GB948124A - Improvements in or relating to embossed materials - Google Patents

Abstract

948,124. Embossing; ornamenting. HICKS & OTIS PRINTS Inc. Nov. 23, 1962, No. 44463/62. Headings B6G and B6J. Embossed formations are made in sheet sponge resilient material by applying adhesive to selected areas where it is absorbed, rendering the adhesive settable, and compressing the material as the adhesive sets so that, on release of the pressure, the material is held compressed in the selected areas by the adhesive to give depressed areas. The material may be a sponge of rubber or synthetic plastics material. If a sponge, it may be of the open or closed cell type, the cells of the latter being ruptured at the areas by a solvent, or by heating or by crushing. As shown in Fig. 1, the sheet 10 has optionally a pervious or impervious resilient or non-resilient backing 11 and is passed between rollers 15, 16 which compress it and print it in selected areas with adhesive ink which is absorbed. The absorption is effected to different depths by providing in roller 15 ink-carrying channels of different depths, the ink being supplied thereto by a doctor blade 18. Instead of channels, roller 15 may have projections of different height receiving differing amounts of ink from a resilient inking roller and penetrating the thickness of the sheet to different depths. Thereafter, a heater 29 renders the adhesive ink settable and thereafter the sheet is compressed between rollers 29A, 29B to form the depressions. The rotary devices may be replaced by flat-bed devices. A series of roller pairs 15, 16 may be provided for printing in different colours. The sheet may be pre- or post-printed with a further pattern which does not use adhesive ink and therefore does not provide embossments. The embossed surface may be covered with a coating comprising metallic flakes which are held flat on the surface in the depressions to give a reflective layer but are randomly disposed elsewhere to give a dull metallic surface. Alternatively, the embossed surface may be covered with an adhesively secured fabric layer or plastic sheet. In this case the adhesive impregnating the sponge material need not be coloured. The coloured areas may extend through the sponge material and it may have depressed areas on both surfaces. A metallic layer may be applied to the depressed areas by running a carrier sheet carrying the metallic layer in contact with the sponge material as it passes through rollers 29A, 29B, the layer being transferred to the depressed areas only. In a modified process, the whole surface may be printed with an adhesive, compressed, and treated in selected areas with a solvent for the adhesive to relax the adhesion in those areas.