Method for manufacturing a component with a hologram

Abstract

Method for manufacturing a component (6) with a hologram (5), wherein during the manufacturing process of the component (6) a form matrix (1) and a tool matrix (2) having a hologram negative (4) act on the component (6) in a manufacturing tool and the hologram (5) is imprinted in a manufacturing process-integrated manner during a manufacturing step of the component by the action of the manufacturing tool on the component (6), wherein the tool die (2) is designed as an insert in the form die (1) of the manufacturing tool and where the manufacturing tool is an injection mold, thermoforming tool or RTM tool, and wherein the tool die (2) is in direct contact with a surface of the component (6) during a residence time in which a molding compound hardens to form the component, and the hologram (5) of the tool die (2) is transferred to the component (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a component with a hologram, wherein the hologram is directly incorporated into the component itself.

[0002] It has long been known in the art to emboss holograms onto films, which are then bonded to the component. A common practice here is to use a nickel shim on a roller tool, over which a film is drawn in such a way that the hologram negative applied to the nickel shim is transferred to the film. The film itself is usually self-adhesive and is then, for example, bonded to components.

[0003] Holograms are also used in other areas, such as the authentication of banknotes. For example, German patent DE 10 2004 019 187 A1 discloses an embossing die for embossing relief structures.

[0004] Other methods for creating a hologram are known, for example, from documents WO 01 / 58 658 A1, DE 201 21 451 U1, JP S62-233 234 A and US 2004 / 0 221 639 A1. Furthermore, the imprinting of a hologram into components is already known from documents EP 1 918 125 A2 and KR 10 2004 0 075 986 A.

[0005] The aforementioned methods have two disadvantages: firstly, they cannot be used to create holograms on metallic (steel / aluminum), plastic, and fiber-reinforced composite components; secondly, a hologram-bearing film can be removed from a component. Furthermore, the application of the film requires an additional process step, which is also a drawback.

[0006] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a component with which holograms can be applied inseparably to metallic, plastic and fiber composite components in a cost-effective manner and integrated into existing manufacturing processes, i.e. process-integrated.

[0007] The problem is solved by the combination of features according to claim 1, wherein it is provided that during the manufacturing process of the component, a tool die having a hologram negative acts on the component in a manufacturing tool, and the hologram is imprinted on the component in a manufacturing-process-integrated manner by the action of the manufacturing tool on the component. The method according to the invention is advantageous in that protection against counterfeiting is ensured with holograms permanently integrated on components. Furthermore, partial individualization of interior and exterior body components, for example vehicle parts, can be achieved. In addition to its purely technical function, a hologram is always also a design element.Diffraction effects based on changes in viewing angle can be precisely calibrated, allowing design-oriented holograms, such as company logos, to be used on visible parts of the components. On invisible components, the design is secondary; here, holograms primarily intended to protect against counterfeiting are applied.

[0008] The inventive method involves using a tool die to act on the component during its manufacturing process and to apply the hologram to the component in a process-integrated manner during a manufacturing step. The tool die to be used has the hologram as a negative on its surface, which can be applied to the tool die, for example, by electromagnetic forming or by other methods known in the prior art. In order to be able to apply holograms to components in larger quantities and regardless of the quantity, the tool die is preferably made of metal alloys, which may be surface-treated.

[0009] Preferably, the tool die is intended to be formed as part of the manufacturing tool itself.

[0010] According to the invention, the tool die is designed as an insert in a form die of the manufacturing tool.

[0011] The inventive method can be used in various manufacturing processes with injection molds, RTM tools, or thermoforming tools. Press tools are used particularly for metal processing; for fiber composite components, RTM and thermoforming tools are mainly used, and for plastic components, injection molds. When using a press tool, the tool die is integrated as a component into the mold die to act on the component while the press brings the component into the corresponding final shape, so that the hologram negative is imprinted on the component as a hologram through the effect of the pressing process. In the RTM process and thermoforming processes, as well as all other suitable processes for the production of molded parts from thermosets, elastomers, or thermoplastics, the tool die is also integrated as an insert in a mold die of the tool.First, molding compound is injected into the tool. During the so-called residence time, in which the molding compound reacts, cools, and hardens, the tool die is in direct contact with the surface of the future component, whereby the hologram of the tool die is transferred to the component.

[0012] A particular advantage of the method according to the invention is that the tool die can be designed cost-effectively as part of the tool itself, i.e., integrated into the tool.

[0013] The invention includes not only the method itself but also the components produced by the method, which are advantageously characterized by the fact that the hologram is permanently applied. The disadvantage of a film application method known from the prior art is thus overcome.

[0014] Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims or are described in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1a, Fig. 1b a manufacturing process for films with holograms applied to them in accordance with the state of the art; Fig. 2a / 2b a schematic representation of a non-inventive manufacturing process of a component with an embossing plate.

[0015] In the Fig. 1a and Fig. Figure 1b schematically illustrates how, in the prior art, a hologram negative 12 applied to a nickel shim 11 is transferred to a film 13 using a roller tool 10. The nickel shim 12 is applied to the entire outer surface of the roller tool 10, over which the film 13 is drawn. It is also possible to move the roller tool 10 over the film 13 to transfer the hologram 14 onto it.

[0016] In the Fig. 2a and Fig. Figure 2b shows a non-inventive method schematically by way of example, wherein a form die 1, which contains a tool die 2, is inserted or integrated into a manufacturing tool 3. The tool die 2 has a hologram negative 4, which is transferred to the component 6 during a process step of its manufacture. The hologram 5 is thus imprinted on the component 6 as it appears in the finished component 6 during the manufacturing process by the action of the press tool. Fig. 2b is shown. Simultaneously, forming steps can be carried out on component 6 using the form matrix 1, so that no additional work step is necessary.

[0017] The invention is not limited in its implementation to the preferred embodiments specified above. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable that utilize the presented solution even in fundamentally different designs. For example, a tool die or a nickel shim can be placed on the component as a removable element during the manufacturing process and selectively removed again, for instance, to provide only individual components of a series with a hologram.

Claims

[1] Method for manufacturing a component (6) with a hologram (5), wherein during the manufacturing process of the component (6) a form matrix (1) and a tool matrix (2) having a hologram negative (4) act on the component (6) in a manufacturing tool and the hologram (5) is imprinted in a manufacturing process-integrated manner during a manufacturing step of the component by the action of the manufacturing tool on the component (6), wherein the tool die (2) is designed as an insert in the form die (1) of the manufacturing tool and where the manufacturing tool is an injection mold, thermoforming tool or RTM tool, and wherein the tool die (2) is in direct contact with a surface of the component (6) during a residence time in which a molding compound hardens to form the component, and the hologram (5) of the tool die (2) is transferred to the component (6). [2] Method according to claim 1,characterized by , that the tool die (2) is designed as part of the manufacturing tool itself. [3] Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by its applicability to metallic, plastic and fiber composite components. [4] Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the tool die (2) is made of metal alloys. [5] Component manufactured using the method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the hologram (5) is inextricably applied to the component (6).

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