WO2004106082B1

WO2004106082B1 - Thermal image transfer by sublimation or fusion

Info

Publication number: WO2004106082B1
Application number: PCT/IT2004/000306
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele Giannini
Original assignee: Michele Giannini
Priority date: 2003-05-29
Filing date: 2004-05-27
Publication date: 2005-01-06
Also published as: ITBA20030026A1; WO2004106082A1; EP1648711A1

Abstract

Method to transfer decorations, from films on which are printed, to whichever decorable objects. This method allows sublimatic and physical transfers. Specular images are printed on films, with sublimable or physically transferable inks, they are then brought in contact with the objects to decorate and transfer heat is supplied. This is obtained creating vacuum between films and objects, by vacuum machines able to seal objects inside films under vacuum. The films are barrier type ( thermoretractable, on the occurrence), able to bear the heat treatment temperatures. The objects of very complex shape, sealed in the films, are dealt in a pressure chamber before executing the transfer. Transfers at low temperature are executed in a decompression chamber. It is possible to print decorations also on intermediate films, positionable on the objects by repositionable adhesives. These, vacuum packaged as said, undergo the decorations transfers treatments.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 29 NOV 2004 (29.11.04); original claims 1- 44 have been replaced by amended claim 1- 54. 1 - Method to transfer decorations from sheets, skins, films or other suitable several supports, on which they are printed with sublimatic or physically transferable inks, to the surfaces of other objects of whichever tridimensional or bidimensional shape and of any material, suitable to be decorated, the method comprising: - avoiding the use of any elastic membrane or other substitutive means, integral with vacuum and heating transfer apparatus, used in prior art to push the flexible sheets against the objects surfaces - printing the decorations to transfer, with transferable inks, on suitable thermoplastic films having the characteristics and properties to replace and improve the membrane (or other means) functions - using "vacuum packaging chamber machines", normally used for foodstuffs vacuum packaging, or vacuum machines similar or equivalent, equipped with a vacuum chamber and several couples of welding bars, on its contour edges, that enable the sealing and welding of two of said suitable thermoplastic films each other hermetically, under vacuum - introducing into the said machine two suitable thermoplastic "barrier" films (or one only, opportunely folded: see fig. 2, 4, 5, 6) bringing the decorations to transfer, facing each other, printed in specular way - interposing the object to decorate, suitably (see fig. 5, 6, 8, 9), between the said two films (or into one only, opportunely folded) - making vacuum in said "vacuum packaging chamber machine" - sealing and welding then, under vacuum, the films (or one folded film) while the object to decorate is interposed between them, that have the corresponding edges interposed between the welding bars couples of said vacuum packaging machine - reintroducing then the ambient air in the vacuum machine, before its opening - extracting the object (so packaged) from the "vacuum packaging chamber machine" - exposing then the object, so packaged under vacuum into the films, to several suitable treatments into suitable apparatuses able to allow new kinds of otherwise not practicable treatments (before heat transfers will be done), in order to improve the transfers productivity, quality and treatment flexibility. The new treatments principally comprise:

- carrying out the heating, to obtain decorations transfers on objects, separately from vacuum apparatus, on a great amount of objects, also different among them, in suitable tunnel or static ovens (see claim 19)

- decorations transfers, on very complex shapes objects, in suitable pressure chamber (see claim 21)

- sublimatic decorations transfers at low temperature in suitable compression-decompression chamber (see claims 29 and 37)

- high speed sublimatic decorations transfers at low pressure (see claims 37 and 45)

- sublimatic and physical decorations transfers, at the same time, at low temperature (see claim 51)

- and others illustrated in the following claims.

In reference to citations of ISA.

Considering the amended claim 1, the documents thought to be relevant, against our method, don't appear to have any relevance: they refer to methods using unlike means and/or regarding different purposes, as follows: - document D1 (WO 02/072301) discloses a method using a membrane (to push the image earner sheets on the object surfaces) integral with an apparatus, itself integral with a heating and vacuum system. Furthermore this method is not able to do decorations transfers, at the same time, on all the sides of tridimensional objects and is moreover not able to do sublimatic transfers at low temperature, neither at high speed; - document D2 (WO 00/30868), in page 1, lines 10-21, refers to the prior art methods that use elastic membranes integral with vacuum and heating apparatuses. Furthermore the patent, relating to document D2, regards mainly a method to obtain special silicone films not concerning our method. The prior art methods and the method claimed in D2 are not able moreover to do sublimatic transfers at low temperature, neither at high speed; - document D3 (GB 2 345 661) discloses a method and a purpose that have nothing to do with our method and relative purposes: it regards sheets transfers, done by unlike method and means that don't concerne decorations transfers; 45 - document D4 (US 3 818 823): «relates to a vacuum press and more particularly relates to a heated, vacuum pressure press for facilitating the transfer of a substance from one substrate to another in a rapid and efficient manner on the press». This method also have nothing to do with our method: unlike purpose, method and means.

2 - Method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising: - providing to adopt suitable "thermoretractable" thermoplastic barrier films (when "full tridimensional" objects must be decorated on all their surfaces that present very complex shapes), in order to ensure that the probable folds present on the films, vacuum packaged around the object, may be spread during the heating treatments and before transfers making. The films adopted are retractable (at temperature lower than that needed to obtain the wanted transfer) enough to obtain a complete folds spreading before the transfer will be done. The atmospheric pressure, or other kind of pressure, acting to the outside directly on the films vacuum packaged around the object, supplies to push the films against the object surfaces to decorate, instead the films retraction is needed to spread the folds. When the atmospheric pressure is not enough to ensure the tight adhesion of the said films to all the object surfaces, while the films retraction is spreading the said folds, a treatment in a suitable pressure chamber is provided (see claim 21). 3 - Method as claimed in claims 1-2, further comprising: - using alternatively "non-chamber vacuum packaging machines", equipped with a couple of welding bars but having not vacuum chamber. They realize the vacuum (without the use of a vacuum chamber) externally to the machine, extracting the air contained in an envelope or bag, of weldable thermoplastic barrier film, in which the object, to package under vacuum, is inserted. After the vacuum having been realized between the object and bag, this is hermetically sealed and welded by the welding bars, that seal and weld each other the two sheets of the bag that form its "mouth". This type of machine is able to realize a less pushed vacuum but is more suitable for the treatment of objects of great dimensions or extended in length or in plane - using the said suitable barrier films, bringing the decorations, to form the said envelopes or bags, dimensioned according to the objects dimensions. The decorations remain on the films faces to the inside of envelopes or bags, printed in specular way, facing the object surfaces to decorate - establishing the envelopes or bags dimensions so that they are not too much abundant but fit closely enough on the objects, when these are inserted, before beginning the vacuum packaging, in order to avoid the films will present excessive folds to spread, when the vacuum packaging is done by a suitable thermoretractable thermoplastic barrier film. In any case, to spread the folds is important when these interest zones to decorate, otherwise they don't influence the transfer quality. 4 - Method as claimed in claims 1-3, characterized in that the suitable films adopted, can be monolayer or multilayer (see fig. 3) and they are all those that possess the characteristics already mentioned, in previous claims, and the following further ones: - good weldability, by means of whichever sealing and welding method (thermal, dielectric, ultrasonic or others) applicable to them, in order to facilitate the vacuum packaging - resistance to the temperatures needed for the decorations heat transfers - good resistance to the stresses that will be exerted on them when the vacuum packaging has happened, or during subsequent treatments - good printing support, when required, for whichever suitable kind of heat sublimable or physically transferable ink, by whichever suitable printing means. If the films to print don't present at least one face able to be a good printing support, it's enough to execute, on the face to print, a "corona" or flame or plasma treatment, or suitable chemical treatments, in order to make them suitable for this purpose - sufficient heat absorption and conduction according to our method - good flexibility to be easily conformed to the shapes of the objects to decorate and, when required, good thermoformability - low friction, with the surfaces to decorate, to avoid holds or anomalous stretchings between the surfaces and films themselves - capability to absorb the greatest amount of the supplied heat. When the heating is done by infrared beams the films must be, preferably, not much or not at all transparent to heat radiations, neither reflecting.

46 Still better if they are of black or dark color - thickness varying within wide limits, according to the kind of adopted films and objects dimensions and their shapes complexity: generally it oscillates between 20 and 500 micron (not limiting indication). 5 - Method as claimed in claims 1-4, characterized in that all the films having the characteristics listed in the previous claims, used, as there described, with the illustrated vacuum packaging chamber and non-chamber machines, are suitable to do decorations transfers on full tridimensional and bidimensional objects, of whichever shape, dimension and material able to be decorated. All they are claimed thus, according to our method, included those cited and described, in the illustrative not limiting examples, in the attached description at points C, D, E and F. 6 - Method as claimed in claims 1-5, further comprising some devices, when the objects are exposed to heating, in order to obtain correctly the wanted transfers, as follows: - when the heating is carried out by infrared beams, these will have wavelength at limit between the "high" values of medium waves and those "low" of long waves (dark irradiators): of approximately 3-5 micron (not limiting indication) - the heating must be sufficiently fast, in order to warrant a correct jump of temperature, between the films and surfaces, with them in contact. These devices warrant the prevailing heating of films compared to object surfaces: in this way the sublimating gases of the decorations to transfer, printed on films, are not absorbed by the films themselves, but only, or principally, by the surfaces of the objects to decorate. The same devices enable also the correct physical transfer of decorations, when the transfer to execute is not by sublimation. When the heating is done by contact between the films and hot air or steam or other hot gas or fluid, the prevailing heating of films is always attained. 7 - Method as claimed in claims 1-6, further comprising: - using, for decorations printing, whichever kind of suitable printing means, able to employ the said suitable inks: the decoration printing may be done also by hand - suitably treating the objects to decorate, that are not able to absorb sublimating gases or to fasten the physical transfers, in order to make them receptive. This is obtained depositing and fastening, on the surfaces to decorate, a suitable layer of material, receptive for the sublimating gases, or such to fasten the decorations to transfer physically. The said suitable layer must also resist, without disadvantages, the temperatures demanded by treatments, and stresses to which the objects will be exposed, during their use.

Varnishes, enamels or fusible coating powders are the most suitable, based on polyester and/or acrylic and/or polyurethane and/or epoxy and/or silicone resins or on other similar polymers and/or engineering resins, homo- polymers and relative co-polymers, terpolymers or polypoly ers and probable alloys, compatible with the objects to decorate, with the treatments to undergo, and with the use to which are assigned. When treatments at low pressure and temperature are done, according to our "conditioned decompression" treatment (see claim 29), the said suitable cover layers are not demanded to resist high temperature transfer treatments, so they may be also varnishes, enamels or fusible coating powders based on PE, PS, PVC, PMMA materials and the like, and their homopolymers and relative co-polymers, terpolymers or polypolymers and probable alloys - suitably treating the surfaces to decorate by sublimation, that are in dark or black color, in order to render them of white or light color, because the sublimatic transfer are of transparent colors - suitably cleaning the objects to decorate, if they are not perfectly cleaned, before any other treatment will be done. The cleaning operations will be physical and/or chemical and/or elechtrolytical treatments, according to the objects material kinds. 8 - Method as claimed in claims 1-7, characterized in that all the descriptions, devices, treatments, equipments, previously claimed are intended extensible contemporary to a plurality of objects for each step, also when in the claims are referred to one single object. The said plurality may be constituted of objects equal, similar or different among them, on condition that all they are able to resist the treatments that contemporary they must undergo. This claim is extended also to all the claims that follow. When treatments at low pressure and temperature are foreseen, according to our method (see claim 29) many kinds of objects of any shape may be contemporary processed in the various treatments which they must undergo. 47 9 - Method as claimed in claims 1-8, characterized in that the decorations transfers so executable are done normally on all the objects surfaces in contact with the films bringing the decorations to transfer. To obtain the decorations disposition on the object surfaces exactly as and where they are wanted, this treatment, that we name treatment of FIRST TYPE, needs some little changes, becoming so a treatment of SECOND TYPE. The said changes comprise: - the zones to decorate are defined and marked, as described and illustrated at point G in the attached description and relative fig. 10 (not limiting example) - the said zones (usually tridimensional) are copied and spread in plan to obtain the flat pattern of surfaces, as described and illustrated at point H in the attached description and relative fig. 11 - the model obtained is repeatedly drawn (or only supposed "drawn") on film (on which decorations must be printed by whichever suitable means) in the best rational way in order to obtain the best "yield" in cutting, as described and illustrated at point I in the attached description and relative fig. 11, 13, 14 - the pieces cut out from films, have the shape of the pattern (fig. 11), obtained as before described, and bring, in right position and guideline, the images to transfer (fig. 14 and 15) correctly printed. Every piece so cut out is spread, on all its surface (facing the object) or only on some partial zones, in the points more suitable for a correct anchorage on the object, with removable adhesive resistant the temperatures of sublimatic or physical transfer, and attached on the corresponding zone to decorate, as described and illustrated at point J in the attached description and relative fig. 11, 12, 14, 15. These film pieces so cut and attached on the corresponding zones to decorate are named: "intermediate films" - the uniform pressure and heating, needed to do the correct sublimatic or physical decorations transfer, must be exerted on the intermediate films surfaces in contact with object. This is obtained inserting the object, so prepared, between two suitable films (or between two faced faces of the same film, or in an envelope or bag formed with the film), not bringing decorations to transfer, weldable hermetically around the object, and supplying the relative object vacuum packaging as illustrated in the previous claims. Extracting then the objects from the used vacuum apparatus, they will undergo the relative subsequent treatments, according to our decorations transfer method as claimed also in the following relevant claims (see fig. 15, 16, 17: not limiting example). 10 - Method as claimed in claims 1-9, characterized in that, in the transfer treatments of SECOND TYPE, using vacuum packaging films enough thin and flexible, it's not necessary to spread probable folds formed on the same, because the folds would not influence, in this case, the transfer quality. 11 - Method as claimed in claims 1-10, characterized in that the intermediate films, used in SECOND TYPE treatments, can be simple sheets of paper or whichever other suitable material: not always they are demanded to possess all the characteristics needed for the vacuum packaging films, as described in the previous claims. 12 - Method as claimed in claims 1-11 , characterized in that, arranging together the treatments of FIRST TYPE and that of SECOND TYPE, special decorations are accomplished by a treatment that we call of MIXED TYPE, it comprising: - transferring decorations with "precise topic", brought back on intermediate films, and fastened on very well identified and opportunely marked object zones (treatment of SECOND TYPE: see claim 9), within decorations with not "precise topic", brought back on vacuum packaging films and transferred on all the surfaces of the object being in contact with them (treatment of FIRST TYPE: see claims 1 to 8). - capability to create zones of reserve, as regards decorations transferred by the vacuum packaging films, and those transferred by the intermediate films. The intermediate films, which have the pattern of the zone to be reserved and don't bring decorations to transfer, are fastened on the zones to reserve, in contact of the same: these are films or sheets having good "barrier" capability against probable sublimation gases and giving good protection against decorations physical transfers. 13 - Method as claimed in claims 1-12, characterized in that, if the heat retraction of the flat vacuum packaging films is not sufficient to perfectly spread the folds that the films themselves present on the zones to decorate, the films to adopt will be of not thermoretractable type, in flat shape, and will be preformed to shape female of the objects and then will be made thermoretractable, before their use in the way and for the purpose of our decorations transfer method, as follows: - making a preforming mould (49 of fig. 20): this may be formed in whichever metallic casting material, or by machining processing of suitable material, in any ca^e easy to cool. Its internal shape will be the copy female of the object to decorate. As not limiting example, see 51 in the mould 49 of fig 20, that refers to a shoe sole object, where 56 are the sections of a frame pushing the film on mould 49 - thermoforming, with said mould, the film not thermoretractable adopted, by heating it (see 54 of fig 20) at its thermoelastic state, within its own optimal interval of thermoforming temperature, by infrared beams and/or hot air flow and the like, acting on the outside face of film, while (by the holes 53) a vacuum pump extracts air from the cavity (51). In this way the atmospheric pressure pushes the film, blocked between the frame (56) and mould (49), forcing it to stretch as far as against the cold internal surfaces of the mould - the mould surfaces temperature must be lower than the film Tg (if the film material is thermoplastic amorphous not crystalline) or Tm (if partially crystalline), able so to cool the stretched film under the temperature that enables to block its shape in the wanted preforming, "freezing" so its preforming, under tension. The films to use must have the Tg or, respectively, Tm of value higher than the working ambient temperature - the films forming (or preforming) is not needed to be such to dress perfectly the objects: this enables to use the same type of preforming for several objects, of various volume and shape not very different among them, and such that, when the withdrawal happens, the films join perfectly the objects. - the second film needed to complete the closing, air tight, of the object to decorate, according to our method, may be preformed similarly if it's needed, but in several cases it may be not necessary, as it appears in the cited, not limiting example of fig. 20. In these case in fact, adopting the second film of thermoretractable type in flat shape, it's easy to package the object (shoe sole in the example) hermetically under vacuum, between the film preformed, as described in this claim, and said second flat thermoretractable one, sealed and welded each other, as described in claims 1-3. In this way the objects remain vacuum packaged into thermoretractable films opportunely preformed on the objects shapes. See also, for relative extension or detailed derivations, the descriptions illustrated at points N1, 01, P1, Q1, R1, S1 and T1 and in the relative drawings, that all here are claimed entirety. 14 - Method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that, if treatments of FIRST TYPE are executed, the decorations, brought back on films, could undergo remarkable deformations, due to the stretchings to which the films are exposed; deformations that could not influence, if the decorations to transfer are only single colors or represent imitations of materials that don't appear, of norm, in very regular shapes. In other cases, when the deformations will be thought unacceptable, the treatment of FIRST TYPE will be transformed in treatment of SECOND TYPE, when possible. 15 - Method as claimed in the previous claims 13 and 14, characterized in that an alternative solution is to realize the films preformings so that the same don't be directly executed being gained from the films flat shape, but supplying to insert them, without stretchings, in the cavities, where they must be thermoformed, so as to turn out inserted in the cavities in way "loose" and lightly draped enough to do so that, in the subsequent thermoforming operations, the films will be completely extended on the cavity surfaces, without being stretched or being not much stretched. This is obtained, by means of the apparatus illustrated in fig. 20 and 21, concerning a not limiting example, referred to a shoe sole object, as follows: - adopting a mould formed by two parts: a base (49 of fig. 20) and a cover (50), one of which (49) brings the print "female" (51), of the object to deal, and the other (50), in correspondence, a cavity (52) used to lodge an heating element (52'), using infrared beams having wavelength suitable for the heating of adopted film (54) or able to heat it by hot air and the like. The film (54), to thermoform, is kept sliding, by light friction, between the mould base (49) and a frame (56), hinged on the mould base. The friction size is determined by the weight of frame (56) and by the finish of film surfaces, frame itself and mould base. Modifying the weight of frame and/or finish of said surfaces, the film can slide more or less easily. If the surfaces in contact with film are Teflon coated, the friction is minimized. The film sliding, able to insert it in the cavity (51), is obtained, when the film is still cold and mould is opened, sucking up air from the cavity (51), through suitable holes (53). In this way the film is pushed within cavity (51) by atmospheric pressure while, of other part, it's refrained by the friction between the frame and mould base surfaces 49, along also all the mould edges (in contact with film) that encircle the cavity. Regulating: - the speed of air suction - the frame weight - the finish of frame surfaces 49 - the finish of mould base surfaces in contact with the film - the finish of film surfaces and its tenacity, the film portion that can be thus pushed within the cavity, without stretching, remains only function of the time employed for the said air suction. This time will be regulated and fixed, so that the film can enter in the cavity, remaining so "loose" and draped to minimize its stretching during the thermoforming. The film dimensions are such that it turns out inserted, between the frame (56) and mould base, also after having been "pushed" within the cavity, as said, and the mould will be completely closed, before executing the thermoforming (see fig. 21). After the air pre suction, the thermoforming is executed closing the mould cover (50) on the mould base (49), through the frame (56), activating the heating element (52'), for the time necessary to carry the film temperature to the value comprised in its optimal interval of thermoforming, and completing the suction that will enable the atmospheric pressure to thermoform the film on the cavity cold surfaces, as demanded: the best suction holes (53) disposition is normally along the inferior contour edges of cavity (51). In order to maintain at cold these surfaces, the mould base (49) can be cooled by continuous water or air circulation, through suitable mould ducts, to the occurrence (not limiting indication). The thermoforming system before illustrated enables either to minimize the stretching of the film to thermoform, or to regulate its stretching between a maximum value that is had if the film is thermoformed directly, without supplying to insert it partially, at cold, in the cavity, before passing to the final thermoforming, and a minimal value, that is obtained as before described. 16 - Method as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the relative treatment described, to introduce the cold film within the cavity, to minimize its stretchings, may be partially changed using suitable shapes "males", arranged on the cavity 52 (together with the heating element 52'), centered with regard to cavity (51), being dimensioned suitably smaller than the cavity (51), in order to introduce, at cold, the film in the cavity in way enough "loose" and lightly draped, while the mould will be closed and before its complete closing, replacing so the action of air pre-suction. 17 - Method as claimed in claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the relative treatments described, to introduce the cold film within the cavity, to minimize its final stretchings, may be partially changed combining together the treatments of claims 15 and 16. 18 - Method as claimed in claims 15-17 characterized in that it enables to decorate the objects with original and exclusive decorations, taking advantage of the fact that the thermoforming of preprinted films produces, on the same, stretchings such to deform the images or decorations on them printed. Organizing and opportunely controlling this "disadvantage", the objects decoration, with original images having particular or grotesque effects, is possible. For example not limiting, printing opportunely, on the film, a normal woman's picture, it's possible to transfer on the object a picture with "Modigliani effect", making so that it comes out opportunely lengthened by the stretching undergone from the film during the thermoforming. Analogous images increased or in other ways deformed in grotesque shapes can be obtained. The images turn out more or less deformed according to the film is exposed to stretchings more or less pushed. 19 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that the heating (or preheating, when required), to obtain decorations transfers on objects, is carried out, separately from the vacuum apparatus (see claim 1- 3), on a great amount of objects, also different among them, in a tunnel oven equipped with a belt conveyor (not limiting indication) proceeding by adjustable speed or by intermittence, or in a static oven: the heating is done by infrared beams and/or by hot air and the like. In this way the treatments are made contemporary on a great number of objects in several materials, shapes and largeness, done contemporary with several kinds of films, decorations and inks (sublimatic, or physically transferable), in treatments of FIRST TYPE, SECOND TYPE or MIXED TYPE, improving so enormously the treatments productivity and flexibility. The heating transfers so made, by sublimation or by physical transfer, can be obtained also at the low temperature limit (140-150 C°) adopted in the technology in use (140-200 °C): the relative probable time lengthening is of negligible importance because the transfer treatment is executed at the same time on a great number of objects rather than on a single object for time. 20 - Method as claimed in the previous claim 19, further comprising the adoption of loading and unloading objects-carrier planes (not limiting indication), to speed up the tunnel or static oven feeding. In this case the tunnel oven belt conveyor movement is, preferably, of intermittent type: it proceeds quickly, at the end of every cycle of heating, in order to extract the planes with the objects having been already exposed to heating, intro- 50 ducing at same time the planes with the objects that will undergo next cycle. 21 - Method as claimed in previous claims, further comprising, for objects of very complex shapes, when the atmospheric pressure, or that of working ambient, acting on the objects packaged under vacuum in the films, is not enough to ensure the films contact, with all the object surfaces to decorate, the possibility to increase this pressure introducing the objects in a "pressure chamber". This chamber, for heat transfers, can be heated, in whichever way compatible with our method, to temperature of approximately 200 °C and more (not limiting indication): the objects to deal are held for the time necessary to let the transfer happen, with or without their suitable preventive preheating in a tunnel or static oven. The pressure chamber is connected with an air compressor and, preferably, with a preheater of compressed air. 22 - Method as claimed in the previous claim 21, characterized in that the pressure chamber shape can be of whichever type, with at least an openable side for the loading and unloading of the objects to expose to pressure, and constructed in whichever material able to bear the pressures that must be exerted in it. 23 - Method as claimed in the previous claims 21-22, characterized in that a preferential model of pressure chamber, not limiting, has a cylindrical shape and is constructed in stainless steel. It presents, on the two cylinder mouths, two doors openable towards the outside, being very well suitable to help an express loading and unloading of the pressure chamber, at the end of each treatment cycle. The closing doors, hinged by suitable sturdy hinges, and equipped with the usual security systems, are closed hermetically on the chamber, by packings of silicone rubber or other suitable rubbers or engineering resins, not limiting indication, equally resistant high temperatures. The doors opening is subjected to the opening of the compressed air discharge valve. The chamber is equipped with a manometer (in order to control the pressure), a safety valve, a thermostat, a probe (protuberant in the chamber but isolated from its surfaces), to regulate and indicate the temperature to which the objects are exposed, and a timer for the cycles length control.

The chamber brings inside some railroads (not limiting indication) of sliding, opportunely disposed, for the loading and unloading of object-carrier planes. Or it can be modified in order to enable the loading and unloading of a monolithic structure, assembling the several planes together (in case decomposable), open and accessible for the insertion and extraction of the objects to decorate. The monolithic structure overall dimensions allow its insertion in block in the pressure chamber. In this case the sliding on wheels of the entire structure simplifies the loading and unloading in pressure chamber, and movement through the tunnel oven or introduction and extraction from the static oven: equipments to be modified in order to help the sliding on wheels. The said monolithic structure can be used also for the loading and unloading of single objects of large dimensions. If the objects are tubes (or drawn bars or extruded articles and the like), the said monolithic structure can be a suitable undercarriage pipe-carrier or bar-carrier equipped with sliding wheels and with soft objects-supports in order to avoid the laceration of the vacuum packaging films. Fig. 18 shows a not limiting example of pressure chamber. Fig. 19 illustrates a not limiting example of tape conveyor with the object-carrier planes. 24 - Method as claimed in the previous claims 21-23, characterized in that the pressure chamber described is an its preferential shape. But other shapes can replace it and they all re-enter in our method. For ulterior illustrative example not limiting, the pressure chamber could be a chamber, opportunely formed, in reinforced concrete, dealt to be airtight, having one or two airtight doors. It's structured in order to resist the maximum pressures to adopt and has dimensions suitable for the several types and greatest largeness of the objects to decorate, it's further equipped with all the instruments useful to supply, regulate and indicate the temperatures adopted, and is connected to an air compressor equipped with an air compressed preheater (not limiting indication) and with a manometer for the control of the pressure exerted in its inside. In a pressure chamber of this type, the final heating of the objects, to cause the decorations transfer, is obtained arranging, on its walls and ceiling, radiating elements by suitable infrared beams, equipping the chamber with suitable reflecting walls, and/or with a good system for the right hot air circulation and the like. 25 - Method as claimed in the previous claims 21-24, characterized in that the objects heating in the pressure chamber can be realized also by overheated steam, which supply the heat needed and pressure demanded. The working and control instruments of the compressed air pressure chamber are replaced by instruments suitable for the running and control of a chamber heated by overheated steam. Adopting steam to supply pressure and heat, our pressure chamber is comparable with a large autoclave of sterilization, suitable for the 51 use demanded according to our method, with two openable doors rather than only one (not limiting indication), able to supply pressures and temperatures, in case, higher than those adopted in the autoclaves of sterilization, and made much more flexible in order to execute job cycles very much various. 26 - Method as claimed in previous claims 21-25, characterized in that the objects heating in the pressure chamber can be realized in whichever way compatible with our method. 27 - Method as claimed in previous claims, further providing to overcome disadvantages occurring in case the objects to decorate present deep or passing holes: in this case the vacuum packaging films can be perforated, in correspondence of the holes, under the atmospheric pressure or that exerted in the pressure chamber, preventing the treatment prosecution. These disadvantages are overcome, selecting opportunely the vacuum packaging film and suitably proportioning its thickness and/or plugging temporarily the holes, before making the vacuum packaging. Also the sharp edges, the spiky tips or flashes must be avoided or rounded off, if the objects are metallic or of rigid material. If the objects present "deep throats" it's provided to plug their income by suitable stoppers, of material partially or totally porous or supplied with very small holes. Alternatively is provided to assemble the stoppers to the objects so as to enable the vent of the air present in the deep cavities, to realize the vacuum also in them, without the vacuum packaging film being torn. 28 - Method as claimed in previous claims, further comprising the capability to do decorations transfers also if the objects to decorate are not tridimensional rigid solids and more or less elastic, but also soft and flexible objects like the linen, naperies, clothes, carpets, leather and the like. The application details of our method to do decoration transfers to a T-shirt or hats or emergency helmet and the like, illustrated in the attached description at points M, Nl, O, P, Q, R, and in all the S point, show its immediate extensibility, by simple devices, to all the assembled articles of clothing or their component parts or accessories and to objects of very varied shapes and materials, not only by the same operating method but also by the same machines and equipments and maintaining a very high productivity. 29 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that, with an appropriate use of our pressure chamber, the transfer temperature of decorations by sublimation can be lowered a lot (90-125 C°).

This is possible exerting, "on decorations themselves", a very low pressure, so our pressure chamber is used as a decompression chamber, in order to exert a very low pressure "on decorations themselves" printed on films, vacuum packaged around the objects in it dealt, as follows: - the films packaged, under vacuum, around the object to decorate, are in tight contact with the object surfaces (see claim 1), pushed against them by the atmospheric or working ambient pressure. They so can be easily conformed or "thermoformed" on the object surfaces, heating them to temperature comprised in the films optimal interval of thermoforming. This allows to obtain that the films remain in contact with the object surfaces also if the pressure, acting to outside, is lowered to a minimum value balancing the residual pressure, existing between the vacuum packaging films and objects in them packaged under vacuum, and also the probable residual elastic reaction of films: this minimum pressure value is named "minimum pressure enabled". When the conformation is made, if the films temperature is lowered under the value of their Tg (or Tm), the films will be really thermoformed on the object annulling so their elastic reactions, what allows to diminish the value of "minimum pressure enabled". Since the vacuum packaged objects are placed in a vacuum chamber (our decompression chamber), the relative films are correctly (see claim 6) cooled prevalently by the objects in them packaged. Executing the films thermoforming at the low limit of their optimal interval of thermoforming, their cooling to temperature lower than their own Tg (if amorphous) or Tm (if partially crystalline) is easy - therefore our pressure chamber suitably connected with a vacuum pump, becomes a vacuum chamber (decompression chamber) and enables to reduce the "ambient pressure", acting to outside of the objects packaged under vacuum into the relative films, to the "minimum pressure enabled". This "minimum pressure enabled" is the real minimum pressure exerted "on decorations themselves" that allows to do, in our decompression chamber, the decorations sublimation at temperature lower than that needed doing the treatment under atmospheric pressure, without lengthening the treatment time. This treatment in our compression-decompression chamber we name treatment by "conditioned decompression", in detail illustrated in the attached description at points T, U, V, W, X and in the variants V and W all making part of this claim. For treatments of SECOND TYPE, as illustrated at variant W, the treatment by "conditioned decompres- 52 sion" may become treatment by "not conditioned decompression" or simply "treatment by decompression". 30 - Method as claimed in previous claim 29, characterized in that, operating in accordance with our treatment by "conditioned decompression", at very low pressure, it's possible to sublimate inks that, at atmospheric pressure, are not sublimable or it would be at very high temperatures. According to this variant of our method, our treatment by "conditioned decompression" enables to execute decorations printings, for sublimation transfers, also with inks that don't turn out suitable for this type of transfer at normal atmospheric pressure: inks not usable in prior art 31 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29 and 30, characterized in that, also for the objects of complex shape, the transfer can be carried out by sublimation at low pressure and low temperature, according to our treatment by "conditioned decompression". The objects, packaged under vacuum in the relative films, and preheated, in a tunnel or static oven (not limiting indication), to temperatures at the low limits of their optimal intervals of thermoforming, are exposed to pressure (in our compression-decompression chamber heated preferably to the temperature of preheating), in order to conform the films to the objects shapes. When the "thermoforming" happens, with relative lessening to the minimum values of the films elastic reactions, the pressure will be lowered to the "minimum enabled", in order to obtain the sublimatic transfer at low pressure and temperature, as in detail illustrated in the attached description, at points Y, Z, A1, B1, C1, D1, they all making part of this claim. 32 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-31, characterized in that the decompression chamber can also be separated from the compression (or pressure) chamber. Thus, after the films thermoforming on objects in pressure chamber, these are fast moved to decompression chamber and the treatment continues as illustrated (see the points B1 and relative following ones) or also as described at variants V and W. 33 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-32, characterized in that the treatment by "conditioned decompression" is applicable also when vacuum packaging thermoretractable films are adopted. When the retraction happens, the films are heated to the temperatures of their own optimal interval of thermoforming, to be "thermoformed" on objects. In this way their elastic reactions are reduced to minimum values, enabling thus the treatment by "conditioned decompression". 34 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-33, characterized in that, with the treatment by "conditioned decompression", vacuum packaging films are adopted which don't have to resist the temperatures of 180-200 °C, but lower ones, 90-125 °C (not limiting indication). These are much more economic and of wider use like, for example not limiting, films of PE, PVC, PS, PMMA and the like, having the optimal interval of thermoforming at low temperatures (110-140 °C: not limiting indication), homopolymers or co-polymers, terpolymers or polypolymers and relative alloys with other compatible homopolymers, co-polymers, terpolymers or polypolymers. 35 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-34, characterized in that, also the "barrier" films, like EVOH film and the like, suffering a remarkable reduction of their "barrier" capability at high temperatures, are suitable for treatment by "conditioned decompression", generally sandwiched between two or more layers of PE and/or PVC and/or PS and/or PMMA homopolymers and/or co-polymers, terpolymers or polypolymers and the like, and relative alloys: if the choice is limited to films not resisting high temperatures. For illustrative example not limiting, an EVOH film coextruded, at sandwich, between two PVC films, presents a good "barrier" against gases, improvable, if needed, by a metallization on the external face, at view, of the film. It can also be biaxially stretched in coextrusion phase, so that it becomes also thermoretractable. This EVOH film can be coextruded in more layers alternated with PVC (and/or PE, PS, PMMA and relative co- polymers and/or alloys and the like), in order to improve its resistance and "barrier" against gases: minding that the EVOH layers are, preferably, always inner to the others. 36 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-35, further comprising the possibility to use, for treatments by "conditioned decompression", mono layer "polyethylene, low density, linear metallocene" films. For example not limiting moreover, a film is obtained, that enables a very good "barrier" against gases and vapors, very valid for the use according to our treatment by "conditioned decompression", coextruding, at sandwich, between two or more layers of said film, the relative layers of EVOH (and/or of other "barrier" film). 37 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-36, characterized in that, to realize sublimatic transfers at low temperature, vacuum packaging films with " thermoforming optimal interval" at low temperature are "needed". In any case, our treatment by "conditioned decompression" enables: 53 - to execute transfer treatments at low pressure and low temperature, with films having the optimal interval of thermoforming at low levels of temperature, without lengthening the time of "normal" treatment, - and, with films having optimal interval of thermoforming at high temperature levels, to execute either treatments of transfer at usual temperatures but at very high speed (because at low pressure), or treatments at "medium temperature" (high for short time and low after), without lengthening the time of "normal" treatments: energy and/or time saving. In the attached description (page. 23-24) are brought back the illustrative examples not limiting, relating to the films of Polycarbonate and PVC, that here are claimed with all the relative remarks and deductions. 38 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-37, characterized in that, in an alternative solution, the compression-decompression chamber is replaced by a "vacuum packaging chamber machine", to do treatments by "conditioned decompression", if are dealt objects of shape not much complex (see the case 1° in the attached description), or if a decompression chamber separated from the pressure chamber is adopted. The "vacuum packaging chamber machine" may be simpler than that usually used for the vacuum packaging, because the bars to weld the vacuum packaging films and all the equipments for their driving or service are not needed: in this case this machine becomes only a "vacuum chamber machine". 39 - Method as claimed in previous claim 38, characterized in that the treatment by "conditioned decompression" is executed with a simple "vacuum chamber machine", also when it's foreseen that, in order to obtain the decorations sublimation, an ulterior objects heating is needed, also after having reduced the pressure to the "minimum enabled" (you see the case 2° in the attached description): it's enough to adopt a material completely or "much" transparent to luminous beams and to suitable medium wave length infrared beams, like the glass- ceramic (for example not limiting), for the construction of vacuum chamber. Also polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyester and the like are suitable for this use, if they are structured to resist the stresses on them exerted (by the atmospheric or working ambient pressure), at the temperatures that they will reach during the treatment. The heating may be done also arranging heating elements, to the inside of the "vacuum chamber machine", opportunely shielded to obtain a suitable spread of the heat radiations: the infrared beams adopted must have, in this case, wavelength at limit between the "high" values of medium waves and those "low" of long waves (dark irradiators): see claim 6. The adoption of the "vacuum chamber machine", having transparent surfaces, enables "to observe directly" to which minimal value can be reduced the pressure in the vacuum chamber, without the film bearing off the object: this value is that lightly higher than the value read on the manometer of the machine as soon as the film bears off. In this way the "vacuum chamber machine" is useful, for the small and medium quantity production, or for samplings, and in order to find experimentally the minimal "pressure enabled" to set up in the treatments by "conditioned decompression", that will be executed in our compression-decompression chamber. 40 - Method as claimed in previous claims 38 and 39, characterized in that the "vacuum chamber machine" is adopted even if the vacuum chamber is of not transparent material. In this case the probable ulterior heating of the objects to deal is, preferably, carried out arranging heating elements, to the inside of the "vacuum chamber machine", opportunely shielded to obtain a suitable spread of the heat radiations: the inner surfaces of the vacuum chamber must be reflecting for the suitable infrared beams adopted (see claim 6). 41 - Method as claimed in previous claims 38-40, characterized in that our compression-decompression chamber, replaceable by a "vacuum chamber machine", can be replaced also by a simple "vacuum container" having a structure suitable to bear the atmospheric pressure (or that existing in the working ambient). In this container the vacuum is realized by a vacuum pump, connected with it in stable way or not. The "vacuum container" is formed by a base container and the relative cover, that closes it hermetically by interposition, among the relative edges to contact, of a soft and elastic material packing. Applying a manometer to the container it's possible also to know its residual inner pressure value. This can be realized, completely or partially, in material transparent to luminous and suitable infrared beams (glass-ceramic, glass-reinforced plastic or other transparent composite materials or polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyester and the like) or not. If it's of transparent material, it enables all the advantages obtainable with a "vacuum machine", having a transparent vacuum chamber, as illustrated. If it's of not transparent material, the probable heating of the objects to deal is carried out arranging heating elements, to the inside of the "vacuum container", opportunely shielded to 54 have a right spread of the heat radiations: the container inner surfaces are reflecting tor tne suitaDie inirareα beams adopted. The use of vacuum containers allows, at much lower cost, to adapt the decompression chamber dimensions to those of the objects to deal. 42 - Method as claimed in previous claims 38-41, characterized in that, for objects extended in length, like tubes or bars, the said vacuum container can be a tube, able to undergo the atmospheric or ambient pressure, of suitable length and diameter, having as cover one or both its own closing'stoppers. 43 - Method as claimed in the previous claims 38-42, characterized in that the ulterior objects heating treatment, after the vacuum having been made in the decompression chamber, can be avoided, providing to increase the objects preheating temperature (in tunnel or static oven or in a separate pressure chamber), enough to obtain the wanted sublimation only by lowering the pressure, in the decompression chamber (or its equivalent equipments), to the "minimum pressure enabled", according to our "conditioned decompression" treatment. When this is possible, all the problems are avoided, that arise to render the decompression chamber (or its substitutive equipments) suitable for the ulterior objects heating. 44 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-43, characterized in that the complete cycle of treatment by "conditioned decompression", for decorations sublimatic transfer at low pressure and low temperature, is realized also with a system arranged as follows: - a "vacuum packaging chamber machine", at the beginning of cycle. A "non-chamber vacuum packaging machine" can be adopted also, if problems, due to hardly extractable air pockets, don't arise - a tunnel or static oven in order to heat or to preheat the objects vacuum packaged in said vacuum packaging machines: the preheating by suitable ovens improves enormously the treatments productivity, lowering considerably the equipments investment costs - a pressure chamber, if the objects are of shape very complex; in this case the tunnel or static oven are not indispensable, to do the preheating, but very helpful - a vacuum machine or its equivalent to realize the "conditioned decompression" treatment able to execute the transfer at low pressure and low temperature.

The detailed use of said machine system is illustrated at E1, F1 points and in all G1 point, in the attached description: all these points make part of this claim. 45 - Method as claimed in previous claim 44, characterized in that the same system serves in order to execute sublimatic transfers at low pressure and normal temperatures (140-200 °C), if these are undergone by the constituting materials of the "vacuum chamber machine" or "vacuum container" and by the objects to decorate and relative vacuum packaging films: in this way the transfers are done at much higher speed. To do high speed sublimatic transfers, also when the said "vacuum chamber machine" or relative substitutive containers don't resist the normal temperatures, our decompression chamber is very suitable. 46 - Method as claimed in previous claims 29-43, characterized in that the advantages obtainable executing sublimatic decorations transfers at low pressure and temperature are also had executing physical transfers, if the physical transfer inks adopted have a low fusion temperature. For the physical transfers without sublimation, the low fusion temperature, of the decorations inks, favours the transfer at low temperature: the low pressure exerted does not. Instead the pressure must be maintained at values enabling that the decorations to transfer will be pressed, on the objects surfaces, enough to keep them joining said surfaces. When this needed pressure may be of low level, the same films and equipments used in the low temperature sublimatic transfers are suitable also for low temperature physical transfers. These statements are illustrated in detail at points H1, 11, J1, K1, L1 and M1, with the relative examples not limiting, with regard to PMMA and PVC films, they all making part of this claim. 47 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that physical transfers, at low temperature, are obtained, without necessity to deal the objects at low pressure, if the decorations inks have low fusion temperature and the vacuum packaging films adopted present good resistance to the stresses due to atmospheric pressure or to probable higher pressure, at the low temperature adopted. 48 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that, executing sublimatic transfers, according to our treatment by "conditioned decompression", or physical transfers at low temperature, it's possible to decorate, not only the soles, heels or uppers or other footwear components, but the entire footwear, completely 55 assembled, without damaging the relative constituent materials, neither the cements used for its assemblage, by transfers of FIRST TYPE, SECOND TYPE or MIXED TYPE. With treatment by "conditioned decompression" and relative low temperature, it's possible without destroying the shoes, as instead it would happen by transfer treatments at normal temperatures (140-200 C°). The ground vantage so is gained inherent in the possibility to completely assemble the shoes production only in white or light colors (when subsequently sublimatic transfers are wanted) or in raw or wichwever other colour (when afterwards physical transfers with covering inks are needed) and after providing to a fast shoes colouration and/or decoration on clients personalized demand. In this way the big problems, tied to production planning and fast fashion demand, can have easy solution as becomes very simple to do "personalized just in time" deliveries.

The same avails for whichever other object with equal or similar decorations transfers problems, or also different, but with the same prejudicial limits, tied to the possibility to organize, in right way, the objects decoration or colouration, when they are already assembled, and also to their capability to resist the transfer treatment temperatures needed. 49 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that the treatment by "conditioned decompression" is much helpful also in all the cases in which cements, adhesives, paints, varnish, enamels, special films and other materials or products and production accessories are used (for the objects construction and their treatments) that would be deformed, damaged or destroyed if treatments are adopted at temperatures higher than their own limits of tolerance. 50 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that, when the objects vacuum packaging is executed by "vacuum packaging chamber machines", these are equipped with a device that enables a gradual air re-entry (at atmospheric or working ambient pressure) in their vacuum chamber, when the object vacuum packaging in the relative films has been done and before the vacuum chamber opening. This enables to avoid the films laceration, due to the sudden and intense stress to which they would be otherwise exposed, specially when the object shapes are very complex. 51 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that physical and sublimatic transfers can be performed, in a single treatment at low temperature. In fact it's enough to print, with sublimable inks, the decorations to transfer by sublimation and, with resins and/or waxes inks having melting point at low temperature, those to transfer physically, and then to execute the physical and sublimatic transfers by our treatment at low pressure and low temperature, in our decompression chamber (or in other equivalent equipments). Thus at the fusion temperature of the physical transfer inks, the sublimation of sublimatic inks will be also had, if the pressure is lowered, in decompression chamber (or in substitutive equipments), enough to allow also the sublimation wanted, contemporary maintaining the pressure at level sufficient to attain, on the fused decorations, the minimum push needed to keep them joining the surfaces of the object to decorate. 52 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that all the operations, relating to the decorations transfers treatments are organized to be executed by computerized systems of automation (not limiting indication), that supply to control temperatures, pressures and cycle times, to close and open the chambers valves and doors, to load and unload the planes or relative monolithic structures, and to memorize the various operating programs to execute automatically, in the succession demanded by the job program pre-planned, in function of the objects characteristics and relative vacuum packaging films adopted. Also all vacuum packaging operations are organized to be executed by vacuum packaging automatized equipments that enable to execute automatically the vacuum packaging of the objects to decorate. 53 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that black surfaces can replace the inner reflecting surfaces, in tunnels, static ovens and compression-decompression chambers (or substitutive equipments), to warrant, alternatively, an uniform distribution of temperatures on the objects to deal by heat. 54 - Method as claimed in previous claims, characterized in that they are extended to all the types of objects able to be decorated, according to our method, and to all means, machines and/or equipments and/or devices equal, similar or analogous to those claimed for the several treatments, as it turns out also from the relative descriptions, and drawings enclosed.

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