Method for producing a sanitary component

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a sanitary component, wherein the sanitary component is a toilet seat, a toilet lid or a urinal lid, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component made of a duromer material (thermoset material), b) preheating the blank (3-c) such that at least one surface temperature of the blank increases, c) spraying the blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component with an electrically charged powder coating (4), wherein the blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component is at a potential opposite to that of the electrically charged powder coating (4) and the powder coating (4) adheres to the blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component, and d) baking the powder coating (4) to form a coating layer forming an outer surface of the sanitary component.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a sanitary component, wherein the sanitary component is a toilet seat, toilet lid, or urinal lid. Furthermore, the invention relates to a sanitary component obtained by the method.

[0002] Sanitary components such as toilet seats, toilet lids, or urinal lids are well known in the art. These sanitary components are usually made of plastics, such as a thermoset (also called a duroplast). UREA, for example, is a specific thermoset.

[0003] It has been shown that the dimensional stability of toilet seats and lids made of thermosets, especially UREA, decreases after installation on ceramics. This is due to the fact that the aforementioned toilet components (lid / seat) are constantly exposed to water vapor due to the water standing in the ceramic and thus absorb water.

[0004] The reduction in dimensional stability leads to warping, particularly in the case of very thin or delicate toilet lids, which is evident in the central areas of the lid that are above the water sinking and "sagging".

[0005] To counteract this phenomenon, it is common practice and necessary in the state of the art to dimension the wall thicknesses or curvatures of toilet lids made of thermosets sufficiently large. These restrictions are undesirable because they limit design and construction freedom.

[0006] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing sanitary components made of thermosets that allows greater freedom in terms of design and construction. At the very least, the object of the invention is to provide a method that is alternative to the prior art.

[0007] This object(s) is / are achieved by a method according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] The method according to the invention serves to produce a sanitary component, wherein the sanitary component is a toilet seat, a VVC lid or a urinal lid.

[0009] The method according to the invention includes the following steps: a) Providing a blank of the sanitary component made of a thermosetting material (thermosetting material), for example UREA, b) preheating at least a partial area of ​​the blank in such a way that at least a temperature of a surface of the partial area of ​​the blank increases, wherein the partial area corresponds to an area of ​​the sanitary component which, after the sanitary component has been properly mounted on a WC ceramic, faces flushing water standing in the WC ceramic, and / or closest, c) spraying the blank of the sanitary component with an electrically charged powder coating, wherein the blank of the sanitary component is at a potential opposite to that of the electrically charged powder coating and the powder coating adheres to the blank of the sanitary component in the partial area, and d) Baking the powder coating to form a coating layer that acts as a water barrier.

[0010] The sanitary component to be manufactured can be a toilet seat, a toilet lid or a urinal lid.

[0011] The toilet seat refers to the part of a toilet seat assembly that is usually pivotally attached to a toilet bowl and on which a person sits during a bowel movement. The toilet seat manufactured using the method according to the invention is also colloquially referred to as a toilet seat or toilet bowl.

[0012] The toilet lid produced by the method according to the invention relates to the part of a toilet seat fitting which is also pivotably attached to the toilet ceramic - both opposite the toilet ceramic and a corresponding toilet seat - and which can be pivoted so that it rests on the toilet seat and thereby closes the toilet ceramic.

[0013] The urinal lid ultimately produced by the method according to the invention is intended to be pivotably attached to a urinal attached to a wall in such a way that a user can open or close an opening of the urinal.

[0014] The blank of the sanitary component is an unfinished workpiece that already has the external shape of the sanitary component, but is still intended for further processing in the method according to the invention. In particular, the blank does not yet have an outer surface with the desired properties.

[0015] According to the invention, the blank of the sanitary component provided in step a) is formed from a thermoset material, for example, UREA. The corresponding molding step of the blank, which can also be part of step a) of the method according to the invention, is carried out by pouring a synthetic resin, in particular a condensation resin, into a mold defining the shape of the blank and subsequently curing it under pressure and / or heat. Reinforcing elements such as wood fibers and / or plastic fibers can be incorporated into the mold and enclosed in the synthetic resin. These reinforcing elements increase the stability of the resulting sanitary component.

[0016] The shape used defines the final sanitary component, i.e. the toilet seat, the toilet lid or the urinal lid.

[0017] During development work, it was discovered that the water absorption of the resulting sanitary component can be significantly reduced by providing a water barrier. This results in the sanitary component having significantly increased dimensional stability, even when exposed to high levels of moisture for a long period of time after installation on a toilet ceramic appliance. For example, the water barrier and the resulting reduced water absorption can reduce wall thicknesses and / or curvatures in the design of the sanitary component.

[0018] According to the invention, it has also been recognized that the surface of the blank acquires properties suitable for (electrostatic) powder coating if the blank is preheated in process step b). Preheating leads to a reduction in the electrical surface resistance of the sanitary component made of thermoset material (thermoset), which in turn allows the surface of the sanitary component to be brought to a potential suitable for powder coating. Against this background, the water barrier can be easily formed by powder coating.

[0019] It should be noted that the blank formed from the thermoset (thermosetting resin) can remain untreated except for the preheating performed in step b), meaning no coatings or agents need to be applied to the blank to provide an electrically conductive surface for powder coating. This greatly contributes to accelerating and simplifying the process.

[0020] According to the invention, the water barrier is formed at least in the said partial area.

[0021] If the WC sanitary component is, for example, the WC lid or urinal lid, the partial area preferably corresponds to the side of the respective lid which, after proper installation, faces the flushing water.

[0022] If, on the other hand, the WC sanitary component is the WC seat, the part corresponds to the underside and / or the edge of the WC seat which, after proper installation, faces the flushing water.

[0023] The coating layer forming the water barrier does not necessarily have to be the final visible surface. It can be an intermediate layer enclosed by a final coating, paint, or decoration that forms the visible surface. Accordingly, the method according to the invention preferably further comprises the step: e) Application of an outer coating enclosing the water barrier, which forms a visible surface of the sanitary component.

[0024] Alternatively, in the method according to the invention, in step b) the entire blank can be preheated in such a way that at least the temperature of the entire surface of the blank increases, whereby in step c) the entire blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component is sprayed with the electrically charged powder coating (4) and the powder coating (4) adheres to the entire blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component.

[0025] In this alternative, the entire blank is completely coated with the water barrier so that the water barrier completely encloses or surrounds the blank.

[0026] The coating layer forming the water barrier can be the intermediate layer described above or the final visible surface. The latter is especially true if the blank is completely coated.

[0027] If the coating layer forming the water barrier also forms the final visible surface, the powder coating used in step c) can be flexibly selected depending on the specific requirements of the final sanitary component. In particular, powder coatings can be selected that possess properties such that the outer surface / visible surface of the sanitary component obtained after baking (step d)) meets requirements regarding hardness, scratch resistance, surface roughness, and / or chemical resistance while simultaneously forming the water barrier.

[0028] The powder coating contains, as functional components, at least a polymer-based binder and color pigments. The latter impart the powder coating its color. The powder coating may also contain additives and fillers.

[0029] Sanitary components in various colors can be realized with powder coatings. Decors that convey, for example, a wood texture or carbon fiber look can be achieved by applying a sublimation film to the sanitary component after the powder coating.

[0030] All common colors and / or color effects and / or decors can be realized in this way.

[0031] Suitable powder coatings contain binders based on polyesters, such as unsaturated polyester resins, polyurethanes, acrylic resins, epoxy resins, or fluoropolymers. Hybrid powder coatings combining epoxy and polyester resins are also conceivable.

[0032] Particularly preferred powder coatings are highly reactive polyester powder coatings, which are marketed, for example, by the company IGP under the following brand names: a. IGP-RAPID ®< complete 88, in particular IGP-RAPID ®< complete 881T, 8862, 8863 or 8864. Alternatively, the powder coating from IGP can also be used: b. Powder IGP-RAPID ®< top 381M, in particular Powder IGP-RAPID ®< top 381MA-A0, or Powder IGP-RAPID ®< top 381ME-A1.

[0033] The powder coating is preferably electrically charged using a spray device that sprays the powder coating. For example, the powder coating can be charged using high voltage (corona charging) or friction (triboelectric charging) on ​​the spray device. The powder coating charged in step c) is preferably positively charged, with the opposite potential to that of the sanitary component preheated in step b) preferably being ground potential.

[0034] The spraying device can be, for example, a manually operated powder spray gun or an automatic spray gun. The latter can be guided by an automatic or robotic device, for example, or installed in a fixed position. The sanitary component is conveyed past the spraying device via a conveyor system and sprayed with the powder coating.

[0035] Process step c) is preferably divided into two sub-steps c1) and c2) in order to completely spray the blank with the powder coating which forms the water barrier and preferably the visible surface after step d).

[0036] In sub-step c1), the spraying device is arranged such that it sprays a surface of the sanitary component facing the spraying device with powder coating. In sub-step c1), a flat electrode (counter electrode) is preferably located on the side facing away from the spraying device, which preferably has larger surface dimensions than the sanitary component. The flat electrode is at the same potential as the spraying device and thus prevents the electrically charged powder coating from reaching a surface of the sanitary component facing away from the spraying device.

[0037] In sub-step c2), the surface facing away from the spraying device in sub-step c1) is sprayed with the powder coating. This can be achieved by moving the sanitary component, for example in a suspended state, to another section of the powder coating system, in which another spraying device and another flat electrode (counter electrode) are now positioned in the opposite direction from those in sub-step c1). The additional spraying device and the additional flat electrode are preferably constructed identically to those used in sub-step c1).

[0038] Alternatively, the sanitary component sprayed in substep c1) can be rotated without changing its position / stationary, or the spray device and the flat electrode can be moved around the sanitary component. In this case, the additional spray device and the additional flat electrode are not necessary.

[0039] Preferably, suspensions, such as hooks, from which the sanitary components are suspended are insulated except for the portion in contact with the sanitary component. This preferably leads to the prevention or at least reduction of migration / deflection of the sprayed powder coating toward the suspension in step c).

[0040] Preferably, the flat electrode and / or the further flat electrode is / are constructed in such a way that they can generate different potentials of different strengths at different positions facing the sanitary component.

[0041] The charged powder coating adheres in steps c) (c1), c2)) upon contact with the sanitary component preheated in step b), preventing the corresponding layer from running and ensuring a uniform coating layer obtained in the subsequent step d). This allows for reproducible, high-quality coating layers and visually flawless exterior surfaces of the sanitary component – ​​in different colors, with the coating layers simultaneously forming the water barrier.

[0042] The coating layer produced in steps c) and d) is preferably a single layer (single-layer), in particular when highly reactive polyester powder coatings such as those from IGP according to point a. above or the powder coating from IGP according to point b. above are used.

[0043] In addition, layers of different thicknesses, preferably single-layered layers, can be produced particularly uniformly. The thickness D of the coating layer obtained in step d) is preferably in the following range: 40 µm ≤ D ≤ OG, where OG is equal to 120 µm, 125 µm, 130 µm, 135 µm, 140 µm, 145 µm, 150 µm, 155 µm, 160 µm, 165 µm, 170 µm, 175 µm, 180 µm, 185 µm, 190 µm, 195 µm, or 200 µm;

[0044] In step d), the powder coating is baked. This occurs by heating the sanitary component sprayed with the powder coating to a temperature T (which preferably corresponds to a specific melting temperature or, more preferably, is higher). The temperature T corresponds to a baking temperature. The powder coating begins to melt upon reaching the specific melting temperature and hardens into the coating layer over a specific period of time.

[0045] The temperature T to which the sanitary component is heated is, for example, in the range between 120°C and 200°C, 130°C and 200°C, 140°C and 200°C, 150°C and 200°C, 160°C and 200°C, 170°C and 200°C, 180°C and 200°C, or 190°C and 200°C. The temperature is particularly preferably between 125°C and 150°C.

[0046] When using highly reactive polyester powder coatings, such as those from IGP according to point a above, the temperature T is between 125°C and 140°C, and for the powder coating from IGP according to point b above, the temperature T is between 130°C and 150°C.

[0047] The lower the temperature, the longer step d) takes.

[0048] The sanitary component is preferably kept constant at the temperature T in step d).

[0049] The corresponding period of time over which the sanitary component is preferably kept at a constant temperature ranges from a few minutes, for example 2 minutes, to ten minutes or more, for example 20 minutes, and is longer the lower the temperature.

[0050] Preferably, step d) includes the following sub-steps: d1) a preheating step in which the blank sprayed in step c) to which the powder coating adheres is heated to the baking temperature by a preheating device, and d2) a firing step in which the blank preheated in step d1), to which the powder coating adheres, passes through a firing furnace in which the coating layer forming the outer surface of the sanitary component is formed.

[0051] The preheating step d1) is, in particular, a rapid heating step, which is carried out, for example, by a heating device arranged in front of the kiln. This heating device is, for example, an infrared radiator that preferably irradiates the sanitary component from both sides in order to quickly heat it to the temperature prevailing in the kiln.

[0052] In the firing step d2), the coating layer of the sanitary component, which forms the water barrier, is formed. The coating layer can be the intermediate layer or the final outer / visible surface. The latter can have different colors depending on the powder coating used. The temperature prevailing in the kiln is the temperature values ​​T already mentioned above.

[0053] The method according to the invention is preferably designed such that the blank of the sanitary component provided in step a) was produced on the basis of a condensation resin, wherein a corresponding condensate released during curing of the blank is preferably water.

[0054] The condensation resin is, for example, a urea resin (HF), such as UREA, a melamine resin, or phenolic resin. It has been shown that the process according to the invention delivers very good results, particularly with these resins, especially with melamine resins or urea resins. The melamine resins or urea resins are particularly preferably used in combination with the aforementioned highly reactive polyester powder coatings, such as those from IGP according to point a. above or the powder coating from IGP according to point b. above. This combination leads to a very good bond between the blank and the coating layer.

[0055] The method according to the invention is preferably designed such that the blank is preheated in step b) with an infrared radiator, in which the infrared radiator irradiates the blank with infrared radiation, wherein the infrared radiation is preferably in a wavelength range of 3,000 nm to 50,000 nm (IR-C (mid-infrared, long-wave)). The irradiation in step b) preferably takes place over 40 seconds to 120 seconds, wherein the surface of the blank is heated to 80°C to 100°C.

[0056] The infrared radiator irradiates the sanitary component preferably from both sides and in particular the surfaces of the sanitary component evenly from both sides.

[0057] Furthermore, the invention relates to a sanitary component obtainable by the described method. This sanitary component is preferably characterized in that there are no polar or electrically conductive coatings between the final coating and the blank surface.

[0058] The resulting sanitary component has in particular a contour or external appearance, whereby a material thickness and / or a bulge is reduced by 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% at least in the area where the water barrier is formed compared to / compared to the case with a material thickness and / or curvature, which is necessary for the sanitary component without a water barrier for long-term dimensional stability.

[0059] A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is explained below with reference to the attached figure. It shows: Figure 1 a schematic sequence of the method according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a toilet lid with a curvature of 10 mm.

[0060] Figure 1shows a schematic representation of the manufacturing method according to the invention for producing a sanitary component. The sanitary component to be produced is, in particular, a toilet lid, a toilet seat, or a urinal lid.

[0061] The method according to the invention is essentially divided into four steps, namely: a) Providing a blank of the sanitary component made of a thermoset material, b) preheating at least a partial area of ​​the blank in such a way that at least a temperature of a surface of the partial area of ​​the blank increases, wherein the partial area corresponds to an area of ​​the sanitary component which, after the sanitary component has been properly mounted on a WC ceramic, faces flushing water standing in the WC ceramic, and / or closest, c) spraying the blank of the sanitary component with an electrically charged powder coating, wherein the blank of the sanitary component is at a potential opposite to that of the electrically charged powder coating and the powder coating adheres to the blank of the sanitary component in the partial area, and d) Baking the powder coating to form a coating layer that acts as a water barrier.

[0062] The water barrier formed in step d) ensures long-lasting dimensional stability of the final sanitary component by reducing water absorption and the associated warpage of the sanitary component. Reference is made to the explanations preceding the figure description.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the coating layer not only forms the water barrier, but also the final outer surface or visible surface of the sanitary component.

[0064] The mentioned step a) takes place in Figure 1 in a section I of a coating system 1 configured to carry out the method according to the invention. In section I, blanks made of duromer (thermoset) of the sanitary component to be produced are provided. The blanks are made, in particular, of a condensation resin that has been cured under heat and pressure, preferably with the elimination of water, to form the duromer blank.

[0065] The blanks of the sanitary component are objects that already have the shape of the sanitary component to be manufactured and are to be coated in the further process, as will be explained below.

[0066] The coating system 1 includes a conveyor 2, which is loaded in section I by suspending blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components, for example, from corresponding hooks. The hooks are preferably coated with an insulating layer except for the section that is in contact with the blank 3a-c.

[0067] Blanks 3a-c of various sanitary components are in Figure 1 suspended on the conveyor device 2. A blank 3a, 3b of a toilet lid and a toilet seat are located in section I. Blanks 3c of a urinal lid are already in section III. The blanks 3a-c are preferably untreated except for a prior cleaning step (not shown), ie preferably no electrically conductive coating or other substances influencing conductivity are separately applied to the duromer surface of the blanks 3a-c.

[0068] The conveyor device 2 includes electrically conductive structures that are provided in such a way that the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components are electrically contacted. Figure 1 The electrically conductive structures are preferably at ground potential, which is why the suspended blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components are also at ground potential. The electrical potential or ground potential of the electrically conductive structures and the suspended blanks 3a-c is in Figure 1 shown schematically with dashed lines.

[0069] The conveyor device 2 is designed to convey the provided and suspended blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components towards the Figure 1The direction FR corresponds to the conveying direction of the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components. The conveying device 2 conveys the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components from section I to a section II, in which step b) of the method according to the invention is carried out.

[0070] In Section II, the conveyor device 2 contains a radiator, in particular an infrared radiator, which preferably uniformly irradiates the surfaces of the sanitary components 3a-c. The irradiation leads to a preheating of the surfaces of the sanitary components 3a-c, which results in a reduction in the electrical surface resistance. The surfaces of the sanitary components 3a-c are preferably heated in Section II to a temperature between 80°C and 100°C. The residence time of the sanitary components 3a-c in Section II is between 40 seconds and 120 seconds.

[0071] The blanks 3a-c then move to Section III. The blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components are sprayed with an electrically charged powder coating 4 in Section III. Spraying is preferably carried out in two sub-steps (c1) and c2).

[0072] In sub-step c1), a front surface of the sanitary component is preferably sprayed with powder coating. The front surface is Figure 1 visible and lies in the drawing plane.

[0073] An automatic spray gun 5 is located facing the front surface. The electrical charging of the powder coating 4 takes place at the automatic spray gun 5 arranged in section III, for example by friction (triboelectric charging) or by applying a high voltage (corona charging).

[0074] The charged powder coating 4 impinges on the front surface of the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components and adheres to them, particularly due to the reduced surface resistance achieved by step b) and the opposite ground potential at which the blanks 3a-c are located. The thickness of the powder layer formed on the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components results from the speed at which the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components are conveyed in section III and / or the amount of powder coating 4 sprayed.

[0075] Perpendicular to the plane of the drawing behind the sanitary component, i.e. on the side of the sanitary component 3c facing away from the front surface, there is an electrode 6 (counter electrode).

[0076] Electrode 6 is at the same potential as automatic spray gun 5, at least with respect to the corresponding sign relative to ground potential. The field created between electrode 6 and the sanitary component ensures that the powder coating sprayed by automatic spray gun 5 does not reach the surface of sanitary component 3c facing electrode 6.

[0077] Preferably, the electrode 6 is divided into different areas, for example, nine equally sized areas that can assume different potentials. This allows the field between the electrode 6 and the sanitary component 3c to be "shaped" to prevent the powder coating from transferring to the side facing the electrode 6 as effectively as possible.

[0078] After sub-step c1), sub-step c2) takes place in which the side surface (rear surface) facing away from the automatic spray gun 5 in sub-step c1) is sprayed with powder coating.

[0079] The coating system preferably has, for sub-step c2) in section III, a further automatic spray gun 5' and a further electrode 6', which are merely swapped in their positions compared to those for sub-step c1).

[0080] The further electrode 6' is therefore located in Figure 1 in front of the sanitary component 3c and obscures it in this view. For this reason, the sanitary component 3c is shown in dashed lines in sub-step c2).

[0081] Furthermore, the further automatic spray gun 5' and the further electrode 6' are preferably constructed identically to those for sub-step c1), for which reason reference is made to the corresponding explanations.

[0082] The division of section III into the two sub-steps c1) and c2) leads to a very uniform application of the powder coating on the blanks 3a-c.

[0083] In the preferred embodiment, after completion of the process, the powder coating not only forms the water barrier according to the invention, but also the final outer surface or visible surface. In this respect, the powder coating 4 sprayed in Section III can be selected depending on the desired properties or requirements, such as chemical resistance, scratch resistance, and color of the final sanitary component.

[0084] The conveyor device 2 then transports the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components provided with the powder layer from section III to a section IV in which a preferred step d1) of the method is carried out.

[0085] In this section IV, the coating system 1 has a rapid or preheating device that rapidly or preheats the powder-coated blanks 3a-c to the temperature T (baking temperature) prevailing in the subsequent dryer (section V). The rapid or preheating device is preferably an infrared radiator.

[0086] A heating device or dryer forms section V, in which step d2) is carried out.

[0087] In this section V or in step d2), the powder-coated blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components preheated in section IV are kept at temperature T for a specific period of time, preferably constant. If section IV and step d1) are not present, the dryer in section V heats the powder-coated blanks 3a-c to temperature T.

[0088] The powder coating adhering to the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components melts in section V and crosslinks to form a coating layer that hardens.

[0089] The coating layer formed on the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components forms the water barrier and the outer surface or visible surface.

[0090] The time period of step d2), during which the blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components are in section V, varies depending on the powder coating 4 used and / or the temperature T prevailing in section V. The preferred section IV can be adjusted accordingly. The temperature T is between 120°C and 200°C, depending on the powder coating used.

[0091] The blanks 3a-c of the sanitary components are coated after passing through section V and can be removed from the coating system 1 by detaching them from the conveyor system 2.

[0092] Powder coatings enable the production of sanitary components in all common colors through the use of appropriate color pigments. Color effects such as metallic or pearlescent effects can also be easily achieved by adding effect pigments.

[0093] If the sanitary components taken from the coating system 1 are to receive a decoration, for example a wood or carbon look, the corresponding sanitary components are subjected to a preferred further production step, which is Figure 1 not shown. In the next manufacturing step, a sublimation film is applied to the coated sanitary component. The color of the sanitary component, together with the applied sublimation film, conveys the appearance of the desired decor.

[0094] It should be emphasized that the method according to the invention can be used to produce sanitary components made of thermoset material without the need to provide the corresponding blanks with an electrically conductive layer. Step b) is particularly essential to the invention. Step d1) is merely preferred.

[0095] Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a sanitary component D with dimensions from the prior art. The sanitary component is a toilet seat D.

[0096] The upper part of the Figure 2 explains the cross-section shown by showing the toilet ceramic K equipped with the toilet lid D from above, with the section line leading to the cross-sectional view also drawn in. The section line runs parallel to a wall W to which the corresponding toilet ceramic K equipped with the lid D is attached.

[0097] The X-axis of the shown coordinate system corresponds to the width direction of the cover D, the Y-axis to the corresponding depth direction of the cover D and the Z-axis to the height direction of the cover D.

[0098] The toilet lid D has a curvature of 10 mm, which is expressed in the fact that the distance of the vertex SP from an underlying plane in which the bearing surfaces LF shown are located is the mentioned 10 mm.

[0099] A test in which an underside US of the toilet lid D, facing the flushing water, was exposed to constantly generated water vapor (approximately 80% humidity) for 18 days, showed that the water barrier according to the invention reduced a subsidence of the apex by 50%, compared to the case in which no water barrier was provided on an identical toilet lid.

[0100] The statements in the general part before the description of the figures apply equally to the explained embodiment and vice versa.

Claims

1. A method for producing a sanitary component, wherein the sanitary component is a toilet seat, a toilet lid, or a urinal lid, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component made of a duromer material (thermoset material), b) preheating at least a partial area of ​​the blank (3-c) such that at least a temperature of a surface of the partial area of ​​the blank increases, wherein the partial area corresponds to an area of ​​the sanitary component which, after the sanitary component has been properly mounted on a toilet ceramic, faces and / or is closest to flushing water in the toilet ceramic, c) spraying the blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component with an electrically charged powder coating (4),wherein the blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component is at a potential opposite to that of the electrically charged powder coating (4) and the powder coating (4) adheres to the blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component in the partial area, and d) baking the powder coating (4) to form a coating layer forming a water barrier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component provided in step a) was produced on the basis of a condensation resin, wherein a corresponding condensate released during curing of the blank is preferably water.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blank (3a-c) is preheated in step b) with an infrared radiator in that the infrared radiator irradiates the blank with infrared radiation, wherein the infrared radiation is preferably in a wavelength range of 3,000 nm to 50,000 nm.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein in step b) the entire blank is preheated such that at least the temperature of the entire surface of the blank increases, and in step c) the entire blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component is sprayed with the electrically charged powder coating (4) and the powder coating (4) adheres to the entire blank (3a-c) of the sanitary component.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in step b) only the surface of the blank (3a-c) is heated.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein in step b) the surface of the blank (3a-c) is heated to a temperature between 100°C and 120°C in 40s to 120s.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein step d) includes: d1) a preheating step in which the sprayed blank (3a-c) to which the powder coating adheres is heated to a baking temperature by a preheating device, and d2) a baking step in which the blank (3a-c) preheated in step d1) to which the powder coating adheres passes through a baking furnace in which the coating layer forming the outer surface of the sanitary component is formed.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: e) applying an outer coating enclosing the water barrier and forming a visible surface of the sanitary component.

9. Sanitary component obtainable by one of the processes 1 to 8.

10. Sanitary component according to claim 9, wherein the sanitary component has a contour or external appearance, and a material thickness and / or a curvature is reduced by 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% at least in the region in which the water barrier is formed, compared to a material thickness and / or curvature that is necessary for the sanitary component without a water barrier for long-term dimensional stability.

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