HANDLES

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for creating non-removable text and shapes used on valve handles, which allows information such as text, logos and shapes to be transferred to the valve handles in as many color options as desired.

Background of the Invention

A valve, also called a throttle, is a plumbing mechanism used to manage the flow of fluid substances, i.e. to open-close or throttle-open. The working principle of valves is very simple but it is a very effective system. If the valve is open, the fluid moves from high pressure to low pressure. But if the valve is closed, this flow stops. In addition, there is often a barrier inside the valve to prevent reverse flow in the pipe. Valves are controlled by a 90° angle movement of the valve handle.

Valves are used in many places. For example, when any faucet is opened, the valve that prevents the flow of water is actually opened and the water flow starts. If natural gas is used, there is usually a valve handle at the top of the stoves that stops or opens the gas flow, thereby providing natural gas control.

For safety reasons, it is necessary to be very careful when closing the valves and to tighten the valve well. Otherwise, even a small gap in the valve can cause leakage. This leakage can cause explosions, flooding or loss of valuable chemicals. For this reason, it is of great importance that the valve handle used contains information such as the direction of opening and closing or brand information about where it was purchased. In addition, this information must remain legible throughout the use of the valve handle.

The writing on the valve handle is the identity of the valve. In this writing, there are many important writings such as the date the valve was produced, the origin, the brand and logo of the company, the documents and numbers (TSE, ISO, etc.) that the valve complies with the standards, the intended use (Gas, Hot water, Drinking water, etc.), open and closed direction arrows. If these writings are deleted, this important information cannot be read by the user and this situation causes various problems.

Pad printing technique is used to place information on the valve handles currently used. However, the text or symbols applied with this technique are erased during contact with acids such as thinner etc. or can be easily removed with a fingernail. In addition, the fact that 1 or at most 2 color options are available in the printing technique and the text is not legible poses a problem for valve manufacturers. In addition, since there is no work for blind people, these people have difficulty in using the valve handles. These situations are undesirable for both the user and the manufacturer, and it is also undesirable for the text to come off easily.

UV printing is a type of printing created by rapidly drying the ink by ultraviolet rays as soon as it hits the paper, adhesive material, coating, aluminum or acrylic material. UV printing is a printing method that can be applied to any surface by harmonizing with the printer. It is one of the most preferred solutions in the field of digital printing as in every field where technology has reached. This type of printing ensures that all prints that are difficult to dry are dry and ready in a short time. It provides a long-lasting use by protecting the applied print from sunlight and adverse weather conditions. UV printing, which gives the best results for the print color to be exactly the desired color, is durable and has advantages in terms of being clear about color design.

UV printing machines are used for UV printing. UV printing machines print on metal, PVC-containing plates, textile products or vinyl rolls suitable for UV printing, smooth surface stones, glass and wood plates. However, in the current technique, valve handles, which are widely used all over the world, are not printed with UV printing technique, and all the advantages of UV printing are not used on valve handles.

The invention is a method of forming non-removable text and shapes used in valve handles, which exceeds the state of the art, eliminates its disadvantages, and includes additional advantages. The invention in question has been developed as a solution to existing problems. In the invention, the desired information is provided on the valve handles with UV printing technique. The method of creating non-removable text and shapes used on valve handles is done as follows,

• Placing the valve handles on the molds so that the valve handles lie flat during drawing,

• Putting the valve handles placed on the molds into the UV printing machine,

• Drawing the desired information (shape, text, picture, logo, etc.) on the valve handles by means of drawing programs in UV printing machine,

• Using the desired drawing programs (CorelDRAW, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator etc.) on the computer connected to the UV printing machine to make drawings,

• Placing the UV inks in the UV printing machine to use the desired colors,

• By means of the reciprocating heads in the UV printing machine, the previously drawn drawings are sequentially drawn on the valve arms during each reciprocating movement,

• Ensuring the drying and permanence of the information drawn on the valve handles with UV rays that are active while drawing during the back and forth movement of the heads,

• Optionally, the information on the valve handles can be embossed (using Braille) for easy use by blind people,

• Finally, optionally, the valve handles are first primed and then varnished.

Thanks to the invention, the information on the valve handles (such as text, shape) does not come off with acids such as thinner and the information on it does not come off during contact with sharp objects such as falcata and is suitable for long-lasting use. With this method, the writings and information on the valve handles, which can be in desired sizes regardless of size and dimension, can be used clearly and legibly for the user. In addition, the information on the valve can be applied in embossed form, especially for the comfortable use of blind people. Thanks to the application of Braille Alphabet used in relief, visually impaired people can read, understand and use the information on the valve. In addition, a QR code can also be applied on the valve handle. Thanks to this QR code, they can be directed to the website, watch videos shared on the website such as the construction phase of the valve or the company's advertisement, or send complaints and request forms about the product to the company. Optionally, pictures or photographs can also be printed. In addition, all the information on the valve handle can be made in all colors in nature and thus color printing can be done.

The structural and characteristic features and all advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood by the figures given below and the detailed description written by referring to these figures, and therefore this evaluation should be made by taking these figures and detailed description into consideration.

Figures Helping to Explain the Invention

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, so that the features of the invention will be more clearly understood. However, this is not intended to limit the invention to these particular embodiments. On the contrary, it is also intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of the invention which may be included within the field defined by the appended claims. The details shown are to be understood to be illustrative only of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are presented for the purpose of providing the most useful and easily understood description of both the embodiment of the methods and the rules and conceptual features of the invention. In these drawings

Figure 1: Front view of the valve handle showing information such as text and figures used on valve handles

References Helping to Explain the Invention

The figures which will aid in the understanding of the present invention are numbered as indicated in the accompanying drawing and their names are given below.

1. Valve handle Explanation of the invention

In the present detailed description, the structure of the method of forming nonremovable text and figures used in the valve handles of the invention is described only for a better understanding of the subject matter and without any limiting effect.

The invention in question has the following features:

• Inserting the valve handles (1 ) into the molds so that the valve handles (1 ) lie flat during drawing,

• Putting the valve handles (1 ) placed on the molds into the UV printing machine,

• Drawing the desired information (shape, text, picture, logo, etc.) on the valve handles (1) by means of drawing programs on UV printing machine,

• Using the desired drawing programs (CorelDRAW, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator etc.) on the computer connected to the UV printing machine to make drawings,

• Placing the UV inks in the UV printing machine to use the desired colors,

• By means of the reciprocating heads in the UV printing machine, the previously drawn drawings are sequentially drawn on the valve arms during each reciprocating movement,

• Ensuring the drying and permanence of the information drawn on the valve handles (1) with UV rays that are active while drawing on the valve handles (1 ) during the reciprocating movement of the heads,

• Optionally, the information on the valve handles (1 ) can also be embossed (using Braille) for easy use by blind people,

• Finally, optionally, the valve handles (1 ) are first primed and then varnished.

In the invention, the desired information is provided on the valve handles (1 ) by UV printing technique. Thanks to this method, the information on the valve handles (1 ) (such as text, picture, figure) does not come off with acids such as thinner and the information on it does not come off during contact with sharp objects such as falcata, and it is suitable for long-lasting use. With this method, the writings and information on the valve handles (1 ), which can be in desired sizes regardless of size and dimension, can be used clearly and legibly for the user. In addition, the information on the valve handles (1 ) can be applied in embossed form for easy use, especially for blind people.

Braille alphabet can be applied in embossed form so that visually impaired people can read, understand and use the information on the valve handles (1 ). In addition, a QR code can also be applied on the valve handle (1 ). Thanks to this QR code, they can be directed to the website, watch videos shared on the website such as the construction phase of the valve handle (1 ) or the advertisement of the company, or send complaints and request forms about the product to the company.

Optionally, pictures or photographs can also be printed on the valve handles (1) using this method. In addition, all the information on the valve handle (1 ) can be made in all colors in nature, thus enabling color printing.

The technical features mentioned in each claim are followed by a reference number, and these reference numbers are used only to facilitate understanding of the claims, and therefore should not be considered to limit the scope of any of the elements indicated by these reference numbers for illustrative purposes. It is clear that a person skilled in the art may also introduce the innovation set forth in the invention by using similar embodiments and/or may apply this embodiment to other areas with similar purposes used in the relevant art. Therefore, it is also obvious that such constructions will lack the criterion of novelty and especially the criterion of exceeding the state of the art.