WO1991010007A1

WO1991010007A1 - Method for decorating a substrate involving replacing a part of the substrate with a decorated plastic film or applying the decorated plastic film onto the substrate, and products thereby obtained

Info

Publication number: WO1991010007A1
Application number: PCT/FR1990/000976
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Guillou
Original assignee: Pascal Guillou
Priority date: 1989-12-29
Filing date: 1990-12-31
Publication date: 1991-07-11
Also published as: DE69017718T2; DE69017718D1; EP0513059A1; AU7055891A; EP0513059B1

Abstract

The method involves forming a decoration on a plastic film (2) up to the quality level of colour photographs by using a colour copier and/or a colour printer and/or a colour photo-typesetting machine and/or a colour offset press and/or special pens for plastic and/or paintings. The method involves replacing a part of the substrate (1) with the plastic film (2), or applying the plastic film (2) onto the substrate (1). Binding is achieved by glueing (at a temperature lower than the substrate's and/or the plastic film's degradation temperature) and/or by stitching and/or with a sliding clasp fastener and/or with a false hem and/or by riveting and/or by stapling and/or by heat sealing with crystallized plastic.

Description

METHOD FOR DECORATING A SUBSTRATE, CONSISTING OF REPLACING A PART OF THE SUBSTRATE WITH A DEGREE PLASTIC FILM OR CONSISTING OF APPLYING THE DECORATED PLASTIC FILM TO THE SUBSTRATE; AND RESULTING PRODUCTS.

The present invention relates to a method of decorating a substrate, consisting in replacing a part of the substrate with a colored decorated plastic film (s) or consisting in applying the colored decorated plastic film (s) to the substrate which is liable to undergo frequent hot washings, as well as the products resulting from the implementation of this process.

The types of substrates concerned are, for example (nonlimiting examples), fabrics, knits, leather and "skin" At present, such marks or decorations are applied by printing the substrate, by direct serigraphy or indirect, by direct or indirect flocking, by engraved metal plates, by direct or indirect painting, by self-adhesive, by direct embroidery on the substrate, by sewing on the substrate of an embroidered decoration or by direct or indirect thermal transfer of a decoration worn on a protective sheet from which it can be detached.

Except in the particular technique of thermal transfer known as "plastisol", the known transfer modes do not allow either beautiful decorations on very dark complexion textiles because this type of textile "swallows" colors, or to obtain a definition coloration greater than 399 dots / inch, nor to be able to have a large choice of colors. Added to this is the resistance of the decoration to machine washing with detergent is low, especially when it is an indirect heat transfer, while the items thus decorated - most often T-shirts and sweatshirts - require frequent washing. In addition, known transfer techniques, including that of "plastisol", all involve relatively intense heating, which prohibits their use on fragile substrates, such as ties.

Finally, and this is not the least drawback, the known techniques assume, at the base, high costs of creation of printing models, with the consequence of obligatory minimum orders.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these various drawbacks by providing an economical process making it possible to combine, possibly at room temperature, decorated plastic films which can go as far as color photographic quality (s), highly resistant to washing, and substrates having for example a certain relief inherent in their manufacturing process (weaving, knitting) or in their nature (leather, skin). This object is achieved in the sense that the invention provides a process of the aforementioned type characterized in that it consists in making the mark or the color decoration (s) on plastic film and in combining it with the substrate. The color decor (s) on plastic film can be realized using a color copier (s) and / or a color printer (s) and / or a photocomposer and / or by hand (using special pens for plastic and / or paints ). The unit cost for small series, even for a single copy, is extremely reduced. For large series it is possible to use a color offset (s). It is possible to combine these various means of obtaining the decor 'color (s) on plastic film.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method consists in using, as plastic film, at least one film of a long-chain hydrocarbon polymer comprising ester functions.

Preferably, the polymer is a polyester-polyalkylene-polyterephthalate terpolymer in which the term alkylene comprises from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said terpolymer being loaded with 0 to 4% of sodium carbonate and / or of fiber fibers. glass.

The polymer film with ester functions can belong to a multilayer composite film, in particular a sandwich film, also comprising at least one thin film of poly (vinyl chloride).

These films are known and used in overhead projection or in superimposed plates, for example by insertion in educational books. Given the existing applications of the color decor (s) executed on such films, it It was hardly obvious that they would withstand repeated washing, for example at 60 ° C, in a washing medium because it goes without saying that such applications do not assume that the decorated plastic films have been subjected to corresponding tests.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plastic film is opaque in the mass or lined with a layer or an opaque film (sticker for example), an eric characteristic which is obviously not found in the known applications since the advantage of decorations on transparent plastic film is precisely that the film is transparent.

The invention presupposes the identification of means of combination between the substrate and the plastic film which, on the one hand, do not harm one or the other, in particular by retaining at least a certain flexibility in the finished product. decorated color (s) and, on the other hand, which resist washing.

In a first variant, the colored decorated plastic film (s) is combined with the substrate by stapling.

In a second variant, the colored decorated plastic film (s) is combined with the substrate by bonding at a temperature below the degradation temperature of the substrate and / or the plastic film. In a third variant, the decorated plastic film color (s) is combined with the substrate for sewing. It was found, in fact, unexpectedly, that the plastic film supported the perforations of the needle.

In a fourth variant, the colored decorated plastic film (s) is combined with the substrate by a false hem.

In a fifth variant, the colored decorated plastic film (s) is combined with the substrate by zipper.

In a sixth variant, the colored decorated plastic film (s) is combined with the substrate by riveting.

In a first embodiment of this second variant, bonding is done by interposition, between the substrate and the plastic film, of a so-called "one-component" composition which is hardenable under cold conditions in contact with ambient humidity or under the effect of radiation, and by exposure of the assembly, as the case may be, to said humidity or to said radiation. It may be, for example, a composition of alkyl cyanoacrylate type, for example of methyl or ethyl, or of alkylene, for example of allyl, or of nitrile rubber type, respectively marketed under the brands Cyanolit, Super Glue, Sader Top, Bison, etc. on the one hand, and Bostik -Nit ^' ril 1220, on the other hand.

In another embodiment of the second variant, bonding is done by interposition, between the substrate and the plastic film, of a composition known as "two-component" cold-hardenable, both of which components - crosslinkable polymer and catalyst or activator - are mixed immediately. This category includes certain methacrylic adhesives, such as those sold under the brands Prolixt 4000 and Multi-Bond.

In yet another form of implementation, the bonding can be done by interposition, between the substrate and the plastic film, of a so-called "one-component" thermosetting composition and by heating the assembly, provided that the temperature heating required for curing the composition is lower than the degradation temperature of the substrate and / or the plastic film.

Bonding can also be done by covering the plastic film 2 with a piece 6, a fusible crystallized thermoplastic, having a periphery 7 which is hot-welded to the substrate.

Naturally, the six variants stapling, gluing, sewing, false hem, zipper, riveting, can be combined with each other.

The invention is described in more detail in the following nonlimiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the thickness, dimension and shape of the materials have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity of the drawing. In these drawings: - Figures 1A, 1B and 1C are schematic sections taken, along line II of Figure 1D, through a substrate combined with a plastic film decorated color (s) according to

1 invention, - Figure 1D is a plan view corresponding to Figures 1A, 1B and 1C,

- Figure 2A is a schematic section taken along line II of Figure 2B, through a substrate combined with a plastic film decorated color (s) according to the invention, - Figure 2B is a corresponding plan view in Figure 2A

FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic section taken along the line I-I in FIG. 3B, through a substrate combined with a plastic film decorated with color (s) according to the invention,

- Figure 3B is a plan view corresponding to Figure 3A - Figure 4A is a schematic section taken along the line

I-I of FIG. 4B, through a substrate lined with a plastic film decorated according to the invention,

- Figure 4B is a plan view corresponding to Figure 4Δ

FIG. 5 is a schematic section taken through a substrate lined with a plastic film decorated according to the invention, in another embodiment,

- Figure 6 is a schematic section taken through a substrate lined with a plastic film decorated according to the invention, in another embodiment, - Figure 7 is a plan view grouping the figures mentioned above,

- Figures 8 to 12 show respectively the infrared absorption spectrum of five plastic films usable according to the invention. If one refers to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, one sees a substrate I, for example in a textile material, combined with a plastic film 2 (covered with a decoration 3) sewn by stitching 5 , with false hem 8 and lining 10. With reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, we see a substrate 1 combined with a plastic film 2 (provided with a decoration 3) and supporting a false hem 8 and a zipper 9) , and all sewn with stitches 5.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, we see a plastic film 2 (garnished with a decoration 3) trapped between two substrates 1, and the whole sewn by stitch stitches 5.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a substrate 1 is seen on which a plastic film 2 is applied (lined with a decoration 3). The film 2 is bonded, at ambient temperature, along its periphery, to the substrate 1, for example using instant adhesive 4 known under the brand Super Glue. If desired, the bonding can be reinforced by a seam and / or a riveting and / or a peripheral stapling not shown. It is understood that, in the case of the interposition of an adhesive between the substrate and the plastic film , the glue could be applied, not along the periphery of said film, but across the entire surface or in crossed lines.

With reference to FIG. 5, a plastic film 2 (garnished with a decoration 3) is sewn by stitch stitches 5 on a substrate

With reference to FIG. 6, a plastic film 2 (provided with a decoration 3) is covered with a film 6 of fusible crystallized plastic, the periphery 7 of which extends beyond the limits of the film 2. An appropriate heating of this periphery 7 causes the fusion surface with penetration into the texture of the substrate I. in refr ^{'oidissèment,} material of the periphery 7 of the film 6 is retained in said out of texture that the decorated film 2 is trapped between the film 6 and substrate 1.

FIG. 7 here represents a garment worked with the various non-limiting abovementioned embodiments.

The decorated film 2 can have a composition such that its IR absorption spectrum corresponds to the representation which is given in one of FIGS. 8 to 12.

To make the decoration 3, one can use for example, a color copy (s). Equipment marketed by CANON is well suited for this purpose.

It is possible not to completely secure the periphery of the plastic film in order to create a decorated pocket with the possibility of putting a false hem on the non-secured part of the plastic film 2 to avoid the cutting edge of lapo che.

The decorated plastic film can be applied, according to the invention, with the same success both on dark substrates and light shades. The definition of the decoration can go up to the photographic quality color (s). The washing resistance is excellent.

The unit cost for small series (even for a single copy) is extremely reduced except in the case of the use of offset due to the preparation costs. Therefore the need for a minimum number of copies to be profitable disappears (except for offset) and the price of the materials involved is low.

The original image can be a various medium (nonlimiting examples below: paper, plastic, photo, video, computer, scanner and even a real object exposed in the image capture field of the system). In the absence of an original image, the image can be created on a computer with image software and printed on plastic film using the color printer (s) and / or the color copier (s) and / or a photocomposer.

You can create the image by hand directly on plastic film with special pens for plastic or paints. The image can be modified at will before being printed on plastic film. The image can be printed on plastic film by copier, by printer, photocomposer, offset.

It is possible to combine these various decoration systems to achieve the final decoration on plastic film. Let us take the following nonlimiting example: let us suppose a famous sportsman who wishes to launch a brand of clothing with for decoration on the clothing his portrait and his signature.

Decoration can be done in two stages:

- we reproduce the portrait of the sportsman on plastic film

- the sportsman signs each portrait reproduced on plastic film by hand with special plastic pens, which gives the garment a higher market value.

The color decoration (s) can be produced on different types of plastic film.

It can be for example: 1- a transparent plastic film, decorated in color (s) and lined with an opaque plastic film (sticker preferably) or an opaque layer (paint for example) , with two variants of use: a) the decorated face, called "front", is in contact with the opaque plastic film (preferably sticker) or with the opaque layer (paint): the decoration is trapped between the film transparent plastic and the opaque plastic film (preferably a sticker) or the opaque layer (paint), - which completely protects it. The installation is done with the front side of transparent plastic film decorated facing the substrate. b) the decorated side is in the open air. The installation is done with the back side of the decorated transparent plastic film facing the substrate. It is possible to apply a transparent self-adhesive plastic film or a varnish on the decoration in order to protect the decoration.

2- a transparent plastic film decorated and not lined with an opaque layer (or film) with two variants of use: a) the decorated face (front) of the transparent plastic film is in the open air. The installation is done with the back side facing the substrate. It is possible to apply a self-adhesive transparent plastic film or a varnish on the decoration in order to protect the decoration. b) the decorated face (front) of the transparent plastic film is in contact with the substrate. The installation is done with the front side facing the substrate.

3- an opaque plastic film decorated on the so-called front side. The installation is done with the back side facing the substrate. It is possible, for example, to apply a transparent self-adhesive plastic film or a varnish to the decoration in order to protect the decoration.

These poses front or back are achievable thanks to the mirror effect which exists, for example, on the CANON CLC 500 device.

To give a texture effect to the plastic decorated with color (s), you can use the texture mode that exists, for example on the CANON CLC 500 device.

To note. that the opaque plastic film and / or the protective transparent plastic film can also be decorated. When using self-adhesive opaque plastic film and / or self-adhesive transparent plastic film (protective), it is possible to puncture the self-adhesive film (s) with innumerable tiny holes to avoid possible air bubbles during the 'application. If the opaque plastic film and / or the transparent (protective) plastic film are not self-adhesive, there is a risk of condensation after possible washing.

To remedy air bubbles and / or condensation, it is possible to use, for example, paint to obtain opacity and one can use, for example, varnish for protecting the decoration.

Claims

1 - Method of decorating a substrate, consisting in replacing part of the substrate 1 with a plastic film decorated with color (s) 2 (the definition of decoration can go as far as photographic quality in color (s)), or consisting applying the plastic film decorated with color (s) 2 to the substrate 1 which is likely to undergo frequent hot washing in a washing medium. The decoration of the plastic film 2 is carried out using high-definition color reproduction devices on plastic film (copier, printer, photocomposer, offset), or using special pens for plastic film or paint. . Famous people can use special pens or paint to sign the high definition decor on plastic.

To combine the substrate 1 and the decorated plastic film color (s) 2, the following means can be used: sewing, false hem, zipper, gluing, stapling, riveting. It is possible to combine the substrate 1 and the decorated plastic film color (s) 2 so as to create a decorated pocket.

The unit cost for small series (even for a single copy) is low, except in the case of the use of offset which requires large print runs to amortize preparation costs (consumables: negative, plate, fixing product).

2 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in using as material for producing the color decoration (s) on plastic film a color copier (s),. or a color printer (s) connected to a computer having image software and / or a color video connection (s) and / or a color scanner connection (s).

3 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in using as material for producing the color decoration (s) on plastic film a color photocomposer (s) or a color offset (s).

4 - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in decorating with an artist's hand the plastic film with special pens for plastic or paint.

5 - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it consists in producing the color decoration (s) on plastic film by combining color copier (s), color printer (s), color photocomposer (s) ), color offset (s), special pens for plastic film, paints, between them. The unit cost for small series (even for a copy) is low, except in the case of the use of color offset (s) which requires large runs to amortize preparation costs (consumables: negat if , - plate, product f ixa t eur, etc). .

6 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in using as substrate 1 a material chosen from the following nonlimiting examples: fabrics, knits, leather and "skin".

7 - A method according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that it consists in using, as plastic film 2, at least one film of a long chain hydrocarbon polymer comprising ester functions. 8 - Process according to claim 7, characterized in that the polymer is a polyester-polyalkylene-polyterophthalate terpolymer in which the term alkylene comprises from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said terpolymer being charged with 0 to 4% of sodium carbonate and / or glass fibers. 9 - Process according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the polymer film with ester functions belongs to 'a multilayer composite film also comprising at least one thin film of poly (vinyl chloride). 10 - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the plastic film 2 is opaque in the mass or lined with an opaque layer (paint) or an opaque film (preferably sticker). Opacity or opaque doubling being optional depending on the colors. It can be for example: - a transparent plastic film, - decorated in color (s) and lined with an opaque plastic film (preferably a sticker) or an opaque layer (painting for example) with two variants of use: a ) the decorated side, called "front", is in contact with the opaque plastic film (sticker preferably) or with the opaque layer (paint): the decor is ^" trapped between the transparent plastic film and the film opaque plastic (preferably a sticker) or the opaque layer (paint), which completely protects it The installation is done with the front face of the decorated transparent plastic film facing the substrate. b) the decorated face is in the air The installation is done with the back side of the decorated transparent plastic film facing the substrate, it is possible to apply a self-adhesive transparent plastic film or a varnish on the decoration to protect the decoration.

- a transparent plastic film decorated and not lined with an opaque film (or layer) with two variants of use: a) the decorated face (front) of the transparent plastic film is in the open air. Laying is done with the back side facing the substrate. It is possible to apply a self-adhesive transparent plastic film or a varnish on the decoration in order to protect the decoration. b) the decorated side (front) of the transparent plastic film is in contact with the substrate. The installation is done with the front side facing the substrate. - an opaque plastic film decorated on the so-called front side. The installation is done with the back side facing the substrate. It is possible to apply, for example, a self-adhesive transparent plastic film or a varnish on the decoration in order to protect the decoration.

These poses front or back are achievable thanks to the mirror effect which exists, for example, on the CANON CLC 500 device. To give a texture effect to the plastic film decorated with color (s), one can use the texture mode which exists, for example, on the CANON CLC 500 device.

Note that the opaque plastic film and / or the protective transparent plastic film can also be decorated. When using self-adhesive opaque plastic film and / or self-adhesive transparent plastic film (protective), it is possible to puncture the self-adhesive plastic film (s) with countless tiny holes to avoid possible air bubbles during the application. If the opaque plastic film and / or the transparent (protective) plastic film are not self-adhesive, there is a risk of condensation after possible washing.

To remedy air bubbles and / or condensation, you can use, for example, paint to obtain opacity and you can use, for example, varnish for protection of the decor.

11 - Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it consists in combining the decorated plastic film 2 and the substrate 1 by bonding 4 at a temperature below the degradation temperature of the substrate 1 and / or plastic film 2 decorated with color (s).

12 - Process according to claim 11, characterized in that the bonding is done by interposition, between the substrate 1 and the plastic film 2, of a composition called "one component" cold hardenable in contact with ambient humidity or under the effect of radiation, and by exposure of the assembly, as the case may be, to said humidity or to said radiation.

13 - Method according to claim 12, characterized in that said composition is of cyanoacrylate type alkyl or alkylene or nitrile rubber type.

14 - Method according to claims 13, characterized in that the bonding 4 is done by interposi ion, between the substrate 1 and the plastic film 2, of a composition known as "with two components", hardenable with cold, of which the two components are mixed immediately.

15 - Process according to claim 11, characterized in that the bonding 4 is done by interposition, between the substrate 1 and the plastic film 2, of a composition called "one component" thermosetting and by heating of 1 ns emb le.

16 - A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the bonding is done by covering the plastic film 2 with a part 6, fusible crystallized thermoplastic, having a periphery 7 which is hot welded to the substrate 1.

17 - Method according to any one of claims 1 to I I, characterized in that it consists in combining the decorated plastic film 2 and the substrate 1, in order to create a decorated pocket. It is possible to put a false hem on the non-secured part of the plastic film 2 to avoid the cutting edge of the pocket.

18 - Method according to any one of claims l to 11, characterized in that it consists in using one or more variants (sewing, false hem, zipper, riveting, gluing, stapling) to combine the plastic film decorated with color. (s) and the substrate.

19 - Product resulting from the implementation of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 18.