Screen printing method

Abstract

A screen printing method for creating an image on a target support by providing a screen printing machine comprising a supporting structure a matrix mounted on the supporting structure, in which an image is defined, and a supporting surface, the matrix being faced to the supporting surface when the supporting structure is arranged in a lower position; placing the supporting structure in the lower position; applying ink on at least a portion of the matrix to enable the ink to move from the matrix to the supporting surface, such as to reproduce the image on at least a portion of the supporting surface; placing the supporting structure in an upper position; providing a transferring support to transfer the ink from the supporting surface to the target support, applying an adhesive portion of the transferring support to a region of the supporting surface on which the ink is placed; removing the transferring support from the supporting surface; and applying the adhesive portion to the target support, to allow the ink reproducing the image to move from the transferring support to the target support.

Claims

1. A screen printing method for creating an image on a target support, said method comprising the following steps: providing a screen printing machine comprising a supporting structure, which is movable between a lower position and an upper position, a matrix mounted on said supporting structure, in which matrix an image is defined, and a supporting surface, said matrix being faced to said supporting surface when said supporting structure is arranged in said lower position; placing said supporting structure in said lower position; applying ink on at least a portion of said matrix to enable the ink to move from said matrix to said supporting surface, to reproduce said image on at least a portion of said supporting surface; placing said supporting structure in said upper position; providing a transferring support to transfer the ink reproducing said image from said supporting surface to said target support, said transferring support being provided with at least an adhesive portion with an adhesive thereon; applying said at least one adhesive portion of said transferring support to a region of said supporting surface on which the ink is placed; removing said transferring support from said supporting surface; and applying the adhesive portion of said transferring support, which carries the ink reproducing said image, to said target support, to allow the ink reproducing said image to move from said transferring support to said target support, wherein the screen printing method is carried out at room temperature.

2. The screen printing method according to claim 1, characterized in that wherein said matrix comprises a textile.

3. The screen printing method according to claim 1, wherein said transferring support is flexible.

4. The screen printing method according to claim 1, wherein said transferring support is a paper tape.

5. The screen printing method according to claim 1, wherein said supporting surface comprises a paper material.

6. The screen printing method according to claim 1, wherein said supporting surface comprises silicone.

7. The screen printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of degreasing said target support.

8. The screen printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of applying a primer to said target support.

9. The screen printing method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of painting said target support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1 to 11 show respective steps of the screen printing method according to the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 12 shows a portion of the shutter on which the method of screen printing according to present invention is applied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(4) In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers.

(5) Referring to the enclosed figures, reference number 1 indicates a machine for screen printing composed of a base 3 and a tilting wing 4, hinged to said base 3.

(6) The base 3 is composed of a frame 3a formed by square tubes joined with 90.degree. two-way angular brackets, extruded or machined from solid and tightened with screws, and it is provided with a supporting surface 3b on the top of said 3a frame.

(7) The aforementioned supporting plane 3b preferably comprises a paper material, and, still more preferably, a paper material with a content of silicone.

(8) The wing 4 comprises, instead, a frame 6 formed by tubes with a squared cross-section, joined with 90.degree. two-way angular brackets, extruded or machined from solid, and tightened with screws.

(9) Inside the frame 6 a fabric 7 is arranged stretched, in which an upper face 7a and a lower face 7b are defined, and on which an image has been previously formed, such as, for example, an image showing a wood grain pattern, by means of any known technique, so as to form an image matrix (i.e. a matrix).

(10) The fabric 7 is fixed at the bottom of the frame 6 so that, when the wing 4 is arranged in the respective lowered position shown in FIGS. 2-5, wherein said frame 6 contacts the base 3, said fabric 7 is facing directly to the support surface 3b of the base 3.

(11) On the wing 4 and on the base 3, adjusting knobs are providednot shown in the enclosed figureswhich allow, respectively, the adjustment of the position of said fabric 7 and of said supporting plane 3b, in order to achieve the respective necessary alignment for the following printing operations.

(12) The screen printing method according to the present invention provides that, once the wing 4 has been prepared in the lowered position (see FIG. 2), an operator proceeds with the pouring of a screen printing ink on the upper face 7a of the tissue 7 (see FIG. 4), on which an image of a wood grain has been previously reproduced by bromograph impression.

(13) Before pouring the ink, it is possible to eventually apply, on certain areas of the upper face 7a of the fabric 7, a waterproof tape 8, to prevent the passage of ink in those areas (see FIG. 3).

(14) Once a predetermined amount of ink is poured on the fabric 7, it is spread over the entire upper face 7a, for example by a squeegee 9 (see FIG. 5).

(15) In this way, the ink passes through the fabric 7 only in the areas free from the above waterproof tape 8, depositing on the supporting surface 3b of the base 3 in the form of the same wooden grain pattern reproduced in the tissue 7 (see FIG. 6).

(16) On areas of the support surface 3b where the ink is deposited, subsequently, a respective adhesive film 10 is applied, preferably but not limited to a paper tape, provided with an adhesive side 10a, making it adhere to the support surface 3 (see FIG. 7).

(17) In this way, the ink will move from the supporting surface 3b of the screen printing machine 1 to the adhesive film 10.

(18) Once the adhesive film 10 adheres completely to the support surface 3b, the adhesive film 10 is taken manually, detaching it in correspondence of an edge thereof and lifting it up progressively towards the opposite edge (see FIG. 8).

(19) The adhesive film 10 taken in this way will have the wooden grain reproduced, by the ink, on the respective adhesive side 10a (see FIG. 9).

(20) At this point, the method according to the present invention provides that the adhesive film 10 is applied on a support 12, such as a shutter (see FIG. 10) or any other support.

(21) In this regard, it is noted that, according to the present method, the adhesive film 10 can be applied on a support having any shape, linear or variously shaped, and made from any material or combination of materials.

(22) In particular, the application of the adhesive film 10 to the support 12 is performed by adhering the adhesive side 10a to a surface of said support 12 and lifting it, then, manually and progressively from a respective edge towards the opposite edge of the same.

(23) In this way, the wooden grain pattern from the adhesive side 10a of the adhesive film 10 is transferred to the support 12 accurately and without alterations in shape.

(24) The method will proceed by repeating the steps described above to obtain the desired coverage of the support 12, or the desired decoration of the same support 12.

(25) Optionally, the method according to the present invention provides that, before the application of the adhesive film 10 to the support 12, the latter is treated by degreasing, to clean the surfaces to be decorated.

(26) After the degreasing, if necessary, the application of a primer to the support chosen for the implementation of the method can follow and a subsequent painting.

(27) It is noted, also, that all the operating steps of the method described above, object of the present invention, are carried out in room temperature and room pressure conditions.

(28) As mentioned above, it is noted, finally, that due to the provision of an adhesive part in the film 10, it is possible to transfer, through the above described method, any image, drawing or representation from a source support to a target support absolutely reliably, without which that picture, drawing or representation is subjected to deformation in the transition from one support to another.

(29) The adhesive part prevents, in fact, the ink deposited on it to expand, shrink or warp.

(30) The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.