Process and device for manufacturing a glazing unit comprising a decorative film, and glazing unit comprising a decorative film

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689194-B2
Application number	US-201113641351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2011
Priority date	Apr 16, 2010
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a glazing unit ( 1 ) comprising a glazed element ( 2 ) optionally equipped with a portion of a profiled strip ( 3 ), said glazing unit ( 1 ) having at least one flexible part and/or one hard part, said flexible part belonging to said profiled strip ( 3 ) and said hard part belonging to said glazed element ( 2 ) or to said profiled strip ( 3 ), characterized in that at least one film ( 4 ) comprising a substrate ( 40 ) having a rear face ( 41 ) and a front face ( 42 ), on which a decorative coating ( 45 ) is positioned, is applied to said glazing unit ( 1 ), the film ( 4 ) being pressed against the glazing unit by applying at least one punch ( 54 ) against the rear face ( 41 ) of the substrate ( 40 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for manufacturing a glazing unit, the process comprising, in order:
(a) obtaining a glazing unit comprising a glazing element having at least one edge and at least one face and being equipped with a profiled strip, wherein the glazing element is glass and the profiled strip is plastic and wherein at least a portion of the profiled strip is on the face of the glazing element;
(b) positioning the glazing unit on a support comprising a counter-form; and
(c) pressing a film against at least a portion of a flexible part of the profiled strip of the glazing unit which protrudes outwards from the edge of the glazing element by applying a punch against the film, thereby adhering a decorative coating to at least a portion of the flexible part of the profiled strip, wherein the flexible part of the profiled strip has a hardness of from 55 to 95 Shore A;
(d) raising the punch; and
(e) withdrawing the film.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein, during (b), the flexible part is positioned on the counter-form.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein during (c), the punch presses the film at least partially against an outer face of the flexible part of the profiled strip, with an inner face of the flexible part of the profiled strip which is supported by the counter-form.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein, during (c), at least or during all the stages, the punch is heated.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the film is wound on a roll which is unwound before pressing the film against the glazing unit.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein, during (c), the pressing is carried out for a duration between 1 and 20 seconds.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein, during (c), the pressing is carried out at a pressure between 0.1 and 10 MPa.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein, during (c), the pressing is carried out at a temperature between 80 and 150° C.

9. The process of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flexible part is curved and the punch presses the film against at least a portion of the curved portion of the flexible part.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein the punch presses the film against several lateral edges of the glazing unit.

11. The process of claim 1 , the process comprising implementing a device, wherein the device comprises:
a movable punch, which presses against the glazing unit on which a decorative coating is positioned, such that the decorative coating adheres to the glazing unit.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the punch comprises a rotatably mounted roller or a translatably mounted pad.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the decorative coating is adhered to a hard part of the profiled strip.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein the decorative coating is adhered to the face of the glazing element.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the decorative coating is adhered to a hard part of the profiled strip and the face of the glazing element.

Assignees

• Verrat-Debailleul Adele
• Lefevre Pascal
• Froissard Loic
• Saint Gobain

Inventors

• Verrat-Debailleul Adele
• Lefevre Pascal
• Froissard Loic

Classifications

• Y10T156/10

  Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor · CPC title

• B29L2031/7782

  Glazing · CPC title

• E06B1/04 Primary

  Frames for doors, windows, or the like to be fixed in openings ({of curvilinear outline E06B1/006; } special adaptations for fixing in base frames E06B1/02; features relating solely to the mounting of glass panes or other sheets E06B3/00) · CPC title

• B44C1/1712 Primary

  Decalcomanias applied under heat and pressure, e.g. provided with a heat activable adhesive · CPC title

• B44C1/16

  for applying transfer pictures or the like · CPC title