Method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like, particularly for eyewear and slabs of polymeric material

Abstract

A method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like, particularly for use in the eyewear industry, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - providing a digital drawing (1) of a three-dimensional object to be obtained; - dividing the drawing (1) into a plurality of images (1a... 1n) along one direction, so as to obtain a plurality of layers, each one defining an image; - printing each image (1a... 1n) onto a sheet of polymeric material or the like, one image for each sheet (2) of polymeric material or the like, so as to print all the layers of the drawing that have been obtained; - stacking the sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like printed with the respective images (1a... 1n) on top of each other inside a mold (4); - pressing, inside the mold (4), the plurality of sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like so as to obtain a single slab of polymeric material or the like; - opening the mold (4) to extract the slab.

Description

[0001] METHOD FOR OBTAINING SLABS OF POLYMERIC MATERIAL OR THE LIKE, PARTICULARLY FOR EYEWEAR AND SLABS OF POLYMERIC MATERIAL

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like, particularly for eyewear. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like with particular aesthetic characteristics. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an eyeglasses component with a three-dimensional image impressed thereon.

[0003] As is known, eyeglasses frames, i.e. the front and the temples, are made starting from slabs of cellulose acetate and the desired shapes are obtained by milling.

[0004] Cellulose acetate is a modified natural polymer and is widely used in eyewear.

[0005] To make the frame, different types of ecologically sustainable material can be used, for example bioacetate, wherein the plasticizers are of plant origin, or other materials obtained by recycling (e.g. CRT), which are commonly known in the background art.

[0006] Fronts and temples, made of cellulose acetate, are generally singlecolor or multicolor and can therefore have pleasing aesthetic effects which are provided directly during the step of manufacturing the acetate slab from which the desired shapes are then obtained by milling. Cellulose acetate lends itself particularly well to providing frames of eyeglasses owing to the ease with which it can be worked, and also owing to the great variety of colors and patterns that it is possible to create. In fact, slabs of cellulose acetate can be produced in a practically infinite range of colorings: transparent, opaline or opaque, single-color, patterned (e.g. Havana) or variegated, with the possibility of creating aesthetic effects that are difficult to obtain with other materials. However, such aesthetic effects are limited to two-dimensional geometric shapes which are dictated by the very methods with which the acetate slab is processed.

[0007] In the state of the art, the wet block or solvent block technologies for providing an eyeglasses frame are known, and these technologies make it possible to obtain clear-cut desired geometries, designs, motifs or images.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like from which complex three- dimensional shapes can be provided with different colors in a same slab made of polymeric material or the like, preferably cellulose acetate.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like which have different colors in their thickness.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining slabs made of polymeric material or the like from which it is possible to obtain, by way of machining such as for example milling, cutting or laser cutting, complex three-dimensional shapes that are suitable for providing frames of eyeglasses, such as fronts and temples.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an eyeglasses frame with dry block technology.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like that is highly reliable, easily and practically implemented and at low cost.

[0013] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like, particularly for use in the eyewear industry, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

[0014] - providing a digital drawing of a three-dimensional object to be obtained;

[0015] - dividing said drawing into a plurality of images along one direction, so as to obtain a plurality of layers, each one defining an image;

[0016] - printing each image onto a sheet of polymeric material or the like, one image for each sheet of polymeric material or the like, so as to print all the layers of the drawing that have been obtained;

[0017] - stacking the sheets of polymeric material or the like printed with the respective images on top of each other inside a mold;

[0018] - pressing, inside said mold, said plurality of sheets of polymeric material or the like so as to obtain a single slab of polymeric material or the like;

[0019] - opening said mold to extract said slab.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the method according to the present invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 shows a first step of the method for obtaining a slab of polymeric material according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 shows a second step of the method according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 shows a third step of the method according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 shows a fourth step of the method according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 shows a fifth step of the method according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 shows an eyeglasses temple obtained from a slab of polymeric material according to the present invention.

[0027] The method according to the invention includes a first step which can be termed “digital”, in which colored three-dimensional shapes are created of objects, logos and / or personalized images that it is desired to incorporate in the slab of polymeric material or the like that will subsequently be created. Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional shape (object) 1 by way of example.

[0028] The logos and / or images can be designs, geometric motifs, logos, wordings, names, images personalized by a user, patterns and the like.

[0029] The “digital” step can be carried out directly online by the user, for example on an e-commerce site where the user uploads a personalized image that he or she wishes to have reproduced on the eyeglasses frame, so as to have a pair of eyeglasses that is customized and unique.

[0030] The three-dimensional shapes 1 can be applied for example on eyeglasses frames, such as fronts and temples and / or other frame elements.

[0031] Once the digital drawing of the desired object or objects has been created, this drawing is “sliced” into layers along a direction, so as to obtain a plurality of images la ... In which, when superimposed, reconstruct the three-dimensional object 1 that was drawn initially.

[0032] In substance, therefore, after this digital step, a plurality of images is obtained, each image corresponding to a “slice” of the three-dimensional object drawn.

[0033] The method then entails printing (Figure 2) the different images on sheets 2 of polymeric material or the like, one sheet for each image. The sheets 2 can be, for example, of cellulose acetate.

[0034] The methods of printing the images on individual sheets 2 of polymeric material or the like, for example cellulose acetate, can use different techniques, such as for example ink-jet printing, sublimation printing, etc.

[0035] The individual printed sheets 2 of polymeric material or the like, therefore with an image la ... In printed on each sheet 2, will then be stacked in the correct order (Figure 3) and placed in a mold 4 (Figure 4) which has a movable part and a fixed part, wherein the movable part makes it possible to apply a pressure on the sheets 2 of polymeric material or the like. The mold 4, thus loaded with the different printed sheets, is subjected to a treatment of pressure, heating and cooling, in order to ensure that the individual sheets 2 bond together to form a single block 5.

[0036] At the end of the treatment the mold 4 is opened and the slab of polymeric material or the like (in a single block 5) is extracted.

[0037] At this point the slab 5 of polymeric material or the like is processed (milled, trimmed, laser-cut, etc.) in order to obtain specific products, for example eyeglass fronts and temples and / or other parts that make up an eyeglasses frame.

[0038] Finally come the steps of finishing, polishing and / or surface treatments (e.g. laser) in order to obtain the end product.

[0039] The method described above therefore makes it possible to provide three-dimensional colored objects in a matrix of polymeric material or the like (constituted by a plurality of different layers 2 of polymeric material or the like), in which the polymeric material is a polymeric material that is commonly used in the eyewear sector, such as for example cellulose acetate or cellulose bioacetate.

[0040] The different layers 2 of polymeric material or the like that are stacked on top of each other inside the mold described above can be made of different types of polymeric materials and are produced starting from granules of plastic of the correct chemical composition.

[0041] The processes to obtain the layers 2 of polymeric material or the like described above can be an extrusion process or other processes adapted to obtain very thin films of polymeric material or the like.

[0042] The different layers 2 of polymeric material or the like that are coupled to each other inside the mold can have mutually different thickness or they can have identical thickness.

[0043] The thickness of the layers containing the images of the three- dimensional object must be proportional to the thickness of the sheets of polymeric material or the like on which the images are printed. This means that the total amount of the individual sheets must be equal to the desired thickness of the component to be produced.

[0044] The inks used to print the images la ... In on the different layers 2 of polymeric material or the like must be inks that do not undergo significant alterations during the process of mutual bonding of the various layers that occurs inside the mold.

[0045] The printing 2 of the different images la ... In on the different layers of polymeric material must be done using techniques to center the images, using for example markers or other methods, so that the images can be subsequently stacked with an optimal precision in order to obtain the three- dimensional object that it is desired to provide without distortion of that image.

[0046] Convenient contrivances for the mold 4 need to be provided to ensure that the stacked sheets or layers 2 of polymeric material or the like do not move once inside the mold and during the process of bonding between the various layers.

[0047] Furthermore, the mold must be capable of ensuring that air can exit in order to prevent the unwanted formation of bubbles.

[0048] Furthermore, the mold 4 must be made of a material that conducts heat optimally so as to allow the cycle of heating and cooling and, at the same time, to enable pressure to be applied so as to subject the individual printed sheets or slabs inside the mold to the correct pressure.

[0049] The slab (block) 5 obtained after the mold 4 is opened can, as mentioned, for example be conveniently milled, trimmed or laser-cut, therefore using the customary techniques used on eyewear.

[0050] This makes it possible to obtain a desired eyeglasses component, for example a temple 6 (Figure 6).

[0051] In an alternative embodiment, each individual sheet or layer 2 of polymeric material can be personalized and then superimposed on the other sheets or layers 2 in order to compose a geometric motif and / or an image or wording or logo 1 that is unique and completely customized.

[0052] The invention also relates to a slab of polymeric material and an eyeglasses component produced using the method.

[0053] The invention likewise relates to an eyeglasses component with a three-dimensional image, comprising a plurality of sheets of polymeric material or the like, stacked on top of each other, each one of the sheets having an image printed thereon, so as to obtain a plurality of superimposed images which are adapted to define the three-dimensional image.

[0054] In practice it has been found that the method according to the invention fully achieves the set aim and objects.

[0055] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0056] Thus, for example, it is possible to add, between the sheets or layers 2, bi-dimensional objects as decorative inserts such as metal letters, flowers, petals, leaves, feathers.

[0057] Such objects will be visible together with the 3d effects created by the sheets or layers 2.

[0058] The material of those objects can preferably be metal, plastic, composite or natural fibre material, with a thickness which would be visible outside the eyeglasses frame with an attractive aesthetic effect.

[0059] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0060] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and to the state of the art.

[0061] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000004390 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An eyeglasses component with a three-dimensional image, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like, stacked on top of each other, each one of said sheets (2) having an image (la ... In) printed thereon, so as to obtain a plurality of superimposed images (la ... In) which are adapted to define said three- dimensional image.

2. An eyeglasses component with a three-dimensional image, characterized in that it is provided by means of a method comprising the steps of:- providing a digital drawing (1) of a three-dimensional object to be obtained;- dividing said drawing into a plurality of images (la ... In) along one direction, so as to obtain a plurality of layers, each one defining an image;- printing each image onto a sheet (2) of polymeric material or the like, one image (la ... In) for each sheet of polymeric material or the like, so as to print all the layers of the drawing that have been obtained;- stacking the sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like printed with the respective images (la ... In) on top of each other inside a mold (4);- pressing, inside said mold (4), said plurality of sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like so as to obtain a single slab of polymeric material or the like;- opening said mold (4) to extract said slab and processing said slab to provide said three-dimensional eyeglasses component with the image represented by said digital drawing (1).

3. The eyeglasses component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a front of an eyeglasses frame.

4. The eyeglasses component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a temple (6) of an eyeglasses frame.

5. A method for obtaining slabs of polymeric material or the like,particularly for use in the eyewear industry, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:- providing a digital drawing (1) of a three-dimensional object to be obtained;- dividing said drawing (1) into a plurality of images (la ... In) along one direction, so as to obtain a plurality of layers, each one defining an image;- printing each image (la ... In) onto a sheet of polymeric material or the like, one image for each sheet (2) of polymeric material or the like, so as to print all the layers of the drawing that have been obtained;- stacking the sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like printed with the respective images (la ... In) on top of each other inside a mold (4);- pressing, inside said mold (4), said plurality of sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like so as to obtain a single slab of polymeric material or the like;- opening said mold (4) to extract said slab.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that said step of printing said images (la ... In) on respective sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like is obtained by means of a printing process of the ink-jet, sublimation or similar type.

7. The method according to one or more of claims 5-6, characterized in that said images (la ... In) printed on said sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like have centering means in order to be able to center said sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like on each other and avoid distortions of the image.

8. The method according to one or more of claims 5-7, characterized in that the printing of said images (la ... In) on said sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like is obtained by means of inks adapted to withstand the pressing process wherein said sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like are pressed into a single block.

9. The method according to one or more of claims 5-8, characterized in that said sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like are made of cellulose acetate.

10. The method according to one or more of claims 5-9, characterized in that said digital drawing is a personalized image of a user.

11. The method according to one or more of claims 5-10, characterized in that it further comprises the step of adding, between the sheets or layers (2), bi-dimensional objects as decorative inserts such as metal letters, flowers, petals, leaves, feathers.

12. A slab of polymeric material or the like, characterized in that it is provided by means of a method comprising the steps of:- providing a digital drawing (1) of a three-dimensional object to be obtained;- dividing said drawing (1) into a plurality of images (la ... In) along one direction, so as to obtain a plurality of layers, each one defining an image;- printing each image (la ... In) onto a sheet (2) of polymeric material or the like, one image for each sheet (2) of polymeric material or the like, so as to print all the layers of the drawing that have been obtained;- stacking the sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like printed with the respective images (la ... In) on top of each other inside a mold;- pressing, inside said mold (4), said plurality of sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like so as to obtain a single slab of polymeric material or the like;- opening said mold to extract said slab.

13. An eyeglasses frame, characterized in that it is provided by means of a method comprising the steps of:- providing a digital drawing (1) of a three-dimensional object to be obtained;- dividing said drawing into a plurality of images (la ... In) along onedirection, so as to obtain a plurality of layers, each one defining an image;- printing each image (la ... In) onto a sheet (2) of polymeric material or the like, one image for each sheet of polymeric material or the like, so as to print all the layers of the drawing that have been obtained; - stacking the sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like printed with the respective images on top of each other inside a mold (4);- pressing, inside said mold (4), said plurality of sheets (2) of polymeric material or the like so as to obtain a single slab of polymeric material or the like; - opening said mold (4) to extract said slab and processing said slab to provide said eyeglasses frame with the image represented by said digital drawing (1).

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