FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to printing and, more particularly, but not exclusively
to digital printing.
[0002] Common printing methods employ liquid ink made of a pigment and an adhesive in a
liquid, volatile, solvent. The liquid ink is applied to the printed substrate using
a brush, pipe, stylus, rolling ball or cylinder, by sprinkling droplets such as an
ink jet printer, by means of a printing pad or an offset stencil, by forcing the ink
through a mesh stencil such as used with screen printing, etc.
[0003] Printing using liquid ink requires that the ink remains at the point it is applied
to the printed substrate until the solvent evaporates. When liquid ink is applied
to substrates that are either absorbing, such as cloth, paper and cardboard, or have
a high surface tension with the solvent, such as polished metal and glass, the liquid
ink is smeared through or over the printed substrate creating a poor image quality
[0004] Garment printing is performed today by screen printing press systems that are complex,
inflexible, and require a specific set-up for each different print and color. First,
an image file undergoes a mechanical spot-color separation process (each color is
printed in black and white on a separate sheet of paper or film). Then, the image
is "developed" in a long optical process, into a fine mesh (screen), which is pressed
during the printing process against the media. Before printing, each screen has to
be set in the proper station and adjusted with reference to the other screens. Ink
is transferred to the garment through the mesh by mechanical means (generally wiping
a squeegee along the screen). Garment screen-printing technology requires a special
press station for each color level. Print quality is limited due to the high registration
requirements between stations; hence printing resolution is relatively low.
[0005] An attempt has been made to provide a device for printing onto a portion of a substrate,
such as a garment.
US Patent 6,095,628 describes and claims an apparatus for inkjet printing pre-programmed viewable indicia
onto a substrate. The apparatus is essentially a conventional ink jet printer, and
is capable of creating the indicia through ink jet ink depositing upon flat or rigid
substrates as a result of controlled platen movement beneath the ink jet printer head
and controlled ink jet printer head movement and ink flow control by a programmed
CPU. The flexible printing substrate of the patented invention is larger than the
platen and portions of the substrate are draped downwardly over edges of the platen
and tucked under the platen.
[0006] When printing on garments it is particularly important to limit the penetration of
the ink into the depth of the fabric, which causes dull coloring of the garment.
[0007] There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to
have, a printing system devoid of the above limitations.
[0008] US Patent Publication 2003197750 discloses a method of detecting an obstacle that disturbs a printing operation to
be performed on a printing surface of a printing portion of a workpiece by a printing
head of an ink-jet printer such that the printing head and a planar platen on which
the printing portion of the workpiece is set are moved relative to each other between
a first position and a second position, with a predetermined spacing maintained between
the printing surface of the workpiece and the printing head in a direction perpendicular
to the printing surface. The obstacle existing on a plane of printing by the printing
head is detected by a sensing device, by scanning the predetermined spacing in a direction
intersecting a direction of a relative movement of the printing head and the platen.
At the same time the printing head and the platen are moved relative to each other
between the first and second printing positions. Also disclosed are an ink-jet printing
method and printer wherein the obstacle is detectable.
[0009] US Patent publication No. 2002060728 discloses an ink-jet textile printing system which includes an ink-jet printing mechanism
capable of textile printing on a printing object formed by a cloth product such as
a T-shirt, a printing tray for holding a printing target range of the printing object
flat, and conveying the printing object while positioning the printing target range
with respect to the ink-jet printing mechanism, and a printing object formed by a
cloth product such as a T-shirt having a partial pre-process portion obtained by partially
pre-processing only the printing target range.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a digital printing
machine according to claim 1.
[0011] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in claims 2-10.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is
stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative
discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented
in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood
description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard,
no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than
is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken
with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms
of the invention may be embodied in practice.
[0013] In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a simplified perspective drawing of a garment printing system constructed
and operative in accordance with an embodiment not claimed herein but relevant to
an understanding of the present invention;
Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B and Fig. 2C are respectively side, front and top simplified views
of a garment printing system constructed and operative in accordance with the present
invention;
Fig. 3 is a simplified side view drawing of a garment printing system constructed
and operative in accordance with an embodiment not claimed herein but relevant to
an understanding of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a wetting system constructed and operative in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective drawing of a wetting battery of solenoid valves and spraying
nozzles;
Fig. 6 is a perspective drawing of two wetting batteries mounted over a bridge;
Fig. 7 is a simplified perspective drawing of the printing system of Figs. 2A, 2B
and 2C equipped with the wetting system of Fig. 4;
Fig. 8, Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B are simplified perspective drawings of a preferred embodiment
of the battery of Fig. 5 equipped with a bath of thinner liquid;
Fig. 10 is simplified perspective drawings of a preferred embodiment of a garment
mounting assembly;
Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 are simplified perspective drawings of the garment mounting assembly
of Fig. 10 with a mounted garment in an open and a close position;
Fig. 13 is a simplified schematic drawing of an inkjet printing head assembly;
Fig. 14A, Fig. 14B, Fig. 14C, and Fig. 14D, taken together, are simplified schematic
illustrations of several stages of the printing process, according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 15 is a simplified flow chart of the process of wetting the garment prior to
printing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The principles and operation of a printing apparatus according to the present invention
may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying description.
[0015] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description
or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of
being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0016] The present invention relates to a digital printing system for various substrates
that permits accurate, high quality, high resolution, multi-color printing directly
onto a substrate in a relatively simple system. A preferred embodiment of the present
invention is useful for printing over materials that usually cause the ink to smear
over the material, such as fibrous materials, porous materials and other ink absorbing
materials, and materials having high surface tension with the ink liquid. A preferred
embodiment of the present invention is thus provided for the garment industry in general,
and for T-shirt printing industry in particular.
[0017] A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a pre-printing assembly
for wetting the substrate prior to printing. This wetting sub-system typically comprises
an array of spraying nozzles operative to apply a wetting composition over the printed
material. This wetting composition interferes with the engagement of the ink with
the printed material so as to limit the spread of the ink over, or within, the material;
- A printing assembly comprising at least one printing head operative to apply ink on
the printed material;
- A garment handling assembly;
- Optionally, at least one curing assembly, operative to cure the wetting composition,
or the ink liquid, or both;
- Optionally, at least one ironing assembly, operative to iron the garment prior to
printing or wetting; and
- A controller unit for controlling the operation of the above assemblies, typically
comprising a computer, preferably comprising a microcontroller, or a programmable
logic controller (PLC), or a personal computer (PC) or any combination thereof.
[0018] The abovementioned wetting assembly and printing assembly preferably comprises of
one or more units capable of applying liquid over selected areas of the material to
be printed. Such units are known in the art as spraying nozzles, dripping nozzles,
droplet injectors, drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet nozzles, continuous piezoelectric
inkjet nozzles, roller pads, stamping pads, offset printing stencil and a screen printing
stencil, etc.
[0019] The abovementioned garment handling assembly preferably comprises an accurate X,
Y, Z motion system and a printing table. Since the printing system is particularly
suited to printing on a garment, it has been described herein with respect to garment
printing, by way of example only. However, it will be appreciated that any other suitable
substrate can alternatively be utilized.
[0020] A preferred embodiment of a digital printing system according to the present invention
typically comprises electronically controlled wetting and printing units such as spraying
nozzles, dripping nozzles, droplet injectors, drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet
nozzles, continuous piezoelectric inkjet nozzles, etc. that are capable of creating
image pixels in a controllable manner.
[0021] A preferred embodiment of the present invention shown and described below comprises
the combination of wetting by spraying technology and printing by inkjet technology.
It is appreciated that the present invention pertains to every possible combination
of wetting technology and printing technology.
[0022] The digital printing system has the following advantages over conventional screen-printing
devices:
- The image file is received in conventional format without the need for spot color
separation process.
- No screen or stencil development is needed.
- The transition from one job to another does not require replacement of screens, cleaning,
etc.
- Printing flexibility: the image can be modified for each print. Variable data is printed
at the same speed.
- The image can be printed in a variety of color levels.
- The system occupies a smaller floor area.
- Higher printing resolution can be achieved.
- Printing files are stored efficiently in a way that eliminates the need for large
screen storage area and screen cleaning processes.
- Printing directly onto a garment or textile obviates the need for transfer paper and
an additional transfer step.
[0023] Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified perspective drawing of a garment
printing system 10 not herein claimed but relevant to an understanding of the present
invention. The garment printing system 10 comprises a rigid frame 11 in which an accurate
linear motion X-axis stage 12 is installed. According to one embodiment, the X-axis
stage 12 is a linear motor driven stage, and can be a conventional linear stage. Alternatively,
the X-axis stage 12 can be any other type of linear stage, like a belt-driven stage,
or ball screw driven stage. A printing table assembly 13 is connected to the X-axis
stage 12, which preferably provides high acceleration and scanning speed.
[0024] Perpendicular to the X-axis direction, an accurate linear motion Y-axis stage 14
is installed above the printing table assembly 13, preferably on a bridge 15. The
X-axis 12 and the Y-axis 14 stages are known in the art as linear stages, such as
linear rails, like rails marketed by THK Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, a linear encoder
like that sold by RSF Elektronik Ges.m.b.H., Tarsdorf, Austria, and a moving plate
supported on the rails. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
X-axis stage 12 is a linear motor driven stage, capable of high acceleration rate
and stiffness, for example, Anorad brand model LW10 of Rockwell Automation, Shirley,
New York, USA. Closed loop control is responsible for the high accuracy and motion
smoothness. The position of the printing table 13 along the rails of the X-axis stage
12 is measured by a linear encoder, and is used also to determine the firing timing
of the inkjet nozzles and the wetting nozzles. The Y-axis stage 14 is preferably a
linear motor stage similar to the X-axis stage 12.
[0025] A printing head 16, preferably comprising a plurality of inkjet nozzles, is connected
to a vertical Z-axis system 17, which is preferably a ball screw driven stage. The
Z-axis stage 17 is supported on an Y-axis moving plate 18, to allow motion perpendicular
to the direction of movement of the printing table 13. The gap between the printing
heads array 16 and the printed surface on the printing table assembly 13 is an important
parameter for high quality printing. The Z stage 17 enables movement of the printing
heads array 16 in the vertical direction for calibration for different media heights.
[0026] It is appreciated that any other ink applying apparatus can be used for the printing
head 16, such as a dripping nozzle, a droplet injector, a drop-on-demand piezoelectric
inkjet nozzle, a continuous piezoelectric inkjet nozzle, a roller pad, an offset printing
stencil and a screen printing stencil.
[0027] It is also appreciated that, while the system is particularly suited for printing
on a finished garment, other media can alternatively be employed. The present invention
will be described with regard to a finished garment, for ease of description by way
of example.
[0028] The printing system 10 optionally comprises an ironing unit 19 and also optionally
comprises a curing unit 20. The ironing unit 19 is preferably supported on the frame
11 above the X-axis stage 12, preferably on a bridge, such that the printing table
assembly 13 can move underneath. The ironing unit 19 prepares the media for printing,
as will be further explained in detail below. The curing unit 20 is preferably supported
on the bridge 15 over the rigid frame 11. Alternatively, the curing unit 20 can be
mounted over a separate bridge in a similar manner to the ironing unit 19. According
to one embodiment of the present invention the curing unit 20 is an infrared heating
unit that evaporates the ink carrier as printing is accomplished or during print passes.
According to another embodiment of the present invention the curing unit 20 is a hot
air blower. Alternatively, any other curing unit can be utilized, which is suited
to the type of ink printed on the garment.
[0029] A main computer 21, preferably a microprocessor, controls the entire system, and
is coupled to each of the various units for coordination, synchronization, and activation,
in accordance with a pre-programmed printing process. Main computer 21 coordinates
a large number of functions. It receives images from an image file, processes the
images to be printed, activates the curing unit, and controls the motion systems,
the ironing unit, and more. Preferably, movement of the X-axis and the Y-axis stages
is coordinated by the microprocessor with the nozzles firing command by a print heads
controller, so that precise printing of a desired object or symbol can be performed.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, computer 21 is augmented with
a programmable logic controller (PLC), later shown and described in accordance with
Fig. 4.
[0030] Reference is now made to Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B, and Fig. 2C, which are respectively side,
front and top simplified views of a garment printing system 22 constructed and operative
in accordance with the present invention. The printing system 22 comprises a frame
23 that is wider than frame 11 shown in Fig. 1, and two independent linear X-axis
stages 13 are installed instead of one X-axis stage, as in the embodiment described
in Fig. 1. Y-axis stage 14 described in Figs. 2A, 2B and. 2C is substantially the
same as Y-axis stage 14 in Fig. 1. The printing system 22 also comprises two curing
units 20, two ironing units 19 and two printing table assemblies 13. It is a particular
feature of the present embodiment that the two X-axis stages 12 operate independently
from one another. Thus, the process of loading and unloading can be carried out on
one printing assembly at the same time that printing is being carried out on the second
printing assembly. As a result, the printing heads array is working substantially
continuously, dramatically improving throughput of the system. Each table can be accessed
from the same edge of the system, thereby permitting a single worker to operate two
printing assemblies. Main computer 21 controls both X-axis stages for independent
operation.
[0031] Reference is now made to Fig. 3, which is a side view of a printing system 24 not
claimed herein but relevant to an understanding of the present invention. The printing
system 24 comprises a frame 11, which is the same as frame 11 shown in Fig. 1 and
two independently movable printing table assemblies 13 mounted on the same X-axis
stage 12. The printing table assemblies 13 are capable of moving back and forth independently
of one another. Printing is performed on one printing table 13 while at the same time
garments are unloaded and loaded on the second printing table. Each printing table
13 is accessed from the opposite edge of the system, and is loaded and unloaded by
a different operator. Main computer 21 controls both printing tables.
[0032] Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which is a schematic illustration of a wetting system
25 constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
The wetting system 25 can be added to a printing system, such as the printing systems
10, 22 and 24 described above. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention
the wetting system 25 comprises a tank 26 containing the wetting composition 27, a
pump 28, such as MGC4-MGC11DC available from Fluid-o-Tech of 23 via Morimondo, Milan,
Italy, connected to the tank 26 through a pipe 29 and operative to pump the wetting
composition 27 from the tank 26 to the spraying nozzle 19, such as 1101, available
form Teejet, PO Box 7900, Wheaton, IL, USA, via pipe 30, pressure regulator 31, such
as CM004R01, available form Camozzi, S.p.A. Via Eritrea 20/I, 25126 Brescia - Italy,
pipe 32, manifold 33, pipe 34 and solenoid valve 35. Overflow needle valve 36, such
as GS0462216, available from Serto A.G., 25 Schutzenstr, CH-8355 Aadorf, Switzerland,
is operative to carry excess wetting composition back to the tank 26 via pipes 37
and 38. Pipe 39 is also operative to carry overflow wetting composition from the solenoid
valve 35 to the tank 26. Preferably, a plurality of solenoid valves 35 and spraying
nozzles 19 are constructed to form a battery of spraying nozzles as will be described
below. When wetting is initiated, as will be described below, the computer 21, preferably
with the aid of a programmable logic controller (PLC) 40, activates the pump 29, and
then solenoid valve 35, to inject streams of the wetting composition 27. In a preferred
embodiment of the present invention shown and described in accordance with Figs. 4
and Fig 15, the role of the PLC is to translate the commands effected by the computer
21 into electrical activation to the relevant components. A detailed description of
the computer 21 procedure to operate the wetting system 25 is further shown and described
below with reference to Fig 15.
[0033] It is appreciated that the wetting the garment prior to printing limits the penetration
of the ink into the garment so that a larger amount of ink remains on the external,
visual, layers of the fabric, and that the printing head is thereafter capable of
creating smaller dots of ink. Therefore the printed image has a higher quality, through
higher resolution and stronger colors.
[0034] It is also appreciated that the method and the apparatus for wetting the garment
can be alternatively used to coat any other surface that is capable of absorbing the
ink, or that has a relatively high surface tension with the ink liquid, so as to limit
the smearing of the ink through, or over, the surface.
[0035] It is further appreciated that the spraying nozzle 19 can be replaced by other means
for applying liquid onto a surface, such as a dripping nozzle, a droplet injector,
a drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet nozzle, a continuous piezoelectric inkjet nozzle,
a roller pad, an offset printing stencil and a screen printing stencil.
[0036] It is additionally appreciated that the printing head 16 can be replaced by other
means for applying ink onto a surface, such as a dripping nozzle, a droplet injector,
a drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet nozzle, a continuous piezoelectric inkjet nozzle,
a roller pad, an offset printing stencil and a screen printing stencil, in any possible
combination of wetting technology and printing technology. Such possible combinations
include, but are not limited to:
Wetting using dripping and printing using drop-on-demand piezoelectric inkjet nozzle;
Wetting using roller pad and printing using continuous piezoelectric inkjet nozzle;
Wetting using spraying and printing using screen printing stencil; and
Wetting using droplet injector and printing using inkjet nozzle.
[0037] Reference is now made to Fig. 5, which is a perspective drawing of a battery 41 of
solenoid valves 35 and spraying nozzles 19, constructed and operative in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. The solenoid valves 35 are each connected
via the pipe 34, the manifold 33 and the pipe 32 to the pressure regulator 31 (not
shown in this figure).
[0038] Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which is a perspective drawing of two batteries
41, mounted over a bridge 42 constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment
of the present invention. It is appreciated that alternatively the batteries 41 can
be mounted on bridge 15 of Fig. 1 and Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C, preferably at the opposite
side of the printing head 16.
[0039] Reference is now made to Fig. 7, which is a simplified perspective drawing of a printing
system 43 constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. The printing system 43 is an improvement of the printing systems 10, 22
and 24 as shown and described in accordance with Figs. 1, 2A, 2B, 2C and 3 by adding
the pre-printing wetting assembly 25. For simplicity, printing system 43 is shown
and described as an improvement of the twin axis printing system 22 shown and described
in accordance with Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C. Fig. 7 shows the two batteries 41 mounted over
the bridge 15, each battery over its respective X-axis 12. Each battery 41 is operative,
separately and independently, to spray a wetting composition over the garment prior
to printing, as will be described below.
[0040] After mounting the garment on the printing table 13, as will be described in further
details below, the operator instructs the computer 21 to start the printing process.
The computer 21, with the aid of the PLC 40, moves the printing table 13, under the
battery 41, until one edge of the area to be printed is placed directly below the
battery 41. Then the computer 21 and the PLC 40 operate the adequate spraying nozzles
19, while moving the printing table 13 beneath, until at least a part of the area
to be printed is wetted. Preferably all and only the area to be printed is wetted.
Preferably the spraying nozzles are operated intermittently to apply adequate amount
of wetting composition to the wetted area. At this stage the garment is ready for
printing and the printing table 13 is moved under the printing head 16 to commence
printing as will be described below.
[0041] It is appreciated that the operation of selected spraying nozzles 19 while moving
the garment below enables the wetting of only selected areas of the garment, particularly
those areas to be printed, while other areas are left intact.
[0042] Optionally the computer 21, with the aid of the PLC 40, operate the curing assembly
20 while moving the printing table underneath, to cure, at least partially, the wetting
composition, prior to printing.
[0043] It is appreciated that the wetting assembly 25, as well as the printing system 43,
can be easily modified for printing objects other than garments.
[0044] Reference is now made to Fig. 8, Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B, which are all simplified perspective
drawings of a preferred embodiment of the battery 41 equipped with a bath 44, constructed
and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The bath
44 is contains a thinner liquid, and is operative to dip the tips of the spraying
nozzles 19 in this thinner liquid when the spraying nozzles are not spraying, as can
be seen in Fig. 8. Before spraying is initiated, the computer 21 activates the solenoid
45, also from Camozzi, to move the bath 44 and expose the tips of the spraying nozzles
19, as can be seen in Figs. 9A and 9B.
[0045] Reference is now made to Fig. 10, which is simplified perspective drawings of a preferred
embodiment of a garment mounting assembly 46, which is a part of the printing table
13, constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
The garment mounting assembly 46 comprises a media-holding plate 47 and an openable
cover 48. Preferably, the media-holding plate 47 includes a raised portion 49 of the
same size as the image to be printed, and the cover 48 includes a window 50 of the
same shape as raised portion 49. Preferably, the window 50 is slightly larger in size,
preferably a few millimeters, than raised portion 49. The cover 48 is held in an open
position by two gas cylinders 51, as known in the industry. Preferably, at least part
of the printing table assembly, for example the raised portion 40, is a vacuum table,
to allow holding of non-porous media such as paper, boards, plastic etc.
[0046] Reference is now made to Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, which are simplified perspective drawings
of the garment mounting assembly 46, with a mounted garment, in an opened and a closed
positions, constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. Fig. 11 shows a garment 52 loaded onto the garment mounting assembly 46.
Garment 53 is loaded manually onto the media-holding plate, as the plate's chamfers
53 center the garment on the plate. As can be seen in Fig 12, after the garment 53
is loaded onto the media-holding plate, the cover 48 is closed against the media-holding
plate, while gas cylinders 51 urge the cover to the closed orientation. The edges
of the garment are stretched slightly by the cover surface that touches the table's
lower surface around the raised portion. As a result, the garment is held firmly in
place to allow high-resolution printing (i.e., there is substantially no movement
of the media during printing or wrinkling).
[0047] According to another embodiment of this invention, the garment mounting assembly
is a simple, flattened plate, made of aluminum or wood on which a textile piece or
a garment is positioned. Flattened plates are well known by those who are familiar
with the garment printing industry.
[0048] Reference is now made to Fig. 13, which is a simplified schematic drawing of an inkjet
printing head assembly 54, constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment
of the present invention. Printing head assembly 54 comprises an array of printing
heads 55, arranged for printing directly on a finished garment, a textile piece or
other flexible or rigid medium. Each printing head 55 comprises at least one inkjet
nozzle 56. Printing head 55 can be any conventional printing head, such as those marketed
by Spectra, Inc., New Hampshire, USA and others known in the industry.
[0049] According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, printing heads assembly 54
is a massive array of conventional piezoelectric drop-on-demand or continuous inkjet
heads, which perform the high-speed printing. It is a particular feature of the present
invention that at least a 500, and preferably several thousands (i.e., 2,000) nozzles
are provided for simultaneous printing, resulting in a very quick and accurate process.
Each printing head 55 consists of dozens of nozzles 56 that are controlled independently
by main computer 21, optionally via PLC 40.
[0050] Reference is now made to Fig. 14A, Fig. 14B, Fig.14C and Fig.14D, which, taken together,
are simplified schematic illustration of several stages of the printing process, according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 14A, 14B,14C and 14D, show
four consecutive passes of a part of a garment, such as garment 53 shown in Fig. 12,
under a single print head, such as the print head 56 of Fig. 13.
[0051] According to a preferred embodiment, the distances between nozzles and between printing
heads are bigger than the printing resolution, hence several print passes are needed
to complete the image. After each pass in the X-axis, here created by movement of
the printing table assembly with media 53, the printing head 55 moves incrementally
in the Y-axis to prepare for the next pass. It will be appreciated that the computer
21 is programmed to control the relative motion of the printing heads and the printing
table assembly so as to obtain this accurate and complete coverage.
[0052] The printing process is performed while relative motion occurs between the printing
heads array 55 and the printing table assembly. At least two axes of motion are needed
for this multi-color printing: X-axis motion that is in the printing direction; and
Y-axis motion that is perpendicular to the printing direction. As stated above, the
distances between nozzles and between printing heads are bigger than the printing
resolution, hence several print passes are needed to complete the image. This is accomplished
by moving the printing table assembly back and forth along the X-axis while moving
the heads array perpendicular to the line of printing. The X-axis is the printing
line and the Y-axis is the line on which the printing heads array moves after each
pass to fill the gaps between printed lines in the next pass. Multi-color printing
is performed as the table surface passes below the drop-on-demand inkjet nozzles array.
[0053] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the Y-axis is the fast-moving
axis, while the X-axis moves incrementally to permit filling in of the gaps between
printed lines.
[0054] A printing command is sent by the printing heads driver (not shown) to each nozzle
at the exact time and location for ink firing. The printing command is actually an
electronic pulse, with exact width, voltage level, rise time and decay time. Printing
heads drivers are commercial systems known in the industry, such as Inca drivers,
of IncaDigital Printers, Cambridge, England. When printing is completed, the printing
table is moved to a loading position. Then, the printed garment is unloaded and a
new garment is loaded onto the printing table.
[0055] Reference is now made to Fig. 15, which is a simplified flow chart of the process
of wetting the garment prior to printing, preferably executed by the computer 21.
The process of wetting the garment starts with element 57 by loading the image file
from the computer's storage. The process progresses to element 58 to determine the
edges of the image on the garment, which are also the edges of the area to be wetted.
The process continues to element 59 to activate the X-axis 12, which moves the printing
table 13. The process advances to element 60 to receive from the encoder the position
data of the printing table 13. The process proceeds to element to determine which
nozzles to open (element 61) or close (element 62) and sends the appropriate commands
(elements 63 and 64) to the nozzle solenoids 35, preferably via the PLC 40. When the
other edge of the image is reached (element 65) the process is stopped (element 66).
[0056] The printing system of the embodiments described above incorporates three processes,
one after the other:
- 1. Loading and unloading garments.
- 2. Wetting at least a part of the area of the garment to be printed.
- 3. Printing an image on the mounted over at least a part of the wetted area.
[0057] In order to increase the throughput of the system, these processes can be performed
in parallel, as seen in the above embodiments of the invention.
[0058] It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been described
hereinabove merely by way of example. Rather, the invention is limited solely by the
claims that follow.
[0059] It is expected that during the life of this patent many relevant liquid applicator
devices and ink applicator devices and systems will be developed and the scope of
the terms herein, particularly of the terms "spraying nozzles" and "inkjet nozzles",
is intended to include all such new technologies
a priori.
[0060] Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will
become apparent to one ordinarily skilled in the art upon examination of the following
examples, which are not intended to be limiting. Additionally, each of the various
embodiments and aspects of the present invention as delineated hereinabove and as
claimed in the claims section below finds experimental support in the following examples.
[0061] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity,
described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination
in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are,
for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided
separately or in any suitable subcombination.
[0062] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments
thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended
claims.