Patent EA-001276-B1 (EA)
Title: Manufacture of traffic signs
Inventor: VIROLAINEN REIMA EINARI
IPC: G09F13/16
Filed: 1998-03-23
Abstract: 1. Method for manufacturing traffic signs (1) and analogous signs retroreflecting light (L) and including sign figures, in which method a lightretroreflective layer (2) is attached to a rigid or flexible base material (3), materials forming the sign figures (10) being attached on the outer surface of the said layer; the method is characterised in that it comprises as separate phases: [1] arranging the said light-retroreflective layer (2) uniformly over at least the dimensions (H1, H2) of the entire area of the traffic sign figures and said layer not substantially changing the colour of the light reflected therefrom; [2] arranging at least some of the sign figures (10) necessary for the traffic sign in question on one side of a coating film (4) in mirror image (P); and [3] adhering the coating film on top of the light-retroreflective layer on the surface of the base material so that the mirror image -type sign figures (10) point towards the light-retroreflective layer and are thus situated between the retroreflective layer (2) and the coating film (4). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the coating film (4) is a flexible or rigid sheet-like material transparent to light with as low absorption and as low diffusion as possible, and that a rigid sheet, e.g. a metal sheet is used as base material (3). 3. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a phase for spreading an adhesive layer (6a and/or 6b) adhering the coating film and the lightretroreflective layer to each other: [a] on the outer surface (12) of the retroreflective layer (2) either - before joining the layer to the base material (3); or - after the retroreflective layer has been fastened to the base material (3); or [b] on the surface (24) of colours (7) of sign figures being as mirror image on the coating film (4). 4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that it further comprises a phase in which a protective film (8a; 8b), a protective paper or the like is placed on the spreaded adhesive layer (6a; 6b) for providing a prefabricated base material combination (9) or, respectively, a coating film combination (5), which combinations for traffic signs is readily transportable and manageable. 5. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that all sign figures (10) of a traffic sign-in question are arranged on one side of the coating film (4), that colorants transparent to light beams with as low diffusion as possible are used for other colours (T, Y, R, C, M, etc.) than black, and a colorant absorbing and diffusing light as strongly as possible is used for the black colour (B). 6. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises as phases: - removing the said protective film or protective paper (8a and/or 8b) from the adhesive layer (6a and/or 6b); - pressing (K) the outer surface (12) of the light-retroreflective layer of the base material combination (9) and the coating film combination (5) against each other; and - bringing the adhesive layer (6a and/or 6b) between the coating film combination and the retroreflective layer to a state maintaining adhesion. 7. Method according to claim 1 or 5, characterised in that the said sign figures (10) are arranged on the surface (14a) of the coating film by laminating from films of a desired colour and/or by printing, e.g. by silk-screen printing. 8. A coating film combination for providing traffic sign symbols for lightreflective traffic signs (1) with sign figures, in which combination the coating film continues uniformly at least over the area of the traffic sign figures and in which materials forming the sign figures (10) are arranged on the surface of a coating film (4), characterised in that the said coating film combination (5) comprises a light transparent plastic film (4) which diffuses transmitted light (L) as little as possible; that at least part of the sign figures 10) of the traffic sign (1) is fastened on one side (14a) of the film in mirror image (P); that the said sign figures mainly are colour materials (7) diffusing light (L) passing through them as little as possible; and that the coating film combination (5) is light-nonretroreflective. 9. Coating film combination of claim 8, characterised in that the said colour materials (7) are printing colorants, such as silk-screen printing colours or, alternatively, coloured films; that the black colorant (B) is a material transmitting as little light as possible and absorbing as much light as possible, and the other colorants (T, Y, R, C, M, etc.) are transparent to light and non-diffusing materials; and that these colour materials are placed on the said one side (14a) of the plastic sheet or plastic film in such an order that the symbol colour of the traffic sign in question, which is supposed to be visible uninterruptedly, lies closest to the sheet or plate, and the symbol colour, which may partly be covered by sign figures nearer the sheet or film, lies farthest away. 10. Coating film combination of claim 8, characterised in that an adhesive layer (6a) is on the surface (24) of the colour materials (7), the adhesive being an adhesive glue or a heat-setting adhesive glue or dry adhesive; that, if necessary, a releasable protective film or protective paper (8a) is on the adhesive layer; and that the thickness of the plastic film is less than 1 mm, advantageously less than 0.5 mm. 11. Coating film combination of claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the areas (E) of the said film (4), which in the final traffic sign are placed in the points of the base material (3) that are not supposed to be visible, are covered with a black colour material (B) transmitting as little light as possible and absorbing as much light as possible. 12. A sheet-like base material combination for light-retroreflective traffic signs (1) with sign figures, in which a light-retroreflective layer (2) is fastened to a rigid or flexible base plate (3), characterised in that the said base material combination (9) is a prefabricated product comprising a planar or alternatively bent and surfacetreated base plate piece (13) cut into shape, and which further comprising a uniform light-retroreflective layer (2) on one side (23a) of the base plate piece and attached permanently to it, the said layer being such that it does not substantially change the colour of the reflected light when compared with light directed thereto. 13. Base material combination of claim 12, characterised in that the shape and size (H1, H2) of the base plate piece (13) is identical for all traffic signs (1) with the same maximum dimensions but different-shaped sign figure areas, and that the base plate pieces are rectangular or, advantageously, square. 14. Base material combination of claim 12, characterised in that there is an adhesive layer (6b) on the outer surface (12) of the said light-retroreflective layer (2), the adhesive being an adhesive glue, a heat-setting adhesive glue or a dry adhesive, and that, when necessary, a releasable protective film or protective paper (8b) is on said adhesive layer. 15. Base material combination of claim 12, characterised in that the material of the base plate (3) is a rigid metal sheet, advantageously a steel sheet coated with plastic layers (1 lea, llb) or, alternatively, a laminate or a composite material, and that the said rigid base plate is either straight or curved.