GB2379188A

GB2379188A - Transfer printing onto substrates, for example leather

Info

Publication number: GB2379188A
Application number: GB0128230A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Charles Gilham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-09-01
Filing date: 2001-11-26
Publication date: 2003-03-05
Also published as: GB0128230D0; GB0121262D0

Abstract

A method of printing a substrate, for example leather, includes the steps of creating a duotone on one surface of a carrier having a backing sheet, the surface including a plastics copolymer, placing the surface in contact with a substrate such as leather, applying heat and pressure to the carrier, and removing the backing sheet to leave the duotone printed on the substrate.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PRINTING This invention concerns improvements in or relating to printing and in particular to the printing of patterns onto material produced in strips or lengths. Such material may be fabrics, plastics material, felt and especially leather.

The printing of such material has long been fashionable, particularly in the case of leather which because of its very nature is a difficult medium for accepting in permanency a print transferred to it.

In a co-pending UK Patent Application No 9926142.2 there is disclosed a method of printing monochrome or polychrome patterns onto leather using a special process which enables the print to be fixed into the leather more effectively than conventional processes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a further development in the printing of strip, piece or length material that affords simplicity in operation and permanency of print on the substrate.

According to the invention there is provided a method of printing on a substrate including the steps of creating a duotone on one surface of a carrier having a backing sheet, said surface including a plastics copolymer, placing said surface in contact with a substrate, applying heat and pressure to the carrier, and removing the backing sheet to leave the duotone printed on the substrate in permanency.

It will be appreciated that the application of heat and pressure to the carrier effects the printing or transfer of the layer onto and into the substrate, the plastics copolymer fusing into the substrate. The duotone

thus appears on the substrate and is fixed thereon in a simple and yet effective manner.

In the event of any contamination of any part of the surface of the substrate, it is merely necessary to lay another sheet on that surface and lift it off thereby removing the contamination.

This process may be inkless and the duotone may be simply produced as a cut-out pattern on the carrier which is advantageously paper, e. g. inkjet paper. The cut-out may be produced on the carrier in any conventional manner, for example by using a computer-controlled laser cutter, a number of sheets of the carrier being treated simultaneously.

The result of using a duotone in the form of a cut-out is that a varying texture of the substrate material is achieved with the fused plastics copolymer having a smooth finish and the interstices being constituted by the original surface of the carrier. For example, in the case of leather, e. g. pigskin or suede, the characteristic surface texture of the substrate would be retained, whilst the remainder of the surface would present a smooth finish provided by the fused plastics.

In an alternative method of carrying the invention into effect the duotone on the carrier is generated by the use of a stencil in combination with a masking fluid or other masking medium. In this method the stencil is placed against the surface of the carrier including the plastics copolymer and a masking fluid is applied to the interstices of the stencil leaving the unmasked areas clean. The carrier is thus provided with a pattern as determined by the combination of the stencil design and the masked areas. The carrier is then placed with the said surface in contact with the substrate, e. g. the leather piece, and heat and pressure is applied to the carrier. The plastic copolymer fuses into the substrate whilst the

masking fluid hardens and embrittles. The now embrittled masking fluid can easily be removed leaving the desired duotone print in or on the substrate. This alternative method represents a more cost effective, i. e. cheaper, method of producing the duotone and also provides for a reusable stencil without the need to go the expense of producing a cut-out in the carrier for each process step.

The masking fluid may be for example emulsion paint or any other suitable masking fluid and preferably one that does not attach itself to the copolymers.

In a further expression of the invention, coloured inks may be employed and may conveniently be imprinted upon that part of the carrier that is to be fused into the substrate, the ink providing an additional pattern or merely a chromic focus. In this expression of the invention once the application of pressure and heat is effected, the plastics copolymer and its ink is fused into the substrate thereby sealing the ink between the plastics and the substrate. Accordingly not only is a patterned surface achieved but also a colour effect is given but one that is protected from the atmosphere by virtue of it being sealed as aforesaid.

It is to be understood that the application of pressure to the carrier for the purpose of transferring the pattern to the substrate must be such as to avoid distortion of the substrate.

One example of press suitable for use in the application of pressure is that of a platen caused to contact the carrier which in turn is in contact with the relevant surface of the substrate. In order to avoid the creation of air pockets and the possible generation of moisture which might adversely affect the process steps, the application of the platen is effected in such manner as to secure that there is substantially no air or moisture trapped

between the platen and the backing sheet of the paper. In this connection, the platen is caused to address the backing sheet in an uneven, asymmetric manner which occasions a gradual application of pressure to the area of the substrate thereby causing the expulsion of any air or moisture. In contrast a symmetrical rectilinear application of the platen to the layer might give rise to entrapment of air. or moisture conceivably resulting in unevenness in the quality of the transferred pattern.

Whilst the invention has been described in relation to its usefulness and application to leather as the substrate, it is to be understood that it is applicable to other substrate materials, for example felt or imitation leather materials of a plastics nature, or velvet or other textile material.

The invention may be used in the production of upholstery generally, clothing or any decorative application to length or strip goods.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of printing on a substrate including the steps of creating a duotone on one surface of a carrier having a backing sheet, said surface including a plastics copolymer, placing said surface in contact with a substrate, applying heat and pressure to the carrier, and removing the backing sheet to leave the duotone printed on the substrate in permanency.

2. A method according to Claim 1 in which the application of heat and pressure to the carrier effects the printing or transfer of the layer onto and into the substrate, the plastics copolymer fusing into the substrate.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the duotone is produced as a cut-out pattern on the carrier.

4. A method according to Claim 1 or 2 in which a stencil is employed to provide the required pattern on the carrier.

5. A method according to Claim 4 in which the stencil is first placed against the said surface and masking fluid is applied to the interstices of the stencil, the stencil is removed to leave the required pattern with masked areas, the patterned surface of the carrier is placed against the substrate, heat and pressure are applied to the carrier, the backing sheet of the carrier is removed, the masking fluid embrittled by the application of heat and pressure being removed from the substrate to leave the duotone pattern.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the carrier is paper.

7. A method according to Claim 6 in which the paper is inkjet paper.

8. A method according to Claim 3 in which the pattern is cut-out is effected by the use of a computer-controlled laser cutter.

9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which the resultant texture of the substrate material comprises a pattern of fused plastics and the original surface of the substrate material.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims in which coloured inks are employed and imprinted upon that part of the carrier that is to be fused to the substrate, the ink providing an additional pattern or merely a chromic focus.

11. A method according to Claim 10 in which upon the application of heat and pressure, the plastics copolymer and its ink is fused into the substrate thereby sealing the ink between the plastics and the substrate.

12. A method of printing on a substrate substantially as hereinbefore described.

13. A method of printing on leather substantially as hereinbefore described.

14. A strip of printed material produced by the method according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. A strip of printed leather produced by the method according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 13.