VACUUM DECORATION OF A DRINKING OR EATING VESSEL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for decorating a drinking or eating vessel, the method comprising: a. providing: i. a drinking or eating vessel, wherein the vessel comprises an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving a liquid or a solid food and an outer surface comprising a polymeric coating; and ii. a transfer sheet, wherein the transfer sheet comprises a printed decoration; and iii. a supporting means comprising a recess for receiving the vessel; and b. arranging the vessel within the recess of the supporting means thereby defining a lower portion of the outer surface of the vessel occluded from contact with the transfer sheet and an upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel for contacting the transfer sheet; and contacting the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel and the supporting means with the transfer sheet under at least a partial vacuum, wherein the printed decoration is transferred from the transfer sheet to the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel, and wherein the supporting means reduces stretching of the transfer sheet from the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel to the lower portion of the outer surface of the vessel. Also described are associated uses, an apparatus, and drinking or eating vessels obtainable by the methods of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for decorating a drinking or eating vessel, the method comprising: a. providing: i. a drinking or eating vessel, wherein the vessel comprises an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving a liquid or a solid food and an outer surface comprising a polymeric coating; and ii. a transfer sheet, wherein the transfer sheet is a formable plastic transfer sheet and comprises a printed decoration; and iii. a supporting means comprising a recess for receiving the vessel; and b. arranging the vessel within the recess of the supporting means thereby defining a lower portion of the outer surface of the vessel occluded from contact with the transfer sheet and an upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel for contacting the transfer sheet; and c. contacting the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel and the supporting means with the transfer sheet under at least a partial vacuum, wherein the printed decoration is transferred from the transfer sheet to the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel, and wherein the supporting means reduces stretching of the transfer sheet from the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel to the lower portion of the outer surface of the vessel.

2. (canceled)

3. An apparatus for decorating a drinking or eating vessel, said apparatus comprising: a. a supporting means comprising a recess for receiving a drinking or eating vessel; b. a vacuum means, wherein the vacuum means is capable of generating at least a partial vacuum for transferring a printed decoration from a transfer sheet to the surface of a drinking or eating vessel, c. a drinking or eating vessel comprising an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving a liquid or a solid food and an outer surface comprising a polymeric coating, wherein the drinking or eating vessel is arranged within the recess of the supporting means, and d. a transfer sheet, wherein the transfer sheet is a formable plastic transfer sheet and comprises a printed decoration, and wherein the arrangement of the vessel within the recess of the supporting means defines a lower portion of the outer surface of the vessel occluded from contact with the transfer sheet and an upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel for contacting the transfer sheet, and wherein said transfer sheet is in contact with the upper portion of the outer surface of the vessel.

4-6. (canceled)

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer sheet is a polyethylene terephalate (PET) transfer sheet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein during contacting a stopping means is arranged to occlude at least a portion of the volume defined by the inner surface of the vessel.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stopping means comprises one or more aperture(s).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the supporting means comprises cushioning means.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the cushioning means forms a gasket at the interface between an outer and inner surface of the recess of the supporting means.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the height of the lower portion occluded from contact with the transfer sheet is the same or less than the height of the upper portion.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting occurs at a temperature of between about 120 C. to about 210 C.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting occurs at a temperature of between about 120 C. to about 190 C.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the contacting occurs at a temperature of between about 130 C. to about 170 C.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric coating of the drinking or eating vessel comprises a matting agent.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer sheet is allowed to dry following printing of decoration onto said transfer sheet.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-arranging the vessel within the recess of the supporting means thereby defining a different lower and upper portion of the vessel, and repeating step c. using a second transfer sheet comprising a printed decoration.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to contacting, a barrier means is applied to the drinking or eating vessel defining a non-print area.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the barrier means is a tape.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the barrier means is removed prior to carrying out the second transfer step.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein a second barrier means is applied prior to carrying out the second transfer step.

23. A drinking or eating vessel obtainable by the method of claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving a liquid or solid food and an outer surface comprising a polymeric coating, wherein: a. the vessel comprises an appendage and characterised in that said vessel comprises printed decoration at a surface of the appendage facing the outer surface of the vessel, and b. at least 80% of the total outer surface of the vessel comprises printed decoration and the printed decoration comprises one or more sublimation inks and forms a diffuse layer within the polymeric coating.

24. (canceled)

25. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 23, characterised in that said vessel comprises a base comprising printed decoration.

26-28. (canceled)

Description

FIGURES

[0174] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures and Examples.

[0175] FIG. 1 shows a process flowchart for decorating a drinking vessel (e.g. a mug).

[0176] FIG. 2 (A) shows a drinking vessel (mug) (201) and a two-piece stopping means (202). (B) shows four apertures (203) and a larger central aperture (204) of said stopping means. (C) shows the underside of stopping means (202) having a silicone disc (205) with four apertures (203) and a larger central aperture (204) affixed to metal disc (206).

[0177] FIG. 3 shows the positioning of heat resistant transfer tape (302) on a drinking vessel (301) to define a non-print area.

[0178] FIG. 4 (A) shows the decoration quality obtained using a Caseblanks transfer sheet printed using Sublijet HD dye sublimation inks (CMYK) on the Ricoh SG800 inkjet printer. (B) shows the decoration quality obtained using a SMI transfer sheet printed using SubliM Dye Sublimation inks (CMYK) using the Mimaki JV33 inkjet printer.

[0179] FIG. 5 shows a drinking vessel decorated using a method of the present invention. In more detail: (A) shows decoration on the outer surface of the drinking vessel; (B) shows decoration at the handle and the outer surface facing said handle; and (C) shows decoration at the base of the drinking vessel.

[0180] FIG. 6 shows printed decoration transfer at: (A) the base (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (right) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (left)); (B) the upper handle (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (lower, left) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (upper, right)); (C) the lower handle (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (right) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (left)); and (D) the inside of the handle (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (lower) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (upper)).

EXAMPLES

[0181] Materials & Methods

[0182] Equipment Used: [0183] V10 vacuum oven (available from Shenzhen Caseblanks Technology Co., Ltd, A-3rd Floor, Junfeng Innovation Technology Park, Chongqing Rd, Fuyong Town, Baoan District, 518103, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China). [0184] Inkjet Printer (either Ricoh SG800 (Virtuoso SG800available from Sawgrass Europe, Jubilee House, Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 1LZ, United Kingdom) or Mimaki JV33available from Mimaki Global, 2182-3 Shigeno-Otsu, Tomi-city, Nagano, Japan).

[0185] To facilitate forming around the complex shape of a drinking vessel (i.e. a mug) a formable PET transfer sheet was used in place of a standard transfer paper. PET films coated for printing using an Inkjet machine were used: [0186] Caseblanks white film (170 micron) commercially available from Shenzhen Caseblanks Technology Co., Ltd, A-3rd Floor, Junfeng Innovation Technology Park, Chongqing Rd, Fuyong Town, Baoan District, 518103, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. [0187] SMI technology 3D silver-backed film (270 micron) commercially available from SMI Coated Products Private Limited, 11-B-2, Gundecha Onclave, Kherani Road, Sakinaka, Andheri East, Mumbai 400 072, India. [0188] Technotape silver film Xtreme 3D film (270 micron) commercially available from Technotape, Tolweg 7, Baarn, 3741LM, Holland.

[0189] Mugs were decorated using a modified vacuum sublimation method as summarised in the process flowchart of FIG. 1. In more detail mugs were pre-warmed to operating temperature (150 C.) to reduce overall processing time in the press and the transfer sheet (film) pre-heated for 10 seconds before vacuum engaged to soften prior to forming.

[0190] A mug was placed on its side in the recess of a supporting means (a false base) which reduced the extent the film needs to form around the body. The edge of the supporting means (a false base) was sealed using silicone sealer and a silicone rubber gasket to prevent the transfer sheet being pulled down around the edges and over-stressing the material. Apertures within the supporting means (false base) were provided for allowing formation and maintenance of the vacuum (e.g. in proximity to key process areas where the film may struggle to form i.e., around handle and handle join, close to the mug apertures, etc.) and silicone gaskets were applied around said apertures. The underside of the mug was cushioned with silicone rubber padding (in the recess of the supporting means) to reduce stress through physical pressure on the mug body.

[0191] The aperture of the recess of the supporting means (the false metal base) was larger than the mug to prevent expansion during the heat cycle and crushing of the mug, and a silicone rubber gasket was used to create a seal around the enlarged aperture.

[0192] A stopping means was inserted into the volume of the mug to prevent the transfer sheet from being pulled into the inside and over-stressing the material (see FIG. 2). Holes were provided at 4 points of the compass and centre of the stopping means to allow the air pressure inside and outside of the mug to balance once the vacuum was fully created.

[0193] Blue heat resistant tape (302) was used to mask a clean line down the middle of the mug (301) opposite the handle before running the first transfer cycle (FIG. 3). The tape creates a barrier preventing the mug being decorated where it has been applied.

[0194] A transfer sheet with a printed decoration was placed over the mug and supporting means, and a second PET sheet (100 microns) applied over the transfer sheet and a vacuum of between 0.7 bar to 0.8 bar was applied. Transfer was carried out at a temperature of 150 C. for 8 to 15 minutes in a V10 vacuum oven.

[0195] The mug was removed, the heat resistant tape removed (the tape helps alignment between both print stages (i.e. to avoid unsightly areas of double print, or no print at all)), a second piece of tape positioned and repositioned against the very edge of the first printed side between transfer cycles to ensure a bleed of no more than 1 mm, and the undecorated portion presented face up on the stopping means. A second transfer sheet with a printed decoration was placed over the mug and supporting means, and a second PET sheet applied over the transfer sheet and the transfer repeated.

Example 1

[0196] Transfer was carried out using a method described above with a transfer time of 8-9 minutes.

[0197] SMI transfer sheets printed with SubliM Dye Sublimation inks (CMYK) using the Mimaki JV33 exhibited improved release properties (FIG. 4(B)) when compared to Caseblanks white film transfer sheets printed with Sublijet-HD Dye Sublimation inks (CMYK) (all inks available from Sawgrass Europe, Jubilee House, Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 1LZ, United Kingdom) using the Ricoh SG800 printer (FIG. 4(A)). Additionally, the SMI/SubliM Dye combination demonstrated consistent transfer with strong colour saturation.

Example 2

[0198] Transfer was carried out using the method described above using Caseblanks white film transfer sheets printed with Sublijet-HD Dye Sublimation inks (CMYK) on a Ricoh SG800 printer. Transfer time was 8-10 minutes.

[0199] A mug printed using a method of the invention is shown in FIG. 5, and exhibits good overall coverage.

Example 3

[0200] Different transfer times were tested to assess the impact on edge-to-edge consistency of the applied decoration.

[0201] Use of dye sublimation inks obtained from Sensient Imaging Technologies (Z.I. Riond-Bosson 8, CH-1110, Morges 2, Switzerland) in combination with the Mimaki JV33 printed exhibited good transfer.

[0202] Transfer time using said inks was tested at 12 to 14 minutes (12 showed satisfactory results) and such transfer times allowed a good level of ink transfer at the edges of the transfer sheet.

[0203] Trials indicated that decoration transfer to a drinking vessel using the SMI Technology transfer sheet was improved when compared to the Caseblanks transfer sheet, also drinking vessels decorated using the SMI Technology transfer sheet exhibited improved print edge-to-edge consistency.

Example 4

[0204] Mugs that have been manufactured using alternative polymeric coating techniques were subjected to a decorating method of the invention. SMI transfer sheets were printed with dye sublimation inks obtained from Sensient Imaging Technologies printed using the Mimaki JV33, and transfer occurred for 12 minutes.

[0205] Automated (robotic) techniques were used to apply polymeric coating to a matt-finished Neogene Satin mug. A chain on edge line was used to present the mugs to the spray position, and to transit them thereafter into the ovens. A 6-axis robot was used to move a pair of guns through a pre-programmed series of motions enabling the polymeric coating to be applied evenly to all outer surfaces of the mug.

[0206] The matt-finished (Neogene Satin) mugs were subjected to the decorating method described. Said mugs exhibited good transfer even on the base. Without wishing to be bound by theory, this was believed to be due to the production method yielding 100% polymeric coating of the mug. The DuraGlaze gloss coated mugs were prepared by HVLP spraying on a rotating pedestal, thus certain areas of the mug (e.g. the base and inner handle) were less likely to be exposed to the same amount of polymeric coating as other parts of the outer surface. Thus, whilst exhibiting reasonable decoration transfer said mugs showed comparatively poorer decoration around the handle likely owing to the poorer quality finishing of the polymeric coating of the mugs at this portion of the surface.

[0207] FIG. 6 shows improved transfer at: (A) the base (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (right) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (left)); (B) the upper handle (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (lower, left) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (upper, right)); (C) the lower handle (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (right) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (left)); and (D) the inside of the handle (compare the matt-finished Neogene Satin mug (lower) to the DuraGlaze gloss coated mug (upper)).

[0208] Notably, tests conducted using the DuraGlaze gloss coated mugs where the polymeric coating was applied as per the matt-finished Neogene Satin mugs (i.e. using the chain on edge line and 6-axis robot) exhibited similar advantageous decoration transfer.

[0209] All publications mentioned in the above specification are herein incorporated by reference. Various modifications and variations of the described methods and system of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in manufacturing (e.g. of ceramics) and/or decorating and/or printing techniques or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.