Patent Description:
There have been many efforts to implement various patterns and colors and maintain excellent properties in order to more freely design products having complicated 3D shapes and various sizes.

Various surface treatment methods have been applied, for example, to the midsole or the outsole of shoes, automotive interior materials, home appliances, etc., in order to maximize an aesthetic effect. In particular, various surface shapes, colors, patterns, etc. have recently been applied using methods such as painting, plating, hydrographic printing, insert molding, etc. to satisfy desires of customers.

However, although the methods such as painting, plating, hydrographic printing, insert molding, etc. in the related art can implement various colors, they have disadvantages in that they have limitations in expressing patterns, the processes are complicated, and the production costs are high.

In order to solve this problem, a method of forming a 3D pattern has been disclosed in <CIT>, the method being characterized by generating a magnetic field by applying a current to an electromagnet installed at a mold facing a pattern surface of a finished product simultaneously with injecting a raw material, which is produced by a magnetic pigment and a hardener into plastic resin at a predetermined composition ratio, to form a predetermined 3D pattern of the magnetic pigment in the raw material arranged along the shape of the magnetic field (magnetic field lines), and characterized by obtaining a completely hardened finished product by cooling the product in a mold before opening the mold.

However, this method of forming a 3D pattern has problems in that the manufacturing cost is high because a large amount of magnetic pigment should be included in a raw material of a product, a lot of cost and effort are required to manufacture and maintain a mold because an electromagnet should be installed at an injection mold, and workers cannot freely change patterns.

<CIT> discloses a magnetic induction member having magnetization properties when affected by a magnetic field is assembled on the top of a magnetic field generating member that generates a magnetic field such that while the magnetic field of the magnetic field generating member is transferred to a substrate on the top of the magnetic induction member by means of a magnetic induction function of the magnetic induction member, various magnetic patterns are printed as magnetic particles are distributed differently in a printed layer of the substrate due to a difference in magnetic flux density caused by a separation distance between a contour portion, which is formed in a relief type on the top of the magnetic induction member, and the substrate.

<CIT> discloses method and an apparatus for producing a product having a magnetically formed pattern, capable of forming any desired pattern in diversely different shapes with a clear visual recognizability, at high speed, by a simple procedure, and a painted product produced by these method and apparatus.

<CIT> discloses a method and a jig for forming a pattern, the method and the jig being capable of realizing various and unique pattern designs due to magnetic particles included in the magnetic ink being distributed in various densities according to intensity of the magnetic force.

The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve the problems in the related art and an objective of the present disclosure is to provide an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article, the apparatus being able to form a desired pattern by spraying a resin composite mixed with a magnetic pigment onto the surface of an article and then arranging the magnetic pigment along predetermined magnetic field lines, being easily manufactured, being economical, and easily changing patterns to be formed on an article; and a method for forming a magnetic pigment pattern using the apparatus.

In order to achieve the objectives, an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article according to the present disclosure includes: a magnetic pattern mold having nonmagnetic pattern grooves engraved in a predetermined pattern, and providing predetermined magnetic field lines on a pattern-forming object surface of an article by generating magnetism in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves; and a spray unit spraying an adhesive resin composite containing a ferromagnetic pigment onto the pattern-forming object surface of the article, wherein a predetermined magnetic pigment pattern is formed while the magnetic pigment of the adhesive resin composite that is applied to the pattern-forming object surface of the article is rearranged along magnetic field lines generated by the magnetic pattern mold. According to the invention, the magnetic pattern mold is installed at a predetermined distance from the pattern-forming object surface of the article, and the spray unit applies an adhesive resin composite to the pattern-forming object surface of the article by spraying the adhesive containing a ferromagnetic pigment to a space between the pattern-forming object surface of the article and the magnetic pattern mold.

The apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article of the present disclosure may further include a supporting plate made of a weak magnetic or nonmagnetic material and stacked on one surface of both surfaces of the magnetic pattern mold.

The supporting plate may be formed in a mesh type.

The magnetic pattern mold may be made of an elastic magnet magnetized with an N pole and an S pole arranged in a thickness direction of the magnetic pattern mold.

The magnetic pattern mold may be magnetized with an N pole and an S pole arranged in the thickness direction by alternately stacking up and down a plurality of magnetic films made of an elastic material having the polarity of an N pole and a plurality of magnetic films made of an elastic material having the polarity of an S pole.

A nonmagnetic pattern of the magnetic pattern mold may be filled with a filler made of nonmagnetic resin.

The magnetic pattern mold may be detachably stacked on a bottom of the article while elastically deforming in a shape corresponding to the bottom of the article, and a separable adhesive may be applied between a top of the magnetic pattern mold and the bottom of the article so that the magnetic pattern mold is temporarily bonded to the bottom of the article, and may be separated from the article when a process of forming a magnetic pigment pattern is performed.

In this case, the apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article may further include a supporting plate made of a weak magnetic or nonmagnetic material in a mesh type and stacked on one surface of both surfaces of the magnetic pattern mold.

The spray unit may include a plurality of spray nozzles spraying an adhesive resin composite toward the pattern-forming object surface of the article through the nonmagnetic pattern grooves of the magnetic pattern mold.

The apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article may further include a protective film made of a nonmagnetic material and detachably attached to a surface, which faces the pattern-forming object surface of the article, of surfaces of the magnetic pattern mold.

A method of forming a pattern on a surface of an article using the apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article of the present disclosure having the configuration described above includes: stacking an article on a magnetic pattern mold or disposing the article at a predetermined distance from the magnetic pattern mold (S1); and applying an adhesive resin composite to a pattern-forming object surface of the article by spraying the adhesive resin composite containing a ferromagnetic pigment onto the pattern-forming object surface of the article (S2), in which the magnetic pigment of the adhesive resin composite forms a magnetic pigment pattern on the pattern-forming object surface of the article while being arranged along magnetic field lines of the magnetic pattern mold in the step (S2).

Coating a base layer made of paint having a predetermined color on the pattern-forming object surface of the article may be performed before the step (S1) is performed.

Multiple resin pattern layers each having a magnetic pigment pattern may be formed on the pattern-forming object surface of the article by sequentially repeating twice or more the step (S1) and the step (S2).

The adhesive resin composite may be hardened by applying heat or emitting ultraviolet light to the article when the step (S2) is performed.

According to the present disclosure, an article is stacked on the magnetic pattern mold generating magnetic field lines in a predetermined pattern and paint produced by mixing a ferromagnetic pigment in adhesive resin is sprayed onto the surface of the article, whereby a desired pattern can be easily formed on the surface of the article while the magnetic pigment in the adhesive resin is rearranged along the magnetic field lines of the magnetic pattern mold.

Accordingly, it is possible to rearrange and coat a magnetic pigment in a desired pattern shape on the article, so it is possible to easily and freely form not only simple patterns or designs, but patterns that give a 3D optical illusion effect.

In particular, since the magnetic pattern mold is manufactured using a flexible and elastic material and magnetic field lines are formed in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern by engraving the nonmagnetic pattern in a groove or through-hole type in the magnetic pattern mold, there is an advantage that it is possible to magnetic field lines in desired patterns and it is very easy to manufacture a magnetic pattern mold having a shape corresponding to a 3D shape of an article.

Further, when it is required to change a pattern or a design to be formed on the surface of an article, it is possible to simply change the shape of the pattern by replacing the magnetic pattern mold, so it is also possible to easily change a pattern.

Further, since a pattern is formed on the surface of an article while adhesive resin mixed with a magnetic pigment is coated, it is possible to achieve an effect of increasing mechanical strength in comparison to articles having a pattern expressed directly thereon in the related art.

When a magnetic pattern mold is made of a magnet magnetized with an N pole and an S pole arranged in an up-down direction by alternately stacking up and down a plurality of magnetic films made of an elastic material having the polarity of an N pole and a plurality of magnetic films made of an elastic material having the polarity of an S pole, an unintended straightly striped pattern is not formed when a magnetic pigment is rearranged along magnetic field lines.

It is noted that the embodiments shown in <FIG> do not form part of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

Embodiments described in the specification and the configurations shown in drawings are only preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and there may be various modified examples that can replace the embodiments and drawings of the specification at the point in time of this application.

Hereafter, an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article and a method for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article using the apparatus are described through embodiments to be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals indicate the same components in the drawings.

In the foregoing description, the embodiments described in the context of <FIG> do not form part of the invention as defined in the attached claims. The passages are, however, useful for understanding the context of the invention.

Referring to <FIG>, an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a magnetic pattern mold <NUM> having a shape corresponding to the shape of an article <NUM> and formed to generate magnetic field lines in a predetermined pattern, a supporting plate <NUM> stacked on any one of the top and the bottom or on both the top and the bottom of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and supporting the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, and a spray unit <NUM> spraying an adhesive resin composite mixed with a magnetic pigment to the article <NUM> stacked on the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>.

The adhesive resin composite that is sprayed from the spray unit <NUM> is a composite produced by mixing a magnetic pigment having ferromagnetism in resin, and the magnetic pigment in the adhesive resin composite sprayed from the spray unit <NUM> is rearranged along magnetic field lines of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, whereby, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a predetermined pattern is formed on the surface of the article <NUM> by the magnetic pigment.

When the coating object article <NUM> has a 3D shape, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be formed in advance to have a 3D shape corresponding to the shape of the coating object article <NUM> and then stacked with the article <NUM> in a coating process. For example, when the article <NUM> has a semi-cylindrical shape, as in this embodiment, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may also be formed to have a semi-cylindrical shape. Further, when the article has a flat plate or curved plate shape with both curved sides or a polygonal case shape, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may have a shape corresponding to the inner side of the article <NUM> to be able to be stacked in close contact with the inner side of the article <NUM>.

The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> serves to rearrange a magnetic pigment in an adhesive resin composite into a predetermined pattern using magnetism by forming magnetic field lines in a pattern corresponding to a pattern to be formed on an article. The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be made of a magnet having magnetism and has nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> engraved in a pattern opposite to a desired pattern for forming magnetic field lines into a predetermined desired pattern, that is, in a pattern opposite to a pattern to be formed on the article <NUM>, whereby magnetic field lines are formed in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM>. The insides of the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> engraved like grooves or holes in the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be filled with a filler <NUM> made of nonmagnetic resin. As the filler <NUM> that fills the insides of the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM>, silicone having excellent heat resistance and stability may be applied, but other various types of heat resistant resin may be used. The filler <NUM> increases strength of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> in the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> and enables a pattern to be maintained even if a disconnected portion is formed in the areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM>.

The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be a magnet made of an elastic material such as rubber, and may be preferably magnetized with N and S poles arranged in an up-down direction (thickness direction) to form a predetermined pattern on the article <NUM>. When the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is magnetized with N and S poles arranged in a left-right direction (width direction or longitudinal direction), a magnetic pigment in an adhesive resin composite may not be accurately arranged in an intended pattern and an unintended stripe pattern may be formed on the article <NUM>. However, when the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is magnetized with N and S poles arranged in the up-down direction, it is possible to prevent generation of such an unintended stripe pattern.

As shown in <FIG>, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be manufactured into a flat plate-shaped magnetic mold magnetized with N and S poles arranged in the up-down direction by alternately stacking up and down a plurality of magnetic films 100a made of an elastic material having the polarity of an N pole and a plurality of magnetic films 110b made of an elastic member having the polarity of an S pole, and then formed to have a 3D shape corresponding to the shape of the article <NUM> together with the supporting plate <NUM> in a press to be used.

The supporting plate <NUM> is stacked on any one of the top and the bottom or on both the top and the bottom of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, as described above, and serves to maintain the shape of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> while a pattern is formed, by reinforcing the strength of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> made of an elastic material. The supporting plate <NUM> has a small thickness not to interfere with influence on a magnetic pigment by the magnetism of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and may be a flat plate made of metal having very weak magnetism such as aluminum, a weak magnetic material such as high heat resistant plastic, or a nonmagnetic material.

Alternatively, the supporting plate <NUM> may be formed in a mesh type to be able to be formed while being easily deformed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the article <NUM> together with the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the supporting plate <NUM> may be placed on the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> before a coating process and then bonded while being formed in a 3D shape corresponding to the article <NUM> together with the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> by a well-known press or forming machine. Alternatively, the supporting plate <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the article <NUM> separately from the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and then bonded to a surface of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>.

The bonded assembly of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the supporting plate <NUM> may be disposed in a process chamber <NUM>. At least one or more spray units <NUM> that spray an adhesive resin composite to the surface of the article <NUM> may be installed at the top of the process chamber <NUM>. The spray unit <NUM> coats the surface of the article <NUM> with an adhesive resin composite by spraying the adhesive resin composite at a predetermined spray pressure. It is preferable that the spray pressure of the spray unit <NUM> is <NUM> to <NUM>/cm<NUM> in order to form a uniform coating layer, and a uniform coating layer and rearrangement of a magnetic pigment can be more accurately achieved as intended particularly in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>/cm<NUM>. Spraying by the spray unit <NUM> may be automatically controlled by an automated device, but it is unlikely, and it may be manually controlled by a person.

The adhesive resin composite that is sprayed through the spray unit <NUM> is coated on the surface of the article <NUM>, thereby forming a resin pattern layer <NUM>. In this case, the magnetic pigment contained in the adhesive resin composite is arranged along magnetic field lines generated in the areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, thereby forming a pattern corresponding to the magnetic field lines.

It was seen that when the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is magnetized with N and S poles arranged in the up-down direction, an unintended striped pattern is not formed while a pattern is formed by rearrangement of the magnetic pigment in the resin pattern layer <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a heater that discharges heat into the process chamber <NUM> or an ultraviolet light source that emits ultraviolet light into the process chamber <NUM> may be additionally installed so that an adhesive resin composite can be quickly hardened after being sprayed onto the surface of the article <NUM> from the spray unit <NUM>.

The adhesive resin composite that is sprayed from the spray unit <NUM> has excellent adhesive strength to the surface of the article <NUM> that is made of various materials and has viscosity suitable such that it can be sprayed, and may be produced by mixing a wetting and dispersing agent, a defoaming agent, a hardener, and a magnetic pigment in any one selected from a group of epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, and acryl resin. The resin may include an agent of <NUM>~<NUM> % by weight, a fluidity adjusting agent <NUM>~<NUM> % by weight, a wetting and dispersing agent of <NUM>~<NUM> % by weight, a defoaming agent of <NUM> to <NUM> % by weight, a hardener <NUM>~<NUM> % by weight, and the balance of a magnetic pigment.

The epoxy resin is a polymer having epoxy bonding as a chemical unit of a constituent molecule and there are a bisphenol A type, a bisphenol F type, a novolac type, etc. First, the bisphenol A type is the most common epoxy resin produced by polymerizing epichlorohydrin and bisphenol A and has an advantage of excellent adhesion because hydrophilic hydroxyl groups and hydrophobic hydrocarbon groups are regularly arranged in a molecular structure. However, there is a problem that since several benzene nucleuses are included, free rotation is difficult and phenolic contents that are a kind of endocrine-disrupting substances are discharged. Accordingly, in the present disclosure, bisphenol F type epoxy resin is used, and in the bisphenol F type epoxy resin, CH3 at the center of a bisphenol A type molecule is substituted by hydrogen (H), so there is an advantage that viscosity is low in comparison to the bisphenol A type, compatibility with other resin is excellent, and particularly, it does not discharge endocrine-disrupting substances. It is preferable that the bisphenol F type epoxy resin is contained at <NUM>~<NUM> % by weight. When it is less than <NUM> % by weight, crosslink density of a coating layer decreases and properties thereof are deteriorated, and when it exceeds <NUM> % by weight, it is difficult to secure an appropriate thickness of a coating layer due to a problem with fluidity of a composite, so workability is deteriorated.

As the fluidity adjusting agent, any one of fumed silica, urea resin, polyamide wax, and bentonite may be used. It is preferable that the fluidity adjusting agent is contained at <NUM> to <NUM> % by weight. When it is less than <NUM> % by weight, fluidity is high, so vertical flow is generated, and when it exceeds <NUM> % by weight, properties are deteriorated due to excessive prescription, which is not preferable.

It is preferable that the content of the wetting and dispersing agent and the defoaming agent is <NUM>~<NUM> % by weight and <NUM> to <NUM> % by weight, respectively, but when the content of the dispersing agent is low, a magnetic pigment is not dispersed well, and when it is excessive, properties of resin are deteriorated. When the content of the defoaming agent is deficient, generation of bubbles is not suppressed, and the content of the defoaming agent is excessive, properties may be deteriorated.

As the hardener, one kind selected from a group of polyamide, aliphatic amine, and cycloaliphatic amine may be used to be suitable for the bisphenol F type epoxy resin. It is preferable that the hardener is contained at <NUM>~<NUM> % by weight. When the content of the hardener is less than <NUM> % by weight, adhesion decreases, and when it exceeds <NUM> % by weight, it is difficult to spray resin due to variation of a viscosity, so there is a problem that workability is deteriorated.

The magnetic pigment is ferromagnetic powder, so when the magnetic pigment is sprayed on the article <NUM>, it forms a predetermined pattern while being rearranged in a resin pattern layer <NUM> by the magnetism generated in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> stacked on the article <NUM>. The magnetic pigment includes ferromagnetic metal such as steel, manganese, cobalt, nickel, and chromium dioxide, and is a pigment particle having a predetermined color such as green, blue, and red, and a magnetic pigment such as a well-known metal pigment is used.

A method of forming a magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> on an article <NUM> using the apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern that has the configuration described above is as follows.

A bonded assembly of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the supporting plate <NUM> is installed in the process chamber and an article <NUM> is stacked on the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>. When an adhesive resin composite is sprayed and applied to the surface of the article <NUM> from the spray unit <NUM>, a predetermined pattern is formed by the magnetic pigment on the surface of the article <NUM> while the magnetic pigment in the adhesive resin composite is arranged along magnetic field lines generated outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>.

In this case, the adhesive resin composite is quickly hardened by applying high-temperature heat or emitting ultraviolet light into the process chamber <NUM> such that a resin pattern layer <NUM> can be coated on the surface of the article <NUM> by the adhesive resin composite and the shape of the pattern can be maintained.

In the apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> according to the embodiment described above, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the supporting plate <NUM> are formed in advance in a shape corresponding to the shape of an pattern-forming object article <NUM> and then stacked on the article <NUM>, and provide magnetic field lines. However, as shown in <FIG>, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be manufactured in a thin and elastic magnetic plate shape and maintained in a flat plate shape before it is stacked on an article <NUM>, and then may be stacked on the bottom of the article <NUM> while being deformed in a shape corresponding to the bottom of the article <NUM> to provide magnetic field lines for forming a pattern on the bottom of the article <NUM>.

In this case, the supporting plate <NUM> may be formed in a thin mesh type so that it can be easily elastically deformed into the shape corresponding to the article <NUM> together with the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, and can be easily restored while being elastically deformed into the initial flat plate shape after separated from the article <NUM>.

When the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is stacked on the bottom of the article <NUM>, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is temporarily bonded to the bottom of the article <NUM> by applying a separable adhesive <NUM> between the top of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the bottom of the article <NUM>, whereby it is possible to stably keep the article <NUM> and the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> fixed to each other.

As the separable adhesive <NUM> for easily bonding and then separating the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> to and from the bottom of the article <NUM>, a well-known separable adhesive or separable gluing agent that is used for temporarily bonding rubber, resin, plastic, etc. may be used. It is preferable use a separable adhesive <NUM> that can stably maintain a bonded state when the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is temporarily bonded to the bottom of the article <NUM>, and that does not leave adhesive remains on the bottom of the article <NUM> after the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is separated from the article <NUM>.

The bonded assembly of the thin plate-shaped magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the supporting plate <NUM> may be temporarily bonded to the opposite surface to the surface of an article <NUM> on which a pattern is formed by the separable adhesive <NUM> and then may be placed in the process chamber <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> show an example in which a pattern has been formed on a semi-cylindrical article <NUM> using the apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern according to the embodiment described above, but besides the semi-cylindrical article, the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> may be formed on the surface of articles such as interior products and the interior materials of vehicles, airplanes, ships, etc. that have various 3D shapes such as a flat plate or a curved plate having both curved sides, a polygonal plate, etc..

<FIG> and <FIG> show an outsole of a shoe as a pattern-forming object article <NUM>, and <FIG> show an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern that forms the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> on the outer surface of an outsole of a shoe.

The apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern in this embodiment, similar to the apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern in the embodiment described above, includes a magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and a supporting plate <NUM> that have a shape corresponding to the shape of an article <NUM>, that is, an outsole of a shoe. The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> has nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> formed in an opposite pattern to the pattern that is formed on an outsole of a shoe and is configured such that magnetic field lines are generated in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM>. The configuration and operation of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the supporting plate <NUM> are the same as or similar to the configuration and operation of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the supporting plate <NUM> in the embodiment described above, so they are not described in detail.

In order to form a resin pattern layer <NUM> and a magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> by spraying an adhesive resin composite onto the surface of an article <NUM> such as an outsole of a shoe, the outer surface of the article <NUM> is coated first with a base layer <NUM> using paint having a predetermined color such as black, silver, yellow, white, etc. and then a resin pattern layer <NUM> is coated on the outer surface of the hardened base layer <NUM> by spraying the adhesive resin composite described above, whereby the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> may be more clearly expressed to the outside and various images combined with the base layer <NUM> may be implemented.

Oil-based or emulsion paint mixed with a metal color pigment, a changed metal color pigment, which gives a sense of metal, common color pigments, or a pigment giving a pearl luster effect may be used for the base layer <NUM>. The base layer <NUM> may be coated using well-known painting methods such as spraying paint onto the outer surface of an article <NUM> or immersing an article in paint.

The resin pattern layer <NUM> that is formed on the surface of the article <NUM> may be a single layer, but multiple resin pattern layers 20a and 20b may be formed on the surface of an article <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, by performing twice or more the process of forming the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> described above.

That is, a first magnetic pattern mold <NUM> that provides magnetic field lines in a predetermined pattern may be stacked on an article <NUM>, a first resin pattern layer 20a may be coated by spraying a light-transmissive first adhesive resin composite containing a ferromagnetic pigment onto the surface of the article <NUM>, the article <NUM> may be stacked on a second magnetic pattern mold <NUM> that provides magnetic field lines in a predetermined pattern, and then a second resin pattern layer 20b may be coated on the first resin pattern layer 20a by spraying a light-transmissive second adhesive resin composite containing a ferromagnetic pigment.

The patterns of the first resin pattern layer 20a and the second resin pattern layer 20b coated on the surface of the article <NUM> can express various patterns by overlapping each other, depending on the angle at which the article <NUM> is seen. For example, when the article <NUM> is seen from the front, the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> of the second resin pattern layer 20b coated outside is conspicuously seen, and when the article <NUM> is obliquely seen, the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> of the second resin pattern layer 20b is conspicuously exposed to the outside and overlaps the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> of the first resin pattern layer 20a, whereby a new pattern may be expressed.

The nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> of the first magnetic pattern mold <NUM> that forms the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> of the first resin pattern layer 20a and the second magnetic pattern mold <NUM> that forms the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> of the second resin pattern layer 20b may be formed in the same shape, but, as shown in <FIG>, the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> of the first magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the second magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may have different types of pattern so that the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> of the first resin pattern layer 20a and the magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> of the second resin pattern layer 20b form different patterns.

Meanwhile, the apparatuses for forming a magnetic pigment pattern according to the embodiments described above are configured such that an article <NUM> is stacked on a magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the an adhesive resin composite is sprayed onto the article <NUM> so that a magnetic pigment can be rearranged along magnetic field lines of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>. However, according to the present invention and as shown in <FIG>, it may be possible to coat a resin pattern layer <NUM> having a magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> on the surface of an article <NUM> by disposing a magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, which provides magnetic field lines in a predetermined pattern, outside a pattern-forming object surface of the article <NUM>, and then spraying an adhesive resin composite to the space between the article <NUM> and the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>.

The embodiment of an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern shown in <FIG> includes a magnetic pattern mold <NUM> that is installed at a predetermined distance from a pattern-forming object surface of an article <NUM>, a weak magnetic or nonmagnetic supporting plate <NUM> that is stacked on a surface of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and supporting the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, and a spray unit <NUM> that applies an adhesive resin composite on the pattern-forming object surface of the article <NUM> by spraying an adhesive resin composite containing a ferromagnetic pigment into the space between the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and the pattern-forming object surface of the article <NUM>.

The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is spaced a predetermined distance apart from the pattern-forming object surface of the article <NUM> and serves to form magnetic field lines in a pattern corresponding to a pattern to be formed on the article such that a magnetic pigment in an adhesive resin composite is rearranged in a predetermined pattern by magnetism.

The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> itself may be made of a magnet having magnetism and has nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> engraved in a pattern opposite to a desired pattern for forming magnetic field lines into a predetermined desired pattern, that is, in a pattern opposite to a pattern to be formed on the article <NUM>, whereby magnetic field lines are generated in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM>. Similar to the embodiments described above, the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> formed in a groove or hole type in the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> are filled with a filler <NUM> made of nonmagnetic resin, thereby reinforcing the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> made of a soft material so that the shape can be stably maintained.

The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be a magnet made of an elastic material such as rubber, and may be preferably magnetized with N and S poles arranged in a thickness direction to form a predetermined pattern on the article <NUM>. The magnetic pattern mold <NUM> magnetized with N and S poles arranged in a thickness direction may be formed, as shown in <FIG>, by alternately stacking a plurality of magnetic films 110a made of an elastic material having the polarity of an N pole and a plurality of magnetic films 110b made of an elastic material having the polarity of an S pole.

According to an apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern having this configuration, as shown in <FIG>, it is possible to coat a resin pattern layer <NUM> having a magnetic pigment pattern <NUM> on the surface of an article <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, by installing a magnetic pattern mold <NUM> in a process chamber <NUM>, placing the article <NUM> at a predetermined distance from the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, and then spraying an adhesive resin composite into the space between the article <NUM> and the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> using the spray unit <NUM>.

In this case, the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> may be used without the supporting plate <NUM>, but it may be possible to reinforce and use the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> by stacking a weak magnetic or nonmagnetic thin supporting plate <NUM> on an inner surface (surface facing an article) or an outer surface of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> or on both the inner surface and the outer surface.

The spray unit <NUM> is disposed in the space between the article <NUM> and the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and configured to spray an adhesive resin composite in this embodiment, but as shown in <FIG>, the spray unit <NUM> may include a plurality of spray nozzles <NUM> that sprays an adhesive resin composite toward a pattern-forming object surface of an article <NUM> through nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>.

Further, when the work of forming a pattern by spraying an adhesive resin composite to an article <NUM> is repeated several times, magnetism may be decreased due to accumulation of the adhesive resin composite on the inner surface of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to perform a pattern-forming process without contaminating the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> and decreasing magnetism, as shown in <FIG>, by detachably attaching a nonmagnetic protective film <NUM> to an inner surface of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, that is, a surface facing a pattern-forming surface of an article <NUM> such that an adhesive resin composite is attached to the outer surface of the protective film <NUM>, and easily detaching the protective film <NUM> from the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> after performing the pattern-forming process several times.

According to the present disclosure described above, when an adhesive resin composite containing a magnetic pigment is sprayed onto the surface of an article <NUM>, a predetermined pattern can be formed on the surface of the article <NUM> while the magnetic pigment is arranged into a predetermined pattern by the magnetism of the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>. Accordingly, a coating process of a pattern can be very quickly and easily achieved.

In particular, since the magnetic pattern mold <NUM> is made of a flexible and elastic material, nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM> are engraved into a groove or through-hole type in the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, and magnetic field lines are formed in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves <NUM>, there is an advantage of very easily manufacturing a magnetic pattern mold <NUM> that can easily form magnetic field lines in a desired pattern and has a shape corresponding to the 3D shape of an article.

Further, when it is required to change the shape of a pattern to be coated on the surface of an article <NUM>, it is possible to simply change the shape of the pattern by replacing the magnetic pattern mold <NUM>, so it is also possible to easily change a pattern.

The mechanical strength of an article <NUM> having a resin pattern layer <NUM> with a pattern or a design formed by the method of forming a pattern is also increased by the resin pattern layer <NUM> formed on the surface thereof, so it is possible to expect excellent properties in comparison to articles having a pattern or a design expressed directly thereon in the related art.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for forming a magnetic pigment pattern on an article, the apparatus comprising:
a magnetic pattern mold (<NUM>) having nonmagnetic pattern grooves (<NUM>) engraved in a predetermined pattern, and providing predetermined magnetic field lines on a pattern-forming object surface of an article (<NUM>) by generating magnetism in areas outside the nonmagnetic pattern grooves (<NUM>); and
a spray unit (<NUM>) spraying an adhesive resin composite containing a ferromagnetic pigment onto the pattern-forming object surface of the article (<NUM>),
wherein a predetermined magnetic pigment pattern is formed while the magnetic pigment of the adhesive resin composite that is applied to the pattern-forming object surface of the article (<NUM>) is rearranged along magnetic field lines generated by the magnetic pattern mold (<NUM>),
characterized in that the magnetic pattern mold (<NUM>) is installed at a predetermined distance from the pattern-forming object surface of the article (<NUM>), and the spray unit (<NUM>) applies an adhesive resin composite to the pattern-forming object surface of the article (<NUM>) by spraying the adhesive containing a ferromagnetic pigment to a space between the pattern-forming object surface of the article (<NUM>) and the magnetic pattern mold (<NUM>).