Method for producing a decal, and a decal and a device for producing a decal, and method for decorating surfaces of objects

Abstract

A method for producing a decal with at least one decoration includes: providing a transfer paper, printing, by means of inkjet printing, a primer onto the transfer paper and/or onto a stamping film having a carrier ply and a decorative ply, and applying, at least in areas, the stamping film to the transfer paper by means of hot or cold stamping. A decal includes a transfer paper and a decoration that can be separated from the transfer paper, wherein the decoration has a primer printed by means of inkjet, a decorative ply of a stamping film and optionally an ink and/or ink layer printed by means of inkjet and/or a protective varnish printed by means of inkjet. A device for producing a decal and a method for decorating surfaces of object, in particular three-dimensional objects.

Claims

1. A method for producing a decal with at least one decoration comprising: providing a water transfer paper, providing a stamping film, the stamping film having a carrier ply and a decorative ply, printing, by means of inkjet printing, a primer onto the transfer paper and/or onto the stamping film, pre-curing the primer, applying, at least in areas, the stamping film to the transfer paper by means of hot or cold stamping, whereby the decorative ply of the stamping film is transferred to the water transfer paper after the pre-curing of the primer, and fully curing the primer and the decorative ply after the transfer of the decorative ply to the water transfer paper.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer paper comprises a water-soluble layer.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primer is a light-curing primer, wherein the primer is partially cured and fully cured by radiation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primer is dried by means of IR radiation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primer is printed on at an application temperature of from 20° C. to 75° C.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the primer has a viscosity in the range of from 5 mPas to 100 mPas.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stamping film is applied in a roll-on method.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in a further step, at least one ink is printed by means of inkjet printing.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein, in a further step, at least one protective varnish is printed by means of inkjet printing onto the decorative ply or onto the ink.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the ink or the protective varnish is fully cured by radiation.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the ink and the protective varnish are fully cured together.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the production of the decal and/or the decoration is effected in an inline manufacture.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein a carrier is applied to the decoration in a further step.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained by way of example in the following with reference to several embodiment examples with the aid of the attached figures. There are shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a method as well as a device in a design for producing a decal in one embodiment,

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a further method as well as a device in a further design for producing a decal in a further embodiment,

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic representation of a further method as well as a device in a further design for producing a decal in a further embodiment,

(5) FIG. 4 a schematic representation of a stamping film in one embodiment,

(6) FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a method for decorating surfaces of objects,

(7) FIG. 6 a schematic representation of a further method for decorating surfaces of objects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a method as well as a device 100 in a design for producing a decal 10 in one embodiment.

(9) The provision of a transfer paper 14 is effected in a method step A. In a method step B a primer 16 is then printed, by means of inkjet printing, onto the transfer paper 14 and/or onto a stamping film 18 having a decorative ply 22 and a carrier ply 20. The printed-on primer 16 defines in particular the surface area or the surface areas for the stamping film transfer or for the later decoration 12. The device 100 preferably has at least a first inkjet printhead 102 for printing the primer 16 on.

(10) The transfer paper 14 is preferably a water transfer paper and/or a heat transfer paper.

(11) In particular, the primer 16 has only a very small number of solid constituents, such as particulate material and/or particles, which should not exceed a particular size, in particular a size of between 2 μm and 10 μm. It is hereby ensured that the nozzles of an inkjet printhead 102 do not clog. The primer 16 is preferably not pigmented. The primer 16 has in particular no fillers at all.

(12) The primer 16 is advantageously printed on with an area density of from 0.5 g/m.sup.2 to 20 g/m.sup.2. The printed-on primer 16 preferably has a layer thickness of from 0.05 μm to 10 μm, in particular a layer thickness of from 1 μm to 5 μm. Within this area, which guarantees a particularly good adhesion, the applied quantity and/or the layer thickness of the primer 16 can be varied in order to further optimize the application result.

(13) It is furthermore preferred if the primer 16 is printed on at an application temperature of from 20° C. to 75° C., preferably of from 40° C. to 60° C., and/or with a viscosity in the range of from 5 mPas to 100 mPas, preferably of from 10 mPas to 15 mPas.

(14) Primers 16 which have the following composition have proved to be advantageous:

(15) TABLE-US-00006 4-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)morpholine 29 wt.-% to 50 wt.-%, exo-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl 25 wt.-% to 50 wt.-%, acrylate 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate 25 wt.-% to 50 wt.-%, dipropylene glycol diacrylate  3 wt.-% to 10 wt.-%, 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide  3 wt.-% to 10 wt.-%.

(16) The primer 16 is preferably a light-curing, in particular UV-curing, primer 16. The primer 16 can be precured or partially cured and/or fully cured in a method step C. For this, the device 100 preferably has a curing apparatus 110. The curing apparatus 110 preferably has at least one UV-LED light source.

(17) The application quality of the primer 16 can be improved by a precure. In particular, the viscosity of the primer 16 is hereby increased before the stamping film 18 is applied. This prevents the applied primer pixels from running or squeezing together too much during the transfer, with the result that a particularly sharp-edged application of the stamping film 18 and a particularly high surface quality of the transferred layers are achieved. However, a slight squeezing together of the primer pixels can also be quite desirable in order to bring directly adjacent primer pixels closer to each other and combine them. This is advantageous in particular in order, for example in the case of closed surface areas and/or at motif edges, to avoid a pixelation of the representation, i.e. to prevent individual pixels from appearing in an optically disruptive manner. The squeezing together should be effected only to the extent that the desired resolution is not reduced too much.

(18) To prevent a squeezing together of an image and/or motif generated by the printed-on primer 16, the procure of the primer 16, preferably with a low UV radiation power, is advantageous. The primer 16 is in particular partially gelatinized hereby.

(19) The precure of the primer 16 is preferably effected 0.02 s to 0.025 s after the primer 16 has been printed on. The primer 16 is hereby fixed on the transfer paper 14 very quickly after the printing due to the precure, with the result that the primer droplets are largely prevented from running or spreading and a high print resolution is preserved as well as possible. For this, for example, a radiation source can be arranged directly adjacent to the printhead 102 for printing the primer 16 on.

(20) It is expedient here if the precure of the primer 16 is effected by UV radiation, of which preferably at least 90% of the energy is emitted in the wavelength range between 380 nm and 420 nm. At these wavelengths the precure is reliably started.

(21) It is further advantageous if the precure of the primer 16 is effected with a gross irradiance of from 2 W/cm.sup.2 to 5 W/cm.sup.2 and/or a net irradiance of from 0.7 W/cm.sup.2 to 2 W/cm.sup.2 and/or an energy input into the primer 16 of from 8 mJ/cm.sup.2 to 112 mJ/cm.sup.2. It is hereby achieved that the primer 16 undergoes the desired viscosity increase, but while not being completely fully cured, with the result that the necessary adhesive effect of the primer 16 is preserved when the stamping film 18 is applied.

(22) The precure of the primer 16 is preferably effected with an exposure time of from 0.02 s to 0.056 s. The necessary energy input for the precure is thus ensured at the mentioned transport speeds of the transfer paper 14 and at the specified irradiances.

(23) It is expedient if, during the precure of the primer 16, its viscosity increases to 50 mPas to 200 mPas. Such a viscosity increase guarantees that the primer droplets are not squeezed together during the application of the stamping film 18 to the transfer paper 14, with the result that the stamping film 18 can be transferred to the transfer paper 14 substantially with the resolution achieved during the printing of the primer 16.

(24) In addition to the precure or partial cure of the primer 16, a full cure of the primer 16 can also take place at a later time. In principle, however, it is also possible to dispense with a precure of the primer 16. Simply only a full cure of the primer 16 can then take place.

(25) The full cure of the primer 16 is preferably effected after the application of a stamping film 18 or further layers. It is expedient if the full cure of the primer 16 is effected with UV light, of which preferably at least 90% of the energy is emitted in the wavelength range between 380 nm and 420 nm. At these wavelengths the full cure is reliably started.

(26) Furthermore, it is preferred if the full cure of the primer 16 is effected with a gross irradiance of from 12 W/cm.sup.2 to 20 W/cm.sup.2 and/or a net irradiance of from 4.8 W/cm.sup.2 to 8 W/cm.sup.2 and/or an energy input into the primer of from 200 mJ/cm.sup.2 to 900 mJ/cm.sup.2, preferably of from 200 mJ/cm.sup.2 to 400 mJ/cm.sup.2. A reliable through cure of the primer 16 is achieved with such an energy input.

(27) Furthermore, it is advantageous if the full cure of the primer 16 is effected with an exposure time of from 0.04 s to 0.112 s. The necessary net energy input for the through cure of the primer 16 is thus ensured at the specified gross irradiances and at the usual transport speeds.

(28) It is advantageous if the full cure of the primer 16 takes place together with the full cure of further layers which have additionally also been printed onto or applied to the transfer paper 14. The entire decoration 12 can hereby be fully cured in particular in only one step, which makes the method very efficient.

(29) In FIG. 1 an application, at least in areas, of the stamping film 18 to the transfer paper 14 is effected in a method step D. In FIG. 1 the application is effected by means of hot stamping in a roll-on method. The stamping film 18 is applied to the transfer paper 14 in particular under pressure and temperature. The hot stamping is preferably effected by means of a stamping station 104, which preferably has at least one stamping roller and/or a stamping wheel. After the stamping of the stamping film 18, the carrier ply 20 is preferably peeled off the decorative ply 22 and only at least a part of the decorative ply 22 remains on the transfer paper 14.

(30) In a method step E at least one ink and/or at least one ink layer 32 is printed on by means of inkjet printing. The ink and/or the ink layer 32 here is/are in particular printed onto the decorative ply 22. The ink and/or the ink layer 32 form/forms in particular a part of the decoration 12 and thus influences/influence the visual appearance of the decoration 12. The device 100 preferably has at least a second inkjet printhead 106 for printing the ink and/or the ink layer 32 on.

(31) A light-curing, in particular a UV-curing, particularly preferably an LED-curing, in particular preferably a UV-LED-curing, ink and/or ink layer 32 is/are preferably printed on. In particular, the ink and/or the ink layer 32 can be applied in register with a feature of the stamping film 18. The feature can be a register mark and/or a motif on the stamping film 18.

(32) The ink and/or the ink layer 32 can be partially cured or precured and/or fully cured by radiation, preferably by UV radiation, in particular by UV-LED radiation. In particular, the ink or the ink layer 32 is fully cured and/or precured analogously to the primer 16.

(33) The layer thickness of the ink and/or the ink layer 32 preferably lies between 0.5 μm and 10 μm, in particular between 0.5 μm and 5 μm. Inks and/or ink layers 32 which have the following composition have proved to be advantageous:

(34) TABLE-US-00007 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate 25 wt.-% to 50 wt.-%, 4-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)morpholine 10 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%, exo-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl 20 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%, acrylate 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide 10 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%, dipropylene glycol diacrylate  3 wt.-% to 10 wt.-%.

(35) In a method step F at least one protective varnish 34 is printed on by means of inkjet printing. In particular, the protective varnish 34 is printed onto the ink and/or onto the ink layer 32. The protective varnish 34 forms in particular a part of the decoration 12 and protects the decoration 12 on an object 50 to be decorated in particular from mechanical and/or chemical stress. The device 100 preferably has at least a third inkjet printhead 108 for printing the protective varnish 34 on.

(36) Preferably, a light-curing, in particular a UV-curing, particularly preferably an LED-curing, in particular preferably a UV-LED-curing, protective varnish 34 is printed on. The protective varnish 34 can be partially cured or precured and/or fully cured by radiation, preferably by UV radiation, in particular by UV-LED radiation. In particular, the protective varnish 34 is fully cured and/or procured analogously to the primer 16.

(37) The layer thickness of the protective varnish 34 preferably lies between 0.5 μm and 10 μm, in particular between 0.5 μm and 5 μm. Protective varnishes 34 which have the following composition have proved to be advantageous:

(38) TABLE-US-00008 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate 25 wt.-% to 50 wt.-%, 4-(1-oxo-2-propenyl)morpholine 10 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%, exo-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl 20 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%, acrylate 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide 10 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%, dipropylene glycol diacrylate  3 wt.-% to 10 wt.-%.

(39) In a method step G the ink and/or the ink layer 32 and the protective varnish 34 are preferably fully cured together. For the full cure, the device 100 preferably has a curing apparatus 112. The curing apparatus 112 is preferably formed as a UV-LED light source.

(40) In addition to the full cure of the ink and/or the ink layer 32 and the protective varnish 34 together, the full cure of the primer 16 is advantageously also effected. Ideally, a full cure is effected when all the layers 16, 22, 32, 34 which ultimately form the decoration 12 have been applied to and/or printed onto the transfer paper 14.

(41) The production of the decal 10 is advantageously effected in an inline manufacture, in particular in an assembly line manufacture. The decal 10 is preferably produced here substantially without interruption, in particular in a continuous process. If a method step for producing the decal 10 has been effected, then the subsequent method step essentially follows straightaway. The individual steps of the method transition into each other almost seamlessly.

(42) The finished decal 10 is represented in a method step I. The decal 10 comprises the transfer paper 14 and the decoration 12 which can be separated from the transfer paper 14. The decoration 12 preferably comprises the primer 16 printed by means of inkjet printing, the decorative ply 22 of the stamping film 18, in particular comprising a metallic layer 28, and the ink and/or ink layer 32 printed by means of inkjet printing and the protective varnish 34 printed by means of inkjet printing.

(43) To print the layers, in particular the primer 16, the ink, the ink layer 32, the protective varnish 34 and/or a carrier 36 on, at least one inkjet printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 is preferably used. At least one separate inkjet printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 is preferably used for each layer 16, 32, 34, 36 to be printed.

(44) The inkjet printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 can in particular have a resolution of from 300 to 1200 nozzles per inch (npi). A high-resolution application of the layers 16, 32, 34, 36 is hereby made possible. The inkjet printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 can have a nozzle diameter of from 15 μm to 25 μm with a tolerance of not more than ±5 μm and/or a nozzle spacing of from 30 μm to 150 μm, in particular a nozzle spacing of from 30 μm to 80 μm, with a tolerance of not more than ±5 μm. The small nozzle spacing, in particular transverse to the printing direction, ensures that the transferred droplets of the layers 16, 32, 34, 36 to be printed lie sufficiently close to each other or optionally even overlap, with the result that a good resolution is achieved over the entire printed-on surface.

(45) The inkjet printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 can be formed such that droplets of the layers 16, 32, 34, 38 to be printed are provided at a frequency of from 6 kHz to 110 kHz. At usual conveying speeds of the transfer paper 14 to be printed on, of from 10 m/min to 30 m/min, a resolution of from 360 dpi to 1200 dpi can thus be achieved in the conveying direction. It is expedient if droplets of the layers 16, 32, 34, 36 to be printed are provided by the inkjet printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 with a volume of from 2 pl to 50 pl with a tolerance of not more than ±6%. The necessary quantity of the layers 16, 32, 34, 36 to be printed can hereby be applied uniformly.

(46) Furthermore, the inkjet printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 is formed such that droplets of the layers 16, 32, 34, 36 to be printed are provided at a flight speed of from 5 m/s to 10 m/s with a tolerance of not more than ±15%. The deflection of the droplets, in particular by drafts of air, is hereby minimized during the transfer from the printhead 102, 106, 108, 116 to the transfer paper 14 and/or to the decorative ply 22, with the result that the droplets land on the transfer paper 14 and/or on the decorative ply 22 in the desired defined arrangement.

(47) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a further method as well as a device 100′ in a further design for producing a decal 10 in a further embodiment. The method shown in FIG. 2 differs from the method shown in FIG. 1 substantially in that it is a cold stamping method instead of a hot stamping method and the primer 16 is dried in a method step C′. To dry or partially dry the primer 16, the device 100′ has a drying apparatus 114. The duration of the partial drying and/or of the drying preferably lies between 1 s and 60 s and/or the drying temperature preferably lies between 40° C. and 120° C. In principle, however, it is possible that the drying apparatus 114 and thus the method step C′ can be dispensed with. Relating to the other method steps A and B as well as E to I, reference is made to the statements made regarding FIG. 1.

(48) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a further method as well as a device 100″ in a further design for producing a decal 10′ in a further embodiment.

(49) In FIG. 3 the stamping film 18—as already represented in FIG. 1—is applied by means of hot stamping. Relating to the method steps A to G as well as I and the corresponding device apparatuses 102, 110, 104, 106, 108 and 112, reference is therefore made to the statements made regarding FIG. 1. In principle, however, it is also possible for the stamping film 18 in FIG. 3 to be applied by means of cold stamping instead of by means of hot stamping.

(50) The device 100″ represented in FIG. 3 has an apparatus 116 for applying a carrier 36 to the decoration 12. The apparatus 116 is arranged downstream of the second curing apparatus 112 in the conveying direction of the transfer paper 14. Ideally, the apparatus 116 is at least preferably downstream, in the conveying direction of the transfer paper 14, after the inkjet printhead 108 that produces an outermost layer 38 and/or an outermost side of the decoration 12. It is hereby achieved that the carrier 36 forms the final layer of the decal 10′. The carrier 36 thus protects the decoration 12 from damage. The carrier 36 furthermore ensures a better handling of the decoration 12 and/or of the decal 10′ during the further processing. The apparatus for applying the carrier 36 is advantageously formed as at least a fourth inkjet printhead 116.

(51) It is advantageous if the application or the printing of the carrier 36 is effected substantially immediately after the manufacture of the decoration 12. The application of the carrier 36 is advantageously effected in inline manufacture.

(52) The carrier 36 preferably has a layer thickness of between 10 μm and 500 μm, preferably a layer thickness of between 10 μm and 200 μm, particularly preferably a layer thickness of between 20 μm and 30 μm. An acrylate film, in particular a self-crosslinking acrylate film, is preferably used as carrier 36.

(53) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a stamping film 18 in one embodiment. The stamping film 18 has a carrier ply 20 and a decorative ply 22, wherein the decorative ply 22 of the stamping film 18 can be formed single- or multi-layered.

(54) The carrier ply 20 of the stamping film 18 is preferably formed from PET, PC, PP, PE, PVE and/or PS. The carrier ply 20 protects and stabilizes the decorative ply 22 in particular during the production, storage and processing of the stamping film 18.

(55) The decorative ply 22 is in particular detachable from the carrier ply 20. In order to be able to ensure a reliable detachment between carrier ply 20 and decorative ply 22, the stamping film 18 can preferably have a detachment layer 24 between the carrier ply 20 and the decorative ply 22. The detachment layer 24 is preferably formed such that it on the one hand guarantees a safe handling of the stamping film 18, without the decorative ply 22 separating from the carrier ply 20 before the stamping film 18 is applied to the transfer paper 14, but on the other hand makes it possible to detach, at least in areas, the decorative ply 22 from the carrier ply 20 after the stamping film 18 has been applied or when the decorative ply 22 is transferred onto the transfer paper 14.

(56) The detachment layer 24 preferably has a layer thickness of from 0.001 μm to 1 μm, in particular a layer thickness of from 0.001 μm to 0.1 μm, particularly preferably a layer thickness of approx. 0.01 μm. The detachment layer 24 can comprise waxes and/or silicones. It is advantageously a polymeric detachment layer 24. The detachment layer 24 is particularly preferably free of wax and/or free of silicone. A layer which can be overprinted very well, in particular with conventional printing inks, with UV-curing printing inks, UV-curing varnishes, hybrid inks and/or hybrid varnishes, is hereby obtained. A good adhesion between decorative ply and print and/or printing inks can also be achieved in this way.

(57) The detachment layer 24 advantageously comprises hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, in particular 90 wt.-% to approx. 100 wt.-% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

(58) Furthermore, the decorative ply 22 represented in FIG. 4 preferably has at least one metallic layer 28. The metallic layer 28 ensures in particular the visual appearance of the decorative ply 22 and/or of the decoration 12. The metallic layer 28 is preferably formed from aluminum. However, it is also possible for the metallic layer 28 to be formed from copper, chromium and/or tin or to comprise an alloy thereof. The metallic layer 28 preferably has a layer thickness of from 5 nm to 100 nm, in particular a layer thickness of from 5 nm to 50 nm, particularly preferably a layer thickness of from 15 nm to 25 nm. The metallic layer 28 is preferably vapor-deposited by means of known PVD or CVD methods (PVD=Physical Vapor Deposition; CVD=Chemical Vapor Deposition). The metallic layer 28, in particular consisting of inks fine with metallic pigments, can additionally or alternatively also be printed on. The metallic layer 28 can be over the whole surface or be present only partially. A partial metallic layer can be structured in particular by means of known demetallization methods such as etching, washing methods or photolithographic methods.

(59) In principle, however, it is also conceivable for the decorative ply 22 to have an ink layer. The ink layer is preferably printed on by means of gravure printing, screen printing, flexographic printing, inkjet printing, and has a layer thickness of from 0.2 μm to 10 μm, in particular a layer thickness of from 0.5 μm to 3 μm. The ink layer can be present over the whole surface and/or partially. The ink layer can be opaque or translucent or transparent and in every case can be colorless or colored. The chromaticity can be achieved by means of dyes and/or pigments in the ink layer. For example, the ink layer consists of polyacrylates.

(60) It is in particular also possible for the decorative ply 22 to have an ink layer and a metallic layer 28, wherein the layers are preferably to be provided in each case partially and the partially provided areas are to be arranged in register with each other. For example, the metallic layer 28 and/or the ink layer, individually or together, represent/represents a motif or in each case a motif or partial motif.

(61) The decorative ply 22 can in addition have a basecoat 30. The basecoat 30 ensures in particular a good adhesion between the decorative ply 22 or the stamping film 18 and the primer 16. The basecoat 30 preferably has a layer thickness of from 0.2 μm to 10 μm, in particular a layer thickness of from 0.5 μm to 3 μm, particularly preferably a layer thickness of from 0.4 μm to 0.6 μm.

(62) Basecoats 30 which have the following composition have proved to be advantageous:

(63) TABLE-US-00009 polyvinyl butyral 25 wt.-% to 50 wt.-%, styrene maleic anhydride 50 wt.-% to 75 wt.-%.

(64) The decorative ply 22 can furthermore preferably comprise at least one varnish layer 26, in particular a protective varnish layer. The protective varnish layer 26 represents in particular a protection from mechanical and/or chemical stress for the decorative ply 22 and/or the decoration 12 on an object 60 to be decorated.

(65) The varnish layer and/or protective varnish layer 26 preferably has/have a layer thickness of from 0.4 μm to 10 μm, in particular a layer thickness of from 0.5 μm to 5 μm, in particular preferably a layer thickness of from 1 μm to 1.5 μm. The varnish layer and/or the protective varnish layer 26 advantageously has/have an isocyanate crosslinking. In particular, higher scratch, wear and chemical resistances can be achieved hereby. If the varnish layer or the protective varnish layer 26 contains dyes, the layer 26 can influence the optical impression of the decorative ply 22 and/or of the decoration 12.

(66) Varnish and/or protective varnish layers 26 which have the following composition have proved to be advantageous:

(67) TABLE-US-00010 acrylate polyol 36 wt.-% to 56 wt.-%, polyvinyl butyral  9 wt.-% to 14 wt.-%, diisocyanate 30 wt.-% to 40 wt.-%, dyes  0 wt.-% to 25 wt.-%.

(68) At least the varnish layers and/or the protective varnish layers 26 and/or the basecoat 30, in particular all of these layers, are advantageously provided with polymers containing hydroxyl groups. The layers hereby obtain a sufficiently high tensile strength, with the result that the decorative ply 22 or the decoration 12 applied to the object 60 to be decorated does not experience any cracking and/or blistering during a tempering in a furnace.

(69) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a method for decorating surfaces of objects 50 by means of the method steps K to P.

(70) The surfaces of the objects 50 are in principle not set to a specific shape. The surfaces can be shaped cylindrical, wavy, pyramidal, conical, curved, concave and/or to convex. They can also be formed angular, in particular rectangular or generally polygonal, oval, round and/or flat.

(71) The objects 50 can be objects 50 made of glass, ceramic, porcelain, plastic, wood and/or paper and/or metal and/or composites of several different materials, for example plastic/glass, plastic/metal, plastic/wood, plastic/paper. It can be advantageous to pretreat the surface of the objects 50, for example by means of plasma or corona treatment and/or by means of precoating with adhesion-promoter layer, for example with one or more polymeric adhesion-promoter layers.

(72) The provision of the decal 10′ is effected in a method step K. The decal 10′ is preferably produced by means of a method according to the invention. In principle, the provision of a decal 10 without a carrier 36 is also conceivable. The decal 10′ is soaked in a method step L. The decal 10′ is preferably dipped in water 118. Due to the soaking of the decal 10′ a water-soluble layer of the transfer paper 14 dissolves and the transfer paper 14 can be removed from the decoration 12 along with the carrier 36. Because of the water-soluble layer of the transfer paper 14, the transfer paper 14 shown in FIG. 5 is a water transfer paper. This is represented in a method step M in FIG. 5. In a method step N the decoration 12 is now applied to the object 50 along with the carrier 36. Next, the detachment of the carrier 36 from the decoration 12 is then preferably effected. This is represented in a method step O in FIG. 5. The outer side 38 of the decoration is exposed by the removal of the carrier 36. In a method step P the finished decorated object 60 having the decoration 12 is shown. The transfer of the decoration 12 is preferably effected inline with the production of the decal 10, 10′.

(73) It is expedient if the object 50 provided with the decoration 12 is cured. The adhesion of the decoration 12 or the adhesion between the individual layers of decoration 12, in particular between basecoat 30 and primer 16, can be improved hereby. The resistance of the decoration 12 for example to water, alcohol, wear and/or fingernails is in addition also improved. For this, the decorated object 60 is preferably cured in a time interval of between 10 minutes and 30 minutes and/or at a temperature of between 165° C. and 200° C. The decoration 12 should in particular be formed such that it is resistant to fingernail scratches after being dipped in 52% alcohol for 30 minutes and/or dipped in water for 60 minutes.

(74) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a further method for decorating surfaces of objects 50.

(75) The provision of the decal 10 is effected in a method step K. After the decal 10 has been soaked preferably in water 118 in a method step L, the transfer paper 14 can be removed from the decoration 12. This happens in a method step M′ in FIG. 6. The transfer paper 14 shown in FIG. 6 is a water transfer paper. The decoration 12 is transferred onto the object 50 in a method step N′ by means of pad printing, preferably by means of a pad 120. A finished decorated object 60 is thus obtained.

(76) Further, it is also possible for the detachment of the decal 10 from the transfer paper 14 to be effected preferably also by bringing the decal 10 on the transfer paper into contact, or contacting it, with an, in particular heated, pad instead of, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, by soaking the transfer paper, in particular the water transfer paper, in water. Here, the transfer paper 14 expediently comprises a hot-melt coating, which has in particular a melting range of between 50° C. and 150° C., preferably between 80° C. and 120° C. For this, the hot-melt coating of the transfer paper 14 can have, for example, predominantly constituents made of a wax and/or made of a thermoplastic polymer. Such a transfer paper 14, which has a hot-melt coating, is a heat transfer paper.

(77) The adhesive force of the hot-melt coating is advantageously reduced when the hot-melt coating is heated to a temperature within the melting range in such a way that the transfer paper 14, in particular the heat transfer paper, can be peeled off or separated from the decal 10, in particular from the decoration 12.

(78) Further, it is advantageous if the pad is heated actively and/or passively in particular before and/or during the transfer. The temperature range of the heated pad here advantageously lies between 70° C. and 150° C., preferably between 120° C. and 140° C. It is hereby possible for the hot-melt coating of the transfer paper 14 to soften when the pad is brought into contact or contacted with the decal 10 and for a transfer of the decal 10, in particular of the decoration 12, onto the pad to be effected.

(79) The transfer paper 14 is then advantageously removed from the decoration 12. The transfer of the decal 10, in particular of the decoration 12, onto the object 50 and a possible further processing is preferably effected as described above or analogously to the design of the transfer paper 14 as a water transfer paper.

(80) The decoration of the object 50 and the production of the decal 10, 10′ are preferably integrated inline or in an inline manufacture, in particular in an assembly line manufacture. In particular, a substantially completely automated method for decorating objects 50 can thus be created.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(81) 10, 10′ decal 12 decoration 14 transfer paper 16 primer 18 stamping film 20 carrier ply 22 decorative ply 24 detachment layer 26 (protective) varnish layer 28 metallic layer 30 basecoat 32 ink/ink layer 34 protective varnish 36 carrier 38 outer side of decoration 50 object 60 decorated object 100, 100′, 100″ device 102 first inkjet printhead 104, 104′ stamping station 106 second inkjet printhead 108 third inkjet printhead 110 first (pre-/full) curing apparatus 112 second (full) curing apparatus 114 drying apparatus 116 apparatus for applying carrier/fourth inkjet printhead 118 water 120 pad A-P method steps