SE442279B - PROCEDURE FOR MANUFACTURING SIGNS - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing signs, in which a transfer material and a temporary support sheet are taken, which transfer material comprises a light-permeable carrier sheet, which on one side carries several transferable characters. , transmits the characters by adhesion to the temporary backing sheet in the desired order to build up the desired text for the sign, places the transmitted characters under heat and pressure on the surface of a light-transmissive sign sheet, the composition of the material of which the characters are produced, is such that the characters remain on the sign sheet when the backing sheet is removed.

In particular, the transfer material comprises a transparent and translucent carrier sheet, which on one side carries many transferable characters; which are either self-adhesive in themselves sufficient to be transferred to the backing sheet or here either a layer of adhesive on the side facing away from the backing sheet or are non-adhesive but transferable due to a coating of adhesive on the temporary backing sheet, which adhesive present is adapted to cause the characters to adhere more strongly to the temporary sheet than to the carrier sheet, and the material for the characters being adhesive when exposed to heat and pressure.

The heat and pressure should be sufficient to cause the signs to adhere to the light-transmitting (transparent and translucent) sign sheet stronger than to the temporary support sheet. The temporary backing sheet can then be peeled off and the characters possibly covered with a layer of suitable material, e.g. color, which consequently forms a background to the characters on the sign, The background can also be obtained with a colored paper or a colored foil, which is attached over the characters or held against them. Alternatively, the layer can be obtained by transferring a colored layer from a supporting foil under pressure and possibly heat. Since the signs, under the influence of heat and pressure, come into intimate contact with the surface of the transparent or translucent sign sheet, this surface is completely "wetted" and the signs, * appear optically dense and perfectly flat. The signs on the sign are protected by the transparent or translucent sheet through which they are viewed, and which can consequently be selected for this purpose. The transparent or translucent sheet may consist of glass, but preferably consists of a plastic material, e.g. an acrylic plastic; especially preferred are polyvinyl chloride, cellulose triacetate and polymethyl methacrylate, e.g. those sold under the Perspex and Plexiglas brands.

The marks can be made adhesive under the influence of heat and pressure, for example by building them up on the basis of a thermoplastic polymeric material, which softens to a sticky, binding state under the influence of heat. Alternatively, a curable material, which also softens initially when heated, can be used as the base material. In this case, the finished plate can be made exceptionally heat stable by heating it after manufacture to cure the curable material to a hard film, which adheres to the transparent or translucent sheet. The characters can thus be considered as formed by a hot melt adhesive or heat seal adhesive together with a suitable pigment or dye to make the area of the character visible.

Preferably, the transfer material used in the process is generally constructed as a dry transfer material of the straw release type according to GB-PS 959 670.

The characters are preferably formed by stencil printing using a suitable ink and then the entire printed area, including the spaces between the characters, is coated with a substantially non-stick adhesive. The characters can also be formed in a known manner by printing a character area in a colorless carrier film and a visible image in a colored ink. The film can be printed »co-stencil print and the visible image with e.g. gravure, high pressure or lithographic printing, either before or after the film is printed. Substantially non-stick adhesive adhesives are generally not very strong, and one may in fact have to use the specified stretch release technique to ensure that a relatively weak adhesive has sufficient tensile capacity to remove 10 15 20 25 30 _ ss » 7810251-4 4 the character from the carrier sheet when the dry transfer material is used.

The fact that the heat and pressure bond formed between the characters and the transparent or translucent sheet through which they are to be viewed is generally much stronger than the adhesive bond obtained with the adhesive on the transfer material or on the temporary support sheet, means that the temporary support sheet, to which the characters are originally transferred when the message or the like is assembled, can be pulled away, either hot or cold, to leave the characters adhering to the transparent or translucent sign sheet.

The individual components of the preferred dry transfer materials for use in the process are now described in detail.

The backing sheet of the transfer material of the transfer material may be any of those used in the manufacture of dry character transfer sheets. Transparent or translucent plastic films are preferred, especially polyethylene, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate films. Coated paper x can be used. The thickness of the film is preferably 0.1 - 0.15 mm. The carrier sheet may have a release liner on the character bearing surface.

Characters The characters can be formed by an ink based on a film-forming polymeric thermoplastic material. Both plastisol and organosol printing inks can be used, and printing inks can be used, which, although based on curable polymeric materials, have a sufficient content of modifier to give the characters heat-sealing or hot-melt gluing properties.

For example, printing inks based on nitrocellulose can provide the ability to provide heat sealing by a suitable choice of plasticizer; polymeric plasticizers, which are used in sufficiently high concentrations, give the desired properties at the same time. ¿¿Ï * "as the characters can still be printed without difficulty, and enables the production of dry transfer material, which ar- -bvtar according to the so-called" stretch-release ", as described in GB-PS Ubu 67Ul¿The characters can easily päiörau with-a simple - ~~ .___- www 10 15 20 25 30 35 7810251-4 5 printing process, or they can be built up in a varying number of layers, which are applied in successive printing processes. Alternatively, the corresponding character can be produced photographically by modifying one of the known photographic methods for producing dry transfer material. Such methods are described i.a. in GB-PS 1079661, 1291960 and 1368627. The melting or softening point of the characters should be chosen with care, especially taking into account the type of transparent or translucent sheet on which the characters are to adhere.

Binder As stated above, the adhesive is preferably a substantially tacky pressure sensitive adhesive. Preferred adhesives consist of a very tacky polymer component, e.g. polyisobutylene, polyvinylethyl ether, polyvinyl isobutyl ether or a mixture containing one or more of these together with a tack-modifying or tack-reducing component. Typical tack-reducing components are finely divided mineral materials, especially finely divided silica, and waxy materials, e.g. natural or synthetic waxes.

The printing inks that form the characters can be selected in relation to the intended use of the material. For example, if the material is to be used in the manufacture of signs which are to consist of an acrylic plastic sheet through which the signs are to be viewed, the signs may be formulated so that they are chemically compatible with the material of the transparent or translucent sheet. If the transparent or translucent sheet consists of polyvinyl chloride, one can choose an ink which is compatible therewith and can be easily heat sealed on such a surface with visually satisfactory results. Plastic sheets, which can be used in the manufacture of signs, are e.g. sheets of polymethyl methacrylate of the above types, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene, polycarbonate and cellulose triacetate.

Materials suitable for the temporary support sheets are plastic films, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate films, various treated papers and e.g. aluminum foil. These temporary support materials should, of course, be able to withstand the heat applied during the attachment of the marks on the transparent or translucent disc. Likewise, the adhesive-forming part of the transfer material according to the invention should not be adversely affected by the heat and pressure used to attach the characters to the surface of the translucent or transparent disc. In particular, the binder should not melt at too low a temperature, which would cause slippage between the characters and the temporary backing sheet during heat transfer.

Particularly preferred adhesives comprise a highly tacky thermoplastic polymer component together with an appropriate amount of atomized silica to reduce the overall tackiness of the adhesive.

The binder is preferably soluble in a liquid which does not dissolve the translucent or transparent sheet.

In this way, any residues of binder can be easily removed from the sign, whereby a clean surface is obtained.

It is especially important to remove such backrests when the characters are to be covered with a spray paint coating. In the examples given below, the binders can be dissolved in hexane or. heptane.

It is appropriate, in order to remedy any errors, that the transmitted characters may be removed either from the temporary backing sheet or from the clear or transparent substrate by means of solvents. The signs in the following examples can be removed by dissolving in denatured alcohol.

If the transparent or transparent disc to which the characters are to be transferred is very thin, e.g. is a thin plastic foil, the disc can be reinforced during the heat transfer step with a suitable rigid substrate.

The following examples illustrate the invention. In these examples, "part" and "percent" refer to weight percent and weight percent, unless otherwise indicated. Example 1. An ink was prepared in the following manner: A 7-island landing was made from 20 parts of methyl methacrylate copolymer, in ß fifi å 'I _ L s S, a, - s L: in "T 7'" ~ * wßazïfšï 10 15 20 25 30 78 parts of ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate and 11 parts of polyvinyl chloride-polyvinyl acetate copolymer (Vinylite VYHH from Bakelite). H3 parts of this mixture were ground in a three-roll mill with 9 parts of aniline black pigment, 0.2 part of expanded silica (Aerosol 300 from Degussa) and 3.8 parts of ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate. Grinding took place at a value of 7 on the _ Uegman scale.

Then additional 2H parts of the mixture, 10 parts of an H0% solution of methyl methacrylate-butyl methacrylate copolymer (Paraloid B66 from Rohm and Haas) in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate and 10 parts of methyl methacrylate copolymer solution (H0% Paraloid B82 in Rohm and Haas) were added ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate), and the mixture was mixed to homogeneity.

The black ink thus produced was used to print letters on 150 μm thick foils of high density polyethylene. The fabric printing method was used, printing through a 20H mesh fabric. The printed images were printed on a belt dryer with a 30 s pause at 60 ° C.

An adhesive was prepared as follows: The following ingredients were mixed together in the amounts indicated Expanded SiO2 (Aerosil R 972, Degussa) 8.0 parts Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (Exsol 1H5 / 160, Esso) u8.0 parts Polyisobutylene solution (low molecular weight Oppanol B 10, BASP, 30% solids in Exsol 145/160) 7.7 parts Polyisobutylene solution (high molecular weight Oppanol B 50, BASF, 20% solution in Exsol 1H5 / 160) 20.0 parts Polybutene (low molecular weight Hyvis 10, BP Chemicals Ltd ) 13.8 parts The last horse hand part was added to the others while stirring in heat at 50 - 6000. 99.0 parts by weight of 10% solution of polyethylene wax was then added. The polyethylene wax was of the type ACP6 .goes euzfimfví. (Allied Chemicals Ltd) and the solvent was Exsol 145/160.

Finally, a molten 50% solution of fatty amide (Oleamide, Crodamide O from Croda Chemicals) was added to Exsol 145/160, and stirring was continued until a homogeneous binder was obtained.

This adhesive was applied by canvas printing of a full layer through a 240 mesh canvas to the previously printed polyethylene films. The adhesive coating was dried by passing the foils through a belt dryer with a residence time of 30 s at 65 ° C. The transfer sheets prepared in this way were protected by interleaving silicone-coated parchment paper. The material prepared in this way is used in the usual way for building up a word of the individual letters on a 50 μm thick nolyethylene terephthalate film (Melinex, ICI). The film with the letters was then passed with the letters in contact with a 2 mm foil of polymethyl methacrylate (Perspex, ICI Ltd) through a hot nip. The temperature of the nip rollers was 170 ° C and the film with the letters was passed between them at a speed of H m / min. The polyethylene terephthalate film was then peeled off from the polymethyl methacrylate sheet to leave the letters adhering to the surface of the polymethyl methacrylate sheet and the right side when viewed through the foil. The side on which the letters were affixed was then covered with spray paint to give a sign in which the black letters were clearly visible against the colored background and which had a generally appealing appearance.

Example 2 The following ingredients were mixed with Rutile, titanium dioxide (grade 3 '- R ~ HD3, British Titan Products) 29 parts Copolymer mixture (as in Example 1) H3 parts Expanded SiO2} (Aerosil 300; ¿¿3 in Degussa) 0.2 part ÅAS parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate This mixture was dispersed in a three-roll mill until a fineness of 7 on the Hegman scale was reached and then g§5 a 'Öfïfëšš Uu_-' in:. _. 10, 10 parts of solution of a methyl methacrylate-butyl methacrylate copolymer (as in Example 1) and 10 parts of solution of a methyl methacrylate copolymer (as in Example 1).

Dry transfer sheets were prepared by printing this ink, as in Example 1, on 150 μm thick HD polyethylene films, followed by drying and coating with binder exactly as in Example 1.

Words were formed in the usual manner using these foils by transferring the individual letters to 50 μm polyethylene terephthalate foils. The foils with the words were then passed together with a 1 mm thick transparent polyvinyl chloride foil through a hot pinch. The nip temperature was 120 DEG C., and the polyethylene terephthalate and PVC films were passed through at a speed of 4 m / min. Thereafter, the polyethylene terephthalate foil could be removed to leave the white letters attached to the PVC foil. The side of the PVC foil that carried the letters was then sprayed with black cellulose lacquer and air dried. The finished sign had an appealing appearance.

It was found that higher working speeds could be used in connection with higher nip temperature, e.g. a nip temperature of 160 ° C and a speed of 9 m / min. If high temperatures are used at low speeds, there is a tendency for the PVC film to be distorted.

Example 3 The black ink of Example 1 was used to print characters on 100 μm thick films of high density polyethylene by fabric printing using a 61T mesh.

The letters printed in this way were overprinted in fit with a colorless carrier film with the following composition: Expanded Si02 (Aerosil 130 V, Degussa) Polymeric plasticizer (Uralac 923/68, Synthetic Resins Ltd) Monomeric plasticizer (Howflex 2.8 parts 30.0 parts 3.7 parts wfm. (Ii-enar- SP, Laporte) Ethylene glycol moncetyl etherauetate Cellulose nitrate (33% DHX 3/5 in butanol) 53.9 parts 7810251 -4 10 15 20, 25 '30 »35 10 After each printing, the films were dried on bands with a residence time of 40 s at 85 ° C.

The films were completely overprinted with a binder of the following composition: Expanded SiO2 (Aerosol 300, Degussa) 2 8.8 parts Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (ECS 2033, ESSO) 76.9 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 26.0 parts Xylene 10.3 parts Polyvinyl ethyl ether, Union viscous Carbide) 16.0 parts Polyvinyl ethyl ether (highly viscous, Union Carbide) 2.0 parts Polyterpene resin (A125, RH Cole Co) 3.2 parts The binder was pressed through a 100T mesh and then dried by passing the transfer materials through a belt dryer with a residence time of H0 s at 85 ° C.

The transfer material thus prepared was used to form words of 50 μm thick polyethylene terephthalate films (Melinex Grade S, ICI) and the text thus formed was placed in contact with 2 mm thick polymethyl methacrylate film. The aggregate formed from the polymethyl methacrylate film and the text-bearing polyethylene terephthalate film was passed through a hot nip. The nip was heated to 180 ° C, and the speed was 8 m / min. The polyethylene terephthalate film could then be pulled off to leave the letters adhering to the polymethyl methacrylate film.

To reinforce the letters, the polymethyl methacrylate foil was coated with a reflective material backing (eg, Scothlite, 3M Company, or a paint containing microspheres) to form a vehicle license plate ("number EIåÉÜT") which had an appealing appearance and was easy to read.

Example 1+ Example 1 was repeated but using a white and a black ink, which was prepared as follows: First, a base medium was prepared by mixing the following ingredients: Polymethyl methacrylate (Plexigum F 2H, Cornelius Chemical Co) 90 parts Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate 110 parts Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate 5 parts Aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, b.p. 2 - 20 ° C (Aroma beer H, 1:01) 10 parts This basic medium was used for the production of printing inks having the following composition: Basic medium 215 parts -GEIGY) 9 parts Amide wax (Dehysol wax) 2.6 parts Titanium dioxide (Rutíl RH 472, Laporte) 68 parts or Carbon black (Elftex 150, Carbot carbon) 14 parts The ingredients were premixed using a pallet knife and then ground in a wood rolling mill to a Hegmsn value of 7 degrees.

The inks thus prepared were used, as in Examples 1 and 4, for the production of signs and number plates. Similar satisfactory results were obtained.

If you want characters with very fine details, these can be printed in two steps: first, a general surface is printed using an ink of the type specified above, but without pigment, to deposit a colorless carrier film. Then the characters are printed on the surface with the colored ink. Alternatively, the characters can be printed first and then overprinted with a clear film. Since the uncaptured carrier film is based on an acrylic polymer, it does not adversely affect the appearance of the finished plate.

Example 5 Example 1 was repeated using black and white printing ink of the following composition and a binder of the type indicated below. 7810251-4 12 White printing ink% Cellulose nitrate (33% n-butanol moistened in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate) 43.8 Polymer softener (Paraplex G 25, Rohm & Haas) 10.0 Titanium dioxia 39.0 Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (oxytol) 7.7 Ink paint to Hegman = The value 7 and the final viscosity were set for printing with oxytol acetate. 15 20 25 30 35 yo Black paint Cellulose nitrate (33% n-butanol moistened in ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate) 62.5 Polymer plasticizer (Paraplex G 25, Rohm & Haas) 16.5 Carbon black 7.5 Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether 9.5 Dehysol wax (Henkel & Cie GmbH ) 2.0 2.0 Modaflow (Monsanto Chemicals Ltd)} means 2.0 The ink was grated in a three-roll mill to a Hegman value of 7, and the final viscosity was set for printing with oxytol acetate.

Binder -% Expanded silica (Aerosil R 972, Degussa) 2 4.0 Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent (Exsol 145/160, Esso) 17.2 Oleamide (Crodamid 'O', Croda Chemicals Ltd) 10.12 Polyisobutylene solution (low molecular weight Oppanol B10 B10, BASP, 50% by weight in Exsol 145/160) 2.33 Polyisobutylene solution (high molecular weight Oppanol B50, BASF, 20% by weight in Exsol 1H5 / 160) 10.00 Polybutylene (average molecular weightHyvis 30, PB = -ï * ~ ”PB Chemicals Ltd) ° H '6.83 Polyethylene wax solution (Type ACP6, ¿Allied Chemicals Ltd., _ 10 *% by weight ~ dispersed in Bxsol 1Q§Å160). ^ Ä_ 49, Hß A similar amount of satisfactory results was obtained. 'si «f 1"'. -QX-ïï z 1 .. = ', =' - "'-. Ä'1 \."' ,. ¿...- .. ,, (qi / __, 7 ; .__ \ .är nw- »uf ._ J. _. ~ ..1 __..._ m ..._ ..«

Claims (7)

L ". 10 i1s 20 25 -30 7810251-4 15 PATENT CLAIMS A method of making a plate by means of a transfer material, characterized in that a transfer material is used, which comprises a light-permeable carrier film with several transferable characters on one side, and a temporary support foil, transfer the characters by applying the transfer material to the temporary support foil, applying pressure to the carrier foil in the area of each desired character and pulling off the carrier foil to leave the character adhering to the temporary support foil, in the desired order to build up the desired text for the sign, the signs thus transmitted bring into contact with the surface of a light-permeable sign foil and exert heat and pressure on the assembly of temporary support foil and sign foil, the material of which the signs consist being so composed that the signs remain on the sign foil after peeling off the support foil. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the characters of the transfer material are in themselves sufficiently adhesive to be able to be transferred to the temporary support foil. 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that all the characters on the transfer material carry a binder layer in order to be able to be transferred to the temporary support foil. H. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the temporary support foil to which the characters are transferred is provided with a coating of adhesive with sufficient strength to enable the transfer of the characters from the transfer material to the temporary support foil. 5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the marks on the transfer material are formed of a clairoplastic polymeric material, which under the influence of heat softens to a sticky state. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the signs on the transfer material are 7810251-4 10 15 '9. of a nitrocellulose-based ink with a sufficient proportion of polymeric plasticizer to give the signs thermoplastic heat-sealing properties. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the combination of the temporary support foil, the signs forming the sign text and the text foil is passed through a hot nip between rollers. 8; n e t e c k n a t Process according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sign foil consists of an acrylic plastic material, polyvinyl chloride or cellulose triacetate. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that after peeling off the temporary support foil, the surface carrying the characters on the sign foil is coated with a layer in a color contrasting with the color of the characters. E