CN1946571A - Apparatus and process for manufacturing a film for applying varnish and colour onto an object - Google Patents

Abstract

A process and apparatus for manufacturing a film that can be used to apply varnish and colour onto an object to be decorated. The process includes the steps of; (1) applying a layer of colour onto a first film, which has release properties; (2) applying a layer of varnish onto the colour layer of the first film; (3) partially curing the varnish layer; (4) transferring by release the layers of varnish and colour from the first film onto a second film having release properties, wherein the second film is more flexible than the first; and (5) further curing the transferred layer of varnish on the second film.

Description

Apparatus and method for producing films for applying varnishes and pigments to objects

This application claims priority to US Patent Application Serial No. 60/546,736, filed February 23, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

technical field

The invention relates to a method and a device for the manufacture of films enabling the application of colors and varnishes to objects to be decorated.

Background technique

Membranes with so-called release properties are known in the prior art, see, for example, EP 1 053 793 A1 and EP 0 573 676 B1. Papers and films made of resins are known in the art, the surface of which is prepared so that the film has release properties. If the paint or varnish layer is applied to such a film having release properties, the varnish or paint layer peeled off from the film can be transferred to the object to be decorated. Typically, these release properties are obtained or enhanced by applying silicon based release agents between the film and the pigment and varnish layers. However, it is generally undesirable for silicon residues to remain on the paint/varnish layer applied to the intended decoration.

The prior art according to EP 0 573 676 B1 discloses a method for decorating objects in which a varnish layer is applied to a film with release properties. The varnish layer is incompletely cured. A pigment layer is applied to the incompletely cured clearcoat layer and a second clearcoat layer is applied on top of this pigment layer. And the second varnish layer is not fully cured. Thereafter, the varnish layer and the pigment layer are transferred separately onto the object to be decorated ("substrate"). After transfer by stripping, the first and second varnish layers are fully cured. "Curing" is also referred to as "crosslinking".

EP 1 053 793 Al teaches the application of varnish and pigment to objects by means of a release film, wherein a glue is applied on top of the varnish and pigment layers of the release film. When the film is transferred to the object to be decorated, the glue is in direct contact with the object.

Also known in the prior art is the method of producing films that can be used to apply paints and varnishes to objects to be decorated, in which a layer of pigments is printed on a first film with release properties, and thereafter is removed by means of a release process. The method is to transfer the pigment layer to another film with release properties. The other membrane is more flexible than the first membrane.

It is also known in the art to apply varnishes to a flexible film using so-called applicator rolls and so-called pinch rolls (sometimes also called counter rolls). The flexible film may preferably have so-called release properties, so that the varnish layer can be transferred from the film to the object, for example after curing (crosslinking) of the varnish or after incomplete curing, by Peel off to achieve this transfer. Films made of materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate or polyethylene terephthalate generally have good release properties. The release properties of the film can also be enhanced by physical methods such as manipulating the surface tension of the film (for example by conventional corona treatment) or by chemical methods such as the application of various conventional release agents.

purpose of invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a device for the manufacture of paints and varnishes that can be used to apply paints and varnishes to objects to be decorated, wherein the paints and varnishes have good adhesion on the objects to be decorated.

The object to be decorated may be, for example, made of wood or a wood-like material, or the object may also be made of plastic or the like. Objects made of metal can also be covered with paints and varnishes by means of the films according to the invention. Furthermore, objects made of glass or ceramic materials can also be decorated with paints and varnishes by means of the film according to the invention.

To this end, the present invention teaches a method and apparatus for producing a film that can be used to apply varnishes and pigments to objects, the method comprising the steps of: (1) applying a layer of pigment to a first (2) applying a varnish layer to the pigment layer on the first film; (3) incompletely curing the varnish layer; (4) applying the varnish by a release technique layer and pigment layer are transferred from the first film to a second film with release properties, wherein the second film is more flexible than the first film; and (5) further curing the transferred varnish on the second film layer.

As an alternative, the present invention teaches a method for producing a film that can be used to apply paint and varnish to an object, the method comprising the steps of: (1) applying a layer of varnish to a first (2) applying a pigment layer to the varnish layer on the first film; (3) incompletely curing the varnish layer; (4) applying the pigment layer by a release technique layer and varnish layer are transferred from the first film to a second film having release properties, wherein the second film is more flexible than the first film; and (5) further curing the transferred varnish on the second film layer.

Likewise, the equipment used to manufacture the film may include: (1) a varnish application station for applying a layer of varnish to a first film having release properties; (2) a station for incompletely curing the A first curing station for the varnish layer; (3) a feed cylinder for feeding a second film, which is more flexible than the first film; (4) for removing at least the varnish layer from the first a transfer station on the film to a second film; and (5) a second curing station for further curing of the varnish layer.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first film comprises a pigment layer. The pigment layer may be on top of the varnish layer or below the lacquer layer, ie in direct contact with the first film. According to another preferred embodiment, a heating station, preferably a heating station using infrared radiation (infrared), is arranged between the varnish application station and the first curing station. In this regard, the term "between" refers to the direction of movement of the first film through the apparatus, for example, the direction from the feed cylinder for the first film to the transfer station . According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first film is made of polypropylene and the second film is made of polyolefin, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The incomplete curing in the first curing station is preferably carried out by means of UV radiation emitted by a UV radiation source. Complete curing of the varnish in the second curing station is also preferably carried out by means of UV radiation emitted by a UV radiation source.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first membrane is made of polypropylene. Polypropylene is relatively stiff compared to other films with release properties known in the art. Polypropylene, on the other hand, can be printed with color decorations in very good quality. In particular, the relatively stiff (not flexible) polypropylene film presents problems if the object to be decorated is a three-dimensional object. Thus, according to the invention, the pigment layer and the varnish layer applied on or under the pigment layer are transferred by release technology to another film having release properties, wherein the other film is softer than the polypropylene film, The pigment layer and the varnish layer can thus be transferred from a more flexible film to a three-dimensional object with high quality, including edges and recesses on the object. Preferred materials for the second, more flexible film are polyolefins, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). In a preferred embodiment, the pigment and varnish layers are applied to the first and second films without the use of a release agent (ie without a release agent).

Most preferably, the steps of the method according to the invention are performed by the same device without a time delay between the two steps. In particular, the step of transferring the varnish layer and the pigment layer from the first film to the second film layer by stripping techniques is carried out directly after the incomplete curing of the varnish layer with minimal time delay. Incomplete curing is preferably accomplished by UV (ultraviolet) radiation. The same method is applied to the further curing of the transferred varnish layer. This further curing is preferably a complete curing of the varnish, that is to say a complete crosslinking of the varnish.

The most suitable dyestuff or ink of the present invention should choose anti-ultraviolet dispersion pigment (dispersion color dyes). Preferably, the pigment layer is formed by applying about 10 grams (wet) or 3 grams (dry) of dye per square meter. Sublimable disperse dyes can also be used for the pigment layer. Sublimable disperse dyes refer to dyes that can directly transition from a solid state to a gas state and tend to penetrate into the substrate instead of remaining completely on the surface of the substrate. The varnishes to be used are known from the prior art, for example varnishes based on alkylurethane resins.

The product obtained according to the method and device of the invention is a film that can be used to apply paints and varnishes to decorated objects. The product is a film that can be manufactured and sold. As disclosed in EP 0 282 859 B1, for example, the consumer can use the film by pressing the film against the three-dimensional object to be decorated in a device using the film. Films produced according to the invention can also be used in injection machines.

Another embodiment of the invention involves the application of a varnish layer to such a film, which preferably has release properties. The film can be printed with a pigment layer before or after the application of the varnish layer.

Applying relatively thick layers of varnish to films is very difficult, if not impossible, in the prior art. The films referred to herein generally have a width greater than 100 centimeters, for example a width in the range of 160 to 180 centimeters. Machines according to the prior art are only capable of applying varnish layers with a thickness of generally less than 60 μm.

The present invention aims to provide a device which can be adapted to apply layers of varnish of various thicknesses, in particular relatively thick varnish layers.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for applying varnish to a film. The apparatus includes an applicator roll for transferring varnish from the applicator roll to the film and a pinch roll disposed adjacent to the applicator roll. In addition to the means for rotating the applicator roll so that the circumference of the applicator roll adjacent to the film rotates at a second speed different from the first speed, there is also provided for feeding the film at the first speed through the applicator roll and the compactor The device for the gap between the rollers.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means for feeding the film feeds the film in a first direction through the nip between the coating roller and the pinch roller, and the means for rotating the coating roller rotates the coating The roller moves such that the circumference of the coating roller adjacent the film is in a second direction opposite the first direction.

In yet another embodiment, the film enters the nip at a non-zero angle (α) to a plane that is tangent to the applicator roll and pinch roll. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating roller comprises a rubber surface. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a device for moving at least one pressure roller or coating roller in a direction parallel to a plane which is tangential to both the coating roller and the pressure roller.

Description of drawings

1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a method for producing a film enabling the application of pigments and varnishes to objects.

Figures 5 to 7 show another embodiment of this method.

FIG. 8 shows an apparatus according to the invention for producing a film enabling the application of varnishes and pigments to objects.

Figure 9 schematically shows an embodiment of the invention for applying varnish to a film.

Detailed ways

According to FIG. 1 , a first film 10 of polypropylene is printed with a layer comprising pigment decorations and forming a pigment layer 14 , which in one embodiment may be 15-40 μm thick. As used herein, the term "pigment layer" includes an ink layer imprinted with a pattern, for example like a wood grain pattern or any other desired pattern. This printing method is known per se in the prior art, one embodiment of which is known as the "Gravure" method. In one embodiment, the first film 10 will have a surface tension (or surface energy) of about 30 to 40 dynes, preferably about 35 to 40 dynes, and most preferably about 39 to 40 dynes. Between 40 dynes. This surface tension can be achieved by selecting a material that naturally has this surface tension or by altering the surface tension, for example by corona treatment. By virtue of the above-mentioned surface tension, the pigment layer can be applied without using a release agent.

Thereafter, the varnish layer 12 is applied on top of the paint layer 14 . Typically, the thickness of this varnish layer is in the range of 1 to 130 μm. These two steps yield the product shown in Figure 1.

Thereafter, ultraviolet radiation 18 , indicated by arrows in FIG. 2 , is applied to the film 10 carrying the pigment layer ( 14 ) and the varnish layer ( 12 ). The intensity of the UV radiation can be controlled such that the varnish is not fully cured (crosslinked), but only incompletely cured, ie the varnish is still relatively soft. The remaining softness of the varnish can be adjusted by means of the amount of UV radiation and depends on the particular requirements that the final finished film must fulfill, which on the other hand depends on the size and shape of the final object to be decorated. For example, incomplete curing can be achieved by irradiation of about 50 to 80 watts per square centimeter, depending on the thickness of the varnish layer.

After the incomplete curing of the varnish layer 12, the varnish layer and the pigment layer are immediately, preferably only delayed by the time that the film moves from one station to the next, transferred by a stripping technique to another second also having stripping properties. on the membrane 16. In one embodiment, the second membrane 16 has a surface tension similar to that described above, and no release agent is used. The result of the transfer is shown in Figure 3, ie the varnish layer 12 is in direct contact with the film 16, and the pigment layer is on top of the varnish layer.

After transfer, the varnish layer is completely cured by means of ultraviolet radiation 20 as shown in FIG. 4 . Full cure (crosslinking) can be obtained by applying, for example, 120 watts per square centimeter. The transfer from the first membrane to the second membrane can be facilitated by applying a pressure of 1 to 2 bar and an elevated temperature of about 90°C to 180°C, preferably about 90°C to 140°C.

Thereafter, the film 16 comprising the pigment layer 14 and the fully cured varnish layer 12 can be used to decorate the object. Decoration can be carried out according to the prior art, that is to say that layers of varnish and pigment are transferred onto the object by release techniques, for example according to European patent EP 0 573 676 B1 (where the object is called as the "base"). According to the invention, however, complete curing (i.e. complete cross-linking) is not carried out on decorated objects (i.e. objects bearing layers of paint and varnish), on the contrary, according to the invention complete curing is performed on objects having Membrane 16 for release properties. Thereafter, the decoration is transferred from the film to the object.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the pigment layer 14 may be composed of several sub-layers, such as a top coat layer, a primer layer and an adhesive layer. When the paint layer 14 is applied to an object, it is the binder sub-layer that bonds the paint layer 14 and varnish layer 12 to the object. As non-limiting examples, the binder may include polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylate, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polyolefin, or melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resin. In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive is heat curable and UV curable. Preferably, the adhesive is curable by a UV source, such as mercury or gallium UV lamps. The binder can be made thermally curable by including in its composition about 5% to 10% by weight of at least one of the following compounds: ester, ketone, benzyl hydroxene, glycol or water. Also as a non-limiting example, the base layer can be the binder compound described above, but also include about 10% to 50% iron dioxide pigment (percentage depends on the brightness of the pigment desired) or if a white background is desired When the titanium dioxide pigment additives.

5 shows a first film 10 comprising an adhesive layer 21 formed on the first film 10, a bottom layer 22 on the adhesive layer 21, a pigment layer 14 on the bottom layer 22 and A layer of varnish 12 on a layer of paint 14 . In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 6, the bottom layer 22 may be omitted. Whether the bottom layer 22 is included in the overall film depends on what background color is desired in the overall film. Certain background colors can be produced by varying the adhesive layer 21 alone, while other background colors will require an additional base layer 22 to obtain the desired appearance. As discussed with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the various layers are stripped onto the second film 16 shown in Figure 7 and subjected to further curing. Where the above description discusses a layer that is applied "on top of" a film or another layer, this description includes second layers that are applied directly to the film or other layer as well as indirectly through some type of intermediate layer. A second layer on or above a film or other layer.

As explained in more detail above in connection with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the final product shown in Figure 7 is a film 16 ready to be used to decorate an object.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 7 can be modified such that more than one paint layer can be applied and more than one varnish layer can be applied. For example, more than one varnish layer and/or more than one paint layer can be applied to the film 10 in the steps shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 5 and 6 , respectively. Importantly, according to the present invention, before the at least one layer of varnish is transferred to the softer second film 16 shown in each of FIGS. Incomplete cure on film.

FIG. 8 shows an apparatus for carrying out the two methods described above for producing films that can be used for applying varnishes and pigments to objects. According to FIG. 8 , various workstations are arranged on the base 30 to carry out the steps necessary to obtain the film.

A supply cylinder 32 is provided for supplying the printed first film 10 . For example, according to FIGS. 1 to 4 , the first film 10 may already be printed with a pigment layer 14 . In other words, the feed cylinder 32 in FIG. 8 provides the film 10 bearing the pigment layer 14 . The film 10 is fed to a varnish application station 36 via rollers 34 . In the varnish application station 36 , the varnish layer 12 (see FIG. 1 ) is applied onto the paint layer 14 . The varnish application station 36 includes rollers 36a, 36b for applying varnish to the film. Such application rollers are also known per se from the prior art. Alternatively, the varnish application station 36 may comprise, for example, a set of rollers as described below with respect to FIG. 9 . The varnish supply device 36c is also schematically indicated in FIG. 8 .

In this varnish application station 36 varnish is applied to the film so that the film is completely covered with varnish, the pigment layer being located underneath the varnish layer. Usually the varnish layer has a thickness of between 1 and 130 μm. Thereafter, the film is fed to a heating station 38 where the varnish is gradually heated to distribute the varnish more evenly on the film. For heating, an infrared source 38a is used. As an example, the varnish can be heated at 60°C to 90°C for 10 to 15 seconds, although the temperature and heating time can be varied as desired.

After passing through the heating station 38 , the film is fed to a first curing station 40 . The first curing station 40 comprises a larger roller 40a on which the film is fed from the left hand side to the right hand side in FIG. 8 . A UV source 40b is arranged radially relative to the roller 40a for incomplete curing of the varnish on the film 10 . In a preferred embodiment, incomplete curing can be obtained by applying a power of 50 to 80 W/cm2, or even less than 50 W/cm2 if the layer of varnish is thin enough. Roller 40 is preferably cooled by water.

The ultraviolet light source is fixed on a carriage 40c which can be moved from a position shown by a solid line to a position shown by a broken line in the figure. The left-hand position shown with a solid line is the working position.

After passing through the first curing station 40 , the film 10 a loaded with partially cured varnish is fed to a transfer station 44 . The transfer of the varnish and pigment layers is induced by means of the transfer rollers 44a, 44b by applying a pressure of 1 to 2 bar between the rollers and a high temperature in the range of 120°C to 180°C, depending on the material of the film used.

A supply cylinder 42 for supplying the second film 16 is also arranged close to the transfer station 44 for supplying the second film to the transfer station. The transfer station 44 includes transfer rollers 44a and 44b to transfer both the varnish layer and the paint layer from the first film 10a to the second film 16 . As explained above, the second membrane 16 is more flexible than the first membrane 10a. Since the first film 10a has a release property, the pigment layer and the partially cured varnish layer can be transferred from the first film to the second film by a release technique. Such release transfer techniques are known per se in this technical field. After the transfer, both the first and second films are fed together to a separation roll 48 via roll 46 and another roll 46a. At the separation roller 48, the first film 10 is separated from the second film 16a, so that the second film 16a loaded with the pigment layer and the varnish layer is fed to the second curing station 52, while the first film 10 is on the collecting rollers. 50 were collected.

In the second curing station 52, the varnish layer on the second film 16a is completely cured by ultraviolet radiation provided by the ultraviolet lamp 52b. The UV lamps are arranged on a carriage 52c which can be moved into an inoperative position indicated by dotted lines in the figure. Depending on the varnish used, complete curing of the varnish may preferably be obtained by applying 120 W/cm2. As an alternative to UV curing, at the second curing station 52, a second curing step may be accomplished by applying heat to the film. Typically, thermal curing is employed when the film is to be applied to objects with complex or irregular surface shapes. In one embodiment, the ultraviolet lamp 52 is replaced by an infrared source for applying heat to the film 16a. Of course, other methods for applying heat to the film 16a are within the scope of the present invention. Typically, the heat source should raise the temperature of the film to about 90 to 140°C, although other temperatures may be suitable depending on the composition of the film.

After the varnish is fully cured in the second curing station 52 , the finished film 16c is fed via rollers 56 onto a collection cylinder 58 . When the cylinder 58 is attached, because the second film 16 also has release properties, the finished product is ready to ship to consumers who will use the film to apply varnishes and paints to objects by release techniques.

As shown in FIG. 9 , an alternative embodiment involving the application of a varnish layer to a film as described above includes a coating roller 10 and a pinch roller 112 . The pinch rollers are also sometimes referred to as "counter rollers". The pinch roller 112 is hands-free; that is, it is not powered and is free to rotate. A dosing roller 114 is disposed adjacent to the applicator roller 10 for transferring varnish onto the applicator roller 110 from a supply (not shown). The plane 116 is tangent to both the coating roller 110 and the pressure roller 112 , that is to say, the plane 116 passes between mutually adjacent rollers. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the applicator roller 110 has a surface made of an elastic material such as rubber or similar man-made synthetic material or natural polymer, for example. In a more preferred embodiment, the resilient surface has a Shore A hardness of between about 30 and 80.

The film 118 with release properties is fed from the right hand side to the left hand side in the figure. In one embodiment, the release properties may be defined as a film having a film of between about 30 and 42 dynes, or more preferably between about 35 and 40 dynes, and most preferably between about 39 and 40 dynes. The surface tension (or surface energy) between them. This surface tension can be obtained by selecting a material that naturally has this surface tension or by changing the surface tension, such as by corona treatment. Applicator roller 110 rotates about its axis 120 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by arrow 146 . The pinch roller 112 rotates about its axis 122 and is driven at the speed at which the film 118 is fed. As shown in FIG. 8, the applicator roll 110 and pinch roll 112 are driven using conventional drive mechanisms. Typically, applicator roller 110 and pinch roller 112 are arranged to exert a given pressure on film 118 as it passes between the rollers. In a preferred embodiment, applicator roll 110 and pinch roll 112 will apply a pressure to film 118 of between about 1 and 4 bars.

Film 118 is directed via rollers 124 and 126 such that film 118 is not positioned on cut surface 116 but between film 118 and cut surface 116 as shown, before it is fed between the applicator roller and pinch roller. An angle α is defined between them. This angle α is acute and preferably in the range of about 10° to 30°.

As mentioned above, film 118 is fed in a direction from right to left in the drawing. The pulling means for pulling the film in direction 142 are not shown, but they are generally arranged to the left of coating roller 110 and pinch roller 112 in the figure. For example, a conventional driven collection roll is adapted to pull the film in direction 142 .

As shown, the varnish is transferred by applicator roller 110 onto film 118 , and specifically, onto the upper surface of film 118 . Preferably, the varnish is curable by so-called crosslinking, which is known per se from the prior art. For example, a curing device (not shown) may be disposed on the left side of the coating roller 110 and the pinch roller 112 .

A varnish container 128 is disposed below pinch roller 112 to collect excess varnish not intended to be applied to film 118 , eg, varnish applied to the edges of film 118 .

A support 130, which supports the pinch roller 112 and the paint roller 110, allows the paint roller 110 and the pinch roller 112 to rotate in the direction of the arrow 132, that is, the paint roller 110 and the pinch roller 112 can be wound around two The middle of the rollers rotates on axis A passing through axes 120 and 122 . Since the figure shows a central cross-section through the roller, the axis A also lies in the plane shown in the figure. By rotation about the axis A in the direction of the arrow 132, the relative arrangement and positioning between the roller and the film 118 can be adjusted so as to avoid wrinkles. The pinch roller 112 always rotates counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow.

Coating knives 136, 138, which may be "soft" knives made of polyolefin material, may be arranged, as known per se in the art, for controlling the transfer of varnish from the dosing roll to the coating roll. As indicated by arrows 146, 148, applicator roll 110 and doser roll 114 generally rotate in opposite directions. As is known in the art, the amount of varnish delivered to the film can be adjusted by the distance between the coating knife and the roller and the pressure applied to the film by the coating roller 110 and pinch roller 112 .

Typical dimensions of the roll are as follows: The coating roll 110 may have a typical diameter of between 180 and 300 mm, preferably about 240 mm. The pinch rollers 112 may have the same size. The dosing roller 114 may have a diameter in the range of 100 to 200 mm, preferably about 160 mm. The dosing roller 114 is smaller than the applicator roller. The width of the film is generally 160 to 180 cm.

A soft knife 140 is disposed adjacent to the varnish collection container 128 to facilitate removal of excess or unused varnish from the pinch roll 112 .

Film 118 is advanced in the direction of arrow 142 as described above. Film 118 passes through gap 144 between applicator roller 110 and pressure roller 112 .

In one embodiment, the direction of rotation 146 and the speed of rotation of the coating roller 110 are controlled such that the circumference of the coating roller 110 adjacent to the film 118, i.e. the circumference of the coating roller that actually transfers the varnish to the film, Movement in the opposite direction of movement. Accordingly, the peripheral surface of the applicator roller 110 has a velocity in the opposite direction relative to the velocity of the film 118 . That is, in a (moving) coordinate system in which the film 118 is stationary, the peripheral surface of the applicator roller 110 delivering the varnish onto the film moves at a non-zero velocity relative to the film. Most preferably, in a stationary (non-moving) coordinate system (ie, the coordinate system in the figure), applicator roller 110 has a circumferential surface that rotates in a counterclockwise direction, indicated by arrow 146 in the figure. The dosing roller 114 rotates in a direction opposite to that of the applicator roller 110, ie, the dosing roller 114 rotates in a clockwise direction.

Typical examples of speeds are as follows: The rate (speed) of feeding of the film 118 in direction 142 may be in the range of 1-50 m/min, and more preferably in the range of 10-20 m/min. If the feed rate (velocity) of the film 118 is 20 m/min, the preferred rotational speed of the coating roller 10 is such that its surface speed is 110 m/min. In general, if the film 118 velocity X is relatively fast, eg, greater than about 15 m/min, the applicator roll is rotated at such a velocity that its surface velocity is in the range of 30-70% of X. When the film speed is relatively fast, then the roll and film speeds are in the same direction, ie the film is fed in direction 142 and the applicator roll rotates in a clockwise direction. On the other hand, if the feed rate (velocity) of the film 118 is relatively slow, for example in the range of 1-5 m/min, the coating roller can be moved in the direction of arrow 146 at a surface speed of 5-10 m/min. Anticlockwise rotation. This speed is adjusted according to the specific needs of the varnish coating to be applied to the film, in particular the thickness of the varnish and the properties of the varnish.

Depending on the thickness of the varnish layer to be applied to the film 118, the applicator roller 110 may also rotate in a clockwise direction (ie opposite to the arrow 146) at a peripheral speed that is less than the feed speed of the film 118 in the direction of arrow 142. For example, if the feeding speed of the film 118 in the direction of the arrow 142 is 10 m/min, then by adjusting the peripheral speed of the coating roller 110 in the clockwise direction (opposite to the arrow 146) to 3 m/min and 7 m/min Thicker layers are applied between minutes, in such a way that there is a correspondingly lower relative speed between the circumference of the coating roller and the film.

As shown in the figures, by how the varnish 150 is fed between the applicator roll 110 and the dosing roll 114, the amount of varnish applied to the film 118 can be controlled. By adjusting the pressure between the dosing roller 114 and the applicator roller 110 and/or the relative speed between the applicator roller 110 and the dosing roller 114, the amount of water applied to the film 118 by the applicator roller 110 can be variably controlled. Amount of varnish. If only a very small amount of varnish is to be applied to the film, ie a relatively thin layer of varnish is applied to the film 118 , the dosing roller 114 may rotate in the opposite direction to the coating roller 110 . This is marked with double arrow 148 .

Using the equipment described above, a varnish layer can be applied on the film 118 that is thicker than can be applied with prior art machines, e.g. Varnish layer with a thickness in the range of 130 μm. A film 118 having release properties and coated with a varnish layer having a thickness within the above-mentioned range is very suitable for applying varnish to an object in an extremely uniform manner of the varnish layer, especially in edge regions. Cracks and similar defects in the varnish layer are eliminated to a much better extent than in the prior art.

Although the invention has been described in terms of applying a layer of varnish, the scope of the invention also includes the application of other coating materials in addition to varnish. Also, as used herein, the term "velocity" is a vector having magnitude and direction. Thus, if the film 118 is moving at a speed of 5 m/min in a first direction, and the peripheral velocity of the applicator roller 110 in a second direction is 5 m/min, the speeds of the film 118 and applicator roller 110 should be considered is different.

Claims (28)

1. one kind is used to make the equipment that can be used to varnish and pigment are administered to the film on the object, and described equipment comprises:

A. be used for the varnish that layer of varnish is administered on first film is used the station, described first film has demoulding performance;

B. be used for solidifying by halves first curing station of described layer of varnish;

C. be used to supply with the feed cylinder of second film, described second film is more soft than described first film;

D. be used for described at least layer of varnish being transferred to transfer station on second film from described first film by the demoulding technology; With

E. be used for further solidifying second curing station of described layer of varnish.

2. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described first film comprises coat of colo(u)r.

3. according to the equipment of claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that a heating station is disposed in described varnish and uses between station and described first curing station.

4. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described first film is made by polypropylene.

5. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described second film is made by polyolefin, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

6. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described first curing station comprises ultraviolet source.

7. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described second curing station comprises ultraviolet source.

8. a manufacturing can be used in the method that varnish and pigment is administered to the film on the object, and described method comprises step:

A. coat of colo(u)r is administered on first film, described first film has demoulding performance;

B. layer of varnish is administered on the described coat of colo(u)r on described first film;

C. solidify described layer of varnish by halves;

D. by the demoulding technology described layer of varnish and coat of colo(u)r are transferred to from described first film on second film with demoulding performance, wherein said second film is more soft than described first film; And

E. further be solidificated in the layer of varnish that has been transferred on described second film.

9. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, described first film is made by polypropylene.

10. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, described second film is made by polyolefin, polypropylene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

11. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, described incomplete curing is implemented by ultraviolet source.

12. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, described further curing is implemented by ultraviolet source.

13. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, described step is to implement on the continuous length of film as a continuous process.

14. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, described layer of varnish and coat of colo(u)r are applied on described first film and second film, and do not use remover.

15. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, described first film has the surface energy of about 35 to 40 dyne.

16. method according to Claim 8 is characterized in that, before using described coat of colo(u)r, adhesive layer is administered on described first film.

17. the method according to claim 16 is characterized in that, bottom is applied to described adhesive layer.

18. one kind is administered to equipment on the film with varnish, described equipment comprises:

A. be used for varnish is transferred to coating roll on the film from coating roll;

B. the hold-down roller that contiguous described coating roll is arranged;

C. be used for sending the device of described film to by the gap between described coating roll and described hold-down roller with first speed; With

D. be used to rotate described coating roll so that the device that the circumference of the coating roll of contiguous described film moves with the second speed that is different from described first speed.

19. equipment according to claim 18, it is characterized in that, the described device that is used to send to described film is sent described film to by the slit on first direction, and the described device that is used to rotate described coating roll rotates this coating roll so that the coating roll of adjacent membrane moves upward in the second party opposite with first direction.

20. the equipment according to claim 18 or 19 is characterized in that, before entering described slit, a described film and a plane limit a non-vanishing angle (α), and described plane and coating roll and hold-down roller are all tangent.

21. each the equipment according in the claim 18 to 20 is characterized in that described coating roll comprises elastic surface.

22. each the equipment according in the claim 18 to 21 is characterized in that, is provided with to be used for moving at least one device of described hold-down roller or coating roll on the direction that is parallel to a plane, described plane and coating roll and hold-down roller are all tangent.

23. one kind is administered to equipment on the film with coating material, described equipment comprises:

A. be oriented to the coating roll that contacts with the coating material source;

B. close on the hold-down roller that described coating roll is arranged;

C. advance by the film in the gap between described coating roll and described hold-down roller with first speed; And

D. wherein the circumference of the described coating roll of contiguous described film moves with the second speed that is different from described first speed.

24. the equipment according to claim 23 is characterized in that, described first speed and described second speed are created in the relative velocity between about 10 and 20 meters/minute.

25. the equipment according to claim 21 is characterized in that, the described elastic surface of described coating roll has the hardness of the Shore A level between about 30 and 80.

26. the equipment according to claim 21 is characterized in that, described elastic surface comprises elastomeric material.

27., it is characterized in that described coating roll and described hold-down roller are at the pressure that is applied on the described film between about 1 and 4 crust according to the equipment of claim 18.

28. one kind is used for varnish is administered to method on the film, described method comprises the steps:

A. the coating roll that provides contiguous hold-down roller to arrange;

B. use a certain amount of varnish to described coating roll;

C. between described coating roll and described hold-down roller, send film with first speed to;

D. rotate the circumference of described coating roll with the second speed that is different from described first speed;

E. be used to rotate described coating roll so that the device that the circumference of the coating roll of contiguous described film moves with the second speed that is different from described first speed.

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