GB2165164A

GB2165164A - Method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product

Info

Publication number: GB2165164A
Application number: GB08524449A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takuji Nagata; Yasuhisa Kuzuya; Tomohiro Sugizaki
Original assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
Current assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
Priority date: 1984-10-04
Filing date: 1985-10-03
Publication date: 1986-04-09
Also published as: GB8524449D0; DE3535398A1; GB2165164B; JPS6186971A

Abstract

The invention provides a method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product 1 which comprises a first step of applying a primer 2 to at least a part of the surface 11 of the embossed product, whereby flattening the depressed parts 11 of emboss, and a second step of printing or painting on the flattened surface 21 of the embossed product with an ink or paint which differs in colour from that of the surface of the embossed product 1, whereby forming the decorative layer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product The present invention relates to a method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product.

Heretofore, the decorations consisting of letters and/or patterns of automotive side mouldings or other mouldings have been made by printing (e.g.

screen printing) or painting on the surface of the mouldings with an ink or paint which differs in colour from that of the surface of the embossed product. The conventional printing or painting method, however, provides blurred letters or patterns, which have a bad appearance, when applied to an embossed product.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product, comprising a first step of applying a primer to at least a part of the surface of the embossed product, thereby flattening the depressed parts of the emboss, and a second step of printing or painting on the flattened surface of the embossed product with an ink or paint which differs in colour from that of the surface of the embossed product, thereby forming the decorative layer.

The letters and/or patterns formed by the method of this invention have sharp outlines and look nice.

In other words, the feature of this invention is that the decorative layer is formed by printing or painting afterthe depressed parts of emboss have been flattened by being filled.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A of Figure 2 showing a side moulding with a decorative layer formed thereon according to the method of thins invention, Figure 2 is a partial plan view of a side moulding with a decorative layer formed thereon according to the method ofthis invention, Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of a moulding, with the depressed parts thereof almost filled with a primer, and Figure 4 is a partial sectional view of a moulding, with the depressed parts thereof completely filled and the projecting parts thereof covered with a primer.

According to the method of this invention, a decorative layer on an embossed product 1 is formed by a first step of applying a primer 2 to at least a part of the surface of the embossed product 1, whereby flattening the depressed parts 11 of the emboss, and a second step of forming a decorative layer 3 on the flattened part by printing or painting with an ink or paint which differs in colourfrom the surface of the embossed product.

The first step in the method of this invention is intended to apply a primer 2 to at least a part of the surface of an embossed product, whereby flattening the depressed parts 11 of the emboss. In the first step, the depressed parts 11 of the emboss are filled with a primer 2 so that the surface of the embossed product is made almost smooth. The depressed parts may be completely filled as shown in Figure 1, or almost filled as shown in Figure 3, or excessively filled as shown in Figure 4.

The primer coating 2 may be applied to a part of all of the surface of the embossed product according to the object of decoration. The primer coating 2 may be achieved in any way with a clear primer or a primer of the same colour as the embossed product.

The type of primer 2 and the method of primer coating are not specifically restricted.

The embossed product 1 may be of any material so long as it accepts the primer coating. For example, the material may be polyvinyl chloride, ABS resin, polycarbonate, or acrylic resin.

According to this invention, the pitch of the embossed pattern is not critical; but it should preferably be 10 to 100 lim. With a pitch less than 1 011m, the embossed product 1 has a nearly flat surface; and with a pitch above 100 lim, the embossed product 1 has a leatherlike surface for which the method of this invention is not so effective. The pitch of the embossed pattern should preferably be about 20cm. The embossed pattern maydifferfrom one embossed product to another; but it is usually a stain finish (dot-like emboss) in the case of automotive mouldings.

The second step of the method of this invention is intended to form a decorative layer 3 on the flattened part by printing or painting with an ink or paint which differs in colour from the surface of the embossed product. The second step is achieved by forming a decorative layer 3 on a part of the surface 21 of the primer material 2 as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

The printing or painting in the second step is achieved with an ink or paint which differs in colour from the surface of the embossed product. They are not specifically limited so long as they form a decorative layer. The printing may be performed by screen printing, and the painting may be performed by masking tape method or masking plate method.

The ink and paint for the printing and painting are not specifically limited so long as they differ in colour from the surface of the embossed product 1.

The decorative layer constitutes the decoration in the form of letter or pattern. The shape, size, and thickness of the decorative layer are not critical; but they may be properly selected according to the object and application. For example, the decoration may be letters "XR" as shown in Figure 2.

The second step may be followed by finishing with clear coating. This clear coating may be formed on the decorative layer alone or on the entire surface of the embossed product. The clear coating protects the decorative layer from mechanical damage and degradation by light.

The feature of this invention is that the decorative layer is formed by printing or painting after the depressed parts of emboss are flattened. Accordingly, the decorative layer looks nice with no blurring due to the rough surface of embossed product.

Next, the effects of this invention will be explained by way of experimental example.

EXAMPLE The invention is illustrated by the following example with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, which are respectively a partial sectional view and a partial plan view of the embossed product with a decorative layer formed thereon. Figure lisa sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line A-A in Figure 2.

In Figure 1, reference numeral 1 indicates an embossed side moulding (1000 mm long and 80 mm wide) made of soft polypropylene. The surface colour of the moulding 1 is black. On a part of the surface of the moulding 1, primer coating 2 was made by spraying to form letter "XR", so that the depressed parts of the emboss were exactly filled.

The emboss is a stain finish. The primer coating 2 was made with Cashewmicron (trade name), which is a clear primer.

Subsequently, the decorative layer 3 forming the shape of the letters "XR" was formed by screen printing on the flat surface 21 showing letters "XR" on the surface 11 of the embossed product. The letters "XR" formed by layer 3 are analogous to but smaller than the letters "XR" (formed by coating 2 or 21). In this example, the screen printing was made with a white ink.

The decorative letters "XR" formed by screen printing on the embossed side moulding looked nice with no blurring.

As mentioned above, the method of this invention provides a nice-looking decorative layer on an embossed product by printing or painting. The decorative letters or patterns thus formed have sharp outlines which would not become blurred due to the rough surface of embossed product.

Claims

1. A method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product, comprising a first step of applying a primer to at least a part of the surface of the embossed product, thereby flattening the depressed parts of the emboss, and a second step of printing or painting on the flattened surface of the embossed product with an ink or paint which differs in colour from that of the surface of the embossed product, thereby forming the decorative layer.

2. A method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product as claimed in claim 1, in which the primer used in the first step is a clear paint.

3. A method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product as claimed in claim 1, in which the primer used in the first step is a paint having the same colour as the surface of the embossed product.

4. A method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the printing process used in the second step is screen printing.

5. A method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the embossed product has a repeat ing emboss pattern with a pitch of 10 to 100 ,u m.

6. A method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the decorative layer formed in the second step is finished with clear coating.

7. A method for forming a decorative layer on an embossed product substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying draw ings.