METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AND PAINTING CHARACTERS PRESS FORMED ON LICENSE PLATES AND TUBULAR THERMAL TRANSFER FILM FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing and painting characters press formed on license plates and to a tubular thermal-transfer film for carrying out said method which comprises: a step of press forming identifying characters (2) on an aluminum plate (1) with a reflective film (3), including a perimetral edge (4) or not, by means of using a hand- or motor-operated press forming machine or device; and a step of thermal stamping for painting the press formed characters (2) by means of thermal-transfer ink impregnated in a thermal-transfer film with a thermal stamping machine (6) which in turn comprises: introducing the plate (1) in a tubular thermal-transfer film (5), closing the open end or ends (5d) of said tubular film (5), introducing the assembly (5, 1) in the thermal stamping machine (6), and removing the finished plate (1) from inside the tubular film (5).

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A method for painting characters pressed-formed on license plates, the method comprising: introducing into a thermal stamping machine (6) a thermal-transfer tubular film (5) with thermal-transfer ink impregnated thereon, wherein a plate (1) with embossed characters (2) is contained inside said thermal-transfer tubular film (5); applying pressure and heat to said thermal-transfer tubular film (5) with rollers (7) provided on said thermal stamping machine (6); and removing said plate (1) from said thermal-transfer tubular film (5), wherein an upper part of the embossed characters (2) are thermally painted with said thermal-transfer ink.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said thermal-transfer tubular film (5) is formed by an upper laminar layer (5a) and a lower laminar layer (5b) attached along their sides (5c), said thermal-transfer ink is provided in at least an inner wall of the upper laminar layer so that said inner wall is in direct contact with the upper part of said embossed characters (2).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said upper and lower laminar layers (5a, 5b) have a width (a) greater than the width of said plate (1) so that the plate (1) fits inside the thermal-transfer tubular film (5) which fits between the rollers (7) of the thermal stamping machine (6).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said thermal-transfer tubular film (5) is a bag having a closed end (5e) at one end thereof.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein closure means (51) are provided on said closed end (5e).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said closure means (51) comprises an adhesive.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said plate (1) is made from aluminum.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said plate (1) is provided with a reflective film (3) on a front face of said plate (1).

15. The method of claim 7, wherein said plate (1) further comprises a perimetral edge (4).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said perimetral edge (4) is thermally painted with said thermal-transfer ink.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the embossed characters (2) are pressed formed on said plate (1) prior to introducing the thermal-transfer tubular film (5) into said thermal stamping machine (6).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a perimetral edge (4) is simultaneous pressed formed with said embossed characters (2).

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the embossed characters (2) are pressed formed on said plate (1) by a manual press forming machine.

20. The method of claim 7, wherein the embossed characters (2) are pressed formed on said plate (1) by a motor-operated press forming machine.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the perimetral edge (4) is pressed formed on said plate (1) by a manual press forming machine.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the perimetral edge (4) is pressed formed on said plate (1) by a motor-operated press forming machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification as an integral part thereof in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the aluminum plate which is a starting material for the step of press forming.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plate after the step of press forming the characters and, in this example, the perimetral edge.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of detail A indicated in FIG. 2, which allows observing the perimetral edge press formed on the plate.

[0028] FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 show respective perspective views of the press formed plate in the phases in which the plate is introduced in the tubular film with thermal-transfer ink and the end thereof is closed.

[0029] FIGS. 7 and 8 show respective perspective views of the plate in the phases in which the assembly of the tubular film and plate located therein is introduced in the thermal stamping machine, where the insertion thereof between the rollers of said machine can be seen.

[0030] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the plate once completed, with the characters painted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] In view of the mentioned drawings and according to the numbering used, the method according to the invention for manufacturing and painting characters (2) press formed on a license plate (1) can be seen therein, which method comprises: [0032] at least one step of press forming said identifying characters (2) on an aluminum plate (1) which is a starting material (FIG. 1) provided on the front face thereof with a reflective film (3), including the simultaneous press forming of a perimetral edge (4) or not (FIGS. 2 and 3), by means of using a hand- or motor-operated press forming machine or device; and [0033] at least one step of thermal stamping which paints the upper part of the embossed characters (2) press formed on the plate (1), and where applicable the perimetral edge (4), by means of the application of thermal-transfer ink impregnated in a thermal-transfer film placed on the already press formed plate (1) and with a thermal stamping machine (6) provided with rollers (7) applying pressure and heat in a controlled manner to said assembly of press formed plate (1) and film (5) with thermal-transfer ink, wherein this step of thermal stamping for painting the upper part of the embossed characters (2), and where applicable the perimetral edge (4), comprises in an innovative manner the following phases: [0034] introducing the plate (1) in a tubular film (5) constituting said thermal-transfer film (FIG. 4), [0035] closing the open end or ends (5d) of said tubular film (5) (FIG. 5), [0036] introducing the assembly (5, 1), i.e., the tubular film (5) and the plate (1) arranged therein, in the thermal stamping machine (6) (FIG. 7), and [0037] removing the finished plate (1) from inside the tubular film (5) (FIGS. 8 and 9).

[0038] Said tubular film (5) is in turn formed by two laminar layers, an upper laminar layer (5a) and another lower laminar layer (5b), attached to one another along their respective sides (5c), and internally incorporates the thermal-transfer ink in at least the inner wall of the upper laminar layer, such that it is in direct contact with the upper face of the press formed plate (1) introduced therein.

[0039] Preferably, both laminar layers (5a, 5b) have a width (a) that is slightly greater than the plate (1) so it readily fits therein without much play, and the assembly of both elements (5, 1) readily fits between the rollers (7) of the thermal stamping machine (6).

[0040] Preferably, the tubular film (5) is a bag, such that the two upper and lower laminar layers (5a) and (5b) forming same are attached to one another along their respective sides (5c) and at one of their ends defining a closed end (5e).

[0041] Preferably, the tubular film (5) comprises closure means (51), preferably consisting of an adhesive strip, at the open end or ends (5d) thereof.

[0042] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to further describe the invention so that a person skilled in the art can comprehend the scope thereof and the advantages derived from it, stating that within its essential nature, the present invention could be carried out to practice in other embodiments differing in detail from that indicated by way of example, and such embodiments would also be granted the protection that is sought provided that the fundamental principle thereof is not altered, changed or modified.