COATED PANEL, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THEREOF AND MILLING TOOL APPLIED THEREWITH

Abstract

A coated panel with a substrate and a decorative top layer, such that the decorative top layer includes a print and a transparent wearing layer applied thereon. The panel has a lowered edge region at least on one edge. Both the aforementioned print and the aforementioned wearing layer extend continuously from on the central area of the panel over the aforementioned lowered edge region. The aforementioned wearing layer has a lower degree of gloss at the location of the lowered edge region than on the central area of the aforementioned coated panel and/or has a degree of gloss of 10 or less measured according to DIN 67530. A method for manufacturing is provided for the coated panel and to a milling tool applied therewith.

Claims

1.-38. (canceled)

39. A coated panel with a substrate and a decorative top layer, wherein the aforementioned decorative top layer comprises a print and a transparent wearing layer applied thereon, wherein the aforementioned panel has a lowered edge region at least on one edge, wherein both the aforementioned print and the aforementioned wearing layer extend continuously from on the central area of the panel over the aforementioned lowered edge region, wherein the aforementioned wearing layer has a lower degree of gloss at the location of the lowered edge region than on the central area of the aforementioned coated panel and/or has a degree of gloss of 10 or less measured according to DIN 67530.

40. The coated panel of claim 39, wherein the aforementioned lower degree of gloss is obtained because the aforementioned wearing layer has a rougher surface structure at the location of the aforementioned lowered edge region than at the location of the overall surface and/or because the aforementioned wearing layer is compressed at the location of the aforementioned lowered edge region.

41. The coated panel of claim 39, wherein the aforementioned lowered edge region relates to a chamfer, wherein the aforementioned chamfer makes an angle with the horizontal of less than 25°.

42. The coated panel of claim 39, wherein the aforementioned coated panel is provided on at least two opposite edges with coupling means that allow two such panels to be coupled together on the respective edges, wherein locking is obtained both in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the coupled panels, and in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the respective edges in the plane of the coupled panels, wherein the aforementioned coupling means are configured substantially as a male coupling part including a tongue, and a female coupling part including a groove, wherein in the coupled state, horizontally acting locking surfaces are formed, which counteract moving apart of the coupled floor panels.

43. The coated panel of claim 42, wherein the aforementioned substrate comprises several layers, wherein a first layer with a first hardness is located between the aforementioned print and a second layer with a second hardness that is greater than the aforementioned first hardness.

44. The coated panel of claim 43, wherein in the coupled state of two of such panels, a contact surface arises directly under the join of the respective upper surfaces of the coupled panels, wherein this contact surface is formed mainly, or even exclusively, on the material of the aforementioned first layer and the superjacent layers of the decorative top layer.

45. The coated panel of claim 42, wherein at least one portion of the surface of the aforementioned coupling means is provided with a water-repellent substance, wherein the aforementioned water-repellent substance is provided directly under the join of the upper surfaces of the coupled panels, or at the very least in a position above the actual coupling means.

46. A method for manufacturing a coated panel in accordance with claim 39, wherein the method comprises the step of forming the aforementioned lowered edge region by removing a portion of the aforementioned wearing layer on the respective edge.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the relevant portion is removed on the basis of a cutting process with a rotating milling tool, wherein the aforementioned milling tool comprises one or more cutting sections with a rake surface and a flank surface, which are joined to each other by a cutting edge, which is provided as a ridge between the rake surface and the flank surface, and wherein the radius of the cutting edge is between 2 and 200 μm, wherein the wedge angle between the rake surface and the flank surface is less than 80°.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the aforementioned cutting sections consist of polycrystalline diamond, and are provided on a hard-metal carrier.

49. A milling tool for carrying out the method in accordance with claim 47, wherein the rake angle is between 5 and 12° and/or the clearance angle is between 0 and 15°.

50. A method for manufacturing a milling tool of claim 49, wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: the step of providing a cutting section with a rake surface and a flank surface, which are joined to each other by a cutting edge, which is provided as a ridge between the rake surface and the flank surface, wherein the wedge angle between the rake surface and the flank surface is less than 80° or is between 60 and 75°; the step of processing the cutting section with an abrasive medium, wherein the cutting edge is provided with a radius of between 2 and 200 μm, or better still between 2 and 100 μm or between 2 and 50 μm.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the aforementioned cutting section is provided with the rake surface and the flank surface by means of spark erosion.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the step of processing the cutting section comprises immersion thereof in a bath filled with the aforementioned abrasive medium, and performing a vibrating motion of the bath.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the processing step comprises brushing of the cutting section based on a brush provided with bristles coated with abrasive particles.

54. A coated panel according to claim 39, wherein the coated panel is a floor panel with a substrate and a decorative top layer, wherein the coated panel is provided on at least two opposite edges with coupling means that allow two such panels to be coupled together on the respective edges, wherein locking is obtained both in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the coupled panels, and in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the respective edges and in the plane of the coupled panels, wherein the floor panel further has the following combination of properties: the property that the panel is rectangular, wherein the panel is provided both on the pair of long edges and on the pair of short edges with coupling means, wherein the coupling means on the pair of long edges allow two such panels to be coupled together by means of a rolling motion, and the coupling means on the pair of short edges allow two such panels to be coupled together by means of a downward motion; the property that the mechanical coupling means or coupling parts, at least on the pair of long edges, and on the pair of short edges, press the coupled floor panels against each other; the property that a contact surface is formed directly under the position where the upper surfaces of the coupled panels join together and that this contact surface is formed mainly, and exclusively, on a first layer of the substrate and the superjacent decorative top layer, wherein the aforementioned first layer is more flexible than a subjacent second layer of the substrate, wherein both the first layer and the second layer comprise PVC and the aforementioned first layer of the substrate comprises a higher proportion of plasticizer than the second layer located thereunder; the property that at least one portion of the coupling means is provided with a water-repellent substance; the property that the aforementioned decorative top layer comprises a print and a thermoplastic wearing layer applied thereon.

55. A coated panel with a substrate and a decorative top layer, wherein the aforementioned decorative top layer comprises a print and a transparent wearing layer applied thereon, wherein the transparent wearing layer comprises, on the surface, a coating or surface layer with a microstructure that has a roughness, wherein the aforementioned panel has a lowered edge region at least on one edge, wherein both the aforementioned print and the aforementioned wearing layer extend continuously from on the central area of the panel over the aforementioned lowered edge region, wherein the aforementioned wearing layer at the location of the lowered edge region is free from the aforementioned coating or surface layer but has a microstructure with a roughness that differs less than 0.5 μm Ra from the roughness of the microstructure of the surface layer.

56. The coated panel of claim 55, wherein the roughness of the microstructure of the surface layer is less than 1.5 μm Ra.

57. The coated panel of claim 55, wherein the aforementioned roughness determines the degree of gloss of the respective material, and this degree of gloss is 10 or less measured according to DIN 67530.

58. The coated panel of claim 55, wherein said panel further has the distinctive features of a coated panel with a substrate and a decorative top layer, wherein the aforementioned decorative top layer comprises a print and a transparent wearing layer applied thereon, wherein the aforementioned panel has a lowered edge region at least on one edge, wherein both the aforementioned print and the aforementioned wearing layer extend continuously from on the central area of the panel over the aforementioned lowered edge region, wherein the aforementioned wearing layer has a lower degree of gloss at the location of the lowered edge region than on the central area of the aforementioned coated panel and/or has a degree of gloss of 10 or less measured according to DIN 67530.

Description

[0044] For better illustration of the distinctive features of the invention, some preferred embodiments are described hereunder, as examples without any limiting character, referring to the appended drawings, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a coated panel with the distinctive features of the invention;

[0046] FIGS. 2 and 3 show, on a larger scale, a cross section along lines II-II and shown in FIG. 1;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows, on a larger scale, a view of the region that is marked as F4 in FIG. 3;

[0048] FIG. 5 shows in perspective how the panels from FIGS. 1 to 4 can be assembled to give a floating floor covering;

[0049] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the coupled state, in a view similar to that in FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0050] FIG. 8 shows schematically a method for manufacturing the panel from FIGS. 1 to 4, according to a view marked with F6 in FIG. 2.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a rectangular, elongated coated panel 1, in this case a floor panel with a pair of long opposite edges 2-3 and a pair of short opposite edges 4-5.

[0052] FIGS. 2 and 3 show that panel 1 comprises a substrate 6 and a decorative top layer 7, wherein the decorative top layer 7 comprises a print 8 and a transparent wearing layer 9 applied thereon.

[0053] The panel 1 has at least one edge, and in this case, on both edges of both the pair of short opposite edges 4-5 and the pair of long opposite edges 2-3, a lowered edge region 10. In this case, the lowered edge region 10 is a chamfer that makes an angle A with the horizontal of less than 25°, in this case about 11°.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows that the wearing layer 7 has a thickness T of at least 0.3 mm, in this case about 0.55 mm. The wearing layer 7 consists mainly of thermoplastic, in this case polyvinyl chloride, and has on the surface a surface layer 11, for example based on a radiation-cured polyurethane or acrylate compound.

[0055] Both the print 8 and the aforementioned wearing layer 9 extend continuously from on the central area 12 of the panel 1 over the lowered edge regions 10, and the surface of the aforementioned lowered edge region is essentially formed by the aforementioned wearing layer 9, except for the aforementioned surface layer 11. The print 8 extends at the location of the lowered edge region 10 in one and the same plane as at the location of the central area 12. At the location of the lowered edge region 10, the wearing layer 9 has a degree of gloss of 10 or less, measured according to DIN 67530. The degree of gloss at the location of the lowered edge region 10 may be lower than or equal to that of the central area 12. The low degree of gloss is obtained because the aforementioned wearing layer 9 has a rough surface structure at the location of the lowered edge region 10 and/or because the aforementioned wearing layer 9 is compressed at this place.

[0056] In the example, the print 8 is applied on a thermoplastic carrier film 13 and the substrate 6 consists mainly of plastic and/or fillers, such as PVC and calcium carbonate. A, preferably foamed, layer 14, for example based on crosslinked polyethylene, is applied on the underside of the substrate 6, for the purpose of sound damping and/or accommodation of irregularities of the substrate.

[0057] FIGS. 2 and 3 clearly show that the floor panel 1 is provided on both pairs of opposite edges 2-3; 4-5 with coupling means 15 that allow two such panels 1 to be coupled together on the respective edges 2-3; 4-5. In the coupled state, locking is produced both in a vertical direction V1 perpendicular to the plane of the coupled floor panels 1, and in a horizontal direction H1-H2 perpendicular to the respective edges 2-3; 4-5 and in the plane of the coupled panels 1. The coupling means 15 are in each case configured as a male coupling part 16 and a female coupling part 17, wherein in the coupled state, horizontally acting locking surfaces 18 are formed, which counteract movement of the coupled floor panels 1 away from each other in the horizontal direction. On the pair of long opposite edges 2-3, the male coupling part 16 is formed by a sideways projecting tongue 19, and the female coupling part by a groove 20.

[0058] As shown, the substrate 6 comprises several layers 21-22, wherein a first layer 21 with a first hardness is located between the aforementioned print 8 and a second layer 22 with a second hardness that is greater than the aforementioned first hardness. Both the first layer 21 and the second layer 22 comprise polyvinyl chloride. The plasticizer content in the aforementioned first layer 21 is higher than in the aforementioned second layer 22. In the coupled state of two such panels 1, a contact surface 23 is formed directly under the join of the respective upper surfaces, wherein this contact surface 23 is formed exclusively on the aforementioned first layer 21 and the layers 8-9 of the decorative top layer 7 located above, namely in particular at least on the first layer 21, and the wearing layer 9, except the surface layer 11. The aforementioned horizontally acting locking surfaces 18 are formed exclusively on the material of the aforementioned second layer 22.

[0059] FIG. 4 shows further that at least one portion of the surface of the coupling means 15 is provided with a water-repellent substance 24. Preferably the water-repellent substance is at least provided directly under the join of the upper surfaces of the coupled panels 1, namely in a position above the actual coupling means 15, namely, in the case of the long opposite edges 2-3, above the engagement of the tongue 19 in the groove 20, namely above the level of any vertically acting locking surfaces 25. In this case the water-repellent substance 24 is at least provided on the aforementioned contact surface 23 that is located directly under the join of the upper surfaces.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows that the floor panel 1 from FIGS. 1 to 4 is suitable for assembling a floating floor covering. In this case the coupling means 15 on the pair of long edges 2-3 may be coupled to each other by means of a rolling motion W, and the coupling means 15 on the pair of short edges 4-5 may be coupled to each other by means of a downward motion N.

[0061] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the coupled state of the coupling means 15 on the pair of short opposite edges 4-5 and the pair of long opposite edges 2-3, respectively. The coupling means 15 and the associated upper edge 26 are produced on the basis of a milling operation with rotating milling tools.

[0062] The coupling means 15 on the pair of short opposite edges 4-5, shown in FIG. 6, are configured as a male coupling part 16 and a female coupling part 17, which can be fitted into each other. The male coupling part 16 comprises a hook-shaped portion 27 that projects on the upper side of the panel 1, and the female coupling part 17 comprises a hook-shaped portion 27 that projects on the underside of the panel 1. The hook-shaped portion 27 of the male coupling part 16 comprises a downward projecting locking element 28 that can interact with a recess 29 in the hook-shaped portion 27 of the female coupling part 17. The interaction of the downward projecting locking element 28 and the recess 29 is mainly responsible for the locking in the horizontal direction H1. The hook-shaped portions 27 are further provided with one or more snap portions 30 and undercuts 31 interacting therewith, which provide the locking in the vertical direction V1.

[0063] The coupling means 15 on the pair of long opposite edges 2-3, shown in FIG. 7, are, as mentioned above, configured as a tongue 19 and a groove 20, delimited by an upper lip 32 and a lower lip 33. The tongue 19 and groove 20 provide per se the locking in the aforementioned vertical direction V1, and are provided with locking elements 34-35, mainly responsible for locking in the aforementioned horizontal direction H2. The locking elements comprise, in the example, a projection 34 on the underside of the tongue 19 and a recess 35 in the lower lip 33 of the groove 20.

[0064] In this case the mechanical coupling means 15 are made with pretension, obtained on the basis of a lower lip bent outwards in the coupled position 33, which in an attempt to spring back, presses against the underside of the tongue 19.

[0065] The coupling means 15 shown here also allow coupling based on a horizontal sliding movement S of the panels 1 toward each other.

[0066] Also in the example in FIG. 6, a pretension is applied, because a portion 36 of the female coupling part 17 is bent, in this case the upward extending element 36 on the hook portion 27 of the female coupling part 17. In an attempt to spring back, this element 36 presses against the male part 16, more particularly against the downward projecting locking element 28 thereof.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows that the aforementioned lowered edge region 10 is preferably formed by removing a portion of the aforementioned wearing layer 9 on the respective edge 2-3; 4-5. This preferably takes place on the basis of a cutting process with a rotating milling tool 38. The cutting motion C is indicated in FIG. 8 with a chain line. Said milling tool 38 comprises one or more cutting sections 39, preferably at least nine cutting sections uniformly distributed over the circumference of a rotating cutting tool. Preferably the cutting sections 39 comprise a face 40 and a flank surface 41, which are joined to each other by a cutting edge 42, which is provided as a ridge between the face 40 and the flank surface 41. The radius R of the cutting edge 42 is between 2 and 200 μm, preferably between 25 and 100 μm. A radius between 2 and 50 μm also offers interesting possibilities. The wedge angle G between the rake surface 40 and the flank surface 41 is preferably, such as here, less than 80°. The rake angle J is preferably between −15° and 15°, the rake angle J is preferably positive, such as here, and is between 2° and 15°, or better still between 5 and 12°. The clearance angle K is preferably between 0° and 15°, or better still between 0 and 5°.

[0068] FIG. 8 shows that the material of the lowered edge region 10 is somewhat compressed and, in this case, also acquires a microstructure 43. The compression occurs mainly in a zone 44 at the location of the cutting edge 42. The relatively blunt cutting edge 42 compresses the material to be cut in the respective zone 44 first, before the chip 45 separates. After cutting, the compressed material may spring back somewhat. The process of compression and springback is uncontrolled and lacks stability. It is this process that gives rise to formation of the microstructure 43 on the surface of the lowered edge region 10, so that a degree of gloss of 10 or less may be obtained. The microstructure 43 is formed by the base material 37 of the wearing layer 9 itself.

[0069] It should also be noted that the coated panel 1 from FIGS. 1 to 7 also has the distinctive features of a further independent aspect of the invention, wherein the roughness of the lowered edge region 10 is tailored to the roughness of the surface layer 11 present on the central area 12 of the panel 1. This further independent aspect of the invention is then defined as a coated panel 1 with a substrate 6 and a decorative top layer 7, wherein the aforementioned decorative top layer 7 comprises a print 8 and a transparent wearing layer 9 applied thereon, wherein the transparent wearing layer 9 comprises on the surface a coating or surface layer 11 with a microstructure that has a roughness, wherein the aforementioned panel 1 has a lowered edge region 10 at least on one edge 2-3; 4-5, wherein both the aforementioned print 8 and the aforementioned wearing layer 9 extend continuously from on the central area 12 of the panel 1 over the aforementioned lowered edge region 10, with the distinctive feature that the aforementioned wearing layer 9 is free, at the location of the lowered edge region 10, from the aforementioned coating or surface layer 11, but has a microstructure with a roughness that differs less than 0.5 μm Ra from the roughness of the microstructure of the surface layer 11. It is clear that the microstructure is preferably formed by the material of the surface layer 11 itself, or the base material 37 of the wearing layer 9 itself, and that this microstructure is not pressed through from an underlying layer.

[0070] Preferably the roughness of the microstructure of the surface layer 11 is less than 1.5 μm Ra. Preferably the aforementioned roughness defines the degree of gloss of the material in question. This degree of gloss is preferably 10 or less, measured according to DIN 67530.

[0071] It is clear that the coated panel 1 of this further independent aspect may also have the distinctive features of one or more of the aspects presented above, or the preferred embodiments thereof, and/or that said panel 1, in particular said lowered edge region 10, may be formed on the basis of the methods that are described above in more detail.

[0072] The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described above, but said coated panels, methods for the manufacture thereof, and milling tools used therein, may be realized while remaining within the scope of the present invention.