Method for decorating objects by means of sublimatic inks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for decorating objects with sublimatic inks face challenges in achieving high-quality and faithful image transfer, especially on objects with complex shapes, concavities, and convexities, and require laborious operations and multiple materials, leading to graphic inaccuracies and deformations.
Innovation Solution
A method using a shrink-wrap sheet-like element with an irregular surface and micro-channel systems to create a partial vacuum inside the sleeve, ensuring uniform pressure and gas drainage, allowing the sublimatic inks to be transferred effectively onto objects with complex shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a sheet-like medium made of thermo-elastoplastic material is used for sublimation transfer, then the medium can be deformed to fit object shapes, but the medium causes loss of resolution when stretched and forms wrinkles when compressed, leading to defects in the transferred image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible sheet-like medium made of thermoplastic material that can be deformed to conform to complex object shapes including concavities and convexities. The medium maintains its integrity during deformation, allowing it to wrap around and adhere to three-dimensional surfaces while preserving the printed image quality through controlled thermal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies controlled thermal parameters to the sheet-like medium to transition it between different states. By heating the medium to specific temperature ranges, the material becomes more pliable for deformation and then stabilizes upon cooling, enabling shape adaptation without permanent distortion or image degradation.
2Reliability
If frames are used to lock perimetrically carrier sheet-like media made of elastoplastic material, then the media can be held in position during deformation, but the method requires laborious operations and a large number of elements and materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for external frames and complex fixing mechanisms by integrating the positioning function directly into the sheet-like medium itself. The medium is designed to self-constrain and self-position through its material properties and geometric configuration, removing the requirement for separate framing elements and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sheet-like medium performs multiple functions simultaneously: it carries the printed image, deforms to fit the object shape, positions itself during the process, and maintains contact with the surface. This self-sufficient design eliminates the need for external assistance from frames, clamps, or other positioning devices.
3Stress or pressure
If the carrier sheet-like medium is wrapped around the object to be decorated and inserted in frames or bags to create a vacuum, then pressure can be transmitted uniformly, but joints due to frames and plastic deformation limits cause lack of uniformity in pressures applied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible sheet-like medium that conformally wraps around the object surface, creating continuous contact without joints or seams. This seamless construction ensures uniform pressure distribution across the entire decorated surface, eliminating the graphic fidelity issues caused by frame joints and bag deformation limits.
4Manufacturing precision
If a shrink-wrap sleeve is used to make the carrier sheet-like medium adhere to the object to be decorated, then the medium can be positioned on the object, but the pressure applied locally by the shrink-wrapped sleeve varies during the transfer process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the thermal parameters applied to the sheet-like medium during the decoration process. By carefully managing temperature distribution and application timing, the medium achieves consistent adhesion pressure across the entire surface without the localized pressure variations that occur with shrink-wrap sleeves, ensuring uniform image transfer quality.
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
The method achieves high-quality and faithful image transfer on objects with complex shapes by maintaining intimate contact and uniform pressure, overcoming deformations and graphic inaccuracies, while reducing operational complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
the irregular surface, which has the function of creating, between the sheet-like element and the object to be decorated, channel systems... adapted to allow a complete draining of the air and other gases interposed between the sheet-like element and the object to be decorated
Implementation Method 2
create a partial vacuum inside the sleeve, ensuring uniform pressure and gas drainage
Implementation Method 3
applying heat to obtain the sublimation of the inks and their consequent transfer from the sheet-like medium to the object to be decorated
Implementation Method 4
A method using a shrink-wrap sheet-like element with an irregular surface... allowing the sublimatic inks to be transferred effectively onto objects with complex shapes
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
A method for decorating objects by means of sublimatic inks, which provides for the steps that consist in providing a shrink-wrap sheet-like element (2) to which at least one layer of sublimatic inks (3) is applied and which is provided, at least on one face thereof designed to be directed toward the object (4) to be decorated, with an irregular surface (2a), joining two opposite ends of the sheet-like element (2) in order to obtain a sleeve (11) with the face of the sheet-like element (2) directed toward the inside of the sleeve (11), inserting axially in the sleeve (11) at least one object (4) to be decorated, applying heat in order to obtain an at least partial shrink- wrapping of the sleeve (11), creating a difference in pressure between the internal side and the external side of the sleeve (11) in order to establish a lower hydrostatic pressure on the inner side of the sleeve (11) than on its outer side, and applying heat in order to cause the sublimation of the sublimatic inks.