WO2008132117A1 - Apparatus and method for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a support, also large-size - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a support, also large-size Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008132117A1 WO2008132117A1 PCT/EP2008/054946 EP2008054946W WO2008132117A1 WO 2008132117 A1 WO2008132117 A1 WO 2008132117A1 EP 2008054946 W EP2008054946 W EP 2008054946W WO 2008132117 A1 WO2008132117 A1 WO 2008132117A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- solid support
- sublimation
- porous material
- sheet
- plate
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F16/00—Transfer printing apparatus
-
- 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
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
- B41M1/26—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper
- B41M1/30—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper on organic plastics, horn or similar materials
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Non-Silver Salt Photosensitive Materials And Non-Silver Salt Photography (AREA)
- Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
- Electronic Switches (AREA)
Abstract
Apparatus and method for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a solid support (30), also large-size, comprising a printing device (14) provided with at least a first plate (26) on which the solid support (30), a sublimation card (32) and a layer or sheet of porous material (34) are able to be disposed. The printing device (14) also comprises a second plate (28) disposed parallel to the first plate (26) in order to form a compartment (27) in which the solid support (30), the sublimation card (32) and the layer or sheet of porous material (34) are able to be disposed, and also comprises heating means able to heat both the first plate (26) and also the second plate (28).
Description
"APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRINTING, BY SUBLIMATION, WRITINGS, DRAWINGS OR IMAGES ON A SUPPORT, ALSO LARGE- SIZE"
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns an apparatus and method for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a support, such as for example a furnishing element, or the surface of a structure, also large-size.
The support to be printed preferably comprises a layer of plastic material, for example polymer, which defines the surface on which the writings, drawings or images are to be impressed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
From the patent application UD2005A000184, filed on 28.10.2005, a method of printing by sublimation is known which provides to use an apparatus that comprises a sublimation chamber in which there is a heating plate, and a device able to create a depression inside the sublimation chamber. The known method provides that an operator inserts manually on the heating plate of the sublimation chamber, in order: a sheet or layer of porous material; a sublimation card; a support to be printed. Subsequently, the operator activates the apparatus, so that inside the sublimation chamber a determinate temperature and a determinate pressure are reached which, in practice, cause the transfer by sublimation onto the support to be printed of the writings, drawings and images on the sublimation card. Once the sublimation process has finished the operator waits for the support, already printed, to completely cool, which is then removed manually, as is the sublimation card and the porous material. The whole printing step lasts about 40-45 minutes.
Therefore, the known sublimation method provides a single heating plate so that a non-uniform temperature is distributed on the two faces of the support to be printed, with possible different dilations on it. The support to be printed may therefore be subjected to slight deformations which are typically manifested in the form of unwanted curves. Furthermore, it is sometimes necessary to proceed with other working in order to eliminate the unwanted curves and make the printed support rectilinear again.
Purpose of the present invention is to achieve an apparatus and perfect a method for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a support, also large-size, which optimizes the quality of the printing, preventing the formation of imperfections and deformations, and which considerably reduces the time needed for the production of a single print.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purposes, an apparatus according to the present invention is able to be used to print, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a support, also large-size.
The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a printing device provided with at least a first plate on which a single solid support to be printed, a sublimation card and a layer or sheet of porous material are able to be disposed.
According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the printing device also comprises a second plate, disposed parallel to said first plate to form a compartment in which said solid support to be printed, said sublimation card and said layer or sheet of porous material are able to be disposed. The printing device also comprises heating means able to heat said two plates which thus become two heating plates. This allows to obtain a uniform temperature distribution on the two faces of the solid support thus preventing different dilatations on it and the consequent deformations deriving therefrom.
According to another characteristic feature, the apparatus according to the present invention comprises a loading device able to be loaded with a plurality of supports to be printed, a plurality of sublimation cards and a plurality of layers or sheets of porous material. The loading device is also able to feed sequentially and selectively a printing device with a single solid support, a single sublimation card and a single sheet of porous material, disposing them one above the other in said order.
A pressure means is able to press the two heating plates reciprocally one against the other, with interposed a solid support, a sublimation card and a layer or sheet of porous material.
According to another characteristic feature of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a cooling device with two plates, both cooling, between which the solid support to be printed, removed from the printing device, is able to be inserted by means of suitable automatic transport means, and is able to be compressed by means of known pressure means. This allows to obtain a uniform cooling of the solid support thus preventing any troublesome curves from occurring.
During experiments conducted by Applicant, pressure devices were used which were able to generate thrusts of up to 110 tonnes and to reach a maximum temperature of the heating plates of 2000C.
Using the loading device and said automatic means allows to limit human intervention only to the supervision and control of the process. This considerably reduces the working times and increases the quantity of material printed in a determinate time range compared with the case where everything is done manually by an operator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
- fig. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to the present invention;
- fig. 2 is a schematic front view of a detail in fig. 1 ; - fig. 3 is a schematic front view of a second detail in fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF
EMBODIMENT
With reference to fig. 1, an apparatus 10 according to the present invention for printing by sublimation writings, drawings or images on a solid support 30, comprises a loading device 12, a printing device 14, first automatic transport means 16, a cooling device 18 and second automatic transport means 20.
The loading device 12, which can be of any known type and therefore is not shown in detail in the drawings, is able to be loaded with a plurality of solid
supports 30, a plurality of sublimation cards 32, on which the writings, drawings or images to be transferred by sublimation onto the solid supports 30 have previously been impressed by known means, and a plurality of layers or sheets of porous material 34. The loading device 12 is also able to feed the printing device 14 (fig. 2) sequentially and selectively with a single solid support 30, a single sublimation card 32 and a single layer or sheet of porous material 34.
The printing device 14, which is disposed in proximity or contact with the loading device 12, comprises a first heating plate 26 (fig. 2) disposed below in a fixed position, a second heating plate 28, disposed above the first heating plate 26 and parallel to it in order to form a compartment 27 in which the solid support 30, the sublimation card 32 and the sheet of porous material 34 are able to be disposed one above the other, in order. The second heating plate 28 is selectively mobile towards the first heating plate 26 by means of a pressure means 36, for example consisting of a hydraulic press, of a known type and not shown in the drawings. The pressure means 36 is able to impart a determinate pressure, for example comprised between about 1 bar and about 4.5 bar, on the second heating plate 28 in order to facilitate the transfer by sublimation of the writings, drawings or images contained in the sublimation card 32 to the solid support 30. The first automatic transport means 16 is able to remove the solid support 30, the sublimation card 32 and the sheet of porous material 34 from the compartment 27, when the last step of sublimation has been completed, and also to separate them and collect the sublimation card 32 and the sheet of porous material 34 to be regenerated or recycled. The cooling device 18 comprises a first cooling plate 40 (fig. 3) disposed below in a fixed position, a second cooling plate 42 disposed above the first cooling plate 40 and parallel with it, in order to form a compartment 41 in which the first automatic transport means 16 is able to dispose the solid support 30 removed from the printing device 14. The second cooling plate 42 is selectively mobile towards the first cooling plate 40 by means of a pressure means 42, for example consisting of a hydraulic press, of a known type and not shown in the drawings. The pressure means 46 is able to impart a determinate pressure, for example comprised between about 1 bar and about 4.5 bar, on the second cooling
plate 42 so as to allow an optimum fixing of the writings, drawings or images transferred by sublimation as specified above.
The second automatic transport means 20 is able to remove the solid support 30 from the compartment 41, when the last cooling step is completed, and to send it, possibly, towards devices for labeling and packaging.
The apparatus 10 as described heretofore, which defines the method according to the present invention, functions as follows.
The loading device 12 feeds the printing device 14 sequentially and selectively with a single solid support 30, a single sublimation card 32 and a single sheet of porous material 34, which are disposed one above the other, in the order listed, in the compartment 27 formed by the two heating plates 26, 28.
The pressure means 36 is activated to impart a determinate pressure on the second heating plate 28 so as to compress and heat the solid support 30, the sublimation card 32 and the sheet of porous material 34, thus starting the sublimation step.
At the end of this, the first automatic transport means 16 removes the solid support 30, the sublimation card 32 and the sheet of porous material 34 from the compartment 27, separates them and collects the sublimation card 32 and the sheet of porous material 34 to be regenerated or recycled. The solid support 30, instead, is disposed by the first automatic transport means 16 in the compartment 41 formed by the cooling plates 40, 42 of the cooling device.
The pressure means 46 is activated to impart a determinate pressure on the second cooling plate 42 so as to compress and cool the solid support 30, allowing to fix the writings, drawings or images transferred by sublimation in an optimum fashion.
When the cooling step is finished, the second automatic transport means 20 removes the solid support 30 from the compartment 41 and possibly sends it towards labeling and packaging devices. It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts or steps may be made to the apparatus and method as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with
reference to a specific example, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of apparatus or method for printing by sublimation writings, drawings or images on a support, also large-size, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
Claims
1. Apparatus for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a solid support (30), also large-size, comprising a printing device (14) provided with at least a first plate (26) on which said solid support (30), a sublimation card (32) and a layer or sheet of porous material (34) are able to be disposed, characterized in that said printing device (14) also comprises:
- a second plate (28) disposed parallel to said first plate (26) in order to form a compartment (27) in which said solid support (30), said sublimation card (32) and said layer or sheet of porous material (34) are able to be disposed; and - heating means able to heat both said first plate (26) and also said second plate (28).
2. Apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that said solid support (30) is disposed on said first plate (26), that said layer or sheet of porous material (34) is in direct contact with said second plate (28) and in that said sublimation card (32) is disposed between said solid support (30) and said layer or sheet of porous material (34).
3. Apparatus as in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it also comprises a loading device (12) in which a plurality of said solid supports (30), a plurality of said sublimation cards (32) and a plurality of said layers or sheets of porous material (34) are able to be loaded, and which is able to feed said printing device (14) sequentially and selectively with a single solid support (30), a single sublimation card (32) and a single layer or sheet of porous material (34).
4. Apparatus as in claim 2, characterized in that a pressure means (36) is provided to press said two plates (26, 28) reciprocally one against the other, with interposed said solid support (30), said sublimation card (32) and said layer or sheet of porous material (34).
5. Apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that it also comprises a cooling device (18) adjacent to said printing device (14) and provided with a pair of plates (40, 42) disposed parallel to each other so as to form a compartment (41) in which said solid support (30) is able to be disposed after it has been printed in said printing device (14); and cooling means able to cool said pair of plates (40, 42).
6. Apparatus as in claim 5, characterized in that a pressure means (46) is provided to press said pair of plates (40, 42) one against the other, with said already printed solid support (30) interposed.
7. Apparatus as in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a first automatic transport means (16) is able to move said solid support (30) from said printing device (14) to said cooling device (18).
8. Apparatus as in claim 7, characterized in that a second automatic transport means (20) is provided to remove said solid support (30) from said cooling device (18) and possibly to send it towards labeling and/or packaging devices.
9. Method for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a solid support (30), also large-size, by means of an apparatus having a printing device
(14) provided with at least a plate (26) on which said solid support (30), a sublimation card (32) and a layer or sheet of porous material (34) are able to be disposed, characterized in that it comprises in sequence:
- a first step in which said two plates (26, 28) are heated to a determinate temperature;
- a second step in which said solid support (30), said sublimation card (32) and said layer or sheet of porous material (34) are disposed in a compartment (27) formed between said first plate (26) and a second plate (28), disposed parallel to it.
10. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that said solid support (30) is disposed on said first plate (26), in that said layer or sheet of porous material (34) comes into direct contact with said second plate (28) and in that said sublimation card (32) is disposed between said solid support (30) and said layer or sheet of porous material (34).
11. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that a loading device (12), loaded with a plurality of said solid supports (30), a plurality of said sublimation cards (32) and a plurality of said layers or sheets of porous material (34) feeds said printing device (14) sequentially and selectively with a single solid support (30), a single sublimation card (32) and a single layer or sheet of porous material (34).
12. Method as in claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises a third step during which a pressure means (36) presses said two plates (26, 28) reciprocally one against the other, with interposed said solid support (30), said sublimation card (32) and said layer or sheet of porous material (34).
13. Method as in any claim from 9 to 12, characterized in that after it has been printed in said printing device (14), said solid support (30) is disposed in a compartment (41) formed by a pair of plates (40, 42), which are cooled to a determinate temperature, of a cooling device (18).
14. Method as in claim 13, characterized in that a pressure means (46) presses said two plates (40, 42) reciprocally against each other, with said already printed solid support (30) interposed.
15. Method as in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a first automatic transport means (16) moves said solid support (30) from said printing device (14) to said cooling device (18).
16. Method as in claim 15, characterized in that a second automatic transport means (20) removes said solid support (30) from said cooling device (18) and possibly sends it to labeling and/or packaging devices.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITUD2007A000078 | 2007-04-27 | ||
| ITUD20070078 ITUD20070078A1 (en) | 2007-04-27 | 2007-04-27 | EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURE FOR PRINTING, SUBLIMATION, WRITING, DRAWINGS OR IMAGES ON A SUPPORT, ALSO OF LARGE SIZE. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2008132117A1 true WO2008132117A1 (en) | 2008-11-06 |
Family
ID=39577629
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2008/054946 WO2008132117A1 (en) | 2007-04-27 | 2008-04-23 | Apparatus and method for printing, by sublimation, writings, drawings or images on a support, also large-size |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| IT (1) | ITUD20070078A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2008132117A1 (en) |
Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1363145A (en) * | 1970-07-22 | 1974-08-14 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Dyeing process |
| US3860388A (en) * | 1972-09-25 | 1975-01-14 | John M Haigh | Disperse dye transfer through polyolefin release layer to non-porous thermoplastic sheet dyed thereby |
| US4174250A (en) * | 1978-04-10 | 1979-11-13 | Freeman Transfer Printing Company, Inc. | Apparatus for sublimation imprinting tiles |
| WO1996018509A1 (en) * | 1994-12-14 | 1996-06-20 | Delta Technology, Inc. | Pre-conditioning a substrate for accelerated dispersed dye sublimation |
| US5997677A (en) * | 1990-05-08 | 1999-12-07 | General Electric Company | Method to apply a colored decorative design on a substrate of plastics |
| US6300279B1 (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2001-10-09 | Joseph Macedo | Method for applying decorative designs to wood substrates |
| US6332941B1 (en) * | 1999-10-04 | 2001-12-25 | Invincible Products, Inc. | Modular floor tile with superimposed images |
| JP2005290598A (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2005-10-20 | Sanshou:Kk | Heat transfer printing method and press machine |
| WO2007048827A1 (en) * | 2005-10-28 | 2007-05-03 | Gortan Srl | Apparatus and method for printing on a support |
-
2007
- 2007-04-27 IT ITUD20070078 patent/ITUD20070078A1/en unknown
-
2008
- 2008-04-23 WO PCT/EP2008/054946 patent/WO2008132117A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1363145A (en) * | 1970-07-22 | 1974-08-14 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Dyeing process |
| US3860388A (en) * | 1972-09-25 | 1975-01-14 | John M Haigh | Disperse dye transfer through polyolefin release layer to non-porous thermoplastic sheet dyed thereby |
| US4174250A (en) * | 1978-04-10 | 1979-11-13 | Freeman Transfer Printing Company, Inc. | Apparatus for sublimation imprinting tiles |
| US5997677A (en) * | 1990-05-08 | 1999-12-07 | General Electric Company | Method to apply a colored decorative design on a substrate of plastics |
| WO1996018509A1 (en) * | 1994-12-14 | 1996-06-20 | Delta Technology, Inc. | Pre-conditioning a substrate for accelerated dispersed dye sublimation |
| US6332941B1 (en) * | 1999-10-04 | 2001-12-25 | Invincible Products, Inc. | Modular floor tile with superimposed images |
| US6300279B1 (en) * | 2000-03-31 | 2001-10-09 | Joseph Macedo | Method for applying decorative designs to wood substrates |
| JP2005290598A (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2005-10-20 | Sanshou:Kk | Heat transfer printing method and press machine |
| WO2007048827A1 (en) * | 2005-10-28 | 2007-05-03 | Gortan Srl | Apparatus and method for printing on a support |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ITUD20070078A1 (en) | 2008-10-28 |
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