Decorating an elongated element

1 . Apparatus comprising an advancing arrangement for advancing an elongated element in an advancing direction and a first decorating device for decorating a first surface of said elongated element, wherein it further comprises a second decorating device for decorating a second surface of said elongated element, said second surface being distinct from said first surface.

2 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second decorating device is positioned downstream of said first decorating device.

3 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , and further comprising a third decorating device for decorating a third surface of said elongated element, said third surface being distinct from said first surface and from said second surface.

4 . Apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said third decorating device is positioned downstream of said second decorating device.

5 . Apparatus according to claim 3 , and further comprising a fourth decorating device for decorating a fourth surface of said elongated element, said fourth surface being distinct from said first surface, from said second surface and from said third surface.

6 . Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said fourth decorating device is positioned downstream of said third decorating device.

7 . Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said first decorating device, said second decorating device, and/or said third decorating device, and/or said fourth decorating device each comprises a decorating unit for decorating respectively said first surface, said second surface, and/or said third surface and/or said fourth surface.

8 . Apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said decorating unit comprises a transferring device for transferring a flowable material on said elongated element.

9 . Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said transferring device comprises a transferring roller rotatable around a rotation axis.

10 . Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said decorating unit comprises doctor blade elements interacting with said transferring device for removing said flowable material from said transferring device.

11 . Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein in said first decorating device and/or in said second decorating device said rotation axis is substantially vertical.

12 . Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said doctor blade elements comprises a shaped doctor blade delimited by a substantially rectilinear edge provided with a recess arranged for being pressed in a shapingly coupled manner against said transferring device for removing said flowable material from a side surface and from two end surfaces of said transferring device.

13 . Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein in said third decorating device and/or in said fourth decorating device said rotation axis is substantially horizontal.

14 . Apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said doctor blade elements comprises a first doctor blade element, second doctor blade element and third doctor blade element arranged for removing said flowable material respectively from a curved surface of said transferring device and from two substantially flat surfaces obtained at opposite ends of said curved surface.

15 . Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said decorating unit comprises a supplying arrangement for applying said flowable material to said transferring device.

16 . Apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said supplying arrangement comprises a supplying roller that is rotatable around a further rotation axis.

17 . Apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said decorating unit comprises a supplying arrangement for applying said flowable material to said transferring device.

18 . Apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said further rotation axis is parallel to said rotation axis.

19 . Apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said decorating unit comprises further doctor blade elements interacting with said supplying arrangement for removing an excess of said flowable material from said supplying arrangement.

20 . Apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said decorating unit comprises further doctor blade elements interacting with said supplying arrangement for removing an excess of said flowable material from said supplying arrangement.

21 . Apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said further doctor blade elements are provided with an adjusting device for adjusting the tilt of said further doctor blade elements with respect to said supplying arrangement.

22 . Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said further doctor blade elements comprises a further first doctor blade element, a further second doctor blade element and a further third doctor blade element arranged for removing said flowable material respectively from a further curved surface of said supplying arrangement and from two further substantially flat surfaces obtained at opposite ends of said further curved surface.

23 . Apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said decorating unit comprises a moving system associated with said transferring device for moving said transferring device towards or moving said transferring device away from said elongated element.

24 . Apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein said moving system is actuatable by a detecting member so as to move said transferring device towards said elongated element after detecting that a front edge of said elongated element has moved near said transferring device.

25 . Apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein said moving system is configured in such a manner as also to move said supplying arrangement towards and away from said elongated element.

26 . Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said decorating unit comprises a preheating device for heating said flowable material before transferring said flowable material to said elongated element.

27 . Apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said preheating device is associated with a tank element, so as to heat said flowable material contained in said tank element.

28 . Apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said preheating device comprises an electrical resistance member.

29 . Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said decorating unit comprises a kiln arrangement arranged downstream of said transferring device for heating said flowable material applied to said elongated element.

30 . Apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein said kiln arrangement comprises an emitting device for emitting ultraviolet rays for hardening said flowable material applied to said elongated element.

31 . Apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said emitting device is positioned in such a way as to direct said ultraviolet rays to a surface of said elongated element to which said flowable material has just been applied.

32 . Apparatus according to any one of claims 29 , wherein said kiln arrangement comprises door elements that are openable from a further surface of said elongated element different from said surface for making said elongated element enter inside said kiln arrangement.

33 . Apparatus according to claim 32 , wherein said door elements comprise a first layer that supports a second layer in plastics, said second layer being arranged for interacting with said further surface.

34 . Apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein said kiln arrangement comprises a gallium lamp arranged upstream of said emitting device.

35 . Apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein said kiln arrangement is delimited by an external frame member and an internal frame member defining a gap member arranged for thermally insulating said kiln arrangement from an external environment.

36 . Apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein said kiln arrangement is provided with a driving arrangement for moving said kiln arrangement towards, or away from said elongated element.

37 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , and further comprising a further preheating device arranged for preheating said elongated element.

38 . Apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein said further preheating device is of tubular shape so as to be able to be traversed by said elongated element.

39 . Apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein said further preheating device is positioned upstream of said first decorating device.

40 . Apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein said further preheating device comprises an infrared-ray heating system.

41 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said advancing arrangement comprises a first conveying device, a second conveying device opposite said first conveying device, a third conveying device and a fourth conveying device opposite said third conveying device.

42 . Apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said advancing arrangement comprises a first conveying device, a second conveying device opposite said first conveying device, a third conveying device and a fourth conveying device opposite said third conveying device.

43 . Apparatus according to claim 42 , wherein said first conveying device is arranged so as to define a first side support plane for said first surface, said second conveying device is arranged so as to define a second side support plane for said second surface, said fourth conveying device is arranged so as to define a third support plane for said fourth surface and said third conveying device is arranged so as to lean on said third surface.

44 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said advancing arrangement is adjustable so as to be able to receive elongated elements of dimensions differing from one another.

45 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said first decorating device is configured so as to decorate a first side surface of said elongated element.

46 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second decorating device is configured so as to decorate a second side surface of said elongated element.

47 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said third decorating device is configured so as to decorate an upper surface of said elongated element.

48 . Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said fourth decorating device is configured so as to decorate a lower surface of said elongated element.

49 . Apparatus comprising a transferring device for transferring a flowable material on a surface of an object, wherein it further comprises a preheating device intended for acting before transferring said flowable material on said object, so as to enable said flowable material to adhere better to said object.

50 . Apparatus according to claim 49 , wherein said preheating device comprises first preheating device for heating said flowable material.

51 . Apparatus according to claim 50 , wherein said first preheating device is associated with a tank element, so as to heat said flowable material contained in said tank element.

52 . Apparatus according to claim 50 , wherein said first preheating device comprises electrical resistance elements.

53 . Apparatus according to claim 49 , wherein said preheating device comprises second preheating device for preheating said object.

54 . Apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein said second preheating device is of tubular shape so as to be able to be traversed by said object.

55 . Apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein said second preheating device is positioned upstream of said transferring device.

56 . Apparatus according to claim 53 , wherein said second preheating device comprises an infrared-ray heating arrangement.

57 . Method comprising moving an elongated element in an advancing direction, decorating a first surface of said elongated element, wherein downstream of said decorating there is provided further decorating a second surface of said elongated element, said second surface being distinct from said first surface.

58 . Method according to claim 57 , and further comprising, downstream of said further decorating, still decorating a third surface of said elongated element, said third surface being distinct from said first surface and from said second surface.

59 . Method according to claim 58 , and further comprising, downstream of said still decorating, further still decorating a fourth surface of said elongated element, said fourth surface being distinct from said first surface, from said second surface and from said third surface.

60 . Method according to claim 59 , wherein said decorating, said further decorating, and/or said still decorating, and/or said still further decorating each comprises transferring a flowable material respectively to said first surface, to said second surface, and/or to said third surface and/or to said fourth surface.

61 . Method according to claim 60 , wherein before said transferring preheating said flowable material is provided.

62 . Method according to claim 61 , wherein said preheating comprises taking said flowable material to a temperature of 30-40° C.

63 . Method according to claim 60 , wherein after said transferring heating said flowable material applied to said elongated element is provided.

64 . Method according to claim 63 , wherein said flowable material comprises an ink that is hardenable by means of ultraviolet rays.

65 . Method according to claim 64 , wherein said heating comprises exposing a surface of said elongated element, to which said ink has just been applied, to said ultraviolet rays.

66 . Method according to claim 60 , wherein said flowable material comprises a sublimable ink.

67 . Method according to claim 63 , wherein said flowable material comprises a sublimable ink.

68 . Method according to claim 66 , wherein said sublimable ink is transferred to said elongated element in liquid state.

69 . Method according to claim 67 , wherein during said heating said sublimable ink sublimes, so as to penetrate a surface layer of said elongated element.

70 . Method according to claim 57 , and further comprising, before said decorating, further preheating said elongated element.

71 . Method according to claim 70 , wherein said further preheating comprises directing infrared rays to said elongated element.

72 . Method according to claim 70 , wherein said further preheating comprises taking said elongated element to a temperature of 30-70° C.

73 . Method according to claim 57 , wherein said first surface is a first side surface of said elongated element.

74 . Method according to claim 57 , wherein said second surface is a second side surface of said elongated element.

75 . Method according to claim 58 , wherein said third surface is an upper surface of said elongated element.

76 . Method according to claim 59 , wherein said fourth surface is a lower surface of said elongated element.

77 . Method according to claim 57 , wherein said elongated element comprises a profiled bar.

78 . Method according to claim 57 , wherein said elongated element comprises a metal sheet.

79 . Method comprising transferring a flowable material on a surface of an object, wherein before said transferring a preheating step is provided for enabling said flowable material to adhere better to said object.

80 . Method according to claim 79 , wherein said preheating step comprises preheating said flowable material.

81 . Method according to claim 80 , wherein said preheating comprises taking said flowable material to a temperature of 30-40° C.

82 . Method according to claim 79 , wherein after said transferring heating said flowable material applied to said object is provided.

83 . Method according to claim 81 , wherein said flowable material comprises an ink that is hardenable by means of ultraviolet rays.

84 . Method according to claim 83 , wherein said heating comprises exposing a surface of said object, to which said ink has just been applied, to said ultraviolet rays.

85 . Method according to claim 79 , wherein said flowable material comprises a sublimable ink.

86 . Method according to claim 85 , wherein said sublimable ink is transferred to said object in liquid state.

87 . Method according to claim 82 , wherein said flowable material comprises a sublimable ink.

88 . Method according to claim 87 , wherein during said heating said sublimable ink sublimes, so as to penetrate a surface layer of said object.

89 . Method according to any claims 79 , wherein said preheating step comprises subjecting said object to preheating.

90 . Method according to claim 89 , wherein said subjecting to preheating comprises directing infrared rays to said object.

91 . Method according to claim 89 , wherein said subjecting to preheating comprises taking said object to a temperature of 30-70° C.

92 . Method according to claim 79 , wherein said object comprises a profiled bar.

93 . Method according to claim 79 , wherein said object comprises a metal sheet.

94 . Method comprising forming a sublimable pattern on an object and heating said object so that said sublimable pattern penetrates a surface layer of said object, wherein said forming comprises applying to said object a sublimable ink in a flowable state.

95 . Method according to claim 94 , wherein said sublimable ink is liquid whilst it is applied to said object.

96 . Method according to claim 94 , wherein said sublimable ink is applied to said object through a roller device.

97 . Method according to claim 89 , wherein said object comprises a profiled bar.

98 . Method according to claim 94 , wherein said object comprises a metal sheet.