GB2427502A

GB2427502A - Apparatus for displaying information

Info

Publication number: GB2427502A
Application number: GB0513032A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Mann; Maria Dincheva
Original assignee: Chemence Ltd
Current assignee: Chemence Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-23
Filing date: 2005-06-23
Publication date: 2006-12-27
Also published as: GB0513032D0

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for displaying information 1, the apparatus comprises a substrate 2 in the form of a backing sheet serving as an image plate, the information 1 being mounted upon the substrate 2. The information 1 is in the form of letters, numbers or other indicia in relief from the surface of the substrate 2. The information is such as to fluoresce under the influence of light, such as uv light. Preferably the information 1 is in the form of a polymer which has been formed from a composition of polyetherurethane acrylate or methacrylate prepolymer, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one photoinitiator, at least one stabiliser and at least one fluorescent dye, wherein the composition is cured by uv light to form said polymer.

Description

Apparatus for Displaying Information The present invention relates to apparatus for displaying information in the form of letters, numbers or other indicia, such apparatus being for example a display sign for displaying advertising, warnings and other information. The invention also relates to a polymer composition particularly though not exclusively for use in the manufacture of the apparatus. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for displaying information, the apparatus comprising a substrate upon which is mounted information in the form of letters, numbers or other indicia in relief from a surface of the substrate, the information fluorescing under the influence of light. Preferably means are provided for directing light onto the information to cause it to fluoresce. Suitably the substrate is an image plate having at least one edge and the means for directing light is mounted at one edge to direct light parallel to the surface of the substrate. Conveniently the image plate is bonded to a base plate. The information may be bonded directly to the base plate. The image plate may be bonded to a first base plate via the non-information bearing side of the image plate and the information-bearing side of the image plate is then bonded to a second base plate. Preferably the base plate is of a plastics material which may be transparent. Suitably the information is proud of the surface of the substrate by at least 0.5mm. Conveniently the light is in the visible wavelength and can be of the fluorescent type. Alternatively the light can be of the ultra-violet type and may be one or more different colours. Preferably the information is in the form of a cured polymer containing a fluorescent dye to cause it to fluoresce under the influence of light . The cured polymer may be a photopolymer and suitably the polymer has been formed from a prepolymer cured by ultra-violet light. The polymer may be formed from a composition of a polyurethane acrylate or methacrylate prepolymer, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one photoinitiator, at least one stabiliser and at least one fluorescent dye, the composition being cured by ultra-violet light to form a polymer. The substrate upon which the information is mounted is a sign. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a polymer composition which fluoresces under the influence of light. Preferably the polymer contains a dye to cause it to fluoresce under the influence of light. Suitably the polymer is a photopolymer and conveniently has been formed from a prepolymer cured by ultra-violet light. The polymer may be formed from a composition of a polyurethane acrylate or methacrylate prepolymer, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one photoinitiator, at least one stabiliser and at least one fluorescent dye, the composition being cured by ultra-violet light to form the polymer. Embodiments of the invention will now be particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a view slightly to one side of an image plate and a front or base plate from which basic building blocks the apparatus, the subject of the present invention, is formed, Figure 2 is a first embodiment of the invention incorporating the image and base plates, Figure 3 is a second embodiment of the invention incorporating the image and base plates and Figure 4 is a third embodiment of the invention incorporating the image and two base plates. Referring to Figure 1 the information 1 in the form of letters, numbers or other indicia is provided by a polymer which fluoresces under the influence of light (particularly a photopolymer). In the case shown in Figure 1 the information 1 is in the form of the word "Image Plate" which is bonded to a substrate 2. The substrate 2 takes the form of a backing sheet which may be of a suitable transparent plastics material such as a poly (methylmethacrylate) or other polymer. This sheet 2 which may be flexible serves as an image plate. The information 1 is bonded to the image plate 2 by a conventional technique using a negative where a photopolymer is used such that the information 1 is formed in relief proud of the surface of the image plate 2.The letters 1 are arranged to read left to right or right to left as required and in relief are proud of the surface of the backing sheet by at least 0.5mm. The image plate 2 is then held in intimate contact with a front sheet or base plate 3 which could be a poly (methylmethacrylate) or other polymer so that the image plate 2 bonds to the base plate 3. The base plate 3 could also be of glass but in any case the base plate 3 should be transparent or at least be capable of supporting total internal reflection. During the contact between the image plate 2 and the base plate 3 pressure is applied and/or the plates 2 and 3 are clamped together to procure bonding between the image plate 2 and the base plate 3. Either the information-bearing or non-information bearing side 4 and 5 respectively of the image plate 2 can be bonded to the base plate 3. Referring to Figures 2 to 4, after the image plate 2 has been bonded to the base plate 3, a sealed light box or tube 6 containing a light emitting diode (LED), fluorescent, ultraviolet or filament light source or sources is mounted at an edge 7 of the plate combination. When activated, the light source produces a fluorescent effect in the photopolymer 1 and a three-dimensional image is seen. In Figure 2 the non-information bearing side 5 of the image plate 2 is bonded to the base plate 3 with the information 1 upwards. In Figure 3 the information side 4 of the image plate 2 is bonded directly to the base plate 3. In Figure 4 the information side 4 of the image plate 2 is bonded to a further plate 8 of similar thickness and material to the base plate 3. The further plate 8 may be made from any material which may be clear, black or coloured and the further plate 8 may be placed behind the image plate 2 to provide black or other background. The edges of the plates 3 and 8 may be left matt, polished, coated or enclosed in a frame (not shown). Light may be introduced from any edge of the plates 3 and 8 in which case there may be a light source provided at more than one or all of the edges. Regarding the photopolymer, this is a standard photopolymer grade with hardness 55 or 65 Shore A based on a polyetherurethane prepolymer, acrylic and/or methacrylic monomers and stabilisers. To 100g of such a formulation, 0.05% of a photoinitiator having a maximum absorption peak of between 350 to 370 nm (close to that of visible light), 0.5% of a photoinitiator having a maximum absorption peak of approximately 310 nm and 0.015% of a fluorescent dye are added. Using techniques common and conventional in the manufacture of printing plates with print in the form of a photopolymer, an image plate 2 is provided with almost no floor and a positive relief of 0.6 mm. In this case a standard printing plate machine is used together with a standard cover-lay and a negative conforming to the image required on the backing sheet or image plate 2.

Claims

1. Apparatus for displaying information, the apparatus comprising a substrate upon which is mounted information in the form of letters, numbers or other indicia in relief from a surface of the substrate, the information fluorescing under the influence of light.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided for directing light onto the information to cause it to fluoresce.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the substrate is an image plate having at least one edge and the means for directing light is mounted at an edge to direct light parallel to the surface of the substrate.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the substrate is bonded to a base plate.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the information is bonded directly to the base plate.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the image plate is bonded to a base plate via the non information-bearing side of the image plate and the information-bearing side of the image plate is bonded to a further plate.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7 in which the plate is of plastics material.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which the base plate is transparent.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in which the information is proud of the surface of the substrate by at least 0.5mm.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the light is in the visible wavelength.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the light is fluorescent.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 in which the light is ultra-violet.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the information is in the form of a cured polymer containing a fluorescent dye.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claimed claim 13 in which the cured polymer is a photopolymer.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which the polymer has been formed from a prepolymer cured by ultra-violet light.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the polymer has been formed from a composition of a polyetherurethane acrylate or methacrylate prepolymer, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one photoinitiator, at least one stabiliser and at least one fluorescent dye, the composition being cured by ultra-violet light to form a polymer.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the substrate upon which the information is mounted is a sign.

18. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the Figures.

19. A polymer composition which fluoresces under the influence of light.

20. A polymer composition as claimed in claim 19 in which the polymer contains a fluorescent dye to cause it to fluoresce under the influence of light.

21. A polymer composition as claimed in claim 20 in which the composition is a photopolymer.

22. A polymer composition as claimed in claim 21 in which the polymer has been formed from a prepolymer cured by ultra-violet light.

23. A polymer composition as claimed in any of claims 19 to 22 in which the polymer has been formed from a composition of a polyurethane acrylate or methacrylate prepolymer, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer, at least one photoinitiator, at least one stabiliser and at least fluorescent dye, the composition being cured by ultraviolet light to form a polymer.

24. A polymer composition substantially as hereinbefore described.