Edged Furniture Panel Overlay With Continuous Printed Finish

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for applying aesthetic overlays to wooden furniture parts with edges result in poor adhesion, cracking, and noticeable edge finishes, requiring expensive machinery and extensive stock management.

Innovation Solution

A process involving a one-color background application on the surface, followed by varnishing, incorporating and trimming edging strips, and then applying a continuous print that extends over the surface and edges, with a final transparent varnish to create a uniform, aesthetically concealed finish.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a laminar element is folded over the edges to provide uniform coverage, then the entire piece is uniformly overlaid, but the element adheres poorly at the fold causing creasing and peeling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform coverageVSAvoidadhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The process separates the edging application from the surface overlay application. The edging strip is applied first to the edge, then the surface overlay is applied separately to the face, eliminating the problematic fold and improving both uniform coverage and adhesion reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The edging strip is applied to the edge before the surface overlay is applied to the face. This preliminary action on the edge prepares the substrate so that when the overlay is applied, it can be trimmed cleanly without compromising adhesion or creating creases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Shape

If a wood veneer is used for the overlay, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but it breaks at the ridges causing cracks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidcrack resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the edging and surface overlay into distinct application steps, the veneer on the face does not need to bridge the ridge created by folded edging. The veneer can be applied flat to the face and trimmed at the edge, preventing breakage while maintaining aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Shape

If conventional overlay methods are used, then aesthetic covering is applied, but extensive stock management of pre-printed coverings is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic coveringVSAvoidstock management
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of storing multiple pre-printed overlay stocks, the invention uses a printing process that applies the aesthetic design directly to the assembled components (base element with edging strip). This eliminates the need for extensive stock management while maintaining aesthetic quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The process changes from applying pre-manufactured printed overlays to applying unprinted covering material and then printing the design directly on the assembled piece. This parameter change in the manufacturing process eliminates inventory complexity while maintaining design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2301740B1Process for overlaying edged parts
Publication Date: 2016.07.06 BARBERAN LATORRE JESUS FRANCISCO
  • EP2301740B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2301740B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2301740B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a process for overlaying edged parts, in which a one-color background 3 is applied over the surface face of a base element 1, whereas an edging strip 2 is incorporated over the edges, a layer 4 of varnish being extended over the background 3, over which layer a print 5 is applied, extended until covering the edge of the edging strips 2, a layer 6 of transparent finishing varnish finally being extended over the printed surface.