FOIS, Angelino (Via Canaglia 38/C, Sassari, I-07100, IT)
| CLAIMS 1. Safety label (E) with inscriptions (I) representing information and/or warnings, particularly adapted to be applied on a covering panel (14) of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a substrate (20) of non-woven fabric made up by polyester- based fibres, having said inscriptions (I) printed on a respective first surface (22), and a layer (30) of porous polyester material having adhesive properties coupled to a second surface (24) of the substrate (20) opposed to said first surface (22), and able to adhere by heat to a support part (P). 2. Safety label (E) according to Claim 1 , wherein said first surface (22) of the substrate is a smooth surface, devoid of broken fibres with a cut end emerging at the surface. 3. Safety label (E) according to Claim 1, wherein said layer (30) having adhesive properties comprises a polyester powder. 4. Method for manufacturing a safety label (E) with inscriptions (I) representing information and/or warnings, in particular a safety label (E) adapted to be applied on a covering panel (14) of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - providing a substrate (20) of non-woven fabric made up by polyester-based fibres, having a first surface (22) for printing inscriptions (I), and a second surface (24) opposed to said first surface (22) having a layer (30) of non-fibrous polyester material having adhesive properties, said layer (30) being able to adhere by heat to a support part (P), said substrate (20) forming a sheet (F) comprising a plurality of labels (E) in an ordered arrangement; - digitally printing the inscriptions (I) on said first surface (22) of the sheet (F) with concurrent first drying; - additionally drying said printed first surface (22), so as to establish a complete drying condition for the inscriptions (I); and - die-cutting said sheet (F) for separating said plurality of labels (E). 5. Method for manufacturing a safety label (E) according to Claim 4, wherein said drying steps are carried out by exposing the printing surface (22) to ultraviolet radiation. 6. Method for manufacturing a safety label (E) according to Claim 4, comprising a first drying operation which is carried out in a printing step, when moving a printing head (T) forward on a row of the sheet (F) of labels with concurrent ink transfer, and a second drying operation which is carried out after printing, when moving the printing head (T) backward on a printed row of the sheet (F) of labels without any ink transfer. 7. Method for manufacturing a safety label (E) according to Claim 4, 5 or 6, comprising subjecting said substrate (20) to preventive surface treatments including: - a smoothing step, comprising a calendering operation applied to the sheet (F) for binding the fibres together; - an oil- and water-repellent finishing step; and - a step of coating said thermoadhesive layer (30) on the surface (24) of the substrate (20) opposed to the surface (22) intended to receive the printed inscriptions (I). 8. Plant for manufacturing safety labels (E) with inscriptions (I) representing information and/or warnings, in particular safety labels (E) adapted to be applied on a covering panel (14) of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising: - means (R) for feeding a sheet (F) of labels including a plurality of labels (E) in an ordered arrangement, comprising a substrate (20) of non-woven fabric made up by polyester-based fibres, having a first surface (22) for printing inscriptions (I), and a second surface (24) opposed to said first surface (22) having a layer (30) of non-fibrous polyester material with adhesive properties; - a printing station (S) equipped with a printing head (T) remotely controlled by electronic processing means (PC), from which it . is able to receive digital information representing the inscriptions (I) to be printed, stored in an associated electronic archive; - drying means associated with said printing station, including first drying means (L) arranged for carrying out a first drying operation when moving the printing head (T) forward on a row of the sheet (F) of labels with concurrent ink transfer, and second drying means (L; C) arranged for carrying out a second drying operation after printing, said second drying means (L; C) being adapted to establish a complete drying condition for the printed inscription (I); and - a die-cutting station (TS) adapted to perform the separation of said plurality of labels (E). 9. Plant according to Claim 8, wherein said first drying means are integrated with the printing head (T) and said second drying means comprise an additional drying station (C) arranged downstream of said printing station (S). 10. Plant according to Claim 8, wherein said first and second drying means are integrated with the printing head (T), the second drying means (C) being arranged for carrying out said second drying operation when moving the printing head (T) backward on a printed row of the sheet (F) of labels without any ink transfer. 11. Method for applying a safety label (E), with inscriptions (I) representing information and/or warnings, to a support (P), particularly a covering panel (14) of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising: - providing a safety label (E) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, - arranging the label (E) on the bottom surface (40) of a counter-mould (42) for preforming said support (P), in a position corresponding to a predetermined application area on the support (P), the surface (24) having said layer (30) with adhesive properties being accessible to said support (P); - arranging the support (P) on said counter-mould (44) as a workpiece to be formed; and - coupling a mould (44) with the counter-mould (42) and performing a hot pressing operation of the support (P). |
The present invention relates to labels, in particular safety labels adapted to be applied on products or parts of machines exposed to high operating temperatures, and more particularly having acoustic absorption properties.
In the automotive field, it is known that safety labels containing warnings and other information need to be applied to parts of the engine compartment and, in particular, to the inner surface of the bonnet, such that they are easily visible and legible for a person who has to gain access to the compartment.
Such labels are presently made with a PVC substrate, one face of which is covered with an adhesive film such that it can be adhesively bonded on a predetermined area of the soundproof covering surface of the bonnet.
However, this solution has at least two kinds of disadvantages.
Firstly, the material of the substrate is not able to withstand the high temperatures which are established in the engine compartment during movement of the vehicle without deteriorating over its service life, to the extent that the information written on the label becomes illegible. During operation, new-generation engines, and in particular those which meet the Euro5 standards for lowering C0 2 emissions, actually create greater heat than traditional engines and ensure that very high temperatures of higher than 150°C and even close to 250-300°C are reached in the engine compartment.
Secondly, on account of the presence of the adhesive film, the label as a whole is an acoustically reflective body, and therefore the application thereof to an area of the inner surface of the bonnet means that the soundproof properties conferred by the covering applied there deteriorate, negating the optimum design of the engine compartment and without doubt making the conditions of comfort of the vehicle worse. It is an object of the present invention to provide a satisfactory solution to the problems outlined, that is to provide a heat-resistant and acoustically transparent safety label which is adapted for use in high-temperature environments, such as the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, and can be applied to surfaces of pressed parts, without there being a risk that the soundproof qualities of the surface to which it is applied will deteriorate or become worse.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a safety label having the features indicated in Claim 1.
The invention also relates to a method and a plant for manufacturing a heat-resistant and acoustically transparent safety label, as well as to a method for applying said label to a support, such as for example a pressed part, in particular a covering panel of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle.
Particular embodiments form the subject of the dependent claims, the content of which should be regarded as an integral or integrant part of the present description. Advantageously, the label according to the invention has features which mean that it can be applied to a synthetic or carbon fibre support and can withstand ambient temperatures of above 100°C for long periods of time without a change in appearance and in the inscriptions printed thereon, while maintaining permanent adhesion to the support even in the presence of vibrational stresses.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, provided by way of non- restrictive example and referring to the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an overall view of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, in which a label according to the invention, shown in enlarged form, is used;
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a manufacturing line for the label according to the invention; and
Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a configuration for the pressing of a part to which the label according to the invention is applied. Figure 1 shows the engine compartment 10 of a motor vehicle and the relative bonnet 12.
The inner surface of the bonnet is covered by a shaped soundproof panel 14, for example a panel of porous composite material made up of chemically treated fibres (for example textile or polyurethane fibres) bound with formaldehyde, on a predetermined area of which is applied a safety label E inscribed with information and warnings in the form of pictograms or wordings.
The label E is in the form of a sheet, comprising a substrate 20 of non-woven fabric made up by polyester-based fibres (exclusively polyesters or mixtures thereof with aramid or melamine fibres), which are naturally white or else of a pale colour, on the top surface 22 of which are printed the inscriptions I which the label has to show depending on its intended use. The surface 22 is smooth, i.e. devoid of broken fibres with a cut end emerging at the surface. The bottom surface 24 of the substrate 20 (preferably but not exclusively the entire surface) is provided with a layer 30 of material having adhesive properties with respect to the panel 14 to which the label has to be applied, for example non-fibrous polyester, which can adhere by heat to a support of composite material.
The adhesive layer 30 is expediently realized using a porous material, such as a polyester powder, which confers acoustic transparency properties on the layer.
The non-woven fabric made up by polyester fibres thus formed confers thermoacoustic properties on the label, i.e. properties relating to resistance to the high temperatures and acoustic transparency properties. The text which follows, with reference to Figures 2 and 3, describes steps for preparing a label, for printing the relative inscriptions and for applying said label to a support. It is expedient that a plurality of labels E are realized concurrently proceeding from a rollable sheet F of non-woven fabric made up by polyester-based fibres, having the same properties of the substrate as described above, for example a sheet of known material with the commercial name Dewtech, produced by O.R.V. Manufacturing S.p.A., Carmignano di Brenta (PD), Italy.
The sheet, which can comprise a plurality of labels E in an ordered arrangement, is subjected to preventive surface treatments as it passes through a succession of work stations, for example in a manufacturing line separated from the line for printing the labels. The treatments include:
a) A smoothing step for forming a smooth surface of the substrate, i.e. a surface which is devoid of broken fibres, adapted for printing.
The smoothing step comprises working the sheet by calendering, the effect of which is to bind the fibres together avoiding exfoliation.
A smooth printing surface of the label is a prerogative for not compromising the possibility of high-resolution printing and for safeguarding the legibility of the inscriptions.
b) An oil- and water-repellent finishing step of the substrate.
c) A step of coating or similar application of the thermoadhesive layer 30 on the entire surface of the substrate opposed to the surface intended to receive the printed inscriptions.
After the treatments described above, the sheet F thus prepared, which is wound up into a roll, is ready for the printing of the inscriptions; this expediently takes place by a digital printing process, in which the inscriptions to be printed are generated by electronic processes, for example stored in electronic files or archives which can be accessed by a processor, and imprinted directly on the substrate to be printed, without printing plates, using known inks which have acoustic transparency properties and are resistant to light, to heat, to the atmospheric agents and to chemical agents, in particular to chemical products typically used in the automotive sector, such as fuels, oils, detergents, etc. The inscriptions may be imprinted on the surface 22 of the substrate of the label using any one of the known digital printing technologies, including toner printing, ink jet printing and laser printing.
Since, in digital printing, the ink or toner does not permeate the printing substrate by imprinting, but rather is deposited like a thin layer on the surface of the printing sheet, the adhesion thereof to the substrate is traditionally enhanced by means of a concurrent drying (curing) step, for example by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Since, however, the drying is not completed in the printing step, but rather typically is carried out to an extent of 80%, the traditional process entails a considerable risk of blurring or haloing of the inscriptions owing to diffusion (absorption) of the inks in the substrate, making the inscriptions less clear to read, especially in view of the dimensions thereof, which are imposed by specific standards.
For these reasons, provision is made of an additional step for drying the printed sheet of labels.
Figure 2 schematically shows a part of a line for manufacturing the labels, in which a sheet F of labels is fed by a series of conveying rollers R to a printing station S equipped with a printing head T, which has integrated ultraviolet lamps L and is remotely controlled by an electronic processor PC. An additional drying station C based on the same drying technology operated beforehand in the printing station or on a different technology is arranged downstream of the printing station S, in order to establish a complete drying condition for the printed inscription, so as not to cause dispersion of the ink (of the toner) and fading of the inscriptions thereafter in the course of the treatment of the sheet of labels on the line.
As an alternative to the provision of an additional drying station, it is possible to use the drying means integrated in the printing head in two successive operations, respectively a first drying operation in the printing step and a second drying operation after the printing. This technique is based on an increase in the printing resolution, resulting in a smaller quantity of ink being deposited for each pass of the printing head on an inscription row, in combination with the execution of the actual printing (i.e. the disposition of the ink) in a single direction in which the printing head moves forward on the sheet of labels. In this way, a smaller quantity (surface) of ink to be dried is deposited, but a double pass of the drying lamps integrated in the printed head is maintained on each printing row. A first drying operation is carried out in the printing step, when moving the printing head forward on a row of the sheet of labels, with concurrent ink transfer. A second drying operation is carried out after printing, when moving the printing head backward on a printed row, when ink is no longer being transferred to the sheet, having already obtained a legible inscription at the end of a single pass of the printing head.
The sheet F is fed to a downstream die-cutting station TS, which cuts and separates the individual labels E.
The labels E thus produced are applied to a support, such as for example a pressed part and in particular a covering panel of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle, in a separate hot co-pressing operation, which is generally carried out in a separate plant, for example a plant for ^manufacturing pressed parts in industry and, in the currently preferred embodiment, for manufacturing soundproof panels for the internal covering of a bonnet of the engine compartment of a motor vehicle.
With reference to Figure 3, this text describes an example of the application of a label obtained according to the invention to a support made of composite material, for example a material which is based on natural/synthetic and/or polyurethane fibre and has soundproof properties.
An individual label E is positioned on the bottom surface 40 of a counter-mould 42 for preforming a panel, mounted on the bottom part of a press (not shown), in a position corresponding to the predetermined application area on the panel. The label is turned over, with the inscriptions towards the bottom surface of the counter-mould, and instead makes the bottom surface covered with the adhesive layer 30 accessible. The part P to be formed is placed with the correct alignment on the counter-mould, and then a mould 44 mounted on the top area of the press is coupled with the bottom counter-mould 42. In the hot pressing operation, the label adheres perfectly to the part of the panel being shaped, which will become the permanent support, on account of the adhesive layer 30.
The same properties of heat resistance of the substrate of the label which are desirable for the intended applications allow the label to withstand the temperatures which are reached in the course of the hot pressing operation without deteriorating.
Even though the preceding description is given with reference to a preferred application relating to safety labels which can be applied to the covering panel of the bonnet of an engine compartment, it goes without saying that the invention relates in more general terms to labels which can be applied to any desired surface, for example the surface of a part of a machine formed from a pressed part made of composite material.
Advantageously, the properties of heat resistance and acoustic absorption of a label E for the objects described can be further improved using, as the substrate of the label, a non- woven fabric based on a mixture of polyester fibres and aramid and/or melamine fibres, so that it is possible to withstand operating temperatures of higher than 180°C, without modifying the method steps for manufacturing and applying the label.
Without departing from the principle of the invention, the embodiments and details of construction may differ considerably from those described and illustrated purely by way of non-restrictive example, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention defined by the appended claims.
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