Embossing Tool

Abstract

An embossing tool comprised of a pressing plate or endless belt that includes a structured surface, a first gloss level over the full area of the structured surface, and further, different gloss levels in several selected areas of the structured surface. The gloss levels are created by mechanical post-treatment and/or chemical post-treatment. A method for producing the embossing tool is also involved. The structured surface is provided with a first gloss level over the full area and receives further, different gloss levels in several selected areas in further work steps. The gloss levels are created via a mechanical post-treatment and/or chemical post-treatment.

Claims

1. An embossing tool, comprising a pressing plate or endless belt which comprises a structured surface, a first gloss level over the full area of the structured surface, and further, different gloss levels in several selected areas of the structured surface, the gloss levels having been created by mechanical post-treatment and/or chemical post-treatment.

2. The embossing tool of claim 1, the gloss levels being arranged to be at least partially next to one another or the gloss levels of the structured surface running at least partially at a distance from one another.

3. The embossing tool of claim 1, the different gloss levels of the structured surface are achieved by matting and/or polishing as the mechanical and/or chemical post-treatment.

4. The embossing tool of claim 3, the matting being etching and/or sandblasting.

5. The embossing tool of claim 3, the polishing being mechanical polishing and/or electropolishing.

6. The embossing tool of claim 1, wherein the structured surface is comprised of tiered gloss levels in a raised and/or lower-lying area.

7. The embossing tool of claim 1, comprising a hard chrome plating applied to the structured surface after the production of the last gloss level.

8. The embossing tool of claim 1, the structured surface having different gloss levels, lower-lying areas of the structured surface having a higher gloss level than the raised areas or vice versa.

9. A method for producing the embossing tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structured surface is provided with a first gloss level over the full area and receives further, different gloss levels in several selected areas in further work steps, wherein the gloss levels are created via a mechanical post-treatment and/or chemical post-treatment.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a protective layer defined as a mask is applied at least partially by means of a digital printing technique to the surface of the embossing tool to establish the selected areas, wherein the protective layer is arranged at least partially in an overlapping way or not in an overlapping way in subsequent work steps to the selected areas that have already been finished, and wherein the gloss levels are arranged to be at least partially next to one another or that the gloss levels of the surface at least partially run at a distance from one another, and wherein the protective layer is burned into the surface and/or a coating.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a material that is resistant to etching, sand-blasting and/or polishing is used for the protective layer.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the gloss levels of the surface of the embossing tool are achieved by matting and/or by polishing as the mechanical and/or chemical post-treatment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the matting is etching and/or sandblasting.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the polishing is mechanical polishing and/or electropolishing.

15. The method of claim 9, the first gloss level being achieved by polishing.

16. The method of claim 9, the first gloss level being achieved by mechanical polishing and/or electropolishing.

17. The embossing tool of claim 1, the first gloss level being achieved by polishing.

18. The embossing tool of claim 1, the first gloss level being achieved by mechanical polishing and/or electropolishing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The invention will be explained once again below with the aid of the figures.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a composite board;

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the existing structure on the surface of the composite board with different gloss levels in an enlarged side view;

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a pressing plate for manufacturing the composite board; and

[0040] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the pressing plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a composite board 1 that is supplied with a structure 3 on its surface 2 in a view in perspective. The example involves a wood pore that is created via pressing with a pressing plate 31 shown in FIG. 3 as an example of an embossing tool. The pressing plate 31 has a negative impression form of the composite board 1 for this purpose, comprises a surface 32, and is supplied with different gloss levels that create different shading effects after the pressing of the surface 2 of the composite board 1. Special haptics and a special visual appearance are consequently achieved in the desired scope on the surface 2 of the composite board 1 because of the gloss levels and the existing imprints.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows the composite board 1 with its surface 2 in an enlarged view and FIG. 4 shows the pressing plate 31 with its surface 32 in an enlarged view; the pressing with a pressing plate 31 or an endless belt led to a structure 3 that consists of valleys 4 and peaks 5. The pressing plate 31 has a corresponding structure 33 with valleys 34 and peaks 35. To form the structure 3 of the composite board 1, the pressing plate 31 or endless belt was subjected to several etching processes so that the structure 3 of the composite board 1 with valleys 4 and peaks 5 arises. The composite board 1 shows this structure on its surface 2 after the pressing takes place; different gloss levels exist, in addition, in the areas 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the composite board 1 corresponding to the different gloss levels 37, 38, 39, 40, 41. The example that is shown only discloses one of the possible variations; the original gloss level (first gloss level) of the pressing plate 31 exists in area 7 corresponding to area 37 of the pressing plate 31 because no further post-processing of the pressing plate 31 was done in that area 37. On the other hand, there is a different gloss level in the area of the peaks that arose via subsequent processing of the pressing plate 31 and that was transferred to the surface 2 of the composite board 1 after the embossing took place. The possibility of free choice exists as to which gloss level should be present if there are different gloss levels of the composite board 1 in the peaks 5 and valleys 4. This is illustrated by the fact that some of the peaks 5 have a deviating gloss level in area 9 vis-a-vis area 8. The increasing flanks of the valleys 4 are likewise equipped with different gloss levels, which is indicated by the areas 10 and 11. These gloss levels are also achieved by subjecting the pressing plate 31 that is used to further processing in the area of the flanks, so that the gloss levels of the composite board 1 can be changed vis-a-vis the valleys and peaks. If composite boards are pressed with pressing plates 31 of this type, there is a transfer of the respective gloss level of the pressing plate 31 to the surface of the composite board; a few selected peaks 5 can have a gloss level deviating from the other peaks in the areas 8, 9 because of that, and the flank areas can likewise be equipped with different gloss levels in the areas 10 and 11. If no important gloss-level change has been brought about in the valleys 34 in the pressing plate 31, the possibility absolutely exists without further ado to structure the procedure in such a way that there is a variation of the gloss level in area 7, especially in the valleys 4, whereas, in contrast, the peaks 5 are equipped with the same gloss level in the areas 8, 9. The variation possibilities are very diverse here and are in line with the existing structure in principle, for instance a wood pore, reproduction of stone and other graphic structures.

[0043] The pressing plate 31 was made by providing its surface 32 with an original or first gloss level over the full area of the surface 32.

[0044] The surface 32 received further, different gloss levels in several selected areas 38, 39, 41, 41 of the surface 32. The gloss levels were created via a mechanical and/or chemical post-treatment, in particular by matting and/or by polishing. The polishing is in particular electropolishing.

[0045] The original or first gloss level of the surface 32 of the pressing plate 31 may be achieved by polishing, in particular by electropolishing.

[0046] The pressing plate 31 may comprise a hard chrome plating not explicitly shown in the figures and applied to the surface 32 after producing providing the last gloss level.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0047] 1 Composite board [0048] 2 Surface [0049] 3 Structure [0050] 4 Valley [0051] 5 Peak [0052] 7 Area [0053] 8 Area [0054] 9 Area [0055] 10 Area [0056] 11 Area [0057] 31 Embossing tool/pressing plate [0058] 32 Surface [0059] 33 Structure [0060] 34 Valley [0061] 35 Peak [0062] 37 Area [0063] 38 Area [0064] 39 Area [0065] 40 Area [0066] 41 Area