Process and apparatus for automatic finishing of flexible materials, and

Abstract

A continuous finishing process for flexible materials using a continuous printing machine of the thousand dot type. A small controlled amount of a finishing product, comprising 90 to 100% of photopolymerizable active material, is deposited at a rate of 5 to 35 g/m.sup.2 per pass in the printing machine. The finishing product is then photopolymerized, and a satining or graining operation is performed. The above stages are repeated until the desired finish is obtained. The finishing product is photopolymerizable under ultraviolet radiation and comprises unsaturated prepolymers, liquid monomers, and photoinitiators. The apparatus comprises at least one module comprising a continuous printing machine, an ultraviolet radiation oven, and a satining or graining machine, these various machines being placed so as to achieve a continuous conveying of pieces to be treated from one machine to the other.