer product individually (as in the case of letter adhesive foils) or together to form a larger motif (as in the case of a complete adhesive lettering). The actual motif element is part of a motif layer, which can be a printed paper layer provided with adhesive, for example, arranged on a carrier layer from which the motif element is removed before or during application to the intended substrate. For this purpose, the motif elements are cut out from the rest of the motif layer along an outer contour. The carrier layer, on the other hand, runs uninterruptedly under the motif layer and thus keeps the motif elements in shape as such or in relation to one another.

When producing such motif elements on a carrier layer, however, a complete motif layer is usually first produced, on which the motif elements are printed. These are virtually created within the motif layer, so that the motif elements around their outer contour are basically surrounded by the remaining motif layer, the border. This unwanted border must be removed before attaching the motif elements to the substrate.

Therefore, the border is often already automatically removed from the carrier layer during production, in that the border is pulled off the carrier layer without the motif elements. This process is also called weeding in technical jargon, since when there are several motif elements arranged side by side, the stripped border looks like a grid in which the holes show the outer contour of the motif elements.

However, the automated weeding of motif elements, for example in the case of adhesive foils, reaches its limits when the motif element has a completely enclosed inner contour and thus has an inner element on the inside that cannot be connected to the border. As an example, one can imagine the letter "O" in which the inner element has no connection to the outside.

Each individual inner element would then have to be gripped by a mechanism and pulled off the carrier layer. Such interior elements are therefore often removed by hand shortly before or during attachment to a substrate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the invention to specify a method and a device for providing motif elements on a carrier layer which is improved with regard to the removal of inner elements. The invention should advantageously enable automated removal of completely enclosed inner elements.

1. a) Bereitstellen einer Motivschicht auf einer Trägerschicht, wobei
   • - die Motivschicht ein Motivelement mit einer Außenkontur und einer vollständig umschlossenen Innenkontur umfasst, sodass innerhalb der Motivschicht die Außenkontur das Motivelement gegenüber einer Umrandung und die Innenkontur das Motivelement gegenüber einem Innenelement abgrenzt;
2. b) Trennen des Motivelements von der Umrandung entlang der Außenkontur;
3. c) Entfernen der Umrandung von der Trägerschicht;
4. d) Trennen des Innenelements von dem Motivelement entlang der Innenkontur derart, dass zugleich ein unter dem Innenelement liegender Trägerschichtbereich der Trägerschicht ebenfalls entlang der Innenkontur von der restlichen Trägerschicht getrennt wird;
5. e) Entfernen des Innenelements zusammen mit dem Trägerschichtbereich.

This goal is achieved using a procedure with the following steps:

1. a) providing a motif layer on a backing layer, wherein
   • - the motif layer comprises a motif element with an outer contour and a completely enclosed inner contour, so that within the motif layer the outer contour delimits the motif element from a border and the inner contour delimits the motif element from an inner element;
2. b) separating the motif element from the border along the outer contour;
3. c) removing the border from the backing layer;
4. d) separating the inner element from the motif element along the inner contour in such a way that at the same time a carrier layer region of the carrier layer lying under the inner element is also separated along the inner contour from the rest of the carrier layer;
5. e) removing the inner member along with the backing layer portion.

The inventor has recognized that it is advantageous with regard to the inner elements if, when separating them from the motif element also severed the carrier layer. As a result, the individual inner elements do not have to be gripped in order to detach them from the carrier layer, but can be removed together with the carrier layer. This allows various more automatable methods of removing the interior elements to be used. In particular, it is also possible to work with large sheets or continuous webs of material, for example from printing presses.

Of course, the order of the steps is not important in the invention insofar as steps b) and c) can also be interchanged with steps d) and e) so that first the inner element and then the border is removed.

A method should also be included according to the invention, in which first the two separation steps b) and d) are carried out in any order and then steps c) and e) for removal are carried out in any order.

Provision is preferably made for the separation to be cutting, punching and/or perforating.

Separation basically includes all methods that weaken the material bond within the respective layers to such an extent that the layer areas can be separated from one another in the subsequent removal step. A wide variety of methods are known for separating, which of course depend on the material and type of the motif layer and the carrier layer. However, the cutting, punching or perforating methods mentioned are particularly advantageous. In particular, a plotter with a cutting pen is advantageously used for cutting. However, laser cutting processes, melting processes or the like can also be used.

It is preferably provided that in step b) separation is carried out only within the motif layer.

In principle, it is conceivable to also separate and remove the border of the motif element together with the carrier layer. In the case of larger sheets or continuous webs of material, however, the motif elements are then isolated. It is therefore advantageous to cut through the carrier layer only in the inner element and to leave the carrier layer untouched in step b).

It is preferably provided that the border is removed in step c) by deflecting the border of the motif layer and/or the carrier layer or by pulling the border off the carrier layer.

This can be done, for example, by deflecting over a roller. The border can thus be detached from the carrier layer in a simple manner, particularly in the case of larger sheets or continuous webs of material.

Provision is preferably made for a transfer layer to be applied to the motif layer between steps c) and d), the transfer layer being applied to a side of the motif layer opposite the carrier layer.

A transfer layer is often used when a large number of motif elements, such as the letters in a lettering, must remain in a specific arrangement relative to one another. You then have a three-layer system, from which the carrier layer is first detached before the motif element is attached to a substrate. The transfer layer then holds the motif elements in place, the adhesive side of which is now exposed.

It is preferably provided that in step d) a transfer layer region of the transfer layer lying over the inner element is also separated along the inner contour and in step e) the transfer layer is also removed.

With a transfer layer, the separation can be done from the side of the transfer layer and all layers can be severed at the same time. In this way, little changes compared to a system without a transfer layer.

However, the separation does not necessarily have to include a separation of the transfer layer. Instead, step d) could also work from the carrier layer to the motif layer. Since the transfer layer generally adheres only slightly to the motif layer, the inner element can still be easily removable.

Provision is preferably made for the removal in step e) to take place by deflecting the carrier layer, the motif layer and, if appropriate, the transfer layer.

It is preferably provided that during the removal in steps c) and/or e) a squeegee, a brush and/or a suction device is used.

In addition to the options mentioned above, other methods can also be used to remove, in particular the interior elements that are completely separate including the carrier layer become. Systems that work with vacuum, air blasts or electrostatic attraction are also conceivable.

Provision is preferably made for the motif layer to be an adhesive film.

A wide variety of materials can be used as the motif layer and carrier layer. In particular, the invention can be used advantageously for adhesive films. However, motif layers are also conceivable which are only provided with adhesive shortly before they are attached. However, it is also conceivable, for example in the case of iron-on transfers in the textile sector, for the motif layer to be applied to a substrate by heating. The carrier layer can also serve as a transfer layer.

With regard to the device, the object of the invention is achieved by a device adapted to carry out a method according to any one of the preceding claims.

character list

• 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Verbundsystems aus einer Trägerschicht und einer Motivschicht;
• 2 einen Schnitt durch das Verbundsystem aus 1;
• 3 eine Vorrichtung zum Entgittern von Motivelementen aus der Motivschicht.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In these show:

• 1 a perspective view of a composite system made of a carrier layer and a motif layer;
• 2 a section through the composite system 1 ;
• 3 a device for weeding motif elements from the motif layer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1 shows a schematic composite system 10 from a motif layer 12, which includes a motif element 14, and from a carrier layer 16. The composite system 10 can, for example, represent an adhesive film on its carrier.

The motif element 14 , here in the form of the letter “O”, has an outer contour 18 with which it is delimited within the motif layer 12 against a border 20 .

Furthermore, the motif element 14 has an inner contour 22 with which the motif element 14 is delimited from an inner element 24 .

The motif layer 12 and the carrier layer 16 often represent printed products that run out in the form of larger sheets or continuous webs of material from a printing press that is not relevant to the invention.

3 shows a purely schematic device 30 for weeding motif elements 14 from motif layer 12. However, the components shown can also be part of a more comprehensive printing machine.

2 clarifies using a sectional view again the different elements of the composite system 10, the dash-dotted lines represent sections, the meaning of which from the following explanation 3 becomes clear.

In 3 Coming from the left, the motif layer 12 enters the device 30 together with the underlying carrier layer 16.

With the aid of a first cutting plotter 32, the motif elements 14 are now cut out along their outer contour 18 from the motif layer 12 lying on top. The carrier layer remains intact and is not cut.

The border 20 is then deflected upwards out of the motif layer 12 via a pressure roller 34 . The composite system 10 is guided along a squeegee 36 , as a result of which the border 20 detaches from the carrier layer 16 due to a narrow radius on the squeegee 36 in order to then be rolled up on a disposal roller 38 .

The carrier layer 16 with the weeded motif elements 14 continues in the device 30 .

A transfer layer 42 , which covers the motif elements 14 , is now arranged over the motif layer 12 via a further pressure roller 40 .

The composite system 10, which now has three layers, continues to a second cutting plotter 44, which now cuts through all three layers along the inner contour 22. As a result, the inner elements 24 are now completely separated from the rest of the layers and could easily be detached from the composite system 10.

For this purpose, the entire composite system 10 of all three layers is now deflected around a deflection roller 46 . A suction device 48 is arranged at the apex of the deflection, as a result of which the inner elements 24 detaching from the composite system 10 are sucked off together with their associated carrier and transfer layer area.

The composite system 10 is then rolled up onto a product roll 50 . So there lies a three-layer system with motif elements 14 that have been weeded both with regard to the outer contour and with regard to the enclosed inner contours.

Claims (10)

Method for providing a motif element (14) arranged on a carrier layer (16), with the following steps: a) providing a motif layer (12) on a carrier layer (16), wherein - the motif layer (12) comprises a motif element (14) with an outer contour (18) and a completely enclosed inner contour (22), so that within the motif layer (12) the outer contour (18) the motif element opposite a border (20) and the inner contour (22) delimiting the motif element (14) from an inner element (24); b) separating the motif element (14) from the border (20) along the outer contour; c) removing the border (20) from the backing (16); d) separating the inner element (24) from the motif element (14) along the inner contour (22) in such a way that at the same time a carrier layer region of the carrier layer (16) lying under the inner element (24) also along the inner contour (22) from the remaining carrier layer ( 16) is separated; e) removing the inner member (24) along with the backing layer portion. procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that the separation is cutting, punching and/or perforating. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in step b) separation is carried out only within the motif layer; Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the border is removed in step c) by deflecting the border of the motif layer and/or the carrier layer or by pulling the border off the carrier layer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between steps c) and d) a transfer layer (42) is applied to the motif layer, the transfer layer being applied to a side of the motif layer opposite the carrier layer. procedure after claim 5 , characterized in that in step d) at the same time a transfer layer region of the transfer layer lying over the inner element is also separated along the inner contour and in step e) the transfer layer is also removed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removal in step e) takes place by deflecting the carrier layer, the motif layer and optionally the transfer layer. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a squeegee, a brush and/or a suction device is used during the removal in steps c) and/or e). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motif layer is an adhesive film. Device for providing a motif element arranged on a carrier layer, characterized in that the device is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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