Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Patent
1989-10-16
1992-10-06
Silbaugh, Jan H.
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
156247, 264511, 264132, 264259, 264260, 264316, B29C 4516, B29C 5906
Patent
active
051528614
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention is concerned with a method of printing articles and printed articles produced by that method.
The invention is particularly although not exclusively concerned with a method of printing articles by transfer of a printing medium from a substrate onto an article to be printed, the article having a planar or contoured surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Although at present complex multi-coloured prints may be applied quite readily to planar surfaces by such printing techniques as offset, lithographic, flexographic, screen printing and the like, there is no satisfactory method for printing of contoured articles wherein a high degree of accuracy is required.
Three dimensional topographical maps for use by government mapping departments, forestry departments, mining departments and military forces and the like require precisely located markings of contour lines, roads, railway tracks, rivers, streams, vegetation areas and the like in up to five or even more different colours. While the markings on such three dimensional contour maps may be produced quite satisfactorily by hand such manual marking is far too slow and expensive for high volume production.
It has been proposed to produce large quantities of three dimensional topographical contour maps by screen printing the required indicia or markings on a planar sheet of thermoplastics material and then vacuum forming the printed sheet in a contoured mould. This process is not satisfactory in that the varying degrees of stretching that occur in the heated sheet as it is drawn into cavities of varying depth cause distortion in the print with resultant misalignment of the indicia or markings with their intended position on the surface of the contoured map. In an endeavour to alleviate this problem computer calculated distortions are incorporated into the planar print with a view to compensating for the distortions which might otherwise occur during the vacuum forming process.
Although the pre-distortion of the printed indicia does to some extent improve the finished product, printed contour maps of this kind are inherently inaccurate. Differing levels of resident stress in the thermoplastic sheets combined with minor differences in the properties of the batches of thermoplastics material cannot be calculated and thus compensated for. In addition slight differences in moulding conditions such as pre-heat temperature of the sheet plastics material, mould temperatures and the like effectively prevent consistent manufacture of precisely marked three dimensional contour maps by this process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a reproducible method for precise printing of contoured articles.
It is a further aim of the invention to overcome or alleviate the difficulties associated with prior art methods for printing three dimensional contour maps and so provide accurately printed three dimensional contour maps produced by the method according to the invention.
It is yet a further aim of the invention to provide a novel method of transfer printing on moulded articles.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method applying indicia to an article comprising the steps of:
applying to a sheet-like substrate a transferable print medium in the form of indicia to be transferred to the surface of an article;
supporting the sheet-like material against a support surface; and,
bringing into contact with said transferable print medium the surface of an article to be printed under conditions whereby said indicia is transferred to the surface of said article.
Suitably said sheet-like substrate comprises a flexible membrane, preferably a resiliently flexible membrane.
Most preferably said flexible membrane is comprised of an elastomeric polymer.
The print medium may suitably comprise a paint, ink or like medium which is adapted for application onto said substrate by any suitable printing process.
Preferably said print medium is adapted for preferential adhesion to the surface on an article to be printed.
The
REFERENCES:
patent: 3309254 (1967-03-01), Rowe
patent: 3330712 (1967-07-01), Rowe
patent: 4314814 (1982-02-01), Deroode
patent: 4639341 (1987-01-01), Hanamoto
Patents Abstracts of Japan, M-29, p. 141, JP, A, 55-81191 (Toppan Insatsu K.K.) Jun. 18, 1980, (18.06.80).
Patents Abstracts of Japan, M-137, p. 90 JP,A, 57,-39940 (Nippon Shiyashin Insatsu K.K.) Mar. 5, 1982 (05.03.82).
Derwent Abstract Accession No. 86-342413/52, Class P75 P78, JP,A, 61-255889 (Dainippon Printing K.K.) Nov. 13, 1986 (13.11.86).
Derwent Abstract Accession No. 84-267157/43, Class P74, JP,A, 60-131213 (Japan Steel Works (Nish-)) Jul. 12, 1985 (12.07.85).
Derwent Abstract Accession No. 85-207102/34, Class P74, JP,A, 60-131213 (Japan Steel Works (Nish-)) Jul. 12, 1985 (12.07.85).
Kranicz Elizabeth A.
Kranicz Sandor L.
Ortiz Angela
Silbaugh Jan H.
Tatzenko Valentine
LandOfFree
Simultaneous moulding and transfer printing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Simultaneous moulding and transfer printing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Simultaneous moulding and transfer printing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1186881