FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to techniques of applying a colored lacquer on a surface of a wheel to enhance appearance of the wheel.
BACKGROUND
Generally, wheels of a vehicle are made of an aluminum alloy or any other alloy. Appearance of the wheels directly adds on to an overall appearance of the vehicle. Few users may want to have same color for the wheel as well as the vehicle body. Generally, lacquers are applied on any surface to improve finish of the surface of a product's base color. Similarly, a lacquer is applied on a few portions of the sides of the wheels to improve finish of the wheel and to protect a mirror like finish of the wheel and to further improve corrosion resistance of the portions of the wheels.
Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a wheel 100 coated with a clear lacquer, according to an existing technique. The wheel 100 has sides with a surface 102 on which the lacquer 104 is applied thereon. There are various parameters to be considered to achieve finish of the wheel 100. Such parameters may include, but are not limited to, adhesion of the lacquer 104 on the surface 102, Pencil hardness, Dry Film Thickness (DFT) at a flat surface and at an edge, presence of foreign particles on the surface 102, such as dust, and various corrosion resistance properties.
In one example, the Dry Film Thickness, hereinafter referred to as DFT, is a critical parameter and is directly related to paint test results. In case of any discrepancy in the thickness of the dry film, it affects the paint test results of the wheel 100. For example, if the thickness of the dry film is not in a predefined range

for the wheel 100, it may lead to paint failure, which is a detrimental issue to the wheel 100.
In case the clear lacquer is a transparent lacquer, any discrepancy in the thickness of the dry film is not reflected on the appearance of the finished wheel. In case of presence of dust particles on the surface of the wheel 100, the wheel 100 can be conveniently repainted and no change in the color can be visibly detected. In case the lacquer is colored lacquer, these issues are quite prominent and any foreign particles on the surface of the wheel may cause adverse effect on the finish of the wheel. For example, if any foreign particulars are present on the colored lacquered surface of the wheel, it is not possible to repaint as the difference in color would be visible therein.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a technique to apply a colored lacquer on a surface of wheel.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention nor intended to determine the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of applying a colored lacquer on a surface of a wheel is disclosed. The method includes pre-treating the surface of the wheel with a cleansing liquid, followed by applying a first coating of a primer on the pre-treated surface of the wheel. Thereafter, the method includes baking the first primer-coated surface of the wheel at a first predetermined temperature. The method further includes applying a first coating of a colored liquid on the baked first primer-coated surface of the wheel, followed by baking the color-coated surface of the wheel at a second predetermined temperature. Thereafter, the

method includes the pre-treating the baked color-coated surface of the wheel with the cleansing liquid and applying a second coating of the primer on the pre-treated surface. Then, the colored lacquer is applied on the second primer-coated surface of the wheel.
To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered for limiting its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 a schematic view of a wheel coated with a clear lacquer, according to an existing technique;
Fig. 2 illustrates a finished wheel having colored lacquer coating, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figs. 3A-B illustrate a flow chart depicting a method of applying a colored lacquer on the wheel of Fig. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
The term "some" as used herein is defined as "none, or one, or more than one, or all." Accordingly, the terms "none," "one," "more than one," "more than one, but not all" or "all" would all fall under the definition of "some." The term "some embodiments" may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term "some embodiments" is defined as meaning "no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments."

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to "includes," "comprises," "has," "consists," and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language "MUST comprise" or "NEEDS TO include."
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as "one or more features" or "one or more elements" or "at least one feature" or "at least one element." Furthermore, the use of the terms "one or more" or "at least one" feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as "there NEEDS to be one or more ..." or "one or more element is REQUIRED."
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.
Reference is made herein to some "embodiments." It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which

the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to "a first embodiment," "a further embodiment," "an alternate embodiment," "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "multiple embodiments," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," "further embodiment", "furthermore embodiment", "additional embodiment" or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any feature and/or element described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 2 illustrates a finished wheel 200 having a colored lacquer coating, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wheel 200 includes

two sides and each side of the wheel 200 has a surface 202. Further, a colored lacquer 204 is applied on the surface 202 of the wheel 200 to enhance the finish or appearance of the wheel 200. In this example, the wheel 200 is a diamond finished wheel. As would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, although the following disclosure describes a method of applying the colored lacquer 204 on a surface of the diamond finished wheel, the same can be applied any type of wheel, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Here, the wheel 200 is made of an aluminum alloy or any other alloy, which is suitable to form the wheel.
In one example, any spraying techniques are used for applying the colored lacquer on the surface 202 of the wheel 200. Here, the robot painting technique may include a robot with an agitator, a painting device having a pump connected to a gun. Further, the surface 202 of the wheel must be in a dust-free environment while applying the colored lacquer on the surface 202. For controlling the presence of dust particles, the wheel 202 is placed in the dust-free environment so as the robot may perform the various steps to apply the colored lacquer on the surface 202 of the wheel 200. The dust-free environment is maintained by installing a particle measurement meter. The particle measurement meter is configured to measure the level of dust particles in the environment. Also, the particle measurement meter may provide an alert when the dust particles in the environment increases more than a predefined amount. In such case, the particle measurement meter may enable an appropriate cleaning machine disposed in the environment to filter out the dust particles from the environment.
Figs. 3A-B illustrate a flow chart depicting a method 300 of applying the colored lacquer on the wheel 200 of Fig. 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Particularly, the colored lacquer is applied on the surface 202 of the wheel 200. For the sake of brevity, features of the present disclosure that are already described in detail in the description of Figure 2 are not described in detail in the description of Figs. 3 A-B.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the method 300 includes a step of pre-treating the surface 202 of the wheel 200. At a block 302 of Fig. 3, the surface 202 of the wheel 200 is pre-treated with a cleansing liquid capable of promoting adhesion properties and enhancing anti-corrosive properties of the surface 202. Here, the cleaning liquid can be any processed water and chemicals having cleansing properties. In one example, the surface 202 of the wheel 200 is pre-treated with a processed water and chemicals. Thereafter, the surface 202 of the wheel 200 is subjected to hot air drying to dry out the liquid present on the surface 202. Here, the pre-treatment of the surface 202 is a process of cleaning/preparing the surface 202 for painting process/further process. As the surface 202 is pre-treated, it can promote adhesion between a coating liquid and the surface 202 of the wheel.
Thereafter, at a block 304, the method 300 may include applying a first coating of a primer on the pre-treated surface of the wheel 200. As disclosed above, in this example, application/painting of the primer on the surface 202 of the wheel 200 is performed the robot and the painting device. However, above process can be performed by any other painting techniques. In this example, the primer is in a powdered form.
Thereafter, at a block 306, the method 300 may include baking the first primer coated surface of the wheel 200 at a first predetermined temperature. In this example, the first determined temperature is a range 100° to 250° C. Accordingly, the first primer-coated surface of the wheel 200 is baked at a temperature in a range of 100° to 250° C for 5 to 50 minutes. In one example, the first primer-coated surface of the wheel 200 may be baked in a furnace. In another example, the first primer-coated surface of the wheel 200 may be baked by blowing hot air having above mentioned temperature on the wheel 200.
Thereafter, at a block 308, the method 300 includes applying a first coating of a colored liquid on the baked first primer-coated surface of the wheel 200. Here, the colored liquid is a paint, which is applied on the baked first primer-coated

surface of the wheel 200 by any spraying technique. In the preferred example, the colored liquid is painted on the baked first primer-coated surface of the wheel 200 by the spraying gun. In one example, a paint pressure of the pump is 0.5-7 Kg/cm2 and at a flow rate of 50 - 300 ml/min. Also, air pressure of the pump spraying the colored liquid is 0.5-7 kg/cm2. Further, to achieve proper coating of the colored liquid on the surface of the wheel 200, a distance between the gun to the surface of the wheel should be in between 3-12inches. Also, the kinetic viscosity of the colored liquid on the surface of the wheel 200 is 10 to 25seconds. Here, the kinetic viscosity means the time taken by the colored liquid to pass through a capillary in the painting device.
Thereafter, at a block 310, the method 300 includes baking the color-coated surface of the wheel 200 at a second predetermined temperature. In this example, the second determined temperature is a range 100° to 200° C. Accordingly, the color-coated surface of the wheel 200 is baked at a temperature in a range of 100° to 200° C for 5 to 40minutes.
Thereafter, at a block 312, the method 300 includes machining the baked color-coated surface of the wheel to achieve mirror finish. In the preferred example, a front side surface of the wheel 200 is machined to achieve mirror finish. Here, the front side surface of the wheel 200 is a surface facing away from the vehicle. In other words, the front side surface of the wheel 200 is the surface that is visible from outside.
Thereafter, at a block 314, the method 300 includes pre-treating the baked color-coated surface of the wheel 200 with a liquid, similar to the process performed in the block 302. In one example, the baked color-coated surface of the wheel 200 is pre-treated with a processed water and chemicals. Thereafter, the baked color-coated surface of the wheel 200 is subjected to hot air drying to dry out the liquid present on the surface 202. Here, the pre-treatment of the surface is a prosses of cleaning/preparing the surface for painting process/further process. As the surface

is pre-treated, it can promote adhesion between a coating liquid and the surface of the wheel 200.
Thereafter, at a block 316, the method 300 includes applying a second coating of the primer on the pre-treated surface of the wheel 200. As disclosed above, in this example, application/painting of the primer on the surface 202 of the wheel 200 is performed the robot and the painting device.
Thereafter, at a block 318, the method 300 includes applying the colored lacquer on the second primer-coated surface of the wheel 200. Here, the colored lacquer is painted on the second primer-coated surface of the wheel 200 by any spraying technique. In the preferred example, the colored lacquer is painted on the second primer-coated surface of the wheel 200 by the spraying gun. In this example, a paint pressure of the pump pumping the colored lacquer is 0.5-7 Kg/cm2 and at a flow rate of 50 - 300ml/min. Also, the air pressure of the pump spraying the colored lacquer is 0.5-7 kg/cm2. Further, to achieve proper coating of the colored lacquer on the surface of the wheel 200, a distance between the gun to the surface of the wheel should be in between 3-12inches. Also, the kinetic viscosity of the colored lacquer on the surface of the wheel 200 is 10 to 25 seconds. Here, the kinetic viscosity means the time taken by the colored lacquer to pass through a capillary in the painting device. As the agitator provided in the robot along with the painting device, it is easy to apply the colored lacquer to whole surface of the wheel 200.
Thereafter, at a block 320, the method 300 includes baking the colored lacquer-coated surface of the wheel 200 at a temperature in a range of 100 ° to 200° for 5 to 40 minutes. Thereafter, the baked surface of the wheel is visually inspected. Further, the final inspection may be a visual inspection to detect any discrepancy in the painting of the wheel.
As the surface of the wheel is pre-treated twice before applying the colored lacquer, it is easy to remove any foreign particles present on the surface of the wheel

200. Also, such method enhances the quality of the lacquer application on the surface of the wheel, thereby enhancing appearance of the wheel.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

Claim;

1. A method (300) of applying a colored lacquer (204) on a surface (202) of a
wheel (200), comprising:
pre-treating the surface of the wheel (200) with a cleansing liquid;
applying a first coating of a primer on the pre-treated surface of the wheel (200);
baking the first primer-coated surface of the wheel (200) at a first predetermined temperature;
applying a first coating of a colored liquid on the baked first primer-coated surface of the wheel (200);
baking the color-coated surface of the wheel (200) at a second predetermined temperature;
pre-treating the baked color-coated surface of the wheel (200) with the cleansing liquid;
applying a second coating of the primer on the pre-treated surface of the wheel (200); and
applying the colored lacquer on the second primer-coated surface of the wheel (200).
2. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleansing liquid is a processed water and chemicals having cleansing properties.
3. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, comprising machining the baked color-coated surface of the wheel (200) to achieve mirror finish.
4. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first primer-coated surface of the wheel (200) is baked at a temperature in a range of 100° to 250 ° C for 5 to 50 minutes.

5. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the color coated surface of the wheel (200) is baked at a temperature in a range of 100° to 200 ° C for 5 to 40 minutes.
6. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primer is in a powdered form and the colored liquid is a paint.
7. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, comprising baking the lacquer-coated surface of the wheel (200) at a temperature in a range oflOO0 to 200° for 5 to 40 minutes.
8. The method (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the primer, the colored liquid, and the colored lacquer are applied on the surface of the wheel (200) by a painting device.
9. The method (300) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the painting device having a pump delivering the primer, the colored liquid, and the colored lacquer on the surface of the wheel (200) at a pressure of 0.5-7Kg/cm2 and at a flow rate of 50- 300ml/min.
10. The method (300) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the kinetic viscosity of the colored liquid and the colored lacquer applied on the surface of the wheel (200) is 10-25 seconds.