Printing – Processes – Transfer or offset
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-20
2001-11-06
Eickholt, Eugene (Department: 2854)
Printing
Processes
Transfer or offset
C427S293000, C118S679000, C156S156000, C156S384000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311620
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a printing technique in which printing is performed by transferring a print layer of a pattern printed on a water-soluble base sheet, onto a surface of an object, and particularly, to a printing technique in which work efficiency is improved and wasteful use of transfer sheets is eliminated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A printing method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-41682 is known as a method of transferring a pattern onto a curved surface. In this printing method, a thin film having a pattern previously printed on its surface is let float on a liquid surface with the surface of the printed pattern facing upward, and an object is pressed against the surface so as to sink into the liquid. The pattern is thus transferred onto the object by the liquid pressure. After the transfer of the pattern, the thin film is removed from the surface of the object.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-50547 describes a printing method of transferring efficiently a pattern on a curved surface of an object by means of a liquid pressure. In this printing method, a water-soluble base sheet is used in a manner in which the base sheet is let float on a water surface and dissolved in water. An adhesion is sprayed onto a print layer remaining on the water surface after dissolving the base sheet, to form a semi-fluidal printing pattern is thus formed. An object is pressed against the printing pattern, thereby to transfer the pattern onto the surface of the object.
Meanwhile, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 95-17199 describes a printing apparatus which uses a liquid pressure to transfer a pattern onto a surface of an object by sequential steps and an apparatus used in the method. In this printing method, a transfer sheet having a base sheet on which a pattern is printed is let sequentially flow on the water surface in a water tank from a transfer sheet feed. While sequentially flowing the transfer sheet, the base sheet is dissolved. Thereafter, an adhesion is applied thereon and transfer printing is carried out. Together with the method, this Publication describes a printing apparatus provided with a long water tank used in the printing method.
Although the technique described in the Korean Patent Application Publication achieves a technique for mass-production in which a pattern is sequentially transferred to a great deal of objects, a large amount of water is required for the sequential steps including dissolving of base sheets, resulting in a new problem that a long time is required for increasing the temperature of water in the water tank so that starting of printing is delayed.
In addition to the above technical problem from the view point of the working efficiency, problems from the view point of saving materials are pointed out from the working side.
That is, according to a conventional printing method disclosed in the Korean Patent Application Publication, separation of a pattern printed on a transfer sheet is carried out in a step after the base sheet of the transfer sheet fed onto the water surface is dissolved and an adhesion is thereafter applied to form a semi-fluidal print pattern. Specifically, the base sheet is dissolved while the transfer sheet is being fed onto the water surface and conveyed in form of a band. After the dissolving of the base sheet, an adhesion is sprayed onto a pattern remaining on the water surface to form a semi-fluidal print pattern, and in this stage, a partition member is inserted from the upside of the water surface to separate the print patter for every area to be used in one time of transfer work.
In this working method, an adhesion is applied to a necessary range for the transfer sheet flowing in form of a band. It is however difficult to insert a partition member exactly at the boundary of the range, and therefore, the adhesion is applied to the range including a slight excessive margin for the partition member to be inserted. The portion corresponding to such a margin cannot be used for transfer to an object and may be said to be waste. Even such a small wasteful portion caused in only one time of transfer leads to enormous waste in the mass-production situation at present. Working fields demand technical developments in eliminating such wasteful margins for the separation member to be inserted. Thus, there is a demand for a technique capable of cutting the sheet into a minimum size necessary for transfer.
Further, since the working method described above requires sequential working while the sheet is flowing on the water surface, it is necessary to perform smooth and adept insertion of a partition member. To achieve manual application of an adhesion and manual insertion of a partition member, smooth and adept skill is required to some extent and is a significant burden for a person in the art. Hence, there is a demand for automation of such operation, and developments must be made as to a technique for cutting the transfer sheet in connection with the automation.
An object of the present invention is to shorten the time required for increasing the temperature of water, which is necessary to dissolve the base sheet, in a printing method capable of performing sequential and efficient printing onto surfaces of mass-products, and in an apparatus thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to eliminate wasteful portions which are conventionally caused when separating a pattern and which cannot be used for transfer, by cutting a transfer sheet before the transfer sheet is fed and reaches a water tank.
The above objects of the present invention and other objects than those described above will be clearly understood from the description of the present specification and from the drawings appended hereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a printing method of transferring a print layer having a pattern printed on a water-soluble base sheet, onto a surface of an object, and a printing apparatus used for the method.
In the printing method and printing apparatus according to the present invention, a transfer sheet including a base sheet having a surface where a print layer of a pattern is printed is conveyed toward the downstream side by a flow of water, with the transfer sheet kept floating on the surface of water in a water tank. The base sheet is dissolved in water as the transfer sheet is conveyed to the downstream side by water. After the base sheet is dissolved, an adhesion is applied onto the print layer while being conveyed. By thus applying an adhesion, the print layer becomes a semi-fluidal print pattern having adhesiveness, and is further conveyed to a predetermined position in the downstream side. Thereafter, objects are pressed against the print pattern. When thus pressing the objects, the objects are sunk in water to transfer the print pattern onto the objects by the water pressure.
Specifically, while moving the transfer sheet by means of the flow of the water surface with the transfer sheet kept floating on the water surface, the base sheet of the transfer sheet is dissolved in water. Therefore, the base sheet can be dissolved halfway during conveyance of the transfer sheet to a process step in which the print pattern is transferred to the objects. It is thus possible to perform transfer printing onto objects in comparison with a case in which the base sheet is dissolved with the transfer sheet is kept standstill.
In addition, in the printing method and apparatus according to the present invention, the transfer sheet is rolled up in form of a roll and the transfer sheet is fed out sequentially therefrom onto the water surface in the water tank. Further, while being conveyed in form of a band on the water surface, the base sheet of the transfer sheet is dissolved. After the dissolving of the base sheet, an adhesion is sprayed to form a semi-fluidal print pattern having adhesiveness and a partition member is inserted into the semi-fluidal print pattern from upside of the water surface, in order that the print layer conveyed in form of a band is cut fo
Eickholt Eugene
Katsuya Industrial Col, Ltd.
McCormick Paulding & Huber LLP
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