Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
THIS INVENTION relates to a method of applying a design, in particular a multi-
colour design, to a material which is dimensionally unstable and which has an irregular or
grained surface, by way of a printing process, and to products produced by the method. In a
particular application the invention relates to a method of so applying a deslgn, particularly
S a multi-colour design, to leather or synthet}c leather, and to leather and synthetic leather
products produced by the method.
,,
The invention relates also to a decorative device or decorative article and to a method
of manufacturing such a decorative device or article. In one application the invention relates
to a decorative article of the nature of a wall hanging, and to a method of rnanufacturing such
10 a wall hanging. In another appllcation the invention relates to a method of decorating an
; article or object, such as a garrnent, or an accessory of apparel such as a hat or bandbagj or
a domestic accessory or ornament such as a lampshade,~ bookjacket, cushion, or the like by
applying to such an article~or obiect a decorative devic~ according to the invention, and to
articles and objects so decorated. In yet another application the invention relates to articles
15 or objects, such as items of forniture, or accessolies such as handbags, shoes, bookjackets,
wallets, purses, and the like, which are made of or sovered with leather or synthetic leather
decorated by the method of the invention.
According to the invention there i5 provided a method of applying a design by a printin~
process to an exparlse of material which is dimensionally unstable, in particular a material
20 selected from the group comprised of genuine tanned leather and synthetic leather, which
method includes the steps of
applying the expanse of materi~l to a rigid backing plate to define a pictorial area where
the materiaI adheres to the backing plate;
providing key means on a pr;nt table of ~ stencil or screen printing apparatus, the key
25 means being adjustable ~o demarcate a predetermined positlon on the pnnt taMe for the ;
:
backing plate where a print plate of the printing apparatus will produce a printed image in a
desired location on the pictorial area;
positioning the backing plate on the print table in the demarcated predeterminedposition with reference to the key means; and
S printing a printed image in the desired locality on the pictorial area by means of the
print plate.
More particularly according to the invention there is provided a method of applying a
design to a pictorial area provided on an expanse of material which is dimensionally unstable,
in particular a material selected from the group comprised of genuine tanned leather and0 synthetic leather, by a printing process, which method includes the steps of
providing an expanse of selected material which is dimensionally ~mstable and which has
a surface to receive a design by a printing process;
applying the expanse of selected material to a rigid backing plate so that a pictorial area
is defined where the selected material adheres to the backing plate;
providing a print plate selected frorn stencil-print plates and screen-print plates on which
an image of the desired design is applied, the print plate being arranged to produce a printed
image of the design in a predetermined position relative to a print table;
providing a print table on which the rigid backing plate carrying the expanse of selected
material may be supported in the predetermined position for the pictorial area to receive the0 printed image in a desired location by means of the print plate;providing key means on the backing plate to register with corresponding adjustable key
means provided on the print tiable;
adjusting the key means on the print table to demarcate the predeterrnined position for
the backing plate with re~erence to the print plate;
positioning the backing plate carrying the e~panse of selected material in the
predetermined position on the print table with reference to the key means;
providing a printing ink on the print plate, the ink being of a consistency selected to
adhere to the surface of the material of the pictorial area; and
printing the image of the design in the desired location on the pictorial area while the
30 backing plate carrying the selected material is held in the predetermined position relative to
the print plate.
: . `,, ' .
In one embodiment, the pictorial area rmay be provided on an expanse of synthetic
leather, the synthetic leather being selected to present as smooth as possible a surface to be
printed on. It should be unders-tood, however, that even where a synthetic leather has been
selected to have such as smooth a surface as possible, the surface would usually still have small
S irregularities which may make it difficult to achieve a clear printed image thereon, with sharp
and well-defined edges and an even colour distribution~ If desired, the expanse of synthetic
leather may have irregularly shaped or formed edges, so as to resemble for example an animal
skin~
In another embodiment~ the pictorial area may be provided on an e~panse of genuine
10 tanned leather, the surface of which has preferably been rendered as smooth as possible, ie
substantially untextured, to receive a design by way of a printing process~ Again it should be
borne in mind that even with a surface rendered as smooth as possible, the leather would
usually still have small irregularities (ie a natural grain), which may make it difficult to achieve
a printed image thereon with sharp and clear outlines and an even and true colour tone~ It
15 should be understood, therefore, that both suitably prepared genuine leather and selected
synthetic leather may be used in accordance with the invention, and the term "leather" when
used in the specification should be interpreted accordingly~
The design applied to the pictorial area may be of any suitable or desired nature, for
example a design portraying animals, birds, trees, flowers or any wild life theme, or ethnic
20 figures, or a geometric or abstract design or the like, and the design is applied to the pictorial
area by a printing process~ Instead of a wild life or ethnic or other artistic theme, the desigll
may comprise a logo, a company or family crest, a trade or sports emblem, or the like, again
applied to the pictorial area by a printing process~ The features of the invention described
herein, namely the use of synthetic or genuine leather as a background material and the
25 application of the design by a printing process, make it possible for decorated leather and a
variety of articles and objects made thereof, to be made by an industrial process and to be
supplied to the market in adequate quantities and at reduced costs.
The method of the invention as will be described in more detail below, has been found
to give particularly good results when used for the printing of a multi-colour design on a
dimensionally unstahle, stretchable material such as leather, including genuine and synthetic
leather, and it makes possible the printing of high quality multi-colour designs on leather and
synthetic leather, which previously could not be done.
At this point it may be explained that it has been found to be extremely difficult to
5 provide a good quality, sharply de~ined and true colour-registered multi-colour printed image
on a dimensionally unstable material such as leather, especially by way of a screen-printing
procedure. In the first place, it is extremely difficult to hold an expanse of dimensionally
unstable material such as leather in a stationary and immobilised condition during the printing
step. The Applicant has found that by applying such a material to a rigid backing plate,
10 conveniently with an adhesive, the material may be immobilised and stabilised, and the backing
plate carrying the material can be positioned more accura~ely to achieve proper registration
for the second and subsequent colour runs.
ThUS~ according to the invention there is provided a method of applying a multi-colour
design to a pictorial area pro~ided on an expanse of leather, including genuine and synthetic5 leather, which includes the further steps of
providing a plurality of colour-separated print plates selected from stencil-print plates
and screen-print plates, representing colour-separated images of the desired design so that
superimposed images printed by the plates together will provide a desired multi-colour design;
providing on the different print plates different printing inks of the desired colours to0 correspond with the colour-separated print plates and of a consistency to permit the ink to
adhere to the surface of the material of the pictorial area;
consecutively adjusting the key marks on the print table to demarcate a plurality of
prede~ermined positions for the backing plate with reference to the plurali~ of print plates,
so that a colour-separated image will be printed in a desired locality on the pictorial area;
consecutively positioning the backing plate carrying the expanse of material in the
different predetermined positions with reference to the key means;
consecutively printing colour-separated images of the design in the desired location on
the pictorial area with the dif-ferent print plates while the backing plate is held in the
predetermined position relative to the print plate ~or each colour;
, ~, , , , ,; ; ,
allowing the ink applied to the pictorial area to dry after each colour image and before
applying a subsequent colour image; and
removing the expanse of material from the rigid backing plate once the multi-colour
design is complete.
S It has already been mentioned above, that it is difficult to work with an expanse of
material which is stretchable, eg in the form of leather or synthetic leather or certain textile
fabrics. This difficulty is exacerbated when such a material is to be used for carTying out a
method for the mass application of a multi-colour design, for the mass production of articles.
In a multi-colour printing process as set out above, it is necessary that the material of the
lû pictorial area should be kept absolutely still during the various colour-separated printing runs,
so that the images applied in the different colours will be perfectly in register; and
furthermore, where a phlrality of pictorial areas are to be printed, that consecutive pictorial
areas should be accurately placed in the correct position relat;ve to the different print plates.
As explained above, the Applicant has found that this difficulty may at least partially
15 be overcome if the expanse of synthetic or genuine leather or other stretchable fabric, which
is to form the pictorial area, is first applied to a rigid backing plate and is allowed to remain
on the plate during the entire printing process. Accordingly, the expanse of synthetic or
genuine leather is prepared for printing by removably applying it, preferably with the aid of
a pressure sensitive adhesive, to a rigid backing plate. The backing plate may be a metal plate
20 or a plate of a synthetic plastics material, eg acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ~A13S). The
backing plate may be coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, eg a conventional textile
adhesive, to provide a tacky surface to which the expanse of synthetic or genuine leather may
be applied. The provision of key means on the print table and on the backing plate provides
assistance in this regard, in that the pictorial area can be positioned and held accurately and
25 statically in register with the print plate, in order to obtain a clear and sharply defined print ~;
of the right colouration.
~.
The backing plate bearing the pictorial area may thus be placed on a printing table with
reference to the key means on the printing table, and so that the key means OIl the backing
plate are in register with those on the print table. Thereupon the consecutive printing runs
may be carried out, substantially in the conventional manner, to print the design in the
consecutive separated colours so as to obtain the final multi-colour printed product. Once the
printing ink has dried, the expanse of material bearing the completed printed design is peeled
from the backing plate. The backing plate, which retains its tacly surface, is reusable with the
5 next expanse of material to be printed.
Ihe pressure sensitive may thus preferably be selected to retain its tacly surface for
several consecutive runs. The pressure sensitive adhesive is further preferably selected so as
to contain no ingredients which would seep through the leatber to adversely af~ect the printing
or the printing inks, or the printed image once applied.
Once the key means on the printing table has been adjusted to demarcate the exact
position on the print table for a backing plate to be placed, to provide the printed image in
the desired locality on the pictorial area, a plurality of prepared backing plates may be
positioned and printed consecutively, with a design which will be applied on each in a
predetermined accurately positioned locality.
Even though sllch key means may be positioned with care and may consistently be
adhered to, the Applicant has nevertheless found that the different colour images do not always
appear on the pictorial area in precisely the right locality. It is believed that the reason is to
be found in the fact that setting of the key rneans by way of a visual observation of the relative
positioning of the print plate and the pictorial area, is not su~ficient to ensure true registration
20 of consecutive printed image. The ~pplicant has found that much improved results may be
achieved by printing first a dummy or trial image to obtain a better indication of how the key
means are to be adjusted. The Applicant accordingly makes use of a transparent oYerlay print
sheet, which is placed over the pictorial area and onto which a primary image is printed by way
of a dummy or trial printing step. Adjustments in the positioning of the key means on the
25 print table, and consequently of the prepared backing plate, carrying the expanse of leather
rmaterial applied to it, may then take place with reference to the position of the primary image
created on the transparent overlay by the trial printing step.
,. ., - ~ ,.
. ,, ~ . . , .~ - ~ ".. ...... ..
. -,, ,, . ,- . , ~ . . ~ ~:
- . .. . . .. . ... .. ..
The invention accordingly provides a method of applying to a picto-rial area a multi-
colour design of enhanced accuracy and colour registration, which includes the further steps
of
placing a removable transparent overlay sheet over the pictorial area prior to printing
S an image thereon;
printing a primary image onto the transparent overlay sheet;
adjusting the key means with re~erence to the position o the primary image on the
transparent overlay;
adjusting the position of the backing plate carrying the expanse of material with0 reference to the key means;
removing the transparent overlay sheet;
printing a colour image onto the pictorial area; and
repea~ing the foregoing steps using a transparent overlay sheet for a primary image prior
to a colour image on the pictorial area in respect of each subsequent colour run.
The use of a transparent overlay sheet also enables a multi-colour design to the applied
to a plurali~ of consecutive pictorial areas provided upon a plurality of backing plates, with
improved results as to colour registrv, definition and colour toning.
The invention thus provides a method for applying a multi-colour design to a plurality
of consecutive pictorial areas provided on a plurality of prepared backing plates, which includes0 the further steps of
providing a plurality of rigid backing plates each with a~ expanse of material, preferably
selected ~rom the group comprised of genuine tanned leather and synthetic leather, applied
thereto;
providing a plurality of colour-separated print plates on which colour-separated images5 of the design are applied;
positioning a first prepared backing plate on a print table and placing a transparent
overlay sheet over the pictorial area;
printing a primary image with a first colour-separated print plate on the overlay sheet;
- . . . . ,, ~ . ,. , ,. .............. . .... . ~ - ~
... .. .
if necessary adjusting the position of the key means on the print table and the position
of the first backing plate, with reference to the position of the primary image on the overlay
sheet;
removing the overlay sheet and printing a final image with the ~rst colour-separated
5 print plate on the pictorial area of the first backing plate;
removing the backing plate from the print table and allowing the ink to dry;
positioning a second and subsequent prepared backing plates consecutively on the print
table with reference to the key means on the print table;
printing final images with the first colour-separated print plate on the pictorial areas of0 the second and snbsequent backing plates;
allowing the ink to dry on the pictorial areas of the second and subsequent backing
plates;
positioning the first prepared backing plate again on the print table and placing a
transparent overlay sheet over the pictorial area and printing a primary image with the second5 colour-separated print plate on the overlay sheet;
if necessary adjusting the position of the key means on the print table and the position
of the first backing plate w~lh reference to the position of the primary image on the overlay
sheet;
remov~ng the overlay sheet and printing a final image wi~h the second colour-separated0 print plate on the pictorial area of the first backing plate;
. removing the first backing plate from the print table and allowing the ink to dry;
positioning the second and subse~ent backing plates ~onsecutively on the print table
with reference to the key means on the print table;
printing final images with the second colour-separated print plate on the pictorial areas5 of the second and subsequent backing plates and allowing the ink to dry on each one;
repeating the procedure with the third and further colour-separated print plates until
a full colour image of the clesired design has been printed on each of the plurality of prepared
backing plates; and
finally remoYing each expanse of rnaterial from its backing plate.
The transparent overlay sheet may be a sheet of a transparent synthetic resin orcelluloid, with substantial rigidity ancl a smooth surface from which applied printing inks may
,
readily be removed. The overlay sheet should preferably be inert to the printing ink.
Preferably an ink of dark colour is used for printing the primary image on the transparen~
overlay sheet, so that the outlines may be observed clearly, so as to enable accurate adjustment
of the key means on the print table and of the position of the backing plates may be achieved.
It will be evident that these features make the method particularly suitable to be used
in an industrial manufacturing process, ie to make large numbers of multi-colour prints on
genuine or synthetic leather, in a predetermined desired locali~ within a pictorial area and
with clear and accurate placement of the various colours. Before each first colour run, the
transparent overlay is positioned over the first prepared print plate and a first primary print
10 executed. With reference to the resultant print, the position of the key means is adjusted. If
desired, the primaly trial print may also be in the colour-separated colour tonej so that the
colour tone of the ink may be adjusted, with reference to the primary trial print. Thereupon
a plllrality of images in the correct colour and in the correct position may be printed
consecutively.
The same procedure is followed with the next colour, and so forth until the complete
multi-colour print has been created.
Before applying the first colour, particularly where the !eather has been dyed a deep
or strong colour, it is desirable, so as to ensure that white and other light colours will print with
the correct colour toning, to provide the pictorial area first with a white or other selected
20 neutral colour background, preferably having the silhouette outlines of the desired fïnal
pictorial design. The pictorial design may then be printed onto the white or neutral
background by way of consecutive colour runs, as explained above.
The Applicant has found that it is particularly advantageous to use a screen-printing
process in the method according to the invention. Even though the material, eg silk, of the
25 screen-print plate may itself stretch slightly during the printing procedure, ie when a
conventional rubber squeegee is moved across the screen plate, thereby slightly displacing the
printed image, this slight displacement is reflected on the transparent overlay sheet. The key
means and the corresponding position of the backing plate may be adjusted with reference to
the displaced image on the transparent overlay sheet, to compensate for the stretching of the
silk screen. When use is made of a print screen of large dimensions, on which different print
zones are defined, care should be taken that a uniform directional orientation of the colour-
separated images is maintained. Because the silk screen will stretch in the direction in which
5 the squeezee operates, it is important that the different colour-separated images all be
orientated so that the stretching will occur in the same direction for each one.
The adjustable key means provided on the print table may corl~eniently include a base
plate which rnay be positioned on the print table in a selected position cletermined with
reference to a print plate, to perrnit an image printed by the print plate to be printed in a
10 desired locality on the base plate. The base plate may be secured to the print table in the
selected position, eg by means of adhesive strips. The base plate may carry one or more
keying pins, indicating a predeterrnined position on the base plate in which a backing plate may
be mounted with the aid of corresponding keying apertures provided in the backing plate.
In practice, the base plate may thus be positioned and secured on the print table in a
15 position selected with reference to the position of an image printed by a print plate, and a
backing plate ma~ in ~urn be placed in a predetermined position on the base plate with the aid
of the corresponding keying pins and apertures provided on the base plate and backing plate
respectiYely. When a transparent overlay sheet is used, as described above, on which a primary
trial image can be printed, the position of the base plate is de~errnined with reference to the
20 position of the primary trial image.
In selecting the printing inks, the Applicant has found conventional matt or no-gloss
printing inks to provide a good adherence to the leather surface, but that an adjustment in the
colour toning has to be made in order to obtain the desired colour shade on the leather
material. For reasons not fully understood by the Applicant, the printing inks, once applied
25 to the leather surface, do not display exactly the same colour shade as prior to application.
~he printing ir~s used should ~hus be selected to provide good adherence to the leather
surface to which the design is applied, and to produce a pliable product, and furthermore ihe
colour toning may have to be adjusted. Inks with a matt finish are preferred, since the glossy
inks often contain a varnish which may cause cracking of the printed design when the leather
, . . , ~ . , .
12
article is handled. The ink should further be rendered ts~ a consistency to pass freely through
the screen-print plates without clogging the screen, but should not be so runny as to smudge
on the leather surface. The ink should also not dry too quickly; it should preferably penetrate
into the surface layers of the leather material.
According to a further feature of the invention, the drying of the ink of the printed
image applied to the pictorial area may be accelerated or enhanced to speed up the overall
printing process. Accelerated drying may be achieved by directing an air flow over the printed
surface, or preferably by moving an entire backing plate with the expanse of leather applied
thereto~ through a dry~ng tunnel with one or more batteries of infrared lamps, preferably
10 provided in combination with air flow means, to accelerate the drying of the printed ink. The
printed products rnay conveniently be conveyed through the drying tunnel on a conveyor belt;
the infrared lamps may be provided in batteries above the conveyor belt; and an air extraction
fan may be provided to provide an air flow through the tunnel
Once the final and full colour print has been achieved and dried, a clear protective or
15 fixative coating may be applied over the pictorial design, or if desired over the entire pictorial
area, to protect the printed design. The protective layer, which serves as a fixative, should
preferably be pliable and resistant to water and conventional organic solven~s and cleaners.
According to a further feature of the invention there is provided a decorative device or
article which includes a pictorial area provided on an expanse of a material selected from the
20 group comprised of genuine tanned leather and synthetic leather with a surface suitable for the
application of a design by a printing process, the pictorial area bearing a design applied
thereon by a printing process and with the use of printing ink, by a method according to the
nventlon.
The design may preferably be a rnulti-colour pictorial design.
If desired, the decorative device may ha~e a decorative surround extending at least
partially around the pictorial area and made up of randomly shaped and positioned pieces of
material selected from the group comprised of genuine tanned leather and synthetic leather,
optionally in combination ~qth other materials selected from the group comprising cloth
including woven, non-woven and knitted fabric, feathers, beads, fur, plant material and stones.
If desired, the design applied to the pictorial area may be enhanced or extended by the
addition of related items or materials, such as feathers, seeds, grass, pieces of wood or bark,
5 fur, beads (particularly of wood or clay), stones ~particularly serni-precious stones), etc.
Once the printed design has been applied, the expanse s)f leather may be mounted onto
a backing layer which may preferably be pliant, eg of canvas. Such a backing layer does not
only provide reinforcement, but also provides a neatly finished-off appearance. Furthermore,
the materials forming the surround may also partly be applied onto the backing material. The
10 e~spanse of leather may be applied to the backing layer by bonding with a suitable adhesive.
Before applying the expanse of leather material to the backing layer, the rear side of the
leather may preferably be coated with a protective layer to prevent solvent or other harmful
components of the adhesive from seeping through the leather and discolouring or dislodging,
or otherwise affecting the printed design.
As mentioned above, a decorative surround may be provided, which may be made up
of ;rre?gularly shaped pieces of genuine or synthetic leather, which may be applied, such as by
means of adhesive, to extend in a random arrangement partially or wholly around the expanse
of material bearing the pictorial design. The pieces o~ leather may be applied, such as by
means of arl adhesive or by stitching, to the backing layer, Ol to the expanse of leather, or both.
20 If desired, pieces of textile or other materials, such as feathers, fur, beads, etc may be applied
as part of the surround.
The decorative article may be of the nature of a wall hanging, and may have suspension
means for suspending it such as against a wall.
At or near the upper end of the collated decorati~e article, means may be provided for
25 suspending the article from a suspension means. For ex~nple, a folded-back seam may be
provided at the upper end, or a series of loops, through which a rod may be threaded to
suspend the article from a hook or nail on a wall, to ~orm a decorative wall hanging.
14
The decorative device may instead be applied to another object or article, such as a
garment, or an accessory of apparel such as a hat or handbag, or a domestic accessory such as
a lampshade or cushion, etc so as to decorate the object or article. The decorative device may
thus be of dimensions selected in accordance with the object or article to be decorated. For
5 example, if it is intended to decorate a garment such as a T~shirt, shirt or blouse, the
decorative device may be of such dimensions as to permit the device to be applied to the front
of the T-shirt, shirt or blouse. The decorat*e device may be applied to the garmerlt by
stitching or by means of an adhesive, s)r in any other suitable manner.
Instead of a shirt or blouse, any other garment may lilcewise be decorated by ~he
10 application of such a decorative device, eg sweaters or jerseys, jackets particularly leather
jackets, handbags, hats, ets. Such a decorative device may also be applied to photo albums,
or to lampshades or cushions or other domes~ic articles. Again the dimensions of the
decorative device would be selected to sui~ its ultimate application.
In another application of the invention, the decorative (}evice according to the invention
15 may be made in miniature size to enable it to be used as a brooch or as a pendant on a
necklace or on earrings. I'hus, a decorative device according to the invention but in rniniatllre
size may be provided with a pin on its rear side, to be used as a brooch; or it may be provided
with suspension means such as an eyelet to be suspended from a leather thong or a chain to
serve as a necklace; or it may be provided with hooks or clips to serve as earrings; or with
20 clips or pins to serve as hair clips or pins.
The invention also extends to garments or other objects and ar~icles whenever decorated
by the application of a decorative device in accordance with the invention. Instead of making
a separate decorative device as hereinbefore described, and applying the device to the object
or garment to be decorated, a garment or other article may be decorated directly, by creating
25 a decorative device in accordance with the invention directly on the fabric of the garmerit or
other article. Thus, a design may be applied by a printing process onto the fabric of a garment
or other article, and a decorative surround may be provided on the fabric to extend at least
partially around the design to define a pictorial area, the surround being made up of randomly
shaped and positioned pieces of leather or fabric or other material.
. .
. , . ;~ ., .
The decorative surround may be applied to the fabric of the garment or other article
by stitching the pieces onto the fabric, or by bonding the pieces to the fabric with a suitable
adhesive, to form the surround. As explained above, pieces of other materials, such as textile,
feathers, fur, or beads, etc may be incorporated in the decorative surround.
S The invention accordingly includes within its scope garments such as T-shirts, shirts,
blouses, skirts, etc and other articles, such as cushions, lampshades, etc which have been
decorated by a design printed directly onto the fabric of the garment or article, and a
decorative surround applied around the design as described above.
Instead of providing an expanse of material comprising leather or synthetic leather, the
10 expanse of material may be any other suitable fabric, for example provided by the fabric of the
garment or other article to be decorated. In this case, the printing process will take place on
the fabric of the garment or other article itsel This may take place either before or after the
garment or other article is manufactured.
It should be appreciated that the decorative article or device according to the invention
15 is suitable to be manu~actured by way of an industrial process, with the pictorial design being
appIied by a printing process, as set out above.
~ e method lencls itself to industrial manufacture of the decorative articles or devices
according to the invention on a commercial scale. As explained above, it has been found
convenient in practice to prepare a plurality of backing plates with synthetic or gen~line leather,
20 pre-cut in suitable sheet sizes, removably applied thereto. As the individual colour-separated
printing rlms are carried out consecutively on the prepared printing plates, the early ones are
allowed to dry, eg by moving t~em through a drying tunnel, so that when the last units are
completed, the next colour run may conunence on the dry UIlitS. The printed units may instead
be placed on d~ying racks to dIy.
Once the final full solour pictorial design has been printed ar.d the product is dry, the
sheet of genuine or synthetic leather or other fabric bearing the design is removed from the
backing plate, it is cut to the desired shape, and if desired this is applied to a backing layer.
16
Thereafter ~he decorative surround is created by applying at random irregularly shaped pieces
of leather and/or other materials as explained above.
The inYention and the manner in which it may be carried out in practice will now be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrarmnatic drawings
In the drawings
Figures 1 to 5 illustrate, schematically, the various steps when the method according to
the invention is carried out on a conventional screen-printing apparatus;
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic three-dimensional representation of a drying tunnel that may
be used in combination with a conventional printing apparatus, for drying the printed material;
Figure 7 is a diagrarnrnatic front v~ew of a decorative article manufactured in
accordance with the invention, in the form of a wall hanging;
Figure 8 is a rear view of the article of Figure 7; and
Figure 9 is a sectional side elevation of the article of Figures 7 and 8, taken along line
IX IX ln Figure 7.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a method according to the i-nvention for applying a design
to an expanse of ma~erial which is dimensionally unstable, may be carried out on a
conventional scree-printing apparatus, as illustrated in these Figures.
The apparatus comprises a print table 10 and a silk print screen 12. The silk screen 12
is mounted between frame members 14.1~ 14.2, 14.3 and 14.4 of a frame structure 14. The
frame structure 14 is pivotally mounted to the print table 10, as shown at 16, to permit pivotal
displacement of the print screen 1~ in the direction of the arrows A, as shown in Figures 1 and
3, to enable the frame 14 carrying the print screen 12 to be brought from a raised position (as
depicted in Figures 1 and 3) to a printing position ~not shown) in which an image applied to
the print screen can be printed on a print surface supported on the print table 10.
17
It will be observed that the print screen 12 is of comparatiYely large dirnensions, and
is divided into four print zones or print plates 12.1, 12.2, l2.3 and 12.4. Thc four print plates
are particularly suitable to be used for printing the four colour runs where a four-colour colour
separation of a multi-colour design has taken place, in accordance with conventional colour
S printing technology. In such a colour-separation, a multi-colour design is separated into for
example four basic colour tones (conventionally cyan~ yellow, magenta and black), and four
colour-separated print plates are provided, each plate designed to print an image of the design
in one of the basic colours, so that the images when they are superimposed will represent the
true colours of the multi-colour design.
On ~he side of the print screen 12 remote from the print table 10, a squeegee tool 11
is mounted. The squeegee 11 is of co~ventional construction and operation, being displaceable
from side to side across the print screen 12 in the direction of the arrows B shown in Figures
1 and 3. In accordance with conventional design, the squeegee 11 has a rubber blade 13 which
is drawn across the remot~ surface of the print screen 12, when the print screen 12 is in the
15 print;ng position, to force printing ink supplied on that surface of the print screen 12 through
the screen 12 to print an image on a print surface provided on the print table 10, in
conventional marmer.
The use of the printing aMaratus in the method according to the invention, for printing
a multi-colour design on an expanse of material 18 which is dimensionally unstable, such as
20 genuine tanned leather or synthetic leather, will now be described in more detail. The main
problems encountered when it is attempted to print a design on leather, are twofold: in the
first place it is difficult to hold the expanse of leather material in a taut and stationary
condition while the pr;nting operation is carried out; and second}y, it is difficult to position
the expanse of leather material accurately and in the correct position to permit an image to
25 be printed thereon in the desired locality. Furthermore, if a multi-colour design is to be
printed, it is extremely difficult to align the expanse of material properly, so that a subsequent
colour-separated image will be accurately superimposed upon an already printed colour-
separated image to produce a sharply defined true colour image.
:: :-. . .: : ~ . .. - : .
By the method according to the invention, these problems can be overcome in the
following marmer: As depicted in Figure 1, the e~panse of material 18 is applied to a rigid
backing plate 20. [he backing plate is an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plate, and the
expanse of leather is applied thereto by means of an adhesive (not shown), eg a conventional
5 textile adhesive, so that a pictorial area 18.1 is defined where the leat~er adheres to the
backing plate 20. It will be appreciated that the leather 18 is held taut and stationary over the
area of the pictorial area 18.1.
Thc backing plate 20 is in turn mounted on a base plate 22, which is also a synthetic
plastics plate of substantial rigidity. The base plate 22 has key pins 24, while the backing plate
10 20 has corresponding keying apertures 26 to enable the backing plate 20 to be mounted
accurately in a predetermined position on the base plate æ. 'Ihe base plate 22 is displaceable
on the print table 10, as is evident from the Figures 1 to 4, and can be secured to the print
table 10 in a selected position, eg by means of adhesive strips 28. It should be understood that
any other releasable securing means may be provided instead of the adhesive strips 28.
The base plate 22 thus serves as a key means to demarcate a selected position on the
print table 10, where a backing plate 20 carrying an expanse of leather material 18 must be
positioned, in order to allow a print plate 12.1, 12.2, 12 3 or 12.4 to print an image in a desired
locality on the pic~Qrial area 18.1 defined on the leather material 18.
In determining the correct position for the key means, ie the base plate 22, on the print
20 table 10, use is made of a transparent overlay sheet 30, as explained more fully below.
Assuming that a first colour-separated image is to be printed on the pictorial area 1~.1
by means of the first print plate 12.1, the base plate 22 ;s placed in a prelirninary position on
the print table 10, more or less in alignment with the print plate 12.1, as depicted in Figure 1.
The backing plate 20 is then placed in a keyed position on the base plate ~2. The expanse of
25 leather 18 (or o~her dimensionally unstable material) is held in positian Oll the backing plate
20, being bended thereto by the adhesive. A transparent overlay sheet 30, eg of a transparent
synthetic resin, is placed o~rer the leather material, and is held in place eg with adhesive putty
32.
19
Printing ink in a dark colour is provided on the print plate 12.1, and a trial-image 34
is printed on the transparent overlay 30 ~as shown in Figure 1). With reference to this image
34, the base plate 22, carrying the backing plate 20 and the leather material 18, is displaced
on the print table 10, as indicated by the arrows C and D in Figure 1, while the overlay sheet
5 30 remains stationaIy. Once the leather material 18 is so positioned that the trial image 34
is aligned with a desired locality on the pictorial area 18.1, the base plate 22 is secured to the
print table 10, eg by the adhesive strips 28 ~as shown in Fig~e 2). The transparent overlay
sheet 30 is removed; the dark colour in~ is removed from the print plate 12.1 and the correct
colour ink is applied to the plate 12.1; and a colour image 36 is printed on the leather
10 material 18, in the desired locality within the pictorial area 18.1 and in the desired colour
shade.
A colour image identical in colour and position to the image 36 is then printed onto the
pictorial area of the leather material supported on the backing plate 20.2. In similar fashion"
the plate 20.2 is then removed and replaced by a subsequent backing plate (not shown) and
15 the procedure repeated until all of the plurality of pieces of leather have been printed with the
first colour-separated image corresponding to the image 36.
At this point it may be mentioned that each backing plate carIying an expanse of leather
imprinted with an image 36 is subjected to a drying stage, to permit the ink of the image 36
to dry be~ore the next image is printed thereon. Drying may be achieved in a drying tunnel
20 schematically depicted in Figure 6 and generally indicated as 50. ~he drying tunnel comprises
an enclosed shamber 52 through which a conveyor belt 54 moves in the direction of the arrow
G, on which belt 54 the backing plates carrying the printed leather may be transported through
the chamber 52. Infrared lamps 56 are arranged in transverse rows above the conveyor belt
54, and an air extraction fan schematically shown as 58 is provided to cause an air flow through
25 the chamber 52. When the backing plates reach the exit end 52.2 of the chamber 52, the ink
of the printed image printed on the leather is dry.
Reverting again to Figures 3 and 4, when the second colour-separated colour image is
to be printed on an expanse of leather carried on the backing plate 20 (after the ink of the
image 36 has been dried), the backing plate 20 is keyed onto the base plate æ, and the base
plate 20 displaced to a new pos;tion on the print table 10, more or less aligned with the print
plate 12.2, as depicted in Figure 3.
A clean transparent overlay sheet 30 is again placed over the pictorial area 18.1 of the
leather 18, and secured with adhesive putty 32; an ink in a dark colour is applied to the print
S plate 12.2; and a trial image 40 is printed on the overlay sheet 30, as shown in Figure 3.
Thereupon the base plate 22 is adjusted in ~e direction of the arrows E and F in Figure 3,
until the image 40 is exactly and accurately registered with the desired locality of such irnage
40 in the pictorial area 18.1. If desired, a positive specimen of the complete design (not
shown) may be placed over the pictorial area 18.1 to assist with the lining-up of the images.
Once the base plate 22 is in the correct position, as depic~ed in Figure 4, it is secured
in that position, eg with the adhesive strips 28; the transparent overlay sheet 30 is removed;
and the final image 42 is printed onto the pictorial area 18.1.
In this manner, with the use of a transparent overlay sheet receiving a first trial image,
and the subsequent adjustment of the base plate 22, which provides a keying means, the
15 Applicant achieve a true and accurate alignment of the different colour images.
.
Again, as explained above in regard to Figure ~ a plurality of successive backing plates
may then be keyed onto the base plate 22, to receive the printed image 40 in the correct
desired locality within the pictorial area.
If a plurality of pieces of leather are to be printed with the same design, the backing
20 plate 20 carrying the expanse of leather with the image 36 is removed, arld another backing
plate 20.2 carrying an expanse of leather 18 is positioned on the base plate 22, and keyed in
position by the key pins 24, as depicted schematically in Figure S.
l~eferring to Figures 7 to 9, a decorative article in accordance with the invention,
suitable to be suspended against a wall as a wall hanging, comprises an expanse of a synthetic
25 or genuine tanned leather material indicated by the numeral 110, presenting a pictorial area
110.1 bearing a decorative design 112, being in this case by way of example a pictorial
representation of a leopard. The design 112 has been applied to the pictorial area by a
printing process, eg a screen-printing process, in accordance with the method described herein.
For this reason the surface of the expanse of material 110 has been selected to be suitable to
receive a pictorial representation by printing, eg it must be a surface as sms)oth and regular
S as possible.
The edges 110.2 of the expanse of material, eg synthetic or genuine tanned leather 110
is formed to present uneven outlines, and the entire expanse of material 110 is surrounded by
a decorative surround 114 comprised of a plurality of pieces of syn-thetic or genuine leather
114.1, 114.2, 114.3 etc of irregular shape and randomly arranged around the material 11û. The
10 pieces of leather 114.1, 114.2, 114.3 are attached such as with an adhesive. Further items, such
as leather thong tassels 116 are applied to the surround 114 and/or the expanse of material
110, to enhance the appearance of the article.
At the upper end, a folded back seam 118 is provided, through which a rod 120 may
extend, by means of which the article may be hung on a wall (not shown), to serve as a
15 decorative wall hanging.
As shown in Figures 8 and 9j the expanse of material 11() is applled to a backing layer -
122, eg by means of adhesive. ~he backing layer may be of canvas. The pieces of leather
forming the decorative surround 114 may be attached onto the expanse of material, eg
synthetic leather 11û or the backing layer 122, in any desired positlon.
A decorative device similar to the decorative article depicted in Figures 7 and 8 but of
smaller dimensions (not shown), may be provided and may be applied to a garment, eg a jacket
or T-shirt, or to another article, such as a bag or cushion, to decorate such garment or article.
The decorative article may be so applied by way of stitching, or with the aid of an adhesive.
As set ont above, instead of prin~ing the design 1~2 on an expanse of genuine orsynthetic leather 110, the c~esign 112 may be printed on another material which is
dimensionally unstable, eg directly onto the fabric of a garment or other article. If desired, a
decorative surround may be applied around the design in a manner similar to that explained
~ `
22
with reference to Figures 7 and 8. In other words, a plurali~ of pieces of leather of irregular
shape and size may be applied eg to the garment, by stitching or gluing, in a random
arrangement to surround the printed design.
