Method for manufacturing injection-moulded plastic products and an integrated upgrading system

• US 20070035059A1
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Simit4 OY
• Original Assignee: Simit4 OY
• Inventors: Ruuttu, Jari
• Application Number:
  US10/578,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20070035059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/132
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14237 the inserts being deformed or preformed outside the mould or mould cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14745 in-line printing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0055 Shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0084 General arrangement or lay-out of plants B29C45/1468 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14016 Intermittently feeding endless articles, e.g. transfer films, to the mould B29C45/14262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1418 the inserts being deformed or preformed, e.g. by the injection pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14688 Coating articles provided with a decoration
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14811 Multilayered articles B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/002 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0026 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3437 Cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7224 Holograms

Abstract

Method for manufacturing injection-moulded plastic products, in which method an IM film is used, which travels continuously through several work steps known as such, in which the IM film is processed so that a desired image, text or some other desired design is achieved onto it. The processed IM film is then directed to the injection moulding process, in which the product and the IM film are combined, after which the combination is transferred onto a platform or, for example, directly to the assembly line of mobile phones in an integrated upgrading system.

Claims

1. Method for manufacturing injection-moulded plastic products, in which method an IM film is used, which travels continuously through several steps known as such, in which the IM film is processed so that a desired image, text or other such desired design can be achieved onto it, characterised in that the processed IM film is directed to the injection moulding process, in which the product and the IM film are combined, after which the combination is transferred to a platform or, for example, directly to the assembly line of mobile phones in an integrated upgrading system.

2. Method according to claim 1, in which plastic products are manufactured, for example, for the following devices:

mobile phones, game consoles, press buttons, keyboards, sockets, wrist watches, clocks in general, suitcases, attached cases, document cases, trays, sports equipment, such as frisbee, skateboard, snowboard, consumer goods in general, furnishing parts for cars, furnishing parts for aeroplanes, characterised in that the different work processes have been combined as an integrated part to the injection moulding process and that all steps have been synchronised with each other.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the steps comprise, among others, the piezo printing/laser printing method, laser engraving method, the hardening method of UV colour/paint, vacuum methods, deep drawing or some other formatting method of the IM film, injection moulding method, vacuum metal-lisation, laser cutting, painting/lacquering with piezo sprays.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that all work processes are digitally controllable.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the design and formation of the image, surface is conducted digitally.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the manufacture and all the work processes are directly controllable by means of the Internet.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the IM film is clean.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the IM film is continuous and that it simultaneously forms a conveyor.

9. Method according to claim 1, in which the deep drawing or overpressure process is used in the 3d formatting, characterised in that the IM film is directed, aligned on mechanically moving auxiliary surfaces/planes.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the IM film is formatted before the injection moulding step and that the vacuum processes are directed to a finished 3d formatted IM film before the injection moulding process.

11. Method according to claim 1, in which vacuum metallisation has been combined to the production process e.g. for screening, characterised in that the work process is performed to the inner surface of the workpiece after the injection moulding process.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the removal/detachment of the workpiece from the IM film, which forms the conveyor as the end of all work processes, is conducted by a laser work process.

13. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the workpiece is detached from the IM film part by a laser method, and that the work-piece has been placed to a work plane, which is at least biaxial x, y or triaxial x, y,z so that the laser beam would always align correctly.

14. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the steps comprise, among others, the piezo printing/laser printing method, laser engraving method, the hardening method of UV colour/paint, vacuum methods, deep drawing or some other formatting method of the IM film, injection moulding method, vacuum metallisation, laser cutting, painting/lacquering with piezo sprays.