EP3630490B1 - Device and method for the decoration of objects - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a device and a method for decorating objects to be decorated, in particular three-dimensional objects, preferably objects with a cylindrical, oval or square cross-section, in particular tubes, bottles, glasses, flacons and cans made of glass, ceramic, plastic or metal, as well as essentially two-dimensional objects, such as webs, strips, sheets, plates, disks, panels or boards.

State of the art

The hot stamping process is known for decorating paper, labels, plastic and glass packaging with decorative films, especially with metallized films. In this process, a transfer or embossing film is coated with a hot adhesive. A transfer or embossing film is preferably understood to be a decorative material, especially a metal layer and/or color layer, arranged detachably on a plastic carrier film. In a hot stamping machine, the adhesive layer is activated with pressure and temperature using an embossing stamp, so that an adhesion is created between the decorative material and the printed article. The plastic carrier film is then peeled off.

There is also the so-called cold embossing process, which also uses a transfer or embossing film. However, in this case an adhesive is first applied to an article in a first device using a printing process (offset printing, flexographic printing, inkjet printing or screen printing). The transfer film, which is provided with a decorative material, in particular a metal layer, is laminated onto the article from an unwinding device and the adhesive layer is dried. The metal layer can be a vapor-deposited metallized layer and/or a printed metal pigment layer. This causes the decorative material to adhere to the areas pre-printed with adhesive and the plastic carrier film with the remaining, non-adhering decorative material is peeled off and disposed of. An adhesive that hardens under UV light (UV adhesive) is often used as the adhesive. The adhesive is dried in particular using UV light through the film.

The cold stamping process has a number of advantages over the hot stamping process. Firstly, it is not necessary to heat up the adhesive using an embossing stamp. Since no embossing stamp is required, the tool costs are low. Furthermore, a cold stamping device can be integrated into a printing machine, so that no separate production process is necessary.

However, cold stamping on three-dimensional objects such as glasses, bottles or tubes is not possible with the known methods. With the known methods, the material to be provided with the metallization as a decorative material and the transfer film must be guided parallel for a while after lamination in order to allow the adhesive to dry. Three-dimensional objects are, however, placed on a holding device, such as a holder protected by the German utility model DE 202004019382 U1 The holding mandrel is pushed onto the object as described above and rotated around the longitudinal axis during printing at various work stations. This means that the object is accessible from all sides and it is possible to print on the object all around.

From the DE 102012112556 A1 a method and a device for cold stamping are known, wherein in a first step an adhesive is applied to an object at a first work station and in a second step at a second work station a transfer film provided with a metal layer, unwound from a roll by means of a transport device, is pressed onto the object by a pressing device and at the same time the adhesive is hardened. The disadvantage is that the transfer film used here is produced in a separate production process. A wide variety of layers of decorative material are applied one after the other to the carrier film of the transfer film, in particular printed and/or vaporized. The transfer film thus finished must then be transported to the device in which the objects are to be decorated and attached or clamped in. This means that there is a transport outlay on the one hand, and on the other hand the type of decoration depends on which layers of decorative material are provided in which arrangement on the transfer film. The plastic carrier film must also be disposed of after one-time use.

From the EP 2065217 A1 A device for decorating objects to be decorated is known. The device has a printing device for applying decorative material to a web-shaped medium. It is not intended that the decorative material is applied to the web-shaped medium in a removable manner. The device also has a pressing device for pressing the web-shaped medium provided with decorative material onto the object. It is intended that the web-shaped medium remains on the object together with the decorative material.

As described above, the DE 202004019382 U1 and DE 102012112556 A1 In known devices and methods, the transfer film is wound up after it has been produced in order to be able to transport it to the device having the pressing device. When winding up, the decorative material printed on the transfer film inevitably comes into contact with the back of the transfer film of the next or previous winding - depending on which way the transfer film is wound up. This contact can lead to adhesions to the back of the transfer film if the decorative material has not yet completely dried, which in turn can lead to flaking during later unwinding and consequently to faulty images on the objects to be printed.

Description of the invention

Based on the known prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for decorating objects to be decorated, as well as a corresponding method.

The object is achieved by a device for decorating objects to be decorated with the features of claim 1 and by a method for decorating objects with the features of claim 15. Advantageous further developments of the device and the method emerge from the subclaims as well as the present description and the figures.

Accordingly, a device for decorating objects to be decorated is proposed, comprising a holding device for holding an object and a pressing device for pressing a transfer medium provided with decorative material onto the object. According to the invention, a printing device for applying the decorative material to the transfer medium is provided in front of the pressing device. The printing device is preferably designed to print the transfer medium with a multi-colored decorative material. Accordingly, a method for decorating objects to be decorated is also proposed, wherein an object to be decorated is held by a holding device. In a first step, decorative material is applied to a transfer medium by a printing device, in a second step adhesive is applied to the transfer medium provided with the decorative material or to the object, and in a third step the transfer medium is pressed onto the object by a pressing device and in particular the adhesive is simultaneously hardened by a hardening device.

Because a printing device for applying the decorative material to the transfer medium is provided before the pressing device, the transfer medium can be printed with the decorative material in the same device shortly or essentially immediately before the pressing and transfer, and thus the decoration of the object to be decorated, takes place. As a result, it is possible to react quickly and flexibly to any changes in the decoration or the design of the print and/or the number of objects to be decorated. Separate printing of entire film webs and additional unwinding before printing and subsequent winding after printing are not necessary. This reduces the logistical effort required to print the objects and the waste of transfer material. In addition, a system having the device can be smaller and simpler in design than systems known from the prior art, since the separate device for producing the transfer film and any devices for transporting the wound-up, finished transfer film are omitted. The method according to the invention also requires a less complex structure, since the process steps required in the prior art of separately producing and then winding up the finished transfer film in a separate device and the transport of the wound-up printed transfer film to another device are no longer necessary.

In addition, now only the transfer medium needs to be printed on; direct printing on the object to be decorated is no longer necessary. This means that objects with a complex or highly curved shape can also be printed on easily. Furthermore, the conditions for printing or embossing are essentially always the same. This is because printing is always done on the transfer medium, i.e. on a surface that is consistent, particularly in terms of its physical and chemical properties, and on which the parameters of the printing process can be set precisely and optimally. In this respect, the process engineering effort required to decorate the objects is minimal.

The term "before the pressing device" is understood here to mean that the printing device is arranged upstream of the pressing device in a direction of movement of the pressing device or a direction of movement of the transfer medium. In other words, a section of the transfer medium first passes through the printing device and then reaches the pressing device. The transfer medium is therefore first printed at least in sections with decorative material by the printing device and then, preferably immediately after this, the decorative material is transferred to the object by the pressing device. Preferably, after the transfer medium has been printed with decorative material and before the decorative material is transferred to the object, adhesive is applied to the printed transfer medium and/or to the object.

Accordingly, the transfer medium is not wound up after printing with decorative material, but is fed directly to the pressing device without first having come into contact with a surface, in particular the back of the wound-up transfer medium.

A transfer medium is understood to mean in particular a flexible carrier material, in particular a flexible plastic carrier film, onto which the decorative material can be removably applied. The transfer medium can, for example, be a plastic carrier film made of polyester, polyolefin, polyvinyl, polyimide, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonates (PC), Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polystyrene (PS), in particular with a layer thickness of 5 µm to 50 µm, preferably 7 µm to 23 µm, advantageously with a primer layer applied thereon. It is thus possible for the transfer medium to comprise a primer layer.

A primer layer is preferably understood here to be an adhesion promoter layer through which the subsequent layers adhere better to the plastic carrier film.

The primer layer preferably consists of polyacrylates and/or vinyl acetate copolymers with a layer thickness of 0.1 µm to 1.5 µm, preferably 0.5 µm to 0.8 µm, which in particular forms a surface of the transfer medium facing away from the carrier material. The physical and chemical properties of the primer layer can be optimized with respect to the adhesive used, so that optimal adhesion between the object and the transfer medium is ensured largely independently of the object. Furthermore, such an optimized primer layer enables the applied adhesive to remain on the transfer medium in the desired resolution largely without running, spreading or squeezing.

It is particularly expedient if the primer layer is microporous and preferably has a surface roughness in the range from 100 nm to 180 nm, more preferably in the range from 120 nm to 160 nm. The adhesive can partially penetrate into such a layer and is thus fixed particularly well in high resolution.

It has proven particularly advantageous to use a primer layer with a pigmentation number of 1.5 cm ³ /g to 120 cm ³ /g, preferably with a pigmentation number of 10 cm ³ /g to 20 cm ³ /g.

For example, the composition of a primer layer is given below for calculation purposes (in grams): 4900 organic solvent ethyl alcohol 150 organic solvent toluene 2400 organic solvent acetone 600 organic solvent petrol 80/110 150 Water 120 Binder I: Ethyl Methacrylate Polymer 250 Binder II: Vinyl acetate homopolymer 500 Binder III: Vinyl acetate vinyl laurate copolymer, FK = 50 +/- 1 % 400 Binder IV: Isobutyl methacrylate 20 Pigment multifunctional silicon oxide, average particle size 3 µm 5 Filler micronized amide wax, particle size 3 µm to 8 µm

mit:

• mp = 20 g multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• f = ÖZ/d = 300 / 0,4 g/cm³ = 750 cm³/g für multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• m_BM = 120 g Bindemittel I + 250 g Bindemittel II + (0,5 x 500 g) Bindemittel III + 400 g
• Bindemittel IV = 1020 g
• mA = 0 g.

The pigmentation number for this primer layer is: $$\mathrm{PZ}={\displaystyle \sum _1^x\frac{{\left(m_P\times ƒ\right)}_x}{\left(m_{\mathit{BM}}+m_A\right)}=\frac{20G\times 750}{1020G+0G}=14.7{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="3"\; label="cm"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cm</figure-callout>}}^3/\mathrm{G}}$$

with:

• mp = 20 g multifunctional silicon oxide
• f = ÖZ/d = 300 / 0.4 g/cm ³ = 750 cm ³ /g for multifunctional silicon oxide
• m _BM = 120 g binder I + 250 g binder II + (0.5 x 500 g) binder III + 400 g
• Binder IV = 1020 g
• mA = 0 g.

In this way, starting from a composition of the primer layer that has been found to be good, other possible pigmentations that differ from it can be calculated quickly and easily.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the primer layer has a surface tension of 38 mN/m to 46 mN/m, preferably 41 mN/m to 43 mN/m. Such surface tensions allow adhesive drops, in particular from adhesive systems as described above, to adhere to the surface with a defined geometry without running.

When using a thermoplastic toner, it has proven particularly advantageous to use a primer layer with a pigmentation number of 0.5 cm ³ /g to 120 cm ³ /g, preferably with a pigmentation number of 1 cm ³ /g to 10 cm ³ /g.

For example, the composition of a primer layer for this application is given below for calculation purposes (information in grams): 340 organic solvent ethyl alcohol 3700 organic solvent toluene 1500 organic solvent acetone 225 Binder I: Chlorinated polypropylene 125 Binder II: Poly-n-butyl-methyl-methacrylate 35 Binder III: n-butyl-methyl-methyl-methacrylate copolymer 148 Pigment multifunctional silicon oxide, average particle size 12 nm

mit:

• mp = 148 g multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• f = ÖZ/d = 220 / 50 g/cm³ = 4,4 cm³/g für multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• m_BM = 225 g Bindemittel I + 125 g Bindemittel II + 35 g Bindemittel III = 385 g
• mA = 0 g.

The pigmentation number for this primer layer is: $$\mathrm{PZ}={\displaystyle \sum _1^x\frac{{\left(m_P\times ƒ\right)}_x}{\left(m_{\mathit{BM}}+m_A\right)}=\frac{148G\times 4.4}{385G+0G}=1.69{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="3"\; label="cm"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cm</figure-callout>}}^3/\mathrm{G}}$$

with:

• mp = 148 g multifunctional silicon oxide
• f = ÖZ/d = 220 / 50 g/cm ³ = 4.4 cm ³ /g for multifunctional silicon oxide
• m _BM = 225 g binder I + 125 g binder II + 35 g binder III = 385 g
• mA = 0 g.

The decorative material is preferably applied directly to the transfer medium. However, it is also possible for the decorative material to be applied to an existing coating on the transfer medium. It is also possible for the transfer medium to be provided with an existing coating only in certain areas and for the decorative material to be applied in free areas between the existing coating and/or onto the existing coating. The existing coating can be, for example, a release layer or another functional layer. Alternatively or in addition to this, the existing coating can also be, for example, an existing decorative coating made of printed and/or vapor-deposited color layers, metal layers, reflective layers, protective layers, functional layers or similar.

The release layer preferably consists of an acrylate copolymer, in particular of an aqueous polyurethane copolymer, and is preferably free of wax and/or free of silicone. The release layer preferably has a layer thickness of 0.01 µm to 2 µm, preferably 0.1 µm to 0.5 µm, and is advantageously arranged on a surface of the plastic carrier film. The release layer enables simple and Damage-free removal of the plastic carrier film from the transfer medium after its application to the object.

The decorative material preferably has one or more lacquer layers made of nitrocellulose, polyacrylate and polyurethane copolymer with a respective layer thickness of 0.1 µm to 5 µm, preferably 1 µm to 2 µm, which is arranged in particular on a surface of the release layer facing away from the plastic carrier film. The one or more lacquer layers can each be transparent, translucent or opaque. It is thus possible for the one or more lacquer layers to be colored transparently, translucently or opaquely.

The coloring of the one or more layers of varnish can be based on the process colors cyan, yellow, magenta and black, but also on special colors (e.g. in the RAL or HKS or Pantone ^® color system). The one or more layers of varnish can alternatively or additionally contain metal pigments and/or in particular optically variable effect pigments.

The one or more layers of paint can be applied over the entire surface or only partially, for example as a so-called spot painting. Spot painting enables optical effects to be created in certain areas of the surface. In this case, specific areas are painted with a glossy paint and/or a matt paint, for example, in order to change the appearance of the respective area of the surface, in particular to improve its value. Alternatively or in addition to the optical effect, haptic effects can also be achieved. The decorative material preferably has a metal layer made of aluminum and/or chrome and/or silver and/or gold and/or copper, in particular with a layer thickness of 10 nm to 200 nm, preferably 10 nm to 50 nm.

Alternatively or in addition to the metal layer, a layer made of an HRI material (HRI = High Refractive Index) can also be provided. HRI materials are, for example, metal oxides such as ZnS, TiO _x or paints with corresponding nanoparticles.

Preferably, the printing device is designed to print the transfer medium using screen printing, flexographic printing, digital printing (e.g. inkjet printing, xerographic printing, liquid toner printing) or offset printing.

If the transfer medium is printed with a decorative material that can be cured using UV radiation, it is advantageous to pre-cure the decorative material with a UV light source immediately after printing on the transfer medium. It is therefore useful if the printing device has a UV light source for pre-curing the decorative material, which is preferably arranged at the end of the printing device and/or in front of an adhesive application device. In particular, this increases the viscosity of the decorative material. This prevents the applied areas of the decorative material from running or being squashed too much during further processing, so that a particularly sharp-edged application of the decorative material and a particularly high surface quality of the transferred layers on the object can be achieved. A slight squashing of the decorative material is certainly desirable in order to bring directly adjacent areas of the decorative material, in particular the smallest areas, so-called pixels, closer together and to unite them. This can be advantageous, for example, to avoid pixelation of the image in closed areas and/or at the edges of the motif, i.e. to avoid individual pixels appearing visually in a disturbing way. The squeezing should preferably only be carried out to such an extent that the desired resolution is not reduced too much. The UV light is advantageously emitted in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 420 nm, preferably in the wavelength range from 350 nm to 400 nm.

The UV light source for pre-curing the decorative material is preferably an LED light source. LED light sources can provide almost monochromatic light, ensuring that the required radiation intensity is available in the wavelength range required to cure the adhesive. This cannot usually be achieved with conventional medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps.

In a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises an adhesive application device for applying adhesive to the transfer medium provided with decorative material and/or to the object and a hardening device for hardening the adhesive, wherein the hardening device is preferably arranged in the region of the pressing device and the pressing device is designed such that the pressing of the transfer medium and the hardening of the adhesive can take place simultaneously. As a result, the decorative material of the transfer medium adheres to the object at the points provided with adhesive. If, after pressing, the When the transfer medium is removed from the object, the decorative material remains on the object in the desired places. In places where no adhesive has been applied to the object or the transfer medium, the decorative material does not adhere to the object, but remains on the carrier material of the transfer medium.

Preferably, the adhesive application device is designed to apply the adhesive by means of screen printing, flexographic printing, digital printing (e.g. inkjet printing, xerographic printing, liquid toner printing).

In a further preferred embodiment, the adhesive application device is arranged between the printing device and the pressing device, wherein the adhesive application device applies the adhesive in particular to the transfer medium printed by the printing device, in particular to a surface of the transfer medium facing away from the carrier material. Among other things, this can prevent an offset or excessive tolerance between the decorative material and alternatively the adhesive previously applied to the object when the transfer medium is subsequently pressed onto the object, and the decorative material not being transferred correctly to the object.

Alternatively or additionally, the adhesive can be transferred to the object using the adhesive application device in an upstream station.

A particularly advantageous, compact and simple structure of the device can be achieved if the adhesive application device is designed as part of the printing device. In this case, the adhesive application device is preferably arranged at the end of the printing device. In other words, the adhesive is applied after the transfer medium has been provided with the decorative material.

In the case that the adhesive has components that can be cured using UV radiation, it is advantageous to pre-cure the adhesive directly after applying the adhesive to the transfer medium, in particular for a so-called "pinning" of the adhesive. It is therefore useful if the adhesive application device has a UV light source for pre-curing the adhesive, which is preferably arranged at the end of the adhesive application device and/or in front of the pressing device. In particular, this increases the viscosity of the adhesive. This prevents it from running or strong squeezing of the applied areas of the adhesive during further processing, so that a particularly sharp-edged application of the decorative material and a particularly high surface quality of the transferred layers on the object can be achieved. A slight squeezing of the adhesive is certainly desirable in order to bring directly adjacent areas of the print medium, in particular the smallest areas, so-called pixels, closer together and to unite them. This can be advantageous, for example, in order to avoid pixelation of the representation in closed areas and/or at the edges of a motif, i.e. to avoid individual pixels appearing visually disruptive. The squeezing should preferably only be carried out to such an extent that the desired resolution is not reduced too much. The UV light is advantageously emitted in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 420 nm, preferably in the wavelength range 350 nm to 400 nm.

The UV light source for pre-curing the adhesive is preferably an LED light source. LED light sources can provide almost monochromatic light, ensuring that the required radiation intensity is available in the wavelength range required to cure the adhesive. This cannot usually be achieved with conventional medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps.

In order to ensure that the decorative material adheres to the transfer medium, a drying unit for drying the decorative material applied to the transfer medium can be provided in a further preferred embodiment, wherein the drying unit is preferably designed as part of the printing device. In particular, when the adhesive is applied to the printed transfer medium, it can be ensured that undried decorative material runs or is smeared when the adhesive is applied to the transfer medium.

The drying unit can preferably be designed such that drying and/or curing takes place by means of UV light irradiation and/or thermal drying for chemical or physical drying and/or curing.

The drying unit is located upstream of the adhesive application device, so that the decorative material applied to the transfer medium is dried first and then the adhesive is applied to the transfer medium, i.e. to the decorative material printed on the transfer medium.

In a preferred embodiment, the device has a transfer medium guide that is designed to guide the transfer medium tangentially to the outer circumference of the object. The pressing device is arranged in such a way that it presses the transfer medium onto the object along the contact area between the object and the transfer medium. By rotating the object by 360° around the axis of rotation, the decorative material can be applied to all places on the object.

Preferably, the pressing device can be moved in such a way that the surface speed of the pressing device can be adapted to the surface speed of the object, and furthermore, the transfer medium can preferably be moved in such a way that the surface speed of the transfer medium can be adapted to the surface speed of the object. In other words, the movement of the pressing device and the movement of the object can be synchronized with one another in such a way that the relative movement of the transfer medium and the object is as small as possible or preferably zero. This ensures that the pressing device, the transfer medium and the object do not rub against one another. This prevents the adhesive from smearing on the object. The risk of damage to the transfer medium or the object is also reduced.

It is therefore advantageous if the relative movement of the transfer medium and the object is set in such a way that a maximum development tolerance of ± 5 mm, preferably ± 3 mm, and/or a maximum speed tolerance on the circumference of the object of ± 15%, preferably ± 10%, results. It is therefore possible for the surface speed of the transfer medium and the surface speed of the object to differ by less than ± 15%, preferably less than ± 10%.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device, the pressing device has a cylinder that can be rotated about the cylinder's longitudinal axis. The transfer medium can then be pressed onto the object by guiding the transfer medium between the cylinder and the object while simultaneously rotating the cylinder about the cylinder's longitudinal axis and the object about the axis of rotation, or by rolling the transfer medium over a preferably flat or level surface of the object using the cylinder.

Alternatively and/or in addition to the cylinder, the pressing device can also have a plate. In this case, the transfer medium can be guided directly along the plate and thus pressed against the object.

A particularly secure application of the decorative material to the object can be achieved if the adhesive is a UV-curing adhesive and the curing device has a UV light source for curing the adhesive, the pressing device being at least partially transparent to UV light in some areas and being arranged at least partially between the UV light source and the holding device. The UV light is preferably emitted in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 420 nm, more preferably in the wavelength range from 350 nm to 400 nm.

It is therefore possible for the device for decorating objects to have a plurality of UV light sources. It is thus possible for the device for decorating objects to have a first UV light source for pre-curing the decorative material, which is preferably arranged at the end of the printing device and/or in front of an adhesive application device, a second UV light source for pre-curing the adhesive, which is preferably arranged at the end of the adhesive application device and/or in front of the pressing device, and/or a third UV light source for curing the adhesive, which is preferably included in the curing device, wherein the curing device is preferably arranged in the region of the pressing device and the pressing device is set up such that the pressing of the transfer medium and the curing of the adhesive can take place simultaneously.

The pressing device is transparent or translucent to UV radiation, in particular in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 420 nm, preferably in the range from 350 nm to 400 nm, particularly preferably in the range from 365 nm to 395 nm. The transparency or translucency should in particular be 30% to 100%, preferably 40% to 100%. A lower transparency or translucency can be compensated by higher UV intensity.

UV light sources that can be used include LED spotlights, mercury vapor lamps, or mercury vapor lamps doped with iron and/or gallium.

Preferably, the UV light source for curing the adhesive is an LED light source. LED light sources can provide almost monochromatic light, so that It is ensured that the required radiation intensity is available in the wavelength range necessary for curing the adhesive. This cannot usually be achieved with conventional medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps.

The distance between the UV light source for curing the adhesive and the object is advantageously 2 mm to 50 mm, preferably 2 mm to 40 mm, in order to achieve optimal curing, but at the same time in particular to avoid physical contact between the UV light source and the object. The size of the irradiation window of the UV light source for curing the adhesive in the machine direction is preferably between 5 mm and 40 mm.

When using LED light sources, the energy of the radiation usually decreases comparatively sharply from a distance of around 5 mm from the LED light source, particularly due to the relatively high divergence of the LED light source, so that the distance to the object should preferably be chosen as small as possible. The use of LED light sources with optical focusing enables a greater distance to the object, which also enables use in structurally difficult conditions. It is also possible that the irradiation window is smaller when using LED light sources with optical focusing, particularly in comparison to an irradiation window when using UV light sources without optical focusing.

The gross UV irradiance is preferably between 1 W/cm ² and 50 W/cm ² , preferably between 3 W/cm ² and 40 W/cm ² . This ensures that the adhesive is completely cured at web speeds of about 10 m/min to 60 m/min (or higher) and, if applicable, the other factors already discussed with regard to pre-curing.

Taking these factors into account, the adhesive is irradiated in this process with a net UV irradiance of preferably between 4.8 W/cm ² and 8.0 W/cm ² . This corresponds to a net energy input (dose) at a preferred irradiation time of between about 0.1 s (at 10 m/min web speed and a 20 mm wide irradiation window) and about 0.04 s (at 30 m/min web speed and a 20 mm wide irradiation window) into the adhesive of about 100 mJ/cm ² to 2000 mJ/cm ² , preferably from about 100 mJ/cm ² to 1000 mJ/cm ² , in particular wherein this net energy input can be varied depending on the required curing.

It is particularly important to note that these values are only theoretically possible (at 100% lamp power). In particular, when the UV light source is at full power to harden the adhesive, e.g. with a 20 W/cm ² version, and the web speed is low, e.g. 10 m/min, the transfer medium heats up so much that it can catch fire. Therefore, the net energy input is preferably between 100 mJ/cm ² and 500 mJ/cm ² , depending on the web speed.

For example, the UV light source can be arranged inside a cylinder of the pressing device. For this purpose, the cylinder is designed as a hollow cylinder at least in places. The material of the cylinder is chosen so that the wavelengths of UV light required to harden the adhesive can be transmitted through the cylinder. The cylinder can be completely transparent to UV light; however, transparent windows can also be provided in the cylinder so that UV light only emerges from the cylinder when UV light is needed to harden the adhesive.

The cylinder can be made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate, acrylic glass) and/or borosilicate glass in the areas that are transparent to UV light. Both materials have a transmittance of at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, particularly in the wavelength range from 350 nm to 400 nm.

The degree of transmission is in particular the proportion of incident electromagnetic waves, in this case "light", that penetrate a component. Depending on the properties, layer structure or layer thickness, the degree of transmission can vary. The degree of transmission is therefore a measure of the transmitted intensity and takes on values between 0 and 100%.

As described in the previous section, it is possible for the cylinder of the pressing device to be completely or partially transparent so that the UV light can be transmitted sufficiently, in particular to completely harden or cure the adhesive. Preferably, the decorative material also has a sufficient degree of transmission, in particular to be able to harden the adhesive on the back of the printed image using UV light. Practical tests have shown that, particularly in the case of a multi-coloured printed image, a degree of transmission of the decorative material of at least 2.5% in the wavelength range between 350 nm and 400 nm of UV light is sufficient to achieve a to achieve sufficient exposure of the adhesive located behind it in the direction of exposure.

For example, when measuring the transmittance of the decorative material, the following values were determined: Colour of the decoration material Transmission in percent at about 395 nm Layer thickness of the decorative material in µm Translucent varnish, cyan 35% 6 Translucent varnish, magenta 53% 6 Translucent varnish, yellow 15% 6 Translucent colour varnish, Black 3.5% 6 Opaque colour varnish, white 0% 15 vapor-deposited aluminum with a thickness of approx. 15 nm to 20 nm 6.3% --

In particular, if the degree of transmission of the decorative material is too low for sufficient exposure of the adhesive, for example in the case of the opaque white decorative material listed above, it is advantageous for the decorative material to be arranged in a grid pattern in first zones with decorative material and second zones without decorative material. It is particularly advantageous to arrange the first and/or second zones in the form of thin lines and/or small grid elements with a line width and/or with a minimum grid element dimension of less than 500 µm, preferably less than 250 µm. The UV light can then pass through the second zones without decorative material to the adhesive in sufficient quantity and expose it there sufficiently for it to harden. Due to their small size, the first zones can be at least partially under-irradiated so that the adhesive can also be at least partially exposed there and thus hardened.

Preferably, the ratio of the average width of the first zones to the average width of the second zones is between 0.75:1 and 1:5. Thus, preferably, the width of the first zones is less than 250 µm and the width of the second zones is more than 250 µm.

Preferably, the first and second zones are arranged according to a one- or two-dimensional grid, for example a line grid or an area grid. It is thus possible for the first zones and/or second zones to be shaped as points or in the form of a polygon. The grid element shapes are preferably selected from: point-shaped, diamond-shaped and cross-shaped. However, it is also possible to use grid element shapes with different shapes.

Preferably, the grid or the distribution of the first and second zones is regular, random (stochastic) or pseudo-random.

It is also possible that the one- or two-dimensional grid is a geometrically transformed grid. For example, it is possible that it is a circular or wave-shaped transformed one-dimensional grid, with the first zones being provided in the form of concentric circular rings or in the form of wavy lines.

Preferably, the area of the object that is to be illuminated with UV light can be set so that the curing of the UV adhesive when the transfer medium is pressed onto the adhesive is so advanced that the decorative layer of the transfer medium adheres to the object and can be detached from the transfer medium. Depending on the adhesive used and the intensity of the UV light, it may be necessary to illuminate the adhesive on the object before the contact line between the object and the transfer medium. The area to be illuminated can be set, for example, by using (possibly adjustable or replaceable) apertures between the UV light source and the object. One or more apertures can also be attached directly to the pressing device. The setting can also be made by adjusting the divergence of the UV light emitted by the UV light source.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method, the adhesive application device is a flexographic printing station. The adhesive can then be applied to the object by means of a printing plate attached to the printing form cylinder. Alternatively, the adhesive application device can also be a screen printing station or a digital printing station (for example an inkjet printing station, xerographic printing station, liquid toner printing station).

In a further preferred embodiment of the device, the pressing device further comprises a flexible pressing layer. This makes it possible to compensate for irregularities in the object, the transfer medium and/or the machine structure. The flexible pressing layer can be made of silicone, for example.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method, the pressure layer is transparent to UV light at least in some areas. The areas in which the pressure layer is transparent can be based on the areas in which the pressure device is transparent. However, the pressure layer can also be completely transparent, while the pressure device is only partially transparent.

In a particularly preferred further embodiment, the transfer medium is provided as an endless belt. This makes it possible to use the transfer medium multiple times. In other words, the transfer medium does not have to be wound up and disposed of after printing by the printing device and transferring the decorative material to an object in the pressing device, but can be diverted and fed back to the printing device. The transfer medium is preferably designed as a transparent, dimensionally stable, in particular tensile-stable, endless belt. In this embodiment, in particular the decorative material is completely transferred from the transfer medium to the object, so that the transfer medium is then largely free of decorative material and can be used again.

In order to ensure that radiation emitted from the curing device can penetrate the transfer medium with sufficient intensity, it can be transparent for the respective wavelength ranges and/or have a coating for separation during the transfer of the decorative material to the object, in particular a release layer. This ensures a secure transfer of the decorative material and a secure curing of the adhesive.

In a preferred development, the transfer medium provided as an endless belt is clamped between a transfer medium guide and the pressing device. This ensures that the transfer medium is always correctly aligned. At the same time, the transfer medium can be moved by the friction achieved by means of the clamping between the transfer media guide and the transfer medium in its direction of movement. Preferably, the transfer medium provided as an endless belt is clamped between a preferably motor-driven cylinder of the pressing device and a preferably motor-driven tension roller of the transfer media guide.

In a further preferred embodiment, the transfer medium is arranged directly on the pressing device, preferably on a cylinder of the pressing device. This allows a particularly simple structure of the device to be achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a cleaning device for cleaning the printed transfer medium after the transfer medium has been pressed onto the object. This allows adhesive residues and the parts of the decorative material that were not transferred from the transfer medium to the object by the pressing device to be removed from the transfer medium. The transfer medium cleaned in this way can then be reused.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a pretreatment device for pretreating the transfer medium before applying the decorative material. This makes it possible to improve the surface of the transfer medium to be printed on in terms of the adhesion behavior of the decorative material on the transfer medium. In addition, this enables the decorative material to adhere securely when printing on the transfer medium and the decorative material to be removed securely from the transfer medium when transferring the decorative material to the object.

In order to achieve particularly efficient and safe printing and transfer of the decorative material, the transfer medium can be provided with a coating by the pre-treatment device for better separation when transferring the decorative material to the object, in particular a release layer. Furthermore, irregularities in the surface of the transfer medium can be compensated for by the pre-treatment device.

In a preferred embodiment, the surface of the object is pretreated before decoration. This pretreatment can in particular comprise an object cleaning step and/or an activation step.

In the object cleaning step, dirt and/or existing protective coatings or other functional coatings that were applied in particular for the transport of the object and/or during the manufacture of the object are preferably removed.

In the case of glass-like surfaces, problems continue to arise due to the moisture bound to the surface. The moisture is bound in particular in the form of gel layers, which negatively affect the adhesive properties of the layers subsequently applied to the surface.

The ability of the surface to allow adhesion to subsequently applied layers, in particular a decoration, also depends on the reactive groups applied or created on the surface, as these are the basis for the firm bonding of the subsequently applied layers. The density of the reactive OH groups in the silicate layer of glass in particular is not sufficient in the known processes, which leads to reduced adhesion of the subsequently applied layers.

In the activation step, which preferably takes place after the object cleaning step, the surface of the object is advantageously modified in such a way that the adhesion of the subsequently applied decoration is increased and improved. The modification can be carried out chemically and/or physically.

The object cleaning step particularly includes modifying the surface of the object with at least one oxidizing flame. The object cleaning step has the advantage that the moisture bound to the amorphous surface of the compact substrate in the form of non-homogeneous gel layers is reduced. Surprisingly, the object cleaning step reduces the gel layer in a reproducible manner. The gel layer depends on the respective amorphous structure as well as on the aging state of the gel layer. The oxidizing flame reduces the gel layer and thus the bound moisture. The reduction of the gel layer leads to reproducible, homogeneous surface properties.

An oxidizing flame is any ignited gas, gas-air mixture, aerosol or spray that contains excess oxygen and/or can have an oxidizing effect.

The activation step particularly comprises modifying the surface of the object with at least one silicating flame. A silicon oxide layer up to 60 nm thick, preferably 5 nm to 50 nm, more preferably 10 nm to 30 nm thick, is applied, which is characterized by a high content of reactive OH groups. The homogeneity and the good adhesion properties of the applied silicon oxide layer are achieved by the combination of the object cleaning step and the activation step. It is advantageous to select the number of flames so that one to ten, in particular one to five, oxidizing and/or silicating flames modify the surface of the object.

The reactive groups on the surface are the chemical basis for a firm chemical bonding of the subsequently applied surface treatment layers, for example wax layers and/or lacquer layers and/or paint layers. If the surface consists of an amorphous substance, for example glass, the surface density of the OH groups on the surface of the compact substrate according to the invention is 2 to 5 times higher than on untreated surfaces.

The silicon oxide layer or silicate layer applied in the second treatment step has a submicroscopic roughness. The roughness and the associated mechanical anchoring option for further layers leads to a significantly improved adhesion of all subsequent layers. The object cleaning step and the activation step produce a reproducible, homogeneous, micro-retentive surface. The combination of the two process steps surprisingly leads to a reduction in the gel layer and an increase in the density and a homogeneous distribution of the reactive OH groups.

In the activation step, a gas is used for flame treatment which contains compounds comprising components selected from the group alkylsilanes, alkoxysilanes, alkyltitanium, alkoxytitanium, alkylaluminium, alkoxyaluminium or combinations thereof.

Preferred examples of such compounds are tetramethylsilane, tetramethyltitanium, tetramethyltitanium, tetraethylsilane, tetraethyltitanium, tetraethylaluminum, 1,2-dichlorotetramethylsilane, 1,2-dichlorotetramethyltitanium, 1,2-dichlorotetramethylaluminum, 1,2-diphenyltetramethylsilane, 1,2-diphenyltetramethyltitanium, 1,2-diphenyltetramethylaluminum, 1,2-Dichlorotetraethylsilane, 1,2-dichlorotetraethyltitanium, 1,2-dichlorotetraethylaluminium, 1,2-diphenyltetraethylsilane, 1,2-diphenyltetraethyltitanium, 1,2-diphenyltetraethylaluminium, 1,2,3-trichlorotetramethylsilane, 1,2,3-trichlorotetramethyltitanium, 1,2,3-trichlorotetramethylaluminium, 1,2,3-triphenyltetramethylsilane, 1,2,3-triphenyltetramethyltitanium, 1,2,3-triphenyltetramethylaluminium, dimethyldiethyltetrasilane, dimethyldiethyltetratitanium, dimethyldiethyltetraaluminium and similar compounds.

Furthermore, among such alkyl compounds, a silane compound, an alkyltitanium compound and an alkylaluminum compound, tetramethylsilane, tetramethyltitanium, tetramethylaluminum, tetraethylsilane, tetraethyltitanium and tetraethylaluminum are preferred modifying compounds because of their particularly low boiling point and easy miscibility with air and the like gases, while a silane halide compound such as 1,2-dichlorotetramethylsilane is preferably used as a modifier.

In addition, alkoxysilane, alkoxytitanium and alkoxyaluminium compounds are preferable among the above-mentioned compounds provided that their boiling point is in the range between 10°C and 100°C, since, due to their ester structure, they generally have high boiling points but enable an even better surface-modifying effect of the solid substrate.

A silicating flame in the sense of the invention is understood to mean any ignited gas, gas-air mixture, aerosol or spray with the aid of which a silicon oxide layer is applied to a surface by flame pyrolytic decomposition of a silicon-containing substance. In particular, it can be provided that the silicon-containing coating is applied essentially free of carbon and that during the flame pyrolysis, a silicon-alkoxysilane is introduced as the silicon-containing substance into a mixture of air and fuel gas and, if required, oxygen. The fuel gas includes, for example, propane, butane, illuminating gas and/or natural gas.

It is advantageous if the value of the average molecular weight of the modifying compound is in the range from 50 to 1000, preferably in the range from 60 to 500, more preferably in the range from 70 to 200, measured by mass spectrum analysis. If the average molecular weight of the modifying compound is below 50, the Volatility is high and handling becomes difficult in some cases. On the other hand, if the value of the average molecular weight of the modifying compound is above 1000, evaporation by heating and gentle mixing with air or similar gases is difficult in some cases.

It is also advantageous if the density of the modifying compound in the liquid state is in the range from 0.3 g/cm ³ to 0.9 g/cm ³ , preferably in the range from 0.4 g/cm ³ to 0.8 g/cm ³ , more preferably in the range from 0.5 g/cm ³ to 0.7 g/cm ³ . If the density of the modifying substance in the liquid state is below 0.3 g/cm ³ , handling is made more difficult and in some cases the incorporation into aerosol cans becomes problematic. If, on the other hand, the density of the modifying compound in the liquid state is above 0.9 g/cm ³ , evaporation is made more difficult and in some cases the incorporation into aerosol cans can lead to complete separation with air or similar gases.

It is advantageous if the modifying compound is heated and vaporized and mixed with the fuel gas in the vaporized state and then burned. The boiling point of the modifying compound is preferably between 10°C and 80°C.

The amount of the modifying compound in the fuel gas has in particular a value in the range of 1x 10 ^-10 mol-% to 10 mol-% of the total amount of the fuel gas.

In particular, the wetting index after surface modification has a value in the range of 40 mN/m (dyn/cm) to 80 mN/m (dyn/cm) at a measuring temperature of 25°C.

The flame temperature of the oxidizing and/or silicating flame is preferably in the range from 500°C to 1500°C, in particular from 900°C to 1200°C, and/or the surface of the object is advantageously heated to 35°C to 150°C, in particular to 50°C to 100°C.

The treatment time with the oxidizing and/or silicating flame is in particular in the range from 0.1 seconds to 100 seconds, preferably in the range from 0.1 seconds to 10 seconds, particularly preferably in the range from 0.1 seconds to 5 seconds.

In order to easily control the flame temperature of the oxidizing and/or silicifying flame, it is recommended to add a combustible gas to the fuel gas. As such combustible gases, hydrocarbon gases such as propane gas and natural gas or combustible gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, air and the like can be used. When using combustible gases housed in aerosol cans, it is preferable to use propane gas and compressed air or the like.

It is preferred that the value of the amount of combustible gas contained is in the range of 80 mol% to 99.9 mol% of the total amount of fuel gas, preferably in the range of 85 mol% to 99 mol%, more preferably in the range of 90 mol% to 99 mol%. If the fuel gas content is below 80 mol%, the mixing properties of the modifying compound decrease and the air in some cases leads to incomplete combustion of the modifying compound. On the other hand, if the value of the amount of fuel gas contained is above 99.9 mol%, the modifying effect of surfaces is eliminated in some cases.

It is preferable to also add a carrier gas for the oxidizing and/or silicizing flame in order to mix the amount of the modifying compound uniformly into the fuel gas. It is preferable to premix the modifying compound with a carrier gas and then mix it into the combustible gas such as the air stream. By adding a carrier gas, even when a modifying compound having a relatively high molecular weight that is difficult to transport is used, it can be mixed uniformly into the air stream. By adding the carrier gas, the modifying compound becomes easily combustible and the modification of the surface of the object can be carried out uniformly and sufficiently.

It is preferred that the same type of gas is used for the carrier gas as for the combustible gas, e.g. air and oxygen or hydrocarbon gases such as propane and natural gas.

The combined treatment of the surface with at least one oxidizing and at least one silicizing flame provides a homogeneous, microretentive surface that has a high density of reactive groups.

Advantageously, the roughness and the good adhesion properties of the silicate layer applied in the activation step lead to a subsequently applied Decoration, in particular the decorative material applied subsequently, for example a printing ink or other decorative or functional layers, adheres very well. The decorative material applied to the silicate layer is advantageously scratch and abrasion resistant and has a high water and water vapor resistance. The homogeneous silicate layer produced advantageously achieves a high color coverage of the printing inks applied by the decoration. The properties of the decorative layers such as color tone, color strength, metamerism, opacity and transparency can advantageously be selected almost freely by the appropriately pre-treated surface.

The object cleaning step and/or the activation step can be carried out in particular with the aid of a further pretreatment device for pretreating the object. The further pretreatment device for pretreating the object can be designed to carry out both steps or a separate object cleaning device and a separate activation device can be provided separately from one another.

The further pretreatment device for pretreating the object and/or the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can be designed as a module for installation in the device for decorating objects, in particular for installation in the holding device. The corresponding module can then be used to pretreat the surface of the object within the device before carrying out subsequent process steps.

The pretreatment device and/or the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can also be designed as a separate device which can pretreat the surface of the object accordingly, independently of other devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can have an annular flame device, wherein the object to be pretreated is arranged inside a ring and the oxidizing or silicating flame can emerge from the ring in the direction of the surface of the object.

In a further embodiment, the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can have a flame application device that is at least partially straight. This flame application device is then guided or moved in sections over the surface of the object to be pretreated.

In a further embodiment, the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can have a flame device with one or more flames emerging at specific points. This flame device is then guided or moved in sections over the surface of the object to be pretreated. When decorating three-dimensional objects, the object is preferably held in the holding device so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation. This axis of rotation is preferably the longitudinal axis of the objects.

In a further embodiment, the device has a transfer media unwinding device and/or a transfer media winding device, preferably with a transfer media guide, for the transfer medium.

In the device or method for decorating objects, it is now possible to transport the transfer medium either continuously or in a timed manner, wherein the pressing of the transfer medium provided with the decoration material onto the object, i.e. in particular the object decoration, and/or the object transport is expediently carried out in a timed manner.

One possibility is for the transfer medium to be transported continuously. In particular, a continuous web speed of the transfer medium is an optimal prerequisite for the continuous printing of the transfer medium by the printing device, for example using digital printing technology, in high quality.

It is thus possible that during the, in particular timed, pressing of the transfer medium provided with decorative material onto the object in the pressing device, the, in particular timed, application of the decorative material onto the transfer medium in the printing device takes place at the same time.

Preferably, a repeat between the individual print sections is determined depending on the clock and/or printing speeds. This makes it possible for the The repeat between the individual printing sections becomes larger or smaller depending on the cycle and/or printing speed. In particular, the repeat is determined or calculated from the known cycle speed of the object transport and the object decoration. Preferably, particularly with continuous transport of the transfer medium, the timed printing of the transfer medium takes place at the same time as the timed object decoration. The repeat is advantageously approximately half as "long" (length in relation to the transport speed of the transfer medium) as the object cycle (object decoration and object transport). Preferably, the repeat is usually set constant over the entire process and is not regulated.

The disadvantage of such a continuous process is that the consumption of the transfer medium in particular is very high, which increases the costs.

Another possibility is that the transfer medium is driven at the same rate as the object's transport device, in particular at the same rate. In this case, the transfer medium is not driven continuously, but rather is driven or stopped depending on the process stage.

It is thus possible for the transfer medium to be driven in the pressing device depending on the pressing, in particular in a timed manner, of the transfer medium provided with decorative material onto the object. The driving of the transfer medium preferably takes place in time with the transport device of the object. It is thus possible for the application of the decorative material onto the transfer medium and the pressing of the transfer medium provided with decorative material onto the object to take place in a timed manner, with the transfer medium being driven or stopped depending on the timed pressing of the transfer medium.

The advantage here is that the repeat between the decorative material, especially the printed images, and thus the consumption of the transfer medium is reduced. Preferably, the printing takes place at the same rate as that of the object. During the printing process, however, the transfer medium is also accelerated and decelerated, so that the printing process very often takes place at changing speeds.

The disadvantage of such a timed process is that the quality of the applied material is affected, particularly by the constantly changing web speed. Decorative material, such as the print quality of digital printing, is negatively affected.

Another advantageous possibility is to combine the continuous process and the timed process. In this case, a continuous web speed of the transfer medium is preferably aimed for on the one hand during the printing process and a timed web speed of the object during the object decoration, i.e. in particular during the transfer process, in which the transfer medium provided with decorative material is expediently pressed onto the object.

This makes it possible for the transfer medium containing the decorative material to be pressed onto the object in a timed manner, with the decorative material being applied to the transfer medium at a continuous web speed.

In order to be able to combine both variants, the device preferably comprises a compensation module or a "storage", in particular in order to be able to "collect" or store the transfer medium in the storage during a standstill phase in the clocked process for the object, so that the continuous web speed of the transfer medium, which is advantageous for the quality of the printing, is not impaired. The compensation module is in particular designed as a mechanical storage which provides the required transfer medium at the required process speed depending on the process section. Such a compensation module can, for example, be a receiving space for a loop of the transfer medium, in particular with means for maintaining the web tension of the transfer medium.

Preferably, the compensation module or a mechanical storage device within the compensation module can store the transfer medium by a lateral movement and release the transfer medium again by changing the direction of movement. Preferably, the maximum distance of the lateral movement of the compensation module or the mechanical storage device within the compensation module is higher, in particular higher by an average factor of 2, than the distance covered by the transfer medium at a continuous web speed in a predetermined time. The predetermined time preferably corresponds to the Standstill phase in which the object is decorated, in particular by pressing the decoration material on. In other words, the clocked removal speed for the transfer medium during removal is preferably higher, for example 1.5 times as high as the continuous filling speed with the transfer medium, so that the storage does not overflow.

To compensate for dimensional fluctuations in the objects to be decorated, according to a further preferred embodiment, the pressing device, preferably a cylinder of the pressing device, can be mounted or suspended in a floating manner. For example, a pressure-controlled pneumatic cylinder and/or a pressure-controlled hydraulic cylinder can be used, whereby the contact pressure of the cylinder on the object when transferring the decorative material can be variably adjusted by changing the air pressure setting of the pneumatic cylinder or the fluid pressure setting of the hydraulic cylinder. The compensation of dimensional fluctuations on the surface of the object can be achieved with the spring-loaded vertical lifting movement of the cylinder in accordance with the set contact pressure. Alternatively, the vertical variable lifting movement and the control of the contact pressure can be carried out using compression springs with adjustable spring tension, instead of using compressed air and pneumatic cylinders or fluid pressure and hydraulic cylinders.

For decorating preferably three-dimensional objects, in a preferred development the transfer medium is pressed onto the object by rotating the object about a rotation axis, guiding the transfer medium tangentially to the outer circumference of the object and the pressing device pressing the transfer medium onto the object along the contact area between the object and the transfer medium, wherein the pressing device is preferably moved such that the surface speed of the pressing device corresponds to the surface speed of the object, and wherein the transfer medium is preferably moved such that the surface speed of the transfer medium corresponds to the surface speed of the object.

In a further preferred embodiment, the transfer medium is pressed onto the object by holding the object in a fixed position and the Transfer medium is rolled over the surface of the object by means of the pressing device, wherein the pressing device presses the transfer medium onto the object along the contact area between the object and the transfer medium, wherein the pressing device is preferably moved along the object.

In a particularly preferred further embodiment of the method, the transfer medium is provided as an endless belt, wherein the aforementioned sequence of steps is carried out several times, wherein each time the aforementioned sequence of steps is carried out, a further object is provided with decorative material. In this way, a large number of objects can be printed with the transfer medium without producing waste in the form of transfer material or transfer film material that is used once and has to be disposed of. In this embodiment, the decorative material in particular is transferred completely from the transfer medium to the object, so that the transfer medium is then largely free of decorative material and can be used again.

In order to improve the surface of the transfer medium with regard to the adhesion behavior of the decorative material on the transfer medium and thus enable secure adhesion of the decorative material when printing on the transfer medium and secure detachment of the decorative material from the transfer medium when transferring the decorative material to the object, and in order to be able to compensate for irregularities in the surface of the transfer medium, in a further preferred embodiment the transfer medium is pretreated before the decorative material is applied. If the transfer medium is provided with a coating for better separation when transferring the decorative material to the object, in particular a release layer, during the pretreatment, particularly efficient and secure printing and transfer of the decorative material can also be achieved.

If the transfer medium is cleaned after pressing according to a further preferred embodiment, adhesive residues and the parts of the decorative material which were not transferred to the object when the transfer medium was pressed onto it can be removed from the transfer medium and the transfer medium thus cleaned can thus be reused.

A particularly advantageous embodiment results when the transfer medium provided as an endless belt is cleaned after passing through the pressing device and is then pretreated before the transfer medium is fed back to the printing device for renewed application of decorative material.

Preferably, a UV adhesive is used as the adhesive and the curing of the adhesive takes place by irradiation with UV light.

Preferably, a transparent adhesive with the following composition is used: 2-Phenoxyethyl acrylate 10% - 60%, preferably 25% - 50%; 4-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)-morpholine 5% - 40%, preferably 10% - 25%; Exo-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]-hept-2-yl acrylate 10% - 40%, preferably 20% - 25%; 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide 5% - 35%, preferably 10% - 25%; Dipropylene glycol diacrylate 1% - 20%, preferably 3% - 10%; Urethane acrylate oligomer 1% - 20%, preferably 1% - 10%.

When using physical or chemical curing adhesives, the adhesive can alternatively be dried using a thermal drying unit.

In a preferred development, the UV light is generated by a UV light source, wherein the pressing device is transparent to UV light at least in partial areas and is arranged at least partially between the UV light source and the holding device.

The aforementioned devices or methods for transferring decorative material are particularly suitable when the objects to be decorated are objects made of plastic, glass or metal, in particular cosmetic packaging, metal containers, glass bottles, drinking glasses and other glass, metal and plastic packaging, in particular with a cylindrical, oval or square cross-section, in particular tubes, bottles, glasses, flacons and cans made of glass, ceramic, plastic or metal, as well as essentially two-dimensional objects such as webs, strips, sheets, plates, discs, panels or boards.

Short description of the characters

Figur 1

schematisch eine Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Dekoration von zu dekorierenden Objekten;

Figur 2

schematisch eine Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Dekoration von zu dekorierenden Objekten;

Figur 3

schematisch eine Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Dekoration von zu dekorierenden Objekten;

Figur 4

schematisch eine Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Dekoration von zu dekorierenden Objekten;

Figur 5

schematisch eine Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zur Dekoration von zu dekorierenden Objekten;

Figuren 6a und 6b

schematisch eine Darstellung eines Transfermediums; und

Figuren 7a und 7b

schematisch eine Darstellung eines Ausgleichsmoduls;

Preferred further embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by the following description of the figures.

Figure 1

schematically a representation of a device for decorating objects to be decorated;

Figure 2

schematically a representation of a device for decorating objects to be decorated;

Figure 3

schematically a representation of a device for decorating objects to be decorated;

Figure 4

schematically a representation of a device for decorating objects to be decorated;

Figure 5

schematically a representation of a device for decorating objects to be decorated;

Figures 6a and 6b

schematically a representation of a transfer medium; and

Figures 7a and 7b

schematic representation of a compensation module;

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. Identical, similar or equivalent elements in the different figures are provided with identical reference symbols, and a repeated description of these elements is partially omitted in order to avoid redundancies.

In Figure 1 a schematic representation of a device 100 for decorating objects 13 to be decorated is shown. The device 100 has a transfer medium unwinding device 11 from which a transfer medium 3 is unwound. In the direction of movement 80 of the transfer medium 3, a printing device 7 for applying decorative material to the transfer medium 3 follows. After printing The transfer medium 3 passes through the printing device 7 to a pressing device 2, which is positioned opposite a holding device 1. A transfer medium winding device 12 is arranged downstream of the pressing device 2, on which the used transfer medium is wound up again.

The device 100 further comprises a transfer medium guide 8, by means of which the transfer medium 3 is guided through the device 100 and by which the movement of the transfer medium 3 is predetermined.

The holding device 1 can, for example, be a holding mandrel onto which the three-dimensional object 13 is pushed. The object 13 is then held exclusively from the inside by friction of the holding mandrel with the inner surface of the object 13. Alternatively, the holding device 1 can also hold the object from the outside.

The transfer medium 3 is fed from the transfer media unwinding device 11 via an adjustable deflection roller 82 to a vacuum roller 83. The transfer media guide and the transfer media tension are controlled via the deflection roller 82. An adjustable feed speed of the transfer medium 3 is specified by means of the vacuum roller 83. A further vacuum roller 83 is arranged downstream in the direction of movement 80. The rotation speed of this second vacuum roller 83 can be set slightly higher than the first vacuum roller 83 to ensure sufficient belt tension in the printing device 7. The intensity of the negative pressure of the vacuum rollers 83 can be set so that the transfer feed of the transfer medium 3 is precisely specified with the first vacuum roller 83 at a higher negative pressure and the tensioning force is regulated by friction of the transfer medium 3 on the second vacuum roller 83 at a lower vacuum. Depending on the different requirements when decorating different objects 13, the vacuum rollers 83 can be controlled with reversed intensity, thus the first vacuum roller 83 can be subjected to reduced negative pressure and the second vacuum roller 83 to increased negative pressure. The vacuum rollers 83 can be equipped with multi-part vacuum sectors in order to specifically control the respective areas of the vacuum rollers 83 with separate vacuum settings for the sectors.

After the second vacuum roller 83, the transfer medium 3 is guided over a further deflection roller 82, which is intended to provide a described printing process in the printing device 7 clocked

Transfer medium feed of the decorative printing unit 7 and the resulting changing transfer media tension, fed to the pressing device 2 and from there passed on via two further deflection rollers 83 for adjusting the transfer media tension to the transfer media winding device 12 and wound up there.

The deflection roller 82 arranged between the printing device 7 and the pressing device 2 is arranged such that it comes into contact with the transfer medium 3 on the back of the transfer medium 3, i.e. the unprinted side. Consequently, the transfer medium 3 provided with the decorative material in the printing device 7 is fed to the pressing device 2 without the surface of the transfer medium 3 provided with the decorative material coming into contact with a surface beforehand.

The printing device 7 is designed as a digital printing device for printing the transfer medium 3 by means of digital printing (for example inkjet printing, xerographic printing, liquid toner printing). Alternatively, the printing device 7 can also be designed as a screen printing, flexographic printing or offset printing device, wherein the printing can be carried out in one color or in multiple colors.

The printing device 7 has a horizontally arranged printing base plate 72. The transfer medium 3 to be decorated is guided from the transfer media unwinding device 11 via the deflection roller 82 and the first vacuum roller 83 via the printing base plate 72 to the second vacuum roller 83. Above the printing base plate 72, the printing device 7 has a plurality of print heads 70, wherein a first print head 70 is provided for printing a lacquer layer as a release lacquer or as a release layer and as an application aid for the transfer of the decorative material. This is followed by four further print heads 70 for the process colors cyan, yellow, magenta and black in order to print the transfer medium 3 in color. The printing of the transfer medium 3 resting or fixed on the printing base plate 72 takes place in that the print heads 70 are moved at a predetermined print head speed along a print head movement direction 71 over the printing base plate 72.

Alternatively, one or more further deflection rollers can be arranged instead of the first or second vacuum roller 83. Furthermore, other types of drive for moving the transfer medium 3 can also be provided.

The printing device 7 also includes a drying unit 6 that can be moved synchronously with the print heads 70 for drying the decorative material applied to the transfer medium 3 and an adhesive application device 4 for applying adhesive to the transfer medium 3 provided with decorative material. After the transfer medium 3 has been printed, the drying unit 6 dries and/or hardens the colors applied by the upstream print heads 70. In the present case, the drying unit 6 is designed as a UV light drying unit for drying or drying through and/or hardening or pre-hardening or hardening the decorative material applied to the transfer medium 3. Alternatively, other drying methods can also be used.

In particular, when printing the transfer medium with a decorative material that can be cured using UV radiation, it is advantageous to pre-cure the decorative material with a UV light source directly after printing on the transfer medium 3. For this purpose, it is useful if the printing device 7 has a UV light source for pre-curing the decorative material, which is preferably arranged at the end of the printing device 7 and/or in front of the adhesive application device 4. In particular, this increases the viscosity of the decorative material. This prevents the applied areas of the decorative material from running or being squashed too much during further processing, so that a particularly sharp-edged application of the decorative material and a particularly high surface quality of the transferred layers on the object can be achieved. A slight squashing of the decorative material is certainly desirable in order to bring directly adjacent areas of the decorative material, in particular the smallest areas, so-called pixels, closer together and to unite them. This can be advantageous, for example, to avoid pixelation of the image in closed areas and/or at the edges of the motif, i.e. to avoid individual pixels appearing visually in a disturbing way. The squeezing should preferably only be carried out to such an extent that the desired resolution is not reduced too much. The UV light is advantageously emitted in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 420 nm, preferably in the wavelength range from 350 nm to 400 nm.

Preferably, the UV light source for pre-curing the decorative material is an LED light source. LED light sources can provide almost monochromatic light, ensuring that the light required to cure the adhesive is The required radiation intensity is available in the wavelength range. This cannot usually be achieved with conventional medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps.

After drying, the adhesive application device 4 prints adhesive by means of an adhesive print head 40 onto the locations of the decorative material layer which are later to be transferred to the three-dimensional object 13 in the pressing device 2.

In particular, if the adhesive has components that can be cured using UV radiation, it is advantageous to pre-cure the adhesive directly after the adhesive has been applied to the transfer medium, in particular for what is known as "pinning" the adhesive. It is therefore useful if the adhesive application device has a UV light source for pre-curing the adhesive, which is preferably arranged at the end of the adhesive application device and/or in front of the pressing device. In particular, this increases the viscosity of the adhesive. This prevents the applied areas of the adhesive from running or being squeezed too much during further processing, so that a particularly sharp-edged application of the decorative material and a particularly high surface quality of the transferred layers on the object can be achieved. A slight squeezing of the adhesive is certainly desirable in order to bring directly adjacent areas of the printing medium, in particular the smallest areas, so-called pixels, closer together and to unite them. This can be advantageous, for example, to avoid pixelation of the image in closed areas and/or at the edges of the motif, i.e. to avoid individual pixels appearing visually in a disturbing way. The squeezing should preferably only be carried out to such an extent that the desired resolution is not reduced too much. The UV light is advantageously emitted in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 420 nm, preferably in the wavelength range from 350 nm to 400 nm.

The UV light source for pre-curing the adhesive is preferably an LED light source. LED light sources can provide almost monochromatic light, ensuring that the required radiation intensity is available in the wavelength range required to cure the adhesive. This cannot usually be achieved with conventional medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps.

Alternatively, the print heads 70 and the print base plate 72 can be arranged in a fixed position. During the printing process, the transfer medium 3 coming from the transfer medium unwinding device 11 is then guided by the first vacuum roller 83 and the second vacuum roller 83 over the print base plate 72 under the print heads 70. The feed speed of the transfer medium 3 is set according to the printing performance of the print heads 70.

Furthermore, it is possible that the printing base plate 72 is arranged to be movable along a plate movement direction 73 in order to support the printing process.

With the printing device 7, measuring points can be printed on the transfer medium 3 outside the decoration area which is to be transferred to the object 13 in order to be able to detect the position of the decoration material on the transfer medium 3 by means of sensors or at least one camera.

After completion of the printing process, the transfer medium 3 is transported to the pressing device 2 for transferring the decorative material to the object 13.

The pressing device 2 has a transparent, rotatable, hollow cylinder 20, which is provided on the outside with a flexible pressing layer made of an elastic, transparent material, preferably a silicone material. Because the pressing layer is elastic, irregularities in the three-dimensional object 13, the transfer medium 3 and/or the mechanical structure can be compensated. The cylinder 20 and the pressing layer are transparent to UV light, thus enabling transmission of UV light through the cylinder 20 and its pressing layer.

The adhesive in this case is a UV adhesive that hardens under UV light. A hardening device 5 in the form of a UV light source for hardening the adhesive is arranged inside the cylinder 20. The radiation area of the hardening device 5 is directed towards the contact area 14 between the transfer medium 3 and the object 13. So that the UV light emitted by the UV light source in the direction of the object 13 can emerge from the cylinder 20, both the cylinder 20 and the pressure layer are made of materials that are transparent to the UV light required for hardening. The transfer medium 3 is also transparent to the UV light required for hardening.

The UV light source for curing the adhesive preferably emits UV radiation in the wavelength range between 220 nm and 420 nm, preferably between 350 nm and 400 nm.

The pressing device 2 is transparent or translucent for UV radiation, in particular in the wavelength range from 220 nm to 420 nm, preferably in the range from 350 nm to 400 nm, particularly preferably in the range from 365 nm to 395 nm. The transparency or translucency should in particular be 30% to 100%, preferably 40% to 100%. A lower transparency or translucency can preferably be compensated by higher UV intensity.

For example, LED spotlights, mercury vapor lamps, or mercury vapor lamps doped with iron and/or gallium can be used as UV light sources. The UV light source for curing the adhesive is preferably an LED light source. LED light sources can provide almost monochromatic light, ensuring that the required radiation intensity is available in the wavelength range required to cure the adhesive. This cannot usually be achieved with conventional medium-pressure mercury vapor lamps.

Advantageously, the distance between the UV light source for curing the adhesive and the object 13 is 2 mm to 50 mm, preferably 2 mm to 40 mm, in order to achieve optimal curing, but in particular at the same time to avoid physical contact between the UV light source and the object 13. Preferably, the size of the irradiation window of the UV light source for curing the adhesive in the machine direction is between 5 mm and 40 mm.

When using LED light sources, the energy of the radiation usually decreases comparatively sharply from a distance of around 5 mm from the LED light source, in particular due to the relatively high divergence of the LED light source, so that the distance to the object 13 should preferably be chosen to be correspondingly small. The use of LED light sources with optical focusing enables a greater distance to the object 13, which in particular also enables use in structurally difficult conditions. It is also possible that the irradiation window is smaller when using LED light sources with optical focusing, in particular in comparison to an irradiation window when using UV light sources without optical focusing.

The gross UV irradiance is preferably between 1 W/cm ² and 50 W/cm ² , preferably between 3 W/cm ² and 40 W/cm ² . This ensures that the adhesive is completely cured at web speeds of about 10 m/min to 60 m/min (or higher) and the other factors already discussed with regard to pre-curing.

Taking these factors into account, the adhesive is irradiated in this process with a net UV irradiance of preferably between 4.8 W/cm ² and 8.0 W/cm ² . This corresponds to a net energy input (dose) at a preferred irradiation time of between about 0.1 s (at 10 m/min web speed and a 20 mm wide irradiation window) and about 0.04 s (at 30 m/min web speed and a 20 mm wide irradiation window) into the adhesive of about 100 mJ/cm ² to 2000 mJ/cm ² , preferably from about 100 mJ/cm ² to 1000 mJ/cm ² , in particular wherein this net energy input can be varied depending on the required curing.

It is particularly important to note that these values are only theoretically possible (at 100% lamp power). In particular, when the UV light source is at full power to harden the adhesive, e.g. with a 20 W/cm ² version, and the web speed is low, e.g. 10 m/min, the transfer medium heats up so much that it can catch fire. Therefore, the net energy input is preferably between 100 mJ/cm ² and 500 mJ/cm ² , depending on the web speed.

The cylinder 20 can consist of, for example, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate, acrylic glass) and/or borosilicate glass in the areas transparent to UV light. Both materials have a transmittance of at least 50%, preferably of at least 70%, particularly in the wavelength range from 350 nm to 400 nm.

It is also possible for the cylinder 20 of the pressing device 2 to be completely or partially transparent so that the UV light can be transmitted sufficiently, in particular to completely harden or cure the adhesive. Preferably, the decorative material also has a sufficient degree of transmission, in particular to be able to harden the adhesive on the back of the printed image using UV light. Practical tests have shown that, in particular with a multi-colored printed image, a degree of transmission of the decorative material of at least 2.5% in the wavelength range between 350 nm and 400 nm of UV light is sufficient. in order to achieve sufficient exposure of the adhesive located behind it in the direction of exposure.

For example, when measuring the transmittance of the decorative material, the following values were determined: Colour of the decoration material Transmission in percent at about 395 nm Layer thickness of the decorative material in µm Translucent varnish, cyan 35% 6 Translucent varnish, magenta 53% 6 Translucent varnish, yellow 15% 6 Translucent colour varnish, Black 3.5% 6 Opaque colour varnish, white 0% 15 vapor-deposited aluminum with a thickness of approx. 15 nm to 20 nm 6.3% --

In particular, if the degree of transmission of the decorative material is too low for sufficient exposure of the adhesive, for example in the case of the opaque white decorative material listed above, it is advantageous for the decorative material to be arranged in a grid pattern in first zones with decorative material and second zones without decorative material. It is particularly advantageous to arrange the first and/or second zones in the form of thin lines and/or small grid elements with a line width and/or with a minimum grid element dimension of less than 500 µm, preferably less than 250 µm. The UV light can then pass through the second zones without decorative material to the adhesive in sufficient quantity and expose it there sufficiently for it to harden. Due to their small size, the first zones can be at least partially under-irradiated so that the adhesive can also be at least partially exposed there and thus hardened.

Preferably, the ratio of the average width of the first zones to the average width of the second zones is between 0.75:1 and 1:5. Thus, preferably, the width of the first zones is less than 250 µm and the width of the second zones is more than 250 µm.

Preferably, the first and second zones are arranged according to a one- or two-dimensional grid, for example a line grid or an area grid. It is thus possible for the first zones and/or second zones to be point-shaped or in the form of a polygon. The grid element shapes are preferably selected from: point-shaped, diamond-shaped and cross-shaped. However, it is also possible to use grid element shapes with different shapes.

Preferably, the grid or the distribution of the first and second zones is regular, random (stochastic) or pseudo-random.

It is also possible that the one- or two-dimensional grid is a geometrically transformed grid. For example, it is possible that it is a circular or wave-shaped transformed one-dimensional grid, with the first zones being provided in the form of concentric circular rings or in the form of wavy lines.

Alternatively, the adhesive can also be provided as a physically or chemically curing adhesive, with drying then preferably taking place by thermal drying. The curing device 5 is then designed accordingly as a thermal drying device.

To transfer the decorative material from the transfer medium 3 to the object 13, the object 13 to be decorated is placed below the pressing device 2 by means of the holding device 1. The transfer medium 3 is then moved over the cylinder 20 with the decorative and adhesive layer pointing in the direction of the object 13 and guided above the object 13 fixed in the holding device 1, with the decorative layer side of the transfer medium 3 facing the surface of the object 13 to be decorated. The decorative material is transferred by pressing it onto the object 13 with a predetermined contact pressure of the transfer medium 3, which is guided tangentially along the contact area 14 over the object 13 by means of the cylinder 20. The cylinder 20 and the object 13 are rotated so that the surface speed of the transfer medium 3 corresponds to the surface speed of the object 13.

The UV adhesive is hardened by the UV light at the same time as the transfer medium 3 is pressed onto the object 13. By rotating the object 13 and the tangential course of the transfer medium 3 to the object 13, the transfer medium 3 is removed from the object 13 immediately after the adhesive has hardened. At the places where adhesive was applied to the transfer medium 3, the decorative material (for example decorative colors or a metal layer) adheres to the object 13 by means of the hardened adhesive after the adhesive has hardened. At the places where there was no adhesive, the decorative material remains on the transfer medium.

To compensate for dimensional fluctuations of the object 13, the cylinder 20 can be mounted or suspended in the pressing device 22. For example, a pressure-controlled pneumatic cylinder can be used, whereby the contact pressure of the cylinder 20 on the object 13 can be variably adjusted by changing the air pressure setting of the pneumatic cylinder. The compensation of dimensional fluctuations on the surface of the object 13 is carried out with the spring-loaded vertical lifting movement of the cylinder 20 in accordance with the set contact pressure. Alternatively, the vertical variable lifting movement and the control of the contact pressure can be carried out via compression springs with adjustable spring tension, instead of with compressed air and pneumatic cylinders.

The design of the pressing device 2 with a hollow cylinder 20 for transferring the decorative material is also suitable for transferring it to flat objects. For objects with a flat surface, such as objects with a square or rectangular cross-section, as well as flat, rigid objects, the adhesive can also be applied to both the object and the decorative layer of the transfer medium. To transfer the decorative material, the pressing device 2 is moved horizontally. The decorative material is transferred to the surface of the object by radially rolling the cylinder 20 over the object while simultaneously being irradiated by the hardening device 5.

In Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a device 100 for decorating objects 13 to be decorated. The device 100 has, according to that in Figure 1 in a direction of movement 80 of the transfer medium 3, a transfer media unwinding device 11, a printing device 7, a pressing device 2 and a transfer media winding device 12.

The transfer medium 3 is guided from the transfer media unwinding device 11 via a first vacuum roller 83 of the transfer media guide 8 directly to a hollow cylinder 20 of the pressing device 2. The transfer medium 3 encloses the cylinder 20 at a deflection angle of approximately 300°. The transfer medium 3 is then fed to the transfer media winding device 12 via a further vacuum roller 83.

In contrast to the device 100 of Figure 1 According to the second embodiment, the printing device 7 is arranged directly on the cylinder 20 of the pressing device 2. The cylinder 20 therefore also acts as a printing base for the printing device 7. The print heads 70 of the printing device 7 are accordingly arranged radially at a predetermined radial distance from the outer surface of the cylinder 20. The drying unit 6 and the adhesive application device 4 are designed as part of the printing device 7 and are also arranged downstream of the print heads 70 at a radial distance. In order to prevent UV light emitted by the drying unit 6 from scattering, an opaque cover 60 is arranged inside the cylinder 20 in the area of the drying unit 6.

For printing, drying and applying adhesive to the transfer medium 3, the cylinder 20 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed corresponding to a predetermined printing speed or printing capacity. The printing, drying and application of adhesive to the transfer medium 3 continues according to the procedure described for Figure 1 was described.

Below the horizontally arranged cylinder 20, analogous to the first embodiment, a holding device 1 is arranged, which holds the object 13 to be printed. The transfer of the decorative material by the pressing device 2 takes place analogously to the method described for the first embodiment. The transfer medium 3 is therefore pressed onto the object 13 by means of the cylinder 20 and the adhesive is simultaneously hardened by the hardening device 5. The position of the second vacuum roller 83 is adjustable so that the detachment angle of the transfer medium 3 from the object 13 can be adjusted in order to achieve optimal detachment of the decorative material.

Furthermore, it is expedient that the surface of the object 13 is pretreated before decoration. This pretreatment can in particular comprise an object cleaning step and/or an activation step.

Preferably, in the object cleaning step, contamination and/or existing protective coatings or other functional coatings that were applied in particular for the transport of the object 13 and/or during the manufacture of the object 13 are removed.

With glass-like surfaces, problems continue to arise due to the moisture bound to the surface. The moisture is bound in particular in the form of gel layers, which negatively affect the adhesive properties of the layers subsequently applied to the surface.

The ability of the surface to allow adhesion to subsequently applied layers, especially decoration, also depends on the reactive groups applied or created on the surface, as these are the basis for the firm bonding of the subsequently applied layers. The density of the reactive OH groups in the silicate layer of glass is insufficient in the known processes, which leads to reduced adhesion of the subsequently applied layers.

In the activation step, which preferably takes place after the object cleaning step, the surface of the object 13 is advantageously modified in such a way that adhesion of the subsequently applied decoration is increased and improved. The modification can be carried out chemically and/or physically.

The object cleaning step particularly comprises a modification of the surface of the object 13 with at least one oxidizing flame. The object cleaning step has the advantage that the moisture bound to the amorphous surface of the compact substrate in the form of non-homogeneous gel layers is reduced. Surprisingly, the gel layer is reduced reproducibly by the object cleaning step. The gel layer depends on the respective amorphous structure as well as on the aging state of the gel layer. The oxidizing flame reduces the gel layer and thus the bound moisture. The reduction of the gel layer leads to reproducible, homogeneous surface properties.

An oxidizing flame is any ignited gas, gas-air mixture, aerosol or spray that contains excess oxygen and/or can have an oxidizing effect.

The activation step particularly comprises modifying the surface of the object 13 with at least one silicating flame. A silicon oxide layer up to 60 nm thick, preferably 5 nm to 50 nm, more preferably 10 nm to 30 nm thick, is applied, which is characterized by a high content of reactive OH groups. The homogeneity and the good adhesion properties of the applied silicon oxide layer are achieved by the combination of the object cleaning step and the activation step. It is advantageous to select the number of flames so that one to ten, in particular one to five, oxidizing and/or silicating flames modify the surface of the object 13.

The reactive groups on the surface are the chemical basis for a firm chemical bonding of the subsequently applied surface treatment layers, for example wax layers and/or lacquer layers and/or paint layers. If the surface consists of an amorphous substance, for example glass, the surface density of the OH groups on the surface of the compact substrate according to the invention is 2 to 5 times higher than on untreated surfaces.

The silicon oxide layer or silicate layer applied in the second treatment step has a submicroscopic roughness. The roughness and the associated mechanical anchoring option for further layers leads to a significantly improved adhesion of all subsequent layers. The object cleaning step and the activation step produce a reproducible, homogeneous, micro-retentive surface. The combination of the two process steps surprisingly leads to a reduction in the gel layer and an increase in the density and a homogeneous distribution of the reactive OH groups.

In the activation step, a gas is used for flame treatment which contains compounds comprising components selected from the group alkylsilanes, alkoxysilanes, alkyltitanium, alkoxytitanium, alkylaluminium, alkoxyaluminium or combinations thereof.

Preferred examples of such compounds are tetramethylsilane, tetramethyltitanium, tetramethyltitanium, tetraethylsilane, tetraethyltitanium, tetraethylaluminum, 1,2-dichlorotetramethylsilane, 1,2-dichlorotetramethyltitanium, 1,2-dichlorotetramethylaluminum, 1,2-diphenyltetramethylsilane, 1,2-diphenyltetramethyltitanium, 1,2-diphenyltetramethylaluminum, 1,2-dichlorotetraethylsilane, 1,2-dichlorotetraethyltitanium, 1,2-dichlorotetraethylaluminum, 1,2-diphenyltetraethylsilane, 1,2-diphenyltetraethyltitanium, 1,2-diphenyltetraethylaluminum, 1,2,3-trichlorotetramethylsilane, 1,2,3-trichlorotetramethyltitanium, 1,2,3-trichlorotetramethylaluminum, 1,2,3-triphenyltetramethylsilane, 1,2,3-triphenyltetramethyltitanium, 1,2,3-triphenyltetramethylaluminium, dimethyldiethyltetrasilane, dimethyldiethyltetratitanium, dimethyldiethyltetraaluminium and similar compounds.

Furthermore, among such alkyl compounds, a silane compound, an alkyltitanium compound and an alkylaluminum compound, tetramethylsilane, tetramethyltitanium, tetramethylaluminum, tetraethylsilane, tetraethyltitanium and tetraethylaluminum are preferred modifying compounds because of their particularly low boiling point and easy miscibility with air and the like gases, while a silane halide compound such as 1,2-dichlorotetramethylsilane is preferably used as a modifier.

In addition, alkoxysilane, alkoxytitanium and alkoxyaluminium compounds are preferable among the above-mentioned compounds provided that their boiling point is in the range between 10°C and 100°C, since, due to their ester structure, they generally have high boiling points but enable an even better surface-modifying effect of the solid substrate.

A silicating flame in the sense of the invention is understood to mean any ignited gas, gas-air mixture, aerosol or spray with the aid of which a silicon oxide layer is applied to a surface by flame pyrolytic decomposition of a silicon-containing substance. In particular, it can be provided that the silicon-containing coating is applied essentially free of carbon and that during the flame pyrolysis, a silicon-alkoxysilane is introduced as the silicon-containing substance into a mixture of air and fuel gas and, if required, oxygen. The fuel gas includes, for example, propane, butane, illuminating gas and/or natural gas.

It is preferable that the value of the average molecular weight of the modifying compound is in the range of 50 to 1000, preferably in the range of 60 to 500, more preferably in the range of 70 to 200 as measured by mass spectrum analysis. When the average molecular weight of the modifying compound is below 50, volatility is high and handling becomes difficult in some cases. On the other hand, when the value of the average molecular weight of the modifying compound is above 1000, evaporation by heating and slightly mixing with air or similar gases is difficult in some cases.

It is also advantageous if the density of the modifying compound in the liquid state is in the range from 0.3 g/cm ³ to 0.9 g/cm ³ , preferably in the range from 0.4 g/cm ³ to 0.8 g/cm ³ , more preferably in the range from 0.5 g/cm ³ to 0.7 g/cm ³ . If the density of the modifying substance in the liquid state is below 0.3 g/cm ³ , handling is made more difficult and in some cases the incorporation into aerosol cans becomes problematic. If, on the other hand, the density of the modifying compound in the liquid state is above 0.9 g/cm ³ , evaporation is made more difficult and in some cases the incorporation into aerosol cans can lead to complete separation with air or similar gases.

It is advantageous if the modifying compound is heated and vaporized and mixed with the fuel gas in the vaporized state and then burned. The boiling point of the modifying compound is preferably between 10°C and 80°C.

The amount of the modifying compound in the fuel gas has in particular a value in the range of 1x 10 ^-10 mol-% to 10 mol-% of the total amount of the fuel gas.

In particular, the wetting index after surface modification has a value in the range of 40 mN/m (dyn/cm) to 80 mN/m (dyn/cm) at a measuring temperature of 25°C.

The flame temperature of the oxidizing and/or silicating flame is preferably in the range from 500°C to 1500°C, in particular from 900°C to 1200°C, and/or the surface of the object is advantageously heated to 35°C to 150°C, in particular to 50°C to 100°C.

The treatment time with the oxidizing and/or silicating flame is in particular in the range of 0.1 seconds to 100 seconds, preferably in the range of 0.1 seconds to 10 seconds, particularly preferably in the range of 0.1 seconds to 5 seconds.

In order to easily control the flame temperature of the oxidizing and/or silicifying flame, it is recommended to add a combustible gas to the fuel gas. As such combustible gases, hydrocarbon gases such as propane gas and natural gas or combustible gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, air and the like can be used. When using combustible gases housed in aerosol cans, it is preferable to use propane gas and compressed air or the like.

It is preferred that the value of the amount of combustible gas contained is in the range of 80 mol% to 99.9 mol% of the total amount of fuel gas, preferably in the range of 85 mol% to 99 mol%, more preferably in the range of 90 mol% to 99 mol%. If the fuel gas content is below 80 mol%, the mixing properties of the modifying compound decrease and the air in some cases leads to incomplete combustion of the modifying compound. On the other hand, if the value of the amount of fuel gas contained is above 99.9 mol%, the modifying effect of surfaces is eliminated in some cases.

It is preferable to also add a carrier gas for the oxidizing and/or silicizing flame in order to mix the amount of the modifying compound uniformly into the fuel gas. It is preferable to premix the modifying compound with a carrier gas and then mix it into the combustible gas such as the air stream. By adding a carrier gas, even when a modifying compound having a relatively high molecular weight that is difficult to transport is used, it can be mixed uniformly into the air stream. By adding the carrier gas, the modifying compound becomes easily combustible and the modification of the surface of the object can be carried out uniformly and sufficiently.

It is preferred that the same type of gas is used for the carrier gas as for the combustible gas, e.g. air and oxygen or hydrocarbon gases such as propane gas and natural gas.

The combined treatment of the surface with at least one oxidizing and at least one silicizing flame provides a homogeneous, microretentive surface that has a high density of reactive groups.

The roughness and the good adhesive properties of the silicate layer applied in the activation step advantageously mean that a subsequently applied decoration, in particular the subsequently applied decorative material, for example a printing ink or other decorative or functional layers, adheres very well. The decorative material applied to the silicate layer is advantageously scratch and abrasion resistant and has a high water and water vapor resistance. The homogeneous silicate layer produced advantageously achieves a high color coverage of the printing inks applied by the decoration. The properties of the decorative layers such as color tone, color strength, metamerism, opacity and transparency can advantageously be selected almost freely by the appropriately pre-treated surface.

The object cleaning step and/or the activation step can be carried out in particular with the aid of a further pretreatment device for pretreating the object 13. The further pretreatment device for pretreating the object 13 can be designed to carry out both steps or a separate object cleaning device and a separate activation device can be provided separately from one another.

The further pretreatment device for pretreating the object 13 and/or the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can be designed as a module for installation in the device 100 for decorating objects 13, in particular for installation in the holding device 1. The corresponding module can then be used to pretreat the surface of the object 13 within the device 100 before carrying out subsequent process steps.

The pretreatment device and/or the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can also be designed as a separate device which can pretreat the surface of the object 13 accordingly, independently of other devices.

In a preferred embodiment, the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can comprise an annular flame device, wherein the object 13 to be pretreated is arranged inside a ring and the oxidizing or silicating flame can escape from the ring towards the surface of the object 13.

In a further embodiment, the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can have a flame application device that is at least partially linear. This flame application device is then guided or moved in sections over the surface of the object 13 to be pretreated.

In a further embodiment, the object cleaning device and/or the activation device can have a flame device with one or more flames emerging at specific points. This flame device is then guided or moved in sections over the surface of the object 13 to be pretreated. When decorating three-dimensional objects, the object 13 is preferably held in the holding device 1 so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation. This axis of rotation is preferably the longitudinal axis of the objects 13.

Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a device 100 for decorating objects 13 to be decorated. The device 100 shown here essentially corresponds to the device 100 according to Figure 2 However, the pressing device also has a dimensionally stable, tensile guide belt 81 designed as an endless belt. The guide belt 81 is clamped between a tension roller 84 and a driven cylinder 20 and surrounds the latter at a deflection angle of approximately 250°. The guide belt 81 is transparent to the radiation emitted by the hardening device 5. It also has an elastic pressing layer on its outside. During printing with decorative material and adhesive in the printing device 7, the transfer medium 3 rests on the guide belt 81 at least until it is pressed onto the object 13. This enables the transfer medium 3 to be guided safely.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a device 100 for decorating an object 13 to be decorated. The device 100 has a pressing device 2 with a transparent, hollow cylinder 20 and a hardening device 5 arranged inside the cylinder 20.

Furthermore, the device has a transfer medium 3 provided as an endless belt, which, corresponding to the endless belt of Figure 3 , dimensionally stable and tensile stable and is further clamped between a tension roller 84 and the driven cylinder 20 and the latter at a deflection angle of approximately 250°. The cylinder 20 has a flexible pressure layer on its outside, over which the transfer medium 3, provided as an endless belt, is guided.

The printing of the transfer medium 3 and the transfer of the decoration material to the object 13 is carried out analogously to the Figure 3 described method. After pressing the transfer medium 3 onto the object 13 held by the holding device 1 and detaching the transfer medium 3 from the object 13 after transferring the decorative material, the transfer medium 3 is diverted via the tension roller and conveyed back to the printing device 7, where it is again provided with decorative material and adhesive in order to provide at least one further object with the newly applied decorative material.

So that when the transfer medium 3 is printed again, the decoration is not distorted by decorative material remaining on the transfer medium 3, a cleaning device 10 is arranged between the holding device 1 and the printing device 7, in which the transfer medium 3 is cleaned of decorative material and adhesive residues. Downstream of the cleaning device 10 and upstream of the printing device 7, a pretreatment device 9 is provided, by means of which any damage to the separating layer of the transfer medium 3 caused by cleaning is repaired. Furthermore, the pretreatment device 9 can, for example, also have at least one print head for printing the transfer medium 3 with a separating varnish or a release layer and/or with an application aid for the decorative material to be applied by the printing device.

Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a device 100 for decorating objects 13 to be decorated.

The device 100 has a transfer medium 3 in the form of a dimensionally stable, tensile, transparent endless belt. The transfer medium 3 is rubbed by a drive roller 85. It wraps around the horizontally mounted drive roller 85 at an angle of approximately 130°. The drive roller 85 is equipped with vacuum support in the contact area with the endless belt transfer medium 3 to ensure a friction-free movement sequence.

After cleaning in a cleaning device 10 and subsequent pretreatment in a pretreatment device 9, the transfer medium 3 is printed in a printing device 7 and provided with adhesive. The printing device 7 essentially has the structure of the printing device 7 Figure 1 , the printing base plate 72 here having an irregular curvature and the print heads 70 being arranged above the printing base plate 72 in accordance with the curvature. The transfer medium 3 is then passed on via deflection rollers 82 arranged on the non-printed side of the transfer medium 3, which are provided in particular for adjusting the tension of the endless belt transfer medium 3, to a pressing device 2 with a transparent cylinder 20, which is provided with a flexible pressing layer on the outside. The pressing device 2 is arranged opposite a holding device 1 for holding the object 13 to be printed. The transfer of the decorative material and the hardening of the adhesive take place analogously to the process described for the previous figures. After the transfer of the decorative material, the transfer medium 3 is fed back to the cleaning device 10 via the drive roller 85.

To print the transfer medium 3 with the decorative material by means of digital printing, the transfer medium 3 is guided over the curved printing base plate 72 at a movement speed which is predetermined according to a printing output of the printing device 7.

Alternatively, the printing device 7 can also be designed such that the transfer medium 3 for printing with decorative material is fixed to the printing base plate 72 and is moved under the print heads 70, the drying unit 6 and the adhesive application device 4 of the printing device 7. To support this, vacuum rollers (not shown) can be arranged upstream and downstream of the printing base plate 72.

Furthermore, the device can alternatively be designed such that the transfer medium is fed over the printing base plate 72 held in a fixed position by means of vacuum rollers (not shown) which are arranged upstream and downstream of the printing base plate 72.

Figures 6a and 6b show a schematic representation of a transfer medium 3.

As in the Figures 6a and 6b As shown, the transfer medium can in particular be a flexible carrier material to which the decorative material 15 is applied in a removable manner. The carrier material used can be, for example, a flexible plastic carrier film 16 made of polyester, polyolefin, polyvinyl, polyimide, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonates (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polystyrene (PS). It is also possible for a primer layer to be applied to the carrier material, in particular the plastic film 16.

The primer layer preferably consists of polyacrylates and/or vinyl acetate copolymers with a layer thickness of 0.1 µm to 1.5 µm, preferably 0.5 µm to 0.8 µm, which forms a surface of the transfer medium 3 facing away from the carrier material. The primer layer can be optimized in its physical and chemical properties with respect to the adhesive used, so that optimal adhesion between object 13 and transfer medium 3 is ensured largely independently of the object 13. Furthermore, such an optimized primer layer enables the applied adhesive to remain on the transfer medium 3 in the desired resolution largely without running, spreading or squeezing.

It is particularly expedient if the primer layer is microporous and preferably has a surface roughness in the range from 100 nm to 180 nm, more preferably in the range from 120 nm to 160 nm. The adhesive can partially penetrate into such a layer and is thus fixed particularly well in high resolution.

It has proven particularly advantageous to use a primer layer with a pigmentation number of 1.5 cm ³ /g to 120 cm ³ /g, preferably with a pigmentation number of 10 cm ³ /g to 20 cm ³ /g.

For example, the composition of a primer layer is given below for calculation purposes (in grams): 4900 organic solvent ethyl alcohol 150 organic solvent toluene 2400 organic solvent acetone 600 organic solvent petrol 80/110 150 Water 120 Binder I: Ethyl Methacrylate Polymer 250 Binder II: Vinyl acetate homopolymer 500 Binder III: Vinyl acetate vinyl laurate copolymer, FK = 50 +/- 1 % 400 Binder IV: Isobutyl methacrylate 20 Pigment multifunctional silicon oxide, average particle size 3 µm 5 Filler micronized amide wax, particle size 3 µm to 8 µm

mit:

• mp = 20 g multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• f = ÖZ/d = 300 / 0,4 g/cm³ = 750 cm³/g für multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• m_BM = 120 g Bindemittel I + 250 g Bindemittel II + (0,5 x 500 g) Bindemittel III + 400 g
• Bindemittel IV = 1020 g
• m_A = 0 g.

The pigmentation number for this primer layer is: $$\mathrm{PZ}={\displaystyle \sum _1^x\frac{{\left(m_P\times ƒ\right)}_x}{\left(m_{\mathit{BM}}+m_A\right)}=\frac{20G\times 750}{1020G+0G}=14.7{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="3"\; label="cm"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cm</figure-callout>}}^3/\mathrm{G}}$$

with:

• mp = 20 g multifunctional silicon oxide
• f = ÖZ/d = 300 / 0.4 g/cm ³ = 750 cm ³ /g for multifunctional silicon oxide
• m _BM = 120 g binder I + 250 g binder II + (0.5 x 500 g) binder III + 400 g
• Binder IV = 1020 g
• _mA = 0 g.

In this way, starting from a composition of the primer layer that has been found to be good, other possible pigmentations that differ from it can be calculated quickly and easily.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the primer layer has a surface tension of 38 mN/m to 46 mN/m, preferably 41 mN/m to 43 mN/m. Such surface tensions allow adhesive drops, in particular from adhesive systems as described above, to adhere to the surface with a defined geometry without running.

When using a thermoplastic toner, it has proven particularly advantageous to use a primer layer with a pigmentation number of 0.5 cm ³ /g to 120 cm ³ /g, preferably with a pigmentation number of 1 cm ³ /g to 10 cm ³ /g.

For example, the composition of a primer layer for this application is given below for calculation purposes (information in grams): 340 organic solvent ethyl alcohol 3700 organic solvent toluene 1500 organic solvent acetone 225 Binder I: Chlorinated polypropylene 125 Binder II: Poly-n-butyl-methyl-methacrylate 35 Binder III: n-butyl-methyl-methyl-methacrylate copolymer 148 Pigment multifunctional silicon oxide, average particle size 12 nm

mit:

• mp = 148 g multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• f = ÖZ/d = 220 / 50 g/cm³ = 4,4 cm³/g für multifunktionales Siliziumoxid
• m_BM = 225 g Bindemittel I + 125 g Bindemittel II + 35 g Bindemittel III = 385 g
• mA = 0 g.

The pigmentation number for this primer layer is: $$\mathrm{PZ}={\displaystyle \sum _1^x\frac{{\left(m_P\times ƒ\right)}_x}{\left(m_{\mathit{BM}}+m_A\right)}=\frac{148G\times 4.4}{385G+0G}=1.69{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="3"\; label="cm"\; filenames="imgf0001.png,imgf0002.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">cm</figure-callout>}}^3/\mathrm{G}}$$

with:

• mp = 148 g multifunctional silicon oxide
• f = ÖZ/d = 220 / 50 g/cm ³ = 4.4 cm ³ /g for multifunctional silicon oxide
• m _BM = 225 g binder I + 125 g binder II + 35 g binder III = 385 g
• mA = 0 g.

The decorative material 15 is preferably applied directly to the transfer medium 3. However, it is also possible for the decorative material 15 to be applied to an existing coating of the transfer medium 3. It is also possible for the transfer medium 3 to be provided with an existing coating only in certain areas and for the decorative material 15 to be applied in free areas between the existing coating and/or onto the existing coating. The existing coating can be, for example, a release layer or another functional layer. Alternatively or in addition to this, the existing coating can also be, for example, an existing decorative coating made of printed and/or vapor-deposited color layers, metal layers, reflective layers, protective layers, functional layers or the like.

The release layer preferably consists of an acrylate copolymer, in particular of an aqueous polyurethane copolymer, and is preferably free of wax and/or free of silicone. The release layer preferably has a layer thickness of 0.01 µm to 2 µm, preferably 0.1 µm to 0.5 µm, and is advantageously arranged on a surface of the plastic carrier film 16. The release layer enables simple and Damage-free removal of the plastic carrier film 16 from the transfer medium 3 after its application to the object 13.

The decorative material 15 preferably has one or more lacquer layers made of nitrocellulose, polyacrylate and polyurethane copolymer with a respective layer thickness of 0.1 µm to 5 µm, preferably 1 µm to 2 µm, which is arranged in particular on a surface of the release layer facing away from the plastic carrier film 16. The one or more lacquer layers can each be transparent, translucent or opaque. It is thus possible for the one or more lacquer layers to be colored transparently, translucently or opaquely.

The coloring of the one or more layers of varnish can be based on the process colors cyan, yellow, magenta and black, but also on special colors (e.g. in the RAL or HKS or Pantone ^® color system). The one or more layers of varnish can alternatively or additionally contain metal pigments and/or in particular optically variable effect pigments.

The one or more layers of paint can be applied over the entire surface or only partially, for example as a so-called spot painting. Spot painting enables optical effects to be created in certain areas of the surface. In this case, specific areas are painted with a glossy paint and/or a matt paint, for example, in order to optically change the respective area of the surface, in particular to enhance it. Alternatively or in addition to the optical effect, haptic effects can also be achieved. The decorative material 16 preferably has a metal layer made of aluminum and/or chrome and/or silver and/or gold and/or copper, in particular with a layer thickness of 10 nm to 200 nm, preferably 10 nm to 50 nm.

Alternatively or in addition to the metal layer, a layer made of an HRI material (HRI = High Refractive Index) can also be provided. HRI materials are, for example, metal oxides such as ZnS, TiO _x or paints with corresponding nanoparticles.

In the device 100 or the method for decorating objects 13, it is now possible to transport the transfer medium 3 either continuously or in a timed manner, whereby the pressing of the transfer medium 3 provided with the decoration material 16 onto the object 13, ie in particular the object decoration, and/or the object transport is conveniently carried out in a timed manner. Figures 6a and 6b illustrate the different effects of a continuous or timed transport of the transfer medium 3.

As in the Figures 6a and 6b As shown, the decorative material 15 is applied to the plastic carrier film 16 in the areas 17a and not applied to the carrier film 16 in the areas 17b, whereby the position of the areas 17b depends in particular on the type of transport of the transfer medium 3. The area 17b in which no decorative material 15 is applied to the transfer medium 3 and therefore lies between the areas 17a with the applied decorative material 15 is also called the repeat 17b. The repeat 17b is advantageously as small as possible, for example in order to keep the consumption of transfer material low.

In Figure 6a the possibility is shown that the transfer medium 3 is transported continuously. In particular, a continuous web speed of the transfer medium 3 is an optimal prerequisite for the continuous printing of the transfer medium 3 by the printing device 7, for example by means of digital printing technology, in high quality.

It is thus possible that during the, in particular timed, pressing of the transfer medium 3 provided with decorative material 16 onto the object 13 in the pressing device 2, the, in particular timed, application of the decorative material 16 onto the transfer medium 3 in the printing device 7 takes place at the same time.

Preferably, the repeat 17b between the individual printing sections 17a is determined depending on the cycle and/or printing speeds. It is thus possible that the repeat 17b between the individual printing sections 17a becomes larger or smaller depending on the cycle and/or printing speed. In particular, the repeat 17b is determined or calculated from the known cycle speed of the object transport and the object decoration. Preferably, particularly with continuous transport of the transfer medium 3, the timed printing of the transfer medium 3 takes place at the same time as the timed object decoration. Advantageously, the repeat 17b is approximately half as "long" (length in relation to the transport speed of the transfer medium) as the object cycle (object decoration and object transport). Preferably, Rapport 17b is usually set constant over the entire course and is not regulated.

The disadvantage of such a continuous process is that the consumption of the transfer medium 3 in particular is very high, which increases the costs.

In Figure 6b the further possibility is shown in which the transfer medium 3 is driven in, in particular in the same, cycle as the transport device of the object 13. In this case, the transfer medium 3 is not driven continuously, but rather the transfer medium 3 is driven or stopped depending on the process section.

It is thus possible for the transfer medium 3 to be driven in the pressing device 2 as a function of the, in particular timed, pressing of the transfer medium 3 provided with decorative material 15 onto the object 13. The driving of the transfer medium 3 preferably takes place in time with the transport device of the object 13. It is thus possible for the application of the decorative material 15 onto the transfer medium 3 and the pressing of the transfer medium 3 provided with decorative material 15 onto the object 13 to take place in a timed manner, with the transfer medium 3 being driven or stopped as a function of the timed pressing of the transfer medium 3.

The advantage here is that the repeat 17b between the decorative material 15, in particular the printed images, and thus the consumption of the transfer medium 3 is reduced. Preferably, the printing takes place at the same rate as that of the object 13. During the printing process, however, the transfer medium 3 is also accelerated and decelerated, so that the printing process very often takes place at changing speeds.

The disadvantage of such a clocked process is that the quality of the applied decorative material 15, such as the print quality of the digital print, is negatively influenced, particularly by the constantly changing web speed.

Another advantageous possibility is to combine the continuous process and the timed process. In this case, a continuous web speed of the transfer medium 3 is preferably used during the application of the decorative material 15 to the transfer medium, for example the Digital printing process, and on the other hand a clocked web speed of the object 13 while the transfer medium 3 provided with decorative material 15 is pressed onto the object 13, i.e. during the object decoration. It is thus possible for the transfer medium 3 provided with decorative material 15 to be pressed onto the object 13 in a clocked manner, with the decorative material 15 being applied to the transfer medium 3 at a continuous web speed. In other words, it is thus possible that while the transfer medium provided with decorative material 15 is pressed onto the object 13 in the pressing device 2 in a clocked manner, at the same time the transfer medium 3 is continuously transported in the printing device 7, with the decorative material being applied to the transfer medium in particular during the continuous transport of the transfer medium 3.

In order to be able to combine both variants, the device 100 preferably comprises a compensation module 18 or a "storage", in particular in order to be able to "collect" or store the transfer medium 3 in the storage during a standstill phase in the clocked process for the object 13, so that the continuous web speed of the transfer medium 3, which is advantageous for the quality of the printing, is not impaired. Such a compensation module 18 is shown in the Figures 7a and 7b shown schematically. For example, the Figure 7a the state of the compensation module 18 at the start of the process and the Figure 7b the state of the compensation module 18 at the end of the process.

The compensation module 18 is designed in particular as a mechanical storage device 18a, which provides the required transfer medium 3 at the required process speed depending on the process section. Such a compensation module 18 can, for example, be a receiving space for a loop of the transfer medium 3, in particular with means for maintaining the web tension of the transfer medium 3. As in the Figures 7a and 7b As shown, a loop of the transfer medium 3 is created by the compensation module 18, wherein the pressing device 2 for pressing the transfer medium 3 provided with decorative material onto the object 13 is advantageously arranged within the loop. The pressing device 2 and the object 13 are shown hatched for the sake of clarity. Regarding the design of the pressing device 2, reference is made to the above statements. Furthermore, the device shown in the Figures 7a and 7b shown Compensation module 18 in the form of the deflection or tension rollers 86 means for maintaining the web tension of the transfer medium 3.

Preferably, the compensation module 18 or a mechanical storage 18a within the compensation module 18, as shown in Figures 17a and 17b, can store the transfer medium 3 by a lateral movement and release the transfer medium 3 again by changing the direction of movement. It is thus possible for the compensation module 18 or a mechanical storage 18a within the compensation module 18 to receive or store the transfer medium 3 by a lateral movement in a first direction and to release it again by changing the lateral movement in a second direction. Preferably, the maximum distance of the lateral movement of the compensation module or the mechanical storage 18a within the compensation module 18 is higher, in particular higher by an average factor of 2, than the distance covered by the transfer medium 3 at a continuous web speed in a predetermined time. The predetermined time preferably corresponds to the standstill phase in which the object 13 is decorated, in particular by pressing the decorative material on. In other words, the clocked removal speed for the transfer medium 3 during removal is preferably higher, for example 1.5 times as high as the continuous filling speed with the transfer medium 3, so that the reservoir 18a does not overflow. By means of such a compensation module 18, a continuous web speed 19a, in particular in the area of the printing device 7, and a clocked web speed 19b, in particular in the area of the pressing device 2, are now preferably achieved within the device 100.

Where applicable, all individual features shown in the embodiments can be combined and/or exchanged without departing from the scope of the invention.

List of reference symbols

100

contraption

1

Holding device

2

Pressing device

20

cylinder

22

Pressing device

3

Transfer medium

4

Adhesive application device

40

Adhesive print head

5

Hardening device

6

Drying unit

60

cover

7

Printing device

70

Printhead

71

Print head movement direction

72

Print base plate

73

Plate movement direction

8th

Transfer media guide

80

Direction of movement

81

Guide band

82, 86

Deflection pulley

83

Vacuum roll

84, 86

Tension pulley

85

Drive roller

9

Pretreatment facility

10

Cleaning facility

11

Transfer media unwinder

12

Transfer media take-up device

13

object

14

Touch area

15

Decoration material

16

Plastic carrier film

17a

Area

17b

rapport

18

Compensation module

18a

mechanical storage

18b

Direction of movement

19a

continuous web speed

19b

clocked track speed

Claims (24)

1. Device (100) for the decoration of objects (13) to be decorated, having a holding device (1) for holding an object (13) and a pressing device (2) for pressing a transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13), characterized in that

   a printing device (7) for applying the decorative material to the transfer medium (3) is provided in front of the pressing device (2), wherein the printing device (7) is arranged upstream of the pressing device (2) viewed in a direction of movement of the transfer medium (3),

   wherein the transfer medium (3) is not rolled up after being printed on with decorative material, and is directly guided further to the pressing device (2) without previously having come into contact with a back of rolled-up transfer medium (3), wherein the device (100) for the decoration of objects (13) to be decorated furthermore has an adhesive-applying device (4) for applying adhesive to the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material or the object (13) and a curing device (5) for curing the adhesive.
2. Device (100) according to claim 1,
   wherein the curing device (5) is arranged in the region of the pressing device (2) and the pressing device (2) is set up such that the pressing of the transfer medium (3) and the curing of the adhesive can be effected at the same time.
3. Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2,
   wherein the adhesive-applying device (4) is arranged between the printing device (7) and the pressing device (2), wherein the adhesive-applying device (4) applies the adhesive to the transfer medium (3) printed on by the printing device (7), wherein the adhesive-applying device (4) is preferably formed as part of the printing device (7).
4. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the printing device (7) has a UV light source for precuring the decorative material and/or the adhesive-applying device (4) has a UV light source for precuring the adhesive and/or the curing device (5) has a UV light source for curing the adhesive, wherein it is provided in particular that the distance from the UV light source for curing the adhesive to the object (13) is 2 mm to 50 mm, preferably 2 mm to 40 mm, and/or that the gross UV irradiance of the UV light source for curing the adhesive is between 1 W/cm² and 50 W/cm², preferably between 3 W/cm² and 40 W/cm², and/or that the net UV irradiance of the UV light source for curing the adhesive is between 4.8 W/cm² and 8 W/cm².
5. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the printing device (7) is designed in such a way that the decorative material is applied to the transfer medium (3) in first zones and is not applied in second zones, in particular wherein the first zones and the second zones are arranged according to a one- or two-dimensional grid and/or the ratio of the average width of the first zones to the average width of the second zones is between 0.75: 1 and 1:5.
6. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
   wherein a drying unit (6) is provided for drying the decorative material applied to the transfer medium (3), wherein the drying unit (6) is preferably formed as part of the printing device (7).
7. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, having a transfer media guide (8), which is set up to guide the transfer medium (3) tangentially relative to the outer circumference of the object (13),

   wherein the pressing device (2) is arranged such that it presses the transfer medium (3) onto the object (13) along the area of contact (14) between object (13) and transfer medium (3), wherein the pressing device (2) is preferably moveable such that a surface area speed of the pressing device (2) can be matched to a surface speed of the object (13), and wherein the transfer medium (3) is preferably moveable such that the surface area speed of the transfer medium (3) can be matched to the surface speed of the object (13),

   wherein it is provided in particular that the surface area speed of the transfer medium (3) can be matched to the surface speed of the object (13) in such a way that the surface area speed of the transfer medium (3) and the surface speed of the object (13) differ by less than ±15%, preferably by less than ±10%.
8. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

   wherein the pressing device (2) furthermore has a flexible pressing layer, and/or wherein the transfer medium (3) is provided as an endless belt, wherein the transfer medium (3) provided as an endless belt is preferably clamped between a transfer media guide (8) and the pressing device (2),

   and/or wherein the transfer medium (3) is arranged directly on the pressing device (2), preferably on a cylinder (20) of the pressing device (2).
9. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, furthermore having a pretreatment device (9) for pretreating the transfer medium (3) before the application of the decorative material and/or a cleaning device (10) for cleaning the printed transfer medium (3) after the pressing of the transfer medium (3) onto the object (13).
10. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the pressing device (2), preferably a cylinder (20) of the pressing device (2), is mounted floating or suspended.
11. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the pressing device (2) is transparent or translucent, in particular in the wavelength range between 220 nm and 400 nm, preferably between 350 nm and 400 nm, further preferably between 365 nm and 395 nm, wherein the transparency is in particular between 30% and 100%, preferably between 40% and 100%.
12. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

    wherein the device (100) is designed in such a way that the, in particular pulsed, application of the decorative material to the transfer medium (3) in the printing device (7) is effected at the same time as the, in particular pulsed, pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13) in the pressing device (2),

    or wherein the device (100) is designed in such a way that the transfer medium (3) is driven depending on the, in particular pulsed, pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13) in the pressing device (2), and wherein the driving of the transfer medium (3) is preferably effected in the pulse of a transport device of the object (13),

    or wherein the pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13) is effected in a pulsed manner, and wherein the application of the decorative material to the transfer medium (3) is effected at a continuous web speed of the transfer medium (3).
13. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

    wherein the device (100) comprises a compensation module (18) which is configured, in particular, such that the applying of the decorative material to the transfer medium (3) and/or the transportation of the transfer medium (3), is effected at the same time, in particular continuously, as an idle phase of the, in particular pulsed, pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13), wherein it is provided in particular that the compensation module (18) comprises at least one receiving space for a loop of the transfer medium (3) and/or means for maintaining the web tension,

    and/or wherein the compensation module (18) is designed in such a way that the compensation module (18) or a mechanical store (18a) inside the compensation module (18) receives or stores the transfer medium (3) by a lateral movement in a first direction and releases it again by changing the lateral movement in a second direction.
14. Device (100) according to one of the preceding claims,

    wherein the device (100) furthermore comprises a pretreatment device for pretreating the object (13), in particular wherein the pretreatment device comprises an object-cleaning device and an activation device, wherein the activation device is preferably arranged after the object-cleaning device,

    wherein it is provided in particular that the object-cleaning device is designed in such a way that dirt and/or also other existing protective coatings or other functional coatings are removed and/or that a modification of the surface of the object (13) is effected with at least one oxidizing flame, and that the activation device is designed in such a way that the surface of the object (13) is modified, preferably chemically and/or physically, in such a way that an adhesion of the decorative material to the object (13) is increased and/or that a modification of the surface of the object (13) is effected with at least one silicatizing flame.
15. Method for the decoration of objects (13) to be decorated,

    wherein an object (13) is held by a holding device (1),

    wherein, in a first step, decorative material is applied to a transfer medium (3) by a printing device (7),

    in a second step, adhesive is applied to the transfer medium (3) provided with the decorative material or to the object (13), and

    wherein, in a third step, the transfer medium (3) is pressed onto the object (13) by a pressing device (2) and at the same time the adhesive is cured, wherein the transfer medium (3) is not rolled up after being printed on with decorative material, and is directly guided further to the pressing device (2) without previously having come into contact with a back of rolled-up transfer medium (3).
16. Method according to claim 15,

    wherein, in the first step, the decorative material applied to the transfer medium (3) is further precured by a UV light source for precuring the decorative material and/or wherein, in the second step, the adhesive is precured by a UV light source for precuring the adhesive and/or wherein, in the third step, the adhesive is cured by a UV light source for curing the adhesive,

    and/or wherein, in the third step, the gross UV irradiance of the UV light source for curing the adhesive is between 1 W/cm² and 50 W/cm², preferably between 3 W/cm² and 40 W/cm², and/or wherein the net UV irradiance of the UV light source for curing the adhesive is between 4.8 W/cm² and 8 W/cm².
17. Method according to one of claims 15 or 16,

    wherein, in the first step, the decorative material is applied to the transfer medium (3) by the printing device (7) in such a way that the decorative material is applied to the transfer medium (3) in first zones and not applied in second zones, in particular

    wherein the first zones and the second zones are arranged according to a one- or two-dimensional grid and/or the ratio of the average width of the first zones to the average width of the second zones is between 0.75:1 and 1:5.
18. Method according to one of claims 15 to 17,

    wherein the pressing of the transfer medium (3) onto the object (13) is effected by the object (13) being rotated around an axis of rotation, by the transfer medium (3) being guided tangentially relative to the outer circumference of the object (13) and by the pressing device (2) pressing the transfer medium (3) onto the object (13) along the area of contact (14) between object (13) and transfer medium (3), wherein the pressing device (2) is preferably moved such that a surface area speed of the pressing device (2) corresponds to a surface speed of the object (13), and wherein the transfer medium (3) is preferably moved such that the surface area speed of the transfer medium (3) corresponds to the surface speed of the object (13),

    or wherein the pressing of the transfer medium (3) onto the object (13) is effected by the object (13) being held in a fixed position and the transfer medium (3) being unrolled over the surface of the object (13) by means of the pressing device (2), wherein the pressing device (2) presses the transfer medium (3) onto the object (13) along the area of contact (14) between object (13) and transfer medium (3), wherein the pressing device (2) is preferably moved along the object (13).
19. Method according to one of claims 15 to 18,
    wherein the transfer medium (3) is provided as an endless belt, wherein the sequence of steps specified in claim 14 is carried out multiple times, wherein a further object (13) is provided with decorative material each time the sequence of steps according to claim 14 is carried out.
20. Method according to one of claims 15 to 19,

    wherein the transfer medium (3) is pretreated before the application of the decorative material,

    and/or wherein the transfer medium (3) is cleaned after the pressing,

    and/or wherein the transfer medium (3) provided as an endless belt is cleaned after passing through the pressing device (2) and is then pretreated before the transfer medium (3) is fed back to the printing device (7) for renewed application of decorative material.
21. Method according to one of claims 15 to 20,

    wherein the, in particular pulsed, application of the decorative material to the transfer medium (3) in the printing device (7) is effected at the same time as the, in particular pulsed, pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13) in the pressing device (2),

    or wherein the transfer medium (3) is driven depending on the, in particular pulsed,

    pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13) in the pressing device (2), and in particular wherein the driving of the transfer medium (3) is effected in the pulse of a transport device of the object (13),

    or wherein the pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13) is effected in a pulsed manner, and wherein the application of the decorative material to the transfer medium (3) is effected at a continuous web speed of the transfer medium (3).
22. Method according to one of claims 15 to 21,

    wherein, through the use of a compensation module (18), the applying of the decorative material to the transfer medium (3) and/or the transportation of the transfer medium (3), is effected at the same time, in particular continuously, as an idle phase of the, in particular pulsed, pressing of the transfer medium (3) provided with decorative material onto the object (13),

    and/or wherein the compensation module (18) or a mechanical store (18a) inside the compensation module (18) receives or stores the transfer medium (3) by a lateral movement in a first direction and releases it again by changing the lateral movement in a second direction.
23. Method according to one of claims 15 to 22,

    wherein the object (13) is pretreated before the application of the decorative material, wherein the pretreatment in particular comprises an object-cleaning step and/or an activation step,

    and/or wherein, in the object-cleaning step, dirt and/or also other existing protective coatings or other functional coatings are removed and/or a modification of the surface of the object (13) is effected with at least one oxidizing flame, and wherein, in the activation step, which is preferably carried out after the object-cleaning step, the surface of the object (13) is modified in such a way that an adhesion of the subsequently applied decoration is increased and improved, wherein the modification is effected chemically and/or physically.
24. Method according to one of claims 15 to 23,

    wherein, in the first step, a primer layer is furthermore applied to the transfer medium (3) by the printing device (7), in particular wherein the primer layer consists of polyacrylates and/or vinyl acetate copolymers and/or is applied with a layer thickness between 0.1 µm and 1.5 µm, preferably between 0.5 µm and 0.8 µm,

    wherein it is provided in particular that the primer layer is applied in such a way that the primer layer forms a surface of the transfer medium (3) facing away from a carrier material, in particular from a plastic carrier foil (16).

Images