GB2099367A - Method of obtaining a printed material and material obtained therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of printing e.g. signs, characters, text or drawings, on a strip of base material such as paper or cardboard consists in forming a sandwich by associating one face of the base a2 with a cold transfer film a1 and exerting a pressure imagewise on the sandwich; subsequently the transfer film can be removed from the base. The association can involve glueing, welding or compressing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of obtaining a printing material and material obtained therewith The present invention is directed to a particularly simple method of printing, without inking, heating, drying or like steps, any sign, pattern, text, design or the like on any suitable base, support or carrier.

The method of this invention consists essentially in associating with the base, support or carrier to be printed a cold transfer film or sheet well known per seethe printing of the base resulting solely from a pressure exerted at the proper time on the selected film section.

The sandwich consisting of the combination according to the present invention of the base, support or carrier and of the transfer film or sheet may be obtained through various means, methods and processes, such as, inter alia: - gluing the marginal portions of the transfer film to a striped paper or cardboard sheet, - welding the transfer film to the striped paper by using ultrasounds, electronic bombardment, hotgluing or any other similar method, - firmly assembling the film and its base or support by the application of pressure, - coating with glue the two faces of a coiled film and base sandwich or assembly.

The sandwich thus obtained is introduced into a device capable of exerting a compressive effort on the transfer film and the base; pressure the surface area being same as that of the desired print. This compressive effort causes the ink previously deposited on the plastic film to be transferred into the material to be printed.

Then, the only step to be carried out subsequently by the operator consists in detaching the transfer film from the base for obtaining a printed article. The range of articles obtainable with this process is extremely wide.

With anyone of the above-mentioned means, methods and processes, it is possible to obtain a sandwich a according to the instant invention, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, which comprises a cold transfer film ai bonded to the base or support a2 to be printed.

The device provided for producing the desired transfer action may be obtained by using extremely diversified means and methods, but in all cases the only action to be exerted on the sandwich according to this invention is a compressive one.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing showing the essential component elements of a device designed for printing a one-line text on a sheet of ordinary paper for identifying files, dockets, documents, miscellaneous articles and objects, etc...

It is obvious that the following disclosure whether of the device proper or of the sandwich and its possible applications relates only to cxe forms of embodiment for which different arranae- ments and applications could be contemplatea ç: h- out departing from the basic principles of the invention.

The sandwich a comprises a tape of a paper, coated or not with a suitable adhesive, and divided into strips of predetermined length and width (for example a length of 1,2 or 10 meters, and a width of 8, 10 and 30 mm) to which a transfer film of same length and width is applied by carrying out anyone of the methods and processes mentioned in the foregoing.

The sandwich a is contained in a magazine b from which it is drawn by feed means shown diagrammatically at c so as to move past a selector consisting of an annular member carrying along its outer periphery the letters or signs to be printed, which project towards the sandwich a; this selector d is adapted to cooperate with a counterpart e disposed beneath the sandwich, as shown. This device further comprises, at the end of the sandwich feed path, a cutter fox any suitable and known type for cutting the tape into sections having the desired length.

When the operator has selected by means of selector dthe character of sign to be printed, he depresses this selector so that the impression formed on the film is transferred to the underlying paper surface.

Then the sandwich is cut by the cutter fand the operator simply removes the transfer film from the thus printed paper, and possibly the protection film covering the adhesive-coated face thereof, and finally applies the paper strip to the document, object or article to be identified.

With the present invention a true reproduction of the selected impression is transferred under the best possible conditions to the paper sheet, without any complicated or additional operations or steps whatsoever.

Of course, the invention should not be construed as being strictly limited to the specific form of embodiment described and illustrated herein, since many modifications may be brought thereto, notably in connection with the sandwich composition and the manner in which it is obtained, and also with the means employed for transferring the impression from the transfer film to the selected base, support or carrier.

1. Method of printing a sign, character, pattern, text, drawing or the like on a base, carrier or support of any suitable type, which comprises the steps of associating cold transfer film of a type known per sue with said base or the like to be printed, the printing resulting solely from a pressure exerted at the proper time on the film section concerned.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transfer film is firmly bonded to the base, support or carrier through any suitable procedure such as gluing, welding, compression.

3. By way of novel industrial product, any material obtained by carrying out the method of claim 1, wherein the base adapted to be printed and bonded

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of obtaining a printing material and material obtained therewith The present invention is directed to a particularly simple method of printing, without inking, heating, drying or like steps, any sign, pattern, text, design or the like on any suitable base, support or carrier. The method of this invention consists essentially in associating with the base, support or carrier to be printed a cold transfer film or sheet well known per seethe printing of the base resulting solely from a pressure exerted at the proper time on the selected film section. The sandwich consisting of the combination according to the present invention of the base, support or carrier and of the transfer film or sheet may be obtained through various means, methods and processes, such as, inter alia: - gluing the marginal portions of the transfer film to a striped paper or cardboard sheet, - welding the transfer film to the striped paper by using ultrasounds, electronic bombardment, hotgluing or any other similar method, - firmly assembling the film and its base or support by the application of pressure, - coating with glue the two faces of a coiled film and base sandwich or assembly. The sandwich thus obtained is introduced into a device capable of exerting a compressive effort on the transfer film and the base; pressure the surface area being same as that of the desired print. This compressive effort causes the ink previously deposited on the plastic film to be transferred into the material to be printed. Then, the only step to be carried out subsequently by the operator consists in detaching the transfer film from the base for obtaining a printed article. The range of articles obtainable with this process is extremely wide. With anyone of the above-mentioned means, methods and processes, it is possible to obtain a sandwich a according to the instant invention, as shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, which comprises a cold transfer film ai bonded to the base or support a2 to be printed. The device provided for producing the desired transfer action may be obtained by using extremely diversified means and methods, but in all cases the only action to be exerted on the sandwich according to this invention is a compressive one. For a clearer understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing showing the essential component elements of a device designed for printing a one-line text on a sheet of ordinary paper for identifying files, dockets, documents, miscellaneous articles and objects, etc... It is obvious that the following disclosure whether of the device proper or of the sandwich and its possible applications relates only to cxe forms of embodiment for which different arranae- ments and applications could be contemplatea ç: h- out departing from the basic principles of the invention. The sandwich a comprises a tape of a paper, coated or not with a suitable adhesive, and divided into strips of predetermined length and width (for example a length of 1,2 or 10 meters, and a width of 8, 10 and 30 mm) to which a transfer film of same length and width is applied by carrying out anyone of the methods and processes mentioned in the foregoing. The sandwich a is contained in a magazine b from which it is drawn by feed means shown diagrammatically at c so as to move past a selector consisting of an annular member carrying along its outer periphery the letters or signs to be printed, which project towards the sandwich a; this selector d is adapted to cooperate with a counterpart e disposed beneath the sandwich, as shown. This device further comprises, at the end of the sandwich feed path, a cutter fox any suitable and known type for cutting the tape into sections having the desired length. When the operator has selected by means of selector dthe character of sign to be printed, he depresses this selector so that the impression formed on the film is transferred to the underlying paper surface. Then the sandwich is cut by the cutter fand the operator simply removes the transfer film from the thus printed paper, and possibly the protection film covering the adhesive-coated face thereof, and finally applies the paper strip to the document, object or article to be identified. With the present invention a true reproduction of the selected impression is transferred under the best possible conditions to the paper sheet, without any complicated or additional operations or steps whatsoever. Of course, the invention should not be construed as being strictly limited to the specific form of embodiment described and illustrated herein, since many modifications may be brought thereto, notably in connection with the sandwich composition and the manner in which it is obtained, and also with the means employed for transferring the impression from the transfer film to the selected base, support or carrier. CLAIMS

1. Method of printing a sign, character, pattern, text, drawing or the like on a base, carrier or support of any suitable type, which comprises the steps of associating cold transfer film of a type known per sue with said base or the like to be printed, the printing resulting solely from a pressure exerted at the proper time on the film section concerned.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transfer film is firmly bonded to the base, support or carrier through any suitable procedure such as gluing, welding, compression.

3. By way of novel industrial product, any material obtained by carrying out the method of claim 1, wherein the base adapted to be printed and bonded tothetransferfim having any suitable composition, and possibly coated with adhesive on one or both faces.