GB2078173A - Method of making colour patterns on material - Google Patents

Abstract

A printing ink is applied to one side of a continuously moving fabric (1) which is then driven between rolls (4 and 5) so that the ink is distributed and, at the same time, a pattern is created by providing the roll (5) on the opposite side of the fabric with relief areas. As a result, the fabric acquires an engraving-type pattern with a dark or light contour, the colour of the pattern and the fabric background having the same tint but a different intensity. After drying e.g. in chamber 6, the coloured fabric may serve to transfer the pattern to a textile substrate 8. The relief area patterns on roll 5 are readily exchangeable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of making coloured material and coloured material obtained according to this method The present invention relates to dye-and-finish production and, more particularly, the invention relates to methods of making a coloured material and to the coloured material obtained using this method, e.g. a substrate for thermal printing of textile materials with a contour pattern on a monochromatic or multicolour background.

The field of application of the method according to the present invention is practically unlimited.

Depending on the dies used, it can be used for obtaining a substrate for thermal printing of textile materials of different kinds, for making wall paper, for getting pattern film coatings, curtains, upholstering materials and other articles. The method can also be used in polygraphy.

An object of the present invention is to provide clear patterns on a coloured material, e.g.

substrate for thermal printing on textile materials, said patterns being close in quality to etched patterns and being distributed over the entire surface of the coloured material.

This and other objects are attained in a method of making a coloured material, in which a printing ink is applied onto one surface of a continuously moving fabric, which is driven between two rolls for distributing the ink along and across the fabric before drying it; according to the invention, in the process of movement of the fabric between the rolls and simultaneously with the distribution of the ink edgewise a predetermined pattern is produced by one of the rolls acting on the fabric on the surface opposite to the inked surface, a pattern being attached to this roll.

The pattern may be made of any material and fixed to the roll surface with a specified frequency and succession or a material with a pattern cut therein may be secured on the roll.

Such a method makes it possible to obtain predetermined patterns both shallow and deep in a specified succession along the entire length and across the whole width of the material. In addition, there are provided half-tones and smooth transitions from one colour into another typical for photogravure. During the distribution (or dispensation) of the printing ink between the rolls a different pressure is applied on the fabric and where the pattern is secured the pressure is higher (or lower depending on the thickness of the pattern). As a result, the printing ink on the portion of the fabric corresponding to the secured pattern is applied onto the fabric in a lower extent than on the portions without a pattern and creating a background (the thinner, the thicker the attached pattern) thus providing the effect of engraving, the background and pattern being produced simultaneously.

The disclosed method is effected in simple and inexpensive equipment, allows one pattern be replaced by another with minimum consumption of time and money: the patterns may be both graphical and pictorial.

According to the disclosed method a coloured material, e.g. a fabric with a coloured surface with a pattern thereon, has a pattern with a dark or light contour, the colour of the pattern and fabric background having the same tint of different intensity.

Thus, on the coloured material obtained there is provided a specified sharp pattern close to an engraved pattern and distributed along the entire length and width of the material. When the claimed method is used, for example, for obtaining a substrate for thermal printing of textile material, it is possible to obtain a material with a pattern that could not be obtained by thermal print from a paper substrate produced by the known methods.

The invention is further described by way of example, where the method is described when used for making a coloured material as a substrate for thermal printing on textile materials, reference being made to the appended diagram, where Figs.

1, 1 a and 1 b show embodiments as patterns made on one of the rolls for performing the claimed method.

The fabric of a substrate 1 (Fig. 1) obtained by a known manner and unwound from a drum 2 is continuously driven by guide rollers 3, e.g. at a speed of 1 to 20 m/min, between two rolls 4 and 5 arranged one above the other and elasticaliy pressed to each other, e.g. with a force of 0.1 kg/cm2, the fabric being then fed into a drying chamber 6.

Applied on one side of the continuously moving fabric of the substrate 1 is a known printing ink fed from a dosing device 7. For example, use is made of a known thickened printing ink having the following composition: dispersed blue K 40 g urea 100 g water 200 g thickener x 1000 g At the same time, printing inks of different colours may be applied to obtain a multicoloured fabric.

In order to obtain a predetermined pattern on a monocoloured or multicoloured fabric along its entire length and across its width, it is necessary to fasten a pattern 7A on the surface of the roll 5 acting on the substrate on the side opposite to that where the printing ink is applied.

As shown in Fig. 1 a and 1 b, the pattern 7A is cut along contour from writing paper, Whatman paper or another material and is attached (e.g.

glued) to the surface of the roll 5 with specified frequency and succession, using, for example, an adhesive in the form of a thickener based on methyl cellulose (4%). The pattern 7A, however, can be cut in any other material 8A and this material with a pattern cut therein is attached (glued) onto the surface of the roll 5 thus obtaining a stencil for making a pattern.

In the process of passing the substrate 1 between the rolls 4 and 5 the printing ink is distributed across the fabric width and, at the same time, a print of the specified pattern fixed on the roll 5 is produced.

During the distribution of the printing ink on the fabric edgewise due to the pattern secured to the roll a different pressure is produced between the rolls (e.g. the average pressure to which the rolls are subjected is equal to 0.1 kg/cm2). Where the pattern is secured due to an additional thickness this pressure is higher so that the printing ink applied on the corresponding portions on the fabric of the substrate is thinner than the ink layer forming a background (the thinner, the thicker the attached pattern) so an etching effect is attained; the background and pattern are obtained simultaneously but have different intensity.

Depending on what portion of the pattern is cut out, this pattern on the substrate can be made darker or lighter.

The coloured substrate with a predetermined pattern printed thereon is fed into the drying chamber 6 for drying at a temperature of 1000C and is fed through guide rollers to a pair of rolls 10 joining the fabric of the substrate and a textile material 11, e.g. a polyester fabric for subsequent transfer of the dye from the fabric of the substrate 1 onto the textile material 11 in a calander 12 at a temperature 2000C during 30 seconds. After that the coloured fabric is wound into a roll 13, while the used fabric of the substrate is wound into a roll 14.

Thus, according to the claimed method a coloured material, can be made, e.g. a substrate for thermal printing of textile materials, wall paper, picture film coatings, etc., the fabric of which has a coloured surface with a pattern identical along the entire length of this fabric; the pattern is made with a dark and light contour; the pattern and fabric have the same tint but different intensity.

Thus, for example, if a maple leaf is cut from Whatman paper (0.24 mm thick) and glued onto the roll and use is made of a printing ink described in the above example, depending on the pressure developed by the rolls, the fabric of the substrate will have a blue background and almost white or light-blue maple leaves with a dark or light contour.

Claims (6)

1. A method of making a coloured material, in which a printing ink is continuously applied on one side of a continuously moving fabric; said fabric with the printing ink applied thereon is driven between two rolls for distributing the ink edgewise; in the process of said movement of the fabric between the rolls and simultaneously with the edgewise distribution of the ink, on the fabric there is printed a predetermined pattern by one of the rolls acting on the fabric on the side opposite to that where the printing ink is applied and having on its surface a pattern fixed thereto; after that the fabric with a specified printed pattern is dried.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which said pattern is made of any material and fixed to the roll surface with given frequency and succession.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which a material with a specified pattern cut therein is fixed to the roll.

4. A coloured material consisting of a fabric having a coloured surface creating a background; a pattern made on the coloured surface of the fabric; said pattern on the fabric is made with a dark or light contour; the colour of said pattern and background features the same tint but of different intensity.

5. A method of making a coloured material substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A coloured material substantially as herein described.