EP0795358A2

EP0795358A2 - Apparatus for providing aluminium and other metal section members with a dummy wood-like colour

Info

Publication number: EP0795358A2
Application number: EP97830059A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mario ME.TRA.-Metallurgica Trafilati Giacomelli
Original assignee: METRA METALLURGICA TRAFILATI ALLUMINIO SpA
Current assignee: METRA METALLURGICA TRAFILATI ALLUMINIO SpA
Priority date: 1996-03-12
Filing date: 1997-02-14
Publication date: 1997-09-17
Also published as: EP0795358A3; PL318897A1; ITMI960482A1; IL120376A0; IT1283238B1; PL185623B1; ITMI960482A0

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for colouring section members and the like with a dummy wood colour, which comprises a first application station for applying on a section member polyester powders having a first colour, a second application station for applying on the section member a primer colour stabilized by polyester powders having a second colour, and a comb element for providing a vein pattern on the powders of a second colour before performing a thermal stabilizing step.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing aluminium and other metal section members with a dummy wood-like colour.
Extruded aluminium section members are already known on the market, which are surface coated by wood or similar material layers, so as to provide the extruded aluminium or other metal section member with a wood-like aspect.
Such a coated aluminium or other metal section member, in addition to being very complex and expensive from a constructional standpoint, causes the loss of one of the main features of door and window frames made of these coated extruded aluminium section members, i.e. the lacking of any maintenance operations for holding unalterable the coated surface of the section members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned problem, by providing an apparatus for providing aluminium and other metal section members with a dummy wood-like colour, which allows to easily make window and door frames having the aesthetic features of a wood frame, while holding the typical functional characteristics of an extruded aluminium section frame.
Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which, by very simple and unexpensive operating steps, allows to make extruded aluminium section members having a colour and pattern substantially corresponding to those of the natural veins of wood materials.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is very reliable and safe in operation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which can be easily made starting from easily available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an apparatus for colouring and decorating aluminium and other metal section members, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a first application station for applying, on a section member, polyester powders having a first colour, a second application station for applying, on a section member having a primer stabilized colour polyester powders having a second colour, and a comb element for providing a vein pattern in the powders of said second colour, before subjecting the section member to a thermal stabilizing step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of an apparatus for colouring and decorating section members and the like, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a section member, after applying to said section member polyester powders having a first colour;
Figure 2 illustrates a stabilizing step performed on a primer layer;
Figure 3 illustrates the application of a second layer of polyester powders having a second colour;
Figure 4 illustrates a comb element for providing the vein pattern;
and
Figures 5 and 6 are schematic views illustrating the section members made by the apparatus according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the apparatus for colouring and decorating dummy-wood section members and the like, according to the present invention, comprises a first application station, for applying, on a section member, generally indicated by the reference number 1, polyester powders 2 having a first colour, generally a lighter colour, allowing to provide a primer even colour on the exposed to view surface of the section member.
After having applied the mentioned polyester powders, the section member is sent to a heating oven 3, where the applied powders are melt and the colour layer is thermally stabilized.
On the thus primed section member 1, is then applied, by an apparatus 10, a second layer 11, also of polyester powders, having a second colour, and usually a darker colour, while holding the chromatic tone of the primer colour.
In order to provide the vein effect, a comb element 20 is moreover provided, which includes a plurality of tooth elements 21 which are caused to contact the section member so as to provide uneven vein patterns, also due to the fact that the comb element can be also subjected to a slight cross displacement, with respect to the longitudinal movement direction of the section member; thus, a set unevenness of the pattern will be provided, so as to reproduce the typical vein pattern of the wood.
After having formed the vein pattern on the polyester powder layer, the section member is subjected to a thermal stabilizing step, which also stabilize the second polyester powder layer, thereby providing a colour actually similar to the wood colour, but with the typical unalterable characteristics of an oven type of painting.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.
In particular, the fact is to be pointed out that the provision of two or more different subsequent colours and decorations will allow to obtain a very good dummy wood effect, from an aesthetic point of view.
The invention, as disclosed, is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all of which will come within the scope of the inventive idea.
Moreover, all of the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.
In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes, can be any, depending on requirements.

Claims

An apparatus for colouring and decorating aluminium and other metal section members, characterized in that said apparatus comprises a first application station for applying, on a section member, polyester powders having a first colour, a second application station for applying, on a section member having a primer stabilized colour polyester powders having a second colour, and a comb element for providing a vein pattern in the powders of said second colour, before subjecting the section member to a thermal stabilizing step.
An apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said apparatus comprises driving means for driving said comb element with a cross movement with respect of the vein pattern extension direction.
An apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said thermal stabilizing step is carried out in a heating oven.
A method for colouring with a dummy wood colour aluminium and other metal section members, characterized in that said method comprises the step of providing a first colour layer constituted by polyester powders having a first colour, preferably a light colour; applying on the stabilized first colour layer a second layer of polyester powders having a dark colouring, performing a vein forming operation on said powders, and then subjecting the polyester powders forming the second layer to a thermal stabilizing operation.
A dummy-wood coloured section member, characterized in that said section member comprises, at least on exposed-to-view surfaces thereof, a primer layer of a first colour, generally a light colour, and a second colour layer, provided by scoring to a vein pattern said polyester powders forming said second colour layer.
An apparatus for providing extruded aluminium or other metal section members with a colour and a pattern similar to that of a wood material, a method for colouring with a dummy wood colour section members and the like, and the section members made thereby, characterized in that they comprise one or more of the disclosed and/or illustrated features.