U.S. patent number 3,756,165 [Application Number 05/255,738] was granted by the patent office on 1973-09-04 for method for printing on ceramic tableware.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Interpace Corporation. Invention is credited to Jose Valiela.
United States Patent |
3,756,165 |
Valiela |
September 4, 1973 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
METHOD FOR PRINTING ON CERAMIC TABLEWARE
Abstract
A method for applying oil-based, relatively viscous colorants
one at a time to ceramic tableware by silk-screen printing each of
the colorants in a relatively thick layer onto a total-release
transfer surface (preferably of silicone rubber), allowing at least
1 minute and up to 3 hours for the colorant layer to form a
skinlike film and then causing intimate mechanical contact between
the film and the tableware and thereafter withdrawing quickly the
transfer surface from the film to transfer the colorant film in its
entirety intact to the ware. Successive films of colorant may be
applied to the ware even over previously-applied films of colorant
and without waiting for previously-applied films of colorant to
dry.
Inventors: |
Valiela; Jose (New York,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Interpace Corporation
(Parsippany, NJ)
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Family
ID: |
22969646 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/255,738 |
Filed: |
May 22, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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43044 |
Jun 3, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
101/483; 101/41;
101/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41F
15/0895 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41F
15/08 (20060101); B41f 017/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;101/211,35,41,44,426
;117/123A,123B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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763,572 |
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Dec 1956 |
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GB |
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1,067,448 |
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Oct 1959 |
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DT |
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Primary Examiner: Burr; Edgar S.
Assistant Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE
This application is a continuation in part of my copending
application 43,044 filed June 3, 1970, now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A method for applying an oil-based relatively viscous colorant
to an item of ceramic tableware and comprising steps of:
providing an element with a total-release transfer surface,
silk-screen printing the colorant in a relatively thick layer onto
the transfer surface,
providing for a time delay of from 1 minute to 3 hours for allowing
the colorant layer to dry partially on the transfer surface so as
to form a tacky skinlike film with cohesive integrity exceeding its
bonding adhesion to the transfer surface,
causing intimate mechanical contact between the film and the item
of ceramic tableware and thereafter withdrawing quickly the
transfer surface from the film whereby the film is transferred in
its entirety intact to the item,
firing the item at a temperature high enough to fuse the
colorant.
2. The method according to claim 1 and
the element discrete and portable,
performing the silk-screen printing at a first work station,
performing the intimate mechanical contact at a second work
station, the first and second work stations spaced apart physically
from each other.
3. The method according to claim 2 and
providing a relatively large number of the elements,
providing a plurality of the second work stations.
4. The method according to claim 3 and
providing an elastic membrane as the element, providing for gas
passage through the membrane to improve the mechanical contact.
5. The method according to claim 3 and the total-release surface of
silicone rubber cast on an elastic fabric net.
6. The method according to claim 3 and all of the steps conducted
at room temperature.
7. The method according to claim 3 and the time delay in a range
from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
8. The method according to claim 2 and
providing an elastic membrane as the element,
providing for gas passage through the membrane to improve the
mechanical contact.
9. The method according to claim 2 and the total-release surface of
silicone rubber cast on an elastic fabric net.
10. The method according to claim 2 and all of the steps conducted
at room temperature.
11. The method according to claim 2 and the time delay in a range
from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
12. The method according to claim 1 and
providing an elastic membrane as the element,
providing for gas passage through the membrane to improve the
mechanical contact.
13. The method according to claim 1 and the total-release surface
of silicone rubber cast on an elastic fabric net.
14. The method according to claim 2 and all of the steps conducted
at room temperature.
15. The method according to claim 1 and the time delay in a range
from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
16. A method for applying a first and a second oil-based relatively
viscous colorant to an item of ceramic tableware and comprising
steps of:
providing a first element with a first total-release transfer
surface,
silk-screen printing the first colorant in a relatively thick layer
onto the first transfer surface,
providing for a time delay of from 1 minute to 3 hours for allowing
the first colorant layer to dry partially on the first transfer
surface so as to form a tacky skinlike first film with cohesive
integrity exceeding its bonding adhesion to the transfer
surface,
causing intimate mechanical contact between the first film and the
item of ceramic tableware and thereafter withdrawing quickly the
first transfer surface from the first film whereby the first film
is transferred in its entirety intact to the item,
providing a second element with a second total-release transfer
surface,
silk-screen printing the second colorant in a relatively thick
layer onto the second transfer surface,
providing for a time delay of from 1 minute to 3 hours for allowing
the second colorant layer to dry partially on the second transfer
surface so as to form a tacky skinlike second film with cohesive
integrity exceeding its bonding adhesion to the second transfer
surface, causing intimate mechanical contact between the second
film and the item of ceramic tableware and thereafter withdrawing
quickly the second transfer surface from the second film whereby
the second film is transferred in its entirety intact to the
item,
firing the item at a temperature high enough to fuse the
colorants.
17. The method according to claim 16 and the second film at least
partially overlaying the first film on the item of ceramic
tableware.
18. The method according to claim 17 and in which the total number
of the elements is in excess of two and is equal to a total number
of colorants to be applied to the item and in which each successive
of the colorants is transferred to the item without waiting for
previously transferred colorant on the item to dry.
19. The method according to claim 18 and
providing elastic membranes as the elements,
providing for gas passage through each of the elastic membranes to
improve the mechanical contact.
20. The method according to claim 18 and said total-release
surfaces of silicone rubber cast on an elastic fabric net.
21. The method according to claim 18 and all of the steps conducted
at room temperature.
22. The method according to claim 18 and the time delay in a range
from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
23. The method according to claim 17 and
providing elastic membranes as the elements, providing for gas
passage through each of the elastic membranes to improve the
mechanical contact.
24. The method according to claim 17 and the total-release surfaces
of silicone rubber cast on an elastic fabric net.
25. The method according to claim 17 and all of the steps conducted
at room temperature.
26. The method according to claim 17 and the time delay in a range
from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
27. The method according to claim 16 and in which the total number
of the elements is in excess of two and is equal to a total number
of colorants to be applied to the item and in which each successive
of the colorants is transferred to the item without waiting for
previously transferred colorant on the item to dry.
28. The method according to claim 27 and
providing elastic membranes as the elements,
providing for gas passage through each of the elastic membranes to
improve the mechanical contact.
29. The method according to claim 27 and the total-release surfaces
of silicone rubber cast on an elastic fabric net.
30. The method according to claim 27 and all of the steps conducted
at room temperature.
31. The method according to claim 27 and the time delay in a range
from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
32. The method according to claim 16 and
providing elastic membranes as the elements, providing for gas
passage through each of the membranes to improve the mechanical
contact.
33. The method according to claim 16 and the total-release surfaces
of silicone rubber cast on an elastic fabric net.
34. The method according to claim 16 and all of the steps conducted
at room temperature.
35. The method according to claim 16 and the time delay in a range
from 5 minutes to 3 hours.
Description
THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in
decoration of ceramic tableware and seeks particularly to provide a
novel method for transfer printing onto such ware.
It is well known that ceramic tableware may be decorated by hand
painting, rubber stamping, stencilling, paper transfers,
lithographic decals, silk screen decals, under glaze and over glaze
decoration as well as direct and indirect silk-screen printing.
The present invention relates to a combined silk-screen and
transfer printing technique in which one or more colorants
organized in a decorative design is first silk-screen printed onto
a total-release transfer surface (as defined herein), such as
silicone rubber which initially will accept the colorant by
silk-screen printing thereon, but will tend thereafter to repel the
colorant therefrom. The colorant is then transferred to the ceramic
tableware by mechanical impression. Due to the fact that the
colorant has a much greater affinity for the tableware than it has
for the total-release transfer surface, it is possible to apply
sequentially successive colorants to complete an overall design
without having to wait for any previously applied colorants to dry.
Colorants may be applied directly over previously applied colorants
which are still wet, thereby producing blends of colorants.
Furthermore, by controlling properly formulation of the colorants,
their drying can be regulated so as to accommodate use of the
silk-screen printed total-release transfer elements after 1 minute
or to accommodate preparation of a multiplicity of total-release
transfer elements hours in advance without danger of their
completely drying prematurely.
Two types of total-release ink-transfer elements are contemplated;
1. a pad onto which generally cylindriform articles of ware, such
as cups and vases to which the decorations are to be applied
externally, are rolled and 2. an elastic membrane that is expanded
into contact with rims or cavity portions of plates, saucers or the
like. Screen life is substantially increased because the colorant
is silk-screen printed onto a smooth silicone rubber transfer
surface, rather than onto more abrasive surfaces of the tableware.
Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a novel method
for applying decorative colorants to ceramic tableware; such as
over glaze, under glaze, earthenware or glass, but preferably under
glaze; by silk-screen printing the colorant on a total-release
transfer surface, allowing it at least 1 minute to form a skinlike
film thereon and then causing intimate mechanical contact between
that total-release transfer surface and the article of tableware to
be decorated so as to transfer the colorant thereto.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method of the
character stated in which the total-release transfer surfaces are
silicone rubber or like elements.
A further object of this invention is to provide an elastic
membrane ink-transfer element of the character stated which
comprises a flat metal or plastic base ring having a normally
relaxed elastic net secured to one face and covering the central
opening and a flat ring of silicone rubber cast onto the exposed
face of the elastic net within the area of the central opening of
the base ring and coaxial therewith.
A further object of this invention is to provide an elastic
membrane ink-transfer element of the character stated which can
print continuous bands on deeply curved dishes without any need for
overlap-avoiding techniques. Such overlap-avoiding techniques
require skilled craftsmen and consume considerable time.
A further object of this invention is to provide a pad type
ink-transfer element of the character stated which comprises a
resilient pad having a silicone rubber or like surface.
A further object of this invention is to provide cool inks that are
particularly useful in this new method of printing and transfer
decorating of ceramic tableware.
A further object of this invention is to control drying of the inks
so that ink-transfer elements may be prepared for use as soon as 1
minute after printing or for use up to several hours after
printing.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method of the
character stated in which a succeeding ink film may be applied to
the tableware without having to wait for a preceding ink film to
dry, thus markedly speeding the overall rate of decoration.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method of the
character stated in which a succeeding ink film may be applied
directly over a preceding ink, film thereby producing a blend of
the preceding and succeeding inks.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method of the
character stated in which the tableware may accept glazing and
firing while ink film thereon are still wet.
A further object of this invention is to improve efficiency in
decorating ceramics as well as to improve quality of ceramic
decoration.
With these and other objects in view, the invention will be
understood more fully by reference to the drawings, the
accompanying detailed description and the appended claims.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an elastic membrane ink-transfer
element having open net portions and constructed in accordance with
this invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of an elastic
membrane ink-transfer element having slit openings and also
constructed in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 3 is a transverse section of a pressing station showing the
ink-transfer element of FIG. 1 in position relative to an
inflatable annular balloon in preparation for transfer of the
silk-screen printed ink film to a dish;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but with the annular balloon
inflated to effect transfer of the ink film to the dish;
FIG. 5 is a transverse section of a pressing station showing the
ink film-transfer element of FIG. 2 in position relative to an
inflatable full diaphragm balloon in preparation for transfer of
screen printed ink to a dish;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the full diaphragm
balloon inflated to effect transfer of the ink film to the
dish;
FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a pad ink-transfer element in
accordance with this invention with a cup thereon;
FIG. 8 is an end view of FIG. 7.
Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen from FIG. 1
that an elastic membrane ink-transfer element A includes rigid flat
base ring 5 that may be formed from any suitable metal or plastic
and has central opening 6 of a diameter compatible with that of the
ceramic piece of tableware to be decorated. A fine mesh net 7,
formed from an elastomeric material such as elastic fabric (for
example, latex rubber), spans opening 6 and has its peripheral edge
portions secured adhesively to one face of base ring 5. A flat ring
8 of a suitable silicone rubber or the like, such as "Silastic A
RTV" (a trademark), commercially available from Dow Corning
Corporation, provides a total-release transfer surface and is
secured to net 7 by being molded thereon or by a silicone contact
adhesive, such as "SR-516" (a trademark) commercially available
from General Electric Silicone Products, which bonds ring 8 to net
7 sufficiently to permit multiple transfer operations, yet to
permit ready stripping of ring 8 therefrom when the necessity for
replacement ultimately arises. As used herein a "total-release
transfer surface" is one such as silicone rubber and others of
those covered in U.S. Pat. 3,255,695 to Mr. C.R. Johnson et al.,
which will accept the colorant by silk-screen printing thereon but
will tend thereafter to repel the colorant therefrom. It should be
noted that there are many elastic fabrics from which net 7 can be
made. Elastic synthetic materials which stretch in all directions
are preferred, but a net 7 made of any material capable of
stretching in the desired manner and of relaxing back to the same
position in base ring 5 and capable of accommodating openings
sufficient to allow passage of air therethrough can serve as net 7.
Construction of flat ring 8 of a suitable silicone rubber or the
like secured to net 7 is here regarded to be expedient. However, it
should be understood that it is also contemplated that ring 8 and
net 7 may be integral and of a single material. For example, net 7
and flat ring 8 could be made of a single material which is
perforated or slitted in areas to which ink is not to be
applied.
In order to disclose further the nature of this invention, first it
will be assumed by way of example, that the cavity border of an
unglazed ceramic dish is to be decorated with a ring of circle.
Shaped figures 9a and 9b in two separate inks alternately arranged
around the periphery of the dish. In this case two silk screens are
prepared, one for each of the two inks to be applied, and one ink
9a will be squeegee applied to positions on silicone rubber ring 8
of a first elastic membrane ink-transfer element A; and a second
ink 9b will be applied to the silicone rubber ring of a second
elastic membrane ink-transfer element A in proper rotationally
offset relation to the positions of the first ink 9a. The elastic
membrane ink-transfer elements are provided with notches 10 to
index their rotational offset relationship.
At this stage an article to be decorated such as dish 11 is secured
in a station of any known ceramic printing machine that is modified
in accordance with this invention (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) to include
an air-inflated vacuum-deflated annular balloon 12 having a central
opening 13 corresponding to the central cavity of dish 11 and an
external surface adapted generally to be congruent with the
silicone rubber ring 8. For most effective transfer contact of the
total-release transfer surface with the ware should be practically
instantaneous, say for from 0.1 to 0.5 seconds and the
total-release transfer surface should be removed quickly from
contact with the ink film. Other means for contacting ink-transfer
elements to the ceramic article are also feasible.
The first ink-transfer element A is interposed and held securely
between balloon 12 and dish 11 as shown in FIG. 3 after which
balloon 12 is inflated quickly by air to the position indicated in
FIG. 4 which displaces net 7 and silicone rubber ring 8 so that ink
film 9a is brought into contact with the adjacent surface of dish
11. Air within the central cavity of dish 11 readily passes through
the openings of elastic net 7 and central opening 13 of the balloon
as the balloon inflates, thus avoiding any air pocket adjacent the
printed surface of dish 11 and permitting a total clean impression
transfer of ink film 9a intact thereto. Because a total release of
the ink film from the transfer surface of silicone rubber or the
like ring 8 is desired, it has been found preferable to inflate
balloon 12 via conduits 14 with air under sufficient pressure to
create a firm impression of the ink and then to deflate the balloon
by vacuum via conduits 14 in order to permit elastic net 7 quickly
to relax to its normal planar configuration and thus quickly
withdraw the total-release transfer surface of silicone rubber or
the like ring 8 away from ink film 9a therefor.
Now, dish 11 is retained in position while the second ink-transfer
element A is brought into and is held in the station so that an ink
film on its total-release transfer surface similarly may be
transferred to the dish, thus completing the shown design.
Using an analogous printing method, a light ink film 16a can be
overprinted with a dark ink film 16b as shown in FIG. 1. Also as
shown in FIG. 1, ink film 15a and 15b can be overprinted to produce
color areas 15a, 15b and 15c. For example, ink film 15a could be
yellow and ink film 15b blue so that color area 15a would be
yellow, 15b blue and 15c green.
FIGS. 5 and 6 depict the station of the known ceramic printing
machine of FIGS. 3 and 4 and further adapted for use with an
ink-transfer element such as that shown as B in FIG. 2. The
ink-transfer element of FIG. 2 includes rigid flat base ring 5 with
central opening 6 of a diameter compatible with that of the ceramic
piece to be decorated. A fine mesh net 7 formed from elastomeric
material has its peripheral edge portions secured adhesively to one
face of base ring 5. A flat disk 8 of silicone rubber or the like
is secured to net 7 to provide a total-release transfer surface
which has slits 17 in areas which ink film design 24 does not
cover. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, full diaphragm balloon 18 is used
with ink-transfer element B and the station of the ceramic printing
machine is further provided with plug 19 to seal balloon 18.
Ink-transfer element B is held firmly between balloon 18 and dish
11 as shown in FIG. 5 after which balloon 18 is inflated quickly by
air entering via conduits 14 so that ink design 24 is brought into
contact with the adjacent surface of dish 11 as shown in FIG. 6.
Air is then exhausted quickly from balloon 18 via conduits 14
quickly to withdraw elastic net 7 and ring 8.
When the exterior of an article of tableware generally of
cylindrical form is to be decorated, a pad type of ink-transfer
element C (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is used, because an ink film is
transferred by rolling contact between pad C and the ware. Pad C
comprises a rigid plastic or metal base 20 having layer 21 of
sponge rubber cemented to one surface and sheet 22 of silicone
rubber or the like cemented to the exposed face of the sponge
rubber. Design elements 23 of ink are silk screen printed onto
silicone rubber 22 for subsequent transfer as a film to the ware to
be decorated. Here again, the required number of pads are printed
in advance and the ink film are applied successively to the ware
without waiting for a previously-applied ink film to dry.
It will be understood further that inks (or other colorants) used
with this method and apparatus must be of a special nature because
1. they cannot contain any solvent that would attach or react with
the silicone rubber or the like total-release surface; 2. they must
have sufficient adhesive affinity for silicone rubber that they
will remain in place when initially printed thereon; 3. they must
have a sufficiently greater adhesive affinity for the ware to be
decorated that they will not delaminate therefrom by contact with
the bare areas of the silicone rubber of successively employed
ink-transfer elements used to complete the design without waiting
for any previously-applied ink film to dry; 4. they must be
deposited as a thick layer on the ware; 5. they must strip cleanly
from the silicone rubber or the like without leaving a mark thereon
when the transfer step takes place; and 6. they must have a
suitable viscosity to make a clear and well-defined print. This
latter requirement will also vary with the mesh of the silk screen
used. For example, a 380 mesh nylon screen will require a lower
viscosity ink than will a 160 mesh screen.
The following are typical examples of ink formulae that are useful
in the practice of this invention:
EXAMPLE I
grams Under glaze color black 1,000 Dehydrated castor oil 250 Pine
oil 25 Balsam of Copaiba 20 Butyl lactate 10 Olive oil 10
EXAMPLE II
Under glaze color black 1,000 Boiled linseed oil 250 Pine oil 30
Olive oil 20 Butyl lactate 10
These inks are applied cool, that is at room temperature, and do
not require elevated temperatures or close temperature control for
proper application. As mentioned before, the inks may be so
formulated in each case that they may be silk-screen printed onto
the ink-transfer elements well in advance of the actual transfer
printing operation without affecting either the total-release
characteristic of silicone rubber, or the property to transfer
readily to the ceramic surface to be decorated or without premature
drying to the degree that they are no longer useful. The
constituents of these inks may be varied to accommodate scheduling
of printing and transferring. Scheduling may be rapid as from 1
minute to 10 minutes after printing or delayed 2 or 3 hours.
Volatile constituents are increased for rapid printing after
transfer and these volatile constituents are reduced for delayed
printing after transfer. Accordingly the pine oil and butyl lactate
constituents are reduced to avoid drying. The 30 grams of pine oil
suggested in Example II would be reduced to 5 grams and the 10
grams of butyl lactate would be reduced to 2 grams for a longer
waiting period; but when these constituents are so reduced,
transferring cannot be effected before 5 minutes after printing.
Accordingly the volatile constituents control duration after
printing during which inks may be transferred from the
total-release transfer surfaces.
The pine oil and butyl lactate of the preceding formulae may be
substituted for by acrylic resins dissolved in varnish. These
acrylic resins are very useful in ceramic decoration because as a
medium or vehicle of the color they do not show defects in glazes
or carbon residue in finished products. If used in the preceding
formulae, acrylic resins must be added in the same proportion as
the pine oil and butyl lactate (and no more) together with the
other oils and pigments.
After application of the colorant to the tableware, the ware may
have a glaze applied to it and thereafter the ware is fired. Under
glaze decorated ware is fired at from 2,000.degree. F. to
2,050.degree. F. for vitreous hotel ware and porcelain and from
1,850.degree. F. to 1,900.degree. F. for domestic nonvitreous ware.
Over glaze decorated ware is fired at from 1,375.degree. F. to
1,400.degree. F. for precious metals and from 1,425.degree. F. to
1,475.degree. F. for ordinary over glaze colors. For hard over
glaze colors a firing temperature of 1,550.degree. F. is usually
employed. Generally speaking the practical range for firing of
tableware is from 1,200.degree. F. to 2,200.degree. F.
It is of course to be understood that variations in arrangements
and proportions of parts and ingredients of this disclosure may be
made within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *