Patent ID: 7141134
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: B41M,B44C,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for automatically transferring a pattern to a surface of a steering wheel, the method comprising: supplying a steering wheel having a boss and a rim such that the boss is disposed upward and a rim portion is disposed downward; supplying a first transfer sheet having a printed layer on which a pattern is printed, by floating the first transfer sheet on a liquid; injecting an activating liquid to activate the printed layer onto an upper surface of the first transfer sheet; transferring the first transfer sheet to a surface of a first half of the rim by pressing the rim against the upper surface of the first transfer sheet while a robot holds the boss of the steering wheel; removing foreign material remaining around the rim after transferring the first transfer sheet; drying the steering wheel where the foreign material has been removed by passing the steering wheel through a drying tank in which hot air is supplied; flipping the steering wheel a first time such that the rim of the steering wheel is disposed upward and the boss is disposed downward; supplying a second transfer sheet having a printed layer on which a pattern is printed, by floating the second transfer sheet on the liquid; transferring the second transfer sheet to a surface of a second half of the rim by pressing the rim against the upper surface of the second transfer sheet while holding the steering wheel; after transferring the second sheet, cleaning the steering wheel a first time in an ultrasonic wave cleaning tank; and after cleaning the first time, cleaning the steering wheel a second time using cleaning water.