WO2006027479A1

WO2006027479A1 - Method for serigraphically printing a bright precious metal decoration on a ground glass support and the thus treated support

Info

Publication number: WO2006027479A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/002175
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cayetano Rustarazo
Original assignee: SAVERGLASS-Société anonyme de verreries-SAS
Priority date: 2004-09-02
Filing date: 2005-08-31
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: FR2874535B1; FR2874535A1

Abstract

The inventive method for serigraphically printing a bright precious metal decoration<sup/

Description

METHOD FOR PRINTING XJN DECOR BY SCREENING A PRECIOUS GLOSS METAL ON A GLASS BASE DEPOLI

AND SUPPORT THUS PROCESSED

The invention relates to a process for printing a screen-printing decoration of a precious metal shining on a frosted glass support, in particular a bottle.

In this field, a major disadvantage lies in the fact that the direct screen printing of a precious metal on a frosted glass, for example etched with acid or by sanding, systematically gives a matte appearance to the precious metal.

However, for aesthetic reasons, it is sometimes sought on the contrary a shiny aspect of gold screen printed on a frosted glass.

Of course, it can also be platinum or any other precious metal.

The prior art is constituted in this field by a number of known methods for obtaining the above result, which will be listed below.

A first known process known as "precious metal on flow" consists of:

- depolish the glass article; silkscreen according to a type of flow consisting of enamel that can be lead; - Bake at high temperature above 500 ⁰ C; - resume the screenprint following the same type and strictly the same setting with a precious metal (gold, platinum, etc.); cook again at high temperature; - condition.

This method has an advantage in that the precious metal remains bright, with a possible relief effect depending on the thickness of the flow.

On the other hand, the disadvantages are numerous because this process requires the use of undercoats that may contain heavy metals, and it is also necessary to achieve a perfect fit between the screen printing of the flux and that of the precious metal.

In addition, the production rates are slowed to obtain said wedging. There is also the need for precise management of the cooking temperatures on each phase in order to avoid cracks. This is important because the gold must be cooked at a temperature below the flow.

All of this leads to a generally high scrap rate in carrying out the operations of this process.

A second known method known as "hot stamping" consists of the following operations: roughening the glass article; - Screen printing according to a type of a bicomponent ink constituting an underlayer; pre-cooking at a low polymerization temperature of less than 200 ^° C. for a fixed and constant time; depositing a marking film by a press (the film adheres only to the screen-printed part) while hot; condition. At this point, it is best to let the decorate completely before transporting the pallets containing the glass items, as it is necessary to avoid friction between them.

According to this method, there is no problem of registration, and imitation of a shiny precious metal is possible with relief effects depending on the thickness of the underlayer. It is also possible to obtain finesse in the decor.

On the other hand, the disadvantages are also numerous and consist of low production rates for high costs; the need for precise management of the baking temperatures of the underlayment; sensitivity to the presence of dust that generates waste; by the generally high scrap rate in carrying out these operations; by the low physicochemical resistance of the decor (organic matter) if only by the juice contained itself more or less aggressive.

A third method called "acid-attack-resistant gold screen printing" consists in using a paste gold comprising a substance resistant to acid attack.

This process is remarkable by the following steps: screen printing according to a type of gold resistant to acid attack (without cooking). This gold contains a resin capable of withstanding the attack of satin baths (HF); satin with acid on any uns screened part; - cook at high temperature (above 500 ⁰ C). The resin of gold burns to leave only the precious metal, in this case gold.

This method has the advantage of eliminating the problem of calibration and moreover, we find the brilliant screen printing effect on an unfrosted glass.

On the other hand, the disadvantages are numerous. Indeed, the transport of pallets with an uncooked gold to the satin workshops, generally dissociated from the decoration workshops, can generate rejects.

Depending on the pickling baths used before the satin operations themselves, the uncured screen printing can be altered and generate scrap observable after cooking.

Also, during rinsing at the end of the satin process, the relatively violent water pressure can pick up the screen printing.

Generally, compromises on the pickling and / or rinsing are performed to avoid the alteration of the screen printing, thus reducing the overall quality of the product appearance. The object of the invention is to overcome all the disadvantages of the processes of the aforementioned prior art.

For this purpose, it relates to a process for printing a screen-printing decoration of a precious metal shining on a frosted glass support, in particular a bottle, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: first screen printing of a metal precious brilliant applied to the natural glass constituting the support, according to a first type, whose dimensions in X and Y are larger than those of a final artwork, corresponding to the decor to obtain; - high temperature cooking of this first screen printing of precious metal; second silkscreen of a protective mask, according to the final artwork, corresponding to the decoration to be obtained, and made in superposition on the first screen printing of shiny precious metal, of larger dimensions, to leave around the said mask an unprotected peripheral area; treatment of the mask, able to confer physico-chemical resistance; frosting of the natural glass support on which were made the first screen printing bright shiny metal, then the protective mask of smaller dimensions corresponding to the decoration to be obtained, said frosting taking place on the remaining areas of natural glass, as well as on the peripheral areas of the first silkscreen in precious metal surrounding the protective mask from the second serigraphy, and therefore with the exception of the mask area corresponding precisely to the shiny precious metal decoration to obtain; rinsing for the removal of the protective mask and revealing the shiny precious metal decoration surrounded by frosted glass; - final rinse.

The present invention also relates to the features which will emerge during the following description, which should be considered in isolation or in all their possible technical combinations.

This description given by way of nonlimiting example, will better understand how the invention can be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a front view of a bottle, according to an exemplary embodiment, on which the first screen printing of a precious metal shining on natural glass has been carried out, in a larger outline than the decoration to be obtained.

FIG. 2 represents the second screen printing of a protective mask made in superposition on the first screen printing of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 represents the bottle according to FIG. 1 or 2 during the grinding operation of the natural glass support , as well as on the peripheral zone of the first serigraphy surrounding the protective mask. Figure 4 is a view of a bottle according to the preceding figures after removal of the protective mask.

The method relates to the printing of a decor 1 by screen printing of a precious metal shining on a support 2 frosted glass including a bottle.

It comprises, according to the invention, the following steps: first screen printing 3 of a shiny precious metal applied to the natural glass 4 constituting the support 2, according to a first type, whose dimensions in X and Y are larger than those of a final type, corresponding to the decoration 1 to obtain (see figure

D; high temperature cooking of this first screen printing 3 of precious metal. It may be gold or platinum whose cooking temperature will be greater than 500 ^° C. second screen printing 5 of a protective mask 6, according to the final artwork, corresponding to the decoration 1 to obtain, and made in superposition on the first screen printing 3 of shiny precious metal, of larger dimensions, to leave around the said mask 6 a peripheral area 7 unprotected (see Figure 2); treatment of the mask 6, able to give it a physicochemical resistance. "Etching 8 by sanding operation or acid treatment of the support 2 of natural glass on which were made the first screen printing 3 bright precious metal, then the protective mask 6 of smaller dimensions corresponding to the decor 1 to obtain, said etching 8 being performed on the remaining natural glass areas 4, and on the peripheral areas 7 of the first silkscreen 3 in precious metal surrounding the protective mask 6 from the second serigraphy 5, and consequently with the exception of the mask area 6 corresponding precisely to the decoration 1 in shiny precious metal to obtain (see Figure 3); rinsing for the removal of the protective mask 6 and revealing the decor 1 shiny precious metal surrounded by frosted glass 8 (see Figure 4); final rinse.

Of course, depending on the accuracy of the machine used and the desired speed of realization, it will be possible to enlarge the dimensions of the first artwork, to eventually make a solid, but it will be advantageous for the difference in size between the two types are not too big to avoid the loss of metal during the grinding phase.

This is what was sought according to the example shown in the figures.

The protective mask 6 from the second screen printing 5 is an organic product having physico-chemical resistance characteristics. In fact, the organic product must be able to withstand attacks of acid and sand according to the technique of frosting of the chosen glass.

Preferably, the organic product constituting the protective mask 6 is a plasticizer varnish.

The plasticizer varnish constituting the protective mask 6 is initially in the pasty state, and acquires its characteristics of physicochemical resistance by drying, crosslinking or polymerization.

The plasticizer varnish may consist of commercial products known under the trade names "Plastisol" or "Protokote", whose drying is carried out at a low temperature below 200 ^° C.

Preferably, the rinsing bath being carried out at the end of the plating is an alkaline water having the effect of softening the plasticizer varnish, then to eliminate it by the pressure of water.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the final artwork reserved for the second screen printing 5 comprises two protective masks 6, one of which is intended to be superimposed on the first screen printing 3 of precious metal gloss, and the other to be applied directly during the same screen printing phase, on any other part of the natural glass support 2, in order to constitute a reserve, in order to create a second transparent decoration, simultaneously with the first 1 in shiny precious metal, during a unique operation of frosting 8 of the support 2. According to this variant, the shiny gold decoration 1 will be on the front part of the support 2 constituted by the bottle and the smooth glass decoration will be on the symmetrically opposite dorsal part, and this without significant additional cost.

The invention relates not only to the method which has just been described, but also to any frosted glass support, in particular a bottle comprising a brilliant precious metal decoration obtained according to said method.

The advantages of the process according to the invention which has just been described are as follows: no use of heavy metals; - no need for accurate calibration allowing industrialization on high speed automatic machines; no sharp management of baking temperatures (same as used for precious metal decorations on bare glass); no higher scrap rate than unit operations despite a sequence of these operations; physicochemical resistance of the decoration identical to that obtained on a decorated bare glass; no particular sensitivity of the process to dust; possibility to work on fine decorations or large flat areas without offset; - The resistance of plastic protection varnishes allows optimized saturation conditions and therefore an improvement in the quality level of the product.

Claims

1. A method of printing a decoration (1) by screen printing a precious metal shining on a support (2) frosted glass including a bottle, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - first screen printing (3 ) a shiny precious metal applied to the natural glass (4) constituting the support (2), according to a first artwork, whose dimensions in X and Y are larger than those of a final artwork, corresponding to the decoration ( 1) to obtain; high temperature cooking of this first screen printing (3) of precious metal; second serigraphy (5) of a protective mask (6), according to the final artwork, corresponding to the decoration (1) to be obtained, and made in superposition on the first screen printing (3) of shiny precious metal, of larger dimensions, to leave around said mask (6) an unprotected peripheral zone (7); treatment of the mask (6), capable of giving it physico-chemical resistance; etching (8) of the support (2) made of natural glass on which the first screen printing (3) of shiny precious metal has been made, then the protective mask (6) of smaller dimensions corresponding to the decoration (1) to be obtained, said grinding (8) taking place on the remaining areas of natural glass (4), as well as on the peripheral zones (7) of the first screen printing (3) of precious metal surrounding the protective mask (6) from the second screen printing (5), and consequently with the exception of the mask area (6) corresponding precisely to the decor (1) of precious metal shiny to obtain; rinsing for removing the protective mask (6) and revealing the decoration (1) shiny precious metal surrounded by frosted glass (8); final rinse.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective mask (6) from the second screen printing (5) is an organic product having physico-chemical resistance characteristics.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the organic product constituting the protective mask (6) is a plasticizer varnish.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the plasticizer varnish constituting the protective mask (6) is initially in the pasty state, and acquires its characteristics of physicochemical resistance by drying, crosslinking or polymerization.

5. Method according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the rinsing bath being performed at the end of the plating is an alkaline water having effect of softening the plasticizer varnish, then to eliminate it by the pressure of water.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the final artwork reserved for the second screen printing (5) comprises two protective masks (6), one of which is intended to be superimposed on the first screen printing (3) bright precious metal, and the other to be applied directly during a same phase of screen printing, on any other part of the natural glass support (2), to form a reserve, to create a second transparent decoration, simultaneously with the first (1) bright precious metal, during a single operation of frosting (8) of the support (2).

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shiny precious metal constituting the decor is gold.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shiny precious metal constituting the decor is platinum.

9. Frosted glass support including bottle, characterized in that it comprises a shiny precious metal decoration, obtained according to at least one of claims 1 to 8 of the process.