Patent Application
20130341826
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to decoration films and manufacturing methods for decorated articles.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, the illustrations or decorations formed on the surface of the plastic casing are mainly fabricated by spraying process or printing process to present certain visual effect. Nevertheless, the spraying process is unfavorable in mass production for the disadvantages of time consumption and process complexity. In addition, the conventional spraying process may cause the splashing of sprays containing lead or other heavy metals so that the spraying material is wasted and the problem of pollution is caused. Furthermore, during the spraying process, the mass of the coating material is not easily controlled so that the thickness is usually uneven. Particularly, when the spraying process is performed on the curve portion of the casing, the improper accumulation of the coating material is worse.
To solve the abovementioned problem, an in-mold decoration (IMD) technique is provided. The process of the IMD technique includes placing a film has predetermined decorations into the mold of the injection machine, injecting a melted plastic material at a side of the film in the mold so that the melted plastic material and the film are combined to form a decorated casing, and thereafter ejecting the decorated casing from the mold. Accordingly, the in-mold decoration process is completed.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a decoration film having patterned adhesive layer.
The present invention is directed to a manufacturing method for a decorated article with lower cost.
A decoration film of the present invention includes a substrate, a releasing layer formed on the substrate, an ink layer formed on whole surface of the releasing layer, and a first adhesive layer formed on part surface of the ink layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the decorated film is configured to be attached to a casing. The casing has a first opening. The first adhesive layer has a second opening. The second opening of the first adhesive layer is completely overlapped by the first opening while the decorated film is attached to the casing. A shape of the first opening can be identical to a shape of the second opening. Meanwhile, size of the first opening can be identical to size of the second opening. Otherwise, size of the first opening can be larger than size of the second opening. Moreover, the first opening and the second opening can be concentric. Furthermore, a distance between an edge of the first opening and an edge of the second opening can be smaller than or equal to 1 centimeter.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the decorated film further includes a durable layer formed between the releasing layer and the ink layer, and a second adhesive layer formed between the durable layer and the ink layer.
Another decoration film of the present invention includes a substrate, a releasing layer formed on the substrate, and an adhesive ink layer formed on part surface of the releasing layer.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the decorated film is configured to be attached to a casing. The casing has a first opening. The adhesive ink layer has a second opening. The second opening of the adhesive ink layer is completely overlapped by the first opening while the decorated film is attached to the casing. A shape of the first opening can be identical to a shape of the second opening. Meanwhile, size of the first opening can be identical to size of the second opening. Otherwise, size of the first opening can be larger than size of the second opening. Moreover, the first opening and the second opening can be concentric. Furthermore, a distance between an edge of the first opening and an edge of the second opening can be smaller than or equal to 1 centimeter.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the decorated film further includes a durable layer formed between the releasing layer and the adhesive ink layer.
A manufacturing method for a decorated article of the present invention includes following steps. Providing a decoration film including a substrate, a releasing layer formed on the substrate, an ink layer formed on whole surface of the releasing layer, and a first adhesive layer formed on part surface of the ink layer. Feeding the decoration film into a mold with the substrate in contact with an inner surface of the mold. Injecting a plastic material into the mold through an injection head for forming an article body in the mold. The injection head is aligned with a region of the decoration film far away from the first adhesive layer. Taking the article body with the decoration film out from the mold. Simultaneously removing both the substrate and the releasing layer.
Another manufacturing method for a decorated article of the present invention includes following steps. Providing a decoration film including a substrate, a releasing layer formed on the substrate, and an adhesive ink layer formed on part surface of the releasing layer. Feeding the decoration film into a mold with the substrate in contact with an inner surface of the mold. Injecting a plastic material into the mold through an injection head for forming an article body in the mold. The injection head is aligned with a region of the decoration film far away from the adhesive ink layer. Taking the article body with the decoration film out from the mold. Simultaneously removing both the substrate and the releasing layer.
As described above, the present invention provides a decoration film with an adhesive ink layer only formed on part surface of the releasing layer. The injection head can be aligned with a region of the decoration film far away from the adhesive layer. Therefore, the injection head for manufacturing the decorated article will not be adhered to the decoration film, so as to avoid dragging the decoration film
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
After the article body 200 is formed in the mold 80, the article body 200 with the decoration film 100 adhered thereto is took out from the mold 80. The article body 200 of the present embodiment has an opening 220. While the article body 200 is took out from the mold 80, the injection head 84 and the waste block 210 leave the decoration film 100 without dragging the decoration film 100. Thereafter, both the substrate 110 and the releasing layer 120 are simultaneously removed from the article body 200. Consequently, the ink layer 130 can be firmly adhered to the article body 200 via the adhesive layer 140, and the ink layer 130 in the opening 220 of the article body 200 can be removed easily and precisely.
In the present embodiment, the decorated film 100 of
The decorated film 100 of the present embodiment further includes a durable layer 150 formed between the releasing layer 120 and the ink layer 130 and an adhesive layer 160 formed between the durable layer 150 and the ink layer 130. The material of the durable layer 150 can be radiant curable multifunctional acrylate, epoxide, vinyl ester resin, diallyl phthalate, or vinyl ether, or a combination of the aforementioned materials. Radiant curable multifunctional acrylate can be any one of the following kinds: epoxy acrylate, polyurethane acrylate, polyester acrylate, siloxane acrylate, or glycidyl acrylate. The opening 142 of the adhesive layer 140 can be formed by stencil printing the adhesive layer 140 or other suitable method, and the opening 142 can be multiple. Color of the ink layer 130 can be mono, multiple, gradient or any other various type.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
