MXPA99000063A - Method for making a glass substrate with ink-based patterns - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for making a glass substrate with a multicoloured image or decoration in heat-set ink(s), which consists in making a model of the multicoloured image or decoration in any type of ink(s) on a base suited to these inks. By means of a reproduction device consisting of image acquiring means, a software for processing images and printing means, the model is transferred onto the substrate using one or several heat-set inks. The ink layer is then heat-set.

Description

PROCEDURE TO MANUFACTURE A GLASS SUBSTRATE PROVIDED FOR REASON (S) BASED ON INK (S) The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a glass substrate coated with at least one layer of organic (s) or inorganic ink (s) forming one or more patterns, for example, one or more colored patterns ( s) monochrome (s) or polychrome (s). This (these) motif (s) is made with one or several inks suitable for the coating of the glass, preferably in one or more inks stable to the light, for example of an enamel or of several enamels. In the state of the art, the manufacture of glass sheets provided with multi-color images or decorations stable to light, is carried out by applying on the glass sheet, by hand or by screen printing, the desired multicolored images, consisting of inks ceramics or glazes to cook, and then operating the decorating of the images or decorations.

At the time of the use of screen printing, several screen printing operations must be carried out one after the other, according to the number of colors (each color needs a step of silk-screen printing), it being understood that each print must be followed by a drying operation before of printing the next ink layer. This printing is affordable only when the same image or the same decoration should be applied on a large number of sheets of glass. For the printing of a small number of pieces with the same image or with the same decoration, a silkscreen of several colors is very expensive insofar as a separate template is necessary for each base color. In addition, the cost of the preparation and cleaning of the screen printing template is very high. For small series, or when it comes to images, motifs or individual decorations, the enamels or ceramic inks can also be applied with the hand on the glass sheet. The application by hand of the inks for firing on the surface of the glass is linked, however, to particular requirements in terms of inks and dexterity of the person in charge of this operation; the applied inks remain for a long time in a state in which they can easily be diluted in the course of the application procedure of the different colors one after the other, due to the lack of absorption capacity of the surface of the glass and of the particular properties of the cooking inks generally employed. The object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing one or more glass substrate (s) provided with ink-based motif (s), in particular ink (s) stable to the light. This procedure is appropriate to manufacture, at a lower cost and without risk of alteration of the colors, small series of glass substrates provided with colored motif (s). In addition, this procedure allows to obtain quickly and reproducibly, varied motives and of good graphic quality. This object is achieved by means of the method according to the invention in which a model of the desired motif (s) is taken, consisting of ink (s) or colored matter (s) which one wants and which is ( n) on one or several you support) which one (is) want, the desired reason (s) of the model is converted into numeric or analog data (or signal); the data (or signal) obtained is treated with the help of an image processing computer program and the desired reason (s) is reproduced or reconstituted, in the form of a several layers of ink (s), on the glass substrate with the help of a printing medium attached to the computer containing the image processing program. In other words, the desired motif (s) is reproduced on the glass substrate from a model by means of a reproduction device comprising an image-taking device, a treatment program of images and a means of printing. The reason (s) is then cooked (usually) at appropriate temperatures (ie, for example, at high temperatures for inorganic inks such as enamels, especially at temperatures of the order of 450 ° C to 750 ° C). The method according to the invention allows any type of pattern to be printed on any type of glass surface without needing to change the reproduction device depending on the motive to be printed (contrary to the procedure by means of screen printing where each pattern needs a template). silkscreen). On the other hand, in the case in which one of the colored motif (s) is made and that a color printing medium is used (of the type with a print head or decoration head or of a tracer), it is possible to perform the printing in one step, whatever the number of colors; this allows a gain in productivity as well as the suppression of drying operations between the application operations of the different colors. Furthermore, according to the selection of the model, the method according to the invention allows to distinguish and determine the colors and the desired attributes on a model, more quickly than on the glass substrate on which it is generally necessary to operate a cooking operation before to obtain the final colors. The method according to the invention also allows directly reproducing images, decorations or motifs that already exist, ie transferring them directly onto the glass substrate, and the printed pattern (s) that is obtained. , present! n) a very good graphic quality (especially it is possible to reproduce photographs satisfactorily).

It can also be noted, in the case that an ink is used to cook stable in the light of the enamel type, that the printed motif (s) has an excellent durability after cooking; the baked enamels present a good adherence on the glass, good hardness and good color behavior. The glass substrate coated with the mitive or according to the process of the invention may be any type of glass or glass-based substrate, in particular it may be in the form of one or more glass sheets. It can be, for example, a glazing that is used in construction or in the automotive industry. The substrate on which the motive is deposited can be a bare glass substrate or possibly a substrate already provided with a decorative or functional motif or coating. The ink (or inks) or colored matter (s) of the model may be any desired ink (s) or colored matter (s) the same as the (s) support (s) s) of the model can (n) be any one or several supports; however, the ink (or inks) or colored matter (s) and support (s) are (are) compatible (s) of preference. As regards the ink (or the inks) used to coat the glass substrate, it may be any type of suitable organic (s) or inorganic (s) ink (s) for the coating of the selected glass (s) between the enamels or ceramic inks, the photosensitive resins, etc ..., and preferably it is ink (s) for firing, stable (s) to light (for example of the ceramic ink type) or enamel); the selection of the ink (or inks) is at the hand of the man of the trade depending on the substrate that is used, the desired motive and the application that is planned for the coated substrate.

Preferably, at least one baking ink comprising one or more constituents (in particular inorganic dyes or pigments) and, particularly preferably, at least one enamel-type ink is preferably used for the coating of the glass substrate. In the case of the use of at least one enamel, the enamel used generally comprises a powder formed by at least one glass frit and, optionally, one or more pigments, and comprises an organic and / or inorganic medium (most of organic times) that allows the viscosity to be applied to the substrate that allows the union with the substrate. The glass frit can be any known glass frit based on oxides selected for example among the oxides of silica, lead, zinc, bismuth, titanium, zirconium, sodium, boron, lithium, potassium , of calcium, aluminum, tin, vanadium, molybdenum, magnesium, etc ... The pigments can be selected from compounds containing metal oxides such as chromium oxides, copper oxides, iron oxides, oxides of cobalt, nickel oxides, or can be selected from copper chromates, cobalt chromates, etc ...

The enamel can also comprise several frits, one or several metals (iron, zinc, silver, etc.) or any other additive that can be used in the enamels. The medium present in the enamel must allow the desired viscosity to be applied to the substrate (by means of the media or of the printing means) and may comprise solvents, thinners, oils such as pine oils and other vegetable oils, resins such as acrylic resins, petroleum fractions, fume-based materials, glycol-based products, also a hot-melt medium, etc. By model according to the invention, we mean both a model whose motif (s) corresponds ( n) to the identical to the desired motive (s), such as to a model whose motive (s) correspond (n) approximately to the desired motive (s) without that it is necessary that they be strictly identical (s), especially in terms of dimensions. In particular, it is not necessary that the motif (s) be of life-size on the support, as this is necessary at the time of manufacture by screen printing. Thanks to the use of an appropriate image processing program, it is possible, in particular, to correct the model in the desired manner without problems, for example, to modify the scale or dimensions according to different axes. According to the invention, a model that already exists can be used. It is also possible to make the model. Thus, according to an embodiment of the invention, the model (s) to be printed is first made on one (several) support (s) which one wants to from ink (s) or colored matter (s) appropriate for those you bear) or made from ink (s) or colored matter (s) which ( is) wanted on one (several) appropriate support (s) for this ink (s) or colored matter (s) and corrected (n), if necessary until it reaches (n) its definitive form In this case, preference is given to one (several) colored ink (s) or colored matter (s) and a single support, easy to put on site and compatible, for example of the organic dyes type for painting or crayon (es) and cardboard or paper type respectively. The support (s) exhibits reason (s), (ie the model) is then scanned by means of an image-taking device, i.e. a device such as a scanner or a captor of type CDD (Charge Coupled Device) that allows to convert images in data (or in a signal) numerical or analogical. Known devices (advantageously high resolution devices) can be used, for example a color scanner [(especially if the motif (s) (are) colored motif (s)]; the image data or control signals serving the control of the printing medium are then produced by means of an appropriate image processing computer program. Devices, such as devices for printing head or decoration head (s) or plotters, are suitable as printing means (s) for the execution of the method according to the invention. In the case where it is used primarily as a printing medium, an ink jet printer (this printer may optionally already be provided with an image holding device such as a scanner), the small droplets of dyes) are ejected to starting from one or more openings (or artichoke nozzles) located in one or more of the ink jet printheads piloted, for example, by one or several numerical controls. It can also be used primarily as a printing medium, the system known under the name of a numerical airbrush system (Airbrush), particularly suitable for horizontal realizations. Eventually, it may be desirable to adapt the artichokes of the roving machine or of the inkjet printer, to the viscosity of the ink or of the inks that are used (for example, the diameter of the artichokes may be of the order of 50 μm. at 100 μm, even amplified up to 200 μm / 300 μm, however, an amplification is penalizing in terms of resolution and image quality) and / or care, especially by dilution by means of appropriate diluents of the inks or they are used, that the properties of runoff (in particular the viscosity) of the one or of the inks, adapt to the artichokes of the areógrafo or of the ink jet printer. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, one or more inks, preferably an enamel or several enamels having a maximum particle size of less than 50 μm (preferably less than 30 μm) are used to coat the glass substrate. particularly preferred, especially in the case where a tracer of the ink-jet printer type, less than 5 μm) is used and of which at least 90% by weight of particles also preferably have a diameter of less than 25 μm (advantageously less than 15 μm, even in the case above all in which an ink jet type plotter is used, less than 3 μm or 5 μm). The viscosity of the ink is generally between 2 and 1000 cP (advantageously between 2 and 500 cP, even lower than 100 or 25 cP) at the application temperature on the substrate. After each dyeing operation) or each step [the desired reason (s) is deposited generally in a single step], it may be desirable to operate a drying of the layer (s) (s) of dyes) to allow adhesion and sufficient conduct on the glass that authorizes the handling of the coated substrate. When the reason (s) is (are) sufficiently dry (s), the coated substrate is heated, for example at temperatures in the range of 450 ° C to 750 ° C (corresponding to the customary cooking temperatures of the glazes), in order to cook the motif (for example in order to operate the fusion and the vitrification of the enamel or the enamels). It is also possible to provide a tempering operation (for example thermally by abrupt cooling) of the substrate in order to confer improved mechanical and thermal properties. If this is the case, cooking can be carried out during the thermal treatment together with the bending of the substrate. The substrates obtained according to the invention have one or more layers of dyes) which form one or more patterns and have an exempt surface, especially of mesh prints (unlike the substrates obtained by screen printing). The reasons that are obtained, present a good graphic quality. The method according to the invention will be described in detail below, with the help of an exemplary embodiment. In the present example, a thick glass sheet of 6 mm that has dimensions of 200 x 100 cm, should be covered by a multicolored decoration. The multicolored decoration must be made up of translucent or transparent inks that are stable to light. The multicolored decoration is first made on a cardboard or other support for painting from classic inks and if necessary, corrected until it reaches its final shape. The painting support carrying the finished decoration is then scanned by means of a high resolution color scanner of appropriate dimensions. The image data or command signals which serve the control of a four-color Areography station (black and the three primary colors: red, yellow and blue) are produced by means of an appropriate image processing program. The system of horizontal Areography of the Swiss company BAUMGARTNER TRADING AG, for example, made its tests as reproduction systems. With the help of this system, all colors are applied in the course of one and the same printing operation: 256 graduations are possible for each color. In this way, reproductions of totally identical colors are possible. For cooking on glass from 500 ° C to approximately 700 ° C, inks in this example are used, inks for cooking composed of inorganic dyes such as enamels. The commercially available inks are diluted by suitable diluents to such an extent that the application of ink is possible with the help of the artichoke of the graphite. If this is the case, the artichoke artichokes are adapted to these inks, that is, they must be provided with slightly larger holes. Thanks to the aforementioned reproduction device, the decoration is transferred onto the glass sheet, which remains in a horizontal position until the ink is largely dry. Then, the glass sheet is heated in a horizontal oven at a temperature of about 650 ° C, at the moment when the colored decoration melts into an enameled layer and is baked on the surface of the glass. Then, the glass sheet is quenched by abrupt cooling to the air in a so-called tempering installation.

The method according to the invention can be used to manufacture glazing provided with decorative motif (s) or functional (s), template, etc ...

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS 1.- Process for manufacturing glass substrates comprising one (several) ink-based motif (s), characterized in that the desired motif (s) is reproduced in the form of at least one layer of dyes) on the glass substrate from a model of the desired motif (s), consisting of ink (s) or colored matter (s) which is ) and which are on one (several) supports) which (either, thanks to a reproduction device comprising an image-taking device, a computer program for image processing and a printing medium. according to claim 1, characterized in that the model of the desired motif (s), constituted by ink (s) or colored matter (s) which one wishes, is manufactured on a suitable support for dyeing) or matter (s), before reproducing on the glass substrate with the help of the r eproduction 3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that at least one ink for cooking, such as an enamel, is used for the coating of the glass substrate. 3. - Process according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one or several inks of which (s) are used (at least 90% by weight of the particles have a diameter of less than 25 μm). 4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one of the inks whose viscosity is between 2 and 1000 cP is used. 6. Method according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the coated substrate is heated to temperatures of the order of 450 ° C to 750 ° C, in order to cook the motif (s). 7. - Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an ink jet printer or a rojector is used as the printing medium. 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that a four-color Aregraph is used as the printing medium. 9. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a color scanner is used as a image grasping device. 10. - Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the motif (s) is printed in one step. In order to manufacture a glass substrate provided with a multicolored image or decoration consisting of ink (s) for firing, a multi-color image or decoration model consisting of ink (s) which is (are) desired is manufactured on an appropriate support for those inks Thanks to a reproduction device composed of an image-taking device, a computer program for processing images and a printing medium, the model is transferred onto the glass sheet using one or several inks for firing. The ink layer is baked immediately.