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(11) | EP 1 024 028 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | METHOD OF TRANSFERRING MATTERS TO BE DISPLAYED INCLUDING DESIGNS, PATTERNS AND CHARACTERS |
| (57) The present invention provides a transferring method of transferring a representation
such as designs, patterns and letters on various object surfaces such as existing
road, sidewalk, floor and wall surfaces. The method includes: bonding a transfer sheet
(3), including a sheet substrate (4) with a surface thereof provided with a display
member (5) displaying the representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
a base member (2) which has been applied on the object surface; and releasing the
sheet substrate (4) to transfer the display member (5) on the surface of the base
member (2), so that the representation such as designs, patterns and letters are transferred
on the object surface. |
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on various object surfaces such as existing road, sidewalk, floor and wall surfaces.
Background Art
[0002] Attempts have been made to transfer a representation such as designs, patterns and letters onto various object surfaces such as a road surface by using various kinds of transfer sheets.
[0003] However, those conventional methods pose various problems. For example, designs, patterns, letters and the like can not dearly be displayed, complicated operation may be involved, and an air layer may be caused between a transfer sheet and a base layer located on an object surface. Therefore, those methods have not heretofore come into practical use.
Disclosure of Invention
[0004] The present invention has been made to solve those problems. It is an object of the present invention to achieve clear display of designs, patterns, letters and the like, easy operation and prevention of the occurrence of the air layer between the transfer sheet and the base layer on the object surface.
[0005] The present invention has been conceived to achieve the above objects. The method for achieving the objects is characterized by the steps of bonding a transfer sheet, including a sheet substrate 4 with a surface thereof provided with a display member 5 displaying the representation such as designs, patterns and letters, on a base member 2 which has been applied on the object surface; and releasing the sheet substrate 4 to transfer the display member 5 on the surface of the base member 2, so that the representation such as designs, patterns and letters are transferred on the object surface.
[0006] A further method is characterized by the steps of bonding a transfer sheet 3 including a sheet substrate 4 with a surface thereof provided with a display member 5 displaying the representation such as designs, patterns and letters, and a cover member 6 located on the opposite surface of the display member 5 to the surface contacting the sheet substrate 4, on a base member 2 which has been applied on the object surface; and releasing the sheet substrate 4 to transfer the display member 5 on the surface of the base member 2 via the cover member 6, so that the representation such as designs, patterns and letters are transferred on the object surface.
[0007] A still further method is characterized by the steps of bonding a transfer sheet 3, including a sheet substrate 4 with a surface thereof provided with a display member 5 displaying the representation such as designs, patterns and letters, on a transferring medium sheet 8; releasing the sheet substrate 4 to transfer the display member 5 to the transferring medium sheet 8; and bonding the transferring medium sheet 8 on the surface of the base member 2 which has been applied on the object surface to transfer the display member 5 to the base member 2 via the transferring medium sheet 8, so that the representation such as designs, patterns and letters are transferred on the object surface.
[0012] Using the transfer method of the present invention achieves clear display of designs, patterns, letters and the like, so that even printed designs, patterns can also be displayed in a state as close as the actual ones.
[0013] The transferring can be advantageously accomplished in easy manner and in a short period of time.
[0014] The method also prevents the occurrence of an air layer between the transfer sheet and the base layer on the object surface.
[0015] Further, unlike conventional materials such as tiles used for the construction, deferent designs, patterns can be repeatedly overlappingly transferred to the transferred designs, patterns.
[0016] The surface of a road repaired by roadwork or the like can be partially renovated in easy manner without the necessity of a special equipment.
[0017] Accordingly, given designs patterns can be displayed on new car parking spaces, old corsos, car parking spaces for vanous facilities such as a super market, and any other large spaces or narrow spaces in a short period of time, and can have an excellent durability.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section illustrating a base-member application step.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section of a transfer sheet.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section illustrating a step of bonding the transfer sheet on the base member.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section illustrating a step of releasing the transfer sheet to transfer a cover member and a display member.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section illustrating a step of forming a protection layer.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross section illustrating a step of bonding a sheet substrate on a transferring medium sheet according to another embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross section illustrating a step of releasing the sheet substrate from the transferring medium sheet after the bonding of the sheet substrate.
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross section illustrating a step of bonding the transferring medium sheet on the base member.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
[0019] The description will be made hereinafter for respective embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings as attached hereto.
[0020] First, a base member 2 made of a methacrylate resin is applied on an object surface 1 such as a road, sidewalk, floor and wall surface, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0021] The methacrylate resin used for the base member 2 is made by removing wax, paraffin and the like from a methacrylate resin liquid (Acrysirup manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.).
[0022] The methacrylate resin liquid (Acrysirup manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) is of a fast cure type, which can be cured in 30 to 60 minutes, and therefore can be used in one to two hours after the application. This liquid is cured even at a low temperature of -30°C and exhibits excellent chemical resistance to organic acids, inorganic acids, alkali and the like, impact resistance, wear resistance, slip resistance and the like.
[0023] The methacrylate resin liquid (Acrysirup manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) is a reactive resin liquid containing methylmethacrylate as a main component. By adding a curing agent in the methacrylate resin liquid, it reacts with an accelerating agent in the methacrylate resin liquid to generate radicals. Wax, paraffin or the like contained in the methacrylate resin liquid move toward the surface of the methacrylate resin liquid and block the air so that radicals are developed, and hence radical polymerization are generated, resulting in the curing of the methacrylate resin liquid.
[0024] The aforementioned wax, paraffin or the like is removed from the methacrylate resin making up the base member 2, since a display member 5 and a cover member 6 (both will be described hereinafter) have air blocking capability like the wax, paraffin or the like.
[0025] The curing agent is, for example, benzoyl peroxide, which reacts to amines in the resin solution to generate radicals immediately after the benzoyl peroxide is added to the resin solution.
[0026] The methacrylate resin liquid of this type is basically an anaerobic resin liquid and therefore paraffin is added thereto for blocking the air.
[0027] On the other hand, a transfer sheet 3 for being bonded to the surface of the base member 2 is separately prepared.
[0028] The transfer sheet 3 includes a sheet substrate 4 made of a polyethylene terephthalate film with its surface provided with the display member 5 such as ink, paint and pigment displaying a representation such as designs and patterns, and the cover member 6 made of titanium oxide and provided on the surface of the display member 5 opposite to the surface contacting the sheet substrate 4.
[0029] When the titanium oxide of a solvent type is directly applied on the display member 5, the display member 5 is likely to be damaged. As the best solution for this, titanium is applied on a different film and left thereon until it is dried, and then is thermally transferred to the sheet substrate 4 provided thereon with the display member 5 so as to be unified with the designs, patterns and the like.
[0030] The thicker application of the titanium oxide causes the hardening of the film, so that cracks or the like may occur in the film when it is bent. This may prevent the rolling up of the film. Therefore, the titanium oxide is preferably applied by a suitable thickness.
[0031] The transfer sheet 3 is bonded on the base member 2 before the base member 2 is dried, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0032] In this case, since wax, paraffin has been removed from the methacrylate resin liquid, so as not to confine the surface of this resin liquid with paraffin even after the application of the resin liquid, oxygen exits to cause delay in curing of the base member 2.
[0033] The bonding of the transfer sheet 3 on the methacrylate resin via the surface thereof, in which such a curing delay occurs, allows the transfer sheet 3 to be favorably bonded on the upper surface of the base member 2, even if an bonding agent is not interposed therebetween.
[0034] The cover member 6, the display member 5 and the like act as wax, paraffin or the like, as described above, thereby initiating the curing of the anaerobic methacrylate resin liquid. Consequently, the base member 2 and the transfer sheet 3 are tightly bonded together so as not to be separated from each other.
[0035] Specifically, an ink layer, a titanium oxide layer or the like remains on the surface of the base member 2 so as to block the air at the surface thereof. As a result, radicals are generated in the same manner as paraffin, and hence the curing occurs.
[0036] After the base member 2 is dried, the sheet substrate 4 is released from the dried base member 2, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0037] Whereby, the cover member 6 is transferred onto the upper surface of the base member 2 and the display member 5 is transferred on the upper surface of the cover member 6.
[0038] The representation such as designs and patterns displayed on the display member 5 is thus transferred on the object surface 1 such as a road, sidewalk, floor and wall surface.
[0039] After that, the methacrylate resin liquid (Acrysirup manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.), from which wax, paraffin or the like has not been removed, is applied on the upper surface of the display member 5 to form a top coat.
[0040] The reason for using the methacrylate resin without removal of wax, paraffin or the like therefrom is that the display member 5, the cover member 6 and the like are not transferred on the methacrylate resin forming the top coat.
[0041] Therefore, the methacrylate resin making up the top coat has wax, paraffin or the like exuding on the surface so as to be cured in a short period of time.
[0043] Thus, the transference of the representation such as designs and patterns to the object surface such as a road is completed.
[0044] As described above, the transfer sheet 3 of this embodiment is bonded on the undried base member 2 without the necessity of applying a bonding agent on the base member 2. Therefore, the air does not exist between the base member 2 and the transfer sheet 3, and the bonding agent is not used, so that the operation can be easily accomplished.
[0045] When the object surface is a concrete surface, an asphalt surface and the like such as a road and floor, the base member 2 made of the methacrylate resin can smoothen such an irregular surface to achieve smooth transference of designs, patterns and the like thereon.
[0046] Since the base member 2 is made of the methacrylate resin, it acts as an alkali block and water block for the concrete/asphalt, enhances adhesion power between the object surface, and the display member 5 or the cover member 6, as well as becomes tolerable against shrinkage, cracking and releasing forces.
[0047] Since the cover member 6 made of the titanium oxide is located between the base member 2 and the display member 5, the transferred designs, patterns and the like are hardly lost to sight, even if the base member 2 has stains, blackish portions and the like. Thus, the transferred designs, patterns and the like can remarkably clearly be displayed on the surface side with a white background of the titanium oxide, while the stains and the blackish portions are favorably concealed.
[0048] Although the film made of the polyethylene terephthalate is used for the film making up the sheet substrate 4 in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is not necessary to limit the material of the film to this. It is possible to use, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyamide resin and the like for the film, and therefore various kinds of synthetic resins can be used for making up the film.
[0049] It is possible to use, for example, cellophane and the like other than the synthetic resin film, and paper.
[0050] For paper, it is also possible to use water soluble paper (wet transfer paper). In this case, the display member displaying designs, patterns and the like is printed on the sheet substrate made of the water soluble paper, and then the synthetic resin layer made of the methacrylate resin and the like is provided on the upper surface of the printed designs, patterns and the like. After the synthetic resin layer has been formed into a film and dried, the rear surface of the paper (the surface opposite to the surface with a layer of the printed designs, patterns and the like) is moistened by water to cause the sheet substrate of paper to be released from the display member. Thus, the display member and the synthetic resin layer can be transferred on the object surface.
[0051] In this case, the base member of the methacrylate resin and the like is previously provided on the object surface in the same manner as the above-mentioned embodiment.
[0052] A top coat layer made of the methacrylate resin and the like can be provided on the upper surface of the synthetic resin layer after the transfer.
[0053] When using such water soluble paper as the sheet substrate, the transfer can be made even on the three-dimensional object surface such as a helmet, frame of TV set and eggshell, without occurrence of wrinkles by conforming around such an object surface.
[0054] In the respective embodiments as described above, the transfer is made by directly bonding the sheet substrate on the object surface. However, the display member 5 can be bonded on the object surface 1, for example, by bonding the sheet substrate 4 with the display member 5 thereon to a transferring medium sheet 8 made of glass fibers, polyester or the like via a bonding agent 9 of an acrylate resin, methacrylate resin or the like as illustrated in FIG. 6, then releasing the sheet substrate 4 from the display member 5, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and then bonding the transferring medium sheet 8 on the object surface 1, as illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the base member 2 made of the methacrylate resin and the like is also previously provided on the object surface 1 in this case. As a result, the transferring medium sheet 8 is located on the object surface 1 via the base member 2, and the display member 5 is located on the upper surface of the transferring medium sheet 8 via the bonding agent 9, as illustrated in FIG. 8. A protection layer can also be located on the display member 5.
[0056] The methacrylate resin can be used as a material of the transferring medium sheet. Whereby, the base member, the transferring medium sheet and the protection layer can be integrated together by melting respective methacrylate resins thereof
[0057] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the display member 5 displaying the representation such as designs, patterns and letters was directly provided on a surface of the sheet substrate 4. As an alternative to the direct application of the display member 5, a cellulose fiber layer can be provided on the sheet substrate 4 via wax, paraffin, silicone or the like applied on the surface of the sheet substrate 4.
[0058] In this case, the application of wax, paraffin, silicone or the like is advantageous in the fact that the display member 5 displaying designs, patterns and the like can be securely released from the sheet substrate 4 made of the film. Further, providing the cellulose fiber layer on the surface of the sheet substrate 4 is advantageous in the fact that various kinds of ink, pigment, paint and the like, which make up the display member 5, can be well absorbed in the sheet substrate 4 made of the film.
[0060] A large number of notches or small apertures can also be formed in the film making up the sheet substrate 4.
[0061] The formation of the notches and the like achieves a favorable air-ventilation so that the sheet substrate 4 can be released, without problems, from the cured resin, even if the methacrylate resin liquid making up the base member 2 exudes through the notches or the like and sticks on peripheral portions of the notches of the film.
[0064] Although the protection layer 7 is formed as the top coat in the above-mentioned embodiment, the formation of the protection layer 7 is not essential in the present invention.
[0065] However, when the operation is carried out outdoors, the protection layer 7 is required to protect the display member 5 for use in such an actual site.
[0066] When the above-mentioned methacrylate resin is used as the protection layer in this case,, it produces effects of easily washing out stains and the like on road surfaces by water, and hence maintaining an aesthetical appearance for a prolonged period of time, as well as exhibiting excellent wear resistance and weather resistance.
[0067] After the synthetic resin forming the protection layer has been applied on the upper surface of the display member, an embossing substrate made of a film or the like having a predetermined concave or convex pattern is placed on the thus applied synthetic resin to let the air, an excessive synthetic resin and the like out of this portion, and then the embossing substrate is released from the cured synthetic resin, so that various kinds of concave or convex patterns are formed in the protection layer.
[0068] As occasion demands, slip resistance capability can be impaired to the protection layer by mixing deformed beads or grained ceramics, sands or the like having a particle size of about 0.5 to 0.7 mm, into the protection layer, or spreading them over the protection layer to such an extent as not to damage the appearance of designs, patterns and the like.
[0069] At night, the beads and the like spread over the protection layer cause irregular reflection of lights of cars or street lights, thereby enhancing a visual recognition characteristic. This contributes to traffic safety.
[0070] When designs and patterns are to be transferred on a large car parking space and the like, a rolled film having endless designs and patterns is preferable for the operation in view of shortening a period of time for the execution and cost effectiveness. On the contrary, for narrow spaces, winding roads and the like, the transfer can easily be carried out by using a film cut into pieces each having a length of about 10 cm to 1 m.
[0071] The cut pieces of the film each can be shaped into an angular, rounded, triangular or other graphic forms, a letter, mark or the like.
[0072] The thus transferred cut pieces of the film are slightly higher than the remaining portions of the object surface to which the cut pieces have not been transferred, thus improving drainage of water and facilitating a one person operation.
[0073] Although the preferable effects as described above were produced by the use of the methacrylate resin as the base member 2 in the above embodiment, it is not necessary to limit the material of the base member 2 to that of the embodiment. Rather, other resins can be used.
[0074] However, a two component epoxy resin or a two component urethane resin, which is generally used as the base member and the like, tends to be slow to react and is therefore difficult to be cured, when it drops to around 10°C. If the film is directly transferred on the base member made of such a material, the operation may not be carried out during not only the winter and rain but also wet weather.
[0075] Since those resins tend to be cured in a short period of time, introducing a curing agent of a large amount may turn the resins to yellow, render them fragile and hence unusable.
[0076] Although the titanium oxide is used to form the cover member 6 in the above embodiment, it is not necessary to limit the material of the cover member 6 to that of the above embodiment.
[0077] The display member 5 can also be made by various kinds of materials such as ink, pigment and paint.
[0078] The display member 5 can also display various kinds of representations such as designs, patterns and letters.
[0079] The designs, patterns and other representations can also be transferred on various surfaces such as road, sidewalk, floor and wall surfaces. For example, the transfer can be made on a fire hydrant, a manhole and the like.
(First Embodiment)
[0080] The methacrylate resin (Acrysirup manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.), without the inclusion of wax, paraffin or the like, is applied to a car parking space of 100 m2 to form the base member. The sheet substrate made of the polyethylene terephthalate film with a thickness of about 50µ and with a printed picture of a marbled pattern having a width of 60 cm and a length of 100m, is then bonded on the base member to transfer designs, patterns and the like thereon. The film is then released in about 10 minutes. Shortly after that, a coating liquid made of the methacrylate resin liquid (Acrysirup manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.), with the inclusion of wax, paraffin or the like, is applied on the transferred designs by a roller to form a top coat having a thickness of about 0.6 to 0.8 mm. Spherical glass beads having a diameter of about 1mm were then spread over the coating liquid before it is dried
[0081] The object surface with the picture transferred thereon was cured in about ten minutes, thus enabling a person to walk thereon.
[0082] A flower picture of cosmoses placed at the center of a marbled background is divided into four, and printed out on electrostatic recording papers, by a large-scaled copying machine (manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Ltd.) with a total enlarged size of 2400 mm wide by 4000 mm long. Then, they are again transferred on the polyethylene terephthalate film, and the titanium oxide as a white paint is applied on a lower surface of the polyethylene terephthalate film, and the resultant film was transferred on the marbled road surface. Thus, a visually excellent car parking space with an image of cosmoses in bloom in very beautiful marbles has been emerged.
(Second Embodiment)
[0083] Pictures of river stones each having a diameter of 4 to 5 cm were printed out on a cellophane film having a size of 1000 cm wide by 300 m long and having a thickness of about 60 µ, and such designs and patterns were transferred on a blackish surface of an asphalt in the same manner as the first embodiment. Whereby, a visual effect with an image of real stones bedded entirely in the car parking space of 80 m2 could be provided.
[0084] Instead of the spherical beads in the first embodiment, grained alumina powders having a particle size of 0.5 to 0.7 mm were prepared and mixed into a resin forming the top coat, and the resultant resin forming the top coat was applied on the upper surface of the display member of designs, patterns and the like. Whereby, a more enhanced slip resistance could be obtained and maintained even during rain.
1. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface comprising: bonding a transfer sheet (3), including a sheet substrate
(4) with a surface thereof provided with a display member (5) displaying said representation
such as designs, patterns and letters, on the surface of a base member (2) which has
been applied on said object surface; and releasing said sheet substrate (4) to transfer
said display member (5) on the surface of the base member (2), so that said representation
such as designs, patterns and letters are transferred on the object surface.
2. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface comprising: bonding a transfer sheet (3), including a sheet substrate
(4) with a surface thereof provided with a display member (5) displaying said representation
such as designs, patterns and letters, and a cover member (6) located on the opposite
surface of said display member (5) to the surface contacting said sheet substrate
(4), on the surface of a base member (2) which has been applied on said object surface;
and releasing said sheet substrate (4) to transfer said display member (5) on the
surface of the base member (2) via said cover member (6), so that said representation
such as designs, patterns and letters are transferred on the object surface.
3. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface comprising bonding a transfer sheet (3), including a sheet substrate
(4) with a surface thereof provided with a display member (5) displaying said representation
such as designs, patterns and letters, on a transferring medium sheet (8); releasing
said sheet substrate (4) to transfer said display member (5) to said transferring
medium sheet (8); and bonding said transferring medium sheet (8) on the upper surface
of the base member (2) which has been applied on the object surface to transfer said
display member (5) to said base member (2) via said transferring medium sheet (8),
so that said representation such as designs, patterns and letters are transferred
on the object surface.
4. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said base member
(2) is made of a methacrylate resin.
5. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface according to claim 2, wherein said cover member (6) is made of titanium
oxide.
6. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said display member
(5) is either one of ink, paint and pigment.
7. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a protection layer
is formed on said transferred representation.
8. A method of transferring a representation such as designs, patterns and letters on
an object surface according to claim 7, wherein an embossing substrate with a concave
or convex pattern is placed over said protection layer (7) before the synthetic resin
forming said protection layer has not been cured, to form protection layer (7) with
said concave or convex pattern.