GB2148741A

GB2148741A - A process and apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate

Info

Publication number: GB2148741A
Application number: GB08329535A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hong-Bing Huang; Wen-Lang Hsiao
Original assignee: HSIAO WEN LANG
Current assignee: HSIAO WEN LANG
Priority date: 1983-11-04
Filing date: 1983-11-04
Publication date: 1985-06-05
Also published as: GB8329535D0

Abstract

A process and apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate, in particular for forming a wood grain pattern on plywood, are described. Water is supplied to a trough (1) via a pipe (2) having a plurality of spaced- apart outlets (3) so as to produce a flow of water. An elongate receptacle (5) having a plurality of outlets (6) supplies an oil-based paint to the trough. The paint from the receptacle (5) is guided onto the surface of the water (5) by a guide plate (7). Paint striations are produced on the water surface by the water flow. A piece of plywood (9) is immersed vertically into the trough so that a surface thereof facing the water outlets is coated with the paint producing a wood grain pattern. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A process and apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate This invention relates to a process and apparatus for forming patterns on a substrate, in particular, for forming patterns imitating a natural wood grain pattern.

As is well known, the grain pattern of a piece of wood is different for every piece, just like the fingerprint of a human being. But pieces of plywood to be used as veneer have identical patterns produced by printing, which is contrary to the natural style and appearance of wood.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for forming a pattern on a substrate, comprising floating a medium on a body of liquid with which the medium is immiscible and moving the substrate relative to the liquid of the body of liquid so that the medium forms a pattern on a surface of the substrate.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a process for forming a pattern on a substrate, comprising causing at least part of a body of liquid to flow, floating a medium which is immiscible with the liquid on the body of liquid to form separate flowing striations of the medium on the body of liquid and immersing the substrate in the body of liquid to interrupt the striations of the medium so as to form a pattern on a surface of the substate.

The present invention also provides apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate, comprising a trough for containing a body of liquid, means for supplying a medium which is immiscible with the liquid to the trough so that the medium floats on the body of liquid and means for causing movement of liquid of the body of liquid relative to the substrate to form a pattern on a surface of the substrate.

In a further aspect the present invention provides apparatusforforming a pattern on a substrate, comprising a trough for containing a liquid; a liquid inlet pipe having a plurality of spaced apart outlets for supplying liquid to the trough; an elongate receptacle for containing a medium which is immiscible with the liquid, the receptacle having a plurality of outlets; guide means for guiding the medium flowing from the outlets of the receptacle onto the surface of the body of liquid; and means for guiding the substrate into the trough.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view in cross-section of apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown apparatus comprising a working trough 1 for containing water W. The trough 1 is provided at one end with a water inlet pipe 2 disposed transversely of the direction of flow of water emerging from a plurality of openings 3 provided spaced-apart along the pipe 2. For convenience of operation, the pipe 2 is advantageously arranged in the proximity of the top of the trough 1. The pipe 2 at one end is connected to the water supply (not shown) and at the other end is closed. The openings 3 provided along the pipe 2 between the ends thereof are all horizontal and face downstream in the direction of flow of the water as indicated by the arrow A. The opening 3 are all at the same level on the water surface which is indicated by the dot-dash line Sand which is maintained by an overflow weir 4 provided at opposite end of the trough 1.

In order to promote water flow in the trough 1, at least one additional water inlet pipe 2' may be provided beneath and parallel to the pipe 2. The pipe 2' is preferably connected at one end via a header (not shown) to the same water supply as the pipe 2. Therefore the header will provide water in about same quantity at about same pressure to both pipes 2 and 2'. The additional pipe 2' may be adjustably disposed beneath the pipe 2 at a suitable depth and has also a plurality of openings 3' which correspond to the openings 3.

An elongate receptacle or trough 5 having a bottom or base which is funnel-shaped in crosssection for containing an oil based paint P is provided above the trough 1 and extends along the length of the pipe 2.

The bottom of the receptacle 5 has a plurality of outlets 6 for allowing the paint Pto flow down to a guide plate 7 which is inclined downwardly and mounted over the pipe 2 so that the lower edge of the plate 7 is about just over the openings 3 of the pipe 2 in such a way that the paint flowing down along the plate 7 will flow smoothly into water and is thereby carried by the water emerging from the openings 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow.

The oil based paint P has a specific gravity lower that the water and is immiscible therewith so that the paint will float on the water surface S. The distance between adjacent openings 3 of the pipe 2 and the flow rate of the water are designed and controlled to an extent that a great number of separate paint striations P', corresponding to the number of openings 3, is formed as shown in Figure 2. The surface tension of the water surface aids in preventing dispersion of the striations.

As shown in Figure 2, a guide holder 8 is disposed at a certain distance downstream of the pipe 2. The holder 8, in cooperation with notches formed in opposite sides of the trough 1, will guide a sheet of plywood 9 to be decorated with paint stably and vertically into the trough 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow B. The total depth from water surface S to a bottom loofthetrough 1 should be sufficient for the plywood sheet 9 to be completely immersed.

If only one surface of the plywood sheet, that is the front surface facing the pipe 2, is to be decorated with paint, the back surface of the plywood sheet is damped with water in advance to prevent it from being stained with paint. When the plywood sheet 9 is dipped into the trough 1 through the guide holder 8, the front surface of the plywood sheet 9 which has remained in a dry state will interrupt the flow of the paint striations P' which in turn will be absorbed on the front surface. The speed of dipping as well as the flow rate of the paint striations is correspondingly controlled. In this way the sheet of plywood may be decorated with paint in a random manner so as to imitate the natural style and features of a wood grain pattern which is different for each piece or sheet. After contact with the paint striations P', the plywood sheet is steadily immersed further into trough 1 until it is entirely wetted with the water W therein so that when the plywood sheet 9 is withdrawn from the trough 1 after the decoration has been finished, the plywood sheet 9 will not be contaminated by the paint on the surface of the water. The entire dipping or immersion procedure lasts about 2 to 3 seconds.

Subsequently, the decorated plywood sheet 9 is dried in conventional manner, and then, optionally, coated with a layer of lacquer or the like.

Thus, the process described enables a random pattern initiating a real natural wood grain pattern to be achieved and the pattern obtained on each sheet may be different. Moreover, the apparatus used in the process is both simple in arrangement and positive in operation.

Claims

1. A process for forming a pattern on a substrate, comprising floating a medium on a body of liquid with which the medium is immiscible and moving the substrate relative to the liquid of the body of liquid so that the medium forms a pattern on a surface of the substrate.

2. A process for forming a pattern on a substrate, comprising causing at least part of a body of liquid to flow, floating a medium which is immiscible with the liquid on the body of liquid to form flowing paint striations of the medium on the body of liquid and immersing the substrate in the body of liquid to interrupt the paint striations so as to form a pattern on a surface of the substrate.

3. A process according to Claim 2, wherein the patterned substrate is used to form a wood veneer.

4. A process according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein the substrate is formed of plywood.

5. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the substrate is dried after being withdrawn from the body of liquid.

6. A process according to Claim 5, wherein the dried substrate is coated with a layer of lacquer or the like.

7. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein a surface or surfaces of the substrate on which a pattern is not to be formed is/are previously damped by liquid immiscible with the medium.

8. A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the liquid is water and the medium is an oilbased paint.

9. A process substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate, comprising a trough for containing a body of liquid, means for supplying a medium which is immiscible with the liquid to the trough so that the medium floats on the body of liquid and means for causing movement of liquid of the body of liquid relative to the substrate to form a pattern on a surface of the substrate.

11.Apparatusforforming a pattern on a substrate, comprising a trough for containing a liquid; a liquid inlet pipe having a plurality of spaced apart outlets for supplying liquid to the trough; an elongate receptacle for containing a medium which is immiscible with the liquid, the receptacle having a plurality of outlets; guide means for guiding the medium flowing from the outlets of the receptacle onto the surface of the body of liquid, and means for guiding the substrate into the trough.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the inlet pipe is provided at one end of the trough and an overflow weir is provided at the end of the trough opposite to the one end.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 11 or 12, further comprising at least one additional water inlet pipe having a plurality of outlets.

14. Apparatus for forming a pattern on a substrate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

15. A substrate wherever patterned using a method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 9 and/or apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims lOto 14.

16. An article of furniture whenever incorporating a substrate patterned using a method in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 9 and/or apparatus in accordance with any one of Claims 10 to 14.

17. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.