JP2001277193A - Method and device for fabricating graphic product - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exfoliate letters and other graphic products and/or unnecessary portion associate therewith accurately from a carrier sheet automatically. SOLUTION: The method and device according to the present invention to fabricate graphic products from a sheet material layer on a carrier sheet works with data to represent the contour of the applicable item stored with possibility of being read mechanically for cutting away the product from the carrier sheet. The arrangement includes a supplying mechanism to supply sheet material and a joint web in such a condition that they are adjoining to a heating head, which has a plurality of heating elements to be individually operated selectively, and thereby the joint web can be heated for its unnecessary portion specified as to be removed or over the whole heating region which is patterned and covers that portion of sheet material mating with the graphic item, and subsequently the applicable portion of the sheet material fixed to the joint web is exfoliated from the carrier sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for producing graphic products such as figures and characters for signs and signs, and to an apparatus for implementing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a pair of spaced character strings is cut from a layer of a sheet material on a carrier sheet and transferred to a sign substrate, peeling of unnecessary portions and graphic products has been a time-consuming operation. And it has usually been done manually. For example, tweezers are often used to remove a small unnecessary portion included in the character “A” or the character “R” from the character body. In addition, in this specification, the sign base means a lining or a base which becomes a substrate such as a sign or a signboard. In addition, the widest outer garbage surrounding the character body has been removed in a similar manner. To transfer the characters from the carrier sheet to the base of the sign after the unnecessary parts have been removed, manually attach the transfer web to the graphic product and peel off the transfer web and the graphic product attached to the transfer web from the carrier sheet. In addition, the transfer web and graphic products needed to be properly positioned to be applied to the signature substrate. Thereafter, the transfer web is removed from the graphic product. Transfer methods and webs using dry activated adhesives to perform these operations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,584, which is owned by the assignee of the present invention. .

In the field of producing signs and signboards, there are devices and methods for automatically producing them, and there are also devices and methods for automatically removing unnecessary parts. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,576 discloses an apparatus and method for automatically removing unwanted parts. This device uses the stored data in vector format to offset the bonded web of adhesive-containing microcapsules into the graphic product or unnecessary part on the carrier sheet from the periphery of the unnecessary part or graphic product. Paste along the straight road. In this device, the bonding web is activated by activating the microcapsules containing the adhesive in the bonding web, based on stored data defining the periphery of the graphic product or the unnecessary part, whereby the bonding web is converted into the graphic product or the unnecessary Temporarily joined to parts.

[0004] The linear nature of the adhesive bond formed by the apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned US Patents, when peeled from the carrier sheet, negates most of the surface area of the graphic product or unwanted parts. This will allow some unbalanced force to be applied to the unwanted parts or graphic products. As a result, the graphic product may tear in unjoined areas. In contrast, in the present invention, the bonded web is bonded to substantially the entire surface area of the graphic product or garbage, thereby allowing the adhesion to be distributed over the entire surface of the graphic product or garbage. . Further, the present invention is compatible with automatic printing equipment and cutters having a similar feeding mechanism, which are known in the field of producing signs and signboards, etc., and a part thereof is complementarily constituted. is there.

The thermal stamping method disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,645,555 produces sharp-edged letters and / or numbers on a sheet material adhered to a substrate and transfers the characters from the substrate to a signature substrate. Used for That is, the raised numbers or letters are bonded to the substrate, and the bonded web containing the thermally activated adhesive is pressed onto the sign substrate and the numbers or letters. When the sheet material is heated over its entire surface, the raised characters are bonded to the adhesive making up the sheet material, and in areas where no numbers are present, the adhesive remains on the substrate. Thus, heat is applied across the joining web and the entire surface of the substrate and adheres to the entire surface of the substrate, including the numeric or character surfaces. In the present invention, unlike the present invention, no selective heating is used to adhere the bonded web only to the graphic product.

US Pat. No. 4,374,691 discloses materials and methods for making press transfer graphic graphics. The present invention describes a composite material and a method for making letters or numbers in the composite material and peeling the letters or numbers from the composite material and attaching them to a substrate. The composite material includes a layer of a donor sheet for supplying letters or symbols and a layer of a receiving sheet for receiving letters and symbols. The method includes the steps of creating a character and attaching the character to a receiving sheet. This character is not already made on the sheet material on the carrier sheet as in the present invention. Instead, the characters are created in layers of sheet material on the carrier sheet by applying heat to the required graphic features on the receiving sheet. The receiving sheet includes an adhesive that is activated by heat, and while in contact with the donor sheet, the adhesive causes a portion of the donor sheet to adhere to the receiving sheet in a shape resembling the graphic graphic produced. The donor sheet is made of a material that is easily separated, and when the adhesive is applied, the portion corresponding to the graphic figure adheres to the receiver sheet. The graphic graphic can then be peeled from the donor sheet and transferred to the signature substrate by pressing or heating. Unlike the present invention, the above-mentioned U.S. patent does not disclose a method for selectively activating a bonded web and aligning and bonding it with a pre-cut graphic product.

[0007] US Patent No. 5,112,423 discloses a method of making and applying a conformable plastic lettering material. In this method, a composite material sheet including an adhesive layer, a display layer, and a release layer is used. In this method, the shape of graphic characters or numbers is cut to the adhesive layer and the display layer, but the cutting extends to the release layer.The adhesive layer and the display layer are required for graphic products such as numbers and characters. It is peeled off from the release layer except inside the outline. Therefore, lettering for transferring to the base remains on the release layer. In the present invention, unlike the present invention, no method is used for selectively activating and adhering the bonded web to peel off the symbols or characters from the release layer.

[0008] In addition to the above patents which use adhesives to peel off letters and numbers or the area surrounding them from the donor sheet, the art also teaches the application of release layers to the layers of the donor sheet by applying release layers to the layers of the donor sheet. Patents are included which aim to leave a part on the carrier sheet and peel off the other part. For example, U.S. Pat.
Disclosed is a process for applying a coating of a release agent consisting of silicon to a polymer (polymer) film. This process involves applying a release film to the signature substrate, but using a selectively activated head to selectively automatically apply such a film to specific areas of the signature substrate. Not disclosed.

As noted above, the present invention, in practice, includes a friction reducing coating and a heat sensitive adhesive to facilitate the passage of the bonded web over the heated head. Laminated bonded web materials are also included. U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,822 discloses a stamping donor element which is coated to facilitate the passage of the sheet material under the heating head during printing. The material has not yet been disclosed for a selectively activated adhesive web as disclosed in the present invention.

The production and demand for signs and signs made of characters or figures are increasing in the field. Coupled with high quality printing, the produced graphic products have many uses. According to the invention, peeling off graphic products and unwanted parts from a carrier sheet using a bonded web is no longer a cumbersome and difficult task. The manual work of removing unnecessary parts and graphic products from the carrier sheet using tweezers to transfer the graphic products to the sign substrate is replaced by automatic work.

The types of graphic products aimed at by the present invention are characters or graphics to be pasted on the base of a sign, which is a substrate such as a sign or a sign. Fabricating these types of graphic products generally involves cutting the graphic product from a layer of sheet material on a carrier sheet, removing the graphic product from the carrier sheet, and pasting the graphic product on a signature substrate. included. The present invention aims to provide an automated method and apparatus for peeling such graphic products from a carrier sheet, and the present invention provides
The present invention relates to a method for selectively peeling off unnecessary portions intermingled with graphic products or graphic products themselves. The present invention also relates to a unique thermally activated bonded web for use with such methods and apparatus.

[0012]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to selectively attach a bonded web to any portion of a sheet material to facilitate the transfer of graphic products to a sign substrate, thereby providing a character or other material. The present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for automatically and accurately peeling off a graphic product or an unnecessary portion accompanying the same from a carrier sheet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for accomplishing automatic removal of unwanted parts and peeling off of the graphic product without risk of the graphic product breaking.

It is a further object of the present invention to automatically remove unnecessary parts and produce graphic products that are compatible with already commercially available signage sign making devices and can also serve a complementary role. An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for transferring to a sign substrate.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for making a graphic product from a layer of sheet material releasably secured to a carrier sheet for later transferring the graphic product to a substrate. In the present invention, a part of the sheet material defines the graphic product, and a part thereof is cut from the remaining portion of the sheet material along the cutting line of the contour of the graphic product. More particularly, the present invention relates to an automated method and apparatus for selectively securing a bonded web to a graphic product or other portion corresponding to an unwanted portion associated with a graphic product. At this time, the selectively fixed portion is defined by data in a microprocessor that controls the device.

The method of the present invention includes the step of superimposing a bonding web on the sheet material with a thermally activated adhesive interposed between the sheet material and the sheet material. The bonding web activates the heat-active adhesive at the periphery of and inside any one of the part and the other part of the sheet material located opposite to the bonding web; and Selectively over at least one heating zone substantially in register with said any one portion located opposite said joining web to adhere substantially all of said any one portion. Heated. Then the bonded web is
Any one of the above-mentioned portions adhering to the joining web is pulled to peel off from the carrier sheet. Any one of the portions adhering to the bonded web may be either a graphic product portion or an unnecessary portion.

An apparatus embodying the method includes storage means for storing data defining the contour of the graphic product as machine-readable data. Feeding means, with one side of the joining web adjacent to the sheet material,
The bonding web and the sheet material releasably secured to the carrier sheet are fed into the device and passed through a heating means to activate the heat activated adhesive. The heating means comprises a plurality of selectively heatable heating elements positioned relative to the feed means to contact the bonding web to activate the heat activated adhesive. The plurality of heating elements are selectively heated according to the stored data by the control unit to which each of the storage unit, the feeding unit and the heating unit is connected. The heating element activates the thermally activated adhesive in a heating area registered with one of the remaining portions of the sheet material, while the feeding means heats the bonding web and sheet material on the carrier sheet. Send to the means. As a result, the bonding web is adhered to a part or other part of the sheet material.

In one embodiment of the apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention, the storage means is a computer memory for storing the contours of the graphic product as machine-readable data, which data is downloaded to the control means, It is used to selectively activate heating elements that are in line with the heating head of the means. The heating element causes the joining web to adhere to the sheet material as the sheet material on the carrier sheet passes through the heating head by the feeding means. For different types of webs, the remaining sheet material portions can later be removed by the adhesive transfer web by applying an anti-adhesive agent to the heated area.

The feeding means in one embodiment includes a belt driven sprocket and a roller platen. Extending from the periphery of the sprocket is an engagement pin that engages a corresponding sprocket hole that extends proximate each of the longitudinal ends of the carrier sheet. These sprockets and roller platens move the sheet material, the carrier sheet, and the bonding web in an up-and-down relationship with them, while approaching the heating element of the heating head.

As a result, the heat-activated adhesive is activated and the bonded web adheres substantially only to the graphic product or garbage, in order to remove the graphic product or garbage from the carrier sheet. If the first part removed from the carrier sheet is an unwanted part, the remaining part of the sheet material on the carrier sheet is passed through the device again, and the second joining web is removed to the unnecessary part or graphic product remaining on the carrier sheet. It is selectively deposited. When the joining of the joining web is completed, the joining web and any unnecessary parts or graphic products attached thereto are peeled off from the carrier sheet. The bonded web or adhesive transfer web adhered to the graphic product is used to transfer the graphic product to a signature substrate.

In one embodiment, the sheet material and the bonded web adhered to the carrier sheet are provided by feeding means from separate rotatable rolls mounted on the apparatus.

As a result of the present invention, graphic products used to make unwanted parts, signs, signs, etc., can be peeled from the carrier sheet by automated equipment and methods.

[0023]

FIG. 1 shows a microprocessor control system 10 that controls a joining device 11 and a cutter 12 to produce a graphic product in accordance with the present invention. The cutter 12 cuts a graphic product 13 such as a character “AR” for a sign, a sign, or a logo from a sheet material 16 that is detachably fixed to a carrier sheet 17. Based on the graphic data 14 input to the system 10, the joining device 11 selectively attaches the joining web 15 to the designated portion of the cut sheet material 16 in order to subsequently peel off the designated portion from the carrier sheet 17. Join.

The system 10 includes the graphic data 1
A digitizer 18 is provided which converts the 4 into machine readable data for storage and use by a computer 19 having a microprocessor. The machine-readable data includes parameters defining the internal and external contours 20 of the graphic product 13 shown in FIG. The data defining the contour is displayed on the monitor 22 in the form of a graphic image. The graphic image can be changed by entering further information into computer 19, such as by keyboard 24.

Along with the cutting and joining processes disclosed herein, a printing process may be included as a step before cutting. In addition, the system may include an extension program that changes the graphic image through printing of shading, halftones, and tones. This extension program is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,537,
No. 135. In this system, various software programs and the like can be used to change the graphic image to be produced.

The operating program of the computer 19 translates the machine-readable data and performs various operations including the operation of the cutter 12 and the joining device 11. The computer 19 executes a cutting program from the machine-readable data,
Generate a splicing program and possibly a printing program. These programs are stored in memory (storage means)
26 and decoded by the control device (control means) 28 in FIG. In this manner, the control device 28 can control the graphic data 14 input to the system 10
Both the cutter 12 and the joining device 11 and, if necessary, the printing press are operated. Suitable cutting devices for performing cutting operations include, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,525.
No. 4,799,172 and 4,834,276
There is what was disclosed in the issue. All of these U.S. patents are owned by the present applicant.

Based on the machine-readable data, the cutter 1
2 is the carrier sheet 17 shown in FIGS.
Is cut along the contour 20 of the graphic product 13 in the sheet material 16 fixed so as to be releasable. The sheet material 16 is preferably made of vinyl, and the uncut carrier sheet 17 is preferably made of cardboard. As shown in FIG. 3, the sheet material 16 is formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive 38.
It is detachably attached to the carrier sheet 17. The carrier sheet 17 is coated with a release agent 32, so that the sheet material 16 is only
Are fixed to the carrier sheet 17. Sheet material 16
As HP229 Scotchcal manufactured by 3M Corporation
Vinyl sheet is available. The strip formed by the sheet material 16 and the carrier sheet 17 extends along each of the longitudinally extending ends of the strip to feed the strip to the cutter 12 and the joining device 11 of FIG. It has an extended supply sprocket hole 40.

When the graphic product 13 is cut on the sheet material 16, the sheet material 16
It is divided into two parts, 3 and an unnecessary part. Graphic product 13 is composed of the characters "AR" and the unnecessary part is the rest. The unnecessary portion includes an internal unnecessary portion 46 defined by the contour or edge of the graphic product 13 and an external unnecessary portion 48 outside the outer contour of the graphic product 13. External unnecessary part 48
May be cut out so as to surround the graphic product 13 to define the outer border of the graphic product 13 and to facilitate removal of the external waste 48 from the carrier sheet 17. This boundary 49 is useful, but not necessary.

In addition to the cutting of the graphic product 13 described above, the register holes 51 are also cut into the sheet material 16 as shown in FIG. The register hole 51 is
After the graphic product 13 has been cut past one of the sprocket holes 40 along the longitudinal edge of the strip and passed through the cutter 12, the starting position of the graphic product 13 is determined in the joining device 11. And used to position it properly.

The graphic product 13 is placed on the carrier sheet 1
7 and transferring the graphic product 13 to a substrate serving as a substrate such as a sign or a signboard (hereinafter referred to as “sign substrate”), the bonding apparatus 11 shown in FIG. Joining web 1 to cut part of material 16
5 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is selectively deposited. In general, the joining web 15 is first attached to the internal waste portion 46, and the internal waste portion 46 is attached to the joining web 15 as shown in FIG. It is removed from the carrier sheet by pulling. Next, another joining web 15 is attached to the external waste 48, which is removed from the carrier sheet 17 by the joining web 15 as shown in FIG. At this stage, the graphic product 13 “AR” is the only one left within the boundary of the carrier sheet 17 as shown in FIG. Finally, another joining web 15 is applied to the graphic product 13 "AR", and the graphic product 13 is peeled off from the carrier sheet 17 together with the joining web 15 as shown in FIG. “AR” is placed on the signature substrate to be pasted. The pressure-sensitive adhesive 38 (see FIG. 3) is
Therefore, the graphic product 13 is not fixed on the carrier sheet 17 but on the vinyl material constituting the graphic product 13 and is used for fixing the graphic product 13 to the base of the signature.

If the shape of the graphic product is appropriate and the unnecessary portions outside and inside are sufficiently large, the step of removing these unnecessary portions is omitted, and the joining web 15 is adhered to the graphic product from the beginning, and the one-piece process is performed. It is also possible to peel off from the carrier sheet 17 in steps. However, usually, the internal waste is first removed together with the first joining web 15 and then the graphic product is peeled off together with the second joining web 15, so that the external waste is removed from the carrier sheet. Preferably, a two-step process of remaining 17 is used.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bonding web 15 having a layer of heat-active adhesive consists of two layers of different materials. First layer 52 is formed from a biaxially extending polyester having a melting point of about 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This layer 52 is coated with a material 54 for reducing the frictional resistance in order to facilitate the sliding movement of the joining web 15 on the heating element in the joining device 11 described below. is there. The material 54 may be a silicon-based material. The second layer 56 of the bonding web 15 is secured to the first layer 52 and is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, or about 225 degrees Fahrenheit to form a highly viscous, heat-separable, thermally active adhesive layer. Formed from other similar materials having a melting point of about While being heated in the joining device 11, the first layer 5
2 does not change its properties, but the second layer 56 melts to form an adhesive for attaching the bonding web 15 to selected portions of the cut sheet material 16. Alternatively, a single layer of polyester can be used to bond the web 15
6, 48 or a heat activated dry adhesive to adhere to the graphic product 13 part, or the heat activated adhesive layer may be inserted between the sheet material 16 and the joining web 15 in a separate step. Is also good.

An embodiment of the joining apparatus 11 for performing a selective joining operation using the joining web 15 is shown in FIG. 9 and will be described in detail below. Also. The joining device 11 has a housing 60, and the components of the joining device 11 are attached to the housing 60. The housing 60 has a hinged cover 61, which has a handle portion 62 as an aid in opening the cover to expose the internal mechanism. Roll 64 and Roll 66
Are used to feed each of the strips of freshly cut sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 and the joining web 15 to the joining device 11. The rolls 64 and 66 are rotatably mounted on a rack 68 at the rear of the joining device 11. Strip and bonded web 1
5 is supplied from a separate roll to the joining device 11 in a vertically overlapping manner through a swing roller 69, and as shown in FIG. 9, the front surface of the joining device 11 (the front surface in FIG. 9). ). The discharged matter is collected, for example, by manual operation or a take-up roller (not shown).
Can be collected by a predetermined method. Instead of supplying the bonding web 15 from the roll 66, the bonding web 15 can be supplied manually by opening the cover 61 and placing the bonding web 15 on the sheet material 16 in an overlapping manner. However, even in the case of this method, it is preferable that the sheet material 16 is supplied from the roll 64.

The joining device 11 is automatically controlled by the control device 28, but the joining device 11 further includes a joining device as shown in FIG. 9 so that an operator can manually control the feeding and joining operations. It has a control panel 70 that can be operated from outside the device 11.

As shown in FIGS. 10 to 14,
The bonding apparatus 11 includes a heating head 10 for selectively bonding the strips of the sheet material 16 and the bonding web 15 on the carrier sheet 17 to the bonding web 15 to the sheet material 16.
1 has a feeding mechanism for allowing the bonding apparatus 11 to pass therethrough. The feed mechanism is provided with two drive sprockets 72, 74, each of which has a plurality of equally spaced pins 76 as shown in FIGS. It protrudes from the periphery of the sprocket and surrounds each sprocket. Pin 76
Engages a row of sprocket holes 40 extending along opposite sides of a longitudinally extending edge of the strip formed by sheet material 16 and carrier sheet 17. Regarding how the sprocket holes 40 and the drive sprockets 72, 74 are arranged and cooperate to position the strip in the correct position, see US Pat.
No. 4,276.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12,
The drive sprockets 72 and 74 are fixed to a drive shaft 88. The drive shaft 88 is rotatably mounted inside the housing 60 of the joining device 11 and is shown in FIG. 11 via drive gears 92 and 94, two drive pulleys 96 and 98, and a toothed drive belt 100. Is driven by the step motor 90 which is in operation. further,
Roller platen 99 is also rotatably mounted within housing 60 and includes drive pulleys 102 and 104 at one end of platen 99 and O-ring drive belt 106.
And drive pulleys 108 and 1 at the other end of the platen 99.
Driven by the rotation of drive shaft 88 by 10 and O-ring drive belt 112. The gears 92, 94, the toothed drive belt 100 and the sprockets 72, 74 accurately position the joining web 15 and the sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 on the roller platen 99 below the heating head 101. Further, the gears 92, 94, the toothed drive belt 100, and the sprockets 72, 74 control the speed at which the sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 and the joining web 15 move through the joining device.

Drive pulleys 102, 104, 108, 11
0 is appropriately selected so that the peripheral speed of the roller platen 99 becomes a predetermined peripheral speed. The predetermined peripheral speed of the platen 99 is set to a speed slightly larger than the peripheral speeds of the driving sprockets 72 and 74, whereby the sheet on the carrier sheet 17 passing through the heating head 101 shown in FIGS. It assists in feeding the material 16 and the joining web 15. Drive sprockets 72 and 74 are mounted on carrier sheet 1
7, the O-ring driving belts 106 and 11
2 needs to allow some play to prevent the sheet material 16 from tearing.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 13 and 14,
A pair of curved sheet metal plates 114 and 116
Means that the joining web 15 and the sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 are placed on the roller platen 9 in the reverse U-shaped supply path.
9 and the cylindrical support surfaces (outer peripheral surfaces) of the sprockets 72 and 74
2 and 74 are guided in the axial direction. The cylindrical support surfaces of the sprockets 72 and 74 are on a predetermined cylindrical surface, and this cylindrical surface is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the roller platen 99 (the strip formed by the sheet material 16 and the carrier sheet 17). The diameter is considerably larger than the meshing cylindrical surface. The outer peripheral surface of the roller platen 99 is preferably formed by a hard rubber sleeve. Thereby, the frictional contact resistance of the platen 99 with the carrier sheet 17 is increased.

Still referring to FIG.
5, a pair of holding frames 118 (only one is shown) so that the sheet material 16, the carrier sheet 17 and the sprockets 72 and 74 maintain a sufficient engagement in a range of about 180 degrees around the sprockets 72 and 74.
Supports two pressing wipers 124 and 126 at the supply start point and the release start point of each sprocket. As shown in FIG. 13, each holding frame 11
8 is pivotally attached to the housing 60 by pins 120, so that each holding frame 118 and wipers 124, 126 are lifted away from the sprockets 72 and 74, and The sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 can be attached to and detached from the sprockets 72 and 74 and the roller platen 99. Pressing frame 118
A portion of the housing 60 adjacent the pivoted end of
One end and the other end of the tension spring 122 are attached to a portion of the pressing frame 118 deviated from the axis of the pin 120, respectively.
And lowering the wiper 124 onto the joining web 15.

As shown in FIG. 12, the joining device 1
Optical reading unit 12 supported from one housing 60
7 is temporarily rotated on the roller platen 99 to accurately position the register hole 51 (FIG. 2) of the graphic product 13 cut into the sheet material 16,
Then, the matching circle 51 can be matched with the starting point of the corresponding welding program for controlling the operation of the welding device 11. The cutting program for guiding the cutting device 12 (FIG. 1) and the joining program for operating the joining device 11 include an unnecessary portion 4 produced by the cutting program.
The same data shall be used to define the contour of the graphic product 13 so as to be accurately joined to either 6, 48 or the graphic product 13. The correlation between the cutting program and the joining program for the cut material is provided by starting both operations from the register hole 51, ie, the starting point of the sheet material 16.

In this manner, the sheet material 16 and the carrier sheet 17 under the sheet material 16 are first placed on the sprockets 72 and 74, and the registration hole 51 is located at the center of the optical axis of the optical reading unit 127. Sprockets 72, 74 are rotated by the operator of the joining device. The temporary position of the optical reading unit 127 is on a horizontal plane just above the center of the roller platen 99 and at a known position away from the sprocket pin 76. Once the registration holes 51 are properly positioned, the cutting pattern defining the graphic product 13 of the sheet material 16 is properly registered with the programmed bonding pattern that attaches the bonding web 15 to selected portions of the sheet material 16. The joining operation can be started with assurance that they are aligned.

FIG. 14 shows a state in which the layer of the sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 and the joining web 15 pass over the roller platen 99 relatively and adjacent to the heating head 101. The heating head 101 is similar to the heating print head disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,135 and owned by the assignee used in the printing operation. However, unlike print heads,
No printing ribbon or the like is used in the heating head 101 of the present invention.

The heating head 101 has a plurality of heating elements, which are evenly distributed along the head 101 from one end of the roller platen 99 to the other end. The heating elements are clustered densely along a line that contacts the head 101, and preferably have a density of 300 elements per inch (300 dpi). Such a heating head 101 is, for example, manufactured by Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Co., Ltd. in Kyoto.
industrial Ceramics, Inc. ). The heating elements are individually heated,
Selectively activating the thermally activated adhesive layer of the bonding web 15;
As a result, the joining web 15 can be removed from the unnecessary portion 4 of the sheet material 16.
6, 48 or graphic product 13 parts.

Referring to FIG. 14, the heating head 101
Is an upper support frame 130 rotatably supported in the housing 60 by a shaft 132 (see FIG. 13).
Attached to. The mounting plate 134 is connected to the upper support frame 130 by a series of sliding bolts 136, which are fixed to the mounting plate 134 and slidably fit in the upper supporting frame 130. I have. Thereby, the mounting plate 134 is connected to the heating head 1.
01 together with the upper support frame 130. In addition to supporting the heating head 101, the mounting plate 134 also functions as a heat sink for the heat generated by the heating head 101. Sliding bolt 1
36, the upper support frame 130 and the mounting plate 13
4 are coil springs 138. When the upper support frame 130 is lowered and latched in the closed position as shown in FIGS. 10 and 14, the coil spring 138 presses the mounting plate 134 downward to join the heating head 101. Sheet material 16 on roller 15 and carrier sheet 17 and roller platen 9
9 against the roller platen 99 along a contact line extending in the vertical direction.

After the strip formed of the sheet material 16 and the carrier sheet 17 and the joining web 15 are cut and loaded into the joining device 11, the operation can be shifted to the joining operation and the peeling operation. The cut sheet material 16 and the bonding web 15 on the carrier sheet 17 are supplied in a vertically overlapping relationship as shown in FIG. 14 and pass between the roller platen 99 and the heating head 101.

On the basis of the bonding program developed from the graphic data 14 (see FIG. 1) defining the graphic product 13, the heating element of the heating head 101
Heat is applied in a pattern substantially in register with the graphic product 13 portions or unwanted portions 46,48 cut into the sheet material 16. By using the keyboard 24 (see FIG. 1), the graphic product 13 can be removed from the carrier sheet 17 after joining to the joining web 15.
Any of the parts or the unnecessary parts 46 and 48 can be selected. Thus, if the internal garbage 46 shown in FIG. 2 is selected for removal, the heating element will be illuminated by the elements at different portions on the heating head 101 for a selected number of times and for a predetermined length of time. Is selectively heated according to the conditions, and then the joining web 15 and the sheet material 16 are heated.
Moves under the heating head 101. This allows the joining web 15 to be moved to the internal garbage 4
Attach to 6.

In particular, the heating element of the heating head 101 may be heated over the entirety of the unnecessary portions 46 and 48, or may be heated in another pattern matching the shape of the unnecessary portions. To save power or avoid overheating,
The heating element of the heating head 101 and the thermally activated adhesive (second layer 56) of the bonding web 15 are intermittently and evenly divided into a plurality of regions (for example, ending at the edge of each unnecessary portion and of each unnecessary portion). (A region of a striped or checkerboard pattern that covers the whole).

Then, when the sheet material 16 and the joining web 15 move adjacent to the heating head 101, the joining web 1
5 is heated over a pattern portion cut into the sheet material 16, that is, a heating area corresponding to the shape of the internal unnecessary portion 46 or a part thereof designated to be removed from the carrier sheet 17. Then, the heat-activated adhesive (second layer 56) formed below the joining web 15 is activated in the above-mentioned pattern portion, and the joining web 15 adheres to the unnecessary portion 46 inside. Due to the high density of heating elements,
Selected portions of the cut sheet material 16 are accurately adhered to the bonding web 15 and then lifted off the graphic product 13 and the unwanted portions 46, 48 that remain fixed to the carrier sheet 17. In addition to activating the heat-activated adhesive (second layer 56) of the bonding web 15, the heating head 101 heats the pressure-sensitive adhesive 38 between the sheet material 16 and the carrier sheet 17 so that the adhered portion is heated. From the carrier sheet 17.

When the joining web 15 and the sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 are released from the joining device 11, the joining web 15 and the unnecessary portion 46 attached to the joining web 15 are pulled and peeled from the carrier sheet 17. FIG. 4 shows the result of the peeling and also shows the internal unnecessary part 46 adhering to the joining web 15.

Similarly, if necessary, the external unnecessary portion 48
(Refer to FIG. 2), the sheet material 16 after cutting on the carrier sheet 17 is again passed through the joining device 11 by using another joining web (second joining web) 15, so that the sheet material is separated from the carrier sheet 17. Removed. The process of removing the outer garbage 48 is similar to the process of removing the inner garbage 46 except that the heating element is heated over a heating region or pattern portion substantially registered in position and shape with the outer garbage 48. Is the same as the above process of removing Thereafter, the second joining web 15 and the external unnecessary portion 48 adhering thereto are peeled off from the carrier sheet 17 as shown in FIG.

When the internal unnecessary portion 46 and the external unnecessary portion 48 are removed, the only portion of the sheet material 16 remaining in the frame on the carrier sheet 17 is the graphic product 13 as shown in FIG. Only. The graphic product 13 can then be removed, as can the unwanted parts 46 and 48. That is, the sheet material 16 and the carrier sheet 17 are passed through the joining device 11 together with the third joining web 15, and the heating head 101 is heated to form the joining web 15 in a pattern corresponding to the graphic product 13.
Heat. The graphic product 13 is then lifted from the carrier sheet 17 and transferred onto the joining web 15 for application to the signature substrate.

Alternatively, once the inner and outer trims 46 and 48 have been removed, the graphic product 13 may be used to remove the adhesive transfer web to establish a temporary bond to release the product from the carrier sheet 17. Can be moved to the base of the signature. This process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,525.

Regardless of whether a joining web 15 or an adhesive transfer web is used, the sheet material 16 is applied to the carrier sheet 1.
The pressure-sensitive adhesive 38 applied to 7 remains with the graphic product 13 during peeling because of the coating of the release agent 32 on the carrier sheet 17. Pressure sensitive adhesive 38
Establishes a stronger bond with the sign substrate than a temporary bond with the adhesive transfer web or bonding web 15, so that the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 secures the graphic product 13 to the sign substrate, and Enables the transfer agent web to be peeled.

The external unnecessary portion 48 is the graphic product 13
May not need to be removed from the carrier sheet 17 before it is removed. For example, if the graphic product has a large simple shape and has a less complicated unnecessary portion, the cut sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 and the joining web 15 thereon may be combined with the joining device 11 as described above. And only the graphic product without removing any unnecessary parts first
Can be adhered to. The designation for removing the graphic product portion is made by the keyboard 24 in FIG. The controller 28 causes the heating element of the heating head 101 to heat and activate the heat-activated adhesive (second layer 56) of the bonding web 15 in the heating area corresponding in position and shape to the graphic product.

The joint formed by the combination of various materials and adhesives needs to be strengthened or weakened with respect to each other with respect to the joined object and the joined object. For example, the strength of the temporary bond between the carrier sheet 17 and the graphic product 13 in the sheet material 16 is formed between the bonding web 15 and the graphic product 13 so that the graphic product 13 can be peeled from the carrier sheet 17. It must be weaker than the strength of the joint to be made. The same relative strength is required when peeling the unnecessary portions 46 and 48 from the carrier sheet 17. However, when peeling is achieved and the graphic product 13 is adhered to the signature substrate, the bond created by the pressure sensitive adhesive 38 is:
It must be stronger than the bond formed between the bonding web 15 and the graphic product 13. That is, the pressure-sensitive adhesive 38 is applied to the graphic product 13 and the joining web 15.
A stronger bond than the bond between the two must be achieved between the substrate and the uncoated release agent.

Table 1 below shows combinations of the adhesive and the base which are effective for performing the above-mentioned bonding and peeling methods.

Table 1 Characteristics of sheet material Element Material Thickness (inch) Bonding web-lower adhesive layer (56) Polyethylene 0.0008 Bonding web-upper layer (52) Polyester 0.0005 Sheet material (16) Vinyl 0.002 Carrier Sheet (17) Paper 0.003 Relative adhesive strength Element material Adhesive substrate Peel strength (lb./in.) Adhesive (38) Pressure sensitive adhesive HP220 Scotchcal Vinyl and carrier sheet with release agent 1.50 Adhesive (38) Pressure sensitive adhesive HP220 Scotchcal vinyl and plastic sign base 2.42 Lower layer (56) Thermal polyethylene adhesive HP220 Scotchcal vinyl and polyethylene 1.75 Table 1 consists of HP220 Scotchcal vinyl Graphic product 13 of sheet material 16 When the portions or unwanted portions 46, 48 adhere to the polyethylene (second layer 56) of the joining web 15 by the heating head 101 as described above, 1.75 lb. / In. (Pounds / inch)
It shows that the bonding has a bonding strength of. This strength is about 1.5 lb. between the HP220 Scotchcal vinyl and the carrier sheet 17. / In. The following temporary joints have been found to be very effective in overcoming. This 1.5 lb. / In. Is 1.75 lb. of the graphic product 13 or the unnecessary parts 46 and 48 and the joining web 15. / In. Is weak enough to be maintained during peeling from carrier sheet 17. On the other hand, the bonding strength between a plastic member not coated with a release agent used as the sign substrate 50 (see FIG. 15) and the HP220 Scotchcal vinyl portion coated with the pressure-sensitive adhesive 38 is 2. 42l
b. / In. It is. This connection is a graphic product 13
1.75 lb. between the web and the joining web 15. / In. Is strong enough to overcome the joining of the sheet material 16
From the bonding web 15.

Although the present invention has been described in the above embodiments, many modifications and alternatives are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the cutting operation, the joining operation, and the peeling operation are performed by the cutting device 12 and the joining device 1 shown in FIG.
Although performed as a separate operation in FIG. 1, the entire sign and sign production process, including the removal of unwanted portions 46, 48, is continuously performed by a fully automated integrated system as shown in FIG. Can be performed. FIG.
Has four stages: a cutting stage I, a first joining stage II, a second joining stage III, and a transfer stage IV. In the cutting stage I, the cutting device 12
Is the sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 as described above.
The graphic product 13 is cut inside. However, the cut sheet material 16 on the carrier sheet 17 is
2 is transferred directly to the input of the first joining device 11 of the first joining stage II for processing. In the first joining stage II, the first joining web 15 from the supply spool 66a is placed on the cut sheet material 16, for example, to selectively adhere to the internal garbage 46. At the output of the first joining device 11, the first joining web 15 and the unnecessary portion 46 adhered thereto are removed by the take-up spool 140.
The carrier sheet 17 and the remaining sheet material 16 are transported by the feed sprocket 142 directly to the input of the second joining device 11 of the second joining stage III for processing. In the second joining stage III, the second joining web 15 from the supply spool 66b is overlaid on the sheet material 16, for example, to selectively adhere to the external garbage 48. At the output of the second joining device 11, the second joining web 15 and the unwanted parts 48 attached thereto are peeled off from the rest of the sheet material 16 by the take-up spool 144, and the carrier sheet 17 and now the unwanted parts 46 are removed. And the graphic product 13 with 48 removed is transferred directly by a pair of feed sprockets 146 to the input of the transfer device of transfer stage IV for processing. Metastatic stage I
In V, transfer web 150 from spool 148 lifts graphic product 13 from carrier sheet 17 and
Then, the carrier sheet 17 is wound on a take-up spool 152. On the other hand, the graphic product 13 is transferred to the signature substrate 50 by the transfer web 150, where the press 154 presses the graphic product 13 against the substrate, thereby completing a sign or a sign. The transfer web 150 is wound on a spool 156.

When the carrier sheet 17 and the bonding web 15 are peeled at the output of the first bonding stage II and the second bonding stage III as described above, the most effective peeling method is as shown in FIG. Pulling the web 15 from the carrier sheet 17 at an angle of 120 degrees. In addition to this 120 degree angle, the joining web 15
It is desirable that a small radius be maintained at the point where is bent for delamination. As shown in FIG.
Using the support plate 168 in close proximity to the internal radius formed by the curvature of the joining web 15 results in good delamination. Plate 168 allows a small radius to be maintained at the point of curvature of bonding web 15 during the peeling process, maintaining and assisting a constant pressure on bonding web 15.

The joining device 11 can also be used for a further unnecessary portion removing operation. In this operation, a carrier web (bonding prevention web) provided with a heat-active release agent, that is, a heat-active anti-adhesive agent, is used, and the heat-active anti-adhesion agent is placed on the sheet material 16 cut from the carrier web. Are moved according to the pattern selected in correspondence with. For example, a supply web having silicon or grease that can be peeled off when heated can be used to cut the cut sheet material 16.
The material coated on the carrier sheet 17 and coated in this way is supplied to pass through the bonding device 11 in a manner similar to the bonding web 15 coated on the sheet material 16. In this specific example, the keyboard 24 in FIG.
By heating 01, the heat-active adhesion inhibitor adheres only to unnecessary portions on the sheet material 16 that has been peeled off from the supply web. Sheet material 1 with heat-active adhesion inhibitor
When the sheet 6 is discharged from the joining device 11, the feed web is removed from the sheet material 16 and subsequently the transfer sheet with pressure-sensitive adhesive is removed from the carrier sheet 17 to the graphic product 13 and the carrier sheet 17 It is applied to the graphic product 13 portion of the sheet material 16 in order to peel off the sheet material 16 remaining thereon. A thermally activated anti-adhesive applied over the unwanted portions of the sheet material 16 prevents the transfer web from adhering, thereby preventing the graphic product 13 from being lifted from the carrier sheet 17 for transfer to the signature substrate. enable.

Instead of supplying a carrier web with a thermally activated release agent or anti-adhesive from an external spool, the carrier web can be supplied in the form of a cassette.
A description of this cassette format is incorporated into the description of embodiments of the present invention by reference to US Pat. No. 5,537,135, owned by the present applicant.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to several embodiments. However, these are merely examples, and do not limit the present invention.

[0063]

As described above, according to the graphic product manufacturing method and apparatus of the present invention, in order to easily transfer a graphic product to a sign substrate, the joining web is selectively applied to any part of the sheet material. Adhesion allows characters and other graphic products or unnecessary parts associated therewith to be automatically and accurately removed from the carrier sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a system to which the present invention is applied for cutting a graphic product into a layer of a sheet material on a carrier sheet and peeling the graphic product from the carrier sheet.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway plan view showing a graphic product cut into layers of sheet material secured on a carrier sheet having sprocket holes provided along the length of each edge.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a carrier sheet and a sheet material on the carrier sheet along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway plan view showing the bonding web and the internal unnecessary parts attached thereto after the unnecessary parts of the graphic product shown in FIG. 2 are removed.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the joining web taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cutaway plan view showing another bonded web and external unnecessary parts attached thereto after the unnecessary parts of the graphic product shown in FIG. 2 are removed.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway plan view showing the graphic product on the carrier sheet after all unnecessary portions have been removed from the carrier sheet.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway plan view of yet another bonded web used in the graphic product transfer process and the graphic product attached thereto.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a joining device used in the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the inside of the bonding apparatus.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the joining apparatus of FIG. 10 showing a feeding mechanism for moving the joining web and the sheet material on the carrier sheet to pass through the joining apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway front view showing a supporting structure and a driving mechanism of a roller platen and a driving sprocket of the joining device.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view showing an open position and a closed position of an upper support frame of the joining device.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cutaway view of the joining device, showing the heating head, the roller platen and the driving sprocket in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a combined process of cutting, joining, and peeling to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 16 is a view for peeling a bonded web having unnecessary parts or graphic products from a carrier sheet.
5 is a cutaway view of the process shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 microprocessor control system 11 joining device 12 cutting device 13 graphic product 14 graphic data 15 joining web 16 sheet material 17 carrier sheet 18 digitizer 19 computer 20 contour 22 monitor 24 keyboard 26 memory (storage means) 28 control device (control means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (72) Inventor Joseph W. Stempien 06111 New Winton Winslow Drive, Connecticut, USA 162 F term (reference) 3C024 AA02 3C060 AA04 CF00

Claims (22)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for producing a graphic product by cutting a sheet material releasably fixed to a carrier sheet, wherein data defining the contour of the graphic product of the sheet material is machine-readable data. A storage means for storing; a bonding web provided with a heat-active adhesive layer on one surface; and the carrier sheet, the sheet material, and the bonding web in a state where the one surface of the bonding web is adjacent to the sheet material. Feeding means for feeding to the apparatus; heating means having a plurality of heating elements which are arranged opposite to the feeding means so as to be in contact with the other surface of the joining web and which can be selectively heated. Control means for controlling the storage means, the feeding means, and the heating means; and the bonding to the graphic product or other portion on the sheet material When the feeding means feeds the carrier sheet, the sheet material, and the bonding web to the heating means to attach the web, the control means applies the data read from the storage means to the heating means. Selectively heating the plurality of heating elements based on the heat activated adhesive layer of the bonded web in a substantially continuous pattern registered with either the graphic product or other portion. A graphic product manufacturing apparatus characterized in that: 2. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the joining web is made of a polyester material and has a first layer having a first melting point; and the joining web slides on the heating means. A second layer comprising a friction-reducing material coated on one surface of the first layer; a polyethylene having a melting point lower than the melting point of the first layer; A third layer made of the heat-active adhesive fixed to the other surface. 3. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the friction reducing material is made of a silicon material. 4. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said feeding means has two sprockets, and a plurality of engaging pins project from said sprockets. And a sprocket hole formed in the sheet material releasably fixed to the carrier sheet. 5. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a cutting device connected to said storage means, wherein said cutting device is responsive to said data defining said outline of said graphic product. Generating a cutting line that defines the outline of the graphic product and other parts, and the cutting device further includes a feeding unit including a sprocket having a plurality of engaging pins, wherein the engaging pins are And a sprocket hole formed in the sheet material detachably fixed to the carrier sheet. 6. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: the cutting device for guiding the sheet material detachably fixed to the carrier sheet from the cutting device to the heating means after cutting. A guide means provided between the vessel and the heating means;
Supply means for guiding the bonded web onto the sheet material. 7. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a supply unit that supplies the sheet material and the joining web that are releasably fixed to the carrier sheet; and the carrier sheet and the sheet material. And a conveying means for conveying the joint web together to the feeding means. 8. A graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said feeding means further comprises: a roller for supporting said sheet material on said joining web and said carrier sheet adjacent to said heating element of said heating means. A roller platen having a surface, rotatably about a central axis, supporting the carrier sheet and sheet material, and the joining web, in frictional contact with the carrier sheet and adjacent to the heating means; Coupled to the apparatus for rotating the sprocket and the roller platen, the carrier sheet and the sheet material, and driving means for moving the bonding web and passing over the heating element. Graphic product manufacturing equipment. 9. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said driving means rotates said roller platen at a peripheral speed slightly faster than said sprocket. 10. The graphic product manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: pressing said heating means against said sheet material and said joining web fixed releasably to said carrier sheet; And a pressure generating means for assisting the adhesion to the part to be the graphic product or other parts. 11. A step of defining, on a sheet material on a carrier sheet, a portion to be a graphic product cut along a cutting line on the sheet material; Superimposing the steps;
Activating the heat-activated adhesive at the periphery of any one of the graphic product and the other portion on the sheet material positioned opposite to the bonding web and the inner region thereof, and bonding the bonding web to the graphic product Or over at least one heating zone substantially aligned with any one of the portions located opposite the bonding web to adhere to substantially the entire surface of any one of the other portions. Selectively heating the bonded web; and separating the graphic product from the other portion by applying the bonded web together with a sheet material corresponding to any one of the portions adhered to the bonded web. Peeling off from the sheet (17). 12. The method of manufacturing a graphic product according to claim 11, further comprising the step of heating to selectively attach the heating region of the bonding web to substantially the entirety of the one of the portions. Pressing the bonding web against the sheet material during the process. 13. The method of manufacturing a graphic product according to claim 11, further comprising: defining an outline of the graphic product with machine-readable data; storing the machine-readable data; and the carrier. Selecting the graphic product and the other portion to peel from the sheet; wherein the heating step comprises reading the machine readable data to define the heating area. Characteristic graphic product manufacturing method. 14. The method of manufacturing a graphic product according to claim 11, wherein the step of heating includes the step of preparing the heating means; and the step of preparing the carrier sheet, the sheet material, and the joining web covering the sheet material. And moving the heating device toward the heating means. 15. The graphic product manufacturing method according to claim 14, wherein said heating means has a heating head having a plurality of individually heatable heating elements. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: defining the contour of the graphic product with machine-readable data and storing the data for later reading; A method of making a graphic product, comprising: selectively heating a plurality of heating elements in the heating area based on the machine readable data used to heat the bonded web. 17. The method of making a graphic product according to claim 16, further comprising: during the heating step, attaching the bonded web to either the graphic product or the other portion. A method for producing a graphic product, comprising the step of pressing a heating head against the sheet material on the joining web and the carrier sheet. 18. The graphic product manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the one of the portions located below and facing the joining web is an unnecessary portion that does not become the graphic product. Graphic product manufacturing method. 19. The method of manufacturing a graphic product according to claim 18, wherein said one of the portions located opposite to said joining web is a portion to be a graphic product, and said one of said portions is formed on said sheet material. Repeating the step of superimposing the joining web and the step of heating; peeling the joining product and the graphic product adhered to the joining web from the carrier sheet; and attaching the graphic product to the joining web. A method for producing a graphic product, comprising: transferring the bonded web to a sign substrate in an attached state; and peeling the bonding web from a portion to be a graphic product placed on the sign substrate. 20. The graphic product manufacturing method according to claim 18, wherein the sheet material is made of vinyl, the carrier sheet is provided with a release agent layer on one side, and the sheet material made of vinyl is temporarily A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer that produces a secure bond is releasably fixed to the release agent layer of the carrier sheet, and the heat-active adhesive layer is disposed between the bonding web and the unnecessary portion. A method of producing a graphic product, wherein the method produces a stronger bond than the temporary bond. 21. The graphic product manufacturing method according to claim 20, wherein the heating step further comprises heating the carrier sheet before the peeling step to facilitate removal of the unnecessary portion. Releasing the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer along the contour. 22. defining a graphic product cut along a cutting line on a sheet material releasably secured to a carrier sheet by a pressure-sensitive adhesive; a thermally activated anti-adhesive layer Superimposing the heat-activated antiadhesive layer on the sheet material with the heat-active antiadhesive layer facing the sheet material; and applying the heat-active antiadhesive layer to a portion other than the graphic product. Selectively heating the anti-bond web with at least one heating region substantially registered with the non-graphic product portion of the sheet material to adhere to the whole; adhesive coated A transfer web is superimposed on the sheet material and the transfer web defines the graphic product and does not have the heat activated anti-adhesive layer. Attaching the transfer web to the portion of the sheet material; removing the transfer web from the carrier sheet together with the graphic product; and applying the pressure-sensitive adhesive to the graphic product such that the graphic product is adhered to a sign substrate. Placing the transfer web and the graphic product on the signature substrate.