IE85591B1 - Machine for applying characters, logotypes, signs or distinctive marks on signs, license plates or similar elements by heat transfer - Google Patents

Description

MACHINE FOR APPLYING CHARACTERS, LOGOTYPES, SIGNS OR DISTINCTIVE MARKS ON SIGNS, LICENCE PLATES OR SIMILAR ELEMENTS BY HEAT TRANSFER DESCRIPTION OBJECT OF THE INVENTION As expressed in the title of the present specification, the present invention relates to a machine for applying characters, logos, signs or distinctive marks on signs, licence plates or similar elements by heat transfer providing the function for which it is intended with a series of advantages and features in addition to others inherent to its organization and constitution which are described in detail below and which imply an [0 alternative and/or improvement to what is already known in this field.

More specifically, the object of the invention consists.of an automatic machine the purpose of which is based on transferring, by means of applying heat, characters, logotypes, {5 signs, distinctive marhs, etc. painted with special paints, or any other means with the format “of the letters, numbers, insignias or signs that are to be transferred, onto templates of heat-resistant materials, generally made of polyester, on the surface of a plate, sign or similar element that is metallic, V acrylic or of any other material that is prepared for heat transfer.

FIELD OF APPLICAIION This invention is applicable within the industry dedicated to the manufacture of licence plates, signs or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIO Currently, as a reference to the state of the art, it must be mentioned that the general production of signs and the like of the type herein referred to, and particularly licence plates, is a very complex process involving multiple difficulties at the time of their manufacture, there being various systems for such purpose. 1 ' The applicant is the proprietor of a plurality of registered patents of invention and utility models all of which are related to the construction, obtaining and configuration of licence plates and the like.

However, it must be indicated that the applicant is not aware of the current existence of a machine for the application of characters, logos, signs or distinctive marks ‘in signs, licence plates or similar elements by heat transfer having technical, structural and constitutional features similar to those envisaged in the present invention, the object of which is to provide an optimized alternative to the systems currently known for the same purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The machine for applying characters, logos, signs or distinctive marks in signs, licence plates or similar elements by heat transfer proposed by the invention is in and of itself an evident novelty within the field of application thereof, because its application clearly obtains a substantial reduction of the operations which up until now were necessary for obtaining said application, as well as automating such operations.

In this manner and more specifically, the xnachine, the purpose of which as previously‘ mentioned is based on transferring by heat characters, logotypes, signs, distinctive marks, etc. painted with special paints, or any other meansp onto templates generally made of polyester, to the surface of the plate, sign or the like whether it is metallic, acrylic or of any other material suitable for heat transfer, is configured from a support or casing a compounder in which the plate and templates will be located, the compounder being coupled to, and movable laterally with respect to, the casing, and an electric motor which will provide pressure and heat, directed and controlled by an automaton provided with the necessary elements for selecting the necessary and suitable temperature and pressure in each case as Well as elements for actuating and stopping it.

The mentioned casing internally houses respective bodies incorporating ‘ respective resistors acting as independent heaters and at the same time constituting the pressure plates, an upper tamper and a lower tamper, there being under the first one a metallic base provided with a coating of a siliconized material or the like which is also heat resistant, which can be changed when it is worn by means of the actuation of a pull rod.

The suitable working temperature for the purpose of having the nmchine prepared to transfer the characters, signs, etc. which are to be transferred to the plate or sign is obtained through the temperature selected by the automaton for both the upper tamper and the lower tamper, which can be the same or different for both.

To that end, the plate is fixed in the aforementioned compounder, the lateral movement of which under the casing of the machine is facilitated by (respective guides provided for such purpose, and the characters, signs, etc. fixed on the plate are previously painted in templates made of polyester, suitably positioned in the notches provided for this purpose on the compounder, the plate and template with the characters then passing between the tampers which will be at the suitable temperature.

Finally, the transfer of the characters occurs when pressure is provided through the control automaton on said heated tampers and the plate is printed.

The new machine for applying characters, logos, signs or distinctive nwrks in signs, licence plates or similar elements by heat transfer therefore represents an innovative structure with structural and constitutional features which are unknown up until now for such purpose, reasons which, in combination with its practical —use, provide it with sufficient grounds for obtaining the exclusive rights being sought.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRENINGS To complement the description being made and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification as an integral part thereof in which the following has been shown with an illustrative and non-limiting character.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of machine in accordance with the invention in which the various elements configuring it as well as its arrangement can be seen.

Figure 2 shows a detailed perspective view or the machine.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the way of positioning and securing the plate to the compounder.

Figures 4 and 5 show respective views of the placement of the templates with the characters to be transferred and of the plate once they are transferred, respectively.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In View of the mentioned figures and. according to the numbering used, they show a preferred embodiment of the machine for applying characters, logos, signs or distinctive marks in signs, licence plates or similar elements by heat transfer comprising the parts indicated and described below.

Therefore, as can be seen in Figure 1, the machine _in question essentially consists of a casing (1) to which a compounder (2) is coupled provided with guides (3) allowing its lateral movement and an electric motor (4) covered by a protective cover (5), controlled by an automaton or computer (6) provided with a digital display (6a) and keypad (6b) intended for allowing the selection of the necessary and suitable temperature and pressure in each case, as well as the actuation and stopping of the machine. said casing {1} houses respective bodies incorporating resistors acting as independent heaters and constituting the upper tamper (7) and lower tamper (8), there being under the first one a metallic base (9) provided with a coating (10) of siliconized material or the like also resistant to heat, which can be changed when worn by means of the actuation of a pull rod (11), as can be seen in the detailed view of Figure 2.

In view of Figures 3, 4 and 5, it can be observed how the plate (12) is fixed on the compounder (2) by means of flanges (13), placing thereon the characters, signs, etc. previously painted on polyester templates (14) duly positioned in the notches (15) provided on the compounder (2) for that purpose.

In repeating the foregoing, the operation of the machine of the invention is summarized in that the temperatures for both the upper tamper (7) and the lower tamper (8) are selected by means of the controls of the automaton (6), generated by the resistors provided in the’ tampers, achieving the suitable working temperature which will be transmitted to the siliconized coating (10) of the metallic base (9), going from the base to the polyester template" (14) provided with the character, logotype, sign or distinctive mark to be transferred when pressure is provided through the automaton (6) together with the plate (12) between the tempers (7) and (8), thus causing the application of said character, logotype, sign or distinctive mark on the plate {12).

Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention as well as the manner of implementing it, it is hereby stated that within its essential features, it could be implemented in other embodiments which differ in detail from the embodiment, which is given by way of example, which embodiments will also be within the-scope of the claimed invention.

Claims (6)

1. A machine for applying characters, logotypes, signs or distinctive marks in signs, licence plates or similar elements’ by heat transfer, comprising at least one heating body for the application of heat and a plurality of tampers for application of pressure, to transfer said characters, logotypes, signs or distinctive. marks, painted with special paints, or any other means, onto templates made of heat-resistant materials on the surface prepared for heat transfer, a casing, a compounder on which said templates are located, the compounder being coupled to, and movable laterally with respect to, the casing, and an electric motor controlled by a computer for controlling the temperature and pressure, said casing housing respective bodies incorporating independent heaters and constituting the upper tamper and lower tamper, a metallic base having a heat—resistant r coating being located under the first one.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer is provided with a digital display and keypad provided with the necessary elements for choosing the temperature and pressure; and wherein the heat—resistant coating can be changed by means of the actuation of a pull rod.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the compounder comprises guides allowing its lateral movement through the casing.

4. A machine according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the compounder comprises flanges intended for fixing the plate.

5. C 5. A machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the compounder comprises a series of notches intended for the correct positioning of the templates.

6. A machine for applying characters, logotypes, signs or distinctive marks in signs, licence plates or similar elements by heat transfer substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings. ‘ MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON Applicants’ Agents 47 Merrion Square DUBUN2