EP1294578B2 - Method for the production of components with a pre-determined surface appearance, in particular for front panels of kitchen units - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves printing the parts with a pre-determined pattern using a printing method that may be programmed according to the desired appearance. The surfaces to be printed may be wood or plastics. Three-dimensional surfaces may be printed. An inkjet process may be used, with different coloured inks sprayed from different nozzles. to produce a homogenous programmed colour. Independent claims are included for a device for implementing the method and a system for manufacturing groups of components.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing components having a predetermined surface appearance, in particular of front panels of kitchen elements, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A generic method is from the GB-A-2 212 761 known.

A design feature of conventional kitchens is that a variety of kitchen items, drawers, cabinets, electrical appliances, etc. are provided with front panels that give the kitchen its own and pleasing appearance. The variety of front panel sizes and the variety of customer-requested surfaces, which include different types of wood, plastic surfaces, different colors and patterns, results in extremely costly, high inventory production. For example, front panels are made of different solid wood or with different wood veneers, which are then stained in the desired color and surface-sealed.

The invention is based on the object to alleviate the aforementioned problem.

The method according to claim 1 provides a solution to the aforementioned problem.

With the method according to the invention can be made of molded parts whose shape corresponds to the components to be produced, components with different looks, although the printed moldings same surfaces or moldings are used, which have a much lower diversity in terms of their surface material as the printed components to be produced. For example, you can work with moldings with only two types of surfaces to achieve an extremely wide variety. One type of molded component has a plastic surface and the other type of molded component has a wood veneer surface. On the plastic surface a variety of colors and / or patterns can be printed to produce a corresponding appearance. On the Holzfumieroberfläche various wood grains can be printed, which give the appearance of different types of wood with different colors, without the respective type of wood must actually be used. Surprisingly, it has been found that a basic grain of the veneer surface or a solid wood surface does not oppose Bedrukken with other grains and by appropriate coordination of the color intensities, the appearance of the printed grain does not adversely affected. With the method according to the invention it is thus possible to obtain an extremely high variety of appearance, i. in particular to produce the variety desired by the customer with a small variety of blanks.

The dependent claims 2 to 4 are directed to advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention.

With the features of claim 3, surfaces to be printed on can be pretreated in such a way that they readily absorb dyeing liquids which are subject to certain restrictions because of the printing method used, for example in an ink jet printing process. In this way, the surface to be printed and the dyeing liquids can be matched to one another. In the case of wood surfaces, pretreatment can also consist in the wood being treated in a predetermined manner in the manner of a glaze, that its porosity or its liquid absorption capacity be matched to the printing method then used or the wood is provided with a certain basic tint.

With the features of claim 4, the printed surface can be sealed or provided with other coatings that are mechanically very insensitive, for example, are not permeable to UV light, etc.

The invention can be used anywhere where a high diversity is to be achieved before customers with low cost components on the appearance. Particularly advantageous is the invention can be used in sheet-like components in which blanks are first made of plate-like raw material with a predetermined shape, which then receive the desired surface appearance. A field of application for which the invention is particularly well suited is the furniture industry, in which furniture, for example kitchen furniture, is composed of sheet-like components which are to have different outward and outward appearances, in particular the external appearance to a great extent must be customized and of high quality.

The invention is explained below with reference to schematic drawings, for example and with further details.

Figur 1

zwei Frontplatten mit unterschiedlicher Oberflächenstruktur,

Figur 2

eine schematische Ansicht einer zur Durchführung das erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens Vorrichtung,

Figur 3

eine schematische Ansicht einer in der Vorrichtung aus Figur 2 ent- haltenen Baugruppe, Vorrichtung aus Figur 2 enthaltenen

Figur 4

ein Beispiel von weiteren in der Vorrichtung aus Figur 2 enthaltenen Baugruppen,

Figur 5

ein Detail der Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von Handhabungsknöpfen,

Figur 6

eine mit einem Dekor versehene Frontplatte,

Figur 7

einen Querschnitt durch eine Frontplatte zu Erläuterung des Bedruckens,

Figur 8

eine Gruppe von Frontplatten,

Figur 9

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch einen Druckkopf,

They show:

FIG. 1

two front panels with different surface structure,

FIG. 2

1 is a schematic view of a device for carrying out the method according to the invention,

FIG. 3

a schematic view of one in the device FIG. 2 contained assembly, device off FIG. 2 contained

FIG. 4

an example of others in the device FIG. 2 contained assemblies,

FIG. 5

a detail of the device for printing on handling buttons,

FIG. 6

a decorated front panel,

FIG. 7

a cross section through a front panel to explain the printing,

FIG. 8

a group of front panels,

FIG. 9

a schematic cross section through a print head,

FIG. 1 shows by way of example two front panels 2, wherein the left has a wooden surface with a grain 4 and the right has a homogeneous plastic surface. The front panels can have a wide variety of construction and surfaces, such as a Preßspangrundkörper on which a wood veneer is applied, a plastic body, is laminated to the material, so that the surface is structured in three dimensions, etc.

The front panels can also be made of solid wood.

The dashed lines 6 are contour lines to illustrate that the front panels are needed in a variety of sizes, including non-rectangular face plates, round and oval face plates, etc. may be provided.

FIG. 2a shows in a supervision and FIG. 2b in a side view, a device for applying predetermined patterns on a front panel. 2

The front panel 2 is located on a conveyor 8, which contains, for example, a conveyor belt 12 moved by rollers or rollers 10, to the drive of which a motor 14 is provided.

Transversely over the conveyor belt 12, a portal 16 extends to the crossbar 18, a carriage 20 has been long since the crossbar 18 movably guided. To drive the carriage, a motor 22 is provided, the pinion 24 meshes with a toothing of the carriage 20.

On the carriage 20 is by means of a drive, not shown, a console 26 in the direction of the double arrow ( FIG. 2b ) guided vertically displaceably, at the end of a printhead 28 is fixed, which is constructed for example in the manner of a printhead, as used in ink jet printers or ink jet or bubble jet Drukkern, with dye nozzles of the printhead Färbeflüssigkeitstropfen be sprayed off.

For detecting the position of the front panel 2, the contour and thickness sensors 30, 32 and 34 are provided, the sensor 30 detects, for example, the leading edge of the moving on the conveyor belt 12 front panel 2, the sensor 32 detects the height of the front panel 2 and the the transverse bar 18 mounted sensor 34 detects the side edge of the front panel 2.

The sensors may be optically, ultrasonically or otherwise operated and may additionally be movably arranged so that the entire geometry of the surface of the faceplate 2 may be detected before the surface enters the area under the print head 28.

Not shown in the figures is the dyeing liquid supply and the dyeing liquid supply to the printing head 28, which can be done, for example, from large storage containers placed on the carriage 20.

To control the device, a control device with a computer 36, a keyboard 38 and a screen 40 is provided. It is understood that in addition a speaker can be provided.

At inputs 42 of the computer 36, the sensors 30, 32 and 34 are connected; at outputs 44 are the drives for two-dimensional movement (in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt 12 and perpendicular to its surface) for the print head 28, the control lines for driving the print head 28 and optionally the drives for moving one or more of the sensors 30, 32 and 34 as well the drive 14 of the conveyor belt 12 is connected.

Via another input 46, data indicating the pattern to be generated by the print head 28 is input. For the formation of these patterns are all degrees of freedom, the pattern can be generated by scanning image templates in digital form, can be stored and then by appropriate control of the print head 28 and its movement relative to the front panel 2 in conjunction with the control of the drive 14 the front panel 2 can be applied. In terms of data processing, all modern technologies are available, such as are customary for today's photo prints.

Structure and operation of the individual element of the device are known per se and are therefore not explained.

A located on the conveyor belt 12 front panel 2 is detected by the sensors 30, 32 and 34 in terms of their position and size, so that the carriage 20 and the vertical drive of the console 26 and the print head 28 of the computer 36 according to the currently active pattern data such be controlled so that the desired pattern is formed. When the entire contour of the front panel 2 is detected, this is done so that virtually no dyeing liquid is applied to the conveyor belt 12 and the surface of the front panel 2 is completely printed in its edge regions.

The device described can be varied Modified way. For example, when the geometry of the respective faceplate is known and the faceplate 2 is placed at a respective reference position on the conveyor belt 12 and aligned in a predetermined manner with the conveyor belt 12, only the front edge of the faceplate 2 or the position of the reference position is required to detect the crossbar 18, so that the cost of the sensors can be reduced accordingly. The vertical mobility of the print head 28 is required because a predetermined distance between the ink nozzles of the print head 28 and the surface to be printed on the front panel 2 is required in accordance with the specifications of the print head 28 and the achievable pattern fineness.

The in FIG. 2 shown, single movable printhead with a plurality of ink nozzles (not shown) for spraying different Färbeflüssigkeiten can be replaced, for example, in the conveying direction successively arranged nozzle beam, which extend across the conveyor belt 12 and each having a series of ink nozzles, which are selectively controlled by the computer 36 , The nozzles of the individual nozzle bars spray in each case only one color, so that each pattern color can be generated with three nozzle bars arranged one behind the other.

FIG. 3 shows an advantageous detail of an additionally necessary existing printing device in perspective view. In this printing device, the print head 28 is longitudinally movably guided on a carrier 50 in the direction of the double arrow and the carrier 50 is pivotable about an axis 52 perpendicular to the direction of the double arrow. In addition, the carrier 50 can be height-adjustable or the print head 28 can be adjusted in height relative to the carrier 50.

With the arrangement, it is possible, as immediately apparent, to print side surfaces of the front panel 2, even if the side surfaces are directed obliquely to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 12.

FIG. 4 shows further details of possible configurations of the printing device. Printheads 28 ₂ are a bracket 26 ₂ pivotally by means of a drive, not shown, that on the front panel 2 ₂ formed projections 54 can be printed. The bracket 26 ₂ may additionally be displaced in the vertical direction and the print heads 28 ₂ may be pivotable about a vertical axis, for example, by appropriate support brackets 56 on the bracket 26 ₂ . By thus created kinematic possibilities, it is possible to print the projections 54 such that the ink nozzles of the print heads 28 _{2 are} each directed at a predetermined distance from the surface and perpendicular to the surface direction, which can form high quality pattern.

The in FIG. 4 further illustrated printhead 28 ₃ is generally movable so that the side surfaces of the front panel 2 _{2 can be} printed.

As can be seen directly from the previous drawings, with a print head 28, which on a perpendicular and in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt 12 movable console 26 (FIGS. FIG. 2 ) is arranged pivotably about a vertical and a horizontal axis, in cooperation with a forward and a backward movement of the conveyor belt 12, each surface contour of a front panel 2 are printed, for example, also operation buttons 60, according to FIG. 5 are provided on a front panel 2.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a decor or pattern 62 which is applied to a surface 4 provided with a grain of a front panel 2. The grain 4, which can be given by the wood itself and / or is also applied by printing, can be emphasized differently, depending on the homogeneous contrast color in which the surface is sprayed or printed, in the example shown in addition a rectangular frame as Decor or pattern is applied.

FIG. 7 shows a front plate having a base body 62, for example of pressboard, on which a veneer 66 is applied from soft or absorbent wood. When liquid droplets 66 are applied in this type of absorbent surface, they flow laterally and flow into one another, similar to fibrous or wet paper, whereby optically very pleasing patterns can be produced when differently colored liquid droplets 66 run into one another with their edge regions.

The amount of dyeing liquids of the individual liquid droplets that run into one another can be influenced by the volume of the liquid droplets and the type of surface.

FIG. 8 shows an example, up to 2 ₁₅ an overall pattern or overall visual impression can be generated in the individual by corresponding printing face plates 2 _10th

According to FIG. 9 can in a printhead 28 different, with different colored dye liquor charged color nozzles 70 ₁ to 70 ₄ may be provided, for example, the print heads 70 _1, 70 ₂ and 72 ₃ are loaded with colors which result in their addition Black and the printhead 70 ₄ immediately is charged with black colored dyeing liquid.

Preferably, the previously described printing the surfaces of the front panels 2 is followed by a coating stage in which the surface formed with dyeing liquid in a predetermined pattern and / or with a predetermined background color is provided with a protective layer by this protective layer, for example as a film or as a single or Two-component synthetic resin paint or applied as a natural resin paint. The protective layer, which is preferably transparent, makes the surface hard-wearing, chemically resistant and scratch-resistant. It further reduces the UV resistance requirements of the dyeing fluids or inks used to effect the damage. The protective layer can be formed by spraying, rolling or otherwise known per se.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

front panel

4

Grain

6

contour lines

8th

Conveyor

10

roller

12

conveyor belt

14

engine

16

portal

18

crossbeam

20

dare

22

engine

24

pinion

26

console

28

printhead

30

sensor

30

sensor

34

sensor

36

computer

38

keypad

40

screen

42

inputs

44

outputs

46

entrance

50

carrier

52

axis

54

head Start

56

Beam

58

Beam

60

actuating button

62

template

64

body

66

liquid droplets

70

paint nozzle

Claims (4)

1. A method of producing components (2) with a predetermined surface appearance, in particular front panels of kitchen units, in which method the components (2) are printed by a printing process, which can be programmed in respect of the resultant appearance, to form a predetermined pattern (62), namely an ink-jet printing process, in which dyeing fluids of different colours are sprayed from different nozzles (70), wherein the component (2) has an absorbent wood surface,
   characterised in that differently coloured fluid droplets (66) run into one another in their peripheral zones, wherein the quantity of the dyeing fluids of the individual fluid droplets (66) running into one another is determined by corresponding choice of the volume of the fluid droplets (66) and the nature of the wood surface.
2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein three-dimensional surfaces are printed.
3. A method according claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface to be printed is pretreated before the printing.
4. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the surface printed with the predetermined pattern is provided with a transparent coating.

Images