EP0549542A1 - A process for transfer printing decorations onto a plastic or metal sheet - Google Patents

A process for transfer printing decorations onto a plastic or metal sheet Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0549542A1
EP0549542A1 EP92830649A EP92830649A EP0549542A1 EP 0549542 A1 EP0549542 A1 EP 0549542A1 EP 92830649 A EP92830649 A EP 92830649A EP 92830649 A EP92830649 A EP 92830649A EP 0549542 A1 EP0549542 A1 EP 0549542A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
decorated
fact
onto
ink
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP92830649A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mario Da Re'
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fiat Auto SpA
Original Assignee
Fiat Auto SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fiat Auto SpA filed Critical Fiat Auto SpA
Publication of EP0549542A1 publication Critical patent/EP0549542A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/025—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet
    • B41M5/035—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic
    • B41M5/0358—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by transferring ink from the master sheet by sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design, e.g. sublistatic characterised by the mechanisms or artifacts to obtain the transfer, e.g. the heating means, the pressure means or the transport means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
    • B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
    • B44C1/16—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like
    • B44C1/165—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects for applying transfer pictures or the like for decalcomanias; sheet material therefor
    • B44C1/17—Dry transfer
    • B44C1/1712—Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive
    • B44C1/1716—Decalcomanias provided with a particular decorative layer, e.g. specially adapted to allow the formation of a metallic or dyestuff layer on a substrate unsuitable for direct deposition

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process for transfer printing decorations onto a plastics or metal sheet, comprising the operations of: applying coloured ink to a sheet of paper to form the decoration to be transferred onto the sheet, superimposing the said sheet of paper onto the sheet to be decorated maintaining them pressed against one another, and delivering to the said ink a quantity of energy sufficient to cause its transfer onto the sheet to be decorated.
  • the sheet to be decorated and the sheet of inked paper, on which a silicone rubber membrane is superimposed are maintained in a chamber under vacuum so that the sheet of paper is pressed against the sheet to be decorated.
  • the sheet of paper and the sheet to be printed By radiating infra red rays onto the assembly constituted by the membrane, the sheet of paper and the sheet to be printed, sufficient energy is delivered to the ink to allow it to transfer from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated, onto which the desired decoration is thus transferred.
  • the sheet to be decorated is metal it is possible to utilise an alternative process in which the silicone membrane, the inked paper sheet and the superimposed sheet to be decorated are passed between two counter-rotating heated rollers. In this case, too, transfer of the ink from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated is obtained.
  • the subject of the present invention is a process of the above indicated type, characterised by the fact that the delivery of energy is effected by radiating the ink with microwaves at a high frequency.
  • the energy provided by the microwaves is substantially that necessary to cause transfer of the ink from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated. It is thus not necessary to support additional costs for the generation of excess thermal energy, which moreover would involve dangerous over heating of the process apparatus.
  • a further advantage of the process according to the invention lies in the fact that the transfer of the ink from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated is effected in a shorter time than that used by traditional processes.
  • the reference numeral 2 generally indicates known clamping apparatus comprising a frame 4 of dielectric material, which defines an internal chamber 6 put into communication by ducts 8 with a pump, not illustrated in the drawing, for generating a vacuum in the chamber 6.
  • a sheet of plastics material 10 to be decorated Within this latter there are superimposed a sheet of plastics material 10 to be decorated, a paper sheet 12 on which the decoration to be transferred has been preliminarily printed with a coloured ink, and a silicone rubber membrane 14.
  • the operation of the device is as follows. Once the plate 10 the paper sheet 12 and the membrane 14 have been located together in the chamber 6, a given vacuum is created in this latter to press the paper sheet 12 against the sheet 10, then the electrical power generator connected to the two electrodes 16, 18 is activated and thus generates a microwave field within the chamber 6, which causes transfer of the coloured ink from the paper sheet 12 to the sheet 10, on which the desired decoration is thus impressed. Irradiation is effected with high frequency microwaves for a period of time of several seconds.
  • the microwave generation takes place between a flat metal electrode 16 disposed above the clamping apparatus 2 and the sheet 10, the paper sheet 12 being interposed between the electrode 16 and the sheet 10.
  • the metal sheet 10 would act as a screen against the microwaves.

Abstract

The printing process comprises the operations of: forming the decoration to be transferred onto the sheet (10) by means of coloured ink on a sheet of paper (12); superimposing the said paper sheet (12) over the sheet (10) to be decorated, maintaining them pressed against one another; and delivering to the said ink, by radiating it with microwaves, a quantity of energy sufficient to cause its transfer onto the sheet (10) to be decorated.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a process for transfer printing decorations onto a plastics or metal sheet, comprising the operations of:
       applying coloured ink to a sheet of paper to form the decoration to be transferred onto the sheet,
       superimposing the said sheet of paper onto the sheet to be decorated maintaining them pressed against one another, and
       delivering to the said ink a quantity of energy sufficient to cause its transfer onto the sheet to be decorated.
  • In the known art, the sheet to be decorated and the sheet of inked paper, on which a silicone rubber membrane is superimposed, are maintained in a chamber under vacuum so that the sheet of paper is pressed against the sheet to be decorated. By radiating infra red rays onto the assembly constituted by the membrane, the sheet of paper and the sheet to be printed, sufficient energy is delivered to the ink to allow it to transfer from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated, onto which the desired decoration is thus transferred.
  • If the sheet to be decorated is metal it is possible to utilise an alternative process in which the silicone membrane, the inked paper sheet and the superimposed sheet to be decorated are passed between two counter-rotating heated rollers. In this case, too, transfer of the ink from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated is obtained.
  • Both the above described processes have the disadvantage of requiring the development of a large quantity of heat in excess of that strictly necessary for the ink transfer process, with a consequent wear and tear of the apparatus used and additional costs for the generation of this excess thermal energy.
  • For the purpose of obviating the said disadvantages the subject of the present invention is a process of the above indicated type, characterised by the fact that the delivery of energy is effected by radiating the ink with microwaves at a high frequency.
  • With the process according to the invention the energy provided by the microwaves is substantially that necessary to cause transfer of the ink from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated. It is thus not necessary to support additional costs for the generation of excess thermal energy, which moreover would involve dangerous over heating of the process apparatus.
  • A further advantage of the process according to the invention lies in the fact that the transfer of the ink from the paper sheet to the sheet to be decorated is effected in a shorter time than that used by traditional processes.
  • Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the annexed drawing, provided by way of non-limitative example, in which the single figure schematically represents in section a device for performing the process of the invention.
  • The reference numeral 2 generally indicates known clamping apparatus comprising a frame 4 of dielectric material, which defines an internal chamber 6 put into communication by ducts 8 with a pump, not illustrated in the drawing, for generating a vacuum in the chamber 6. Within this latter there are superimposed a sheet of plastics material 10 to be decorated, a paper sheet 12 on which the decoration to be transferred has been preliminarily printed with a coloured ink, and a silicone rubber membrane 14.
  • On opposite sides of the clamping apparatus 2 there are disposed two flat metal electrodes 16, 18, connected to an electrical generator not illustrated in the drawing and adapted to generate microwaves in a manner known per se.
  • The operation of the device is as follows. Once the plate 10 the paper sheet 12 and the membrane 14 have been located together in the chamber 6, a given vacuum is created in this latter to press the paper sheet 12 against the sheet 10, then the electrical power generator connected to the two electrodes 16, 18 is activated and thus generates a microwave field within the chamber 6, which causes transfer of the coloured ink from the paper sheet 12 to the sheet 10, on which the desired decoration is thus impressed. Irradiation is effected with high frequency microwaves for a period of time of several seconds.
  • If it is desired to decorate a metal sheet rather than a sheet of plastics material the microwave generation takes place between a flat metal electrode 16 disposed above the clamping apparatus 2 and the sheet 10, the paper sheet 12 being interposed between the electrode 16 and the sheet 10. In fact, if a microwave generating device formed, as in the preceding case, by two electrodes outside the clamping apparatus were used the metal sheet 10 would act as a screen against the microwaves.

Claims (4)

  1. A process for transfer printing decorations onto a sheet (10) of plastics material or sheet metal, comprising the operations of:
       forming the decoration to be transferred onto the sheet (10) on a paper sheet (12) with coloured ink,
       superimposing the said paper sheet (12) onto the sheet (10) to be decorated, maintaining them pressed against one another, and
       delivering to the said ink a quantity of energy sufficient to cause transfer thereof onto the sheet (10) to be decorated,
       characterised by the fact that the delivery of energy is effected by radiating the ink with microwaves at high frequency.
  2. A process according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the microwave radiation is continued for a period of time of several seconds.
  3. A process according to any preceding Claim, characterised by the fact that the sheet (10) to be decorated is plastics material, and by the fact that the microwaves are generated between two flat metal electrodes (16,18) between which the paper sheet (12) and the sheet (10) to be decorated are interposed.
  4. A process according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the sheet (10) to be decorated is metal and by the fact that the microwaves are generated between the said sheet (10) and a flat metal electrode (16), the paper sheet (12) being interposed between the electrode (16) and the sheet (10).
EP92830649A 1991-12-23 1992-12-01 A process for transfer printing decorations onto a plastic or metal sheet Withdrawn EP0549542A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO911030A IT1250370B (en) 1991-12-23 1991-12-23 PROCESS FOR DECORATION TRANSFER MOLDING ON A PLASTIC OR SHEET METAL SHEET ..
ITTO911030 1991-12-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0549542A1 true EP0549542A1 (en) 1993-06-30

Family

ID=11409832

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92830649A Withdrawn EP0549542A1 (en) 1991-12-23 1992-12-01 A process for transfer printing decorations onto a plastic or metal sheet

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0549542A1 (en)
IT (1) IT1250370B (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0775597A3 (en) * 1995-11-25 1998-08-26 Robobond Limited Method of ornamenting plastic articles
WO2007104428A1 (en) 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Braun Gmbh Method for printing a surface
US7674300B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-03-09 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US7740666B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-06-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US8182552B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2012-05-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US8632613B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2014-01-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for applying one or more treatment agents to a textile web

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2256838A1 (en) * 1974-01-07 1975-08-01 Hagamex Sarl Printing synthetic matls. by transfer from support - by heat or molecular excitation
FR2383794A1 (en) * 1977-03-14 1978-10-13 Compo Ind Inc Press tools for embossing and gelling resin coated sheet - to minimise pattern costs and obtain permanent impressions
GB1583953A (en) * 1977-07-01 1981-02-04 Glover R Transfer printing of textile material
GB2117320A (en) * 1982-03-27 1983-10-12 Terance Kliszcz Transfer printing on articles having flat, curved or irregularly- shaped surfaces
EP0097528A2 (en) * 1982-06-21 1984-01-04 Hlh Corporation Dye pattern absorption into plastics
EP0333880A1 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-09-27 Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. Multi-color printing method for container

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2256838A1 (en) * 1974-01-07 1975-08-01 Hagamex Sarl Printing synthetic matls. by transfer from support - by heat or molecular excitation
FR2383794A1 (en) * 1977-03-14 1978-10-13 Compo Ind Inc Press tools for embossing and gelling resin coated sheet - to minimise pattern costs and obtain permanent impressions
GB1583953A (en) * 1977-07-01 1981-02-04 Glover R Transfer printing of textile material
GB2117320A (en) * 1982-03-27 1983-10-12 Terance Kliszcz Transfer printing on articles having flat, curved or irregularly- shaped surfaces
EP0097528A2 (en) * 1982-06-21 1984-01-04 Hlh Corporation Dye pattern absorption into plastics
EP0333880A1 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-09-27 Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. Multi-color printing method for container

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DR.O.NEUM]LLER 'Römpps Chemie-Lexikon' 1985 , FRANCKHSCHE VERLAGSHANDLUNG , STUTTGART,DE 8th edition, volume 4 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 15, no. 283 (M-1137)18 July 1991 & JP-A-3 099 883 ( FUJITSU LTD ) 25 April 1991 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 7, no. 159 (M-228)13 July 1983 & JP-A-58 067 498 ( CANON KK ) 22 April 1983 *

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0775597A3 (en) * 1995-11-25 1998-08-26 Robobond Limited Method of ornamenting plastic articles
WO2007104428A1 (en) 2006-03-16 2007-09-20 Braun Gmbh Method for printing a surface
US7674300B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-03-09 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US7740666B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2010-06-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US8182552B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2012-05-22 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for dyeing a textile web
US8632613B2 (en) 2007-12-27 2014-01-21 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Process for applying one or more treatment agents to a textile web

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT1250370B (en) 1995-04-07
ITTO911030A1 (en) 1993-06-24
ITTO911030A0 (en) 1991-12-23

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