Method of applying mechanically stabilising and/or electrically or opto-electronically conductive films to plastic parts.

p0001The invention relates to a method of applying mechanically stabilizing and / or electrically, or opto-electronically conductive layers on items of plastic; thereby to these layers, which consist in particular of sheets, films, yarns, fabrics, or traces of metallic or non-metallic materials may be arranged non-releasably on the items of plastics.

p0002It is often necessary items of plastics such as Z.8. , Not only mechanically stabilize housing, rack frames or other items within the scope of precision engineering, optics, electrical engineering and electronics with respect to their static and dynamic strength and improve, but often also provided with electric and / or opto-electronically conductive layers , for connection of individual active and / or passive systems. It should be ensured that such layers, not only efficient and economical, and precisely manufactured, but also efficiently and economically, and applied with größmöglicher accuracy on such items of plastics and there can not be solved can be arranged.

p0003With become known method for applying such coatings on items of plastics, the layers after the production of the plastic parts are partially glued, or imprinted, or sprayed, or auggegossen, or vapor-deposited or applied galvanically. In many cases, to carry out such operations relatively complex fixators, masks or stamps devices in addition to the tool for making the Kunstoffeinzelteiles are required there.

p0004The invention is based on the object, a method for applying layers of the type mentioned in items plasti fen create, that is not only efficient and economically feasible, but in which the layers to be applied are extremely economical and necessary highly accurate and reproducible manner and in which, in addition to the actual tool for producing a corresponding single part from a plastic material, for applying the input layers mentioned, no special tools or devices are necessary.

p0005This object is inventively achieved in that, on an item from a plastic layers to be applied, especially in the form of structured foils or films, yarns or fabrics, electrical or optoelectronic interconnects, or of optical fibers or -bündeln, first on a so-called are applied layer body and arranged there can not be solved, and that the designed layer body on the item from a plastic, the requirements placed according to spatial, the material of the required part partially, or if necessary, on all sides, in particular coated cohesively is.

p0006The layer body can there from a film made of a plastic, to which the requisite layers are coated. The laminate may in its material properties, correspond to the material properties of the corresponding single part from a plastic. The provided layers can be coated on a body by embossing, printing, spraying, vapor deposition, electroplating, rolling or Aufplatieren. In particular, layers with particular mechanically stabilizing and / or electrically conductive properties can be made of metallic materials Lestehen. It is provided there that provided on a laminate layers, especially those made of metallic materials, can obtain their final shape in the laminated body. For example, electrical conductor tracks are provided herausgeäzt from a corresponding layer on a body.

p0007An advantage of the method according to the invention is not only that intended for any items of plastics whose mechanical Festigkeitswer te be improved indirectly by means of stabilizing layers, and / or to be which is provided with electrical or opto-electronically conductive layers, these layers initially extremely rationally and can be applied to a stacked body economically, in which case such a stacked body including the final sized and shaped layers on a corresponding item from a plastic, in particular by thermoplastic welding can be applied, or that a net shaped layer body, for application to a corresponding is inserted item made of plastic in the injection mold for the production of the required part and over covered by the following molding operation on the material of the required part partially or, if necessary, but also that both a welding application, as well as an injection-technical application of such a laminated body to a corresponding item , between the item and the film body is a material connection is achieved, the mechanically stabilized the item to a great extent in each case. A further advantage is the extremely low cost of manufacturing tools, to achieve the desired requirements.

p0008Further details of the present method, as well as embodiments which are prepared by the novel process are. shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. Show it<ul><li>FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a base for style watches,</li><li>Fig_:2 is a perspective view of a board of a keyboard,</li><li>FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a subrack,</li><li>Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal display,</li><li>Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an optical fiber ribbon,</li><li>Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a rotary switch.</li><li>Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a precision antenna and</li><li>Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a ventilator blade</li></ul>

p0009In style watches, it is often desirable to provide the housing, but in particular to provide the base with ornaments. These ornaments are there often incorporated into the base surface, in particular eingeäzt, pressed or engraved. The FIG. 1 shows there a derarti gen base a carriage clock, in particular a so-called annual clock. These sockets are usually of a pedestal-like item from a plastic which is provided with a corresponding solid metal coating. In this coating, the ornaments are then arranged. They are there, incorporated as already mentioned above. This process is extremely complex and expensive. Here creates the inventive method Remedy. This can there expediently be done by those who are first applied to the base-like item 1 to be applied from a plastic ornaments in the form of layers 2 to a so-called layer body 3 and arranged there can not be solved, and that then the pre-designed layer body 3 with the layers 2 arranged on the item 1 according to spatially and materially connected with the material of the required part 1, in particular, that is covered by this.

p0010The application of the final layer body 3 to the item may be there after a take place by meheren possible, process steps, characterized in that the layer body 3 is inserted into the injection mold for manufacturing the socket-type single part 1, and in that the plastic of the single part 1, the laminated body 3 cohesively sheathed.

p0011In another possible method step, the finished layer body 3 is placed on a finished molded item 1 corresponding spatially and then cohesively applied in a so-called thermoplastic welding procedure, in particular with ultrasonic to the item first

p0012The advantage of this type of preparation of such base is not only that there the ornaments in the form of layers 2 can be incorporated into a metal-coated layer body 3 at first relatively simple and extremely economical and precise, especially äztechnisch but that or by the integral casing connection of the individual base-like part 1 with the two layers provided with layered body 3, in particular through the metal mesh-like layers 2, the base is mechanically stabilized to a high degree.

p0013The inventive method is limited there not only to the manufacture of pedestals, but of course in general housings for watches applicable if there is a base body of an artificial 'material provided. It is of course possible by the present method in particular glasses for watches made of clear Plexiglas (registered trademark) with appropriate decorations, in particular from 2 layers of metallic materials to produce economically very solid. In place of metal layers 2 on a layer body 3 also decorations or other representations in layers 2, there may be printed in color or a different fabric, imprinted, be sprayed on or applied filmtechnisch, which then, according to the method of the invention the material of the single part 1 partially, or if necessary, on all sides, in particular coated cohesively.

p0014Another example of a sensible, practical and efficient / economic application of the process according to the invention is shown in FIG. 2 on a coated board of a so-called keyboard's or keyboard. In detail, there -1 means a single part from a plastic material of the rear portion of the keyboard on the platinum, in the form of layers 2 are applied electrical conductor tracks. These interconnects layers 2 are in accordance with the present method, first applied and arranged non-releasably on a laminated body. 3 Such ready-layer body 3 is then connected to the item 1, in particular cohesively. This joining can in turn be effected according to one of several possible process steps within the scope of the invention. It is particularly expedient for the finished laminate 3 insert in the injection / compression tool for producing the required part 1 and to wrap directly on the material of the required part. 1 In this application, stabilize the layers 2, the item 1 mechanically to a large extent.

p0015A further, to the board, according to FIG. 2, a comparative example is shown in FIG. 3, with a rack, particularly for electronic data processing equipment, small computers or electronic toys, stored in which printed circuit boards or other active or passive components or assemblies and electrically conductively connected to each other are. In detail, there the module carrier consists of a single part 1 made of a plastic, which is provided with a plurality of guides 4 for the individual assemblies. In the area of ​​these guides 4 layers 2 in the form of electrical or opto-electronically conductive connections are provided for connecting the individual assemblies together.

p0016These electrical or optoelectronic conductive layers 2 may be applied to the item 1 by the present process now expediently advantageous extremely precise and economical. The layers 2 are first coated on a body 3, which is then encased within the injection / compression process for the preparation of the required part 1 or by welding with a splash / press technically finished item 1, in particular cohesively. Both the electrically conductive layers 2 in the form of metal interconnects, as well as the opto-electronically conductive layers 2 in the form of optical fibers, bundles or cables can there rationally, be very accurately and economically applied and handled in a stacked body 3 made of a plastic.

p0017Another expedient and advantageous application of the present method shows the example of FIG. 4, with a so-called liquid crystal display. As there the construction of such a display showing the front Item 1 internally provided with a layer 2 in the form of electrically conductive Zinnoxydelektroden in the form of a plastic glass. Across the back 5 which-may also be made from a plastic that is innseitig also a layer 2 in the form of a Zinnoxydelektrode. In particular, the electrode layer 2 on the front side item 1 must be sufficiently transparent. Such layers 2 can again be applied to both the item 1 as well as on the local back 5 extremely expedient and economically by the method according to the present invention. Again, this can be done within the framework of the preparation of the required part 1 and / or the back 5 in an injection / compression process or by welding, in particular ultra welding technology. In any case, the layers 2 are first turn coated on a body 3, which is then transferred to a corresponding item 1 or another plastic part, is arranged cohesively unsolvable. This particular application is not restricted to such ads, but can be particularly extended to so-called flat panel displays, where especially the front, glassy item 1 is provided with a matrix form extending layers. 2 In particular, these layers 2, which serve as electrodes of the display, can be coated on a body 3 extremely expediently first, and then the finished composite is 3 transferred to the crystal clear Item 1 from a plastic material fit.

p0018FIG. 5 shows a further application example of the method according to the invention in a so-called opto-electronic light-conducting adapter or optical fiber ribbon. In detail, there is 1 a, in particular flexible item of a plastic, as a carrier for the opto-electronically conductive layers 2, in the form of optical fibers that were there, initially arranged in accordance with the present method on a layer body 3 can not be solved, which is then cohesively on the item was transferred 1. Also in this case, the transmission application of the laminated body 3 with the sheets 2 on the item 1 can be injection molding, during the production of the single part 1, or take place by welding to a finished item. 1

p0019Fig. 6 shows an electric rotary switch with a, in particular provided at the back conductor path 6 'of a single part 1 may be composed of a plastic material as a carrier for the electrically conductive contacts of the switch in the form of layers 2, which are arranged on the item 1 insbesodere angle exactly should. The application of these layers 2 on the item 1 can again be effected efficiently and accurately by the present process. The electrically conductive layers are first coated on a back body 3 and the finished laminate 3 is then again materially connected with the item. 1

p0020Fig. 7 shows a special embodiment of a so-called precision antenna for the microwave range, which is provided with electrically conductive layers 2 as the active or parasitic Stahlerelemente. 1 indicates there an item from a plastic as a carrier or insulator for the radiating elements, which must be located very precisely there.

p0021According to the method, according to the present invention, this requisite is efficiently and economically achievable with such antennas. The radiating elements in the form of layers 2 be there initially resist coated on a body 3, which is then transferred to one of the previously described process steps in the item 1 and connected cohesively. In particular, for such applications in antennas also have high mechanical strength and resistance is required, the process with which it is sufficiently obtained. In addition, through the sensible application of the present method relatively expensive metal applications, in particular by electroplating processes super- fluous.

p0022Another useful and practical application of the method is shown in FIG. 8. There, a fan blade should not only be mechanically stabilized, but a charge of such blades from plastic to be sufficiently avoided. The previous manufacturing processes such wing made use of to achieve the necessary mechanical stability with deposits or inclusions in the plastic. To avoid static charges certain metal powder-containing plastics have been used which are not only very expensive but may formed relatively different resistances, with respect to the entire surface structure of such a wing.¹

p0023The inventive method also creates here advantageous and economical situation, by a metal layer 2 is applied to a laminated body 3 arranged cohesively on the item 1 of the wing of any plastic. This particular can be done by the film body 3 is inserted into the injection / compression tool for the wing and the body layer 3 on the material of the required part 1 partly, or if necessary, on all sides, in particular coated cohesively. Thus, a sufficient shielding and thus charging of such a wing is ensured.

p0024The inventive method is not limited to the above-described examples, but is generally in the precision mechanics, optics and electrical engineering / electronics applicable.

p0025wherever items are to be mechanically stabilized made of a plastic in particular, this method can be advantageously employed. Such items can provide quasi with lamination, are amplified by this method.

p0026Of particular advantage is the use of this method in the production of solar panels on voltaic base. There, the silicon layers may be applied directly to the laminated body, which is in turn encased in a single part from a plastic. The item can there be a glass body which protects the solar panels on the front side. In particular, the solar panels there are encased ie, the composite total