KR20070030810A - System and method for creating graphics on glass surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

Glass or other silica-containing surfaces may be masked or stenciled irregularly or in a specific pattern or design, and irregular or specific patterns may be filled by filling irregularly or specific patterns of fine valleys and recesses formed in all types of glass and silica-containing surfaces (images). ) Is treated with a chemical composition in liquid or vapor form embedded in or on the substrate. As the glass or other silica-containing surface transitions from a cold environment to a warm environment, condensation is preferentially formed on the untreated region of the glass or other silica-containing surface, thereby making the treated portion transparent and producing the pattern or design. Expressed as contrast difference.

Glass, masking, stencil, pattern, design, chemical composition

Description

System and method for making graphics on glass surface {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING GRAPHICS ON GLASS SURFACES}

This application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 60 / 577,141, filed June 4, 2004 entitled "System and Method for Making Advertising and Promotional Graphics on Glass Freezer and Refrigerator Doors," It is incorporated herein by reference for its disclosure.

The present invention relates to advertising and promotional graphics, and more particularly to graphic images that appear and disappear on the surface of glass or other transparent or translucent silica-based freezers and refrigerator doors under the influence of temperature or humidity differences.

Many modern supermarket marketing materials are concerned with attracting consumer attention in a quirky and stimulating way. Containers for dry or refrigerated or frozen goods are very colorful and often visually very intense, emphasizing the trade name or trademark of the producer or packer. Indeed, much or much of the sales promotion is done from the point of view of keeping the trade name or brand first and foremost conscious of the consumer.

In general, trademarks are virtually graphic and visual. However, frozen or refrigerated products are stored in a controlled environment where the items are stored behind a closed door even if they are not made of glass. There is little opportunity for a trade name to be displayed apart from the product packaging itself.

Typically, trademarks, logos or other related graphical images are placed on or near freezer or refrigerator doors by surface appliques. The trademark or trade name may be applied to the film substrate as a print layer in contrasting colors or may be provided as paper, plastic cards, posters, etc., with the logo prominently printed on the surface. Modern graphic displays are generally like posters in that they are either completely opaque or the area containing the logo or graphics is opaque.

In addition, conventional displays are adhered to the surface with an adhesive, which is very difficult to remove cleanly when trying to exchange a promotional display. This adhesive often causes discoloration and can damage the glass surface of the door. Opaque materials are very disadvantageous in that they emphasize only one manufacturer or product while preventing the consumer from seeing the entire contents of the freezer or refrigerator. Even manufacturers who don't want or can't provide their applique graphics to the market will be very embarrassed if their products are not seen by competitors' banners. Accordingly, there is a need for methods of providing graphical images or designs on glass freezers or refrigerator doors in a manner that maintains the original state and transparency of the glass. Such image presentation should be made so that the image can be seen clearly and clearly without disturbing the overall perspective through the door.

This conflicting requirement has not been achieved until now. The visual image can be seen when it interferes with full perspective through the door, or when the images are invisible and no purpose can be achieved. The present invention satisfies these conflicting requirements with image presentation systems and methods, for example, through glass, plastic or other transparent or translucent materials, through the freezer or refrigerator doors, allowing the whole to be visible and to be clearly and clearly seen. .

A method of imaging a graphical object on a transparent surface comprises providing the graphical object as a stencil, attaching the stencil to a surface of a transparent or translucent sheet material, and applying a composition to smooth the transparent surface to the stencil. And the composition is in contact with the surface of the transparent material through the open area of the stencil. The graphic object is imaged as the transparent material surface moves from a cold environment to a warm environment, and the graphic object is imaged on the transparent material surface as the contrast area between the regions has or does not have condensation droplets.

In one aspect of the invention, the transparent material is glass or plastic sheet, and the stencil is applied to the inner side of the glass sheet. The glass or plastic sheet is provided as a door, window, side cover or other surface of a refrigerator or freezer, and when the cover is implemented, it functions to move the surface from a cold environment to a warm environment to cause condensation. The transition takes the form of moving the material surface from one environment to another, ie, opening or closing a door, or changing the environment through the material surface, ie blowing warm or cold air all over the surface.

Advantageously the glass or plastic material surface is characterized by a first surface roughness Ra and the composition which smoothes the transparent surface is characterized by a second surface roughness which is smaller than the first surface roughness. Characteristically, the second surface roughness is as small as about 1/10 the size of the first surface roughness. Additionally, the composition that smoothes the transparent surface has the same refractive index as the glass or plastic sheet, so that the composition becomes invisible when the glass and the composition are in thermal equilibrium.

In another aspect of the invention, the invention includes a method of imaging a pattern and a design on a transparent sheet having an inner side and an outer side. The method provides a stencil to form the pattern or design, applies the stencil to the surface of the glass or plastic sheet, and applies a composition to smooth the surface to the glass or plastic surface such that the composition is formed of the stencil. Contacting the surface through an opening transfers the pattern or design to the glass. The pattern or design is imaged on the material surface as the surface transitions from a cold environment to a warm environment, and the pattern or design is imaged on the glass surface depending on the presence or absence of condensation droplets.

Specifically, the transparent surface smoothing composition is a film selected from the group consisting of siloxane, silicone oil, diamond-like carbon, polymer, copolymer, oligomer, petroleum distillate, liquid plastic, acrylic, acetate and resin. . The composition is designed to have the same refractive index as the material sheet such that the pattern or design is invisible when the composition and material sheet are in thermal equilibrium.

The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. In the drawing:

1 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing the surface roughness of a normal glass surface.

2 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the surface of ordinary glass showing the surface texture after applying the film according to the present invention.

3 is a half-schematic diagram of the angle of incidence of condensation droplets showing wetting and droplet formation.

4 is a simplified half schematic cross-sectional view of the surface of ordinary glass showing the droplets formed on the original glass surface and the wetting on the glass surface after applying the film according to the invention.

5 is a half schematic view of a state in which a stencil is applied on the surface of a refrigerator door, for example.

6 is a half schematic view showing a state where a design is transferred to a glass surface;

Fig. 7 is a half schematic view showing negative condensate (ie, a stencil) formed in the periphery of a transferred design in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a half-schematic diagram showing positive condensate (ie, mask) formed in a site representing a transferred design in accordance with the present invention. FIG.

Disclosed herein is for example only when condensate or other moisture is present in glass and other silica-containing substrates, plastic substrates or other transparent or translucent materials installed in refrigerators and freezer doors, windows or other covered areas. It is a new way of creating specific pattern images and designs that appear in the human eye. Although described in terms of transparent or translucent surfaces commonly associated with refrigerators and / or freezer doors, the surfaces described herein may be described in terms of any form of window. Accordingly, the term window, door or cover should not be considered in any way limiting but illustrative.

Glass or other silica-containing surfaces may be masked or stenciled irregularly or in a specific pattern or design, and irregular or specific patterns may be filled by filling irregularly or specific patterns of fine valleys and recesses formed in all types of glass and silica-containing surfaces (images). ) Is treated with a chemical composition in liquid or vapor form embedded in or on the substrate. After applying the chemical composition in liquid or vapor form, the mask or stencil is removed. Alternatively, the mask or stencil may comprise portions of colored vinyl or other material that may remain on the glass or plastic surface after the transfer is complete. The coloring material (colored or highly contrasting) attracts the human eye to its surface and highlights the treated area.

At this stage, the irregular or specific pattern is not visible to the naked eye. The chemical composition in liquid or vapor form is typically transparent and has a refractive index similar to that of the material of the substrate such that the image is not easily visible when the glass surface is in thermal equilibrium in a particular environment. As this environment changes, i.e., when moisture is introduced to the surface, the image appears as a distinctive "dark shade" pattern on the glass surface. Moisture can be introduced onto the surface by the following method, but is not limited to the following method. Natural condensation resulting from the occurrence of large temperature differences between the ambient temperature and the surface temperature of glass or other silica-containing surfaces, as well as misting, fogging, spraying or blowing any liquid There is mechanical condensation, including sputtering or steaming and manual or power driven systems that can achieve this.

With condensation applied, the embedded irregular or specific pattern (image) appears in the human eye to maintain the visible state while moisture is present. Images that can be formed include the display of products or services on refrigerator or freezer door glass and silica-containing surfaces, or other specific types of information transfer means that certain logos and other market transactions, sales promotions, design works and texts Included. Coloring materials, such as colored vinyl, are easy to attract attention to the door as an example and induce condensation by increasing the likelihood that an interested person opens the door, thereby providing the desired invention effect.

Under conditions where the ambient temperature is warmer than the surface, it is well understood that condensation will occur on the surface due to the temperature difference between the environment and the surface. As the refrigerator or freezer door is opened, the door enters a warmer environment and moisture condenses on cold surfaces due to temperature differences. It is also well known that this condensation is a function of surface tissue, that is, a certain amount of surface tissue allows moisture to adhere to the surface (condensation).

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, all glasses have a unique amount of surface roughness (tissue). Even borosilicate glass of optical quality exhibits surface texture in the nanometer range (approximately 5-20 nm). Typical glass exhibits a surface texture of about 200 to about 1000 nanometers, with larger values being more common. Surface texture is uneven and is characterized by fine lines (peaks and valleys) that look similar to the ups and downs of mountainous areas. It is this characteristic surface structure that the temperature on the glass surface causes moisture to form as a condensate. As the cold surface is introduced into a warmer environment, the temperature difference causes water vapor to be extracted from the ambient air and then into the form of "beads" in the form of droplets on the surface that eventually adhere to the surface tissue by surface tension. Air traps or bubbles trapped in the glass during mixing or forming become defects such as bubbles and craters in the cured glass sheet. Likewise, bumps and sinks are high and low points caused by unwanted flow that occurs during curing after initial leveling or shaping, and are often caused by gradients in surface tension during curing. Cratering is the formation of small bowl-shaped recesses in the membrane, which can be caused by particle, dirt, fiber or other surface or substrate contamination. All of these defects and many others can be introduced into the glass substrate during the manufacturing process, but this is not the only mechanism by which glass has tissue.

Once installed, the glass can withstand large amounts of water without significant surface damage. However, the glass in contact with water undergoes a series of complex chemical reactions to form an alkaline solution. The trapped water reacts slowly initially, but over time the reaction accelerates, rapidly increasing the alkali concentration. This alkaline solution dissolves the surface component (sodium) to corrode the glass surface, making it cloudy and rough. Initial corrosion can only cause a weak whitening of the glass surface by changing from the glassy silicate structure to the crystalline silicate structure. At this stage, the glass surface is usually returned to its original state by light polishing or special chemical treatment, but at the expense of additional roughness by the action of the polishing material.

Some chemicals can also degrade the glass surface. While glass is resistant to most acids, even dilute hydrofluoric acid and phosphoric acid react quickly with silica in the glass. These materials are delivered in the form of droplets and mists that float in the air. They can be transported over long distances in rural and residential areas as well as in industrial areas. Even solid particles can decompose into harmful compounds when fixed on the glass surface by water condensation. Water alone can also be a surface damaging agent for glass. For example, some types of hard water can leave harmful deposits when dried on the glass surface. These deposits can be formed in the process of washing or rinsing the glass, or can be formed by accidental evaporation of water from a source such as a sprinkler or sprayer.

Each of these structures and / or mechanisms contributes to surface roughness, which in turn affects the extent to which water droplets wet the surface. Those skilled in the art have demonstrated that increasing the surface roughness results in a contact angle between the surface and the droplets (in either direction) far from 90 kPa. Increasing the contact angle indicates that the contact area between the droplet and the surface becomes smaller, so that the surface area becomes smaller and the droplet remains in place.

Surface roughness is measured by a tool that measures the vertical deviation when traversing the material surface. Ra is the most commonly used variable to describe the average surface roughness and is defined as an integer of the absolute value of the roughness profile measured over the length of the evaluation.

The mean roughness is the total area of the vertex and valley divided by the length of the assessment, expressed in μm (ie several microns or millimeters of millimeters). The older symbols for mean surface roughness are the center line mean (CLA) and the arithmetic mean (AA).

As shown in the embodiment of Figure 2, in the context of the present invention, once the formulation, liquid or chemical composition has been applied to a surface, the surface roughness (Ra) is about one tenth the size of the surface roughness of the lower glass surface (Ra). Sufficient to provide an agent, liquid or chemical composition. This difference in surface roughness is sufficient to change the angle of incidence (contact angle) between the droplet formed by condensation and the surface to an angle of 180 ° or less.

At any liquid-solid surface interface, wetting of the surface occurs if the molecules in the liquid have a greater attraction to the molecules on the solid surface than the attraction to each other (if the adhesion is stronger than the cohesion). Alternatively, if the liquid molecules are attracted more strongly to each other than to the molecules on the solid surface (if the cohesive force is stronger than the adhesion), the liquid does not wet the surface of the material by forming a bead upwards. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 3, the condensation droplets usually formed have a spherical shape under the influence of the surface tension between the droplet and the surface and a small contact surface (large contact angle). This small contact area reduces the liquid-solid interface and thus the adhesion. Conversely, condensation droplets formed in contact with the treated surface have a much smaller contact angle because of their low surface roughness and large liquid-solid surface interface, thus increasing the ratio of adhesion to cohesion (surface tension). Wetting occurs preferentially at the site smoothed by the formulation, liquid or chemical composition, whereas the formation of condensation droplets occurs preferentially on the untreated surface. However, this effect is inversely visible, i.e., the treated area according to the present invention has a "cloudy" appearance so that most surfaces appear "clearly" while the image becomes a "cloudy" or contrasting site. You should know that it appears.

Under certain conditions, the present invention may be considered to have mechanical and chemical characteristics. In the sense of having mechanical properties, it will be appreciated that the formulations, liquids or chemical compositions according to the invention are suitable if they exhibit a surface roughness Ra which is approximately one tenth the size of the lower glass surface. The actual chemical nature of this formulation is less important than Ra in the application. This mechanical feature of the present invention depends on the smoothing properties of the material surface and the effect on the liquid-solid surface area of the condensation droplets thus formed.

In the context of having chemical properties, the preparations, liquids or chemical compositions according to the invention are condensates formed by chemical bonding in a manner similar to the effect of the wetting agent, while exhibiting a surface roughness (Ra) less than the lower glass surface. It will be appreciated that this is appropriate when showing strong adhesion to the enemy. Naturally, the combination of the two mechanisms (mechanical and chemical) will provide a formulation, liquid or chemical composition that is very satisfactory for application to glass substrates.

In addition, this chemical feature may be provided with a water repellent property that functions to reduce the adhesion to the minimum level. In this connection, this chemical composition may consist of a chain of dimethylsiloxane (DMS) functional groups chemically bonded to the surface of the glass substrate, for example via an oxygen group. The membrane can then be treated with trimethylchlorosiloxane to remove all of the hydrophilic surface components through substitution of inert components. Full details of this type of film and wearable membranes having similar characteristics can be found in US Pat. No. 6,245,387, jointly owned by the assignee of the present invention, the entire contents of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

The composition, which is designed to promote wetting, mechanically or chemically (or mechanically and chemically), is sufficient to form a surface film that is not removed or dilutes even after forming a few passes from cold to warm to form moisture. It will also be appreciated that it should be able to adhere to the glass film of the film.

In the case of the present invention, the formulation is applied to the local area of the glass surface, in particular the inner surface in thermal equilibrium with the internal environment of the refrigerator or freezer. The formulation is made of a chemical composition in liquid or vapor form, which can be flown, wiped off, paintable, sprayable, applied to the glass by other means, and also the surface of the glass. It has a unique molecular chemical composition which becomes an outer surface having a surface roughness Ra smaller than the roughness Ra, preferably Ra by 1/10 the size of Ra of the original surface. In fact, the formulation is embedded in the unique microbones formed on virtually all glass and silica containing (and alumina containing) surfaces.

Chemical compositions in liquid or vapor form that can be used to bury the fine valleys and indentations found on all types of glass and silica containing surfaces include any type of silane containing process with or without crosslinking, branching or capping. The silicon film described above also made is included, but is not limited thereto. Such silicon films and methods are disclosed and described in US Pat. No. 6,245,387, co-owned with the present invention, the entire contents of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference. Other suitable compositions include:

Silica and Silane-Containing Formulations

Siloxane and silicone oil

Diamond shaped carbon

Polymers and Multipolymers

Petroleum distillates

Liquid plastic

acryl

Other than resin-thermoplastic

Alcohol

ester

Copolymer

Oligamer

Ethoxy

Acetoxy

acetate

It is to be understood that the composition is by no means intended to be limiting as a list of representative examples of suitable compositions. What is needed in the practice of the present invention is that after application the composition has a surface texture of a smaller size than the surface texture of the glass base material.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the composition is applied to the surface of the substrate by masking or stenciling an irregular or unique design on the substrate so that the composition is applied to the opening of the mask or stencil. This mask or stencil is removed and the composition remains in the applied position. Alternatively, the composition can be "painted" onto the substrate without the use of masks or stencils as an artistic design.

Masking or stenciling irregular or unique designs on glass and silica-containing surfaces may include chemicals, vinyls, waxes, or the like as described above, which may be used to bury the fine valleys and recesses formed on all types of glass and silica-containing surfaces. The use of plastics is included, but is not limited thereto. Additionally, the stencil may be provided in the form of positive or negative, in which case the design (composition) is introduced through the opening of the stencil (negative form), or the stencil is capable of transferring the composition. You can define the obstruction (embossed form)

Specifically, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, once the composition is applied, the surface is in thermal equilibrium with the internal environment of the refrigerator or freezer, and the design or pattern is not visible. As the door (glass) opens to a warm environment, small condensate droplets are thought to form in the area treated with the composition, but are not believed to form on the glass surface area with normal texture. This results in a "reverse image" on the glass due to the transparency and contrast difference between the treated surface beams showing the condensate and the untreated surface parts not showing the condensate (shown in FIG. 7). It is to be understood that the untreated surface technically supports some degree of condensation. However, due to the difference in the size of the surface tissue, the size of the condensate droplets is sufficiently different or dissolved into the wetting zone, so that the treatment zone is visually different in contrast to the non-treatment zone so that the pattern becomes noticeable in the visual sense.

In addition, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the mask or stencil may be applied as a “negative”, ie, the mask blocks the application of the composition and appears as a region free of condensation on other “cloudy” substrates of different designs. It should also be understood.

It is also to be understood that the image itself does not need to be "moved" between the various environments as it applies to open or closed doors. Rather, the image can be applied to surfaces whose environment changes. For example, if an image is placed on a window or other cover surface and is subjected to a generally equilibrium cold environment, a jet of warm air or “breeze” can be sent over the surface of the cover to create the desired effect. These jets or breezes can be introduced on a regular or timely basis or blown over the cover as a person approaches the facility. As a result, simple proximity sensors can be used to detect jets, breezes, and human access that are blown across the surface of the treatment.

The embedded image is removed using various polishing pads, powders, and compounds, depending on the composition material selected, allowing the owner of the substrate to embed new images as often as desired. Alternatively, the composition can be removed with a suitable solvent.

The present invention also includes the ability to attach any other transparent or opaque plastic or silica containing material to a refrigerator or freezer door manufactured off site in order to first produce the same effect as described above. What is needed in the practice of the present invention is to provide a design or image made of a material having the same refractive index as the glass substrate and a surface roughness Ra of 1/10 size different from that of the substrate and transferred to a transparent surface.

Claims (21)

In a method of imaging a graphic object on a transparent surface, Providing the graphical object as a stencil having an opening and a backing; Attaching the stencil to a surface of a transparent sheet material; Applying a composition to smooth the transparent surface to the stencil, such that the composition is in contact with the surface of the transparent material through an open area of the stencil; And wherein said graphical object is imaged as said transparent material surface moves from a cold environment to a warm environment, and said graphical object is imaged on said transparent material surface in accordance with the presence or absence of condensation droplets. The method of claim 1 wherein the transparent material is a glass or plastic sheet and the stencil is applied to the transparent surface of the glass or plastic sheet. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the material sheet is provided as a cover of a refrigerator or freezer, wherein when the cover is implemented, the surface is moved from a cold environment to a warm environment to cause condensation. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the material sheet is characterized by a first surface roughness Ra and the composition which smoothes the transparent surface is characterized by a second surface roughness less than the first surface roughness. The method of claim 1, wherein the second surface roughness is about 1/0 less than the first surface roughness. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the composition that smoothes the transparent surface is a silicone containing film. The composition of claim 2, wherein the smooth surface composition is selected from the group consisting of siloxane, silicone oil, diamond-like carbon, polymer, copolymer, oligomer, petroleum distillate, liquid plastic, acrylic, acetate and resin. Method characterized in that the membrane. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the composition smoothing the transparent surface has the same refractive index as the material sheet so that the composition is not visible when the material sheet and the composition are in thermal equilibrium. A method of imaging a pattern and a design on a glass sheet having an inner side and an outer side, Providing a stencil having an opening and a backing to form the pattern or design; Applying the stencil to the surface of the glass sheet; Providing a composition to smooth the surface of the glass surface such that the composition contacts the glass surface through the opening of the stencil to transfer the pattern or design to the glass, wherein the composition comprises the composition and the glass sheet. And having the same refractive index as that of the glass sheet so that the pattern or design is not visible when is in thermal equilibrium. The pattern or design is imaged on the glass surface as the surface transitions from a cold environment to a warm environment, and the pattern or design is imaged on the glass surface depending on the presence or absence of condensation droplets. . 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the composition that smoothes the transparent surface is a silicone containing film. The composition of claim 10, wherein the smooth surface composition is selected from the group consisting of siloxane, silicone oil, diamond-like carbon, polymers, copolymers, oligomers, petroleum distillates, liquid plastics, acrylics, acetates and resins. Method, characterized in that the film. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the glass sheet is characterized by a first surface roughness Ra, and the composition which smoothes the transparent surface is characterized by a second surface roughness less than the first surface roughness. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second surface roughness is one tenth smaller than the first surface roughness. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the glass sheet is provided as an outer door or a cover of a refrigerator or a freezer, and when the surface is shifted, the surface is moved from a cold environment to a warm environment to cause condensation. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the glass sheet is provided as an outer door or a cover of a refrigerator or a freezer, and when the surface is shifted, the condensation is caused by changing the ambient temperature from a cold environment to a warm environment. A method of imaging a pattern and a design on a transparent sheet having an inner side and an outer side, the method comprising: Defining a graphic object or design to be transferred to the transparent sheet; Providing a transfer means for receiving and supporting the graphic object or design; Applying a composition for smoothing the surface to the transfer means, wherein the composition and transfer means have the same refractive index as the transparent material sheet so that the pattern or design is not visible when the composition and the transparent material sheet are in thermal equilibrium. It has a; comprising; The pattern or design is imaged on the surface of the transparent material as the surface transitions from a cold environment to a warm environment, and the pattern or design is imaged according to the presence or absence of condensation droplets. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transfer means comprises a stencil having openings and backings that together form the pattern or design. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the smoothing composition is applied to the transparent material such that the composition contacts the transparent material surface through an open area of the stencil to transfer the pattern or design to the transparent material. And the composition has the same refractive index as the transparent material sheet such that the pattern or design is not visible when the composition and the transparent material sheet are in thermal equilibrium. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transfer means has the same refractive index as the transparent material, and the smoothing composition is applied to the base material through a stencil or mask defining the pattern or design. Way. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the composition that smoothes the transparent surface is a silicon-containing film. 17. The composition of claim 16, wherein the composition for smoothing the transparent surface is selected from the group consisting of siloxanes, silicone oils, diamond-like carbons, polymers, copolymers, oligomers, petroleum distillates, liquid plastics, acrylics, acetates and resins. Method characterized in that the membrane.

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