JP2019148811A - Identification panel, and method for producing identification panel - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide display equipment for use in a machine for the food processing industry.SOLUTION: To make it possible to withstand chemical and mechanical loads during cleaning of a machine used in food processing, an identification panel 10 has a first, upper plastic ply 11 in a first color and at least one second plastic ply 12, situated below the first plastic ply, in a second color. For representing characters or symbols, depressions 13 extending as far as the second, lower plastic ply are provided in the first, upper plastic ply by removal of material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a sign board for use in the food processing industry in the immediate vicinity of a machine, and a method for manufacturing such a sign board.

  Sign boards are known as safety and health protection signs throughout the workplace. The sign board may be configured in particular as a prohibition sign, a rule sign, a warning sign, a rescue sign, a fire prevention sign, or simply an instruction sign.

  Signboards are provided on various types of machines to alert the user to possible dangers or specific aspects of machine operation.

  In general, such sign plates are configured as film stickers or lacquered or printed plate-like supports, which are fixed to the machine in different ways.

  However, in the case of a machine used in the food processing industry, a special situation arises in which the use of a commercially available sign board becomes a problem.

  There is a background that compatibility between the materials used and foods is required, including compatibility with drinking water. That is, it is desirable that the material used is permitted as a food contact material.

  For this reason, for example, unlike equipment used in the home, machines used in the food processing industry need to be cleaned regularly according to strict rules. The cleaning agents used in this case are not very aggressive and are used at different dilution levels from country to country depending on the rules in effect in that country. Furthermore, for example, when washing with a brush or a high-pressure washing machine, a mechanically strong load is also applied to the machine surface and, in some cases, to the sign plate attached to the machine surface. Therefore, the material used for the sign board must be suitable for use in food processing machines even under these conditions, for example it must not corrode and exhibits a tendency to crack or break. Or it must not dissolve.

  Commercial label board tests have shown that the label board cannot sustain sustained damage and damage to the chemical and mechanical loads associated with regular cleaning processes. In addition to the film sticker (attached to the stainless steel support sheet), it is made of stainless steel and has a lacquered emoji and a protective lacquer coating on it (each with an anti-oxidation lacquer) Used), as well as label plates with Resopal plates were tested. These sign boards were immersed in a cleaning agent for several hours and spray-cleaned by a high-pressure cleaner at regular intervals. In either case, the sign board showed more severe damage after each test run. The emoji has peeled off (stickers), or after being treated with chemical cleaners, can no longer withstand the load of the high pressure washer (lacquered stainless steel support sheet), or the support material swells The constituent parts of the pictogram and the support material were peeled off (Resopal plate). In addition, Resopal plates that are prone to cracking, lacquered thin plates, and peeled sticker residues are particularly problematic. Because debris, peeled lacquers or sticker residues are not detected by metal detectors (which are used to find any metallic foreign objects that may occur) and in the worst case enter food processing Because it ends up.

  If you want to ensure that the machine has a consistently appropriate display, you will need to refresh the signboard regularly. This necessitates not only replacement of damaged signs but also periodic monitoring of machine signs and the associated maintenance costs.

  Furthermore, it is desirable that the sign plate to be used is configured to be fixed to the food processing machine from the viewpoint of hygiene. Thus, for example, stickers in which cleaning agents or food residues accumulate on edges that are periodically peeled slightly are not suitable for use in machines used in the food processing industry. Easily cleans other types of signs, i.e. signs that cannot be easily installed and removed by the user for cleaning purposes, or gaps that can be formed between the machine surface and the sign plate when attached to the machine The same is true for signs that can.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a display facility, in particular for use in a machine for the food processing industry, which can withstand the above-mentioned loads without concern.

  In order to solve this problem, a sign plate is provided in the present invention. The sign board includes a first plastic layer on the upper side of the first color, and at least one second plastic layer of the second color that is located below the first plastic layer and made of the same material. In order to represent a character or symbol, a recess is provided in the upper first plastic layer to reach the lower second plastic layer by material removal.

  In this case, the first and second plastic layers are preferably directly adjacent to each other. In this context, “directly” means that both layers are bonded to each other without inserting an adhesion promoting intermediate layer (eg, an adhesion layer) disposed between the layers. . This prevents an aggressive medium or, for example, a high pressure washer jet, from entering between the layers and damaging the bonding of both plastic layers.

  In order to achieve the direct bonding of the plastic layers mentioned above, in particular the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer may be bonded together by heat. Appropriate plastics can be joined or welded planarly by the action of heat and pressure, resulting in bonds that can no longer be separated at the interface between the individual layers in the joining process at the molecular level.

  The recesses provided in the sign plate for producing letters or symbols or pictograms common in the sign plate preferably extend completely through the first plastic layer and reach into the second plastic layer. . This ensures that each recess completely penetrates the first plastic layer and a second color of the second plastic layer that is different from the first color of the first plastic layer appears. In this case, the concept of “color” means the respective color of each plastic layer, including the “color” of uncolored plastic processed in a pure form (in the case of PE, for example milky white). doing. In particular, the individual plastic layers are completely colored.

As materials for the sign board or the individual plastic layers of the sign board, in particular, plastics that are permitted as food contact materials are considered. Polyester (PE) has been found to be particularly suitable based on its chemical stability when in contact with food and drinking water, harmlessness, and good weldability, in which case various types PE (HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PE-HMW, etc.) can be used. However, other plastics with material properties suitable for signboard application and manufacture can also be used. Preferably, all plastic layers are made of the same plastic or the same type of plastic. Furthermore, from the following description of possible manufacturing methods, it is clear that the plastic layers that can be bonded at the molecular level are preferably formed from plastics that can be welded together.

  The recess in the sign plate is preferably made by material removal by cutting, in particular by milling.

  The production of the recesses is preferably carried out after the plastic layers not yet provided with the recesses are bonded together. As a result, when the concave portion forming the pictogram completely surrounds a part of the plastic layer, it may be erroneously positioned at the time of manufacture due to the fact that this part has not yet adhered to the plastic layer located below. Avoided. This is because such a part may slip off as an independent part or may disappear.

  The sign board is not limited to only two plastic layers but may comprise a third plastic layer or other further plastic layers. Except for the upper first plastic layer, all the plastic layers may each be directly bonded to the lower surface of the plastic layer located above, each plastic layer preferably having a different color. Thus, the sign board comprises, in addition to the first and second plastic layers, one or more further plastic layers, the color of these plastic layers being different from the colors of the first and second plastic layers, The recess for representing the symbol is configured to reach further plastic layers. Preferably, the recess reaches into these further plastic layers.

  With the above-described configuration and the multi-layer and multi-color layer structure based on this configuration, it is possible to represent not only two colors but also more colors by the sign board.

  The features already described for the sign board comprising only the first and second plastic layers also apply to the sign board comprising more than two plastic layers.

  In the method of manufacturing the above sign board (prohibition sign, rule sign, warning sign, rescue sign, flame prevention sign, or instruction sign as a safety sign and a health protection sign in the workplace), a material for producing a character or symbol The removal provides recesses in the first plastic layer that extend through the first plastic layer to at least the second plastic layer or into the second plastic layer.

  In order to produce a blank, before providing the recess, the first plastic layer having the first color and the second plastic layer having the second color are directly bonded to each other at the molecular level by thermal welding. As described above, in addition to the first and second plastic layers, one or more further plastic layers having a color different from the colors of the first and second plastic layers may be provided, and the characters or symbols or The depressions representing the pictograms can reach to the further plastic layer or reach into the further plastic layer depending on the color represented.

Preferably, the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer are joined or welded together in plan by the action of heat and pressure as tape material or strip material of the roll, and the plastic layers directly adjacent to each other are at the interface They are bound to each other at the molecular level. Similarly, after the extrusion process, the individual plastic layers can be joined together directly in the still hot viscoplastic state, optionally using auxiliary means such as rollers. There is no need to use an adhesion promoting layer, and by making the individual layers molecularly bond to each other, the sign plates thus produced are particularly wear resistant, without the individual plastic layers being separated from each other. Easily withstand the test cycle mentioned at the beginning for a long time.

  In addition to using roll, tape or strip material, small sized plastic sheets may be bonded together, especially for producing small numbers or single items.

  Alternatively, the first plastic layer may be in-molded with the material of the second plastic layer, and if desired, the second plastic layer may be in-molded with the material of the further plastic layer. This results in an inseparable connection of the individual layers.

  Another possibility is to pour the first colored first plastic for the first plastic layer into a mold in the form of pourable pellets or powder, smooth as necessary, and then apply the first plastic layer Pour second color plastic pellets on top of the plastic pellets to be formed, followed by another plastic pellets of another color, if necessary, and the different colored pellet layers are heated to each other, preferably using a stamping machine. Compressed and melted together. The individual plastic layers may be compressed layer by layer. That is, after each layer is coated, it is compressed for a short time with a stamping machine or similar tool. Melting may be performed under vacuum to minimize any air inclusions that may occur. In this way, the layer structure and individual planar molecular bonds necessary for the present invention can be generated.

  For any one plastic layer, it is also possible to use an existing prefabricated plastic plate as the base plate and then spray a plastic pallet for the other plastic layer on this plate. This creates a more precisely defined interface between the layers, and when using palettes for both layers, both layers are not mixed. By reducing the degree of mixing, in particular, it becomes possible to make the layer thickness thinner.

  The layer thickness of the individual plastic layers of the sign plate is preferably 1 mm to 6 mm, more preferably 2.5 mm to 4.5 mm. In this case, the layer thicknesses of the individual layers need not all be the same. For example, the first plastic layer is formed as a support layer, and is formed thicker than the second plastic layer located on top of the first plastic layer (for example, 4 mm or 5 mm) to provide the necessary stability to the entire sign plate. It is also possible. As a result, the thickness of the second plastic layer, which is mainly provided with recesses for producing pictograms and is therefore less stable by itself, may be thinner (eg 2 mm).

  In particular, a sign plate of the type described above is sufficiently rigid to be fixed to the machine surface by means of a fixing means which can be easily removed again, such as screws, clips or the like. The use of a spacer allows for a sufficient gap between the machine surface and the back of the sign board, so the machine surface and the back of the sign board are also for cleaning even when the sign board is attached to the machine. Is guaranteed to be accessible.

  Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments based on the drawings.

It is a figure which shows the 1st marker board formed as a warning marker. It is sectional drawing of the label | marker board along the AA line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd marker board formed as a prohibition marker. It is sectional drawing of the label | marker board along the BB line of FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a sign board 10 exemplarily formed as a voltage warning sign. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the sign board 10 along the line AA shown in FIG. 1, and for the sake of clarity, the main body edge located behind the plane of the drawing is not shown.

  As is clear from FIG. 2, the sign plate 10 includes an upper first plastic layer 11 and a lower second plastic layer 12. The second plastic layer 12 is in planar contact with the lower surface of the first plastic layer 11 by the upper surface, and is bonded at the molecular level by prior welding (thermal bonding). The first plastic layer 11 has a first color (non-hatched area, typically yellow in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1), and the second plastic layer 12 has a second color (obliquely parallel lines). The region shown, typically black in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2, the first plastic layer 11 is provided with recesses 13 extending in parallel to the planes of the plastic layers 11 and 12 by milling, and these recesses 13 form the first plastic layer 11. It penetrates into the inside of the second plastic layer 12. These recesses 13 expose the color of the second plastic layer 12 through the first plastic layer 11 according to the extent of the boundary edge of the recess 13 corresponding to the character or symbol to be displayed. Or it can represent a symbol.

  FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the sign plate 20 exemplarily showing a forbidden sign that prohibits touching a surface to which a voltage is applied.

  This forbidden sign comprises a total of four plus-thick layers 21, 22, 23, 24 of different colors. 3 are typically red (the surface indicated by the rhombus parallel lines, the first plastic layer 21) and black (the surface indicated by the oblique parallel lines of the dense mesh). , Second plastic layer 22), intermediate gray (surface shown by crossed parallel lines of wide mesh, third plastic layer 23), and white (surface not hatched), bottom fourth plastic layer 24).

  As shown in FIG. 4 as a cross-sectional view along the line BB in FIG. 3, the visual display of the pictograms that can be seen in FIG. 3 is a recess 25 (milling process) reaching plastic layers of different colors at different depths. The recesses reach the plastic layers where it is desirable to see the color at each location.

  In FIG. 4, as in FIG. 2, the body edge located behind the drawing plane or cross section is not shown for clarity.

  Finally, FIG. 5 shows very schematically how a multilayer plastic plate with different colored plastic layers bonded to each other at the molecular level is manufactured. First, one color plastic layer 12 is poured into a mold in the form of pellets or an already completed plastic plate is inserted. This layer or plate 12 is then poured with another layer 11 of another color, preferably of the same plastic material. The layer is then pressed and fired. That is, the layers 11 and 12 are bonded to each other at the interface at the interface by being bonded by the action of heat and pressure. Of course, the individual steps may be reversed when the plate is used. In this case, the plastic layer 12 is poured into the mold and then the layer 11 is placed on the poured lower layer 12 in the form of a plate already completed as the upper layer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sign board 11 1st plastic layer 12 2nd plastic layer 13 Recessed part 20 Sign board 21 1st plastic layer 22 2nd plastic layer 23 3rd plastic layer 24 4th plastic layer 25 Recessed part

It is a figure which shows the 1st marker board formed as a warning marker. It is sectional drawing of the label | marker board along the AA line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd marker board formed as a prohibition marker. It is sectional drawing of the label | marker board along the BB line of FIG. A very schematic representation of a method for producing a multilayer plastic plate with plastic layers of different colors bonded to each other at the molecular level is shown.

Claims (14)

A sign board for use in a machine for the food processing industry,
A first plastic layer above the first color, and at least one second plastic layer of the second color located below the first plastic layer,
In order to represent a character or a symbol, the concave plate reaching the lower second plastic layer or reaching the lower second plastic layer is provided in the upper first plastic layer by material removal. . The sign board according to claim 1,
The first plastic layer and the second plastic layer are directly adjacent to each other. The sign board according to claim 1 or 2,
The first plastic layer and the second plastic layer are bonded to each other by heat. The sign board according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The concave portion passes through the first plastic layer and reaches the second plastic layer. The sign board according to claim 3 or claim 4,
The said 1st plastic layer and the said 2nd plastic layer are formed from the plastics permitted as a food contact material. The sign board according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein
At least one of the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer is made of polyester (PE). It is a sign board as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6, Comprising:
The said recessed part of the said 1st plastic layer of the said upper side was produced by the material removal by cutting. The sign board according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
In addition to the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer, one or more other plastic layers are provided,
The color of the other plastic layer is different from the colors of the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer,
The recess for representing a character or symbol reaches the other plastic layer. The sign board according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The recess has at least partially penetrated the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer to reach the other plastic layer. The method of manufacturing a sign board according to claim 1, comprising a first plastic layer on the upper side of the first color and at least one second plastic layer of the second color located below the first plastic layer. There,
Providing a recess in the first plastic layer through material removal to reach at least the second plastic layer by material removal to produce a character or symbol. The method of claim 10, comprising:
Prior to providing the recess, the first plastic layer having a first color and the second plastic layer having a second color are bonded together by heat to produce a blank. How to prepare. 12. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11, comprising:
Bonding at least one other plastic layer to the second plastic layer in addition to the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer. 13. A method according to claim 11 or claim 12, comprising:
A method comprising: joining the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer as a tape material or strip material of a roll in a planar manner by the action of heat. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, comprising
In order to thermally bond the first plastic layer and the second plastic layer, the method includes the step of spreading at least one plastic layer into a mold and then baking the other plastic layer with the action of heat and pressure. Method.

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