The present patent of invention application relates to a product and method of process for cleaning, painting, and simultaneous impregnation, titled as auto-cleaning painting.

Such a system consists of cleaning, painting and/or simultaneously impregnating plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts with conventional painting, fabrics, finished or partially pre-manufactured footwear.

Such pieces present in general oil residues, plasticizers, fat materials and/or dirt at their surfaces, and such compounds hinder the good holdout of the conventional inks at the pieces surface. The fact of existing fat substances at the pieces surface also hinders the preparation for future gluing of such pieces .

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Nowadays in the footwear industry in general (sport shoe, safety shoe, male shoe, casual or social female shoe, among others) , where it is necessary the use of adhesives for gluing such painted pieces or in the plastic industries, toys industries, package industries, plastic furniture industries, among others, where it is necessary the use of tinted components for designing the model established by the designers of such products, two different types of resource are used:

1) Process of direct injection in the color itself. Manufacture such piece in the color itself, using the conventional system of injection or molding of pieces having the pigments and/or dyes and/or fillers incorporated in the base polymer of such a piece. Such a process shows excellent performance in relation to the color durability and stability, since the whole mass of the base polymer is homogenously mixed with the pigments and/or dyes and/or fillers, when the color injected piece is cut it is seen that the whole mass has a single color, from its inner up to its surface.

One of the drawbacks of such process is the time required for cleaning the production machine. The complexity of changing a color for another makes the productive process impracticable at companies requiring a great variety of colors to a single piece. The abovementioned process is expensive and impracticable for a great variety of colors.

Another drawback of such a process of direct injection in the color itself is the need, in most cases, to clean the pieces, since in the manufacturing process innumerous fat materials are involved, arising from the processing of such pieces, and this is mainly applied in the footwear industry. The fat components at the surface have to be removed, so as not to interfere with the future gluing process of such pieces.

In relation to the abovementioned issue, mixtures of organic solvents for extracting fat components present at the surface are conventionally used. These volatile organic solvents usually show medium to high toxicity levels. Therefore, the use of such solvents lies in the process costs, since there is the need of using masks (due to organic steam) and/or unhealthy work pay and/or dangerous work pay, a high-cost plant insurance due to the high risk of inflammability of these solvents. In addition, there is the conflict with the worldwide trend of reducing the volatile organic solvents (VOC) tenor present in products to be used in the industries in general . 2) Process of non-colored pieces injection, for future painting.

Such a process consists of manufacturing these pieces with a base color, as transparent or with a base according to the need of the final aspect of such a piece, and latter painting so as to they show the required visual aspect.

Such a process solves the issue of the machine "set up", but it is necessary to paint these pieces one by one, in a handcrafted way, using a manual application pistol together with masks for painting only the desired portion, applying an ink layer, such ink layer usually being added with an aliphatic polyurethane adhesive or even a scent adhesive. Usually, without this adhesive portion, the ink shows lack of adherence when it is used after the painting process the organic solvent-based aliphatic polyurethane adhesive or scent adhesive or polyurethane adhesive diffused in water, so as to glue these pieces.

The dryness and the complete curing of such an ink occur in general within three hours, what makes the process organizational part difficult, since these pieces may not be touched due to staining and creation of spots in the paint. Another negative aspect of such a process is the lack of compatibility of the ink layer with the adhesive to be used for the assembly of the shoe components.

Thus, some areas already painted can be glued later, since different types of base polymers are used for producing the ink that usually shows low compatibility with the adhesive layer used in the gluing of such components for the manufacturing of the shoe.

Another undesirable aspect showed by this superficial painting system is the durability, color stability, resistance to the risk this painting has. It is noted that after some time of use the painting is considerably changed, compromising the visual aspect of the shoe, and it also shows a high rate of displacement in the areas receiving painting.

The painted pieces usually require a cleaning process before the painting, for eliminating the contaminants at the pieces surface, thus providing a good ink adherence, in addition to the need of cleaning the ink excess at the gluing areas, after the painting.

However, solvent compositions for performing such conventionally proposed cleaning use volatile organic solvents. Therefore, there are issues in relation to the current requirement of decreasing the use of such solvents at the plants, due to their toxicity.

Another consideration to be made is the use of volatile organic solvents, with a medium to high degree of toxicity, on the conventionally-used ink compositions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will be briefly described as follows based on a performance example represented in the drawings. The figures show:

Fig. 1 - Process flowchart, object of the present application.

Fig. 2 - Shows an example of tank 1, in which the immersion of the pieces will be performed in order to simultaneously painting and/or cleaning them.

Fig. 3 - Shows an example of tank 2, in which the first rinse by immersion of the pieces will be performed in order to remove the excess of the auto-cleaning painting solution and an example of tank 3, in which the second rinse by immersion of the pieces will be performed in order to completely extract the auto-cleaning painting solution residues.

Fig. 4 - Shows an example of a machine for an auto- cleaning painting continuous system, with 3 or 4 tanks .

Fig. 5 - Shows an example of a Vento Norte apparatus, used for dryness of substrates in the footwear industry in general .

Fig. 6 - Shows an example of an apparatus Pinheirinho, used for dryness of substrates in the footwear industry in general .

Fig. 7 - Shows an example of an alternative apparatus that can be coupled in tank 1, 2 or 3, so as to avoid their complete contamination.

Fig. 8 - Shows an example of an alternative apparatus that can be coupled in tank 1, 2 or 3, so as to avoid their complete contamination and it also shows an example of an alternative apparatus that can be coupled in tank 1, 2 or 3, consisting of a drilled basket that assists the supply of small pieces into the tanks, thus avoiding its displacement during the auto-cleaning painting process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An object of this invention is to offer a fast and rapid system for the painting of pieces. This is an aqueous system that exempts the use of heavy organic solvents for cleaning and/or painting.

Where it is used an aqueous solution in which the substrates to be treated are completely or partially immersed in the auto-cleaning ink solution, where in a few minutes such substrates will be perfectly cleaned and painted with the determined color.

The intensity of the color may vary from slightly transparent up to totally closed colors, what will depend on the requirement of the final aspect of the pieces.

Another object of this invention is to offer a system having a high degree of reliability at the superficial cleaning, since innumerous pieces subjected to this auto-cleaning aqueous painting process require future gluing for the final manufacturing of such a piece.

In the specific case of the footwear industry such a need is essential, since displacements of shoes may be attributed to improper cleaning.

In order to solve this issue, the use of ultrasound has been considered the most efficient method nowadays in relation to the extraction of contaminant substances present at the surfaces. Among these substances there are oils, grease, oxidations, agents with oily characteristics arising from moulds, among others.

For such, the principle of cleaning by ultrasound is used, that performs it with a very high degree of cleanness in a short period of time, without damages to the pieces.

In general, the ultrasound cleaning consists of immersion of the piece to be treated in a proper fluid, in a tank equipped with a transducer and an ultrasound generator, in which power is passed trough the fluid.

Due to the high frequency involved there is the arising of a phenomenon called "cavitation", in which millions of micro- bubbles are generated imploding at the pieces surfaces, thus generating a high time temperature, enabling the complete removal of the abovementioned contaminant substances .

The invention presents a solution composed by a set of substances diffused in water, where all these substances were carefully selected in order to provide a product having a very low impact over the environment and the employees handling it.

All the ingredients have a high tolerance limit (a very low toxicity degree) , thus comprising with the worldwide trend requiring continuous reduction of the use of volatile organic solvents and reduction of the toxicity degree of the substances used in the compositions .

In addition to the abovementioned item the process showed provides a unique characteristic to the productive process, the condition of simultaneously cleaning and painting the pieces. This is an renewing fact in the footwear industry and in the plastic pieces industry in general, metal, package, toys industries, etc., because it presents conditions of eliminating steps of the productive process and thus complies with the goals usually required nowadays of reducing the process time and reducing the use of substances harmful to the employee's health.

When comparing the process and product proposed herein with the conventionally used processes, it is corroborated that:

The process of direct injection in the color itself (process A) only has comparative results with the process proposed herein following two steps: 1 ^st ) injection in the color, 2 ^nd ) cleaning using low to high toxicity degree organic solvents, for extraction of the fat compounds at the surface (this is for the case of the footwear industry) .

Process of non-colored pieces injection for future painting.

Such painting occurs with three steps, 1 ^st ) cleaning using organic solvents, 2 ^nd ) painting and 3 ^rd ) cleaning of the areas where there will be gluing due to the lack of compatibility of the ink with the adhesive, in addition to the time spent for the dryness of such ink and the presence of heavy solvents that usually compose the ink.

Thus any of the usually used methods nowadays require time, uses solvents with a high degree of toxicity and is expensive for performing the processes .

In the processes proposed herein we suggest a cleaning together with the painting, in which the cleaning of the pieces occurs with great efficiency using an aqueous composition, in addition to a great speed, since such a process takes only five minutes to occur, three minutes spent in the cleaning/painting tank 1, one minute in the 1 ^st rinse rank 2 and one minute in the 2 ^nd rinse tank 3.

After such processes, the recently-painted pieces may already be touched, with no possibilities of staining them, what does not occur in the conventional painting process taking approximately one to three hours for the complete dryness. Nowadays, paintings with ultraviolet curing technology are being proposed, which also require the use of masks for delimiting the painting borders, since there is no good compatibility of such painting with the usually used adhesives for gluing such pieces .

Method for performing the auto-cleaning painting process .

A process of painting together with the cleaning of the pieces with an auto-cleaning ink aqueous solution that supplies a tank with variable volume. Such a process can be performed in a variety of ways, as described at processes A, B, and C:

Process A.

It describes a procedure for simultaneously cleaning, painting, and impregnating pieces completely, i.e., the entire mass of the piece to be painted is immersed in the auto-cleaning aqueous solution, thus covering 100% of the pieces area.

Process B.

It describes a procedure for simultaneously cleaning, painting, and impregnating pieces partially, i.e., only a portion of the piece is immersed in the auto-cleaning aqueous solution, thus covering only the desired area, making possible to paint the same piece with two or more different colors. Such a procedure guarantees the painting of a portion of the piece, providing for a different visual aspect. In addition, such a process may be repeated as many times as necessary in order to obtain the desired number of colors for such a piece.

Process C.

It describes a procedure using a brightly transparent auto-cleaning ink aqueous solution.

Such a bath will guarantee the perfect cleaning as the above-described processes, in addition to highlighting the brightness of such pieces.

If the brightness highlighting is not desired, a non- brightly transparent auto-cleaning aqueous solution is used.

Such a process will only be used for the purpose of cleaning the pieces .

Processes Description:

Process A.

1 ^st step: Supply of tank 1.

The plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts, as well as finished or partially finished shoe (pre-manufactured) are completely immersed in a tank 1 containing the aqueous solution of ink heated from 20 to 80°C (Fig. 1) . 2 ⁿ step: Actuation of transducers.

Transmitters of ultrasonic waves lc are actuated, such waves radiating in the rate of 20 kHz to 800 kHz.

3 ^rd step: Cleaning together with painting.

The pieces remain in such a bath for 1 to 10 minutes, usually three minutes, under the action of the ultrasonic waves.

Cease the ultrasound emission and remove the pieces from the ink solution; after this step, the pieces may already be touched without staining them.

4 ^th step: Bath for extraction of the ink excess. Tank 2.

Immerse the pieces in water or in a solution having pigment-fixing agents . The temperature of such a bath should be room temperature or heated from 20 to 80°C, and these pieces remain in such a bath for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, or the proper required time for each type of color and/or piece to be painted.

5 ^th step: Final rinse bath. Tank 3.

Immerse the pieces one more time in a tank having water for rinse, this water may be at room temperature or at a heated temperature, and it may also have additives that may value the pieces.

6 ^th step: Pieces dryness.

Forward the pieces for dryness in a vento norte or pinheiro drying stove (Fig. 5 and/or 6) offering a temperature between 45° and 60°C, thus drying the plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts with conventional painting. The finished or partially finished shoe (pre-manufactured) should be properly dried before packing.

Process B.

1 ^st step: Supply of tank 1. The plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts, as well as the finished or partially finished shoe (pre-manufactured) are completely immersed in a tank having the aqueous solution of ink heated from 20 to 80°C.

Such a procedure will guarantee the painting of a portion of the piece, providing for a different visual aspect. Such a process may be repeated as many times as necessary in order to obtain the desired number of colors for such a piece.

2 ^nd step: Actuation of transducers.

Transmitters of ultrasonic waves lc are actuated, such waves radiating in the rate of 20 kHz to 800 kHz.

3 ^rd step: Cleaning together with painting.

The pieces remain in such a bath for 1 to 10 minutes, usually three minutes, under the action of the ultrasonic waves.

Cease the ultrasound emission and remove the pieces from the ink solution; after this step, the pieces may already be touched without staining them.

4 ^th step: Bath for extraction of the ink excess.

Tank 2.

Immerse the pieces in water or in a solution having pigment-fixing agents. The temperature of such a bath should be room temperature or heated from 20 to 80°C, and these pieces remain in such a bath for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, or the proper required time for each type of color and/or piece to be painted.

5 ^th step: Final rinse bath. Tank 3.

Immerse the pieces one more time in a tank having water for rinse, this water may be at room temperature or at a heated temperature, and it may also have additives that may value the pieces. 6 ^C step: Pieces dryness.

Forward the pieces for dryness in a vento norte or pinheiro drying stove (Fig. 5 and/or 6) offering a temperature between 45° and 60°C, thus drying the plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts with conventional painting. The finished or partially finished shoe (pre-manufactured) should be properly dried before packing.

Process C.

1 ^st step: Supply of tank 1.

The plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts, as well as the finished or partially finished shoe (pre-manufactured) are completely immersed in a tank having the aqueous solution of transparent ink heated from 20 to 80°C.

2 ^nd step: Actuation of transducers.

Transmitters of ultrasonic waves lc are actuated, such waves radiating in the rate of 20 kHz to 800 kHz.

3 ^rd step: Cleaning together with transparent painting.

The pieces remain in such a bath for 1 to 10 minutes, usually three minutes, under the action of the ultrasonic waves.

Cease the ultrasound emission and remove the pieces from the ink solution; after this step, the pieces may already be touched without staining them.

4 ^th step: Bath for extraction of the transparent ink excess. Tank 2.

Immerse the pieces in water or in a solution having pigment-fixing agents. The temperature of such a bath should be room temperature or heated from 20 to 80°C, and these pieces remain in such a bath for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, or the proper required time for each type of color and/or piece to be painted.

5 ^th step: Final rinse bath. Tank 3.

Immerse the pieces one more time in a tank having water for rinse, this water may be at room temperature or at a heated temperature, and it may also have additives that may value the pieces.

6 ^th step: Pieces dryness.

Forward the pieces for dryness in a vento norte or pinheiro drying stove (Fig. 5 and/or 6) offering a temperature between 45° and 60°C, thus drying the plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts. The finished or partially finished shoe (pre-manufactured) should be properly dried before packing.

Finally, the complete or partial process can still have the following steps:

1 ^st step: the plastic pieces in general, rubber pieces, EVA pieces, metal artifacts, as well as the finished or partially finished shoe (pre-manufactured) are completely immersed in a tank having the aqueous solution of ink heated from 15 to 100°C.

2 ^nd step: The pieces remain in such a bath for the time necessary for the painting and remove the pieces from the ink solution; after this step, the pieces may already be touched without staining them.

3 ^rd step: Immerse the pieces in water or in a solution having pigment-fixing agents. The temperature of such a bath should be room temperature or heated from 15 to 100°C, and these pieces remain in such a bath for 30 seconds to 5 minutes, or the proper required time for each type of color and/or piece to be painted.

4 ^th step: Immerse the pieces one more time in a tank having water for rinse, this water may be at room temperature or at a heated temperature, and it may also have additives that may value the pieces .

5 ^th step: Forward the pieces for dryness in a vento norte or pinheiro drying stove offering a temperature between 45° and 60°C.

It should be noted that the mentioned processes may be used with changes, such as: a rinse, with ultrasound; no rinse, with ultrasound; a rinse, without ultrasound; no rinse, no ultrasound, etc, providing that such changes are in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

The process may use agitators that homogenize the ink during the auto-cleaning painting process, in tank 1.

In addition, the process may use an apparatus for filtrating the auto-cleaning solution in tank 1, which eliminates residues arising from the pieces to be cleaned.

The apparatus manually or automatically corrects the color and the properties in relation to the cleaning in the auto- cleaning ink solution in tank 1 due to wastage during the use.

In addition, the apparatus is provided with means for continuously recycling and correcting the auto-cleaning ink of tank 1, making it to return to the same tank.

Product :

An aqueous ink composition that simultaneously performs cleaning and painting is applied by immersion of the abovementioned pieces in a tank 1 having a detergent solution conjugated with water-soluble or non water-soluble dyes and pigments and a polymer diffused in water.

The expression "aqueous" mentioned in this application relates to water and mixture of water-miscible solvents, where the greatest proportion of the composition is water.

Generally, the time required to perform the painting together with the complete cleaning is approximately 1 to 10 minutes. This time frame may vary, depending on the previous condition of the piece and its composition.

Such a process of painting together with the cleaning may or may not use ultrasonic transducers, for aiding the dispersion of colorants and providing a uniform and thorough painting in the pieces treated.

In the patent petitioned herein, the auto-cleaning painting composition is composed of 51 to 90% of water, Polar Solvent, added with 0.5 to 30% of deoiling or degreasing agents, 0.01% to 10% of pigments and/or dyes, 0.1 to 10% of Surfactants, 0.1 to 10% of Amine, 0.1 to 3% of Defoamers, 0.1% to 5% of Fluorescent whitening agents, 0.1 to 3% of UV light stabilizing agent, thermal stabilizers, 0.01 to 2% of Bactericides and Fungicides, 0.1 to 5% of polymers diffused and/or emulsioned in water, 0.1 to 3% of antioxidants, 0.01 to 2% of proteins degrading dirt and oils.

The product is applied so as to sprinkle the auto- cleaning aqueous ink over pieces with a low requirement in relation to the color durability.

It will be certainly noted that while the above invention has been described in terms of illustrative example of this invention, all the other changes and variations applied to this invention in a way apparent to those skilled in the art are considered within the ample scope and extent of this invention according to the following claims.