EP0936080B1 - Process for decorating skis or similar - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves printing onto a flat substrate (1) and joining the substrate to the object, printing onto a substrate already joined to the object or printing onto a pre-substrate and transferring the print to a substrate already joined or yet to be joined to the object. A digital printing technique is used to print at least the motif (3), and can also be used for the background.

Description

The invention relates to a method for decorating skis, Snowboards, skateboards, surfboards etc. by printing a flat substrate and connecting the printed flat Substrates with the item or printing one already with the substrate associated flat substrate or printing a pre-substrate and transfer the pressure to an already associated with the object or with this object still too connecting flat substrate, wherein as a flat substrate a thermoplastic film is used and the Print at least the motif forming the decoration, possibly also a background, on the flat substrate or sub-substrate a digital printing method is used.

Skis usually consist of a multi-layered construction various materials, wherein one or both surfaces are decorated decorative. The application of the invention Method refers in particular to skis that multi-layered are constructed. But that also includes snowboards, Skateboards, surfboards, etc.

For the purpose of decoration, according to the current state of Technique in ski construction both alpine and cross-country skis usually laminar substrates, usually thermoplastic Used plastic films on which the decoration applied becomes. But it can also be used thermoset materials become. Instead of films are also nonwovens for printing used, which before or after printing with the connected decorating object, preferably on the entire ski surface to be glued. Gluing over the entire ski surface has the advantage that it has a All-round design of the ski from edge to edge allows. A ski with a printed by conventional textile printing techniques Underlayer of fleece under a transparent Glass fiber layer is described in DE 36 36 645 A1.

As a method for the decoration of the sheet substrates usual printing methods, e.g. Screen printing in the positive or negative pressure - i.e. on the slide or on the back a transparent film - used. Screen printing are relatively expensive, because for each print to be printed for each Printing ink must be made a sieve, which is above also waited for a certain number of printing operations or must be replaced. Accordingly inflexible This printing process, as with a change of the subject and the Equipment must be changed. Often they become too printing surfaces before printing electrically, chemically or physically pretreated to increase the adhesion of the paint to increase the subsurface.

In the thermal diffusion method, the color pattern first appears a planar pre-substrate by known printing methods, such as Screen printing, offset printing or gravure applied and then via a Sublimiervorgang at high pressure and high temperature the color pattern on a corresponding Transfer surface foil to the ski. Through the sublimation process the colors diffuse from the surface pre-substrate to one certain depth into the final surface material.

For example, EP 0 033 776 A2 describes a method for Decorating of web-like objects, in particular Skibelägen, in which the surface to be printed in Melting state and the color of a print carrier the film is transferred. The fact that the ink in the Diffused film, the adhesive bond between the Printed side of the pad and the underlying surface of the Ski body not impaired. This can include a Pre-treatment of the objects to be printed can be avoided which significantly reduces the production costs.

In addition to screen printing and thermal diffusion methods are also Printing process such as gravure and offset printing for decoration of the surface material used.

Another method of decorating objects, such as For example, skis using a Sublimation printing method is known from AT 396 345 B. At the Printing by sublimation is made of a pigment and a Binder existing ink on the back of a applied transparent layer.

From US 4 270 768 A is a ski and a method for his Production known in which by appropriate design and Material choice of the tread of the ski for decorative design the same a gravure printing method instead of the usual Screen printing process can be used.

The document WO-A-97/30852 describes a method for decorating a An article by printing a thermoplastic film with an image by means of an electronic printing method and the bonding of the printed film with the Subject with melting of the film.

EP-A-0 641 575 describes a process for decorating skis by printing a transparent surface material and joining this printed material with the Rohski. For printing the decoration, a thermal diffusion printing method may be used become. After printing the decoration, an adhesive layer may be applied, which is the Adhesiveness between decor and substrate increased.

Object of the present invention is to provide a more economical, i. faster and cheaper procedure for Decorating objects, in particular skis, through which a high print quality and a high flexibility with regard to the variation possibilities of the motives can be achieved. The quality of the object to be decorated, in particular the adhesion of the layers of the article are not significantly affected by the decoration. The disadvantages of known methods described above be reduced.

The object of the invention is achieved by a method of the beginning described type in which the substrate before printing with a bonding layer, e.g. a colorless pigment Screen printing ink to increase the adhesion of the paint Motive is provided on the sheet substrate. digital Printing method, such as inkjet printing method are characterized by particular flexibility, because for the purpose of No additional resources, e.g. Sieves at Screen printing or etched or relief-like worked Rollers in offset printing, made for each motif have to. Instead, e.g. in the inkjet method the Ink sprayed onto the substrate without further aids. Accordingly, the color consumption is low as well only at the desired places material is applied. The Digital printing is usually direct without intermediates controlled by a computer. This means that the printing the substrate that forms the decorative material for the ski, or of the pre-substrate from which the color pattern on the Substrate is transmitted by means of the computer-controlled Application of drops of paint or colored dots accomplished becomes. The decoration is created in the form of a computer graphic and can be changed very quickly and relatively easily and directly onto the substrate or pre-substrate of the article be printed without that e.g. in screen printing, new screens must be made. To increase the printing speed it is advantageous, only the motif forming the decoration using the digital printing process to print and the most print larger-scale background with other methods. As with the help of an inkjet printer, for example, no Metallic colors can be realized because the in it contained metal particles clog the nozzle of the printhead would, for example, according to the inventive method the background in metallic colors after other procedures be printed while the subject even with the digital Printing process is printed. The thermoplastic Plastic film is easy to process and offers a good protection for the underlying decoration. By the Providing the substrate with a binder layer before printing, e.g. a color pigmentless screen printing ink is the Adherence of the color of the subject increased. The preferably transparent binding layer advantageously contains the the same binder as the one after the print of the motif printed cover color, which is the background of the decoration forms. The color of the subject is between the adhesion-promoting color of the bonding layer and the following applied cover color embedded and accordingly sealed. The bonding bridge to the underlying ski body is obtained in a known manner with the top color.

In contrast to the example in the screen printing process used in paints, which consist of pigments, binders and Solvents are the inks in inkjet printers composed only of pigments and solvents. from that The problem arises that the ink is not at all Substrates adheres well. For example, ink adheres to Inkjet printers very bad on thermoplastic Plastic films. On the other hand, more adhesive substrates, such as For example Plexiglas (PMMA: polymethyl methacrylate) heavier processable and suitable as decoration of a ski only conditionally. An application on skis where a plastic wrap or a Plastic substrate is printed for this reason is up failed today, as the printed film easily from Ski body triggers. Depending on the area of application and motive one can Printing by means of digital printing processes according to the above be sufficient type described. For higher requirements, such as in ski production, where the best possible Adherence of the decoration is necessary, in the following described measures in combination with the inventive method can be used.

According to another feature of the invention becomes the subject containing color the adhesion of the color of the subject added to the substrate increasing substance or substances. As such substance may, for example, specific solvents serve, which swell the substrate on the surface. The Additions may be the function of the digital printing process do not interfere.

For the inventive method are particularly suitable Ink jet (inkjet) printing process, for printing at least the Motivs, possibly also the background. Ink jet printing method are characterized by special thrift when Material consumption and relatively high resolution. The inks usually dry very quickly, causing an acceleration of the Manufacturing process over the methods using od slowly drying paints. Like. Can be achieved. The Print speed is among other things by the number of fixed side by side printheads. color prints are preferably by four-color printing (colors yellow, red, blue and black).

According to another feature of the invention, at least for printing the subject, possibly also the background of an airbrush printing process intended. With the help of the airbrush process certain types of motifs can be better represented as with other methods.

The inventive method is also suitable for the beginning described thermal diffusion method. In this case, a planar pre-substrate with a digital printing process printed. The color pattern will then open as described transfer the final decorative material.

Suitable pre-substrate are plastic films or paper.

The attached figures show the characteristics of the inventive method explained in more detail.

Fig. 1a bis 1d

schematisch die Verfahrensschritte eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Dekorieren eines Skier gemäß Anspruch 1, und

Show in it

Fig. 1a to 1d

schematically the process steps of a method according to the invention for decorating a skis according to claim 1, and

According to Fig. 1a, a substrate 1, for example, a transparent thermoplastic film with a likewise transparent binding layer 2 provided.

According to Fig. 1b, the decoration forming motif 3 with Help of a digital printing process on the bottom of the Substrate 1 applied in negative pressure. Without tie layer 2 would not have sufficient adhesion to the substrate 1 guaranteed. It is quite conceivable that for some Use cases a lack of adhesion no problems with would bring. This will be the case in particular when the subject 3 is applied very sparingly on the substrate 1 and therefore only very small areas of low adhesion available. If the adhesion is to be strengthened, is According to the invention, the bonding layer 2 is provided, which in two different types can act. On the one hand, the tie layer 2 the bridge between the substrate 1 and the motif 3 thereby form that the bonding layer 2 at the same time both good on Substrate 1 adheres as well as a well-adherent pad for the Motif 3 forms. On the other hand, the binding layer 2 can do so be such that it picks up the color of the subject 3, so that this penetrates into the bonding layer 2.

According to FIG. 1c, a cover layer 4 is applied over the motif 3 applied, which forms the background of the motif 3. To For this purpose, the cover layer 4 usually consists of a covering color. The cover layer 4 is used to accelerate the Decoration process usually not with the help of a applied digital printing process. Therefore, the cover color in the usual way binders containing the Increase adhesion.

Finally, according to FIG. 1d, the decorative layer is covered by a Adhesive layer 5 is connected to the underlying ski body 6.

Claims (6)

1. A method for decorating skis, snowboards, skateboards, surfboards by printing on a two-dimensional substrate and connecting the printed, two-dimensional substrate with the object, or by printing on a two-dimensional substrate which has already been connected to the object, or by printing on a pre-substrate and transmitting said print to a two-dimensional substrate already connected to, or to be connected to, the object, wherein a thermoplastic plastics film is used as said two-dimensional substrate and a digital printing method is used for printing at least the motive forming the decoration or, optionally, also a background, on the two-dimensional substrate or pre-substrate, characterised in that prior to printing, the two-dimensional substrate is provided with a binding layer, e.g. a screen printing ink lacking any colouring pigments, so as to increase the adhering capacity of the colour of the motive on the two-dimensional substrate.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that a substance or substances increasing the adhering capacity of the colour of the motive on the two-dimensional substrate is (are) admixed to the colour containing said motive.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an inkjet printing method is used for printing at least the motive, optionally also the background.
4. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an airbrush printing method is used for printing at least the motive, optionally also the background.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a two-dimensional pre-substrate is printed and the colour pattern is transferred to the two-dimensional substrate by means of thermodiffusion.
6. A method according to claim 5, characterised in that a plastics film or paper is used as said two-dimensional pre-substrate.

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