EP1299245A1 - Procede permettant d'imprimer une image sur une surface tridimensionnelle - Google Patents

Procede permettant d'imprimer une image sur une surface tridimensionnelle

Info

Publication number
EP1299245A1
EP1299245A1 EP01940718A EP01940718A EP1299245A1 EP 1299245 A1 EP1299245 A1 EP 1299245A1 EP 01940718 A EP01940718 A EP 01940718A EP 01940718 A EP01940718 A EP 01940718A EP 1299245 A1 EP1299245 A1 EP 1299245A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
transfer element
image
article
coating
printing
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01940718A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Stephen Cuthbert Hastie
Gerard Thomas Hastie
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.)
E-Comeleon Ltd
Original Assignee
E-Comeleon Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB0014572A external-priority patent/GB0014572D0/en
Priority claimed from GB0104450A external-priority patent/GB0104450D0/en
Application filed by E-Comeleon Ltd filed Critical E-Comeleon Ltd
Publication of EP1299245A1 publication Critical patent/EP1299245A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41MPRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/025Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet
    • B41M5/035Duplicating 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
    • B41M5/0358Duplicating 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
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41MPRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/025Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet
    • B41M5/035Duplicating 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to printing an image onto a three dimensional surface, and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to printing a complex image on to non-planar surfaces of shaped plastic articles .
  • An alternative technique involves floating a thin film containing the image that is required to be printed onto the three dimensional article on a bath of liquid.
  • the article on to which the image is to be printed is dipped through the floating image into the bath and the image is thereby attached to the article.
  • This method of printing suffers from the drawback that it is difficult to consistently reproduce the same images in the same position on a series of identical articles. If information is being presented on the article, this can present a significant drawback.
  • This technique also suffers from the problem that the image is easily creased as the article is dipped into it, or as the image is laid on to the bath of liquid, as a result of which an uneven image is often produced on the article. Because of these problems, the levels of wastage of articles resulting from this technique are unacceptably high.
  • An existing method of printing on to a planar surface involves the steps of printing an image onto a transfer sheet, and bringing the sheet into contact with the planar surface onto which the image is to be printed. Once in position a heated element is placed against the transfer sheet. The heat of the element causes the pigments of the inks with which the image is printed to sublime, i.e. change from the solid phase . o the gas phase without entering liquid phase.
  • this method is unsuitable for printing onto non-planar surfaces as the image will not come into contact with all of the surface until a moulded heating element is brought into contact with the sheet. For many non-planar surfaces this will cause the transfer sheet to become distorted or creased, resulting in unsatisfactory transfer of the image.
  • Preferred embodiments of the invention seek to overcome the above described disadvantages of the prior art.
  • a method of printing an image onto a three-dimensional surface comprising: -
  • said transfer element has a carrier coating and a supporting layer, and said image in printed onto said carrier coating.
  • the supporting layer may comprise a sheet of Amorphous Poly Ethylene Terephthlate.
  • the supporting layer may further comprise a metallised coating on at least one surface thereof.
  • the carrier coating may be applied to said supporting layer as an aqueous solution.
  • the carrier coating may be applied to a thickness of substantially 5 to substantially 250 microns.
  • the method may further comprise the step of applying a receptor coating to said surface.
  • the method preferably further comprises the step of applying a base coat to said surface prior to application of said receptor coating to said surface.
  • the base coat can also be used to apply a base colour to the articles.
  • the base coat may be applied by a spraying process.
  • .base coat is applied to give an average thickness of up to substantially 300 microns of base coat .
  • said base coat comprises substantially the ratios 100 parts paint primer, 10 to 40 parts catalyst and 15 to 85 parts solvent.
  • said receptor coating is applied by a spraying process.
  • said receptor coating is applied to an average thickness of up to substantially 300 microns .
  • said receptor coating comprises substantially the ratios 100 parts paint primer, 1 to 40 parts catalyst and 15 to 85 parts solvent.
  • said receptor coating is substantially translucent after application to said surface.
  • the step of applying the transfer element to the three- dimensional surface preferably includes vacuum forming the transfer element to the surface.
  • said step of printing an image onto said transfer coating is carried out by means of a digital printer.
  • Digital printing is known as a non-impact printing technique because the only material to come into contact with the substrate being printed on is the ink, whereas an impact printing technique such as screen printing involves contact between the screen and the substrate as well as the ink.
  • digital printing provides greater flexibility, the images being printed are more easily altered as it is not necessary to produce, for instance, a new screen for eac new: image that is to be produced.
  • a random element to an image is important, such as when a wood grain is printed, it is possible to produce three dimensional articles printed with a wood grain which has been randomly generated by the computer which is providing the data to the printer, thus each piece of printed plastic " appears unique such as real wood does.
  • the computer can be used to manipulate that data so as to compensate the image for the stretching of the transfer element that occurs as a result of the vacuum forming process. This is oniy ..possible because the vacuum forming
  • said digital printer has at least one piezoelectric printing head.
  • the piezoelectric printing head causes very little heating of the ink as it is printed and as a result if an ink pigment which transfers by sublimation is used, there is little degradation of the pigment during the printing process .
  • said image is formed from at least one pigment capable of sublimation when heated to a predetermined temperature .
  • the advantage is provided that the clarity of image produced as the molecules of pigment transfer from the second coating on the transfer element to the adhesion promoting coating is improved.
  • the pigment transfers from transfer element to the adhesion promoting coating as a liquid, or where the pigment is converted from solid to liquid and then from liquid into gas, before transferring, there is " an increased likelihood of accidental irregularities occurring in the printed image.
  • the step of applying heat to said transfer element occurs after said vacuum forming step at a temperature so as to cause the sublimation of the or each said pigment .
  • heat is applied to said transfer element at a temperature of between 50 and 450°C for between 10 seconds and 20 minutes.
  • a preferred embodiment further comprises the step of supporting, by means of a mould, the article onto which said image is to be printed on a surface thereof other than the surface to be printed on.
  • the article onto which the image is to be printed is not a heat set material, that is it is a material which is liable to melt when subjected to the heat used to facilitate the printing process
  • providing a mould to support the article offers the advantage that such articles maintain their shape and are not distorted by the heating and vacuum forming process.
  • the printed transfer element can be accurately located on to the article with a consistent repeatability.
  • Another preferred embodiment further comprises the step of controlling the temperature of said mould.
  • the advantage is provided that the mould is not caused to expand by an increase in temperature and the article located thereon will continue to fit accurately on the mould throughout the printing process.
  • a further preferred embodiment further comprises the step of heating said transfer element prior to the step of vacuum forming said transfer element to said surface.
  • the advantage is provided that the " transfer element can be formed consistently and evenly over the article on to which it is to be printed.
  • said transfer element is heated to a temperature between 150 and 600°C for between 1 arid 30 seconds.
  • the step of applying said heat to said transfer element comprises providing a moulded heating chamber, a surface of which has similar dimensions to said
  • the moulded heating chamber may have regions which radiate heat at different rates .
  • This provides the advantage of offering greater control of the rate of image transfer in specific regions of the surface. For example, by providing a region which radiates heat more rapidly, the rate of image transfer can be increased, which has advantages in irregularly shaped parts of the surface.
  • step of applying heat to said transfer element comprises applying said heat by means of hot air.
  • the hot air may be applied to the transfer element at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
  • This provides the advantage of improving the transfer of the image onto irregularly shaped parts of the surface.
  • a preferred embodiment f >urther comprises the step of applying a finishing coat to said article after removal of said supporting layer from said article.
  • finishing coat is applied by a spraying process. In another preferred embodiment said finishing coat is applied to an average thickness of up to 500 microns.
  • said finishing coat comprises substantially the ratios of 100 parts paint primer, 10 to 40 parts catalyst and 15 to 85 parts solvent.
  • a preferred embodiment further comprises the step of adding an ultraviolet radiation filtering additive to said finishing coat.
  • the image is printed onto a non- planar surface of the article.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic flow diagram of a printing process embodying the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus used to carry out the process of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 2.
  • Figure 1 shows a method for applying an image to a non-planar surface of an article, for example to the casing of a mobile telephone.
  • a receptor coating is applied to the article at step S10.
  • An image is printed at step S12 onto a transfer element which has had a carrier coating in the form of an aqueous coating applied to it at step S1 .
  • the transfer element is clamped in position and a radiant heat of between 150 and 300 degrees Celsius is applied to the transfer element for a period of between 1 and 30 seconds, by way of preheating the transfer element at step S26. This makes the transfer element more flexible and allows it to form more easily over the article.
  • the transfer element is vacuum formed at step S16 in order to apply substantially uniform pressure over the area of the transfer element to minimise inconsistencies in transferring the image from the transfer element to the article. Because the transfer element is clamped in a standard position arid the article can be located in a set position, for instance if it is supported by a mould, it is possible to accurately locate the image on the transfer element on to the printed article.
  • Heat is applied again at step S18 while the transfer element is being vacuum formed, thus causing the sublimation of pigments in the ink printed on the transfer element, resulting in a transfer of the image from the transfer element to the article at step S20.
  • heat is applied at a temperature higher than the heating temperature at .step S16, typically between 150 and 450 degrees Celsius to the transfer element, whilst it is located on the article, for between 1 and 600 seconds.
  • the heat can be applied by having a moulded heat chamber which is formed around the product without touching it and therefore applies an even heat to the whole of the transfer element in contact with the article.
  • hot air can be blown over the article under pressure, thereby producing a reasonably even heat over the article.
  • the pigment within the ink on the transfer element is caused to convert directly from its solid form to a gas (sublimation) in the gaseous form the pigment transfers from -lithe aqueous coating of the transfer element to the adhesion promoting coating on the article at step S20.
  • the transfer element can be removed at step S28.
  • a protective coating can then be applied at step S30 to the article to protect the image.
  • This final coating can also contain a UV protection to protect the image from ultra-violet radiation.
  • the image can be applied directly to some plastic materials using the method described above.
  • a base coat to the article, such as at step S22, on to which, the receptor coating is then added_at step S10.
  • the base coat will typically be white.
  • the receptor coating is applied by spraying and typically contains 100 parts primer to 10 to 40 parts catalyst and 15 to 85 parts solvent.
  • the base coat should not exceed 300 microns in thickness.
  • the constituents of the above described receptor coating, as applied, would typically consist of the following.
  • the primer would generally contain an acrylate resin, pigments of silica and/or a polyamide, and a mixed hydrocarbon solvent.
  • the hydrocarbon solvent typically contains isobutanol, -butanol, methylisobutylketone, but >ylacetate, isobutylacetate, xylene and napha light.
  • the catalyst contains polyisocyanate, ethylacetate, methoxypropylacetate and xylene.
  • the solvent typically consists of a mixture of isobutylacetate, methoxypropylacetate and isobutanol .
  • the support layer of the transfer element is metallised Amorphous Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (APET) , and the aqueous coating applied at step S14 is in the form of an aqueous solution of polyvinyl polymers and may also contain synthetic silica, surfactants and optical brightening agents.
  • the transfer element is metallised by having metal coloured coatings applied to one side of the APET during the manufacture of the transfer element.
  • the image can be printed at step S12 on to the carrier coating applied to the APET transfer element by means of a number of techniques.
  • Various known printing techniques suitable for this include digital printing which, using a computer drawn image, repeatedly produces a high quality image.
  • Various known print heads can be used in such digital printers.
  • thermal print heads can degrade the ink since it is sensitive to heat, whereas piezoelectric print heads do not cause excessive heating and degradation of the ink and produce a high quality printed image.
  • the transfer element is vacuum formed over the surface it is to be printed onto, there will often be distortion, due to- stretching, of the transfer element and image. If the contours of the surface that is being printed on are known it is possible to use a computer to distort the image prior to printing step S12 so as to compensate for the image distortion which occurs during the printing process.
  • step S24 For articles of plastics which are liable to melt under the heat which will be applied to perform the image transfer, it is often necessary to support the article on a. ould as in step S24. In the event that the heat applied to the article causes it to melt slightly, the mould should prevent deformation of the article.
  • a vacuum forming apparatus 50 comprises a base 52 upon which are located supporting moulds 54. Located on the moulds 54 are the articles 56 onto which an image is to be printed. A transfer element clamp frame 58 is shown in Figures 2 and 3 in a lowered position when the transfer element is being vacuum formed over the articles 56.
  • Vacuum pump 60 applied a suction, through base 52, to the transfer element causing it to be entirely drawn over articles 56 in a consistent manner.
  • contoured heating block 62 is lowered over the articles 56, by means of piston 64, so as to apply an even heat to the transfer element thereby transferring the image.
  • the method of the present invention can be applied to a number of different printing techniques, such as lithographic printing which is most cost effective where large numbers of identical printing operations are involved, or digital printing which is more cost effective, and offers greater flexibility to accommodate changes in the image to be printed, when smaller numbers of articles are to be printed.

Landscapes

  • Decoration By Transfer Pictures (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé permettant d'imprimer une image sur une surface tridimensionnelle. On imprime d'abord une image sur un élément (S12) de transfert puis on chauffe cet élément de transfert de manière à le rendre plus flexible (S26). On forme l'élément de transfert chauffé sous vide sur l'article à imprimer (S16) et on chauffe l'élément de transfert afin de transférer l'image par sublimation sur l'article (S20).
EP01940718A 2000-06-15 2001-06-13 Procede permettant d'imprimer une image sur une surface tridimensionnelle Withdrawn EP1299245A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0014572A GB0014572D0 (en) 2000-06-15 2000-06-15 Method of printing an image on to a surface of an article
GB0014572 2000-06-15
GB0100374 2001-01-08
GB0100374A GB0100374D0 (en) 2000-06-15 2001-01-08 Method of printing an image onto a three-dimensional surface
GB0104450 2001-02-23
GB0104450A GB0104450D0 (en) 2000-06-15 2001-02-23 Method of printing an image onto a three-dimensional surface
PCT/GB2001/002577 WO2001096123A1 (fr) 2000-06-15 2001-06-13 Procede permettant d'imprimer une image sur une surface tridimensionnelle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1299245A1 true EP1299245A1 (fr) 2003-04-09

Family

ID=27255762

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01940718A Withdrawn EP1299245A1 (fr) 2000-06-15 2001-06-13 Procede permettant d'imprimer une image sur une surface tridimensionnelle

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1299245A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2004503409A (fr)
CN (1) CN1436127A (fr)
AU (1) AU2001274222A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001096123A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002072301A1 (fr) 2001-03-14 2002-09-19 Key-Tech, Inc. Procede et dispositif servant a imprimer une image coloree sur un objet tridimensionnel
GB0220864D0 (en) * 2002-09-07 2002-10-16 Comeleon Plc Method and apparatus for printing an image onto a 3-dimensional surface
WO2004051566A2 (fr) * 2002-12-04 2004-06-17 Key-Tech, Inc. Procede d'impression thermique d'une image coloree sur un objet tridimensionnel au moyen d'une feuille support de couleurs
ATE370842T1 (de) 2003-06-26 2007-09-15 Key Tech Inc Verfahren zum thermischen drucken eines farbstoffbildes auf ein dreidimensionales objekt durch verwendung flexibler heizelemente
GB0521648D0 (en) 2005-10-24 2005-11-30 Hoggard Peter J An apparatus for applying ink sublimation techniques to 3 dimensional surfaces
GB0600576D0 (en) 2006-01-12 2006-02-22 Ici Plc Thermal transfer printing
GB0623997D0 (en) * 2006-12-01 2007-01-10 Ici Plc Thermal transfer printing
GB0711052D0 (en) 2007-06-08 2007-07-18 Ici Plc Thermal transfer printing
GB0711047D0 (en) * 2007-06-08 2007-07-18 Ici Plc Thermal transfer printing
GB0712105D0 (en) * 2007-06-22 2007-08-01 Ici Plc Thermal transfer printing
GB0721127D0 (en) 2007-10-27 2007-12-05 Ici Plc Thermal transfer printing
TWI417187B (zh) * 2009-09-14 2013-12-01 Compal Electronics Inc 金屬工件製作方法
GB201013877D0 (en) * 2010-08-19 2010-09-29 Redbox Technology Ltd 3d printing process
CN102874004A (zh) * 2011-07-12 2013-01-16 洋盟国际股份有限公司 染料升华加热模块及系统
GB2547183B (en) * 2015-12-14 2021-08-25 Trichord Ltd Printing on to a 3-dimensional article

Citations (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4587155A (en) 1982-05-12 1986-05-06 Raymond Iannetta Method of applying a dye image to a plastic member and the image bearing member thereby formed
US4668239A (en) 1982-05-12 1987-05-26 K-T, Inc. Method of applying a dye image to a plastic member
US4670084A (en) 1983-06-20 1987-06-02 David Durand Apparatus for applying a dye image to a member

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2364130A1 (fr) * 1976-09-10 1978-04-07 Stork Brabant Bv Procede et appareil d'impression a report sous vide
DE3310120A1 (de) * 1983-03-21 1984-09-27 Schulzen, Herbert, 6208 Bad Schwalbach Verfahren zum bedrucken eines substrates nach dem transferdruckverfahren
DE4113913A1 (de) * 1991-04-27 1992-10-29 Beutelrock Carolin Verfahren und vorrichtung zum bedrucken eines gegenstandes mit gewoelbter oder mehrseitiger oberflaeche
IT1299073B1 (it) * 1998-04-15 2000-02-07 Viv Int Spa Procedimento per la produzione di manufatti variamente verniciati e/o decorati mediante la tecnica del trasferimento da un supporto a colori

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4587155A (en) 1982-05-12 1986-05-06 Raymond Iannetta Method of applying a dye image to a plastic member and the image bearing member thereby formed
US4668239A (en) 1982-05-12 1987-05-26 K-T, Inc. Method of applying a dye image to a plastic member
US4670084A (en) 1983-06-20 1987-06-02 David Durand Apparatus for applying a dye image to a member

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
BRISTON ET AL: "PLASTIC FILMS -second edition", 1986, LONGMAN SCIENTIFIC & TECHNICAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE PLASIC AND RUBBER INSTITUTE, ESSEX, ISBN: 0-582-49507-5, article BRISTON: "Thermoforming", pages: 273 - 281, XP002906011
See also references of WO0196123A1

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2001274222A1 (en) 2001-12-24
CN1436127A (zh) 2003-08-13
WO2001096123A1 (fr) 2001-12-20
JP2004503409A (ja) 2004-02-05

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