WO2018199740A1

WO2018199740A1 - Method for arranging a designation on a substrate, and substrate provided with a designation

Info

Publication number: WO2018199740A1
Application number: PCT/NL2018/000007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bartholomeus Leonardus Marinus Borcherd DRIEHUIS
Original assignee: Autoglas D & K B.V.
Priority date: 2017-04-25
Filing date: 2018-04-18
Publication date: 2018-11-01
Also published as: NL1042353B1

Abstract

Method for arranging a designation (1) on a substrate (2) of a first material, being a vitreous material, a ceramic material or a metal, the method comprising of: A. arranging a first layer (3) of a second material, being a ceramic ink or dye, on a sheet (4) of a third, material; B. arranging a second layer (5) of a fourth material on the first layer (3); C. removing the combination (7) of the first layer (3) and the second layer (5) from the sheet (4); and D. arranging the combination (7) on the substrate (2) with the first layer (3) facing toward the substrate (2), <b>characterized in that</b> the method also comprises of: E. dividing the combination (7) into mutually separated first parts (8) and second parts (9) by means of making incisions (6) of a desired form in the combination (7); F. removing the first parts (8) from the substrate (2); and G. heating the substrate (2) and the second parts (9) such that the parts (10) of the first layer (3) which form part of the second parts (9) fuse with the substrate (2) in the vicinity of the mutual interfaces (12) and thus become fixedly connected to the substrate (2). A well-defined designation, without undesirable discolouration, can thus be arranged on the substrate easily, quickly and at low cost price.. Also substrate (2) of a vitreous material, a ceramic material or a metal, provided with a designation (1), <b>characterized in that</b> the designation (1) is arranged on the substrate (2) by means of a method according to the invention.

Description

Method for arranging a designation on a substrate, and substrate provided with a designation

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for arranging a designation on a substrate of a first material, being a vitreous material, a ceramic material or a metal, the method comprising of:

A. arranging a first layer of a second material, being a ceramic ink or dye, on a sheet of a third material;

B. arranging a second layer of a fourth material on the first layer;

C. removing the combination of the first layer and the second layer from the sheet; and

D. arranging the combination on the substrate with the first layer facing toward the substrate.

The invention also relates to a substrate of a first material, being a vitreous material, a ceramic material or a metal, provided with a designation. This can be for instance a nameplate, number plate, sign or panel or other random product, for instance a coffee mug with a unique designation. The designation can for instance comprise one or more letters, numbers, characters, symbols, coloured areas or images or a random combination thereof.

Ceramic inks or dyes are known. A ceramic ink or dye is manufactured by mixing ground glass, or a powder comprising all ingredients of glass, with a pigment which can be bonded to glass. The mixture is shaken or roiled together with a liquid medium, generally water with a binder or a volatile oil, to form a more or less viscous liquid or paste. A layer of a thus manufactured ink or dye can be applied to a substrate of a suitable material such as glass, ceramic or metal. By heating at a correct temperature, generally between 500 and 800°C, the glass in the ink or dye melts and the pigment is taken up into the molten glass, wherein the liquid medium evaporates. The layer also fuses to greater or lesser extent with

CONFIRMATION COPY the substrate and thus forms, after cooling, a durable coloured layer of glaze or enamel fixedly connected to the substrate. The melting point of the ink or dye can be reduced by additives such as sodium carbonate or lead oxide, or conversely be increased by an additive such as aluminium oxide.

The application of a layer of ceramic ink or dye to a substrate is possible in diverse known ways, such as painting, immersion, spraying, screen printing in combination with a transfer technique, and digital printing. Each of the said techniques has its advantages and drawbacks. Painting with a brush is labour-intensive and does not produce a well-defined designation of high quality. Immersion only produces a layer which covers the whole substrate. A layer applied by means of spraying has to be heated locally with a laser in order to obtain a designation. The heated ink is degraded and discoloured here. The quality of the obtained designation is mediocre, so that this technique is only suitable for simple marking purposes. Screen printing has the advantage that a layer of a relatively great thickness (> 40 μιη) can be arranged. Screen printing and transfer printing are however labour-intensive, particularly when they involve a unique designation on a single product or a smaller series thereof. A digital printer is highly suitable for manufacturing more detailed and unique designations, but the thickness of the applied layer is (still) too small. Too thin a layer does not provide sufficient coverage and does not flow sufficiently when heated, whereby the final glaze or enamel remains porous and is susceptible to corrosion and discolouration. A digital printer is also expensive and must be flushed after every use.

The present invention now provides a method for arranging a designation on a substrate, which method is particularly suitable tor manufacturing easily, quickly and at low cost price a product of a vitreous material, ceramic material or metal and provided with a unique designation, or a smaller series thereof, and which method does not have the stated drawbacks, or at least does so to lesser extent. Summary of the invention

The invention provides a method of the stated type, characterized in that the method also comprises of:

E. dividing the combination into mutually separated first parts and second parts by means of making incisions of a desired form in the combination;

F. removing the first parts from the substrate; and

G. heating the substrate and the second parts such that the parts of the first layer which form part of the second parts fuse with the substrate in the vicinity of the mutual interfaces and thus become fixedly connected to the substrate.

In the context of the invention 'layer' is understood to mean a relatively ihin layer with a thickness of between 0.001 and 1 mm, generally between 0.01 and 0.1 mm. In the context of the invention 'sheet' is understood to mean a relatively thin sheet-like object with a thickness of between 0.01 and 1 mm, generally between 0.05 and 0.2 mm. A first layer of ceramic ink or dye can thus be applied with a relatively great thickness (> 40 μηι) to a substrate of a vitreous material, a ceramic material or a metal, and subsequently patterned. The parts of the first layer which form part of the second parts are then fixedly connected to the substrate by means of heating, wherein they melt and fuse with the substrate in the vicinity of the mutual interfaces. Heating preferably takes place in an oven suitable for the purpose at a temperature between 300 and 1000°C, generally between 500 and 850°C, depending on the composition of the materials used. A very strong fixed connection can in this way be realized.

Preferably used as sheet is transfer paper which is readily available, inexpensive and suitable. The removal of the sheet from the combination preferably takes place by means of dissolving the third material in a suitable solvent, for instance water in the case transfer paper is used. Preferably, an organic material is used as fourth material and the heating takes place such that the parts of the second layer which form part of the second parts are removed during heating by burning and/or sublimation. This burn-off is desirable because a durable combination thus remains of only the substrate and the parts of the first layer which form the designation. The incisions are preferably made here by means of cutting with a laser beam. Incisions of in principle any desired form can hereby be readily made with high precision. Depending on the materials used, a CO2 laser with a power of between 2 and 5 W and a laser beam with a diameter of about 80 μηι can for instance be used at a cutting speed of for instance 25 to 200 iiun/s. The designation can thus be arranged on the substrate easily, quickly and at low cost price, wherein use can be made of readily available materials such as ceramic ink or dye and transfer paper, and the incisions can be made with a computer-controlled laser beam.

Following removal of the sheet from the combination by means of dissolving, solvent still present is preferably expelled to the extent that a small quantity of solvent remains between the substrate and the combination arranged thereon. 'Expel^* is understood here to mean mechanical expulsion, for instance by means of rolling or wiping and/or allowing (passive) evaporation and/or causing (active) evaporation, for instance by allowing drying in air, drying with an absorbent material, heating or shaking. A 'small quantity' is understood to mean an interrupted or uninterrupted liquid film with a thickness of between 0.001 and 0.1 mm, generally between 0.005 and 0.05 mm. The expulsion can take place here by means of (partial) drying of the combination before the combination is arranged on the substrate and/or of the combination and the substrate after the combination has been arranged on the substrate. A small quantity of liquid, for instance water, can also be provided between the substrate and the combination arranged thereon, for instance by means of moistening the combination and/or the substrate with liquid before the combination is arranged on the substrate. During cutting with a laser beam the first layer can then adhere to the substrate, particularly at the edges of the incisions, when the small quantity of solvent or liquid present evaporates there, whereby the combination is held in place. The heat generated by the laser beam can cause discolouration of the first layer in the immediate vicinity of the incisions. 'Micro-explosions' can also occur there in the small quantity of solvent or liquid that is present, and vapour, steam or gas can thus be generated, which in turn ensures that the (discoloured) parts of the first layer in the immediate vicinity of the incisions are once again removed, in this case ejected, in addition, the small quantity of solvent or liquid that is present protects the substrate from overheating and damage by buffering energy from the laser beam. A well-defined designation without undesirable discolouration can thus be realized quickly and inexpensively. The solvent or liquid still remaining after making the incisions and removing the second parts evaporates over time and/or during heating. The invention is further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings figure 1 shows more or less schematically a preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention.

According to the method shown in figure 1 a designation (1) is arranged on a substrate (2), here of glass. The method comprises here of:

A. arranging a first layer (3) of a ceramic ink on a sheet of transfer paper (4);

B. arranging a second layer (5) of an organic material on the first layer (3);

C. removing the combination (7) of the first layer (3) and the second layer (5) from the sheet of transfer paper (4) by means of dissolving in water; and

D. arranging the combination (7) on the substrate (2) with the first layer (3) facing toward the substrate (2).

The second layer (5) of organic material forms a cover layer and holds the combination (7) of first layer (3) and second layer (5) together following the removal, in this case dissolving, of the sheet of transfer paper (4). The above four steps [A-D] are per se known and form part of a standard transfer technique. Hie first layer (3) of ceramic ink has however not yet been patterned here and covers the whole substrate (2), or at least a relevant portion thereof, while in a known transfer technique this layer is in contrast now arranged patterned on the transfer paper, for instance by means of a screen printing technique.

According to the invention the method now also comprises of:

B. dividing the combination (7) into mutually separated first parts (8) and second parts (9) by means of making incisions (6) of a desired form in the combination (7), here by means of cutting with a laser beam;

F. removing the first parts (8) from the substrate (2); and G. healing the substrate (2) and the second parts (9) such that the parts (10) of the first layer (3) of ceramic ink which form part of the second parts (9) fuse with the substrate (2) in the vicinity of the mutual interfaces (12) and thus become fixedly connected to the substrate (2).

According to the invention the combination (7) and the substrate (2) are not completely dried following the removal, in this case dissolving, of the sheet of transfer paper (4) and prior to arranging of the combination (7) on the substrate (2), so that a small quantity of water remains between the substrate (2) and the combination (7) arranged thereon. The incisions (6) are subsequently made with the laser beam, wherein the substrate (2) fonns a firm support.

The heat generated by the laser beam causes discolouration of the first layer (3) of ceramic ink in the immediate vicinity of the incisions (6), this in principle being undesirable. It is further found that the laser beam also already causes partial local fusing of the first layer (3) of ceramic ink with the substrate (2). In the immediate vicinity of the incisions (6) 'micro-explosions' also occur in the small quantity of water that is present, and steam or gas is generated which ensures that (discoloured) parts of the first layer (3) of ceramic ink in the immediate vicinity of the incisions (6) are removed, in this case ejected, again. In addition, the small quantity of water thai is present protects (he substrate (2) from overheating and damage by buffering energy of the laser beam. The first layer (3) of ceramic ink in the immediate vicinity of the incisions (6) further adheres to the substrate (2) and the combination (7) is thus held in place. This all depends on the intensity, diameter and cutting speed of the laser beam. At a correct setting of the laser parameters and a correct quantity of remaining water it is found possible to realize a durable and well- defined designation (1) without (visible) discolouration.

Following cutting with the laser beam and removal of the first parts (8) from the substrate (2), the substrate (2) with the second parts (9) thereon is heated, wherein the parts (10) of the first layer (3) of ceramic ink which form part of the second parts (9) are fixedly connected, in this case fused, to the substrate (2). The final water still remaining evaporates during this heating. The parts (11) of the second layer (5) of organic material which form part of the second parts (9) also burn away completely here.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the given exemplary embodiment, but that diverse other variants evident to a skilled person are possible within the scope of the invention.

Reference numerals ans letters used

1 designation

2 substrate of a first material (vitreous, ceramic, metal)

3 first layer of a second material (ceramic ink or dye)

4 sheet (transfer paper) of a third material

5 second layer of a fourth material (organic)

6 incisions

7 combination of 3 and 5

8 first parts of 7 (to be removed from substrate)

9 second parts of 7 (remaining)

10 parts of 3 forming part of 9 (to be connected fixedly to substrate)

11 parts of 5 forming part of 9 (to be burnt away)

12 interfaces between 10 and 2

A. arranging 3 (first layer) on 4 (sheet)

B. arranging 5 (second layer) on 3 (first layer)

C. removing 4 (sheet) from 7 (combination)

D. arranging 7 (combination) on 2 (substrate)

E. making 6 (incisions) in 7 (combination, arranged on the substrate)

F. removing 8 (first parte of 7) from 2 (substrate)

G. fixedly connecting 10 (parts of 3 forming part of 9) to 2 (substrate) and removing

11 (parts of 5 forming part of 9)

Claims

1. Method for arranging a designation (1) on a substrate (2) of a first material, being a vitreous material, a ceramic material or a metal, the method comprising of:

A. arranging a first layer (3) of a second material, being a ceramic ink or dye, on a sheet (4) of a third material;

B. arranging a second layer (5) of a fourth material on the first layer (3);

C. removing the combination (7) of the first layer (3) and the second layer (5) from the sheet (4); and

D. arranging the combination (7) on the substrate (2) with the first layer (3) facing toward the substrate (2);

characterized in that the method also comprises of:

E. dividing the combination (7) into mutually separated first parts (8) and second parts (9) by means of making incisions (6) of a desired form in the combination (7);

F. removing the first parts (8) from the substrate (2); and

G. heating the substrate (2) and the second parts (9) such that the parts (10) of the first layer (3) which form part of the second parts (9) fuse with the substrate (2) in the vicinity of the mutual interfaces (12) and thus become fixedly connected to the substrate (2).

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that transfer paper is used as sheet (4).

3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the removal (C) of the sheet (4) from the combination (7) takes place by means of dissolving the third material in a suitable solvent, for instance water.

4. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the fourth material is an organic material, characterized in that the heating (G) of the substrate (2) and the second parts (9) takes place such mat the parts (11) of the second layer (5) which form part of the second parts (9) are removed by burning and/or sublimation.

5. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the making of incisions (6) takes place by means of a laser beam.

6. Method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that following removal (C) of the sheet (4) from the combination (7) solvent still present is expelled to uie extent that a small quantity of solvent remains between the substrate (2) and the combination (7) arranged (D) thereon.

7. Method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that solvent is expelled by means of drying the combination (7) before the combination (7) is arranged (D) on the substrate (2).

8. Method as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that solvent is expelled by means of drying the combination (7) and the substrate (2) after the combination (7) is arranged (D) on the substrate (2).

9. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a small quantity of liquid, for instance water, is provided between the substrate (2) and the combination (7) arranged (D) thereon.

10. Method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the small quantity of liquid is provided by means of moistening the combination (7) before the combination (7) is arranged (D) on the substrate (2).

11. Method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the small quantity of liquid is provided by means of moistening the substrate (2) before the combination (7) is arranged (ID) on the substrate (2).

12. Substrate (2) of a first material, being a vitreous material, a ceramic material or a metal, provided with a designation (1), characterized in that the designation (1) is arranged on the substrate (2) by means of a method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims.