DE20023641U1 - Method to manufacture front panels for kitchen cupboards or other elements; involves printing parts with pre-determined pattern using method that may be programmed according to desired appearance - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves printing the parts with a pre-determined pattern using a printing method that may be programmed according to the desired appearance. The surfaces to be printed may be wood or plastics. Three-dimensional surfaces may be printed. An inkjet process may be used, with different coloured inks sprayed from different nozzles. to produce a homogenous programmed colour. Independent claims are included for a device for implementing the method and a system for manufacturing groups of components.

Description

Flat component with a wooden surface and apparatus for manufacturing a group of flat Components The innovation relates to a flat component, in particular a front panel of a kitchen element, with a wooden surface. The innovation concerns Furthermore, a device for producing groups of flat components with predetermined surface appearance.

One Design feature more common Kitchens is in that the most diverse Kitchen elements, drawers, Cabinets, Electrical appliances etc. are provided with front panels that give the kitchen its own and pleasing appearance to lend. The variety of front panel sizes and the variety of desired by the customer Surfaces, the different types of wood, plastic surfaces, different colors and pattern leads to an extraordinary cost-intensive production with large storage. For example are front panels made of different solid wood or with different Made of wood veneer, which is then stained in the desired color and surface-sealed become.

These Problem is mitigated by a flat component according to the protection claim 1.

With Help of the novel flat element Is it possible, due to provided with, for example, a simple wood veneer surface Components, components with different surface appearance to create, with which a variety of woods, including exotic woods, presented deceptively similar become. Thereby can Components with a very high-quality appearance not only cost-effectively manufactured become; in the production of collections with the most diverse surface appearance can also high savings can be achieved.

The under claims 2 to 5 are advantageous embodiments and developments of the inventive component directed.

With the device according to the claim 6 can Groups produced advantageously renewal planar components be, with a differentiation of the surfaces only at the end of the production process happens, so that one order-related production without large Warehousing possible is.

The Innovation is everywhere can be used wherever flat Regarding components Appearance of high diversity before customer achieved at low cost shall be. The innovation is especially in the furniture industry and particularly advantageous in the manufacture of kitchens.

The Innovation will be described below with reference to schematic drawings, for example and explained in more detail.

It represent:

1 two front panels with different surface structure,

2 a schematic view of a device according to the innovation,

3 a schematic view of an assembly contained in the device according to the innovation,

4 an example of further assemblies included in the device according to the invention,

5 a detail of the device for printing on handling buttons,

6 a decorated front panel,

7 a cross section through a front panel to explain the printing,

8th a group of front panels,

9 a schematic cross section through a print head,

10 a schematic cross section through a modified embodiment of a print head,

11 the printhead the 10 in a rinsing device and

12 a system for the production of kitchen panels belonging to front panels.

1 shows an example of two front panels 2 , where the left is a wooden surface with a grain 4 and the right has a homogeneous plastic surface. The front panels can have a variety of structures and surfaces, such as a Preßspangrundkörper on which a wood veneer is applied, a plastic base, is laminated to the material, so that the surface is structured in three dimensions, etc. The front panels can also be made of solid wood.

The dashed lines 6 are contour lines to illustrate that the front panels are needed in different sizes, where also not rectangular front plates, round and oval front plates, etc. may be provided.

2a shows in a supervision and 2 B in a side view, a device for applying predetermined patterns on a front panel 2 ,

The front panel 2 is on a conveyor 8th for example, about rolling or rolling 10 moving conveyor belt 12 contains, to drive a motor 14 is provided.

Across the conveyor belt 12 extends a portal 16 , on the transom 18 a car 20 along the crossbeam 18 is movably guided. To drive the car is a motor 22 provided, whose pinion 24 with a gearing of the car 20 combs.

At the car 20 is by means of a drive, not shown, a console 26 in the direction of the double arrow ( 2 B ) guided vertically displaceable, at the end of a printhead 28 is fastened, which is constructed for example in the manner of a printhead, as used in ink jet printers or ink-jet or bubble jet printers, wherein from ink nozzles of the printhead Färbeflüssigkeitstropfen are sprayable.

For detecting the position of the front panel 2 whose contour and thickness are sensors 30 . 32 and 34 provided, wherein the sensor 30 For example, the leading edge of the band on the conveyor 12 moving front panel 2 detected, the sensor 32 the height of the front panel 2 detected and on the transom 18 attached sensor 34 the side edge of the front panel 2 detected.

The sensors may be optical, ultrasonic or otherwise, and may additionally be movably arranged so that the entire geometry of the surface of the front panel 2 each can be detected before the surface in the area under the print head 28 comes.

Not shown in the figures is the dyeing liquor supply and the dyeing liquor feed for the printhead 28 which can be done, for example, from large storage containers on the trolley 20 are arranged.

To control the device is a controller with a computer 36 , a keyboard 38 and a screen 40 intended. It is understood that in addition a speaker can be provided.

At inputs 42 of the computer 36 are the sensors 30 . 32 and 34 connected; at outputs 44 are the drives for two-dimensional movement (in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt 12 and perpendicular to its surface) for the printhead 28 , the control lines for controlling the printhead 28 and optionally the drives for moving one or more of the sensors 30 . 32 and 34 as well as the drive 14 of the conveyor belt 12 connected.

About another entrance 46 Enter data indicating the pattern that is from the printhead 28 should be generated. For the formation of these patterns are all degrees of freedom, the pattern can be generated by scanning image templates in digital form, can be stored and then by appropriate control of the print head 28 and its movement relative to the front panel 2 in connection with the control of the drive 14 on the front panel 2 can be applied. In terms of data processing, all modern technologies are available, such as are customary for today's photo prints.

construction and operation of the individual elements of the device are on are known and are therefore not explained.

One on the conveyor belt 12 located front panel 2 is from the sensors 30 . 32 and 34 recognized in terms of their location and size, so that the car 20 and the vertical drive of the console 26 as well as the printhead 28 from the computer 36 be controlled in accordance with the currently effective pattern data so that the desired pattern is formed. If the entire contour of the front panel 2 is detected, this is done so that virtually no dyeing liquid on the conveyor belt 12 is applied and the surface of the front panel 2 is completely printed in their peripheral areas.

The device described can be modified in many ways. For example, if the geometry of the respective front panel is known and the front panel 2 at a respective reference position on the conveyor belt 12 is applied and in a predetermined manner to the conveyor belt 12 aligned, only required, the front edge of the front panel 2 or the position of the reference position relative to the crossbar 18 to capture, so that the cost of the sensors can be reduced accordingly. The vertical mobility of the print head 28 is required because according to the specifications of the printhead 28 and the achievable pattern fineness a predetermined distance between the ink nozzles of the printhead 28 and the surface to be printed on the front panel 2 is required.

The in 2 shown, single movable printhead with multiple ink nozzles (not shown represents) for spraying different Färbeflüssigkeiten can be replaced, for example, in the conveying direction successively arranged nozzle beam, which extends across the conveyor belt 12 and each having a series of ink nozzles selectively from the computer 36 are controllable. The nozzles of the individual nozzle bars spray in each case only one color, so that each pattern color can be generated with three nozzle bars arranged one behind the other.

3 shows an advantageous detail of an additionally necessary existing printing device in perspective view. In this printing device is the print head 28 on a carrier 50 guided longitudinally movable in the direction of the double arrow and is the carrier 50 around an axis perpendicular to the direction of the double arrow 52 pivotable. In addition, the carrier can 50 height adjustable or the printhead 28 relative to the carrier 50 be height adjustable.

With the arrangement it is, as immediately apparent, possible, side surfaces of the front panel 2 to print, even if the side surfaces oblique to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 12 are directed.

4 shows further details of possible configurations of the printing device. printheads 28 ₂ are a console 26 ₂ by means of a drive, not shown, such pivotable that on the front panel 2 ₂ trained protrusions 54 can be printed. The console 26 ₂ can also be displaced in the vertical direction and the printheads 28 ₂ For example, by appropriate storage of support arms 56 at the console 26 ₂ be pivotable about a vertical axis. By thus created kinematic possibilities, it is possible the projections 54 to print so that the ink nozzles of the printheads 28 ₂ are each directed at a predetermined distance from the surface and perpendicular to the surface direction, which can form high quality pattern.

The in 4 further illustrated printhead 28 ₃ is generally movable so that the side surfaces of the front panel 2 ₂ are printable.

As can be seen immediately from the previous drawings, can with a print head 28 which is at a vertical and in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt 12 movable console 26 ( 2 ) is pivotally mounted about a vertical and a horizontal axis, in cooperation with a forward and a backward movement of the conveyor belt 12 every surface contour of a front panel 2 be printed, for example, control buttons 60 according to 5 on a front panel 2 are provided.

6 shows an example of a pattern 62 that on a with a grain 4 provided surface of a front panel 2 is applied. The grain 4 , which can be given by the wood itself and / or is also applied by printing, can be emphasized differently, depending on the homogeneous contrast color in which the surface is sprayed or printed, in the illustrated example, in addition a rectangular frame as decor or Pattern is applied.

7 shows a front panel, which is a basic body 64 , For example, from pressboard, has on a veneer 66 made of soft or absorbent wood is applied. When in this way an absorbent surface liquid droplets 68 are applied, these run laterally similar to fibrous or wet paper and flow into each other, which optically very pleasing patterns can be generated when differently colored liquid droplets 68 with their edge areas run into each other.

The Amount of dyeing liquids the individual liquid droplets, which runs into each other, can be determined by the volume of liquid droplets and the type of surface affected become.

8th shows an example in which by appropriate printing of individual front panels 2 ₁₀ to 2 ₁₅ a total pattern or overall visual impression can be generated.

According to 9 can in a printhead 28 different, with differently colored dyeing liquid fed color nozzles 70 ₁ to 70 ₄ be provided, for example, the paint nozzles 70 ₁ . 70 ₂ and 70 ₃ be charged with colors that add black in their addition and the color nozzle 70 ₄ is charged directly with black colored dyeing liquid.

10 shows an embodiment of a printhead 72 containing in itself four different nozzles A, B, C and X, wherein the nozzles A, B, C are charged with differently colored dyeing liquids and the nozzle X is charged with a rinsing liquid. The nozzles A, B, C inject the respective dyeing liquid into an intermediate container 74 that with a stirrer 76 is provided, and from the another nozzle 78 is charged.

With the assembled printhead 72 the following is achieved:

By appropriate control of the nozzles A, B, C can be in the intermediate container 74 from the three different dyeing liquids produce each mixed color in a programmed manner, their homogeneity by the stirrer 76 guaranteed becomes. Out of the nozzle 78 In this way, dyeing liquor of any desired color can be sprayed over a large area and homogeneously and applied to a surface.

11 shows the printhead 72 of the 10 during a rinse, when a color change is required. From the nozzle X is in the intermediate container 74 after its programmed liquid volume is largely splashed, from a reservoir 80 Rinsing fluid injected, which in a cycle 82 to be led. The rinsing liquid can at 86 if the dyeing liquid is pigmented dyeing liquid, filter and the intermediate container 74 repeatedly flow through until no paint residues are left, and then the reservoir 80 be fed again. The reference numerals 88 and 90 represent valves, reference numerals 92 denotes a pump. With the arrangement of 11 can be sprayed in an environmentally friendly manner and with low dyeing liquid losses different homogeneous colors.

Preferably, the previously described printing of the surfaces of the front panels 2 a coating step downstream, in which the surface formed with dyeing liquid in a predetermined pattern and / or with a predetermined background color is provided with a protective layer by this protective layer is applied either as a film or as a one- or two-component synthetic resin. The protective layer, which is preferably transparent, makes the surface hard-wearing, chemically resistant and scratch-resistant. It also reduces the LTV resistance requirements of the dyeing fluids or inks used to print. The protective layer can be formed by spraying, rolling or otherwise known per se.

The described method can in more diverse Modified way become. The printing does not have to inevitably done by the ink jet method. The coloring and / or Pattern formation of the surfaces can be done by any other method, preferably programmable is so that one high level flexibility given is.

12 schematically shows the structure of an entire system for producing groups of front panels needed for a kitchen.

reference numeral 100 refers to the order receipt, in which orders of a kitchen enter in different ways. A kitchen ordered is characterized by the type and number of its components, such as cabinets, compartments, electrical appliances, etc., which are all closed to the visible side by front panels, which have a specific decor, for example, by the surface material, the base color and the pattern with the respective colors.

Due to an ordered kitchen will be in the order 100 a set of front panels that are needed for the kitchen and that is first put together in terms of their surface texture and dimensions. Depending on whether the required front panels in a warehouse 102 already finished or in a cutting device 104 must be made with the respective dimensions, the ordered record passes through the warehouse 102 or the trimming device 104 ,

In the cutting device 104 The required front panels are made from large panels 106 cut out, with the panels 106 For example, panels with wood veneer are and the panels 106 ₂ Are boards with plastic surface. The dimensionally tailored panels produced from the panels are preferably provided with edge protectors immediately after cutting, if required by the particular material, for example when the panel body is made of pressboard.

In a confectioning device 108 The individual panels corresponding to the kitchen order are then assembled and placed in the downstream printing device 110 formed with the predetermined colors in the predetermined pattern. The printing device 110 is a surface coating device 112 downstream, in which the formed with the respective pattern or decor front panels are provided with low-wear, durable surfaces, for example, be provided with a two-component synthetic resin transparent paint. In the station 114 The set of front panels required for the kitchen is then available for further processing.

With the prescribed system, a flexible production is achieved with a minimum of storage, with which the required front panels are produced directly according to the respective customer order. The fact that the belonging to a kitchen front panels immediately after one another the stations 110 and 112 go through, their maximum match is given to each other. Nevertheless, spare parts can be replenished in perfect quality thanks to the programmed control and the use of standardized dyeing liquids.

It is understood that the system can be modified in a variety of ways. at For example, the station 104 a station downstream, in which the cut-out plates are supplemented with three-dimensional ornaments. Furthermore, a set of plates can be assembled from directly cut and stock removed plates.

It understands that the described system for use in the production of any Furniture suitable is.

2

front panel

4

Grain

6

contour lines

8th

Conveyor

10

roller

12

conveyor belt

14

engine

16

portal

18

crossbeam

20

dare

22

engine

24

pinion

26

console

28

printhead

30

sensor

32

sensor

34

sensor

36

computer

38

keypad

40

screen

42

inputs

44

outputs

46

entrance

50

carrier

52

axis

54

head Start

56

Beam

58

Beam

60

actuating button

62

template

64

body

66

veneer

68

liquid droplets

70

paint nozzle

72

printhead

74

intermediate container

76

stirrer

78

jet

80

reservoir

82

circulation

86

filter

88

Valve

90

Valve

92

pump

100

order

102

camp

104

cutting device

106

blackboard

108

Konfektionierstation

110

printing means

112

coater

114

dispensing station

Claims (6)

Sheet-like component, in particular front panel of a kitchen element, having a surface made of wood and printed by means of a printing process programmable with respect to the resulting appearance to form a predetermined pattern, characterized in that the appearance of the predetermined pattern of the grain of a predetermined species is predetermined Coloring corresponds. Component according to claim 1, characterized that a three-dimensional surface of the component with the predetermined Pattern is printed. Component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that the predetermined pattern is applied in an ink jet method is at the dyeing liquids different colors are sprayed from different nozzles. Component according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized that the wooden surface of the component at least prior to applying the dyeing dye forming the predetermined pattern absorbent is. Component according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized that the surface formed with the predetermined pattern with resistant Clear coat is coated. Device for producing groups of flat components with a predetermined surface appearance, in particular of front panels for a kitchen consisting of elements, containing an order input ( 100 ), in which a record of a group of ordered components corresponding data set is compiled, a Konfektioniereinrichtung ( 102 . 104 . 108 ), in which the group of planar components is produced according to the numbers and sizes contained in the data record, and a surface treatment device ( 110 . 112 ), in which the surfaces of the prefabricated group of components receive the predetermined appearance, wherein the surface treatment device comprises: a base ( 12 ) for receiving the flat components ( 2 ) one of the surface of the flat components oppositely arranged printing device ( 28 ) with paint nozzles for spraying different colored inks, a conveyor ( 8th ) for generating a relative movement between the ink nozzles and the flat components, a sensor device ( 30 . 32 . 34 ) for detecting positions of the surface of the flat components, and an electronic control unit ( 36 . 38 . 40 ) for controlling the operation of the conveyor ( 8th ) and the printing device ( 28 ), which on the surface of the flat components ( 2 ) prints the grain of a predetermined wood species with a predetermined color.