Method for producing an ashtray

Abstract

The method is used to produce a metal ashtray (1). The ashtray (1) has a decorative image on at least part of its surface. To produce the ashtray (1), the following process steps are carried out sequentially. First, a flat metal sheet is printed with a print image that differs from the decorative image. Subsequently, the metal sheet is three-dimensionally formed into the ashtray (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing an ashtray made of metal which has a decorative image in the area of at least part of its surface.

[0002] Such ashtrays are typically used in connection with the use of smoking products and serve to collect ash and / or unconsumed residues of the smoking products. The ashtrays are available in various designs and can be used, for example, in connection with the use of cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars or joints. So-called 2-chamber ashtrays are known for certain applications. The decorative image is typically printed after a starting sheet has been formed into the ashtray. As a rule, only part of the surface of the ashtray can be provided with the decorative image at an economically justifiable expense. A full-surface print, on the other hand, entails considerable costs and, in particular, a full-surface print on both the top and bottom of the ashtray is only possible with considerable expense.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve a method of the type mentioned in the introduction in such a way that the production of printed ashtrays is possible at low cost.

[0004] In particular, the invention is intended to support the production of mass products with low costs and a good visual appearance.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the following process steps are carried out successively in the specified order: a) Printing a flat metal sheet with an image that differs from the decorative image. b) Three-dimensionally forming the metal sheet into an ashtray.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the printed image deviating from the final decorative image is designed as a raw image in such a way that after the deformation of the metal sheet, the decorative image has the intended design.

[0007] In particular, according to the invention, the printed image is designed in such a way that at least the majority of the areas of the printed image assume the correct positions in the decorative image after the deformation of the metal sheet.

[0008] Typically, the metal bed sheet is formed into an ashtray using a deep-drawing process. During this deep-drawing process, certain areas of the material are often compressed and / or other areas are expanded.

[0009] The deformation of the metal sheet is preferably carried out using a press, particularly preferably using a lower punch and an upper punch. Particularly preferably, this is carried out in several work steps.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the design of the printed image is carried out based on the decorative image using a coordinate transformation. The coordinate transformation takes into account the geometric changes in the area of the ashtray's surfaces caused by the forming process.

[0011] The coordinate transformation can be determined empirically, for example. A test image is printed onto the sheet metal, and the sheet metal is then deformed into an ashtray. In particular, it is considered to use a raster as the corresponding test image. It can then be determined where the individual raster points of the test image are located after the deformation of the metal sheet on the ashtray.

[0012] Alternatively, it is also possible to perform a digital simulation instead of, or in addition to, the empirical determination to determine the coordinate transformation. The digital determination can be carried out, for example, based on suitable computer programs and / or using artificial intelligence.

[0013] The metal sheet can be printed using gravure printing, screen printing or laser technology.

[0014] The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of an ashtray by way of example.

[0015] The drawings show Figure 1 : a perspective view of an ashtray diagonally from above, Figure 2 : the ashtray according to Figure 1 with a smoking product, Figure 3 : a perspective view of the ashtray according to Figure 1 when viewed from below and Figure 4: a top view of a different to Figure 1 designed ashtray.

[0016] A process sequence according to the invention can be carried out, for example, as explained below. In a first process step, a grid pattern is printed onto the sheet metal to be formed. For example, a carenthesic grid pattern can be used. The sheet metal provided with this grid pattern is then formed into an ashtray using the intended manufacturing process. This creates an ashtray printed with a grid pattern.

[0017] For example, photos of the ashtray with the grid pattern can be taken from different perspectives. The resulting images can be converted into a diagram in a subsequent processing step. The intended decorative image, for example, a complex graphic with text, is then incorporated into the previously generated diagram. This makes it possible to identify the positions where the graphic is distorted. In one or more correction steps, the corresponding graphic can then be adjusted to compensate for the detected distortions.

[0018] To reduce the effort, it is possible to produce an initial test print in grayscale only. Only after any necessary further corrections are the full-color prints made in a final step.

[0019] Figure 1shows an embodiment of an ashtray (1). The ashtray (1) consists of a three-dimensionally deformed metal sheet. The ashtray (1) has an edge (2) and a center (3). The center (3) is designed as a depression and is bordered vertically downwards by a base (4). The base (4) is surrounded by a protrusion (5) and in the area of the protrusion (5) at least one depression (6) can be arranged, which can serve to position and support smoking articles. A recess (7) is arranged between the protrusion (5) and the edge (2).

[0020] According to the Figure 1 In the preferred embodiment shown, the edge (2), the depression (7) and the elevation (5) are arranged concentrically relative to one another.

[0021] Figure 2 shows the ashtray according to Figure 1 with a held smoking article (8).

[0022] Figure 3 shows the arrangement according to Figure 1in a perspective view from below.

[0023] Figure 4 shows a modified embodiment in which four elevations (5) are used. In this embodiment, too, the edge (2), the elevation (5), and the depression (7) are preferably arranged concentrically relative to one another.

[0024] The inventive determination of the print image applied to the flat metal sheet is possible in different variants of the method.

[0025] According to a first embodiment, the aforementioned printing of a grid on the flat sheet metal, the deformation of the cup into an ashtray, and the detection of the deformed grid on the ashtray are carried out. A table is then created that documents the assignment of the grid coordinates of the flat image to the grid coordinates of the ashtray's surface.

[0026] In a subsequent step, the decorative image to be generated on the ashtray is rasterized or pixelated and the color information and / or brightness information is then defined in a rasterized image for the flat sheet metal.

[0027] According to another design variant, the decorative image to be created is applied to the finished ashtray using any technical process, and this image is assigned to the corresponding screen, for example, using pattern recognition. Based on the aforementioned table or using another documented assignment, the color and / or brightness information for the printed image to be created on the flat sheet metal is then determined.

[0028] The above-mentioned processing steps are preferably carried out automatically using a digital computer.

[0029] As already mentioned, an embodiment of the invention is preferably based on rasterization, pixelation, or other quantization of both the printed image to be applied to the flat sheet metal and the decorative image generated on the final ashtray. The coordinate transformation according to the invention compensates for both image distortions caused by stretching or compressing the material and changes in the image representation caused by a change in the density of color dots. Contrary to a mathematical definition, color dots are not infinitely small quantizations, but rather areal image information. Likewise, such a color dot does not necessarily have to be circular; arbitrary edge contours are, in principle, conceivable variants.

[0030] Another variant involves determining the image information for the printed image to be generated in the area of the flat sheet metal during the ashtray forming process based on pure simulation, based on the information acquired in a first step regarding the changes in the surface of the flat sheet metal during its formation. For example, this can be done iteratively, with repeated and possibly multiple changes to the image content being evaluated to determine the resulting image in the area of the finished ashtray.

[0031] The inventive method for manufacturing the ashtray can, in particular, take into account an optimal ratio of horizontal and vertical surfaces, so that they can be formed in a way that protects the material. According to the invention, undesirable thinning of the sheet thickness, as well as cracks or breaks, can be avoided. Radius contours in the area of transitions between horizontal and vertical surfaces can also be optimized.

[0032] The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for taking into account material properties such as hardness, impact strength, elongation coefficient, and flow properties. The material thickness in relation to the total surface area can also be considered.

[0033] Physical and / or chemical factors can also be considered. This includes, in particular, temperature or the use of flow agents during material formation.

Claims

1. A method for producing an ashtray made of metal which has a decorative image in the area of at least part of its surface, characterized in that the following process steps are carried out one after the other in the specified order: a) printing a flat metal sheet with a print image which is different from the decorative image b) three-dimensional deformation of the metal sheet into an ashtray.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the metal sheet is deformed into the ashtray (1) by deep drawing.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A coordinate transformation is automatically determined which defines an assignment of raster points of the printed image to raster points of the decorative image.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the print image is automatically generated from the decorative image by applying the coordinate transformation.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a digital rasterization of the decorative image is carried out.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a digital rasterization of the print image is carried out.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that digital image recognition is carried out.

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the coordinate transformation data are determined by a digital simulation.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the data of the coordinate transformation is carried out by a test forming of the ashtray (1) with a previously printed grid.

10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a blank is cut out of the metal sheet before the metal sheet is deformed.

11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a two-chamber ashtray is produced.

12. Method according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the ashtray (1) is designed with elevations and depressions arranged concentrically relative to one another.

13. Method according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a blank made from sheet metal is aligned relative to a mold before the deformation is carried out.

14. Method according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a rasterization of a printing area of the undeformed metal sheet is carried out.

15. Method according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that a rasterization of the metal sheet deformed into the ashtray (1) is carried out.

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