US 4,650,533 AGranted

Preparation of hot transfer product for continuous in-mold decoration

AssigneeTransfer Print Foils, Inc.

InventorsHarry A. Parker, Joseph Greenman

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Abstract

A method is disclosed for the preparation of a hot transfer film that is pre-cut and pre-positioned for continuous application during the forming of plastic articles by an in-mold decorating technique. A carrier film is first bonded to the transfer film from which the hot transfer is prepared, to form a releasable laminate. The laminate is then printed with appropriate decorating indicia on the free surface of the transfer film component thereof. Printing may be single-stage or multi-stage, depending upon the indicia desired, and a subsequent metalization of the transfer film surface may be performed. The fully printed laminate is then indexed into position and die-cut under conditions controlled to assure full penetration of the transfer film by the die, without penetration of the adjacent surface of the carrier film. Thereafter, the unwanted portions of the transfer film are stripped away, leaving the pre-cut decorated transfers, positioned on the carrier film for continuous indexing into position for the in-mold decoration of the plastic article being formed. The present method eliminates post-treatment of the decorated molded article.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method for the continuous in-mold decoration of plastic articles during their mold formation, consisting essentially of:

A. forming a laminate from an organic resinous carrier film used in hot-transfer decorating processes having a thickness ranging from 0.5 mil to 7 mil, and a printable thermoplastic transfer film used in hot-transfer decorating processes, said transfer film having a thickness ranging from 0.5 mil to 3 mil;
B. printing at least one decorating indicia on said laminate, on at least a portion of the free surface of said thermoplastic transfer film;
C. forming a plurality of decorated hot-transfer materials by die-cutting said thermoplastic transfer film in a controlled manner to fully penetrate the thickness of said thermoplastic transfer film without penetrating the adjacent surface of said carrier film;
D. separating the unwanted portions of said thermoplastic transfer film from said carrier film, so that said hot transfer materials remain releaseably bound to said carrier film;
E. continuously indexing said carrier film into a mold adapted for said in-mold decoration, and applying consecutive of said hot transfer materials to consecutive of said plastic articles during the molding thereof;
and
F. separating the decorated plastic articles molded in Step E from said carrier film.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/674,482Filed 23 Nov 1984 · continuation
Priority: 23 Jul 1982
Granted: 17 Mar 1987
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B29C 37/0025
Component parts, details, accessories or auxiliary operations, not covered by group B29C33/00 or B29C35/00: applying surface layers, e.g.…
B29C 51/00
Shaping by thermoforming , i.e. shaping sheets or sheet like preforms after
B44C 1/1712
Dry transfer: decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive
B44C 3/046
Modelling plastic materials, e.g. clay: using a modelling surface, e.g. plate