FR2843913A1 - Process for forming a color decoration on optical organic material glasses involves forming image contour on surface of varnish layer, removing varnish layer with laser beam and applying desired color to defined space - Google Patents

Abstract

The process for forming a colored decoration on a support (1) including a varnish layer (3), such as an optical glass in an organic material, involves forming the contour of the decoration on the surface (2) of a support covered in varnish. The varnish layer is removed from the defined space (5) using a laser beam and then a desired color is applied on the defined space and then cleaned.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a decoration in

  color on a support comprising a surface layer of varnish, such as a

  optical glass made of organic material.

  Currently, to make a color decoration on a support, it can be painted or printed using various techniques such as pad printing, which is widely used for applying decorations to glasses.

optics made of organic material.

  These various known and currently used techniques do not give good results as regards the attachment of the color to an optical glass treated with an anti-scratch varnish generally comprising components based on polysiloxians and the purpose of which is to harden the surface. of this glass. In addition, the duration

  over time such markings are poor.

  Other techniques, such as laser marking allowing stripping of the varnish layer, are known and implemented in order to produce a discrete marking with a differential on the surface appearance: matt for the

  marking and varnishing for the rest of the optical glass. Transplanting into an area thus etched by laser can be done by pad printing, as described in document DE-19 717653-A. However, this technique does not allow the outline of the laser marking to be transplanted exactly, by the color deposited by means of a stamp which takes up the shape of the decoration on a plate engraved with this shape.

  Indeed, a space always exists between the contour of the marking by the laser and the marking deposited by the pad printing: this does not give to the unit a

  perfect quality, because one has the impression of an unclear outline of the decor.

  One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to provide a method for producing a color decoration on a support comprising a surface layer of varnish, such as an optical glass made of an organic material, which makes it possible to obtain a quality perfect outline and use different printing techniques such as spray painting, airbrushing, screen printing, pad printing, inkjet, and which

is perfectly reproducible.

  Another object of the invention is to provide such a method which is simple and economical to implement, and does not disturb the manufacture of the supports,

especially optical glasses.

  These aims, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved by a process for producing a color decoration on a support comprising a surface layer of varnish, such as an optical glass made of an organic material, which is according to the present invention, characterized in that it comprises the following stages: - the outline of the decoration is produced on the support covered with varnish; - the varnish is destroyed on the space thus delimited; and,

  - we apply the desired color on this space thus stripped.

  Advantageously, the surface of the varnish covered with this color is cleaned.

  Preferably, the outline of the decoration is produced and the varnish is destroyed by means of a laser beam and the color is applied by any known means.

  The description which follows and which is in no way limiting, must

  be read with reference to the appended figures, among which: FIG. 1 represents a support such as an optical glass made of an organic material, on which the outline of a decoration to be affixed has been produced; - Figure 2 shows the object of Figure 1, seen in section along line 11-11 of this Figure 1; and, - Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of a decoration according to the

figure 1.

  As shown in this exemplary embodiment, the support consists of an optical glass made of an organic material, generally designated by the reference 1, the surface 2 of which is completely covered with a varnish 3. We draw on this surface 2 the contour 4 corresponds to that of the decoration to be transferred to it by means of a laser beam, the type and useful wavelength of which can easily be determined by a person skilled in the art. Then, the layer of varnish 3 is destroyed in the space 5 thus delimited, by means of this same laser beam, thus exposing the

surface 2 of this glass 1.

  This space 5 may possibly include areas 6 of varnish 3 in

  function of the decoration to be transferred to this glass 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

  Once the varnish 3 has been removed, the desired color 30 is applied by any known means to the space 5 of the glass 1 thus etched: this application can be made by means of a pad whose surface corresponds at least to that of the decoration. If color is applied to the still varnished part of the glass, this has no effect.

  important because we know how to remove it without damaging this surface.

  Thus, to eliminate the color having overflowed from the outline on the varnish, one can, for example: - apply on the optical glass a plastic film covered with glue and remove it: the color deposited on the varnish sticks on this film, while that deposited on the decoration remains in place. immerse the glass in a bath o by the action of ultrasound the parts of

  color on the varnish stand out on its own.

  Due to the use of a means, such as a laser beam, for scouring the surface of the support, it is possible to reproduce on this support color decorations having a complicated outline, or extremely fine such as a line: the deposit color can be less precise and even overflowed without consequence of the outline

exterior of this decor.

  The method according to the present invention makes it possible to have a quality and a

  fineness of the layout, of the order of a hundredth of a millimeter.

Claims (3)

  1. - Method for producing a color decoration on a support (1) comprising a surface layer of varnish (3), such as an optical glass made of an organic material, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - the outline (4) of the decoration is produced on the support (1) covered with the varnish (3); - The varnish (3) is destroyed on the space thus delimited (5); and,   - Apply a desired color on said space (5) thus stripped.   2.- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that one cleans   the surface of the varnish (3) covered with this color.   3.- Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the outline (4) of the decoration is produced and the varnish (3) is destroyed by means of a laser beam and   apply the color by any known means.