EP0922588B1 - Process for applying a coloured decoration made of sublimable dispersion-paint - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for applying a colored Decorations on an object in which the decor is on a supporting film placed on the surface of a liquid and the object at least partially in the liquid is immersed to transfer the decor to the object.

From US-A-4,010,057 (corresponding to DE-A-25 34 640) are a such a method and a corresponding device are known.

A similar process is also known from GB-A-2 126 163.

US-A-4,348,246 and US-A-4,388,866 describe similar ones Transfer printing techniques, the film with the one to be transferred Decor on a granulate layer or a deformable one Layer of pens is placed.

US-A-4,436,571 describes a transfer print of the beginning mentioned type, in which the object to be printed in certain Way into the liquid with the floating on it Decor is immersed, namely in a continuous movement diagonally down towards the flow and then diagonally upwards, also in the direction of the flow of the liquid.

US-A-4,407,881 (corresponding to DE-A-32 19 992) describes for the transfer printing mentioned above has a special design of the support film, which is a hydrophilic, deformable layer has that can swell by absorption of water, and another layer overlaid on the hydrophilic layer is and which is permeable to water in different ways, so that the hydrophilic layer expands more or less.

US-A-4,229,239 describes a special embodiment of the Transfer printing technology mentioned at the beginning, in which the decor before the transfer is prepared with a solvent so that it is easier to transfer from the object to the object supporting film triggers. This activation of the decor (print pattern; pattern) takes place immediately with the stated prior art before applying the film with the decor on the free Water surface. On the water surface, the can Dissolve the decor supporting film so that the decor alone (without the film) floats on the surface of the water and then Immerse the object to be decorated on this Item is applied.

US-A-4,231,829 describes a further development of the beginning called transfer printing technology in that the decor on the liquid-supporting PVA film or the water even boric acid or a salt thereof is added to the Promote transmission process.

US-A-4,269,650 also describes the addition of a solvent, to facilitate the detachment of the decor from the supporting film.

The prior art for activation discussed above of the decor provided solvents are for example Pentanes, hexanes, heptanes, octanes, gasoline (petrol) or aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, cyclohexane etc. To promote activation using such solvents is also the addition of Synthetic resins are proposed, such as halogenated vinyl chlorides and like.

The use of solvents to activate the decor is complex and requires special measures to protect the environment.

More related techniques can be found in the European patent applications EP-A-839 672, EP-A-839 673 and EP-A-844 103.

In the state of the art, it was usually necessary to Transfer of a colored decor to an object Painting. Such painting is expensive.

The invention has for its object a method of type mentioned at the outset so that with low material and procedural effort a high quality colored decoration an object is made possible.

The inventive solution to this technical problem is in Claim 1 marked.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are in the dependent Described claims.

Fig. 1

schematisch von der Seite eine Vorrichtung zum Aufbringen eines Dekors auf einen Gegenstand;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf eine Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht eines stromauf gelegenen Abschnit tes der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 mit der Wassereinspeisung;

Fig. 4

schematisch eine Düse zur Erzeugung einer Wasserströmung in einstellbarer Richtung;

Fig. 5

schematisch Einrichtungen zum Zuführen eines mit einem Dekor beschichteten Films zum Wasserbecken;

Fig. 6

schematisch den zu dekorierenden Gegenstand mit auf der Wasseroberfläche schwimmendem Film mit Dekor; und

Fig. 7

schematisch die Bestrahlung eines Gegenstandes, auf den ein Dekor aus Dispersionsfarbstoffen übertragen ist, mit IR-Laserstrahlung.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

schematically from the side a device for applying a decoration to an object;

Fig. 2

a plan view of a device according to FIG. 1;

Fig. 3

a side view of an upstream section of the device of FIG 1 with the water feed.

Fig. 4

schematically a nozzle for generating a water flow in an adjustable direction;

Fig. 5

schematically devices for feeding a film coated with a decor to the water basin;

Fig. 6

schematically the object to be decorated with floating film with decor on the water surface; and

Fig. 7

schematically the irradiation of an object to which a decor of disperse dyes is transferred with IR laser radiation.

Fig. 1 shows on the right a housing 10 in which a printed film is fed to a pool 12 via rollers.

The housing 10 and the water basin 12 are on a common Foundation 14, which the entire system largely supported by external mechanical interference.

The film printed with the decor on its upper side becomes via a film feed 16 in the form of an oblique Conveyor belt from the housing 10 to the surface of the water in the pool 12 out. The conveyor belt of the film feeder 16 overflows Rolls 18, 20.

The water flows in Fig. 1 from right to left through the Basin 12. For this purpose, a pump 22 is provided which has a water circuit maintains. A line 24 leads from the pump 22 into a cavity 30 in which the water along a Damming wall 28 is pumped to a level above the surface of the water in the pool 12. From the water inflow 26 at the top This ends at the end of the cavity 30 above the dam 28 Water down, the cavity 30 completely filled with water is filled. In Fig. 3 the flow path of the water is closer shown and the feed of the Water in the pool 12 described in more detail.

On lateral guide bands 32, 32a (see also FIG. 2) the one placed over the film feeder 16 and provided with the decor Film 50 in the direction of flow (from the right in the figures to the left). The guide belts only arranged on the side 32, 32a (see FIG. 2) run over rollers 34, 36, which extend over the entire width of the device. The Roller 36 cooperates with one in the direction of flow arranged behind it further roller 42, which is also extends over the entire width of the device (cf. Fig. 2), an additional function, namely the separation of Film and decor residues of clean water in the circuit. Like that As is known to those skilled in the art, the object 40 to be printed becomes approximately at the point marked with an arrow from above in the water is immersed in the pool 12. It floats on the Surface of the water, approximately at the level of the lateral guide bands 32, 32a, the film with the decor. The decor is on the Top of the film applied. Fig. 6 shows schematically that Immerse the object 40 in the liquid on which the supporting film 50 and decor 51 float. The decor 51 consists of sublimable disperse dyes. When immersing the decor 51 wraps three-dimensionally around the object 40 and sticks to it. The film 50 can already largely before and / or during the immersion process Have dissolved water so that the object 40 directly from pressed into the decor 51 floating on the liquid at the top and the transfer process due to the fluid pressure takes place. Using this technique can be complicated three-dimensional objects are printed to scale. In this process, remains of the Films and decor that can no longer be used. For example, in the prior art, a film is made of PVA (Polyvinyl alcohol) used in water more or less is soluble. Here too, PVA is used when using disperse dyes well suited as film material.

In the arrangement of the rollers 36 and 42 shown in FIG a narrow gap 44 is left between the rollers. about the roll 36 funded film remains and decorative remains the roller 42 and are promoted by the rotation of this roller and arrive at a filter 46, which the film and Separates decor residues from the water and purified water in the Returns circuit to pump 22. Through the fine gap 44 relatively clean water returns between the rollers 36 and 42 into lower areas of the pelvis 12.

Figures 2 and 3 show the device schematically from above and from the side. 3 illustrates details of the feed of water in the pool. As already mentioned above using the 1, the water in the cavity 30 rises the dam 28 and falls down into the pool 12 from there. An opening 64 is provided below the baffle 28 the excess water enter directly into the pool 12 can.

In Fig. 3, the path of the water over the dam wall 28 with a solid line 48 shown schematically. After that the water is rotating through a space between two Rollers 60, 62 fed into the basin. The two rollers 60, 62 are arranged vertically one above the other and in the direction of the arrow P vertically adjustable. At least one of the rollers, in particular the lower roller has a rotary drive, preferred both rollers. The speed of rotation of the rollers is such that the water is pumped according to arrow 56. The arrow 56 also marks the surface of the water in the pool 12. In 3 thus rotates the lower roller 60 counterclockwise, and the upper roller 62 rotates clockwise. By Adjustment of the rollers 60, 62 in their vertical height, adjustment their distance from each other and the speed of rotation the inflow of water into the pool is optimal Taxes. Rollers 60, 62 with a smooth surface are preferred made, for example, in stainless steel. For example the distance between the two rollers, depending on the requirements of the object to be printed, approximately 1 cm. The amount of water fed in is determined by the distance controlled. By the speed of rotation of the rollers (mainly the lower roller 60) the flow rate be influenced on the surface 56 in the pool 12.

By means of a sensor (not shown in detail) continuously measured the level of the water in the pool 12 and unwanted waves that may occur are determined. This information is sent to all adjustable components given controlling computer, which evaluates them accordingly. For example, if waves occur, the computer can Change the rotation, position and distance of the rollers 60, 62 to to prevent the occurrence of waves and the water surface keep calm.

The film 50 sliding down from the film feeder 16 with the printed decor arrives at the point 54 on the water surface in pool 12. There it swims on the surface and is carried along with the current.

Below the water surface 50 there are several nozzles in the pool 52 arranged with which flows in water in different Directions can be generated. Fig. 4 shows the nozzles schematically in an enlarged view and their optional positioning in the room for changing flow directions depending of the desired shape of the film according to the one to be printed Object. According to the top view of FIG. 2 in the illustrated embodiment 3 x 4 (12) nozzles positioned so that practically anywhere on the surface 56 of the desired flows can be generated. The Nozzles 52 thus give a water flow upwards or at an angle upwards to the surface of the stretchable and compressible Film together with the decor in the desired way stretch or condense. So in the area 50a (Fig. 2) the one floating on the surface 56 of the water in the pool Film according to the requirements of the object to be printed (not shown) stretched or compressed. Fig. 4 shows right, schematically, the adjustability of the flow direction by means of a nozzle 52, the axis 70 of which the direction of flow defined, adjustable inclined to the water surface is.

1 is a pump 66 which pumps the water through the nozzles 52 drives, shown schematically, and are above the pump six arrows indicated, which symbolize the individual nozzles.

In area 50b, the film with the decor largely has its own desired (stretched or compressed) shape is achieved and is conveyed downstream over several rollers 38. The rollers 38 are in its height so adjustable that it is approximately with its upper edge the water surface 56 are aligned. The rollers 38 serve on the one hand the calming of the water surface and the other Feed the film. They are preferred with a smooth surface, for example made of stainless steel. The rollers preferred each have a rotary drive and are in terms of Rotation speed and height adjustable. With the rollers 38 can the surface of the water in particular downstream (left) kept calm and the feed of the film stabilized become. If necessary (depending on the object to be printed) can also use the rollers 38, the feed rate of the film versus the flow velocity of the water can be set faster or slower. The former is especially advisable if the object to be printed must be immersed very deep in the pool or if the item must be quickly immersed. An increase the feed rate of the film relative to the flow rate The water then prevents the film from tearing.

In the illustrated embodiment, three rollers 38 are provided which are cylindrical and each independently in terms of vertical position, rotational speed and horizontal distance are adjustable. With the rollers 38 can controlled the feeding of the decorative film 50 into the printing area become.

Fig. 5 shows the supply of one with a decor 51 Film 50 to the pool 12. The housing 10 and the film feed 16 have already been described above with reference to FIG. 1. The housing 10 is a further housing 70 in the conveying direction of the film 50 upstream, in the embodiment shown twelve film rolls 72, 72a, 72b etc. are stored in stock. For this purpose, the physical and chemical in the housing 70 Conditions controlled, especially temperature, gas composition, Moisture etc.

The decor 51 is coated over deflection rollers 74 Film 50 from a roll 72 in housing 70 into housing 10 transferred and from there via pulleys 76, 78, 80 to Film feeder 16. The film feeder is fully automated. 5 is shown the film 50 with the decor 51 directly from a film roll 72 in Housing 70 deducted. The film role is previously known in itself Were printed with the decor 51.

Fig. 5 also shows a film roll 82 in the housing 10, of which Film 50 with decor 51 can alternatively be pulled off directly, namely on the roller 76, as indicated by the dashed line is.

In a modification of the embodiment described above the immersion process can also be done vertically in a simple manner respectively. The immersion technique and especially the sequence of movements of the object when immersed depend largely on the Shape of the object 40 to be decorated.

After the decor 51 made from sublimable disperse dyes has been transferred to the object 40 and the film 50 or the remnants thereof which still adhere to the object have been rinsed off, the transferred dye decor can be processed further on the object 40. The effect of heat causes the disperse dye molecules to diffuse into the surface of the object 40. The diffusion of disperse dyes in plastics is known as such. The diffusion takes place under the influence of heat. The disperse dye molecules diffuse into the plastic, so that a stable decor is created. An IR laser with a wavelength greater than 6 μm, in particular greater than 10 μm, is preferably used to promote diffusion, such as, for. B. a CO ₂ laser with a wavelength of 10.6 microns. Alternatively, but less preferably, the heating can also be carried out by conventional IR radiation. A laser is preferred because it only heats the plastic object in the required area, i.e. on the surface in which the diffusion is to take place. Otherwise, the object remains largely unstressed thermally, so that undesirable phenomena such as curvature of the object, cracking, gas formation, blistering or the like are avoided.

FIG. 7 shows schematically the irradiation of an object 40 covered with a decor 51 made of sublimable disperse dyes with an IR laser beam 82 from a CO ₂ laser 80. Depending on requirements, the object 40 with the decor 51 is moved in relation to the laser beam 82 or conversely, the laser beam 82 is deflected (not shown) over the object ("scanned") so that all areas
are successively irradiated and the diffusion of the dye molecules into the material is effected. This technique can (but does not have to) do without subsequent painting of the colored object.

Claims (4)

1. A method for applying a coloured decoration (51) to an object (4), wherein the decoration is arranged on a supporting film (50) on the surface of a fluid and the object is at least partially immersed into the fluid in order to transfer the decoration to the object,
   characterised in that
   the decoration (51) comprises sublimable dispersion dyes and the object (40) is heated by infrared radiation for enhancing the diffusion of dye molecules into the object (40) .
2. The method according to Claim 1, characterised in that
   the object (40) consists of a material, at least at its surface, into which the dispersion dye can diffuse.
3. The method according to Claim 2, characterised in that
   said material is a synthetic material.
4. The method according to Claim 1 or, characterised in that
   heating is effected by means of IR laser radiation.

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