Patent Application
20140020189
The present invention relates to direct-to-garment printing operations, and more particularly to applying a pre-treatment solution to a garment before a printing operation.
Direct-to-garment printing is a popular technique for providing garments with graphics, designs, and other decoration. In a typical direct-to-garment printing operation, a printing system is used to dispense inks directly onto a garment. Pre-treatment solutions have been developed that improve the visual appearance of the decoration provided by the printing operation. In particular, pre-treatment solutions can be applied to a garment before the printing operation, and then the ink is applied onto the garment having the pre-treatment solution during a printing operation.
Devices have been used for applying pre-treatment solution onto garments. In a known example, a high-pressure dispensing system is used to apply pre-treatment solution under high pressure to a garment. Under these high pressures, the pre-treatment solution is atomized and is directed by the dispensing system at the garment. There are drawbacks with such an approach, however. First, known dispensing systems tend to apply the pre-treatment solution to a much larger portion of the garment than is required. As an extreme example, some known dispensing systems applied pre-treatment solution to an entire garment. Second, known dispensing systems also dispense the pre-treatment solution in a gross manner so that some of the pre-treatment solution that is directed at a garment is actually oversprayed and misses the garment. Third, known dispensing systems tend to impart so much energy to the pre-treatment solution that the pre-treatment solution hits the garment at a high speed, causing some of the pre-treatment solution to bounce off the garment. Thus, known dispensing systems have problems that tend to waste pre-treatment solution.
Moreover, pre-treatment solutions can be corrosive and tacky, and because of the problems with pre-treatment solution being oversprayed and bouncing off a garment, prior dispensing systems often included enclosure devices within which pre-treatment operations were performed. Some of these known dispensing systems used catch trays to collect pre-treatment solution that would otherwise be wasted (by overspray or bouncing off a garment, for example), but such efforts yielded only mediocre results and did nothing to address the mess created and damage caused by the corrosive and tacky pre-treatment solution.
Further still, known dispensing systems use mechanical components, such as pumps and valves, which come into direct contact with the pre-treatment solution. The corrosive and tacky nature of pre-treatment solutions, however, required that the mechanical components be cleaned and maintained on a relatively frequent basis.
Thus, improvements are needed relating to systems for applying a pre-treatment solution to garments.
According to an embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for treating a garment with a pre-treatment solution before the garment undergoes a direct-to-garment printing operation. The system includes a fluid application assembly configured to dispense pre-treatment solution onto pre-determined target areas of the garment. The system further includes a fluid supply and delivery assembly coupled with the fluid application assembly and configured to provide a supply of pre-treatment solution to the fluid application assembly for dispensing onto the garment at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 30 psig. The system further includes a garment movement assembly configured to move the garment with respect to the fluid application assembly so that the target areas of the garment can receive the pre-treatment solution.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method for treating a garment includes moving a pre-treatment solution in a fluid supply and delivery assembly toward a fluid application assembly at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 30 psig, and dispensing the pre-treatment solution from the fluid application assembly onto pre-determined target areas of the garment.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a cleaning assembly is provided for cleaning a nozzle tip having a dispensing opening. The cleaning assembly includes a housing having a socket configured for receiving the nozzle tip, a reservoir configured for holding a volume of cleaning solution, and a cleaning solution conduit system. The cleaning assembly further includes a pump configured for moving the cleaning solution in the cleaning solution conduit system from the reservoir to the socket, through the opening in the nozzle tip in the socket to clean the nozzle tip, and from the socket back to the reservoir.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for cleaning a nozzle tip having an opening. The method includes operating a pump to move cleaning solution in a cleaning solution conduit system from a reservoir toward the nozzle tip. The method further includes moving the cleaning solution through the opening in the nozzle tip, and moving the cleaning solution from the nozzle tip back into the cleaning solution conduit system. The method further includes moving the cleaning solution from the cleaning solution conduit system back into the reservoir.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of embodiments of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the embodiments of the invention.
Referring to the figures, an exemplary system for treating a garment with a pre-treatment solution is shown and is generally indicated by the numeral 10. As will be apparent from the following discussion, the system 10 treats a garment with pre-treatment solution in a pre-treatment operation before the garment undergoes a printing operation.
As shown in
The system 10 also generally includes a fluid supply and delivery assembly 14. The fluid supply and delivery assembly 14 is configured to provide a supply of pre-treatment solution to the fluid application assembly 12, to which it is operatively coupled. In particular, the fluid supply and delivery assembly 14 is configured to provide a supply of pre-treatment solution at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 30 psig. According to another embodiment, the fluid supply and delivery assembly 14 is configured to provide a supply of pre-treatment solution at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 20 psig. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that variations in the stated pressures may occur during normal operation of a system for treating a garment with a pre-treatment solution, such as the system 10, and which may be due to variations in pre-treatment solution supply pressure, variations in nozzles, or other variables.
Pre-treatment solution is not atomized at the pressures disclosed herein, and the application of pre-treatment solution to a garment can be better controlled than prior art devices that used higher pressures or atomized sprays. Dispensing pre-treatment solution at higher pressures causes the pre-treatment solution to bounce off the garment, thereby leading to an inefficient application of the pre-treatment solution and to waste, which typically spilled over into the environment near the garment. Advantageously, the system 10 avoids the drawbacks associated with high pressure applications. And because of the advantageous operation of the system 10, an enclosure is not required, and the system 10 can provide an open design that permits a user to readily observe a pretreatment operation as it happens.
The system 10 also includes a garment movement assembly 16 that is configured to move a garment with respect to the fluid application assembly 12 so that the target areas of the garment can receive the pre-treatment solution. Particular features of the fluid application assembly 12, the fluid supply and delivery assembly 14, and the garment movement assembly 16 are described in further detail below.
The system 10 includes a base portion 20 and an upper portion 22. Columns 24a, 24b support the upper portion 22 above, and spaced from, the base portion 20. The upper portion 22 includes a housing 26 having pivotable doors 28a, 28b.
The garment movement assembly 16 generally includes a platen 30 and a platen trolley 32, which together are moved by a transport assembly 34. The platen 30 is configured to carry or support a garment while it is being treated in the system 10. As shown in
Referring next to
A second nozzle bracket 50 is moveably coupled with the first nozzle bracket 44 and the nozzle 40 is supported by the second nozzle bracket 50. In particular, the second nozzle bracket 50 is coupled with a transport assembly 52 for moving the second nozzle bracket 50 in the vertical direction with respect to the first nozzle bracket 44, which is not generally moveable in the vertical direction. In the embodiment shown, the transport assembly 52 is a servomotor 54 coupled with the second nozzle bracket 50 and has an actuator arm 56, as shown in
Advantageously, the nozzle 40 can include a nozzle tip, or other dispensing device, that is specially designed for applications in the about 5 to about 30 psig range. Such nozzle tips are generally available in the marketplace.
As discussed above, the platen 30 supports a garment while it is being treated in the system 10. Referring next to
The platen 30 also includes one or more alignment features that are configured to cooperate with a corresponding alignment feature on the platen trolley 32. In the embodiment shown, the platen 30 includes generally spherically-shaped alignment features 70 on the base 60 that are received in alignment sockets 72 on the platen trolley 32. It will be appreciated that the particular configuration of spherically-shaped alignment features and sockets is exemplary, and that other configurations are possible, such as where the platen 30 has the alignment sockets and the platen trolley 32 has the spherically-shaped alignment features. Other shapes and configurations of alignment features are also possible.
As shown in
The system 10 controls the transport assembly 34, the transport assembly 46, and the transport assembly 52 to position the dispensing nozzle 40 at appropriate positions relative to a garment on the platen 30. In particular, the transport assembly 34 moves the platen 30 so the garment is generally beneath the dispensing nozzle 40 (Y-axis direction), and the transport assembly 46 moves the nozzle 40 back and forth over regions of the garment on the platen 30 (X-axis direction). The transport assembly 52 moves the nozzle 40 toward or away from the garment on the platen 30 (Z-axis direction), such as to accommodate garments having different thicknesses or to adjust the characteristics of the spray pattern emanating from the nozzle 40. The system 10 also controls the dispensing nozzle 40 to selectively dispense pre-treatment solution therefrom when the dispensing nozzle 40 is at appropriate positions relative to a garment on the platen 30. For example, the fluid application assembly 12 can include a solenoid valve 41 for controlling the flow of pre-treatment solution out of the nozzle 40, as shown in
The platen 30 being removable from the platen trolley 32 of the system 10 provides several advantages. First, after a garment has received a pre-treatment operation from the system 10, the platen 30 holding the garment can be quickly removed from the trolley 32, and it is not necessary to remove the garment from the platen 30. Another platen 30 having another garment can then be placed onto the trolley 32, and the system 10 can be used for another pre-treatment operation. This cycle can be repeated. Throughput of garments receiving a pre-treatment operation from the system 10 is thereby improved, as time is not spent placing and removing garments on a garment carrier for each pre-treatment operation.
Because garments are often dried after receiving a pre-treatment operation, the platen 30 is easily moved away from the system 10 for drying. For example, one or more platens 30 could be moved to a drying location to allow the pre-treatment solution to dry under passive conditions. The platens 30 could be placed on a drying rack, for example. In addition, one or more platens 30 could be put into a drying device, such as a drying press, to dry the pre-treatment solution on the garments. Because the platens 30 include alignment features (such as spherically-shaped alignment features 70), a rack or a drying device could optionally include corresponding alignment features.
Moreover, garments undergo a pre-treatment operation in order to receive ink from a printer in a direct-to-garment printing operation. Platens 30 provide a convenient and efficient option for use in the printing operation, as well. Since the garments may already be on the platens 30 after the pre-treatment operation in the system 10, the platens 30 can be used with a printing system for performing the printing operation. Thereby, it is not necessary to remove the garment from a garment carrier used for the pre-treatment operation and then install the garment on another garment carrier used for the printing operation. And because the platens 30 include alignment features (such as spherically-shaped alignment features 70), a printing system could optionally include corresponding alignment features. For example, a printing system could include a device that has sockets like the platen trolley 32, and that device could be used to move the garment on the platen 30 through the printing system. Thereby, the garment could receive a pre-treatment operation in the system 10 and then receive a printing operation from a printing system without being removed from the platen 30. Thus, a garment could remain on the same platen 30 for a sequence of operations that includes: (1) a pre-treatment operation in the system 10, (2) drying on a rack or in a drying device, and (3) a printing operation in a printer.
And while drying a pre-treatment solution before a printing operation may be employed, the drying step is not absolutely required, and under some circumstances a garment could remain on the same platen 30 for a sequence of operations that includes: (1) a pre-treatment operation in the system 10, and (2) a printing operation in a printer.
In addition, a garment could receive a pre-treatment operation in the system 10 on the platen 30 and then be removed from the platen 30 for drying. After drying, the garment could be reinstalled on the platen 30 (or another similarly shaped platen 30) in the same basic alignment as when the garment received the pre-treatment operation. Once reinstalled on a platen 30, the garment could receive a printing operation from a printing system.
Advantageously, by using a single platen for both pre-treatment and printing operations, the alignment of the garment relative to the platen is maintained. This can allow the system 10 to apply the pre-treatment solution to target areas of a garment that will subsequently be printed on by a printing system. In particular, the system 10 can be configured to communicate with a printing system and to receive from the printing system information about the areas of the garment that will be printed on during a printing operation. Only those areas of the garment that will be printed on require the pre-treatment solution. The system 10 can then determine which areas of the garment should receive pre-treatment solution, and then dispense the pre-treatment solution accordingly. Advantageously, the system 10 may be used to apply pre-treatment solution to selected areas of the garment sufficient to cover the areas that will be printed on during the printing operation. By only applying pre-treatment solution to the areas of the garment where pre-treatment solution is required, the amount of pre-treatment solution used per garment can be minimized. This can present savings in terms of resources used and the amount of time that a pre-treatment operation takes. The system 10 thereby provides improvements over prior art devices that dispensed pre-treatment solution over a larger area of the garment than was necessary.
As discussed above, the fluid supply and delivery assembly 14 provides a supply of pre-treatment solution to the fluid application assembly 12, and in particular to the nozzle 40. Generally, and referring to
Advantageously, much of the fluid conduit system 82, and the fluid pump 84, can be concealed within the base portion 22 and the columns 24a, 24b, thereby contributing to an uncluttered and organized appearance for the system 10. For example,
Also in the embodiment shown, the fluid supply and delivery assembly 14 includes a fluid reservoir 90 between the fluid supply 80 and the fluid application assembly 12. The fluid reservoir 90 is in the form of an upstanding or vertical column positioned between the base portion 20 and the upper portion 22, as shown in
An additional fluid pump 92 is provided for moving pre-treatment solution from the fluid reservoir 90 toward the fluid application assembly 12. In the embodiment shown, the fluid pump 92 is an air-over-fluid style pump, which uses air pressure to act on and move pre-treatment solution from the fluid reservoir 90 toward the fluid application assembly 12. Referring again to
A valve 104 may optionally be positioned in the fluid conduit system 82 between the fluid supply 80 and the fluid application assembly 12, including the nozzle 40, as shown. In particular, the valve 104 may be positioned between the fluid reservoir 90 and the fluid application assembly 12.
In addition, a fluid pressure sensor 106 may optionally be positioned in the fluid conduit system 82 between the fluid supply 80 and the fluid application assembly 12, including the nozzle 40, as shown. As shown, the fluid pressure sensor 106 is positioned between the fluid reservoir 90 and the fluid application assembly 12. The fluid pressure sensor 106 may be operatively coupled with the pumps 84, 92, and the pumps 84, 92 can be configured to operate in response to signals received from the fluid pressure sensor 106 to maintain an appropriate fluid pressure in the fluid conduit system 82.
Advantageously, the fluid reservoir 90 can include one or more fluid level sensors 110, which can be operatively coupled with the fluid pump 84. The fluid pump 84, in turn, can be configured to operate in response to signals received from the fluid level sensor 110 in order to maintain an appropriate level of pre-treatment solution in the fluid reservoir 90. In the embodiment shown, the fluid level sensor 110 includes a float 112 that floats on the pre-treatment solution in the reservoir 90 and a reading bar 114, which may operate by magnetic means. The position of the float 112 along the reading bar 114 provides a measure of the fluid level in the reservoir 90.
The fluid supply and delivery assembly 14 can optionally include a recirculation circuit 120 for circulating the pre-treatment solution between the fluid reservoir 90 and the fluid supply 80, as shown in
It will be appreciated that the system 10 can be configured to use any number of fluid supplies, such as those containing different formulations of pre-treatment solutions. For example, and as shown in
Referring next to
The valve 104 is a pinch valve that generally includes a valve body 140. The valve body 140 includes a through-bore 142 sized to accommodate a conduit section 144 of the fluid conduit system 82, as shown. The valve body 140 includes a ledge surface 146 and a wall 148 extending upwardly from the ledge surface 144. The through-bore 142 is positioned near the wall 148. A valve member 150 is configured to block the flow of pre-treatment solution through the conduit section 144 in the vicinity of the valve 104. In particular, the valve member 150 is movably connected with the valve body 140, as at 152, and is configured for movement both toward and away from the valve body 140. When the valve member 150 is moved toward the valve body 140, the valve member 150 impinges the outer surface of the conduit section 144, as shown with respect to one of the valves 104. Continued movement of the valve member 150 toward the valve body 140 causes the valve member 150 to pinch the conduit section 144. The valve member 150 may be biased away from the valve body 140, such that it tends to not pinch the conduit section 144 unless it is moved toward the valve body 140, as shown with respect to the other of the valves 104.
Because the valves 104 are pinch valves, and given their construction, none of the components of the valves 104 come into contact with the pre-treatment solution flowing through the conduit sections 144 and the fluid conduit system 82. Moreover, because servomotors only move when actuated, even if electric power to the valves 104 is interrupted, the valves 104 will remain in the same position as before the electric power was interrupted. And, for the arrangement shown in
Advantageously, the system 10 may be constructed so the pre-treatment solution only contacts the fluid conduit system 82 and the fluid reservoir 90 as it moves between the fluid supply 80 and the fluid application assembly 12. In particular, the peristaltic pump 84 and the air-over-fluid pump 92, and the various valves, which can be like valves 104, 124, do not have any mechanical components that come into contact with the pre-treatment solution.
Referring next to
The cleaning assembly 180 includes a housing 186 for receiving the nozzle tip 182. In particular, a socket 188 is formed in the housing 186 and the nozzle tip 182 fits in the socket 188. The housing 186 includes a housing base 190 and a housing closure 192, which can be selectively separated from one another to place the nozzle tip 182 in the socket 188, as shown in
A housing fluid pathway 194 is provided in the housing 186 and generally includes three sections. A first section 196 extends upwardly through the housing base 190. A second section 198 extends upwardly in the housing closure 192 from adjacent the first section 196, extends laterally over, and extends downwardly toward the socket 188. A third section 200 extends downwardly from the socket in the housing base 190.
The cleaning assembly 180 also includes a reservoir 202 that holds a volume of cleaning solution. In the embodiment shown, the reservoir 202 is a bottle 204 having a removable lid 206. The bottle 204 has a first port 208 and a second port 210. For example, the cleaning solution can be acetone or an organic acetone replacement.
The cleaning assembly 180 also includes a pump 212 for moving the cleaning solution in a cleaning solution conduit system 214. In particular, the cleaning solution conduit system 214 includes a first conduit section 216 extending between the first port 208 of the bottle 204 and the first section 196 of the housing fluid pathway 194. The cleaning solution conduit system 214 also includes a second conduit section 218 extending between the third section 200 of the housing fluid pathway 194 and the pump 212. Finally, the cleaning solution conduit system 214 includes a third conduit section 220 extending between the pump 212 and the second port 210 of the bottle 204. The pump 212 can be a peristaltic pump that acts on the cleaning solution conduit system 214 to move the cleaning solution contained therein. In such a case, the second and third conduit sections 218, 220 may be integrally formed.
In use, and with reference to
Advantageously, the pump 212 moves the cleaning solution under vacuum pressure rather than positive pressure. That way, if the housing 186 were to be opened during a cleaning operation, pressurized cleaning solution would not escape from the housing 186, which could be hazardous depending on the cleaning solution and pressures involved.
While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Various features shown and described herein can be used individually or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' general inventive concept.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/673,746, filed Jul. 20, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61673746 | Jul 2012 | US |
