GB2342072A

GB2342072A - Decoration of glass panels by roller application of decals

Info

Publication number: GB2342072A
Application number: GB9914159A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Roy Allen
Original assignee: RYDELL MANAGEMENT Ltd
Current assignee: RYDELL MANAGEMENT Ltd
Priority date: 1998-06-27
Filing date: 1999-06-18
Publication date: 2000-04-05
Also published as: GB9813853D0; GB9914159D0

Abstract

Decals are applied to glass panels 12 by passage between a pair of pressure rollers 32, 34, the latter of which may be heated. Heat release or self-adhesive decals may be used and transferred from a supply web 40, roller 34 being heated in the former case. Sensors may be provided to detect the position of the panels and an indexing detector 52, which may be a photo electric cell, may be used to ensure that the decoration is applied at the correct registration.

Description

2342072 Decorating ApWatus This invention concerns decorating apparatus,

particularly but not exclusively apparatus for decorating large planar items and especially firable items such as glass panels; and a method of decorating items.

The use of decals to decorate glass panels is becoming increasingly popular. However, the application of the decals onto the panels is a relatively difficult task. Such decorated panels can be used in situations such as swimming pools or squash courts.

According to the present invention there is provided decorating apparatus, the decorating apparatus comprising a decoration application arrangement which comprises an area for receiving an item to be decorated, means for providing a decoration to be applied to the item onto a first roller, and means for moving the item and the roller such that the decoration is rolled off the roller onto the item.

The arrangement preferably comprises a second roller, with the arrangement configured such that the item is moved between the first and second rollers whereat the decoration is rolled onto the item. The arrangement is preferably configured such that pressure is applied to the item by squeezing between the first and second rollers. The gap between the first and second rollers may be adjustable.

Alternatively, means may be provided for holding the item against the first roller and simultaneously rotating the roller and moving the item to permit the decoration to be rolled onto the item.

The first roller may be heated.

Means may be provided for supplying the decoration to the first roller, and means may be provided for indexing the decoration such that it is supplied 2 to the first roller at the required time and position. Means may be provided for sensing the position of an item to be decorated, with the sensing means connected to the indexing means such that the item and decoration are brought together at the required time and position.

The inde-Ning means may comprise a holding area on which the decoration is locatable. Guide means may be provided on the holding area to ensure correct positioning and orientation of the decoration, and the guide means may be adjustable. The indexing means may comprise a detector for sensing the position of a decoration, and the detector may be in the form of a photo electric cell. The detector may sense markings provided on the decoration or a web therefor.

Means may be provided for supplying the decoration on a web. A supply roller assembly may be provided for holding the decorations prior to decoration. A take up roller assembly may be provided for receiving the web following decoration. An interleaving roller assembly may be provided for receiving interleaving provided on the decorations, prior to application of the decorations.

The receiving area may be in the form of a flat bed, which may comprise a plurality of rollers some of which may be driven and some freely rotatable. Means may be provided on the receiving area for sensing the position of an item thereon. Means may be provided for selectively preventing movement of an item on the receiving area, and the movement preventing means may be combined with the item position sensing means.

Guides may be provided on the receiving area to ensure correct positioning and alignment of items thereon. The guide means are preferably adjustable.

The apparatus may also comprise a decorated item receiving area, which may be in the form of a flat bed, and which may comprise a plurality of rollers.

3 The apparatus may be automatically operable to supply items and decorations to the first roller, to apply the decoration to the item, and to remove decorated items from the first roller.

The apparatus may comprise a plurality of decoration application arrangements. The arrangements may be located adjacent each other so as to each apply a decoration onto the item adjacent a decoration applied by another such arrangement. The arrangements may be sequentially configured such that after a decoration has been applied by one arrangement, a further decoration is applied by another arrangement, but at any one point only one decoration is being applied to the item.

The invention also provides a method of decorating an item, the method comprising applying a decoration using apparatus according to any of the preceding twelve paragraphs.

The decoration may comprise a decal, which may be a heat release decal, with the heating of the first roller causing release from the backing paper and also actuation of adhesive to adhere onto the item. Where the decals are provided on a web, a space is preferably provided between each consecutive decal such that after application of a decal a space overlies the first roller.

Alternatively, the decoration may be self-adhesive, and may be provided with interleaving.

The decoration may be firable, and the decorated item may be fired and/or tempered following decoration.

Where a plurality of decoration application arrangements are provided, each arrangement may apply a similar decoration so as to provide a continuous pattern across the item.

The invention also provides a method of decorating a firable item, the 4 method being according to any of the preceding five paragraphs.

The invention still further provides a method of decorating a glass panel, the method being according to any of said preceding five paragraphs.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. I is a diagrammatic side view of a first decorating apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. I of a second decorating apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic front view of the apparatus of Fig. 3.

Figs. I and 2 of the drawings show a first decorating apparatus 10 suitable for applying firable decals onto glass panels 12. The apparatus 10 comprises a receiving section 14 in the form of a flat bed made out of a plurality of freely rotatable wheels 16 mounted on spaced transverse bars 18. Two pairs of spaced guide arrangements 20 are provided. Each arrangement 20 comprises a wheel 22 engagable against the side of the panels 12. The arrangements 20 are slidably mounted on respective ones of the transverse bars 18 with locking screws, thereby providing adjustment for use with different widths of panels 12.

Towards the right hand side as shown in Fig. I of the receiving section 14 is provided a driven roller 24 for moving the panels 12 to the right. Adjacent the roller 16 to the right of the driven roller 24, is a stop arrangement. The stop arrangement comprises a vertical cylinder 26 selectively movable into the path of the panels 12 to prevent further movement thereof. A sensor 28 is provided on the top of the cylinder 26 to sense when a panel 12 engages thereagainst.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a decoration application section 30. The section 30 comprises a lower drive roller 32, the top of which is substantially level with the top of the rollers 16 and 24. Immediately above the roller 32 and defining a small gap therebetween is a heated pressure roller 34. The gap between the rollers 32 and 34 is adjustable as required, dependent on the thickness of the panels 12. The roller 34 is heatable to for example a temperature of around 900C.

A decal feed arrangement 36 is provided for feeding decals onto the heated roller 34. The arrangement 36 comprises a pay off roller 38 for mounting decals on a web 40. The path of the web 40 from the roller 38 is as follows. The web 40 passes onto and across a plate 42. The web 40 is guided against lateral movement over the plate 42 by four guides 44 slidably mounted with locking means on a respective lower and upper bar 46, 48. A connecting bar 50 extends between the bars 46, 48 spaced above the plate 42. An indexing detector 52 is mounted on the connecting bar 50. The detector 52 is in the form of a photo electric cell.

From the guides 44 provided on the lower bar 46, the web 40 passes over and round the heated roller 34 to pass through the gap between the rollers 32 and 34. The web 40 then passes to a web drive roller 54, around a pinch roller 56 to a web take up roller 38. An interleaver roller 60 is located adjacent and above the heated roller 34 as shown, to receive any interleaving which may be provided on the web 40.

The apparatus 10 also comprises a decorated panel receiving section 62. The section 62 comprises a further flat bed defined by a plurality of freely rotatable wheels 64.

6 In use, a glass panel 12 is fed to the receiving section 14 and moves up to abut against the stop arrangement 26. The web 40 will be fed through the arrangement 36 until an index marking thereon is detected by the indexing detector 52. Once the apparatus 10 has detected that a glass panel and decal are in position, a decal can be applied as follows. Simultaneously the arrangement 26 will lower and the arrangement 36 operate such that a decal is supplied onto the heated roller 34 and rolls thereof onto a panel 12 as it passes between the rollers 32, 34. The decorated panel 12 then moves over the rollers 64 whilst the empty web is taken up by the roller 58.

The decals on the web 40 are spaced such that when a decal is ready on the plate 42 the web 40 overlying the heated roller will not bear a decal, thereby preventing damage or destruction to decals prior to application. The decals are of the heat release type, and the adhesive which bonds the decals onto the web 40 is such that the heat supplied by the roller 34 causes the adhesive to melt and thereby release the decal from the web 40. Provided on the opposite side of the decals to the web 40, is a heat actuable adhesive which becomes active due to the heat supplied by the roller 34, to cause adherence of the decal onto the panel 12.

The apparatus 10 can be arranged to automatically operate, perhaps with an automatic feed on and off of glass panels. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 may be manually operable such that for instance the stop arrangement 26 releases a panel upon a foot pedal being actuated. The decorated glass panels can subsequently be fired and/or tempered.

Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings show a second decorating apparatus 100 suitable for applying firable details onto glass panels 102 of a greater width than the panels 12. The apparatus 100 is similar in many respects to the apparatus 10 and the same reference numerals will be used for identical or closely similar components. The apparatus 100 comprises a plurality of freely rotatable transverse rollers 104 and a plurality of spaced drive rollers 32.

7 The main difference with the apparatus 100 relative to the apparatus 10 is that the apparatus 100 comprises three decoration application sections 106, 108, 110. The sections 106, 108, 110 are transversely spaced relative to each other so as to apply decals adjacent to those provided by one of the other sections 106, 108, 110. Also the sections 106, 108, 110 are spaced longitudinally from each other such that only one of the sections 106, 108, 110 applies a decal at any one point on the panel 102, but as soon as a decal has been applied by one of the sections 106, 108, 110 a decal is applied by another of the sections 106, 108, 110. As shown in Fig. 4, the first section 106 to be reached by the panel 12 is the left-hand section. The panel 102 thereafter reaches the middle section 108 and finally the right-hand section 110. Each of the sections 106, 108 and 110 is very similar to the section 30.

In use, the glass panel 102 moves upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. Initially a decal 112 is applied to the left-hand portion of the panel 102. Immediately thereafter a further similar decal 114 is applied to the middle portion of the panel 12 to match up with the decal 112. Immediately thereafter a further similar decal 116 is applied to the right-hand portion of the panel 102.

The apparatus 100 therefore permits a single pattern to be applied by decals across a wider area than the width of the decals. This can be particularly useful where the width of the decal web is limited. Whilst this example shows a similar pattern being applied across the glass panel, this arrangement could be used to apply different decorations across the width of the panel.

There is thus described apparatus usable for applying decals to large glass panels, and a method of decorating such items. Apparatus according to the invention can be used to decorate a wide range of items such as for example car windscreens or bath panels. Alternatively, such apparatus could be used to decorate cylindrical items such as cafeterias etc. Such items would be rotatably held against the heated roller such that the decal rolls off the roller onto the item during respective rotation thereof.

8 The apparatus could be used to apply decorations in different forms. For example, the decorations could be self-adhesive. In such instances, it may not be necessary for the pressure roller to be heated. Interleaving may also be provided which could be removed onto the roller 60.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the receiving sections could have a different form. The decal or other decoration feed arrangement could be different. The decorations could be provided other than on a roll.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

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Claims

Claims:-

1. Decorating apparatus, the decorating apparatus comprising a decoration application arrangement which comprises an area for receiving an item to be decorated, means for providing a decoration to be applied to the item onto a first roller, and means for moving the item and the roller such that the decoration is rolled off the roller onto the item.

2. Decorating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises a second roller, with the arrangement configured such that the item is moved between the first and second rollers whereat the decoration is rolled onto the item.

3. Decorating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement is configured such that pressure is applied to the item by squeezing between the first and second rollers.

4. Decorating apparatus according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the gap between the first and second rollers is adjustable.

5. Decorating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for holding the item against the first roller and simultaneously rotating the roller and moving the item to permit the decoration to be rolled onto the item.

6. Decorating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first roller is heated.

7. Decorating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for sensing the position of an item to be decorated.

8. Decorating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided for supplying the decoration to the first roller.

9. Decorating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein means are provided for indexing the decoration such that it is supplied to the first roller at the required time and position.

10. Decorating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sensing means are connected to the indexing means such that the item and decoration are brought together at the required time and position.

11. Decorating apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the indexing means comprise a holding area on which the decoration is locatable.

12. Decorating apparatus according to claim 11, wherein guide means are provided on the holding area to ensure correct positioning and orientation of the decoration.

13. Decorating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the guide means are adjustable.

14. Decorating apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the indexing means comprise a detector for sensing the position of a decoration.

15. Decorating apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the detector is in the form of a photo electric cell.

16. Decorating apparatus according to claims 14 or 15, wherein the detector senses markings provided on the decoration or a web therefor.

17. Decorating apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 16, wherein means are provided for supplying the decoration on a web.

18. Decorating apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a supply roller assembly is provided for holding the decorations prior to decoration.

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19. Decorating apparatus according to claims 17 or 18, wherein a take up roller assembly is provided for receiving the web following decoration.

20. Decorating apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 19, wherein an interleaving roller assembly is provided for receiving interleaving provided on the decorations, prior to application of the decorations.

21. Decorating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving area is in the form of a flat bed.

22. Decorating apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the flat bed comprises a plurality of rollers.

23. Decorating apparatus according to claim 22, wherein some of the rollers are driven and some are freely rotatable.

24. Decorating apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 23, wherein means are provided on the receiving area for sensing the position of an item thereon.

25. Decorating apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 24, wherein means are provided for selectively preventing movement of an item on the receiving area.

26. Decorating apparatus according to claim 25 when dependent on claim 24, wherein the movement preventing means are combined with the item position sensing means.

27. Decorating apparatus according to any of claims 21 to 26, wherein guides are provided on the receiving area to ensure correct positioning and alignment of items thereon.

28. Decorating apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the guide means are adjustable.

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29. Decorating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus also comprises a decorated item receiving area.

30. Decorating apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the decorated item receiving area is in the form of a flat bed.

31. Decorating apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the flat bed comprises a plurality of rollers.

32. Decorating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is automatically operable to supply items and decorations to the first roller, to apply the decoration to the item, and to remove decorated items from the first roller.

33. Decorating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of decoration application arrangements.

34. Decorating apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the arrangements are located adjacent each other so as to each apply a decoration onto the item adjacent a decoration applied by another such arrangement.

35. Decorating apparatus according to claims 33 or 34, wherein the arrangements are sequentially configured such that after a decoration has been applied by one arrangement, a further decoration is applied by another arrangement, but at any one point only one decoration is being applied to the item.

36. A method of decorating an item, the method comprising applying a decoration using apparatus according to any of the preceding claims.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the decoration comprises a decal.

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38. A method according to claim 3 7, wherein the decal is a heat release decal.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein the heating of the first roller causes release from the backing paper and also actuation of adhesive to adhere onto the item.

40. A method according to any of claims 37 to 39, wherein where the decals are provided on a web, and a space is provided between each consecutive decal such that after application of a decal a space overlies the first roller.

41. A method according to claim 36, wherein the decoration is selfadhesive.

42. A method according to any of claims 36 to 41, wherein the decoration is provided with interleaving.

43. A method according to any of claims 36 to 42, wherein the decoration is firable.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the decorated item is fired and/or tempered following decoration.

45. A method according to any of claims 36 to 44, wherein where a plurality of decoration application arrangements are provided, wherein each arrangement applies a similar decoration so as to provide a continuous pattern across the item.

46. A method of decorating a firable item, the method being according to any of claims 36 to 45.

47. A method of decorating a glass panel, the method being according to any of claims 36 to 45.

48. Decorating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with 14 reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

49. Decorating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

50. A method of decorating an item substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

51. A method of decorating an item substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

52. A method of decorating a firable item substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

53. A method of decorating a firable item substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A method of decorating a glass panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

35. A method of decorating a glass panel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

56. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

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