CA1184706A - Process for electrostatic direct transfer printing of designs on fabrics - Google Patents
Process for electrostatic direct transfer printing of designs on fabricsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1184706A CA1184706A CA000377405A CA377405A CA1184706A CA 1184706 A CA1184706 A CA 1184706A CA 000377405 A CA000377405 A CA 000377405A CA 377405 A CA377405 A CA 377405A CA 1184706 A CA1184706 A CA 1184706A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- dye
- fabric
- image
- electrically insulating
- fabrics
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Coloring (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A process for electrostatic printing of fabrics wherein a latent electrostatic image is created by a computer driven stylus marking pen on an electrically insulating substrate which image is developed with dye particles dispersed in a carrier liquid. The dye particles are then brought into contact with the fabrics, such as by image transfer followed by fixing of the dye to the fabric.
A process for electrostatic printing of fabrics wherein a latent electrostatic image is created by a computer driven stylus marking pen on an electrically insulating substrate which image is developed with dye particles dispersed in a carrier liquid. The dye particles are then brought into contact with the fabrics, such as by image transfer followed by fixing of the dye to the fabric.
Description
7~
PROCESS FOR ELECTROSTATIC DIRECT TRANSFER
PRINTING O~ DESIGNS ON EiABRICS
This invention relates to the dying of textile fabrics and9 more 5 particularly7 to a process wherein particulate dye is utiliæed to develop a latent electrostatic image and to thereafter dye a fabric in image con-figuration.
The utilization of dyes in the development of electrostat.c latent images have long been known. For example, U.S. Patent 3~003,891 to Albrecht and U.S. 3,060,052 to Martin, teach the development of latent electrostatic images with dye particles and transferring the dye particles to an image receiving substrate containing a gelatin layer.
The dying of textile fabrics utilizing a latent electrostatic image is shown in U.S. Patent 3,454,347 to Leimbacher wherein a toner material containing a dielectric carrier and a colorant is utilized to develop an electrostatic image, which image is then transferred to textile fabric so that the colorant will color the fabric under a particular two-step treatment.
The electrostatic application of dry dyestuffs to fabric is taught in U.S.
Patent 3,941,559 to Cunnane, III et al. However, such application is not an imagewise configuration.
There is thus needed a simple process for the printing of fabric which is fast, automatic and direct. That is, there is needed an imagewise application of dye material to fabric whereby the fabric is dyed in image-wise configuration without the need for subsequent scrubbing and cleaning to remove carrier material which is brought into the fabric together with the colorant. Typical polymeric carrier materials have been utilized in the past to carry the dye to the fabric in imagewise configuration in response to an electrostatic image pattern. Without removal of such polymeric materials, the fabric becomes stiff and has an unpleasant hand.
According to this invention, there is provided a process for fabric dying in imagewise configuration which comprises creating a latent electrostatic image on an insulating substrate by means of a computer controlled stylus marking pen, developing said latent image with dye crystals in a carrier liquid9 bringing a fabric surface into contact with the dye image and fixing the dye to said fabric. In the optimum mode, the surface upon which the latent electrostatic image is formed is a smooth surface such as a polymeric material, for ~xample, polystytene or polyethylene which is carefully placed with respect to the distance from the stylus marking pen so that the ~ir breakdown at uniform voltage will create a uniIorm latent image on the surface. One advantageous mode o~ this invention is to provide S a floa~ing, flexible polyme~ic web positioned by me~ns of an air bearing in a~eord~nee with the apparatus o~ U.S. Pa~ent 4,254,424, i~sued on M~rch 3, 1981. In gccordance with ~aid patent, a fixed stylu3 recording head is provided with an air chAmber haYing outlets adjacent the stylus which supports the flexible polymeric web ss it passes over the recording head st a set distance. There is thus provided a latent electrostatic image on ~ smooth surface which provides suitable latent image which is then developed by meEms of dye p~rtides suspended in a liquid carrier medium.
One o~ the unique advantages of the present invention is the development o~ the l~tent electr~tatic image with charged dye p~rticles suspended in ~ liquid carrier medium. ~uch medium is typically an organic electrically insulating liquid comprising a mixture of relatively short chain hydrocarbon molecules (C6 ~ C8) or kerosine. The dye particle is found to obtain a charge when suspended in the electrically insulating liquid medium thereby being readily attr~ctable to the l~tent electrostatic image. The ~ye particle is unattended by carrier material typically found in the prior art.
The density of the final image is thus greatly improved since the concentration of dye material is greatly incre~ed in the image ~reas due to the absence of csrrier material typically utilized in the prior art of electrostatic transfer printing with dry toner material.
Further in accordQnce with this invention, the latent electro-static image is created by A computer controlled stylus marking pen which provides rapid marking in any variety of shapes through data storsge in the oomputer. There is thus made available immediately a great variety of image patterns ehangeable instQntaneously by the electronic controls attendant to the computer circuit. Commercially available computor devices which have the cap~bility of storing image design information in digital form can be utilized in the process of this invention.
In another aspect of this invention, the fabric surface is brought into contact with the imagewise dye rnaterial on the electrically insulating surface upon which the latent electrostatic image resides. One may then optionally transfer the dye electrostatically from the surface bearing the i, .
7~P~
latent electrostatic image or, alternatively, cause the dye to be imbibed into the fabric while the dye is sandwiched between the electrically insulating latent image bearing substrate and the fabric. Typically, in the latter mode, the sandwich can be passed over a heated roll whereby the dye absorbed or imbibed preferentially into the fabric material and not into the electrically insulating latent image bearing substrate. In this way7 the transfer step i9 obviated since the fabric bears the imagewise pattern of dye material as it is brought away from the electrically insulating image bearing surface. ~uch image is fixed ~o the fabric without the need for a separate particle transfer step in the process. Alternatively, the dye particles are transferred from the electrically insulating image bearing substrate to the fabric and subsequently the fabric is treated so as to imbibe the dye to provide a fixed image therein. Typically, the fixing process involves the use of heat such as by contaeting the fabric with a heated surface such as a roller or by irradiating the fabric by radiant heat from a heat source thereby melting the dye and allowing the fabric to absorb the melted dye.
Preferably~ dispersed dyes are utilized in the process of this invention which are easily dispersed in most synthetic fabrics by simply heating the dye. Alternatively, water soluble dyes are also useful in the process of this invention wherein the fabric is wetted subsequent to contact with the dye thereby dissolving the dye into the fabric.
Any type of suitable fabric is useful in the process of this inven-tion whieh fabric does not interact with the liquid carrier rnaterial utilized to develop the latent electrostatic image.
It is to be understood that the above-described methods and arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention and that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
PROCESS FOR ELECTROSTATIC DIRECT TRANSFER
PRINTING O~ DESIGNS ON EiABRICS
This invention relates to the dying of textile fabrics and9 more 5 particularly7 to a process wherein particulate dye is utiliæed to develop a latent electrostatic image and to thereafter dye a fabric in image con-figuration.
The utilization of dyes in the development of electrostat.c latent images have long been known. For example, U.S. Patent 3~003,891 to Albrecht and U.S. 3,060,052 to Martin, teach the development of latent electrostatic images with dye particles and transferring the dye particles to an image receiving substrate containing a gelatin layer.
The dying of textile fabrics utilizing a latent electrostatic image is shown in U.S. Patent 3,454,347 to Leimbacher wherein a toner material containing a dielectric carrier and a colorant is utilized to develop an electrostatic image, which image is then transferred to textile fabric so that the colorant will color the fabric under a particular two-step treatment.
The electrostatic application of dry dyestuffs to fabric is taught in U.S.
Patent 3,941,559 to Cunnane, III et al. However, such application is not an imagewise configuration.
There is thus needed a simple process for the printing of fabric which is fast, automatic and direct. That is, there is needed an imagewise application of dye material to fabric whereby the fabric is dyed in image-wise configuration without the need for subsequent scrubbing and cleaning to remove carrier material which is brought into the fabric together with the colorant. Typical polymeric carrier materials have been utilized in the past to carry the dye to the fabric in imagewise configuration in response to an electrostatic image pattern. Without removal of such polymeric materials, the fabric becomes stiff and has an unpleasant hand.
According to this invention, there is provided a process for fabric dying in imagewise configuration which comprises creating a latent electrostatic image on an insulating substrate by means of a computer controlled stylus marking pen, developing said latent image with dye crystals in a carrier liquid9 bringing a fabric surface into contact with the dye image and fixing the dye to said fabric. In the optimum mode, the surface upon which the latent electrostatic image is formed is a smooth surface such as a polymeric material, for ~xample, polystytene or polyethylene which is carefully placed with respect to the distance from the stylus marking pen so that the ~ir breakdown at uniform voltage will create a uniIorm latent image on the surface. One advantageous mode o~ this invention is to provide S a floa~ing, flexible polyme~ic web positioned by me~ns of an air bearing in a~eord~nee with the apparatus o~ U.S. Pa~ent 4,254,424, i~sued on M~rch 3, 1981. In gccordance with ~aid patent, a fixed stylu3 recording head is provided with an air chAmber haYing outlets adjacent the stylus which supports the flexible polymeric web ss it passes over the recording head st a set distance. There is thus provided a latent electrostatic image on ~ smooth surface which provides suitable latent image which is then developed by meEms of dye p~rtides suspended in a liquid carrier medium.
One o~ the unique advantages of the present invention is the development o~ the l~tent electr~tatic image with charged dye p~rticles suspended in ~ liquid carrier medium. ~uch medium is typically an organic electrically insulating liquid comprising a mixture of relatively short chain hydrocarbon molecules (C6 ~ C8) or kerosine. The dye particle is found to obtain a charge when suspended in the electrically insulating liquid medium thereby being readily attr~ctable to the l~tent electrostatic image. The ~ye particle is unattended by carrier material typically found in the prior art.
The density of the final image is thus greatly improved since the concentration of dye material is greatly incre~ed in the image ~reas due to the absence of csrrier material typically utilized in the prior art of electrostatic transfer printing with dry toner material.
Further in accordQnce with this invention, the latent electro-static image is created by A computer controlled stylus marking pen which provides rapid marking in any variety of shapes through data storsge in the oomputer. There is thus made available immediately a great variety of image patterns ehangeable instQntaneously by the electronic controls attendant to the computer circuit. Commercially available computor devices which have the cap~bility of storing image design information in digital form can be utilized in the process of this invention.
In another aspect of this invention, the fabric surface is brought into contact with the imagewise dye rnaterial on the electrically insulating surface upon which the latent electrostatic image resides. One may then optionally transfer the dye electrostatically from the surface bearing the i, .
7~P~
latent electrostatic image or, alternatively, cause the dye to be imbibed into the fabric while the dye is sandwiched between the electrically insulating latent image bearing substrate and the fabric. Typically, in the latter mode, the sandwich can be passed over a heated roll whereby the dye absorbed or imbibed preferentially into the fabric material and not into the electrically insulating latent image bearing substrate. In this way7 the transfer step i9 obviated since the fabric bears the imagewise pattern of dye material as it is brought away from the electrically insulating image bearing surface. ~uch image is fixed ~o the fabric without the need for a separate particle transfer step in the process. Alternatively, the dye particles are transferred from the electrically insulating image bearing substrate to the fabric and subsequently the fabric is treated so as to imbibe the dye to provide a fixed image therein. Typically, the fixing process involves the use of heat such as by contaeting the fabric with a heated surface such as a roller or by irradiating the fabric by radiant heat from a heat source thereby melting the dye and allowing the fabric to absorb the melted dye.
Preferably~ dispersed dyes are utilized in the process of this invention which are easily dispersed in most synthetic fabrics by simply heating the dye. Alternatively, water soluble dyes are also useful in the process of this invention wherein the fabric is wetted subsequent to contact with the dye thereby dissolving the dye into the fabric.
Any type of suitable fabric is useful in the process of this inven-tion whieh fabric does not interact with the liquid carrier rnaterial utilized to develop the latent electrostatic image.
It is to be understood that the above-described methods and arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention and that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Claims (7)
1. An improved process of fabric printing which comprises creating a latent electrostatic image on an electrically insulating smooth polymeric film consisting of polystyrene or polyethylene by means of a computer controlled stylus marking pen, developing said latent image with dye crystals in an organic, electrically insulating carrier liquid, bringing a fabric surface into contact with said dye and fixing the dye to said fabric, wherein said film is maintained at a distance from said stylus by means of an air bearing.
2. The process of Claim 1 wherein the fabric is brought into contact with a heated roll to fix the dye.
3. The process of Claim 1 wherein the dye is fixed by means of radiant heat.
4. The process of Claim 1 wherein the dye is transferred to said fabric and then fixed.
5. The process of Claim 1 wherein the fabric is brought into contact with said dye image and simultaneously said dye is fixed to said fabric.
6. The process of Claim 5 wherein the dye is heated while sandwiched between said electrically insulating substrate and said fabric whereby the dye is fixed to said fabric.
7. The process of Claim 5 wherein the dye is heated with radiant heat while sandwiched between the insulating surface and the fabric.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US17409580A | 1980-07-31 | 1980-07-31 | |
| US174,095 | 1980-07-31 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1184706A true CA1184706A (en) | 1985-04-02 |
Family
ID=22634804
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000377405A Expired CA1184706A (en) | 1980-07-31 | 1981-05-12 | Process for electrostatic direct transfer printing of designs on fabrics |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1184706A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-05-12 CA CA000377405A patent/CA1184706A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |