EP0993963A1 - Plastic film continuous printing process, apparatus therefore and plastic film printed by the same - Google Patents

Plastic film continuous printing process, apparatus therefore and plastic film printed by the same Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0993963A1
EP0993963A1 EP99402398A EP99402398A EP0993963A1 EP 0993963 A1 EP0993963 A1 EP 0993963A1 EP 99402398 A EP99402398 A EP 99402398A EP 99402398 A EP99402398 A EP 99402398A EP 0993963 A1 EP0993963 A1 EP 0993963A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plastic film
strip
printed
printing
film
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99402398A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0993963B1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Lion
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Societe dEnduction et de Flockage SAS
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Societe dEnduction et de Flockage SAS
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Publication of EP0993963A1 publication Critical patent/EP0993963A1/en
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F16/00—Transfer printing apparatus
    • B41F16/02—Transfer printing apparatus for textile material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/025—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet
    • B41M5/035—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/025—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet
    • B41M5/035—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic
    • B41M5/0358—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic characterised by the mechanisms or artifacts to obtain the transfer, e.g. the heating means, the pressure means or the transport means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/0011—Pre-treatment or treatment during printing of the recording material, e.g. heating, irradiating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/0041—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/0041—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper
    • B41M5/0052—Digital printing on surfaces other than ordinary paper by thermal printing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a continuous printing process for a film. flat plastic, flocked or not, the device for its implementation and the film printed plastic obtained by this process.
  • the invention also relates to a method for continuously printing a colored pattern or not on a flat plastic film, flocked or not, intended to be thermoformed into a specific non-planar surface, as well as the film printed plane plastic and the thermoformed plastic film obtained by this process.
  • Sublimation transfer printing is already known as such and consists, firstly, in printing on a backing paper of patterns from inks made up of sublimable dyes which are suitable to vaporize from a certain temperature and come to settle permanently on synthetic materials, for example polyester or polyamide polymers, the process for printing backing paper which can be any, for example offset printing, heliographic or flexographic printing, or else a printing screen printing with flat or rotating frame.
  • the patterns in sublimable dyes previously printed on the backing paper are transferred by sublimation, by putting in contact, under a regular pressure and temperature determined, usually using of a thermal calender, the paper pre-printed with the textile support to print, usually for a period of 5 to 40 seconds.
  • the grille thermal may include, in the case of printing in formats, a heating press with horizontal plates, or in the case of printing continuously from rolls of printed paper and synthetic material to print, a rotary heating cylinder associated with a conveyor belt under voltage.
  • This sublimation transfer printing process can be used to print certain plastics, provided you apply beforehand a layer of varnish on the plastic to be printed, or pre-process the pre-printed printing paper so that it make it non-stick.
  • This printing method is used in particular for printing injected or formed plastic parts, such as bottles, skis, pens, helmets, and in this case, the impression is made by means of a heating tool conforming to the shape of the part plastic to print.
  • Another method of direct printing of plastic films is to use known methods of the flexographic or screen printing type, but in this case, the ink does not get into the plastic, so that the printed patterns have low resistance to scratching and friction. In addition, these printing methods do not allow obtain the finest graphic effects, for example prints in four-color photographic type.
  • Yet another known method for printing plastic films consists of fusing a plastic film on the printing surface previously printed support, for example a printed polyester film in heliography, then hot laminated on the plastic film leaving the extruder.
  • the plastic films to be printed are intended to be thermoformed, for example to form protective shims, parts for the automotive industry, packaging elements and packaging
  • the patterns printed on the flat plastic film undergo the deformation of the plastic film in an uneven surface, causing a modification of the contours and configuration of the printed pattern, as well than a variation in color tones, due to the stretching of the film plastic during its thermoforming.
  • the reason which must appear on the thermoformed non-planar surface is a geometric design, letters or of figures, distortions of the pattern may become unacceptable.
  • the primary object of the invention is to propose a printing method using continuous of a plastic film, flocked or not, by a printing process with sublimation transfer, while having quality, finesse and high printing clarity, for example of the four-color type, and avoiding any sticking between the plastic film as well with the conveyor belt than with preprinted printing paper.
  • a second object of the invention is to propose a printing process a pattern on a flat plastic film, flocked or not, intended to be thermoformed into a specific non-planar surface, which allows compensate for the deformations of the pattern and / or the variations in color of the color on the non-planar thermoformed surface.
  • the temperature for fusing the plastic film to the temporary support is between 100 and 200 ° C, preferably between 170 and 180 ° C.
  • the temperature for sublimation transfer can be between 170 and 230 ° C.
  • the temperature at which the entire film printed plastic and temporary support is cooled may be around from 20 to 30 ° C.
  • the method of the invention consists, for a unflocked plastic film, to preprint the printing paper with a ink containing sublimable dyes, with a low content of softening or non-sticking agents, to avoid sticking between the film plastic and printing paper, during the transfer printing step by sublimation.
  • These agents can be chosen from silicones, organic fatty acids and chromium stearates.
  • the method consists in preparing a flocked plastic film, by applying an adhesive layer to the front of the plastic film and by flocking white fibers on said adhesive layer.
  • the adhesive layer is a polymer resin in aqueous emulsion or in organic solution
  • the flocks are preferably fibers of polyamide or polyester, with a length between 0.3 and 3.0 mm and a titer between 0.5 and 20 Dtex (0.5 and 20.10 -7 Kg.m -1) .
  • the plastic film can be a calendered, extruded or co-extruded film, chosen among the polymeric resins based on polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, acrylic butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyurethane, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide or any mixture of these.
  • ABS acrylic butadiene-styrene
  • Printing paper can be printed by offset printing, flexographic, heliographic, screen printing, or inkjet.
  • the cooling station comprises two cylinders with double envelope, each cylinder comprising an agent circulation refrigerant, for example water, in the jacket, so that said printed composite strip comes into contact with the first cylinder by its provisional support strip, then with the second cylinder by its printed plastic film strip.
  • agent circulation refrigerant for example water
  • Another subject of the invention is a printed plastic film strip, characterized in that it is directly obtained by the above process.
  • the method consists in determining, for each zone elementary of the film, the color tint of the part of the deformed pattern, in depending on the desired color shade of the final pattern and the rate of local stretching of the film by which we pass from the part of the deformed pattern to the final pattern part.
  • the method consists in printing simultaneously on the portion of the flat film other than that to be thermoformed, a marker to precisely locate the portion to be thermoformed of the film flat plastic.
  • Said mark to be printed may include a line extending along an edge of the flat plastic film and a line extending transversely from this line.
  • the method of the invention consists, for a unflocked plastic film, to preprint the printing paper with a ink containing sublimable dyes, with a low content of softening or non-sticking agents, to avoid sticking between the film plastic and printing paper, during the transfer printing step by sublimation.
  • These agents can be chosen from silicones, organic fatty acids and chromium stearates.
  • the method consists in preparing a flocked plastic film, by applying an adhesive layer to the front of the plastic film and by flocking white fibers on said adhesive layer.
  • the adhesive layer is a polymer resin in aqueous emulsion or in organic solution
  • the flocks are preferably fibers of polyamide or polyester, with a length between 0.3 and 3.0 mm and a titer between 0.5 and 20 Dtex (0.5 and 20.10 -7 Kg. M - 1) .
  • the plastic film can be a calendered, extruded or co-extruded film, chosen among the polymeric resins based on polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, acrylic butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyurethane, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide or any mixture of these.
  • ABS acrylic butadiene-styrene
  • Printing paper can be printed by offset printing, flexographic, heliographic, screen printing, or inkjet.
  • the method of the invention consists in positioning laterally and transversely the portion of surface to be thermoformed flat plastic film on the surface of which the deformed pattern is printed, in vis-à-vis the shape of the thermoforming tool, by means of the mark aforementioned print, and to be thermoformed with said thermoforming tool only said portion in a non-planar surface on which the desired final pattern.
  • the method consists in detecting optically the longitudinal line of the reference to laterally guide the flat plastic film and the transverse line of the marker to stop, in the longitudinal direction, the flat plastic film with its portion at thermoform in front of the shape of the thermoforming tool.
  • the method consists in calculating the parts of distorted pattern by computer and to pre-print the printing paper by a machine inkjet printing controlled by said computer.
  • Inkjet printing enables digital printing under optimal conditions, since it is not necessary to make specific printing tools, such as cylinders, plates offset, screen printing, and where inkjet printing can be directly controlled by the computer equipped with the software for calculating distortions of the pattern.
  • the invention also relates to the printed plastic film with a non-planar surface. thermoformed, characterized in that it is directly obtained by the process cited above.
  • This device comprises an unwinding station 1 which supports a spool 2 from which a strip is unwound temporary support 3, for example made of paper, and above the reel 2, a reel 17 from which a strip of plastic film is unwound 4, flocked or not.
  • the temporary support is made of a material that is not very sensitive to heat, in order to ensure dimensional stability to the plastic film, when of the subsequent sublimation operation, this material having a non-stick feature at room temperature, to facilitate detachment of the plastic film after thermal printing, as well as ability to adhere hot with the plastic film when the latter undergoes a fusion, during the heating and transfer operations by sublimation later.
  • the aforementioned strips 3 and 4 then pass through a heating station 5 which has three guide rollers 6, arranged upstream of a drum rotary heater 7, which is rotated clockwise indicated by arrow F in Figure 1.
  • bands 3 and 4 pass under a first roll 6, the front of the plastic film strip 4 coming in contact with the roller 6 and the temporary support strip 3 coming in contact with the back of said strip 4. All of strips 3 and 4 as well superimposed is conveyed horizontally to a second roller 6 against which the front of the plastic film strip 4 is always supported, said strips 3 and 4 making a 90 ° turn upwards around this second roller 6. Then, the superimposed strips 3 and 4 carry out a 180 ° turn around the third roller 6 which is located near the heating drum 7, so that the temporary support strip 3 comes in contact with the heating cylinder 7, to avoid sticking by softening of the plastic film on the heating drum 7.
  • the assembly strips 3 and 4 wrap around the heating drum 7, at an angle about 270 °, so that the plastic film strip 4 is brought to a temperature of around 200 ° C when the unit leaves the drum heating 7.
  • the strip of plastic film adheres, due to its fusion, to the temporary support strip 3 which ensures dimensional support to said strip of plastic film 4, the assembly thus forming a composite strip 18 whose two layers are temporarily glued together.
  • Said composite strip 18 is conveyed horizontally downstream of the heating drum 7 to a thermal printing machine 8.
  • This thermal printing machine 8 has a roll of guide 9 against which the temporary support of the strip bears composite.
  • the composite belt is conveyed by a conveyor belt 10 around a rotary heating grille 11 which is driven in counterclockwise rotation in Figure 1.
  • the conveyor belt 10 is consisting of an endless band which rolls around a plurality of rollers 12, some of these rollers being movable to adjust the tension of the belt 10 and therefore the pressure exerted by the belt 10 against the grille heating 11.
  • the composite belt comes into contact with the conveyor belt 10 by its temporary support, to avoid any sticking between the plastic film and the carpet.
  • the machine 8 also comprises at least one coil 13, for example two spools, from which a strip 14 of pre-printed paper is unwound with a pattern made of sublimable ink.
  • the band of pre-printed paper 14 is guided by a roller 15 upstream of the belt 10 and the heating grille 11.
  • the machine 8 has two other coils 16 arranged downstream of the heating calender 11 and the belt conveyor 10, on which reels 16 is wound the paper 14, after the sublimation transfer of ink onto the plastic film of the strip composite.
  • Pre-printed paper 14 is sandwiched between the calender heater 11 and the front of the plastic film of the composite strip which is pressurized by the conveyor belt 10 against the calender heating 11.
  • the pattern consisting of sublimable ink is pre-printed on the side of the paper 14 which is intended to come into contact with the front of the plastic film of the composite strip, to allow transfer by sublimation.
  • the sublimation transfer takes place around of the heating grille 11, over an angular travel of approximately 300 °, at a temperature between 180 and 230 ° C, under regular pressure generally less than 40 kPa exerted by the conveyor belt 10, and for an approximate duration of 5 to 40 s.
  • the sublimable ink of the paper pre-printed 14 contains softening or non-sticking agents, for avoid sticking of the pre-printed paper 14 on the plastic film.
  • the plastic film has a flocked surface intended for be printed, there is no need to provide such agents.
  • the structure of the printing machine 8 will not be described further in detail, because it is known per se.
  • each cylinder 21 or 22 has a double envelope on its side wall, to circulate inside this double wraps water, for example at 10 ° C, to cool the strip printed composite 19, up to a temperature generally understood between 20 and 30 ° C.
  • the composite strip passes first around the upper cylinder 21, in coming into contact through its temporary support, in order to avoid sticking of the film plastic printed against this cylinder. Then, the composite strip already cooled passes around the lower cylinder 22, on the side of its plastic film printed, which no longer risks sticking to cylinder 22.
  • the path of the strip composite around the two cylinders 21 and 22 has a configuration substantially S-shaped. At the outlet of the cooling station 20, the plastic film previously printed no longer adheres to the strip of temporary support, due to the non-stick properties of this last.
  • the two overlapping bands pass through a station winding 23 which has a coil 24 around which is wrapped the printed plastic film strip 104 and a spool 25 around from which the provisional support strip is wound 3.
  • the two superimposed strips 3 and 104 pass between two rollers 27 downstream of which the two strips are separated in direction of their respective coil. Coils 24 and 25 and rollers 27 are rotated.
  • the provisional support strip 3 is first unrolled from the coil 2 all the way inside the device to the coil winding 25, over a total length of about 20 to 30 meters. Then, the strip of plastic film 4 is unwound from the reel 17, on a length of about 2 to 3 meters to the heating drum 7, because from from this location the plastic film strip 4 adheres to the support strip temporary 3, which allows its training through the entire device.
  • the temporary support strip 3 which is wound on the reel 25, can be reused for the subsequent printing of a new plastic film strip.
  • a checkerboard pattern 30 is pre-printed on the strip of printing paper 14, the checkerboard pattern 30 comprising in its square central an equilateral triangle whose vertex is directed to the left.
  • Sure this strip of printing paper 14, is also printed a mark consisting of a longitudinal line 31 and a transverse line 32, for locate the pre-printed pattern 30 on said strip 14.
  • thermoforming 50 comprising a spherical cavity 51 and holes 52 connected to an external suction system, which allows the film to be pressed plastic 104 softened by heating on the walls of the tool 50 this tool thermoforming being known per se, we have not represented the punch heating, the shape of which can be combined with the cavity 51.
  • One portion plane of the plastic film strip 104 is heated, then thermoformed into a spherical non-planar surface 114 by the thermoforming tool 50, this distortion causing the checkerboard pattern 131 to stretch, as visible in Figure 5.
  • the transformation has been indicated in FIG. 4 by dashed arrows of several elementary zones 130a to 130d of the flat plastic film in deformed elementary areas 131a to 131d on the spherical surface thermoformed 114.
  • the set of elementary deformed zones forms thus the deformed pattern 131 visible in FIG. 5.
  • thermoformed portion of the plastic film we determine, by reverse transformation, by anamorphosis, the preformed pattern 40 which is pre-printed upside down on a portion 114 of the printing paper 14, this portion 114 corresponding to the portion intended to be thermoformed, as shown in figure 6.
  • This deformation is calculated by computer using suitable software.
  • the plastic film strip 104 is printed with the preformed pattern 140 by not sublimation transfer of the preformed pattern 40 from the printing paper 14 as visible in FIG. 7.
  • each elementary zone 140a to 140d of the flat portion of the plastic film is transformed into an elementary zone 141a to 141d on the surface not plane 114 obtained by thermoforming, as indicated by the arrows in dashed in Figure 8.
  • thermoforming step of the printed plastic film strip 104 said strip is routed sequentially over the cavity of thermoforming 51, so as to precisely position the portion to thermoform 114 above said cavity 51. Precise positioning of the portion 114 is obtained by optical reading of the longitudinal position and transverse of this portion 14, using the references 31 and 32 above.
  • the deformation by thermoforming of the portion 114 is also accompanied by a variation color tones depending on the local stretching rate of the film plastic, which also requires pre-compensating for these variations in color, when preprinting the printing paper 14.

Abstract

A temporary support (3) is applied to the rear of the film (4), initially non-adherent, being e.g. paper. Heating softens the plastic, inducing temporary adhesion. The paper maintains film dimensional stability, during subsequent thermal printing. A pattern is transferred by sublimation from an impregnated printing paper (14). Set heat and pressure are applied, printing the design onto the film. Once the design is printed onto the front of the film, the film and paper are cooled, permitting their separation. An Independent claim is included for the corresponding continuous printing equipment. Preferred features: The temperature promoting adhesion between paper and film is 100-200 degrees C, preferably 170-180 degrees C. Sublimation transfer temperature is 170-230 degrees C. The result is cooled to 20-30 degrees C. The printing paper (14) is pre-impregnated with sublimating colors, with a small content of softening or parting agents, to prevent adhesion between film and printing paper during sublimation printing. A flocked plastic film is prepared for printing, by applying a layer of adhesive to its rear, onto which white fibers are flocked

Description

L'invention concerne un procédé d'impression en continu d'un film plastique plan, flocké ou non, le dispositif pour sa mise en oeuvre et le film plastique imprimé obtenu par ce procédé.The invention relates to a continuous printing process for a film. flat plastic, flocked or not, the device for its implementation and the film printed plastic obtained by this process.

L'invention concerne également un procédé d'impression en continu d'un motif coloré ou non sur un film plastique plan, flocké ou non, destiné à être thermoformé en une surface non plane déterminée, ainsi que le film plastique plan imprimé et le film plastique thermoformé obtenus par ce procédé.The invention also relates to a method for continuously printing a colored pattern or not on a flat plastic film, flocked or not, intended to be thermoformed into a specific non-planar surface, as well as the film printed plane plastic and the thermoformed plastic film obtained by this process.

L'impression par transfert par sublimation est déjà connue en tant que telle et consiste, dans un premier temps, à imprimer sur un papier-support des motifs à partir d'encres constituées de colorants sublimables qui sont aptes à se vaporiser à partir d'une certaine température et à venir se fixer de façon permanente sur des matières synthétiques, par exemple des polymères en polyester ou polyamide, le procédé d'impression du papier-support pouvant être quelconque, par exemple une impression offset, une impression héliographique ou flexographique, ou bien une impression sérigraphique à cadre plat ou rotatif. Puis, dans un deuxième temps, les motifs en colorants sublimables préalablement imprimés sur le papier-support sont transférés par sublimation, en mettant en contact, sous une pression régulière et une température déterminées, généralement à l'aide d'une calandre thermique, le papier pré-imprimé avec le support textile à imprimer, généralement pendant une durée de 5 à 40 secondes. La calandre thermique peut comporter, dans le cas d'une impression en formats, une presse chauffante à plateaux horizontaux, ou dans le cas d'une impression en continu à partir de rouleaux de papier imprimé et de matière synthétique à imprimer, un cylindre chauffant rotatif associé à un tapis roulant sous tension.Sublimation transfer printing is already known as such and consists, firstly, in printing on a backing paper of patterns from inks made up of sublimable dyes which are suitable to vaporize from a certain temperature and come to settle permanently on synthetic materials, for example polyester or polyamide polymers, the process for printing backing paper which can be any, for example offset printing, heliographic or flexographic printing, or else a printing screen printing with flat or rotating frame. Then, in a second step, the patterns in sublimable dyes previously printed on the backing paper are transferred by sublimation, by putting in contact, under a regular pressure and temperature determined, usually using of a thermal calender, the paper pre-printed with the textile support to print, usually for a period of 5 to 40 seconds. The grille thermal may include, in the case of printing in formats, a heating press with horizontal plates, or in the case of printing continuously from rolls of printed paper and synthetic material to print, a rotary heating cylinder associated with a conveyor belt under voltage.

Toutefois, l'impression par transfert par sublimation n'est pas adaptée pour imprimer des films plastiques, pour les raisons suivantes :

  • les films plastiques, et plus particulièrement les films extrudés, présentent des défauts de planéité, ce qui rend difficile leur impression en continu, à partir d'un rouleau de film plastique,
  • les films plastiques, et plus particulièrement les films plastiques destinés à être thermoformés, tels que les films en polychlorure de vinyle (PVC) ou en polystyrène, présentent une sensibilité thermique telle qu'ils fondent et perdent ainsi toute cohésion, lorsqu'ils sont soumis à une impression par transfert par sublimation à une température voisine de 200° C, ce qui provoque une fluctuation dimensionnelle anarchique du film plastique lors de l'impression alors que le papier d'impression pré-imprimé ne subit aucune déformation, provoquant ainsi une impression floue et irrégulière,
  • la fusion du film plastique lors de l'impression provoque également le collage du film plastique sur le tapis convoyeur de la machine d'impression,
  • la fusion du film plastique non flocké conduit également au collage du film plastique au papier d'impression pré-imprimé.
However, sublimation transfer printing is not suitable for printing plastic films, for the following reasons:
  • plastic films, and more particularly extruded films, have flatness defects, which makes it difficult to print them continuously, from a roll of plastic film,
  • plastic films, and more particularly plastic films intended to be thermoformed, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polystyrene films, have a thermal sensitivity such that they melt and thus lose all cohesion when they are subjected to sublimation transfer printing at a temperature in the region of 200 ° C, which causes an anarchic dimensional fluctuation of the plastic film during printing while the pre-printed printing paper does not undergo any deformation, thus causing printing blurred and irregular,
  • the melting of the plastic film during printing also causes the plastic film to stick to the conveyor belt of the printing machine,
  • the fusion of the non-flocked plastic film also leads to the sticking of the plastic film to the pre-printed printing paper.

Ce procédé d'impression par transfert par sublimation peut être utilisé pour imprimer certaines matières plastiques, à condition d'appliquer préalablement une couche de vernis sur la matière plastique à imprimer, ou de traiter préalablement le papier d'impression pré-imprimé de façon à le rendre anti-adhérent. Cette méthode d'impression est notamment utilisée pour imprimer des pièces plastiques injectées ou formées, telles que des flacons, des skis, des stylos, des casques, et dans ce cas, l'impression est réalisée au moyen d'un outil chauffant épousant la forme de la pièce plastique à imprimer.This sublimation transfer printing process can be used to print certain plastics, provided you apply beforehand a layer of varnish on the plastic to be printed, or pre-process the pre-printed printing paper so that it make it non-stick. This printing method is used in particular for printing injected or formed plastic parts, such as bottles, skis, pens, helmets, and in this case, the impression is made by means of a heating tool conforming to the shape of the part plastic to print.

Une autre méthode d'impression directe des films plastiques consiste à utiliser les procédés connus du type flexographique ou sérigraphique, mais dans ce cas, l'encre ne pénètre pas dans la matière plastique, de sorte que les motifs imprimés présentent une faible résistance au grattage et aux frottements. En outre, ces procédés d'impression ne permettent pas d'obtenir les effets graphiques les plus fins, par exemple les impressions en quadrichromie de type photographiques.Another method of direct printing of plastic films is to use known methods of the flexographic or screen printing type, but in this case, the ink does not get into the plastic, so that the printed patterns have low resistance to scratching and friction. In addition, these printing methods do not allow obtain the finest graphic effects, for example prints in four-color photographic type.

Encore une autre méthode connue pour imprimer les films plastiques, consiste à thermocoller sur la surface à imprimer du film plastique un support préalablement imprimé, par exemple un film en polyester imprimé en héliographie, puis contrecollé à chaud sur le film plastique en sortie de l'extrudeuse.Yet another known method for printing plastic films, consists of fusing a plastic film on the printing surface previously printed support, for example a printed polyester film in heliography, then hot laminated on the plastic film leaving the extruder.

D'autre part, lorsque les films plastiques à imprimer sont destinés à être thermoformés, par exemple pour former des cales de protection, des pièces pour l'industrie automobile, des éléments de conditionnement et d'emballage, les motifs imprimés sur le film plastique plan subissent la déformation du film plastique en une surface non plane, provoquant une modification des contours et de la configuration du motif imprimé, ainsi qu'une variation des teintes de coloris, en raison de l'étirement du film plastique lors de son thermoformage. Lorsque le motif qui doit figurer sur la surface non plane thermoformée est un dessin géométrique, des lettres ou des chiffres, les déformations du motif peuvent devenir inacceptables.On the other hand, when the plastic films to be printed are intended to be thermoformed, for example to form protective shims, parts for the automotive industry, packaging elements and packaging, the patterns printed on the flat plastic film undergo the deformation of the plastic film in an uneven surface, causing a modification of the contours and configuration of the printed pattern, as well than a variation in color tones, due to the stretching of the film plastic during its thermoforming. When the reason which must appear on the thermoformed non-planar surface is a geometric design, letters or of figures, distortions of the pattern may become unacceptable.

L'invention a pour premier but de proposer un procédé d'impression en continu d'un film plastique, flocké ou non, par un procédé d'impression à transfert par sublimation, tout en ayant une qualité, une finesse et une netteté d'impression élevées, par exemple du type quadrichromie, et en évitant tout collage entre le film plastique aussi bien avec le tapis convoyeur qu'avec le papier d'impression pré-imprimé.The primary object of the invention is to propose a printing method using continuous of a plastic film, flocked or not, by a printing process with sublimation transfer, while having quality, finesse and high printing clarity, for example of the four-color type, and avoiding any sticking between the plastic film as well with the conveyor belt than with preprinted printing paper.

Un deuxième but de l'invention est de proposer un procédé d'impression d'un motif sur un film plastique plan, flocké ou non, destiné à être thermoformé en une surface non plane déterminée, qui permette de compenser les déformations du motif et/ou les variations de teintes des coloris sur la surface non plane thermoformée.A second object of the invention is to propose a printing process a pattern on a flat plastic film, flocked or not, intended to be thermoformed into a specific non-planar surface, which allows compensate for the deformations of the pattern and / or the variations in color of the color on the non-planar thermoformed surface.

Pour atteindre le premier but précité, l'invention a pour premier objet un procédé d'impression en continu d'un film plastique, flocké ou non, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à :

  • appliquer sur le verso du film plastique un support provisoire anti-adhérent, par exemple en papier,
  • chauffer l'ensemble du film plastique et du support provisoire à une température telle que le film plastique atteigne son point de ramollissement pour coller temporairement au support provisoire, de façon que ce dernier assure le maintien dimensionnel du film plastique lors de l'étape d'impression thermique successive,
  • transférer par sublimation un motif constitué d'une encre sublimable préimprimée sur un papier d'impression, par contact sous une pression et une température déterminées avec le recto du film plastique thermocollé au support provisoire,
  • refroidir l'ensemble du film plastique ainsi imprimé et du support provisoire à une température permettant le décollement du support provisoire.
To achieve the above-mentioned first object, the invention has as its first object a continuous printing process of a plastic film, flocked or not, characterized in that it consists in:
  • apply a temporary non-stick support, for example paper, to the back of the plastic film
  • heating the entire plastic film and the temporary support to a temperature such that the plastic film reaches its softening point to temporarily bond to the temporary support, so that the latter ensures the dimensional maintenance of the plastic film during the step of successive thermal printing,
  • transfer by sublimation a pattern consisting of a sublimable ink pre-printed on a printing paper, by contact under a pressure and a temperature determined with the front of the plastic film heat-sealed to the temporary support,
  • cool the entire plastic film thus printed and the temporary support to a temperature allowing the temporary support to detach.

Avantageusement, la température pour thermocoller le film plastique au support provisoire est comprise entre 100 et 200° C, de préférence entre 170 et 180° C. La température pour le transfert par sublimation peut être comprise entre 170 et 230° C. La température à laquelle l'ensemble du film plastique imprimé et du support provisoire est refroidi peut être de l'ordre de 20 à 30° C.Advantageously, the temperature for fusing the plastic film to the temporary support is between 100 and 200 ° C, preferably between 170 and 180 ° C. The temperature for sublimation transfer can be between 170 and 230 ° C. The temperature at which the entire film printed plastic and temporary support is cooled may be around from 20 to 30 ° C.

Dans une forme de réalisation, le procédé de l'invention consiste, pour un film plastique non flocké, à préimprimer le papier d'impression avec une encre contenant des colorants sublimables, avec une faible teneur en agents adoucissants ou anti-adhérents, pour éviter le collage entre le film plastique et le papier d'impression, lors de l'étape d'impression par transfert par sublimation. Ces agents peuvent être choisis parmi les silicones, les acides gras organiques et les stéarates de chrome.In one embodiment, the method of the invention consists, for a unflocked plastic film, to preprint the printing paper with a ink containing sublimable dyes, with a low content of softening or non-sticking agents, to avoid sticking between the film plastic and printing paper, during the transfer printing step by sublimation. These agents can be chosen from silicones, organic fatty acids and chromium stearates.

Dans une autre forme de réalisation, le procédé consiste à préparer un film plastique flocké, en appliquant sur le recto du film plastique une couche adhésive et en flockant des fibres de couleur blanche sur ladite couche adhésive. De préférence, la couche adhésive est une résine polymère en émulsion aqueuse ou en solution organique, et les flocks sont de préférence des fibres en polyamide ou en polyester, avec une longueur comprise entre 0,3 et 3,0 mm et un titre compris entre 0,5 et 20 Dtex (0,5 et 20.10-7 Kg.m-1).In another embodiment, the method consists in preparing a flocked plastic film, by applying an adhesive layer to the front of the plastic film and by flocking white fibers on said adhesive layer. Preferably, the adhesive layer is a polymer resin in aqueous emulsion or in organic solution, and the flocks are preferably fibers of polyamide or polyester, with a length between 0.3 and 3.0 mm and a titer between 0.5 and 20 Dtex (0.5 and 20.10 -7 Kg.m -1) .

Le film plastique peut être un film calandré, extrudé ou co-extrudé, choisi parmi les résines polymères à base de polychlorure de vinyle, de polystyrène, de polypropylène, d'acrylique butadiène-styrène (ABS), de polyuréthanne, de polyester, de polycarbonate, de polyamide ou de tout mélange de ces derniers.The plastic film can be a calendered, extruded or co-extruded film, chosen among the polymeric resins based on polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, acrylic butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyurethane, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide or any mixture of these.

Le papier d'impression peut être imprimé par impression offset, flexographique, héliographique, sérigraphique, ou par jet d'encre.Printing paper can be printed by offset printing, flexographic, heliographic, screen printing, or inkjet.

L'invention vise également le dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé décrit ci-dessus, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte :

  • une station de déroulement, comportant une bobine pour une bande de film plastique, flocké ou non, et une bobine pour une bande de support provisoire,
  • une station de chauffage à l'entrée de laquelle la bande de support provisoire est appliquée contre le verso de la bande de film plastique, l'ensemble constitué par lesdites bandes superposées venant en contact par la bande de support provisoire contre un tambour chauffant entraíné en rotation, afin de délivrer en sortie une bande composite constituée du film plastique thermocollé au support provisoire,
  • une machine de thermo-impression, comportant un tapis convoyeur sous tension qui vient en contact avec le support provisoire de ladite bande composite, une calandre chauffante entraínée en rotation, et au moins une bobine pour une bande de papier pré-imprimé d'un motif constitué d'une encre sublimable, ladite bande de papier pré-imprimé étant appliquée sur le recto du film plastique de ladite bande composite, en amont de la calandre chauffante, de façon que le tapis convoyeur puisse plaquer sous une pression déterminée ladite bande composite recouverte du papier pré-imprimé contre la calandre chauffante, pour transférer par sublimation l'encre sublimable sur le recto du film plastique, le papier d'impression étant séparé de la bande composite imprimée en aval de la calandre chauffante,
  • une station de refroidissement pour refroidir la bande composite imprimée à une température telle que la bande de support provisoire puisse être décollée de la bande de film plastique imprimée,
  • une station d'enroulement à l'entrée de laquelle la bande de support provisoire est décollée de la bande de film plastique imprimée, chaque bande étant enroulée sur une bobine respective qui est entraínée en rotation.
The invention also relates to the device for implementing the method described above, characterized in that it comprises:
  • an unwinding station, comprising a reel for a strip of plastic film, flocked or not, and a reel for a temporary support strip,
  • a heating station at the entrance of which the temporary support strip is applied against the back of the plastic film strip, the assembly consisting of said superimposed strips coming into contact by the temporary support strip against a heating drum driven in rotation, in order to deliver at the output a composite strip consisting of the plastic film heat-bonded to the temporary support,
  • a thermal printing machine, comprising a conveyor belt under tension which comes into contact with the temporary support of said composite strip, a heating calender driven in rotation, and at least one reel for a strip of paper pre-printed with a pattern consisting of a sublimable ink, said strip of pre-printed paper being applied to the front of the plastic film of said composite strip, upstream of the heating calender, so that the conveyor belt can press under said pressure said covered composite strip pre-printed paper against the heating calender, for sublimation transfer of the sublimable ink onto the front of the plastic film, the printing paper being separated from the composite strip printed downstream of the heating calender,
  • a cooling station for cooling the printed composite strip to a temperature such that the temporary support strip can be peeled off from the printed plastic film strip,
  • a winding station at the entrance of which the temporary support strip is detached from the printed plastic film strip, each strip being wound on a respective reel which is rotated.

Avantageusement, la station de refroidissement comporte deux cylindres à double enveloppe, chaque cylindre comportant une circulation d'un agent réfrigérant, par exemple de l'eau, dans la double enveloppe, de façon que ladite bande composite imprimée vienne en contact avec le premier cylindre par sa bande de support provisoire, puis avec le deuxième cylindre par sa bande de film plastique imprimée.Advantageously, the cooling station comprises two cylinders with double envelope, each cylinder comprising an agent circulation refrigerant, for example water, in the jacket, so that said printed composite strip comes into contact with the first cylinder by its provisional support strip, then with the second cylinder by its printed plastic film strip.

L'invention a encore pour objet une bande de film plastique imprimée, caractérisée en ce quelle est directement obtenue par le procédé précité.Another subject of the invention is a printed plastic film strip, characterized in that it is directly obtained by the above process.

Pour atteindre le deuxième but précité, l'invention a pour deuxième objet un procédé d'impression en continu d'un motif, coloré ou non, sur un film plastique plan, flocké ou non, destiné à être thermoformé en une surface non plane déterminée, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à :

  • diviser géométriquement en zones élémentaires la portion du film plastique plan à thermoformer,
  • déterminer, pour chaque zone élémentaire du film, le taux d'étirement local du film lors de son thermoformage en la surface non plane,
  • déterminer, pour chaque zone élémentaire du film, la partie de motif déformé à imprimer sur la surface du film plastique plan, cette partie de motif déformé étant définie par transformation par anamorphose du motif final devant figurer sur la surface non plane thermoformée, en tenant compte du taux d'étirement local du film plastique par lequel on passe de la partie de motif déformé à la partie de motif final,
  • imprimer, sur la surface de la portion à thermoformer du film plastique plan, le motif déformé défini par l'ensemble des parties de motif déformé déterminées à l'étape précédente.
To achieve the second aforementioned object, the invention has as a second object a process for continuously printing a pattern, colored or not, on a flat plastic film, flocked or not, intended to be thermoformed into a specific non-planar surface , characterized in that it consists of:
  • geometrically divide the portion of the flat plastic film to be thermoformed into elementary zones,
  • determine, for each elementary zone of the film, the local stretching rate of the film during its thermoforming in the non-planar surface,
  • determine, for each elementary zone of the film, the part of deformed pattern to be printed on the surface of the flat plastic film, this part of deformed pattern being defined by transformation by anamorphosis of the final pattern to appear on the non-planar thermoformed surface, taking into account the local stretching rate of the plastic film by which one passes from the part of the deformed pattern to the part of the final pattern,
  • printing, on the surface of the portion to be thermoformed with the flat plastic film, the deformed pattern defined by all of the deformed pattern parts determined in the previous step.

Avantageusement, le procédé consiste à déterminer, pour chaque zone élémentaire du film, la teinte des coloris de la partie de motif déformé, en fonction de la teinte de coloris souhaitée du motif final et du taux d'étirement local du film par lequel on passe de la partie de motif déformé à la partie de motif final. Advantageously, the method consists in determining, for each zone elementary of the film, the color tint of the part of the deformed pattern, in depending on the desired color shade of the final pattern and the rate of local stretching of the film by which we pass from the part of the deformed pattern to the final pattern part.

Selon une autre caractéristique, le procédé consiste à imprimer simultanément sur la portion du film plan autre que celle à thermoformer, un repère pour localiser précisément la portion à thermoformer du film plastique plan. Ledit repère à imprimer peut comporter une ligne s'étendant le long d'un bord du film plastique plan et un trait s'étendant transversalement à partir de cette ligne.According to another characteristic, the method consists in printing simultaneously on the portion of the flat film other than that to be thermoformed, a marker to precisely locate the portion to be thermoformed of the film flat plastic. Said mark to be printed may include a line extending along an edge of the flat plastic film and a line extending transversely from this line.

De préférence, l'étape d'impression précitée du film plastique plan consiste à :

  • appliquer sur le verso du film plastique plan un support provisoire anti-adhérent,
  • chauffer l'ensemble du film plastique plan et du support provisoire à une température telle que le film plastique atteigne son point de ramollissement pour coller temporairement au support provisoire, de façon que ce dernier assure le maintien dimensionnel du film plastique lors de l'étape d'impression thermique successive,
  • transférer par sublimation le motif déformé pré-imprimé à l'envers avec une encre sublimable sur un papier d'impression, par mise en contact sous une pression et une température déterminées dudit papier d'impression avec le recto du film plastique thermocollé au support provisoire,
  • refroidir l'ensemble du film plastique plan ainsi imprimé et le support provisoire à une température permettant le décollement du support provisoire.
Preferably, the aforementioned printing step of the flat plastic film consists in:
  • apply a temporary non-stick support to the back of the flat plastic film,
  • heating the entire flat plastic film and the temporary support to a temperature such that the plastic film reaches its softening point to temporarily stick to the temporary support, so that the latter ensures the dimensional maintenance of the plastic film during step d successive thermal printing,
  • transfer by sublimation the deformed pattern pre-printed upside down with a sublimable ink on a printing paper, by contacting under a pressure and a determined temperature of said printing paper with the front of the plastic film heat-sealed to the temporary support ,
  • cooling the entire flat plastic film thus printed and the temporary support to a temperature allowing the temporary support to peel off.

Dans une forme de réalisation, le procédé de l'invention consiste, pour un film plastique non flocké, à préimprimer le papier d'impression avec une encre contenant des colorants sublimables, avec une faible teneur en agents adoucissants ou anti-adhérents, pour éviter le collage entre le film plastique et le papier d'impression, lors de l'étape d'impression par transfert par sublimation. Ces agents peuvent être choisis parmi les silicones, les acides gras organiques et les stéarates de chrome.In one embodiment, the method of the invention consists, for a unflocked plastic film, to preprint the printing paper with a ink containing sublimable dyes, with a low content of softening or non-sticking agents, to avoid sticking between the film plastic and printing paper, during the transfer printing step by sublimation. These agents can be chosen from silicones, organic fatty acids and chromium stearates.

Dans une autre forme de réalisation, le procédé consiste à préparer un film plastique flocké, en appliquant sur le recto du film plastique une couche adhésive et en flockant des fibres de couleur blanche sur ladite couche adhésive. De préférence, la couche adhésive est une résine polymère en émulsion aqueuse ou en solution organique, et les flocks sont de préférence des fibres en polyamide ou en polyester, avec une longueur comprise entre 0,3 et 3,0 mm et un titre compris entre 0,5 et 20 Dtex (0,5 et 20.10-7 Kg. m- 1).In another embodiment, the method consists in preparing a flocked plastic film, by applying an adhesive layer to the front of the plastic film and by flocking white fibers on said adhesive layer. Preferably, the adhesive layer is a polymer resin in aqueous emulsion or in organic solution, and the flocks are preferably fibers of polyamide or polyester, with a length between 0.3 and 3.0 mm and a titer between 0.5 and 20 Dtex (0.5 and 20.10 -7 Kg. M - 1) .

Le film plastique peut être un film calandré, extrudé ou co-extrudé, choisi parmi les résines polymères à base de polychlorure de vinyle, de polystyrène, de polypropylène, d'acrylique butadiène-styrène (ABS), de polyuréthanne, de polyester, de polycarbonate, de polyamide ou de tout mélange de ces derniers.The plastic film can be a calendered, extruded or co-extruded film, chosen among the polymeric resins based on polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, acrylic butadiene-styrene (ABS), polyurethane, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide or any mixture of these.

Le papier d'impression peut être imprimé par impression offset, flexographique, héliographique, sérigraphique, ou par jet d'encre.Printing paper can be printed by offset printing, flexographic, heliographic, screen printing, or inkjet.

Dans une étape ultérieure, le procédé de l'invention consiste à positionner latéralement et transversalement la portion de surface à thermoformer du film plastique plan sur la surface duquel est imprimé le motif déformé, en vis-à-vis de la forme de l'outil de thermoformage, au moyen du repère imprimé précité, et à thermoformer avec ledit outil de thermoformage uniquement ladite portion en une surface non plane sur laquelle figure le motif final souhaité. Avantageusement, le procédé consiste à détecter optiquement la ligne longitudinale du repère pour guider latéralement le film plastique plan et le trait transversal du repère pour arrêter, dans la direction longitudinale, le film plastique plan avec sa portion à thermoformer en face de la forme de l'outil de thermoformage.In a subsequent step, the method of the invention consists in positioning laterally and transversely the portion of surface to be thermoformed flat plastic film on the surface of which the deformed pattern is printed, in vis-à-vis the shape of the thermoforming tool, by means of the mark aforementioned print, and to be thermoformed with said thermoforming tool only said portion in a non-planar surface on which the desired final pattern. Advantageously, the method consists in detecting optically the longitudinal line of the reference to laterally guide the flat plastic film and the transverse line of the marker to stop, in the longitudinal direction, the flat plastic film with its portion at thermoform in front of the shape of the thermoforming tool.

De préférence, le procédé consiste à calculer les parties de motif déformé par ordinateur et à pré-imprimer le papier d'impression par une machine d'impression à jet d'encre pilotée par ledit ordinateur.Preferably, the method consists in calculating the parts of distorted pattern by computer and to pre-print the printing paper by a machine inkjet printing controlled by said computer.

L'impression par jet d'encre permet de réaliser une impression numérisée dans des conditions optimales, dans la mesure où il n'est pas nécessaire de réaliser des outils d'impression spécifiques, tels que cylindres, plaques offset, cadres sérigraphiques, et où l'impression à jet d'encre peut être directement pilotée par l'ordinateur équipé du logiciel de calcul des déformations du motif. Inkjet printing enables digital printing under optimal conditions, since it is not necessary to make specific printing tools, such as cylinders, plates offset, screen printing, and where inkjet printing can be directly controlled by the computer equipped with the software for calculating distortions of the pattern.

L'invention vise également le film plastique imprimé à surface non plane thermoformée,caractérisé en ce qu'il est directement obtenu par le procédé précité.The invention also relates to the printed plastic film with a non-planar surface. thermoformed, characterized in that it is directly obtained by the process cited above.

D'autres buts, détails, caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention seront décrits plus en détail dans la description détaillée qui va suivre d'un mode de réalisation particulier actuellement préféré de l'invention, donné uniquement à titre illustratif et non limitatif, en référence aux dessins schématiques annexés, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique en élévation d'un exemple de réalisation du dispositif de mise en oeuvre du procédé d'impression en continu, conformément au premier objet de l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue partielle et en plan d'une bande de papier pré-imprimé avec un motif à l'envers, colorée ou non, constituée d'une encre sublimable, destinée à être utilisée dans le procédé conforme au premier objet de l'invention ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue partielle et en plan d'une bande de film plastique imprimée par transfert par sublimation à partir de la bande de papier préimprimée de la figure 2 ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale suivant la ligne IV de la figure 5, représentant le thermoformage de la bande de film plastique imprimée de la figure 3 dans un outil de thermoformage à cavité sphérique ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue partielle et de dessus suivant la flèche V de la figure 4, représentant la bande de film plastique thermoformée avec un motif déformé sur sa surface sphérique ;
  • les figures 6 et 7 sont des vues analogues aux figures 2 et 3 respectivement, mais avec un motif prédéformé en vue du thermoformage, conformément au deuxième objet de l'invention ; et
  • les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues analogues aux figures 4 et 5 respectivement, avec un motif non déformé sur la bande de film plastique thermoformée.
Other objects, details, characteristics and advantages of the invention will be described in more detail in the detailed description which follows of a particular currently preferred embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, in reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of an embodiment of the device for implementing the continuous printing process, according to the first object of the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of a strip of paper pre-printed with an upside-down pattern, colored or not, consisting of a sublimable ink, intended to be used in the process according to the first object of the invention;
  • Figure 3 is a partial plan view of a strip of plastic film printed by sublimation transfer from the strip of preprinted paper of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line IV of Figure 5, showing the thermoforming of the printed plastic film strip of Figure 3 in a thermoforming tool with a spherical cavity;
  • Figure 5 is a partial top view along arrow V of Figure 4, showing the strip of thermoformed plastic film with a deformed pattern on its spherical surface;
  • Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 2 and 3 respectively, but with a preformed pattern for thermoforming, in accordance with the second object of the invention; and
  • Figures 8 and 9 are views similar to Figures 4 and 5 respectively, with an undeformed pattern on the strip of thermoformed plastic film.

Un exemple particulier de réalisation du dispositif de mise en oeuvre du procédé d'impression en continu d'un film plastique par transfert par sublimation, va maintenant être décrit en référence à la figure 1.A particular example of embodiment of the device for implementing the continuous printing process of a plastic film by transfer by sublimation, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1.

Ce dispositif comporte une station de déroulement 1 qui supporte de manière rotative une bobine 2 à partir de laquelle est déroulée une bande de support provisoire 3 par exemple en papier, et au-dessus de la bobine 2, une bobine 17 à partir de laquelle est déroulée une bande de film plastique 4, flockée ou non. Le support provisoire est en matériau peu sensible à la chaleur, afin d'assurer une stabilité dimensionnelle au film plastique, lors de l'opération de sublimation ultérieure, ce matériau présentant une caractéristique anti-adhérente à température ambiante, pour faciliter le décollement du film plastique après l'impression thermique, ainsi qu'une aptitude à adhérer à chaud avec le film plastique lorsque ce dernier subit une fusion, lors des opérations de chauffage et de transfert par sublimation ultérieures.This device comprises an unwinding station 1 which supports a spool 2 from which a strip is unwound temporary support 3, for example made of paper, and above the reel 2, a reel 17 from which a strip of plastic film is unwound 4, flocked or not. The temporary support is made of a material that is not very sensitive to heat, in order to ensure dimensional stability to the plastic film, when of the subsequent sublimation operation, this material having a non-stick feature at room temperature, to facilitate detachment of the plastic film after thermal printing, as well as ability to adhere hot with the plastic film when the latter undergoes a fusion, during the heating and transfer operations by sublimation later.

Les bandes précitées 3 et 4 passent ensuite dans une station de chauffage 5 qui comporte trois rouleaux de guidage 6, agencés en amont d'un tambour chauffant rotatif 7, qui est entraíné en rotation dans le sens horaire indiqué par la flèche F sur la figure 1.The aforementioned strips 3 and 4 then pass through a heating station 5 which has three guide rollers 6, arranged upstream of a drum rotary heater 7, which is rotated clockwise indicated by arrow F in Figure 1.

A l'entrée de la station de chauffage 5, les bandes 3 et 4 passent sous un premier rouleau 6, le recto de la bande de film plastique 4 venant en contact avec le rouleau 6 et la bande de support provisoire 3 venant en contact avec le verso de la dite bande 4. L'ensemble des bandes 3 et 4 ainsi superposées est acheminé horizontalement jusqu'à un deuxième rouleau 6 contre lequel prend toujours appui le recto de la bande de film plastique 4, lesdites bandes 3 et 4 effectuant un virage à 90° vers le haut autour de ce deuxième rouleau 6. Puis, les bandes superposées 3 et 4 effectuent un virage à 180° autour du troisième rouleau 6 qui est situé à proximité du tambour chauffant 7, de façon que la bande de support provisoire 3 vienne en contact avec le cylindre chauffant 7, pour éviter le collage par ramollissement du film plastique sur le tambour chauffant 7. L'ensemble des bandes 3 et 4 s'enroule autour du tambour chauffant 7, sur un angle d'environ 270°, de façon que la bande de film plastique 4 soit portée à une température d'environ 200° C lorsque l'ensemble quitte le tambour chauffant 7. A la sortie du tambour chauffant 7, la bande de film plastique adhère, du fait de sa fusion, à la bande de support provisoire 3 qui assure un maintien dimensionnel à ladite bande de film plastique 4, l'ensemble formant ainsi une bande composite 18 dont les deux couches sont temporairement collées ensembles.At the entrance to the heating station 5, bands 3 and 4 pass under a first roll 6, the front of the plastic film strip 4 coming in contact with the roller 6 and the temporary support strip 3 coming in contact with the back of said strip 4. All of strips 3 and 4 as well superimposed is conveyed horizontally to a second roller 6 against which the front of the plastic film strip 4 is always supported, said strips 3 and 4 making a 90 ° turn upwards around this second roller 6. Then, the superimposed strips 3 and 4 carry out a 180 ° turn around the third roller 6 which is located near the heating drum 7, so that the temporary support strip 3 comes in contact with the heating cylinder 7, to avoid sticking by softening of the plastic film on the heating drum 7. The assembly strips 3 and 4 wrap around the heating drum 7, at an angle about 270 °, so that the plastic film strip 4 is brought to a temperature of around 200 ° C when the unit leaves the drum heating 7. At the outlet of the heating drum 7, the strip of plastic film adheres, due to its fusion, to the temporary support strip 3 which ensures dimensional support to said strip of plastic film 4, the assembly thus forming a composite strip 18 whose two layers are temporarily glued together.

Ladite bande composite 18 est acheminée horizontalement en aval du tambour chauffant 7 vers une machine de thermo-impression 8. Cette machine de thermo-impression 8 comporte à son entrée un rouleau de guidage 9 contre lequel prend appui le support provisoire de la bande composite. Puis, la bande composite est convoyée par un tapis convoyeur 10 autour d'une calandre chauffante rotative 11 qui est entraínée en rotation dans le sens anti-horaire sur la figure 1. Le tapis convoyeur 10 est constitué d'une bande sans fin qui roule autour d'une pluralité de rouleaux 12, certains de ces rouleaux étant déplaçables pour régler la tension du tapis 10 et donc la pression exercée par le tapis 10 contre la calandre chauffante 11. La bande composite vient en contact avec le tapis convoyeur 10 par son support provisoire, pour éviter tout collage entre le film plastique et le tapis.Said composite strip 18 is conveyed horizontally downstream of the heating drum 7 to a thermal printing machine 8. This thermal printing machine 8 has a roll of guide 9 against which the temporary support of the strip bears composite. Then, the composite belt is conveyed by a conveyor belt 10 around a rotary heating grille 11 which is driven in counterclockwise rotation in Figure 1. The conveyor belt 10 is consisting of an endless band which rolls around a plurality of rollers 12, some of these rollers being movable to adjust the tension of the belt 10 and therefore the pressure exerted by the belt 10 against the grille heating 11. The composite belt comes into contact with the conveyor belt 10 by its temporary support, to avoid any sticking between the plastic film and the carpet.

La machine 8 comporte en outre au moins une bobine 13, par exemple deux bobines, à partir desquelles est déroulée une bande 14 de papier pré-imprimé avec un motif constitué d'une encre sublimable. La bande de papier pré-imprimé 14 est guidée par un rouleau 15 en amont du tapis 10 et de la calandre chauffante 11. La machine 8 comporte deux autres bobines 16 agencées en aval de la calandre chauffante 11 et du tapis convoyeur 10, sur lesquelles bobines 16 est enroulé le papier 14, après le transfert par sublimation de l'encre sur le film plastique de la bande composite. Le papier pré-imprimé 14 est pris en sandwich entre la calandre chauffante 11 et le recto du film plastique de la bande composite qui est plaquée sous pression par le tapis convoyeur 10 contre la calandre chauffante 11. Le motif constitué d'une encre sublimable est pré-imprimé sur le côté du papier 14 qui est destiné à venir en contact avec le recto du film plastique de la bande composite, afin de permettre le transfert par sublimation. A titre d'exemple, le transfert par sublimation s'effectue autour de la calandre chauffante 11, sur une course angulaire d'environ 300°, à une température comprise entre 180 et 230° C, sous une pression régulière généralement inférieure à 40 kPa exercée par le tapis convoyeur 10, et pour une durée approximative de 5 à 40 s.The machine 8 also comprises at least one coil 13, for example two spools, from which a strip 14 of pre-printed paper is unwound with a pattern made of sublimable ink. The band of pre-printed paper 14 is guided by a roller 15 upstream of the belt 10 and the heating grille 11. The machine 8 has two other coils 16 arranged downstream of the heating calender 11 and the belt conveyor 10, on which reels 16 is wound the paper 14, after the sublimation transfer of ink onto the plastic film of the strip composite. Pre-printed paper 14 is sandwiched between the calender heater 11 and the front of the plastic film of the composite strip which is pressurized by the conveyor belt 10 against the calender heating 11. The pattern consisting of sublimable ink is pre-printed on the side of the paper 14 which is intended to come into contact with the front of the plastic film of the composite strip, to allow transfer by sublimation. For example, the sublimation transfer takes place around of the heating grille 11, over an angular travel of approximately 300 °, at a temperature between 180 and 230 ° C, under regular pressure generally less than 40 kPa exerted by the conveyor belt 10, and for an approximate duration of 5 to 40 s.

Lorsque le film plastique utilisé est non flocké, l'encre sublimable du papier pré-imprimé 14 contient des agents adoucissants ou anti-adhérents, pour éviter le collage du papier pré-imprimé 14 sur le film plastique. En revanche, lorsque le film plastique présente une surface flockée, destinée à être imprimée, il n'est pas nécessaire de prévoir de tels agents.When the plastic film used is not flocked, the sublimable ink of the paper pre-printed 14 contains softening or non-sticking agents, for avoid sticking of the pre-printed paper 14 on the plastic film. In however, when the plastic film has a flocked surface intended for be printed, there is no need to provide such agents.

La structure de la machine d'impression 8 ne sera pas décrite plus en détail, car elle est connue en soi. Sur cette machine 8, on a prévu deux bobines 13 et deux bobines 16 pour le papier pré-imprimé 14, afin d'éviter toute interruption du processus, lorsque l'une des bobines est complètement dévidée, l'autre prenant ainsi le relais pendant le remplacement de la bobine complètement dévidée.The structure of the printing machine 8 will not be described further in detail, because it is known per se. On this machine 8, we have provided two reels 13 and two reels 16 for pre-printed paper 14, to avoid any interruption of the process, when one of the coils is completely unwound, the other taking over during the replacement of the fully unwound reel.

A la sortie de la machine 8, la bande composite imprimée 19 est acheminée vers une station de refroidissement 20 qui comporte deux cylindres rotatifs 21 et 22 décalés verticalement l'un par rapport à l'autre. Le cylindre supérieur 21 est entraíné en rotation dans le sens horaire, alors que le cylindre inférieur 22 est entraíné dans le sens anti-horaire. De manière connue en soi, chaque cylindre 21 ou 22 comporte une double enveloppe sur sa paroi latérale, pour faire circuler à l'intérieur de cette double enveloppe de l'eau, par exemple à 10° C, afin de refroidir la bande composite imprimée 19, jusqu'à une température généralement comprise entre 20 et 30° C.At the outlet of the machine 8, the printed composite strip 19 is conveyed to a cooling station 20 which has two rotary cylinders 21 and 22 vertically offset from each other. The cylinder upper 21 is rotated clockwise, while the lower cylinder 22 is driven counterclockwise. So known per se, each cylinder 21 or 22 has a double envelope on its side wall, to circulate inside this double wraps water, for example at 10 ° C, to cool the strip printed composite 19, up to a temperature generally understood between 20 and 30 ° C.

La bande composite passe d'abord autour du cylindre supérieur 21, en venant en contact par son support provisoire, afin d'éviter le collage du film plastique imprimé contre ce cylindre. Puis, la bande composite déjà refroidie passe autour du cylindre inférieur 22, du côté de son film plastique imprimé, qui ne risque plus de coller au cylindre 22. Le trajet de la bande composite autour des deux cylindres 21 et 22 présente une configuration sensiblement en forme de S. A la sortie de la station de refroidissement 20, le film plastique préalablement imprimé n'adhère plus à la bande de support provisoire, en raison des propriétés anti-adhérentes de cette dernière. The composite strip passes first around the upper cylinder 21, in coming into contact through its temporary support, in order to avoid sticking of the film plastic printed against this cylinder. Then, the composite strip already cooled passes around the lower cylinder 22, on the side of its plastic film printed, which no longer risks sticking to cylinder 22. The path of the strip composite around the two cylinders 21 and 22 has a configuration substantially S-shaped. At the outlet of the cooling station 20, the plastic film previously printed no longer adheres to the strip of temporary support, due to the non-stick properties of this last.

Enfin, les deux bandes superposées passent dans une station d'enroulement 23 qui comporte une bobine 24 autour de laquelle est enroulée la bande de film plastique imprimée 104 et une bobine 25 autour de laquelle est enroulée la bande de support provisoire 3. A l'entrée de la station d'enroulement 23, les deux bandes superposées 3 et 104 passent entre deux rouleaux 27 en aval desquels les deux bandes sont séparées en direction de leur bobine respective. Les bobines 24 et 25 et les rouleaux 27 sont entraínés en rotation.Finally, the two overlapping bands pass through a station winding 23 which has a coil 24 around which is wrapped the printed plastic film strip 104 and a spool 25 around from which the provisional support strip is wound 3. At the entrance to the winding station 23, the two superimposed strips 3 and 104 pass between two rollers 27 downstream of which the two strips are separated in direction of their respective coil. Coils 24 and 25 and rollers 27 are rotated.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif de la figure 1 va maintenant être brièvement décrit.The operation of the device of FIG. 1 will now be briefly described.

La bande de support provisoire 3 est tout d'abord déroulée à partir de la bobine 2 sur tout le trajet à l'intérieur du dispositif jusqu'à la bobine d'enroulement 25, sur une longueur totale d'environ 20 à 30 mètres. Puis, la bande de film plastique 4 est déroulée à partir de la bobine 17, sur une longueur d'environ 2 à 3 mètres jusqu'au tambour chauffant 7, car à partir de cet endroit la bande de film plastique 4 adhère à la bande de support provisoire 3, ce qui permet son entraínement à travers tout le dispositif. On pourra noter que la bande de support provisoire 3 qui est enroulée sur la bobine 25, pourra être réutilisée pour l'impression ultérieure d'une nouvelle bande de film plastique.The provisional support strip 3 is first unrolled from the coil 2 all the way inside the device to the coil winding 25, over a total length of about 20 to 30 meters. Then, the strip of plastic film 4 is unwound from the reel 17, on a length of about 2 to 3 meters to the heating drum 7, because from from this location the plastic film strip 4 adheres to the support strip temporary 3, which allows its training through the entire device. We may note that the temporary support strip 3 which is wound on the reel 25, can be reused for the subsequent printing of a new plastic film strip.

Sur la figure 2, un motif en damier 30 est pré-imprimé sur la bande de papier d'impression 14, le motif en damier 30 comportant dans son carré central un triangle équilatéral dont le sommet est dirigé vers la gauche. Sur cette bande de papier d'impression 14, est également imprimé un repère constitué d'une ligne longitudinale 31 et d'un trait transversal 32, pour localiser sur ladite bande 14 le motif pré-imprimé 30.In FIG. 2, a checkerboard pattern 30 is pre-printed on the strip of printing paper 14, the checkerboard pattern 30 comprising in its square central an equilateral triangle whose vertex is directed to the left. Sure this strip of printing paper 14, is also printed a mark consisting of a longitudinal line 31 and a transverse line 32, for locate the pre-printed pattern 30 on said strip 14.

Avec le dispositif illustré sur la figure 1, on peut obtenir en sortie une bande de film plastique plan imprimé 104 comportant un motif en damier 130 qui est exactement l'image à l'envers du motif 30 du papier pré-imprimé 14, le sommet du triangle équilatéral étant désormais tourné vers la droite sur la figure 3.With the device illustrated in FIG. 1, it is possible to obtain at the outlet a strip of printed planar plastic film 104 comprising a checkerboard pattern 130 which is exactly the reverse image of the pattern 30 of the pre-printed paper 14, the vertex of the equilateral triangle now being turned to the right on the figure 3.

Sur la figure 4, on a représenté une étape de thermoformage d'une portion de cette bande de film plastique imprimé 104, dans un outil de thermoformage 50 comportant une cavité sphérique 51 et des trous 52 reliés à un système d'aspiration extérieur, ce qui permet de plaquer le film plastique 104 ramolli par chauffage sur les parois de l'outil 50 cet outil de thermoformage étant connu en soi, nous n'avons pas représenté le poinçon chauffant, dont la forme peut être conjuguée à la cavité 51. Une portion plane de la bande de film plastique 104 est chauffée, puis thermoformée en une surface non-plane sphérique 114 par l'outil de thermoformage 50, cette déformation provoquant un étirement du motif en damier 131, comme visible sur la figure 5.In Figure 4, there is shown a step of thermoforming a portion of this strip of printed plastic film 104, in a thermoforming 50 comprising a spherical cavity 51 and holes 52 connected to an external suction system, which allows the film to be pressed plastic 104 softened by heating on the walls of the tool 50 this tool thermoforming being known per se, we have not represented the punch heating, the shape of which can be combined with the cavity 51. One portion plane of the plastic film strip 104 is heated, then thermoformed into a spherical non-planar surface 114 by the thermoforming tool 50, this distortion causing the checkerboard pattern 131 to stretch, as visible in Figure 5.

On a indiqué sur la figure 4 par des flèches en pointillés la transformation de plusieurs zones élémentaires 130a à 130d du film plastique plan en des zones élémentaires déformées 131a à 131d sur la surface sphérique thermoformée 114. L'ensemble des zones élémentaires déformées forme ainsi le motif déformé 131 visible sur la figure 5.The transformation has been indicated in FIG. 4 by dashed arrows of several elementary zones 130a to 130d of the flat plastic film in deformed elementary areas 131a to 131d on the spherical surface thermoformed 114. The set of elementary deformed zones forms thus the deformed pattern 131 visible in FIG. 5.

Pour compenser cette déformation non désirable du motif devant figurer sur la portion thermoformée du film plastique, on détermine, par transformation inverse, par anamorphose, le motif prédéformé 40 qui est pré-imprimé à l'envers sur une portion 114 du papier d'impression 14, cette portion 114 correspondant à la portion destinée à être thermoformée, comme visible sur la figure 6. Cette déformation est calculée par ordinateur à l'aide de logiciels adaptés.To compensate for this undesirable distortion of the motif to appear on the thermoformed portion of the plastic film, we determine, by reverse transformation, by anamorphosis, the preformed pattern 40 which is pre-printed upside down on a portion 114 of the printing paper 14, this portion 114 corresponding to the portion intended to be thermoformed, as shown in figure 6. This deformation is calculated by computer using suitable software.

La bande de film plastique 104 est imprimée du motif prédéformé 140 par transfert pas sublimation du motif prédéformé 40 du papier d'impression 14 comme visible sur la figure 7.The plastic film strip 104 is printed with the preformed pattern 140 by not sublimation transfer of the preformed pattern 40 from the printing paper 14 as visible in FIG. 7.

Lors du thermoformage de la portion 114, comme illustré à la figure 8, chaque zone élémentaire 140a à 140d de la portion plane du film plastique est transformée en une zone élémentaire 141a à 141d sur la surface non plane 114 obtenue par thermoformage, comme indiqué par les flèches en pointillés sur la figure 8.During the thermoforming of the portion 114, as illustrated in FIG. 8, each elementary zone 140a to 140d of the flat portion of the plastic film is transformed into an elementary zone 141a to 141d on the surface not plane 114 obtained by thermoforming, as indicated by the arrows in dashed in Figure 8.

On obtient ainsi sur la portion 114 de la bande de film plastique thermoformée un motif 141 qui correspond au motif souhaité, sans déformation finale.This gives the portion 114 of the plastic film strip thermoformed a pattern 141 which corresponds to the desired pattern, without final deformation.

Lors de l'étape de thermoformage de la bande de film plastique imprimée 104, ladite bande est acheminée séquentiellement au-dessus de la cavité de thermoformage 51, de façon à positionner précisément la portion à thermoformer 114 au-dessus de ladite cavité 51. Le positionnement précis de la portion 114 est obtenu par lecture optique de la position longitudinale et transversale de cette portion 14, à l'aide des repères 31 et 32 précités.During the thermoforming step of the printed plastic film strip 104, said strip is routed sequentially over the cavity of thermoforming 51, so as to precisely position the portion to thermoform 114 above said cavity 51. Precise positioning of the portion 114 is obtained by optical reading of the longitudinal position and transverse of this portion 14, using the references 31 and 32 above.

Bien que cela ne soit pas visible sur les dessins, la déformation par thermoformage de la portion 114 s'accompagne également d'une variation des teintes de coloris en fonction du taux d'étirement local du film plastique, ce qui nécessite également de précompenser ces variations de coloris, lors de la pré-impression du papier d'impression 14.Although not visible in the drawings, the deformation by thermoforming of the portion 114 is also accompanied by a variation color tones depending on the local stretching rate of the film plastic, which also requires pre-compensating for these variations in color, when preprinting the printing paper 14.

Bien que l'invention ait été décrite en liaison avec un mode de réalisation particulier, il est bien évident qu'elle n'y est nullement limitée et qu'elle comprend tous les équivalents techniques des moyens décrits ainsi que leurs combinaisons si celles-ci entrent dans le cadre de l'invention.Although the invention has been described in connection with an embodiment particular, it is obvious that it is in no way limited to it and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

Procédé d'impression en continu d'un film plastique (4), flocké ou non, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à : appliquer sur le verso du film plastique (4) un support provisoire (3) anti-adhérent, par exemple en papier, chauffer l'ensemble du film plastique et du support provisoire à une température telle que le film plastique atteigne son point de ramollissement pour coller temporairement au support provisoire, de façon que ce dernier assure le maintien dimensionnel du film plastique lors de l'étape d'impression thermique successive, transférer par sublimation un motif (30, 40) constitué d'une encre sublimable préimprimée sur un papier d'impression (14), par contact sous une pression et une température déterminées avec le recto du film plastique (4) thermocollé au support provisoire (3), refroidir l'ensemble du film plastique ainsi imprimé (104) et du support provisoire (3) à une température permettant le décollement du support provisoire. Process for the continuous printing of a plastic film (4), flocked or not, characterized in that it consists in: apply a non-stick temporary support (3), for example paper, to the back of the plastic film (4) heating the entire plastic film and the temporary support to a temperature such that the plastic film reaches its softening point to temporarily bond to the temporary support, so that the latter ensures the dimensional maintenance of the plastic film during the step of successive thermal printing, transfer by sublimation a pattern (30, 40) consisting of a sublimable ink pre-printed on a printing paper (14), by contact under a pressure and a determined temperature with the front of the plastic film (4) heat-sealed to the temporary support ( 3), cooling the entire plastic film thus printed (104) and the temporary support (3) to a temperature allowing the temporary support to detach. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la température pour thermocoller le film plastique (4) au support provisoire (3) est comprise entre 100 et 200° C, de préférence entre 170 et 180° C.Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature to heat seal the plastic film (4) to the temporary support (3) is included between 100 and 200 ° C, preferably between 170 and 180 ° C. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la température pour le transfert par sublimation est comprise entre 170 et 230° C.Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the temperature for sublimation transfer is between 170 and 230 ° C. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la température à laquelle l'ensemble du film plastique imprimé (104) et du support provisoire (3) est refroidi est de l'ordre de 20 à 30° C.Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the temperature at which all of the printed plastic film (104) and temporary support (3) is cooled is around 20 to 30 ° C. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste, pour un film plastique non flocké, à préimprimer le papier d'impression (14) avec une encre contenant des colorants sublimables, et une faible teneur en agents adoucissants ou anti-adhérents, pour éviter le collage entre le film plastique (4) et le papier d'impression (14), lors de l'étape d'impression par transfert par sublimation.Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it consists, for an unflocked plastic film, of preprinting the paper printing (14) with an ink containing sublimable dyes, and a low content of softening or non-sticking agents, to avoid bonding between the plastic film (4) and the printing paper (14), when the printing step by sublimation transfer. Procédé selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les agents peuvent être choisis parmi les silicones, les acides gras organiques et les stéarates de chrome.Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the agents can be chosen from silicones, organic fatty acids and chromium stearates. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à préparer un film plastique flocké, en appliquant sur le recto du film plastique (4) une couche adhésive et en flockant des fibres de couleur blanche sur ladite couche adhésive.Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it consists in preparing a flocked plastic film, by applying on the front of the plastic film (4) an adhesive layer and by flocking colored fibers white on said adhesive layer. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que la couche adhésive est une résine polymère en émulsion aqueuse ou en solution organique, et les flocks sont de préférence des fibres en polyamide ou en polyester, avec une longueur comprise entre 0,3 et 3,0 mm et un titre compris entre 0,5 et 20 Dtex (0,5 et 20.10-7 Kg.m-1).Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the adhesive layer is a polymer resin in aqueous emulsion or in organic solution, and the flocks are preferably fibers of polyamide or polyester, with a length of between 0.3 and 3, 0 mm and a titer between 0.5 and 20 Dtex (0.5 and 20.10 -7 Kg.m -1 ). Procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce que le film plastique (4) est un film calandré, extrudé ou co-extrudé, choisi parmi les résines polymères à base de polychlorure de vinyle, de polystyrène, de polypropylène, d'acrylique butadiène-styrène (ABS), de polyuréthanne, de polyester, de polycarbonate, de polyamide ou de tout mélange de ces derniers.Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the film plastic (4) is a calendered, extruded or co-extruded film, chosen from polymer resins based on polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, butadiene-styrene acrylic (ABS), polyurethane, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide or any mixture of these last. Dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte : une station de déroulement (1), comportant une bobine (17) pour une bande de film plastique (4), flocké ou non, et une bobine (2) pour une bande de support provisoire (3), une station de chauffage (5) à l'entrée de laquelle la bande de support provisoire (3) est appliquée contre le verso de la bande de film plastique (4), l'ensemble constitué par lesdites bandes superposées venant en contact par la bande de support provisoire contre un tambour chauffant (7) entraíné en rotation, afin de délivrer en sortie une bande composite (18) constituée du film plastique thermocollé au support provisoire, une machine de thermo-impression (8), comportant un tapis convoyeur (10) sous tension qui vient en contact avec le support provisoire (3) de ladite bande composite (18), une calandre chauffante (11) entraínée en rotation, et au moins une bobine (13) pour une bande de papier (14) pré-imprimé d'un motif (30, 40) constitué d'une encre sublimable, ladite bande de papier pré-imprimé étant appliquée sur le recto du film plastique (4) de ladite bande composite (18), en amont de la calandre chauffante, de façon que le tapis convoyeur puisse plaquer sous une pression déterminée ladite bande composite recouverte du papier pré-imprimé contre la calandre chauffante, pour transférer par sublimation l'encre sublimable sur le recto du film plastique, le papier d'impression étant séparé de la bande composite imprimée (19) en aval de la calandre chauffante, une station de refroidissement (20) pour refroidir la bande composite imprimée (19) à une température telle que la bande de support provisoire (3) puisse être décollée de la bande de film plastique imprimée (104), une station d'enroulement (23) à l'entrée de laquelle la bande de support provisoire (3) est décollée de la bande de film plastique imprimée (104), chaque bande étant enroulée sur une bobine respective (24, 25) qui est entraínée en rotation. Device for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises: an unwinding station (1), comprising a reel (17) for a strip of plastic film (4), flocked or not, and a reel (2) for a temporary support strip (3), a heating station (5) at the entrance of which the temporary support strip (3) is applied against the back of the plastic film strip (4), the assembly consisting of said superimposed strips coming into contact with the strip temporary support against a heating drum (7) driven in rotation, in order to deliver at the output a composite strip (18) made of plastic film heat-sealed to the temporary support, a thermal printing machine (8), comprising a conveyor belt (10) under tension which comes into contact with the temporary support (3) of said composite strip (18), a heating calender (11) driven in rotation, and at at least one reel (13) for a strip of paper (14) pre-printed with a pattern (30, 40) made of sublimable ink, said strip of pre-printed paper being applied to the front of the plastic film (4 ) of said composite strip (18), upstream of the heating calender, so that the conveyor belt can press under said pressure said composite strip covered with the pre-printed paper against the heating calender, for sublimation transfer of the sublimable ink on the front of the plastic film, the printing paper being separated from the printed composite strip (19) downstream of the heating calender, a cooling station (20) for cooling the printed composite strip (19) to a temperature such that the temporary support strip (3) can be peeled off from the printed plastic film strip (104), a winding station (23) at the entrance of which the temporary support strip (3) is peeled off from the printed plastic film strip (104), each strip being wound on a respective reel (24, 25) which is driven in rotation. Dispositif selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que la station de refroidissement (20) comporte deux cylindres (21, 22) à double enveloppe, chaque cylindre comportant une circulation d'un agent réfrigérant, par exemple de l'eau, dans la double enveloppe, de façon que ladite bande composite imprimée (19) vienne en contact avec le premier cylindre (21) par sa bande de support provisoire (3), puis avec le deuxième cylindre (22) par sa bande de film plastique imprimée (104).Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the station cooling (20) comprises two cylinders (21, 22) with double jacket, each cylinder comprising a circulation of a refrigerant, by example of water, in the double jacket, so that said strip printed composite (19) comes into contact with the first cylinder (21) by its provisional support strip (3), then with the second cylinder (22) by its printed plastic film strip (104). Bande de film plastique imprimée (104), caractérisée en ce qu'elle est directement obtenue par le procédé selon l'une des revendications 1 à 9.Printed plastic film strip (104), characterized in that it is directly obtained by the process according to one of claims 1 to 9.
EP99402398A 1998-10-14 1999-09-30 Plastic film continuous printing process, apparatus therefore and plastic film printed by the same Expired - Lifetime EP0993963B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9812862A FR2784618B1 (en) 1998-10-14 1998-10-14 METHOD OF CONTINUOUSLY PRINTING A PLASTIC FILM, DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME, AND PRINTED PLASTIC FILM OBTAINED BY THE METHOD
FR9812862 1998-10-14

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EP0993963A1 true EP0993963A1 (en) 2000-04-19
EP0993963B1 EP0993963B1 (en) 2003-03-26

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US (1) US6249297B1 (en)
EP (1) EP0993963B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE235377T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69906212T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2194424T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2784618B1 (en)
PT (1) PT993963E (en)

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PT993963E (en) 2003-06-30
FR2784618B1 (en) 2000-11-24
ATE235377T1 (en) 2003-04-15
EP0993963B1 (en) 2003-03-26
FR2784618A1 (en) 2000-04-21
DE69906212D1 (en) 2003-04-30
ES2194424T3 (en) 2003-11-16
US6249297B1 (en) 2001-06-19
DE69906212T2 (en) 2004-02-05

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