WO2008144788A1

WO2008144788A1 - Method for applying a graphical element to a handrail

Info

Publication number: WO2008144788A1
Application number: PCT/AT2008/000179
Authority: WO
Inventors: Günter MAI; André WIECZOREK; Martin Luif
Original assignee: Semperit Aktiengesellschaft Holding
Priority date: 2007-05-31
Filing date: 2008-05-26
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: AT505364A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for applying a graphical element (3) to a surface (2) of a handrail (1), according to which method the graphical element (3) is applied to a backing medium (7), the backing medium (7) is then brought into contact with the surface (2) of the handrail (1), and the graphical element (3) is transferred to the surface (2) of the handrail (1) under pressure and at raised temperature, and subsequently the backing medium (7) is removed. The graphical element (3) is pressed into the surface (2) of the handrail (1) or is partially enclosed by a material of the handrail (1).

Description

Method of applying a graphic element to a handrail

The invention relates to a method for applying a graphic element to a surface of a handrail after the graphic element is applied to a support medium, the support medium then brought into contact with the surface of the handrail, and the graphic element under pressure and at elevated temperature is transferred to the surface of the handrail, and thereafter the carrier medium is removed, a method of renewing a graphic element on a surface of a handrail and a handrail having a surface on which a graphic element is arranged.

Handrails of escalators or moving walkways were discovered some time ago as a medium for the dissemination of information, in particular for advertising purposes. At the beginning of this development decals were glued to the surface of the handrail. Such a handrail is known for example from JP 57-130883 A.

Very quickly it was recognized that so applied advertising messages on handrails are problematic, as these decals are relatively easily detached from the surface of the handrail, especially under the dynamic stresses that are exposed to moving, in-use handrails.

In order to improve this, DE 600 13 405 T2 proposes a combination of an elongated handrail and a flexible film adhering to the handrail, the film comprising a film layer and an adhesive layer between the first film layer and the handrail comprising the first film layer with the handrail wherein the film has a width corresponding to the handrail, extends substantially continuously along the length of the handrail, extends around at least a portion of the shoulders of the handrail and includes printed matter on the top or bottom of the film layer, and wherein the adhesive layer comprises the Removal of the flexible film allows and the film does not significantly change the dimensions of the handrail, whereby the elongated handrail can be used in use with or without the film and the flexible film can be replaced by another flexible film. Thus, therefore, the durability of the advertising messages on the handrail is improved by the fact that the advertising message is protected by a covering film, this film extends into the lip areas of the handrail. From JP 03-223089 A a handrail is known, which has on its surface a rubber-elastic graphic element. This graphic element is printed on a backing paper, which is removed after attaching the graphic element on the handrail surface. Below the graphic element layer is provided a layer of adhesive through which the layer is bonded to the graphic element by heating to the handrail surface. In addition, pressure is applied to the handrail surface when the graphic element is applied.

From JP 10-147489 A a handrail with a core material and a decorative rubber layer arranged thereon is known. These two layers are joined together by vulcanization presses. On the decorative layer, a resin layer is formed by spraying and setting at elevated temperature. In this resin layer, graphic elements are provided. These graphic elements are transferred to the resin layer by a transfer printing method, whereby the graphic element is formed in the resin layer by sublimation of the colors from the transfer layer during the exposure to temperature. A pressure of up to 20 kg / cm ² and a temperature of between 160 ° C and 170 ° C are used.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method with which information can be permanently applied to handrail surfaces.

This object of the invention is achieved by the method mentioned in the introduction, in which the graphic element is pressed into the handrail surface or partially enclosed by a material of the handrail, and independently thereof by the method for renewing a graphic element on a surface of a handrail, After the existing graphic element is ground off the surface of the handrail, then the surface is polished and a new graphic element is applied by the method according to the invention and by a handrail in which the graphic EIe- ment is pressed into the surface or of the Material of the handrail is partially enclosed. The advantage here is that with a transfer printing process graphic elements on surfaces of handrails can be transferred directly without sublimation, so that no additional layers on the handrail surface for the production of a graphic element must be provided. The process is not limited to special colors, which makes a wider variety of colors and color combinations available for the graphic elements. By impressing the graphic element in the handrail surface or the partial flow around the material is also achieved that these graphic elements do not or marginally over the surface protrude and thus complicates the removal of this graphic element or the abrasion during operation so that these graphical elements can be more permanently applied to the handrail surface. These therefore better withstand the pressure and Zugwechselbeanspruchung the handrail stand.

It should be noted that by partially flowing it is meant that the graphic element on three sides of the material from which the handrail blanket is made will be trapped by flow of this material, thereby improving adhesion. The visible surface of the graphical element is freely visible.

The graphic element can be applied directly to the handrail according to the method, ie to the rubber-elastic cover of a handrail, so that no intermediate layers such. Adhesive between the surface of the handrail and the graphic element are required, which can reduce the layer structure in terms of its strength and thus the Eindrückiefe can also be reduced. It will not or only slightly changed the properties of the handrail.

Preferably, the graphic element is applied to a film as a plastic base as a carrier medium, whereby the handling of this film for application of the graphic EIe- mentes on the handrail surface is simplified. In particular, cracks in semi-finished products having the graphic element during application can thus be avoided. This is particularly advantageous if tape-shaped carrier media are applied to the handrail.

It is furthermore advantageous that plastic-based carrier media can be better adapted to thermal stress during application of the graphic element by appropriate compounding. Furthermore, the stretching behavior of the film, for example the biaxial stretching behavior, can also be influenced by appropriate compounding. as is generally known for plastic films - whereby the image of the graphic element can be carried out in greater detail and at least approximately undistorted.

In order to prevent distortions of the graphic element and surface defects in the area of the application, it is advantageous if a plastic-based film is used which has a thermal shrinkage according to DIN 40634 of maximum 2%. It is thus achieved that this film has a better dimensional stability even at higher temperatures, which are optionally applied for the application of the graphic element.

Preferably, the plastic-based film has a thermal shrinkage according to DIN 40634 of not more than 1.5%, in particular not more than 1.2%.

According to an embodiment variant of the invention it is provided that the plastic-based film has a thickness which is selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.03 mm and an upper limit of 0.75 mm. With film thicknesses from this range, a higher surface quality of the finished handrail is achieved by the film after it is pressed during application with pressure in the handrail to transfer the graphic element, no or at least almost no marks on the handrail surface leaving behind. On the other hand, films of this thickness also have the required strength or dimensional stability, so that no wrinkling occurs during application.

In order to further improve the surface quality of the handrail, it is advantageous if the thickness of the plastic-based film selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.05 mm and an upper limit of 0.5 mm or is selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.075 mm and an upper limit of 0.25 mm.

In order to achieve a high surface quality of the finished handrail, it is advantageous if the surface of the plastic-based film has a roughness in accordance with DIN 4762 of max. 17 nm, in particular max. 12 nm. By using such smooth films or support media, gloss differences on the handrail surface can be prevented by avoiding the transmission of unevenness under the prevailing high pressures on the handrail surface. It has also been found to be advantageous if films are used on plastic basis, which have an elongation at break according to DIN 53 455 or VDE 0345 of at least 100% or a tensile strength according to DIN 53 455 or VDE 0345 of at least 100 N / mm ² have. By using such films it is possible to automatically feed them to the handrail, that is to say the handrail surface, without the production disturbances being caused by cracks or overstretching of the film. By avoiding stretching or overstretching of the film, the quality of the graphic element is also increased by having no distortions or the like.

To improve these effects, it is advantageous if the plastic-based film has an elongation at break according to DIN 53 455 or VDE 0345 of at least 200% or a tensile strength according to DIN 53 455 or VDE 0345 of at least 150 N / mm ² .

Optionally, it may be advantageous if prior to the application of the graphic element on the plastic-based film by printing, this film is provided with an adhesion promoter to improve the printability of the film.

Bonding agents which have been found to be particularly advantageous are those which are selected from a group comprising vinyl chloride-modified copolymers of polyolefins or silane-modified polyolefins. These adhesion promoters can be applied in particular by spraying and are dried before printing.

With regard to the processing properties, such as low thermal shrinkage, printability, distortion-free imaging of the graphic element by the printing process, etc., in particular a glass-clear polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film with a smooth surface has proven to be advantageous.

The method may be performed at a temperature for transferring the graphic element to the surface of the handrail selected from a range having a lower limit of 80 ° C and an upper limit of 250 ° C. It can thus be prevented that does not change the graphic element during the transfer printing process by flow movements of the ceiling material of the handrail in the tool. In particular, these effects are improved when the temperature is selected from a range with a lower limit of 90 ° C and an upper limit of 220 ⁰ C and selected from a range with a lower limit 110 ° C and an upper limit of 190 ° C.

By applying a temperature from this temperature range is also achieved that the adhesion of the graphic element to the substrate, that is, on the handrail surface, can be improved.

Furthermore, it has been found that the adhesion of the graphic element to the handrail surface can be improved by selecting a pressure for the transfer of the graphic element on the surface of the handrail from a range with a lower limit of 10 dN / cm ² and a upper limit of 60 dN / cm ² . In particular, this pressure can be selected from a range with a lower limit of 15 dN / cm ² and an upper limit of 40 dN / cm ² , whereby the applied pressure can also better protect the surface, thereby increasing the surface quality can be.

It is possible in the context of the invention that the carrier medium is placed on the graphic element before vulcanization or the solidification of the handrail on this and then the vulcanization is carried out or the solidification takes place. It is thus achieved an improvement of the adhesion to the handrail surface by the running reactions during vulcanization or solidification. The fact that the graphic element is placed on the plastic mass before vulcanization or solidification and optionally pressed into this, it is achieved that due to flow movements of the material of the handrail cover during vulcanization or solidification, the graphic element is partially surrounded by the material ,

On the other hand, it is also possible that the handrail is vorvulkanisiert before placing the graphic element provided with the carrier medium, then the tool is opened and the support medium is placed with the graphic element, the tool is closed again and the handrail is fully vulcanized or solidified , Due to the pre- It is achieved that the handrail already has a certain hardness, so that the indentation depth of the carrier film is reduced under pressure during application, which in turn can increase the surface quality of the handrail. In addition, it can be achieved that the flow movements of the material of the handrail cover in the second vulcanization or solidification step take place only to a lesser extent, whereby a higher imaging fidelity of the graphic element can be achieved.

It has been found that a pre-vulcanization, which is carried out in a time selected from a range with a lower limit of 2 minutes and an upper limit of 15 minutes, high-quality surfaces of the provided with the graphic element handrail supplies.

In order to improve this, it is advantageous if the pre-vulcanization is carried out in a time which is selected from a range with a lower limit of 2 minutes and an upper limit of 10 minutes.

On the other hand, it is also possible, e.g. To provide already installed handrails with graphic elements on site that the provided with the graphical element carrier medium is placed on the surface of a already vulcanized, cooled handrail and is transferred under pressure and temperature to the handrail surface. This application can be carried out without preheating the handrail and / or the support medium, which is particularly advantageous in terms of on-site application.

It is advantageous in this embodiment variant if the transfer of the graphic element to the surface of the handrail takes place in a time which is selected from a range with a lower limit of 1 min and an upper limit of 15 min, since on the one hand a high adhesion a graphical element is achieved on the handrail and on the other hand, not only the production times are shortened accordingly, but also Eindrücktiefen the graphical element can be minimized in the handrail surface.

In particular, the application can be carried out according to this method within a period of 10 min. For a better understanding of the invention, this will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures:

Each shows in a highly schematically simplified representation:

Fig. 1 is an oblique view of a handrail;

2 shows a detail of a handrail in cross section.

Fig. 3 shows a carrier medium with attached graphic elements in plan view.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the variously described embodiments, identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component designations, wherein the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied mutatis mutandis to the same parts with the same reference numerals or component names. Also, the location information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc. related to the immediately described and illustrated figure and are to be transferred to the new situation mutatis mutandis when a change in position. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive or inventive solutions.

All statements on ranges of values in the description of the present invention should be understood to include any and all sub-ranges thereof, e.g. is the statement 1 to 10 to be understood that all sub-areas, starting from the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10 are included, ie. all subregions begin with a lower limit of 1 or greater and end at an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1 or 5.5 to 10.

In Fig. 1, a handrail 1 is shown with a C-shaped cross-section, which has on an outer surface 2, which serves as support for persons to be transported, graphic elements 3. In principle, the handrail 1 can have any desired cross-section, that is to say other than C-shaped cross-sections, for example double-T-shaped with a top flange, a bottom flange and a connecting web.

The graphical elements 3 can have any desired shape, for example in the form of letters or lettering or even images. For example, For example, these graphic elements may be logos of companies, in order to convey advertising messages to the persons to be conveyed. However, safety instructions or other information can also be attached to the surface 2 of the handrail 1 in this manner.

The handrail 1 is particularly intended to be attached to escalators or moving walks. Since escalators or moving walks are known per se with respect to their construction with balustrade, drive elements, deflection units, etc., a further discussion of the same at this point is unnecessary. Usually, the handrail 1 is designed as a circulating endless element, for which a corresponding splicing is performed.

The graphic elements 3 may be monochrome or multi-colored in nature. These are applied by means of transfer printing process on the handrail 1. It is thus an appreciation of the handrail surface as an information carrier possible.

As can be seen from Fig. 1, the handrail 1 can be formed in several layers, with a base 4 which on its underside, which faces the balustrade, a sliding layer 5, e.g. a sliding fabric having. Furthermore, it is possible to at least partially provide the handrail 1 with a tension member 6, which is embedded in the base body 4. In principle, there is also the possibility that the main body 4 consists of several individual layers, for example two layers arranged one above the other.

The construction of the handrail 1 according to Fig. 1 is only to be understood as exemplary and not limiting for the invention. It is also easier handrails 1 without any further reinforcements or sliding layers 5 so handrails 1, which have only the main body 4 are provided in the invention with graphical elements 3.

As a material for the main body 4, which is also the carrier of the graphic elements 3, are in particular uses polymer materials selected from a group comprising (thermoplastic) elastomers, such as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), TPV (thermoplastic vulcanizates), TPO (thermoplastic polyolefins), SBS or SIS or SBC (thermoplastic styrene triblock copolymers), TP-NR (Thermoplastic Natural Rubber), TP-NBR (Thermoplastic Nitrile Rubber), TP-FKM (Thermoplastic Fluororubber), CPO and CPA, respectively

(copolymeric polyether ester), PEBA (polyether block amides), further EPDM, natural rubber, CSM (chlorosulfonyl-polyethylene rubber, for example, Hypalon ^®), CR (isoprene rubber), SBR (styrene butadiene rubber), BR (butyl rubber), NBR (nitrile rubber), PU (polyurethane), NR (natural rubber) as well as mixtures or blends thereof.

For the formation of the graphic elements 3 any printing inks can be used. For example. For example, water-soluble printing inks or solvent-containing printing inks, for example so-called barrier printing inks, can be used. In particular, colors based on synthetic rubber, for example ^Hypalon® , are used. This gives the graphic EIe- elements 3 a corresponding elasticity, which can better withstand the mechanical stresses of the handrail 1. As color pigments, organic and inorganic color pigments can be used. Furthermore, it is possible that these paints include alkyd resins as well as other ingredients such as processing aids or viscosity modifiers, etc.

It is also possible for these inks to contain adhesion promoters in order to improve the printability of a carrier medium 7 (FIG. 3). Such adhesion promoters may be formed or selected according to the prior art for printing inks.

Preferably, however, these adhesion promoters are not added to the paint, but instead the support medium 7 is coated before printing, for example by spraying or brushing.

FIG. 2 shows a detail of the handrail 1 in the area of the surface 2 provided with the graphic element 3. As can be seen, the graphical element 3 is pressed into the surface 2 of the handrail 1, wherein an outwardly facing surface 8 of the graphic element 3 is formed at least approximately planar with the surface 2 of the handrail 1. It is thus achieved that the graphic element permanently with the Handrail 1 is connected, and that the detachment of this graphic element 3, for example, by users of the handrail 1 or due to the mechanical stress of this handrail 1, can be made heavier.

As shown by dashed lines in FIG. 2, it goes without saying that in the context of the invention it is possible for this graphic element 3 to protrude slightly beyond the surface 2 of the handrail 1, e.g. when the handrail 1 after application of the graphic element 3 at least partially relaxes, where slightly a height is meant, which is selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.02 mm and an upper limit of 1 mm, in particular 0.5 mm preferably 0.25 mm.

Furthermore, there is of course the possibility that the surface 8 of the graphic element is formed below the surface 2 of the handrail 1.

After the graphic element 3 is pressed into the surface 2 of the handrail 1 in the transfer printing process, it can occur that edges of the handrail 1 are rounded in the area of the surface 2 for forming the recess receiving the graphic element 3, so that a minimal amount is achieved in this area Distance between the graphic element 3 and the handrail surface 2 is present. When the graphic element 3 is applied, this formation can occur on pre-vulcanized or, in particular, ready-to-use vulcanized or solidified handrails 1. In the case of non-solidified or non-vulcanized handrails 1, on the other hand, flow movements can occur so that the material of the handrail 1 encloses or encloses the graphic element 3 on three sides without the formation of these rounded edges.

Preferred, however, is a variant where such distances are not present, so that in particular a direct, planar transition of the surface 2 is formed in the surface 8 of the graphic element 3.

As is apparent from Fig. 2, the graphic element 3 is immediate, that is, directly without

Intermediate arrangement of adhesive layers, connected to the surface 2 of the handrail 1. From Fig. 3, the support medium 7 with the graphic elements 3 arranged thereon can be seen. The carrier medium 7 has a larger surface area than is required solely for the arrangement of the graphic elements 3. Of course, the illustration of FIG. 3 is exaggerated, since the lateral projections of the carrier medium 7 on the graphic EIe- elements 3 need not be chosen as large as shown. In particular, a relatively small supernatant is chosen for cost reasons. It also achieves the advantage after the carrier medium 7 also presses into the surface 2 of the handrail 1 in the production process during the transfer printing, that depressions that are possibly caused by this carrier medium 7 are only insignificantly larger with respect to the surface of the It is advantageous, however, if this support film of the support medium 7 has a thickness selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.03 mm and an upper limit of 0.75 mm, since in this case impressions or Imprints of the support medium 7 may be reversible, that is, that the material or the material for the handrail 1, that is, the base body 4, after the application of the graphic element 3 on the surface 2 recovered and this depression, which by the carrier medium 7 is caused, heals again.

However, the lateral projection of the carrier medium 7 - seen in plan view - has the advantage that a greater imaging fidelity in the edge regions of the graphic element 3 can be achieved because the color or colorant is not affected by the flow movements of the hand material, for example, does not leak , The supernatant may therefore be at least 10%, in particular at least 20%, preferably 30%, of the respective associated dimension of the graphic element 3, that is to say its length or width.

The carrier medium 7 is preferably formed by a plastic film, in particular by a polyethylene terephthalate film (PET), which is crystal clear, whereby a high surface quality of the handrail 1 and the graphic element 3 by their undistorted arrangement or transmission from the carrier medium 7 on the surface. 2 the handrail 1 can be achieved. With regard to the mechanical properties or the mechanical values with regard to tensile strength and tensile strength and with regard to the surface roughness of this plastic film, in particular the PET film, reference is made to the above statements.

The graphic elements 3, that is, the color or the colors for it - it is in particular Also, a color match to the color of the handrail 1, that is, the base body 4, possible, since this does not necessarily have to be black, but also the base body 4 may already have a color - are preferably transferred by screen printing on the support medium 7, wherein the Of course, graphic elements 3 on this support medium 7 must be arranged inverted in mirror image in order to be applied to the surface 2 of the

Handrail 1 to be displayed correctly after the transfer printing. Other printing methods which are known from the printing technology can also be used.

These graphic elements 3 are subsequently transferred to the surface 2 of the handrail 1 by means of transfer printing by positioning the carrier medium 7 provided with the graphic elements 3 on the surface 2 of the handrail 1 by pressure and the effect of temperature. Thereafter, the carrier medium 7 is removed, leaving only the graphic element 3 on the surface 2 of the handrail 1.

The application of the graphic element 3, that is to say the transfer of the pattern from the carrier medium 7 to the surface 2, can take place, for example, by the following three variants.

In a first variant, the carrier medium 7 with the printed graphic element 3 is already placed on the raw handrail 1 prior to vulcanization and remains in the mold over the entire vulcanization cycle or curing cycle of the handrail 1. After opening the tool, the carrier medium 7 is removed. This variant of the method can be used in particular for handrails 1 whose basic body 4 consists of SBR or CSM or based thereon.

According to a second embodiment variant, the base body 4 or handrail 1 can already be vulcanized and then the tool is briefly opened, that carrier medium 7 provided with the graphic element 3 again turns, that is, directed with the graphic element 3 in the direction of the surface 2 placed on the handrail 1, the tool is closed and the handrail 1 finished vulcanized. This embodiment variant has also proven to be advantageous for handrails whose basic body 4 is made of SBR or CSM.

In a third embodiment variant, there is the possibility that the handrail already has is vulcanized and cooled and the carrier medium 7 is placed with the graphic element 3 on this cooled out vulcanized handrail 1 and is transmitted by means of pressure and optionally temperature to the surface 2 of the handrail 1. This can be carried out in particular without preheating the handrail 1 and / or the carrier medium 7. With regard to the time in which the application is carried out under pressure, reference is made to the above embodiment. Again, this embodiment variant has proven to be advantageous for handrails 1 made of SBR or CSM, but it can also be provided with handrails made of plastics with the graphic element 3. In particular, this embodiment variant of the invention is also suitable for the repair or renewal of graphic elements 3 on handrails 1, since this embodiment variant can also be carried out on site and for this purpose no vulcanization presses in the actual sense must be present.

An advantage of the method according to the invention is that it is possible to work with conventional devices and tools already used in the manufacture of handrails 1, both manually and automatically, for example by providing the carrier medium 7 provided with the graphic element 3 is automatically rolled from a supply roll and the vulcanization press is supplied. It is therefore not necessary to design and use specially trained tools, whereby the application of the graphical element 3 on the surface 2 of the handrail 1 is significantly cheaper. The use of templates or positioning aids in the field of application is also possible.

The support medium 7 itself can be used as a strip, for example as a foil strip, of several meters in length, for example in roll form. It is also possible in the context of the invention to use already precut support media 7 with a significantly shorter length in order, for example To provide only discrete areas of the handrail 1 with the graphic elements 3.

Thus, all or even only part of the back region of the handrail 1 can be provided with this graphic element 3, that is, for example, a company logo or the like.

The removal of the carrier medium 7, that is, in particular the carrier film takes place immediately after the vulcanization of the handrail. 1 The handrails 1 thus produced with the graphic elements 3 are characterized by a high durability and by a good lightfastness and a high abrasion resistance. The application of the graphic element 3 to the surface 2 of the handrail 1 does not or does not significantly affect the latter, even in terms of its properties, as a result of which its durability is likewise not affected.

In test runs it could be observed that the graphical elements 3 on the surface 2 of the handrail 1 withstand the dynamic loads to which the handrail 1 is subjected.

By using a PET plastic film with a smooth surface, a distortion-free image or a distortion-free reproduction of the graphic elements 3 is supported. This not only in the application of the graphical elements 3 on the surface 2 of the handrail 1 but already during the printing process, ie the production of the graphic elements 3, on the surface of the PET film.

The following exemplary embodiments were carried out within the scope of the invention.

Embodiment 1

A 20 cm x 40 cm 3 cm thick sheet was made from CSM and, in the unvulcanized state of this panel, a graphic element 3 on a PET sheet was mirror-inverted on that sheet, that is, with the graphic element 3 in the direction pointing to the plate, hung up. Thereafter, this plate was vulcanized at 180 ° C and a pressure of 20 dN / cm ² in a vulcanizing press. Immediately after opening the press, the PET film was peeled off and the plate was cooled at room temperature.

To measure the durability of the graphic element 3 on this plate this was a dynamic load by alternately bending the plate down and up - the plate was clamped in a corresponding tester for this parallel to the footprint - and could after 10,000 Biegewechselbeanspruchungen no change in Graphical element 3 both in terms of its adhesion to the surface of the plate as well as with respect to a distortion of the graphic element 3 and the brilliance of the colors are determined. Embodiment 2

Again, a 20 x 40 cm plate was made, but using a CSM as the elastomer. This plate was pre-vulcanized in a vulcanization press for 8 minutes and then opened the press and placed on the provided with the graphic element 3 PET film, the press again closed and the plate finished vulcanized within a period of 20 min. After vulcanization, the press was opened, the PET film immediately removed and the plate cooled at room temperature.

This plate was subjected to the same test as described for Embodiment 1, and also no changes in the adhesion of the graphic element 3 to the surface of the plate and the quality of the image of the graphic element 3 could be observed.

Embodiment 3

It was with a so-called field tool (mobile tool), which is also used for the splicing of handrails, an already built handrail with a graphic element 3, which was arranged on a PET film, at a pressure of 35 dN / cm ² Mistake. The thus equipped handrail 1 was operated for two weeks in normal operation and then controlled the quality of the image of the graphic element 3 and its adhesion to the surface of the handrail 1 and could be found no changes.

There were also carried out further embodiments of the same kind in the invention, for which purpose on the one hand the pressure in the range between 10 dN / cm ² to 60 dN / cm ² and the temperature were varied in the range between 80 ° C and 250 ⁰ C. It has been found that, especially in the lower regions, ie in the range of 10 dN / cm ² and 80 ^° C., the adhesion of the graphic element 3 to the surface of the elastomer used is still sufficient, but with increasing pressure and / or increasing temperature the adhesion was also improved. These results were compared with a handrail 1, which had a decal on its surface and could be found that this after 10,000 cycles of dynamic stress in the edge regions detached and rolled up. However, no attempts were made with respect to the replacement of the adhesive with which the decal is attached to the surface 2 of the handrail 1.

It was thus possible with the method according to the invention to achieve a significant improvement in the durability of graphic elements 3 on surfaces 2 of handrails 1 in comparison with corresponding embodiments of the prior art.

The carrier medium 7 is preferably highly glossy and dimensionally stable.

The embodiments show possible embodiments of the handrail 1, wherein it should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiments variants thereof, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiments are possible with each other and this variation possibility due to the teaching of technical Acting by objective invention in the skill of those working in this technical field is the expert. Thus, all conceivable embodiments that are possible by combinations of individual details of the illustrated and described embodiment variant are also included in the scope of protection.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that, for a better understanding of the structure of the handrail 1, this or its components have been shown partly unevenly and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size.

Above all, the individual in Figs. 1; 2; 3 embodiments form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The related objects and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures. REFERENCE NUMBERS

Handrail Surface Element Basic Body Sliding Tensile Carrier Medium Surface

Claims

Patent claims

1. A method for applying a graphic element (3) on a surface (2) of a handrail (1), after the graphic element (3) is applied to a carrier medium (7), the carrier medium (7) thereafter with the Surface (2) of the handrail (1) is brought into contact, and the graphic element (3) under pressure and at elevated temperature on the surface (2) of the handrail (1) is transferred, and then the carrier medium (7) is removed , characterized in that the graphic element (3) in the surface (2) of the handrail (1) is pressed or is partially enclosed by a material of the handrail (1).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the graphic element (3) directly on the surface (2) of the handrail (1) is applied.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the graphic element (3) is applied to a plastic-based film as a carrier medium (7).

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the plastic-based film has a heat shrinkage according to DIN 40634 of not more than 2%.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the film has a plastic base roughness according to DIN 4762 of not more than 17 nm.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that a plastic-based film is used which has a thickness selected from a range with a lower limit of 0.03 mm and an upper limit of 0.75 mm.

7. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that a plastic-based film is used, which has an elongation at break according to DIN 53 455 or VDE 0345 of at least 100%.

8. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that a plastic-based film is used which has a tensile strength according to DIN 53 455 or VDE 0345 of at least 100 N / mm ² .

9. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that prior to the application of the graphic element (3) on the plastic-based film, this is provided with a bonding agent for the color (s).

10. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that a PET film is used as a plastic-based film.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature for the transfer of the graphic element (3) on the surface (2) of the

Handrail (1) is selected from a range with a lower limit of 80 ⁰ C and an upper limit of 250 ° C.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure for the transfer of the graphic element (3) on the surface (2) of the handrail (1) is selected from a range with a lower limit of 10 dN / cm ² and an upper limit of 60 dN / cm ² .

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the provided with the graphic element (3) carrier medium (7) before the vulcanization of the

Handrail (1) is placed.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handrail (1) is pre-vulcanized prior to placing the carrier element (7) provided with the graphic element (3).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the pre-vulcanization is carried out in a time which is selected from a range with a lower limit of 2 minutes and an upper limit of 15 minutes.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the provided with the graphic element (3) carrier medium (7) on the surface (2) of an already vulcanized, cooled handrail (1) is placed.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the pressure for the application on the already vulcanized handrail (1) is applied in a time which is selected from a range with a lower limit of 1 minute and an upper limit of 15 minutes ,

18. A method for renewing a graphic element (3) on a surface (2) of a handrail (1), characterized in that the already existing graphic element (3) from the surface (2) of the handrail (1) is ground, thereafter the surface (2) is polished and a new graphic element (3) is applied by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and 16 to 17.

19. Handrail (1) made of a material, with a surface (2) on which a graphic element (3) is arranged, characterized in that the graphic element (3) is pressed into the surface (2) or from The material is partially enclosed.

20. Handrail (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the graphic element (3) is arranged directly on the surface (2).