Transfering method for in-mold rolling process

Abstract

This invention provides a transfer printing method comprising the following steps: First, a plastic film is provided. Then, a transfer ink and a printing roller are prepared, the surface of the printing roller having a three-dimensional pattern. Next, the printing roller and the transfer ink are used to form an ink pattern on the plastic film, thereby forming a transfer film. Next, the transfer film is placed and positioned within a mold. Then, a structural material is filled into the mold to form a structural component, and the ink pattern is transferred from the plastic film to one surface of the structural component. Finally, a curing treatment is applied to the ink pattern.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This case relates to a transfer method, and more particularly to a transfer method for use in an in-mold transfer process. Prior Technology

[0002] To create decorative patterns on product surfaces, a common surface treatment technique is to use transfer films. Depending on the placement of the film, this can be further divided into in-mold roller (IMR) and out-mold roller (OMR).

[0003] Traditional in-mold transfer printing processes are prone to inaccurate pattern placement and cannot precisely transfer multiple colors of texture onto a product surface using a single process. Therefore, this invention provides a transfer method to overcome the shortcomings of traditional in-mold transfer printing technology. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a transfer method for an in-mold transfer printing process, comprising the following steps: First, a plastic film is provided. Then, a transfer ink and a printing roller are prepared, the surface of the printing roller having a three-dimensional pattern. Next, the transfer ink is transferred onto the plastic film using the printing roller, forming an ink pattern on the plastic film. Next, the transfer film is placed and positioned within a mold. Then, a structural material is filled into the mold to form a structural component, and the ink pattern is transferred from the plastic film to one surface of the structural component. Finally, a curing treatment is applied to the ink pattern.

[0005] Compared to traditional in-mold transfer technology, this case has the following advantages.

[0006] First, utilizing the printing rollers and positioning technology provided in this application, the transfer method can precisely specify areas for different colors, design patterns, shapes, and regulatory markings on an object's surface within a single transfer process. Furthermore, the transfer method can simultaneously position areas for multiple colors to achieve the effect of displaying design patterns and regulatory markings in different areas. For example, the transfer method can achieve seamless color transitions on a laptop keyboard using a single transfer process, without requiring two or more processing technologies.

[0007] Secondly, the positioning equipment used in this transfer method can automatically identify the color and pattern of the transfer film through digital-to-digital instruction technology, which facilitates precise positioning of the transfer film. This is a capability that traditional alignment equipment does not possess.

[0008] Furthermore, the transfer ink used in this case has advantages such as being environmentally friendly and possessing excellent physical properties, specifically manifested in the abrasion resistance, impact resistance, high temperature resistance, low temperature resistance, stain resistance, and fingerprint resistance of the ink pattern film surface. In addition, the ink raw materials used in this case have a high solids content, which is beneficial to the emission of volatile organic gases during the manufacturing process and meets environmental protection requirements. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0009] The first figure shows a flowchart of a transfer method for an in-mold transfer process provided according to an embodiment of this case; Implementation

[0010] The specific implementation methods of this case will be described in more detail below with reference to the schematic diagrams. The advantages and features of this case will become clearer based on the following description and the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that the drawings are all in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, and are only used to facilitate and clarify the illustration of the embodiments of this case.

[0011] The first figure shows a flowchart of a transfer method for in-mold rolling (IMR) according to an embodiment of this case.

[0012] As shown in the figure, the transfer method provided in this case includes the following steps.

[0013] First, as in step S110, a plastic film is provided. This plastic film is a blank film.

[0014] Subsequently, as described in step S120, a transfer ink and a printing roller are prepared according to a preset transfer pattern, wherein the surface of the printing roller has a three-dimensional pattern.

[0015] In one embodiment, the transfer ink comprises acrylic copolymerized modified acrylic acid, polymeric mixed monomers, and hydroxyl compounds. The polymeric mixed monomers help improve properties such as high-temperature resistance, antifreeze properties, and fingerprint resistance. The hydroxyl compounds help improve properties such as oil resistance, toughness, aging resistance, and adhesion. In one embodiment, the transfer ink used in this application comprises 38wt%-43wt% acrylic copolymerized modified acrylic acid, 7wt%-13wt% polymeric mixed monomers, 20wt%-30wt% hydroxyl compounds, solvents, and additives, synthesized through a mixed chemical synthesis reaction.

[0016] In one embodiment, step S120 involves forming a three-dimensional pattern on the surface of a printing roller using photolithography.

[0017] Specifically, step S120 requires first determining the size, color, texture, and other pattern characteristics of the preset transfer pattern, and then preparing the transfer ink and printing roller accordingly. In one embodiment, the printing roller can be used with multiple colors of transfer ink for simultaneous printing.

[0018] Subsequently, as described in step S130, an ink pattern is formed on the plastic film using a printing roller and transfer ink to form a transfer film. This ink pattern corresponds to the three-dimensional pattern on the printing roller.

[0019] In one embodiment, before forming an ink pattern on the plastic film using a printing roller, the plastic film can be deeply cleaned and surface-treated to increase its surface tension, thus facilitating the adhesion of the transfer ink to the plastic film. For example, corona discharge or surface coating can be used to increase the surface tension of the plastic film. In another embodiment, the aforementioned surface treatment can also form a functional film layer on the surface of the plastic film that provides anti-oxidation and dust protection, facilitating subsequent applications.

[0020] Subsequently, according to the design, transfer ink is applied to the printing roller, and then transferred to the plastic film through the printing roller to form a transfer film with an ink pattern on the surface.

[0021] Next, as described in step S140, the transfer film is placed and positioned within a mold. Specifically, this step involves placing and positioning the transfer film within the mold with the plastic film facing outwards (i.e., in direct contact with the mold) and the ink pattern facing inwards.

[0022] In one embodiment, the aforementioned step of placing and positioning the transfer film within the mold can be performed using an infrared alignment device. The infrared alignment device achieves the positioning effect by comparing the positioning marks on the transfer film with the positioning marks on the mold.

[0023] In another embodiment, the aforementioned step of placing and positioning the transfer film within the mold can be performed using a machine vision alignment system to position the transfer film within the mold. The machine vision alignment system can identify the color and pattern of the ink on the transfer film to confirm the actual position of the transfer film, and then calculate the offset between the current position and the target position of the transfer film to facilitate alignment adjustment.

[0024] Then, as described in step S150, a structural material is filled into the mold to form a structural component, and the ink pattern is transferred from the plastic film to one surface of the structural component.

[0025] In one embodiment, the aforementioned structural material is a plastic material, and the aforementioned step of filling a structural material into a mold to form a structural component is to fill the structural material into the mold by injection molding to form the structural component.

[0026] Finally, as described in step S160, a curing treatment is applied to the ink pattern to ensure that the ink pattern is firmly formed on the surface of the structural component. In one embodiment, this curing treatment may be a photocuring treatment. Specifically, the stereo transfer ink may contain a photosensitive resin, and the aforementioned curing treatment may utilize blue light, violet light, or ultraviolet light to irradiate the surface of the structural component to cure the ink pattern. However, this invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, this curing treatment may also be a thermocuring treatment.

[0027] In one embodiment, the aforementioned plastic film is adhered to the surface of the structural member to protect the ink pattern. However, this invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, after the ink pattern has been cured, the plastic film can be peeled off from the structural member to highlight the ink pattern and the surface texture of the structural member itself.

[0028] Compared to traditional in-mold transfer technology, this case has the following advantages.

[0029] First, utilizing the printing rollers and positioning technology provided in this application, the transfer method can precisely specify areas for different colors, design patterns, shapes, and regulatory markings on an object's surface within a single transfer process. Furthermore, the transfer method can simultaneously position areas for multiple colors to achieve the effect of displaying design patterns and regulatory markings in different areas. For example, the transfer method can achieve seamless color transitions on a laptop keyboard using a single transfer process, without requiring two or more processing technologies.

[0030] Secondly, the positioning equipment used in this transfer method can automatically identify the color and pattern of the transfer film through digital-to-digital instruction technology, which facilitates precise positioning of the transfer film. This is a capability that traditional alignment equipment does not possess.

[0031] Furthermore, the transfer ink used in this case has advantages such as being environmentally friendly and possessing excellent physical properties, specifically manifested in the abrasion resistance, impact resistance, high temperature resistance, low temperature resistance, stain resistance, and fingerprint resistance of the ink pattern film surface. In addition, the ink raw materials used in this case have a high solids content, which is beneficial to the emission of volatile organic gases during the manufacturing process and meets environmental protection requirements.

[0032] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this case and do not limit the scope of this case in any way. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art to the technical means and content disclosed in this case without departing from the scope of the technical means of this case shall be deemed to have remained within the scope of protection of this case.

[0033] S110, S120, S130, S140, S150, S160: Steps

Claims

1. A transfer method for in-mold rolling (IMR) processes, comprising: providing a plastic film; preparing a transfer ink and a printing roller, the surface of the printing roller having a three-dimensional pattern; forming an ink pattern on the plastic film using the printing roller and the transfer ink to form a transfer film; placing and positioning the transfer film in a mold, identifying and aligning the color and pattern of the ink pattern on the transfer film; filling a structural material into the mold to form a structural component, and transferring the ink pattern from the plastic film to a surface of the structural component; and applying a curing treatment to the ink pattern.

2. The transfer method as described in claim 1, wherein, The three-dimensional pattern is formed on the surface of the printing roller by photolithography.

3. The transfer method as described in claim 1, wherein, The transfer ink contains acrylic copolymerized modified, polymeric mixed monomers and hydroxyl compounds.

4. The transfer method as described in claim 3, wherein, The transfer ink contains 38wt%-43wt% acrylic copolymerized modified, 7wt%-13wt% polymer mixed monomers, and 20wt%-30wt% hydroxyl compounds.

5. The transfer method as described in claim 1, wherein, This curing process is a light curing process.

6. The transfer method as described in claim 1, wherein, The structural material is a plastic material.

7. The transfer method as described in claim 1, wherein, The step of filling the mold with the structural material to form the structural component is to fill the mold with the structural material by injection molding to form the structural component.

8. The transfer method as described in claim 1 further includes: peeling the plastic film off the structural member.

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