Conditioned slide surface for carpet printer

Claim 1

In an apparatus for providing a printed pattern on a carpet material containing a foam backing wherein the bottom surface of the foam contains a plurality of open cells of less than 1/64 inch in diameter, a carpet printer which contains a plurality of transfer means engaging the backing of the carpet and moving the carpet, between the plurality of transfer means there is a plurality of relatively flat stationary support means contacting the surface of the backing containing the open-cell surface, and said carpet being wetted so that it contains some moisture, said printing operation being carried out in such a manner that pressure is applied to the carpet to partially compress the cell structure and to press it against the relatively flat stationary support surface, the improvement comprising: providing the relatively flat imperforated metal-like stationary support surface of the printer with an uneven embossed configuration wherein the uneven configuration is less than 0.040 inch between the highest point of the uneven configuration and the lowest point of the uneven configuration and the spacing between points on adjacent high areas is less than 1/4 inch, whereby the uneven configuration will prevent a suction cup effect for the foam backing to the relatively flat stationary surface and permit the carpet to be moved by the transfer means without any relative movement between the transfer means and the carpet backing.