Applique printing process and machine
AssigneeCafePress Inc.
InventorsRobert Marino, Christopher Allen Freeman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating a design that is melded onto an underlying layer of material that is then cut out and applied onto a final surface to produce an appliqué. The design is first created using a printer to print a design onto a top layer of “puff” or other suitable cloth material. The printed design area is cut out of the top layer material and then the bottom layer, to create a two layer appliqué that resembles a traditional stitched appliqué.
Claims20
An automated process for creating a multi-layered printed appliqué resembling a needlework appliqué, comprising:
- printing a design onto a first layer of material;
- attaching the first layer of material to a second layer of material;
- cutting a portion of the first layer of material with a laser cutter without cutting through the second layer of material;
- creating an appearance of stitching on a border of the second layer of material, the border of the second layer of material being outside the first layer of material;
- cutting the second layer of material at an outer portion of the border to form an outer shape for the multi-layered printed appliqué, the multi-layered printed appliqué including the cut second layer of material, the cut first layer of material, the appearance of stitching, and the printed design;
- and
- attaching the multi-layered printed appliqué to a cloth substrate.
A method for creating a multi-layered printed appliqué resembling a needlework appliqué that is to be applied to a cloth substrate, comprising:
- receiving a design designated by a customer;
- by use of computer, printing at least a portion of the design onto a first layer of material;
- attaching the first layer of material to a second layer of material;
- cutting a portion of the first layer of material with a laser cutter without cutting through the second layer of material;
- removing a waste portion of the first layer of material that has been cut from and is located outside of the printed design on the first layer of material;
- creating an appearance of stitching on a border of the second layer of material, the border of the second layer of material being located outside the first layer of material;
- and
- cutting the second layer of material at an outer portion of the border to form the multi-layered printed appliqué.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.