A method for manufacturing a component of or a blank sheet for forming a component of a household appliance, component for a household appliance and household appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing household appliance components with self-cleaning, easy-to-clean, and hydrophobic characteristics face challenges such as corrosion issues, non-durable printing due to hydrophobic coatings, and aesthetic appeal limitations, particularly when applying coatings and printing using traditional serigraphy or tampography.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a non-stick and non-wetting coating applied to a blank sheet or component surface, followed by a plasma activation process to increase surface tension for improved printing adhesion, allowing for durable and aesthetically appealing printing without removing the coating, which avoids corrosion and maintains self-cleaning properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-stick and non-wetting coating is applied to the surface before printing, then self-cleaning and hydrophobic characteristics are improved, but printing adhesion deteriorates due to hydrophobic behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different surface properties in different areas: the coating surface remains hydrophobic for self-cleaning, while specific printed areas are made hydrophilic through plasma treatment to ensure printing adhesion. This resolves the contradiction by making the surface properties location-dependent rather than uniform.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses preliminary action by performing plasma treatment on the coating surface before applying the print. This pre-activation of the surface creates a hydrophilic state that enables proper printing adhesion, while the underlying coating maintains its hydrophobic self-cleaning properties. The preliminary plasma treatment prepares the surface without permanently altering the coating's fundamental characteristics.
2Manufacturing precision
If the coating is removed to apply printing, then printing adhesion is improved, but corrosion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses plasma treatment as an intermediary process that modifies the coating surface properties without removing the coating. The plasma creates a temporary hydrophilic state on the coating surface that enables printing adhesion, while the coating itself remains intact to provide corrosion protection. This intermediary approach avoids direct contact between the print and the metal substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical removal of coating (such as laser ablation or mechanical stripping) with a chemical/physical surface modification process (plasma treatment). Instead of removing material to create adhesion, the plasma process modifies surface chemistry to enable adhesion while preserving the protective coating layer.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional serigraphy or tampography is used on coated surface, then printing process is simple, but printing durability deteriorates due to lack of adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary plasma treatment to the coating surface before using traditional printing methods. This pre-treatment creates a hydrophilic state that enables traditional serigraphy or tampography to achieve proper adhesion. The printing process itself remains simple, but the preliminary plasma activation ensures durability by creating proper surface conditions for ink bonding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a cost-effective solution with durable printing and maintained self-cleaning properties, avoiding corrosion and aesthetic issues, while enabling efficient application of coatings and printing on various materials like stainless steel and glass ceramics.
Implementation Method 1
an activation process is performed on at least a part of the exposed surface of the coating in order to provide an activated surface area. The activation process in particular increases the surface tension within the activated surface area compared to the remaining exposed surface of the coating
Implementation Method 2
A non-stick and/or non-wetting coating is applied to the surface, the coating having an exposed (or: outer) surface. Said exposed surface may be arranged at the coating opposite to a boundary surface adjacent the base structure or base layer. The coating may in particular have self-cleaning and/or easy-to-clean properties and/or show a hydrophobic characteristic.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a component of a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance, or a blank sheet from which the component is formed, the component or the blank sheet having a printing on its surface, comprising at least the following steps: - providing the blank sheet or providing the component, the blank sheet or component having a surface to be coated, - applying a non-stick and/or non-wetting coating to the surface, the coating having an exposed surface, - performing an activation process on at least a part of the exposed surface of the coating in order to provide an activated surface area, wherein the activation process in particular increases the surface tension within the activated surface area, - applying a printing to the activated surface area. The invention further relates to a component of or for use in a household appliance and a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance is disclosed.