US3507674A - Plateless printing process - Google Patents

Description

April 21, 1970 A. H. TORONGO, JR.. ET AL 3,507,674

PLATELESS .PRINTING PROCESS Filed oct. 2s, 1965 ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Office 3,507,674 Patented Apr. 21, 1970 U.S. Cl. 117-10 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention is broadly concerned with a unique -type of printing apparatus and with the process of its operation and is more specifically concerned with a printing assembly which provides an inexpensive method of applying various color designs to a web of material such as paper, ber or cloth.

The present invention is broadly concerned with a unique type of printing apparatus and with the process f its operation. The invention is more specifically concerned with a printing assembly which provides an inexpensive method of applying various color designs to a web of material such as paper, ber 0r cloth. In essence the present printing assembly comprises an interrelated combination of unique ink or color applications which are activated to produce many decorative designs and patterns.

It is known in the art to use many types of equipment and techniques to impart decorative designs to base material, such as web cloths. However, equipment now used is relatively expensive and is cumbersome; particularly if changes are made in the design pattern. The printing ap paratus and technique of the present invention is relatively inexpensive, and readily is adapted for the production of many various designs and colorful patterns. The present invention may be fully understood by reference to the drawings illustrating adaptations of the same.

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatical sketch of the overall assembly. FIGURE 2 is a view showing the serrated applicator blade and a textured paper, while FIGURE 3 shows an adaptation utilizing a textured conveying belt. Referring to FIGURE l, a roll of base stock material is suitably supported, so as to be unwound at the desired rate. A reserve stock supply roll 11 may be positioned below the roll 10 which is being processed. The base stock may comprise paper, cloth or any other type of material which is adaptable for imprinting designs thereon. The material 10 unrolls and preferably passes under a guide roll 12 and along a supporting structure 13. An ink reservoir, preferably a multicell type 14 is suitably positioned above table or structure 13. The various cells contain ink of different colors or other types of coloring or dyeing fluids. These inks are applied to the moving cloth by suitable conduits 15 ahead of blade or spreading element 16.

Blade 16 is preferably serrated so as to impart many various designs to the paper. The inked or colored cloth or paper passes through a series of pulleys or rollers arranged vertically in a drier, furnace, or drying zone 17 which surrounds a substantial portion of the vertical travel of the base material as illustrated in FIG. 1. Conventional heating means and conveying means are used to pass the cloth through the drying zone. A second ink reservoir 18 is positioned after zone 17. Ink from reservoir 18 passes through ducts 19 and is imparted to the moving paper before a second application blade 20. The paper or lm then is passed through a second drying zone 21, and then wound on product roll 22.

FIGURE 2 illustrates textured paper 25, passing beneath a serrated blade 26. Thus when ink is placed on the paper prior to blade 26, various designs, hues and tints of various depths will be imparted to the paper when it passes beneath the serrated lower edge of blade 26. As clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, paper 25 and belt 32 are textured and have a variance in thickness when measured through the crests or through the valleys therein.

FIGURE 3 shows paper or base cloth 30 being conveyed beneath plate 31 by means of a textured conveying belt 32 which is a conventional continuous design. This results in a textured colored product having many hues and tints. In accordance with a preferred embodiment blades 16 and 30 oscillate at right angles across the material.

Thus, the present process is concerned with a plateless printing process which may be used in many combinations to decorate web fed materials. A first blade functions to spread ink or any liquid coloring material across the surface of material such as paper, plastic, fabric, etc. being passed beneath the blade. This would yield a film of color across the surface of the -web whose only variation would be due to differentials in absorption rate within the web. Thus by providing nicks or serrations in the contact edge of the blade, thicker ribbons of ink will pass thereunder thereby creating a stripe pattern.

Also, by oscillating the serrated blade at right angle to the direction of movement of the web, the stripes are made to form various parallel undulations. By backing the web with a textured felt which moves at the same speed as the paper, a pleasing effect is secured if the web isl flexible enough to conform even slightly to the texture of the belt. The system may be modified to include additional ink and blade stations to secure other decorative products.

The present continuous-in-line, draw-printing system has many advantages. It is a relatively low cost system particularly relative to gravure and eliminates normal printing operations. The equipment is relatively inexpensive and permits unique patterns having greater depth effects. As a matter of fact, it has unlimited color and tone effects and special colorful patterns are readily attained by textured papers. The system is especially effective for use with wood grains since it creates great depth. A very quick pattern changeover can be readily secured and permits flexibility, allowing special and short runs as well as large production runs, with minimum inventories.

To create patterning, the following things can be done:

(1) Nicks or serrations can be made in the contact edge of the blade which allows predetermined and dimensioned ribbons of ink to pass, thereby creating a stripe pattern.

(2) By oscillating one or more nicked or serrated blades at a right angle (or oblique angle, if desired) to the web movement, the stripes can be made to form various parallel undulations.

(3) By carrying the web with a textured belt rather than a smooth surface, and moving the belt at the same speed as the web, a read-through of the texture will be formed in the ink pattern if the web is flexible enough to conform, even slightly, to the texture. A pre-textured web would accomplish the same ends.

(4) By introducing areas of greater or lesser absorption, a pattern will be created. For example, a rubber coated roller, when wet with water, will form water beads on its surface. When these beads are transferred to the web areas, reduced absorption is created.

(5) By introducing more than one color, within the prescribed areas, to the web behind the blade, stripes can be made.

Any number of the five above-stated methods can be used with each other to form a blade station. By adding bladetations. and diirsfitsrrtians. 91.1.. the bladesmore colors and pattern variations can be obtained.

While the advantages ofour system are readily apparent, the main points may be summarized as follows:

(1) ,Low cost, particularly relative to gravure.

. (2) Complete elimination of all normal printing 'operations.

(3) 'In-plant decoration and design control.

(4) Only small amount of relatively inexpensive equipment required. Might be a basic system associated with any other.

(5) Unique pattern, and greater depth effects.

(6) Unlimited color and tone effects possible.

(7) Plain paper, or special effects by use of textured papers.

(8) Especially effective for any wood grains with great depth.

(9) Patterns, designs and equipment would be difficult to copy by competition.

` (10) Very quick pattern changeover.

(ll) For small order custom work, but also adaptable to large volume as well.

(12) Wide speed range in production. One machine could feed numerous treaters, for example, a melamine coating for a large pressure laminate, such as, Micarta (trademark of Westinghouse Electric Company), and Formica (trademark of American Cyanamid Company)- (13) Capable of coloring paper in line just prior to design. Reducing inventories of various colored stock to one or two, less wasted space and material within the plant.

Thus, it is seen that our system has many advantages as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

' 1. Process for imprinting a decorative design pattern upon a textured base material carried by a textured carrying belt which comprises withdrawing a color from a reservoir and placing the same upon the textured material carried by the textured carrying belt thereby forming a film on said textured material, passing, through a substantial horizontal run, the film and textured material on the textured carrying belt beneath and in contact with Va lower serrated edge of a blade whereby stripes of colors of varying depths will result, the configuration of the textured material, the textured carrying belt, and the serrated ed geo f tl 1e blade being differentand not matching whereby to produce a non-recurring pattern, and drying said film by passing said textured material through a drier.

2. Process for imprinting a decorative design pattern upon a base of textured material carried by a textured belt which comprises withdrawing different colors from a multicell reservoir and placing the same upon the texturedmaterial carried by the textured belt thereby forming a first film on said textured material, passing, through a substantial horizontal run, the film and textured material on the textured carrying belt beneath and in contact with the lower serrated edge of a first blade whereby stripesl of different colors of Varying depths will be secured, the configuration of the textured material, the textured carrying belt, and the serrated edge of the blade being different and not matching whereby to produce a nonrecurring pattern, and drying said first film by passing 'said textured material through a drier, thereafter applying a second film of color to said first film on said textured material, passing the textured material and said first and second films beneath and in contact with the lower edge of a second blade, and thereafter drying the'same by passing said base material and said films through a second drier.

3. The process as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of said blades oscillates at right angles across the direction of movement of said textured material and film.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 371,155 10/1887 Videto. 1,741,697 12/1929 Hampson 118-102 1,813,587 7/1931 Sindler 117-10 2,108,952 2/1938 Urban 118-413 X 2,115,752 5/1938 Stumpp 118-412 X 2,910,724 11/1959 Grajeck 118-413 X 3,353,985 11/1967 Harrison 117-37 2,067,488 1/1937 Hough 117-45 XR 2,798,820 7/1957 Nelson 117-45 XR 2,861,009 11/1958 Rubner 117-45 XR 2,937,955 5/1960 Loonier 117-45 XR DAVID KLEIN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 117-45

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