CA1245448A - Process for marking plastics materials - Google Patents
Process for marking plastics materialsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1245448A CA1245448A CA000497134A CA497134A CA1245448A CA 1245448 A CA1245448 A CA 1245448A CA 000497134 A CA000497134 A CA 000497134A CA 497134 A CA497134 A CA 497134A CA 1245448 A CA1245448 A CA 1245448A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- dye
- plastic
- process according
- laser beam
- gaseous phase
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
- B41M1/26—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper
- B41M1/30—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper on organic plastics, horn or similar materials
Abstract
A b s t r a c t A process for marking plastics materials A sublimable substance is diffused via the gaseous phase by means of a controllable laser beam into the surface region to form an optionally coloured graphical symbol.
Le A 23 828-Ausland
Le A 23 828-Ausland
Description
41~
A process for marking plastics materials This invention relates to a process for marking plastics materials by applying a dye to a plastics material using a heat transfer medium.
Markings which are clearly legible and resistant to handling, and which vary in the composition and size of the symbols from case to case, are often required on measuring, control, switching and servicing devices. This applies, in particular, to the keys of input units such as typewriters.
Transfer printing is known, in which a paper substrate or 'carrier' provided with dye is pressed against the plastics material by means of a hot pressure stamp with slight applica~ion of pressure, the dye being transferred - onto the surface.
The disadvantage of this process lies in the fact that special stamps are required for each symbol, rendering the process inflexible with respect to graphics and expensive for small numbers of articles. It is also difficult to maintain the temperature with such a stamp, and these variations can have an adverse effect on quality in terms of colour yield and the surface of the plastics material.
The marking of a plastics article with a laser beam is also known, in which process the laser beam is guided according to the markings.
The disadvantage of this process lies in the fact that the action of the energy of the laser beam leads to irrevers-ible reactions in the plastics material which are usually associated with significant colour changes. The change of colour is adjustable only to a limited extent; in other words, it is only possible to have light graphics on a dark background or dark graphics on a light background.
The object of the invention is to find an economical flexible process for the marking of plastics materials with Le A 23 828- Ausland ,_ ~2~S44~
A process for marking plastics materials This invention relates to a process for marking plastics materials by applying a dye to a plastics material using a heat transfer medium.
Markings which are clearly legible and resistant to handling, and which vary in the composition and size of the symbols from case to case, are often required on measuring, control, switching and servicing devices. This applies, in particular, to the keys of input units such as typewriters.
Transfer printing is known, in which a paper substrate or 'carrier' provided with dye is pressed against the plastics material by means of a hot pressure stamp with slight applica~ion of pressure, the dye being transferred - onto the surface.
The disadvantage of this process lies in the fact that special stamps are required for each symbol, rendering the process inflexible with respect to graphics and expensive for small numbers of articles. It is also difficult to maintain the temperature with such a stamp, and these variations can have an adverse effect on quality in terms of colour yield and the surface of the plastics material.
The marking of a plastics article with a laser beam is also known, in which process the laser beam is guided according to the markings.
The disadvantage of this process lies in the fact that the action of the energy of the laser beam leads to irrevers-ible reactions in the plastics material which are usually associated with significant colour changes. The change of colour is adjustable only to a limited extent; in other words, it is only possible to have light graphics on a dark background or dark graphics on a light background.
The object of the invention is to find an economical flexible process for the marking of plastics materials with Le A 23 828- Ausland ,_ ~2~S44~
- 2 - 23189-6160 which well-defined abrasion-resis-tant symbols can be produced in any desired colour and size on any background simply by graphical or electronic adjus-tment, and without incurring any damage to the plastics material.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the sublimation dye is diffused via the gaseous phase onto the sur-face of the plastics material by means of at least one laser beam as heat transfer medium which can be directed according to the gra-phical symbols to hea-t the surface at respective points.
According to the present invention there is provided a process for marking plastic with a dye which comprises heating the plastic and a sublimation dye with at least one laser beam to dif-fuse the dye via the gaseous phase into the surface of the plastic.
It has surprisingly been found that the sublimation dye can be diffused into the surface of the plastics material or plastic, which is heated in succession according to the desired symbol, owing to the partial pressure difference, without significant colour change despite change of phase, by means of shortwave radiation, in particular a laser beam, sufficiently deeply for a well-defined, abrasion-resistant, clearly legible coloured symbol to be formed, the colour being selected as desired according to importance (for example bright red) and background. No material is damaged owing to the short, directed uniform radiation and the contact-free energy transfer. A further advantage of the process according to the in-vention resides in its flexibility as the laser beam can be control-led via guide lines (drawings) or EDV programs.
~2~;4~3
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the sublimation dye is diffused via the gaseous phase onto the sur-face of the plastics material by means of at least one laser beam as heat transfer medium which can be directed according to the gra-phical symbols to hea-t the surface at respective points.
According to the present invention there is provided a process for marking plastic with a dye which comprises heating the plastic and a sublimation dye with at least one laser beam to dif-fuse the dye via the gaseous phase into the surface of the plastic.
It has surprisingly been found that the sublimation dye can be diffused into the surface of the plastics material or plastic, which is heated in succession according to the desired symbol, owing to the partial pressure difference, without significant colour change despite change of phase, by means of shortwave radiation, in particular a laser beam, sufficiently deeply for a well-defined, abrasion-resistant, clearly legible coloured symbol to be formed, the colour being selected as desired according to importance (for example bright red) and background. No material is damaged owing to the short, directed uniform radiation and the contact-free energy transfer. A further advantage of the process according to the in-vention resides in its flexibility as the laser beam can be control-led via guide lines (drawings) or EDV programs.
~2~;4~3
3 --Laser beams having a wavelength ~ of from 100 to 1500 nm, in particular from 1000 to 1500 nm, have proved to be suitable for colour printing. The power density should be from 114 to 220 J/cm , in particular from 12~ to 150 J/cm~, with a working time of from 0.2 to 0.8 s/mm2, in particular from 0.5 to 0.7 s/mm2. Advantageous results can be achieved with an Nd--YAG solid-state laser (~ 06~m) with a focal point diameter of between 0.05 to 0.1 mm diameter at a repeat frequency of from 0.5 to 15 KHz with a current intensity of from 10 to 25 A and a velocity of from 5 to 50 mm/s, in particular from 5 to 15 mm/s. The diffusion quantity depends on current inten-sity times mode number by velocity. The softening temperature of the plastics material should be at least 30C above the sublimation temperature of the dyeO
In a particular embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye which is spread directly, as a film, onto the surface is dif-fused in.
By the application to the surface of a dye by pouring, spraying, painting or printing, it is possible to transfer each symbol with the laser beam according to the predetermined course.
The undiffused dye residues are then removed.
In a further embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye on a substrate, or substrate backing, is guided over the sur-face of the plastics material.
Using a substrate which may be composed of paper, fabric or film, the sublimation dye is guided to the point which the laser beam strikes. An apparatus with an intermittently travelling belt ~Z~4~3 - 3a - 23189-6160 which can be wound from a spool prior to use and wound back onto the next spool aEter marking is advantageous for this purpose.
In an advantageous embodiment of the process, the path opposlte to the propagation direction of the laser beam is blocked against the gaseous dye to prevent transmission thereof in that direction.
The gaseous phase of the sublimation dye can only move towards the plastics material to be marked owing to a gas-impermeable layer which can simultaneously act as substrate.
In a useful embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye is passed directly via the substrate onto the plastics material.
Very short paths for the diffusion of the dye are produced by means of a mechanical clamping device or by application of vacuum in the case of a gas-tight substrate.
In a preferred embodiment of the process, the substrate is pressed against the plastics material by a transparent device which allows the laser beam through subs-tantially unhindered.
As a transparent PU body, for example, causes substan-- 3a -iZ~ 48 tially no change in irradiation by a laser beam at wave-lengths in the range of from 1000 to 1500 nm, in which, for example, the Nd-YAG solid-state laser irradiates, during the usual working time, it is possible to apply pressure via fluid cushions onto the fresh substrate so that the fluid can act as an energy carrier, for example for preheating the dye and thus give faster conversion into the gaseous phase.
In a further embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye in the gaseous phase is guided over the region where the laser beam impinges, at high speed with simultaneous compaction.
By supplying dye in a gaseous phase at high speed and with compaction through a funnel-shaped configuration of the gas duct, it is possible to achieve an intensive effect in which the excess dye is repeatedly sucked off immediately and recirculated.
In one embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye is diffused into thermoplastically processible, pourable or pressable plastics materials.
The process can advantageously be carried out with, among others, materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (Novodu ~ cellulose acetate (Cellidor~ , polyamides ~Duretha ~), polycarbonate (Makrolon~ , polyesters as well as polybutylene terephthalate (Poca ~ or a mixture of said polymers and preferably PC/ABS blend (Bayblen ~ , PC/PBTP
blend (Makroblend~ as well as polyurethane and silicone rubbers. Thermoplastic materials, in particular, can be processed.
Thermal diffusion dyes and sublimation dyes ~RESIREN T~) are suitable as dyes.
Example 1 A transfer printing paper printed blue on ~ts surface Le A 23 828-Ausl and ~2~ 8 with Resiren T is positioned on a typewriter key composed of Novodur PH-AT (ABS) and arranged beneath the laser optics of an ~d-YAG solid-state laser. A focused laser beam is produced ( ~ = 1.06 ~m) and is guided over the paper (in a circular form). After removing the paper, the dye has penetrated into the plastics material in the irradiated zone.
Example 2 A polyester film (Hostaphan RE 0.050 mm) printed red on its surface with Resiren T is positioned on a switch cover composed of Pocan B 1505 (PBTP) and arranged beneath the laser optics of an Nd-YAG solid-state laser. A focused laser beam is produced ( ~ = 1.06 ~m) and is guided over the film (in a circular form). After removing the film, the dye has penetrated into the plastics material in the irradiated zone.
~xample 3 A polyester film (Hostaphan RE 0.050 ~ which is printed black on its surface with Resiren T is positioned on a plastic housing composed of Durethan BKV 30 and is arranged beneath the laser optics of an Nd-YAG solid-state laser. A
focused laser beam is produced ( ~ = 1.06 ~m) and is guided over the film (in a circular form). After removal of the film, the dye has penetrated in-to the plastics material in the irradiated zone.
Le A 23 828-Ausl and .
In a particular embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye which is spread directly, as a film, onto the surface is dif-fused in.
By the application to the surface of a dye by pouring, spraying, painting or printing, it is possible to transfer each symbol with the laser beam according to the predetermined course.
The undiffused dye residues are then removed.
In a further embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye on a substrate, or substrate backing, is guided over the sur-face of the plastics material.
Using a substrate which may be composed of paper, fabric or film, the sublimation dye is guided to the point which the laser beam strikes. An apparatus with an intermittently travelling belt ~Z~4~3 - 3a - 23189-6160 which can be wound from a spool prior to use and wound back onto the next spool aEter marking is advantageous for this purpose.
In an advantageous embodiment of the process, the path opposlte to the propagation direction of the laser beam is blocked against the gaseous dye to prevent transmission thereof in that direction.
The gaseous phase of the sublimation dye can only move towards the plastics material to be marked owing to a gas-impermeable layer which can simultaneously act as substrate.
In a useful embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye is passed directly via the substrate onto the plastics material.
Very short paths for the diffusion of the dye are produced by means of a mechanical clamping device or by application of vacuum in the case of a gas-tight substrate.
In a preferred embodiment of the process, the substrate is pressed against the plastics material by a transparent device which allows the laser beam through subs-tantially unhindered.
As a transparent PU body, for example, causes substan-- 3a -iZ~ 48 tially no change in irradiation by a laser beam at wave-lengths in the range of from 1000 to 1500 nm, in which, for example, the Nd-YAG solid-state laser irradiates, during the usual working time, it is possible to apply pressure via fluid cushions onto the fresh substrate so that the fluid can act as an energy carrier, for example for preheating the dye and thus give faster conversion into the gaseous phase.
In a further embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye in the gaseous phase is guided over the region where the laser beam impinges, at high speed with simultaneous compaction.
By supplying dye in a gaseous phase at high speed and with compaction through a funnel-shaped configuration of the gas duct, it is possible to achieve an intensive effect in which the excess dye is repeatedly sucked off immediately and recirculated.
In one embodiment of the process, the sublimation dye is diffused into thermoplastically processible, pourable or pressable plastics materials.
The process can advantageously be carried out with, among others, materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (Novodu ~ cellulose acetate (Cellidor~ , polyamides ~Duretha ~), polycarbonate (Makrolon~ , polyesters as well as polybutylene terephthalate (Poca ~ or a mixture of said polymers and preferably PC/ABS blend (Bayblen ~ , PC/PBTP
blend (Makroblend~ as well as polyurethane and silicone rubbers. Thermoplastic materials, in particular, can be processed.
Thermal diffusion dyes and sublimation dyes ~RESIREN T~) are suitable as dyes.
Example 1 A transfer printing paper printed blue on ~ts surface Le A 23 828-Ausl and ~2~ 8 with Resiren T is positioned on a typewriter key composed of Novodur PH-AT (ABS) and arranged beneath the laser optics of an ~d-YAG solid-state laser. A focused laser beam is produced ( ~ = 1.06 ~m) and is guided over the paper (in a circular form). After removing the paper, the dye has penetrated into the plastics material in the irradiated zone.
Example 2 A polyester film (Hostaphan RE 0.050 mm) printed red on its surface with Resiren T is positioned on a switch cover composed of Pocan B 1505 (PBTP) and arranged beneath the laser optics of an Nd-YAG solid-state laser. A focused laser beam is produced ( ~ = 1.06 ~m) and is guided over the film (in a circular form). After removing the film, the dye has penetrated into the plastics material in the irradiated zone.
~xample 3 A polyester film (Hostaphan RE 0.050 ~ which is printed black on its surface with Resiren T is positioned on a plastic housing composed of Durethan BKV 30 and is arranged beneath the laser optics of an Nd-YAG solid-state laser. A
focused laser beam is produced ( ~ = 1.06 ~m) and is guided over the film (in a circular form). After removal of the film, the dye has penetrated in-to the plastics material in the irradiated zone.
Le A 23 828-Ausl and .
Claims (9)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A process for marking plastic with a dye which comprises heating the plastic and a sublimation dye with at least one laser beam to diffuse the dye via the gaseous phase into the surface of the plastic.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the dye is applied as a film directly on the plastic before heating.
3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the dye film is on a substrate backing.
4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the path opposite to the direction of propagation of the laser beam is blocked to prevent transmission of the gaseous dye.
5. A process according to claim 3 wherein the dye is pressed into direct contact with the plastic by means of the substrate backing.
6. A process according to claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the sub-strate backing is transparent to the laser beam.
7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the dye is direc-ted at high speed, with simultaneous compaction, in the gaseous phase to the point at which the laser beam strikes the plastic.
8. A process according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the plastic is a thermoplastically processable, pourable or pressable material.
9. A process according to claim 4,5 or 7 wherein the plastic is a thermoplastically processable, pourable or pressable material.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP3517275.4 | 1985-05-14 | ||
| DE19853517275 DE3517275A1 (en) | 1985-05-14 | 1985-05-14 | METHOD FOR LABELING PLASTICS |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1245448A true CA1245448A (en) | 1988-11-29 |
Family
ID=6270655
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000497134A Expired CA1245448A (en) | 1985-05-14 | 1985-12-09 | Process for marking plastics materials |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0201627B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS61261093A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1245448A (en) |
| DE (2) | DE3517275A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8704808A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6541189B1 (en) | 1998-09-16 | 2003-04-01 | Agra Vadeko Inc. | Apparatus and method of marking polymer-based laminates |
| US9415463B2 (en) | 2009-01-27 | 2016-08-16 | Shizuoka Prefecture | Laser marking method |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS6398482A (en) * | 1986-10-15 | 1988-04-28 | Polyplastics Co | Impregnation-printed molded product |
| DE3817625A1 (en) * | 1988-05-25 | 1989-11-30 | Agfa Gevaert Ag | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A THERMOCOPY |
| EP0605803A1 (en) * | 1992-12-12 | 1994-07-13 | Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft | Colour-marking of plastic surfaces by laser radiation |
| DE4408927A1 (en) * | 1994-03-16 | 1995-09-21 | Licentia Gmbh | Method of applying designs onto objects via thermography |
| JPH11180099A (en) | 1997-12-18 | 1999-07-06 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Method for marking and resin molding with mark |
| DE102004016037A1 (en) * | 2004-03-30 | 2005-11-03 | Merck Patent Gmbh | Method for the permanent abrasion-resistant colored inscription and/or marking of plastics comprises preventing bleeding and/or blooming of the dye and/or absorber in the plastic during sealing of inscribed sites with a transparent polymer |
| US20070154642A1 (en) * | 2004-03-26 | 2007-07-05 | Sylke Klein | Sealing of inscriptions on plastics |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1433025A (en) * | 1972-06-29 | 1976-04-22 | Sublistatic Holding Sa | Reproducing a multi-coloured image |
| JPS50119660A (en) * | 1974-03-01 | 1975-09-19 | ||
| JPS5343538A (en) * | 1976-10-01 | 1978-04-19 | Fujitsu Ltd | Thermal sublimate ink ribbon |
| JPS55101489A (en) * | 1979-01-30 | 1980-08-02 | Fujitsu Ltd | Recording method by thermal transfer |
| JPS55124672A (en) * | 1979-03-22 | 1980-09-25 | Fujitsu Ltd | Printer |
| JPS55126479A (en) * | 1979-03-23 | 1980-09-30 | Fujitsu Ltd | Printing method |
| JPS55126487A (en) * | 1979-03-26 | 1980-09-30 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Colored-picture forming method |
| JPS5682293A (en) * | 1979-06-28 | 1981-07-04 | Suzuki Sogyo Kk | Printing method |
| DE2936926C2 (en) * | 1979-09-12 | 1982-11-25 | Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München | Process for the production of similar plastic parts provided with different characters, in particular plastic device buttons, by injection molding |
| JPS5646789A (en) * | 1979-09-25 | 1981-04-28 | Nec Corp | Laser recording ribbon |
| DE3310120A1 (en) * | 1983-03-21 | 1984-09-27 | Schulzen, Herbert, 6208 Bad Schwalbach | METHOD FOR PRINTING A SUBSTRATE AFTER THE TRANSFER PRINTING METHOD |
-
1985
- 1985-05-14 DE DE19853517275 patent/DE3517275A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-10-09 EP EP85112773A patent/EP0201627B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-10-09 DE DE8585112773T patent/DE3584892D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-12-09 CA CA000497134A patent/CA1245448A/en not_active Expired
- 1985-12-23 JP JP60288055A patent/JPS61261093A/en active Granted
-
1986
- 1986-05-13 ES ES554916A patent/ES8704808A1/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6541189B1 (en) | 1998-09-16 | 2003-04-01 | Agra Vadeko Inc. | Apparatus and method of marking polymer-based laminates |
| US9415463B2 (en) | 2009-01-27 | 2016-08-16 | Shizuoka Prefecture | Laser marking method |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ES554916A0 (en) | 1987-04-16 |
| EP0201627A2 (en) | 1986-11-20 |
| EP0201627B1 (en) | 1991-12-11 |
| JPH0559838B2 (en) | 1993-09-01 |
| EP0201627A3 (en) | 1988-09-14 |
| DE3584892D1 (en) | 1992-01-23 |
| ES8704808A1 (en) | 1987-04-16 |
| DE3517275A1 (en) | 1986-11-20 |
| JPS61261093A (en) | 1986-11-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |