Method and apparatus for producing a decorative surface

1. A method for producing a decorative surface having different gloss levels comprising the following steps:

applying a liquid base layer ( 1 . 2 ) on a surface of a workpiece ( 1 . 0 );

applying a structure into the still liquid base layer ( 1 . 2 ) by means of digital print heads, and fixing the structure;

coating the structure with a first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 );

feeding of the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) to a digital printing station;

provision of digital control data for the digital printing station; and

digital spraying of droplets on partial areas of the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ) on the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) with an at least partially transparent lacquer in order to apply a second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) on the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ), wherein after curing the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) has a different gloss level than the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step in which the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) is fed to a lacquer application device.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein

the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) is printed with a decorative image-before the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) is fed to a lacquer application device, and/or

the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) is printed with at least two different colors using a digital printer-after the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) is fed to a lacquer application device and before the step of coating the structure with a first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ).

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein digital print data available for the decorative image on the workpiece are used in identical form or in a form modified by a digital manipulation method as a basis for the digital data provided in the step of the provision of digital control data for the digital printing station.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ) is at least partially cured by an additional method step before the step-of the digital spraying of droplets on partial areas of the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ).

6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein in the step of coating the structure with a first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ), a transparent lacquer layer is applied to an existing decorative image.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step in which the applied lacquer layers ( 1 . 4 , 1 . 5 ) are physically dried and/or chemically cured.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gloss level of the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ) deviates by at least 10 gloss units from the gloss level of the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ), wherein the gloss units are measured according to DIN EN ISO 2813:2015-02 at an angle of 60°.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the step of the digital spraying of droplets on partial areas of the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ), the droplets are sprayed with a droplet size smaller than 10 pL.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface of the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) has a structure with a structure depth of 5-300 μm (micrometer), before the second lacquer layer is applied.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein only the areas provided with a structure or only the areas without a structure are printed with the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ).

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the two lacquer layers ( 1 . 4 , 1 . 5 ) are applied from an at least partially transparent lacquer, so that a decorative image arranged underneath ( 1 . 4 , 1 . 5 ) can be optically recognized through the two lacquer layers ( 1 . 4 , 1 . 5 ).

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) produces a glossy or high-gloss surface and/or

the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) produces a matte or less glossy surface.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second lacquer contains matting agents, preferably in a weight proportion between 2% and 6%.

15. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 1 , comprising:

a first printing device for applying the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ) and a second digital printing device for applying the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) onto the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ), wherein

after curing the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) has a different gloss level than the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ).

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure is uneven.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid base layer ( 1 . 2 ) is comprised of lacquer, and the structure is comprised of droplets of lacquer.

18. A method for producing a decorative surface having different gloss levels comprising the following steps:

coating a surface of a workpiece with a first laquer layer ( 1 . 4 ), wherein the coating step comprises:

applying a liquid base layer ( 1 . 2 ) on the surface of the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ); and

applying a structure into the still liquid base layer ( 1 . 2 ) by means of digital print heads, and fixing the structure;

feeding of the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) to a digital printing station;

provision of digital control data for the digital printing station; and

digital spraying of droplets on partial areas of the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ) on the workpiece ( 1 . 0 ) with an at least partially transparent lacquer in order to apply a second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) on the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ), wherein after curing the second lacquer layer ( 1 . 5 ) has a different gloss level than the first lacquer layer ( 1 . 4 ).

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the structure is uneven.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the liquid base layer ( 1 . 2 ) is comprised of lacquer, and the structure is comprised of droplets of lacquer.