Abstract:
Apparatus for printing an image onto an image-receiving surface (22) of an article (10) by a thermal transfer printing process comprises a heat-conductive member (18) comprising polymeric elastomer material and having a surface (20) shaped to be substantially complementary to the image-receiving surface of the article; and means (16) for heating the member. In use, a carrier sheet (24) bearing an image to be printed is held in contact with the image-receiving surface of the article by the member, via the complementary surface of the member. The member is heated by the heating means, with the sheet being held in contact with the article for a suitable time and with the member at a suitable temperature to print the image onto the surface of the article. Because heat is applied via the member, rather than being applied via the article, the article is exposed to less heat so that printing can be performed on articles of a wider range of materials than has been possible hitherto, including thermoplastics materials, provided the article is suitably supported when heated so the shape of the article is retained. The invention also covers a method of printing an image on an image-receiving surface of an article, and a printed article.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a transfer printing installation, in particular by gold tooling, of a pattern taken from a transfer film by a matrix to be affixed on a receiving strip and form a product, the transfer film and the receiving strip being in synchronisation at the time of transfer at the site of transfer. The invention is characterised in that it comprises: means driving (3) the transfer film (1); means driving (5) the receiving strip (2); a transfer station (4); control means (7) controlling the driving means such that for each transfer, the means driving (3, 31, 32) driving the film (1) moves forward the film (1) by the step (L1) of the pattern to be transferred, the means driving (5) the receiving strip (2) moves forward said strip (2) by a step (L2) of the product (22, 23) and the transfer means (41, 42) of the transfer station (4).
Abstract:
Articles (101, 102) such as glassware, ceramicware and hollowware are decorated with hot stamping foil (112) along their exposed edge (106). The hot stamping foil (112) is adhered to an underlying radiation curable adhesive ink (113) which avoids the use of inks or frits having heavy metals such as lead which are leachable. The hot stamping foil (112) may have a metallized noble metal decorative layer (114). The hot stamping process employs a polymer die (126, 132) having a hardness in the range of from about 50 to 80 durometer for adhering the hot stamping foil (112) to the article (100, 102) under applied heat and pressure.
Abstract:
Thermal transfer articles of the invention comprising a carrier, optionally a release layer, a color layer releasably adhered thereto, and optionally an adherence layer on the bottom side of the color layer. Also graphic imaging compositions and methods for thermal transfer using such articles and compositions and graphic articles made by such methods. The transfer articles 1) exhibit thermoplastic, low cohesive properties during transfer such that good image resolution and transfer is achieved and 2) are radiation cross-linked after transfer such that a durable image is formed.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a process for the production of a flexible laminate. The process comprises applying to a surface of a flexible substrate a curable composition in fluid form and comprising a plastics material as a pattern which can provide a desired image or imaging effect. Then, a metal foil bearing a holographic image and having a layer of plastics size is positioned with the size layer overlying the pattern while the composition remains fluid. Next there is applied to the combination sufficient heat and pressure at a level and for a time to adhere the foil to the substrate via the plastics material but insufficient to destroy the holographic effect. Thereafter excess foil not adhered to the substrate is removed to expose the desired image or imaging effect. The result is a flexible laminate having a flexible holographic image which can be machine washable.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing decorative sheets rich in brightness characterized in that a transfer sheet (1) having a metal deposited layer (5) and an adhesive layer (6) formed on the entire surface thereof or a part of said surface in a pictorial pattern is prepared on a peelable film (20), and said sheet (1) is overlaid on the whole or a part of the front surface and/or the reverse surface of an original decorative sheet paper (2) with the adhesive layer (6) thereof directed toward the paper and is pressed thereto, whereby only a part of the layer (5) formed on the sheet (1) and having said adhesive layer (6) formed thereon is selectively transferred to the paper (2), which is impregnated with a thermosetting resin, and the paper thus impregnated is subjected to thermal pressure molding. This method ensures an efficient manufacture of a decorative sheet excellent in brightness and design.
Abstract:
A method of transferring an image to an article is provided using a heat-transfer assembly having a support layer and an image transfer layer, wherein the image transfer layer contains a binder, ink receptor and a film-forming, hydrophilic blocking agent. When an aqueous ink composition is used to print an image on the upper surface of the transfer assembly, the blocking agent is disrupted in the imaged areas, but not the unimaged areas, such that when the image is transferred to a substrate by the application of heat and pressure, substantially all of the binder in the unimaged areas remains with the transfer assembly.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing a composite body (1) comprising a support body (2) and at least one decorative element (3), preferably a jewel (3a, 3b), the support body comprising (2) a thermoplastic material. The method is characterised by the steps: • arrangement of the decorative element (3) on the support body (2), • heating of the support body (2), • pressing of the decorative element (3) into the support body (2) using a stamp (4) consisting of an elastically deformable material, the material of the stamp (4) being selected from the group of elastomers.
Abstract:
Procedimiento para decorar los laterales de las tarjetas de plástico mediante la estampación de película en caliente y el grabado para acoplar al cabezal calefactor de una máquina de estampado de película en caliente para llevar a cabo el anterior procedimiento. Para ello se coloca una pluralidad de tarjetas de plástico en la cuna de apoyo de la máquina de estampado de tal manera que el primer lateral de menor longitud de dichas tarjetas de plástico quede enfrentado al grabado, en el que se lleva a cabo un estampado de película en caliente de los laterales de menor longitud de las tarjetas de plástico.