FR2710293A1 - Method for transferring reproductions onto porous substrates - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transferring a design made up of at least two colours, in the form of an image or a series of characters (letters), onto a porous substrate, in particular onto a flat, leather or wood surface. The said design has already been reproduced by means of a printing process on a primary substrate (support) predominantly consisting of cellulose. The surface of the secondary substrate, intended to receive the said design, and the primary substrate are firstly coated with a dressing (size). The said design is placed under pressure into surface contact with the surface of the secondary substrate until the said design adheres to the secondary substrate. Thereafter, the primary substrate is detached from the secondary substrate.

Description

 METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING REPRODUCTIONS ONTO POROUS MEDIUM.

FIELD: B44 C 1/175
STATE OF THE ART
The printing of images on leather or other porous media is only very little developed, especially when the image is composed of many colors and finely detailed.

The existing processes consist, most often, of sticking the pattern by adhesive, under
the effect or not of heat and do not allow very stable images to be obtained.

The patterns do not penetrate inside the pores of supports such as leather or wood.

In addition, the techniques described are particularly difficult to implement, which
undoubtedly hindered their use.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
By the process described in the invention, patterns can be applied to porous substrates such as wood, "Skai" or leather, simply and at low cost. We take here as an example the case of printing on leather.

 The pattern to be transferred must imperatively be printed on paper or other cellulose-based support.

 The pattern is first carefully impregnated with two crossed layers of a special leather primer ("BW 100 / Special T"; cleaning and dilution in water) using a spray brush, or a tampon. The primer used must not contain organic solvents which may dissolve printing ink.

The primer can be colored in white (special leather dye, 1 to 5%), for a color reproduction identical to the pattern, or in any other color if the background color must be changed. The finish can also remain colorless, if we want to keep as background the original color of the leather, preferably clear.

 The primer will create a thin layer on the surface of the leather into which the printing ink will be transferred from the primer deposited on the pattern.

 The leather support intended to receive the motif is laid flat.

 A layer of primer is applied to the leather, using a brush, a pad or a spray can, on a surface slightly larger than that of the pattern.

 The paper support on which the motif is printed is placed on the leather thus prepared, printed side on the leather side.

 The paper is then moistened with a sponge impregnated with water, tapping to let the air escape and facilitate the transfer.

 The edge of the paper support is then cleaned with water to remove excess primer.

A rigid material plate. for example in glass. whose dimensions exceed those of the paper support is placed on it.

 A mass of a few kilos is then deposited on this plate.

 The whole is left to stand for at least 48 hours.

 The weight and the plate are then removed. The paper is soaked by moistening it with a sponge soaked in water, avoiding putting too much water on the leather.

 Well soggy. the paper should roll easily under your fingers.

 The operation continues until all traces of paper are completely eliminated.

 When there is only the clear and clean pattern on the leather. let dry at least 6 hours.

A colorless primer is applied to the pattern just transferred to the leather.

 After drying for half an hour, two coats of fixative (finishing varnish for leather) are applied as an aerosol.

After drying for half an hour, the leather is rolled on itself in order to embed the pattern in the leather.
The products used in this example are special leather products marketed by specialists.

 The transferred pattern has all the qualities of leather in terms of waterproofing.

of elasticity. resistance to friction and cracking.

The leather thus decorated must be maintained with special leather products.

 When printing on another support the technique remains the same except for the composition of the primer and the finishing varnish which must be adapted to this support.

The primer must not spread the printing ink by dilution.

Claims (6)

 1. Method for transferring a colored pattern onto a porous support, characterized in that it comprises the following steps  a) The support on which the motif is already printed, as well as the support intended to receive said motif, are treated with a liquid product called primer. b) The transfer is made by prolonged contact of the pattern on the support.  2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the support on which the pattern is printed is paper or another cellulose-based support.  3. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the pattern can be made up of multiple colors and included very fine details. 4. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the support intended to receive the motif may be leather, wood, "Skai" or any other support for which the primer used does not cause the ink to dissolve printing.  5. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the liquid product is a finish whose composition may vary depending on the support intended to receive the pattern and which does not contain any substance capable of dissolving printing ink. This primer is washable with water and does not dissolve printing ink.  6. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the primer can be colored to obtain a background color of the transferred pattern different from that of the support intended to receive said pattern.