Patent GB-1456148-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus of decorating a surface of an article
IPC: C04B41/86
Filed: 1974-06-04
Abstract: 1456148 Decorating by moulding INTERPACE CORP 4 June 1974 [19 Oct 1973] 24745/74 Heading B5A [Also in Divisions C1 and B2] In a method for decorating a ceramic article with a selected design, pattern-defining means having pattern-defining resilient non-porous edge margins and opening into a mould chamber are engaged with the article so that the edge margins are sealed against its surface, then a flowable colorant composition is caused to flow into the mould chamber and thence on to the areas of the article surface exposed within the said edge margins, after which excess composition is removed from the areas and the patterndefining means is separated from the article surface. The cylindrical body portion 52 of a mould member 24 is provided with cavities or chambers 60 and 61 defined by pattern-defining resilient walls 66 and 67 joined together at their outer ends by webs 69 to define a plurality of openings 70 corresponding to the desired pattern. Each mould cavity is supplied with a flowable colorant composition from a container 75. The article to be decorated, in this case a dinner plate 56, is initially engaged in an annular flange 86 extending radially outward from body portion 52, slightly spaced from the mould surface 54, and positioned by an upturned annular rib 87 of the flange 86, as shown in Fig. 7. The flange 86 is resiliently supported on a ring 89 of resilient foamed or cellular material. A ram (not shown) having a resilient member 46 positioned to engage with the article is then forced down upon the back face of the article so that the annular flange 86 is depressed by yielding of the resilient ring 89, and the article surface 55 to be decorated is brought into sealing engagement with the edge faces of the resilient walls 66 and 67. The entire assembly is then rotated through 180 degrees as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, so that the colorant composition in the inverted mould chambers 60 and 61 flows on to the areas of the article surface defined by the walls 66 and 67 and the interconnecting webs 69. After sufficient time has elapsed to ensure thorough coating or impregnation of the areas, the assembly is again rotated through 180 degrees, whereupon the excess composition drains from the article surface into the cavities 61, 62 and thence into the container 75. The ram is then retracted, and the flange 86 is lifted by the spring action of the resilient member 89 to part the article from the mould surface, after which it is manually removed from the apparatus. A typical decorative pattern thus formed is shown in Fig. 13. In alternative embodiments, the flowable colorant composition may be introduced into the mould chamber and thence on to the surface areas to be decorated, and subsequently removed therefrom by suitable pumping and suction means rather than by inversion of the assembly; also the colorant may be sprayed or otherwise propelled upwardly against a downward facing surface of the article, within areas defined by the pattern-defining walls of the mould chamber and then any excess composition is allowed to drain back into the mould cavities. A plurality of differently coloured compositions may be simultaneously applied in the method, each colour being introduced into discrete separated cavities in the mould chamber. The ceramic article may be a fired ceramic body or unfired green ceramic ware and may have a glazed surfface or unglazed porous or non-porous surface. Typical articles are dinnerware and ceramic tiles. Alternatively the composition may be applied upon the surface of a plaster mould such as a jigger mould, a slip-casting mould or a pressing mould, which is then removed from the apparatus and subsequently used for casting of a piece of green ware so that the surface of the green ware as it is being cast on the mould will include the colorant material in its surface as a decorative inlay. The colorant composition may be a conventional slip, a coloured engobe or a glaze, or a suitable paint, ink, or stain, or a slurry of a granular material such as ceramic or plastics material. The applied composition may be subsequently fired, or fully or partially moulded on the surface of the ceramic article, if desired, to cause differently coloured areas to partially flow together and coalesce. The decorated article may subsequently be given a covering coating of glazing material or another transparent coating.