FABRIC PRODUCT FIXING DEVICE

Abstract

 This invention relates to a fabric product fixing device (10) for fixing a fabric product including a T-shirt to which an image formed by using printer, for example, a dye sublimation printer, a thermal wax printer, or the like, will be thermally transferred. The fixing device (10) comprises a box body member (100), a transfer table member (200) and a stopper member (300). The stopper member is disposed so that a mounting portion (201) of the transfer table member can penetrate an opening (301) of the stopper member. An image-transferred portion of T-shirt (400) is held spreading on the mounting portion to prevent wrinkling and it is exposed outside through an opening (105) of the top plate portion (102) of the box body member (100).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a fabric product fixing device for fixing a fabric product including a T-shirt to which an image formed by using printer, for example, a dye sublimation printer, a thermal wax printer, or the like, will be thermally transferred.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the background art, it has been proposed that the image is formed on transfer paper using printer, for example, a dye sublimation or thermal wax printer, or the like, and this image is thermally transferred to the fabric product including a T-shirt. In this case, in order to transfer the image to the fabric product without any distortion, it is necessary to hold a portion of the fabric product to which the image is to be transferred so that the portion is spread on a transfer table without generation of any wrinkles.

[0003] In the background art, there has been known a method in which such a fabric product is, for example, pasted onto the transfer table using spray paste or the like so as to be held thereon. In this method, however, there has been a problem that portions of the fabric product to which spray paste adheres may be changed in color at the time of thermal transfer.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fabric product fixing device that is capable of holding a fabric product so that a portion of the fabric product to which an image is to be transferred is spread without generation of any wrinkles and any other defects.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a fabric product fixing device that is constituted by a box body member, a transfer table member and a stopper member. The transfer table member includes a mounting portion with a predetermined shape, standing-down portions each extending downward from end portion of the mounting portion, and bonding portions each extending in a horizontally outside direction from lower end of the standing-down portion. The box body member includes a bottom plate portion having a first opening substantially as large as the mounting portion of the transfer table member; side plate portions extending upward from ends of the bottom plate portion; a top plate portion being attached to an upper end of each of the side plate portions and having a second opening with the predetermined shape for exposing the mounting portion of the transfer table member to the outside; and stopper holding portions each extending downward from end portion of the top plate portion corresponding to the second opening. Further, the stopper member is a flat-plate-like member, and has a third opening with the predetermined shape for passing therethrough the mounting portion of the transfer table member. The bonding portions of the transfer table member are bonded around the first opening of the bottom plate portion of the box body member, thereby fixing the transfer table member to the bottom plate portion with its mounting portion being opposite the top plate portion.

[0006] A fabric product is mounted on the transfer table member with its portion to be transferred being located on the mounting portion of the transfer table member, the mounting portion penetrating the third opening, and the fabric product is fixed by the stopper member, the position of which is held by the stopper holding portions of the box body member. The portion to be transferred of the fabric product is exposed from the second opening of the top plate portion of the box body member to the outside, while a lower surface of the mounting portion of the transfer table member is faced from the outside through the first opening of the bottom plate portion of the box body member.

[0007] According to the present invention, the fabric product mounted on the transfer table member with its portion to be transferred being located on the mounting portion of the transfer table member is fixed by the stopper member as mentioned above and thus, the portion to be transferred of the fabric product is held spreading on the mounting portion without any wrinkles. Since the transfer is achieved in this condition according to method of this invention, by not using such a bonding method using spray paste as in the background art, there is no fear that the fabric product is changed in color or the like.

[0008] The portion to be transferred of the fabric product is exposed to the outside through the second opening of the top plate portion of the box body member, while the lower surface of the mounting portion of the transfer table member is faced from the outside through the first opening of the bottom plate portion of the box body member and thus, for example, a press portion constituting a thermal transfer machine can touch the lower surface of the mounting portion of the transfer table member through the first opening of the bottom plate portion. As a result, in this state, the press portion, together with a heating portion also constituting the thermal transfer machine, can apply pressure to transfer paper so that an image on the transfer paper can be pressed against the portion to be transferred of the fabric product. Thus, this allows the image to be thermally transferred to the portion to be transferred of the fabric product excellently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the visual appearance of a fabric product fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2A is a sectional view taken on line a-a' in Fig. 1; Fig. 2B is a sectional view taken on line b-b' in Fig. 1; Fig. 3A is an expansion plan view of a box body member; Fig.3B is an expansion plan view of a transfer table member; Fig. 3C is plan view of a stopper member; Fig. 4 is a view (1/7) for explaining a T-shirt fixing process; Fig. 5 is a view (2/7) for explaining the T-shirt fixing process; Fig. 6 is a view (3/7) for explaining the T-shirt fixing process; Fig. 7 is a view (4/7) for explaining the T-shirt fixing process; Fig. 8 is a view (5/7) for explaining the T-shirt fixing process; Fig. 9 is a view (6/7) for explaining the T-shirt fixing process; Fig. 10 is a view (7/7) for explaining the T-shirt fixing process; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the visual appearance of a print system using the fabric product fixing device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a view showing a portion taking part in a thermal transfer process in the print system; and Figs. 13A to 13E are views for explaining steps of the thermal transfer process.

THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fabric product fixing device 10 as an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2A is a sectional view taken on line A-A' in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2B is a sectional view taken on line B-B' in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, a T-shirt 400 to which an image formed on transfer paper is to be thermally transferred is fixed.

[0011] The fabric product fixing device 10 includes a box body member 100, a transfer table member 200 and a stopper member 300, which are formed of corrugated board respectively.

[0012] Description will be made about the transfer table member 200. This transfer table member 200 is provided with a rectangular mounting portion 201. A standing-down portion 202 is provided to extend downward from each side portion of the mounting portion 201, and a bonding portion 203 is provided to extend in a horizontally outside direction from the lower end of each standing-down portion 202. The T-shirt 400 is mounted on the mounting portion 201 so that a portion 400a to be transferred of the T-shirt 400 ca be located on the mounting portion 201.

[0013] The transfer table member 200 is formed by bending a corrugated board pattern as shown in Fig. 3B. In Figs. 3A to 3C, short dashed lines show that it is fold inwards like valley-folding as a result, and dash and dotted lines show that it is fold outwards like mountain-folding as a result. This applies to the cases of Figs. 4 to 10, which will be described later. In addition, the shadowed portions designate board cut-outs. As shown in Fig. 3B, the mounting portion 201 is placed in the center of the transfer table member 200 wherein the standing-down portion 202 and the bonding portion 203 are provided continuously with each other on each of the upper, lower, left and right sides of the mounting portion 201 in the drawing.

[0014] Next, description will be made about the box body member 100. This box body member 100 includes a bottom plate portion 101, a top plate portion 102, and side plate portions 103. In the bottom plate portion 101, a rectangular opening 104 is formed to have substantially the same dimension as that of the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 described above. This opening 104 is configured to pass a press portion 514b therethrough, said press portion constituting a thermal transfer machine 514 as will be described later.

[0015] In addition, the top plate portion 102 is provided with an opening 105 for exposing outside the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 located on the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 described above. A stopper holding portion 108 is provided to extend downward from each side portion of the top plate portion, said side portion corresponding to the opening 105. This stopper holding portion 108 is provided to hold a position of the stopper holding member 300 as will be described later.

[0016] The side plate portions 103 are held to stand up or down from respective side portions of the bottom plate portion 101 and those of the top plate portion 102. A lapping portion 106 is provided to extend in a horizontally inside direction from an upper end of the side plate portion 103 (see Fig. 2A), said side plate portion being held to stand up from one of the side portions of the bottom plate portion 101. Similarly, a lapping portion 107 is provided to extend in a horizontally inside direction from the lower end of each of the side plate portions 103 (see Fig. 2B), said side plate portions being held to stand down from the side portions of the top plate portion 102.

[0017] This box body member 100 is formed by bending a corrugated board pattern as shown in Fig. 3A. As shown in Fig. 3A, in the box body member 100, the side plate portion 103, the bottom plate portion 101, another side plate portion 103 and the lapping portion 106 are continuously provided with each other on the right side of the top plate portion 102. Reinforcing tongue pieces 111 are provided on the rear and front sides of each of these two side plate portions 103. The opening 104 is formed at the center of the bottom plate portion 101. The reinforcing tongue pieces 111 are provided to increase the strength of the box body member 100 against compressive force which may be applied to its four corners after assembly of the box body member 100.

[0018] The side plate portion 103 and the lapping portion 107 are continuously provided with each other on each of the rear and front sides of the top plate portion 102. In addition, two notches 112 are formed at a predetermined distance in the front/rear direction on the boundary between the side plate portion 103 provided on the right side of the bottom plate portion 101 and the lapping portion 106. Likewise, two plug-in portions 113 are provided at a predetermined distance in the front/rear direction on the left side of the top plate portion 102. The two plug-in portions 113 are inserted into the notches 112 when the box body member 100 is assembled.

[0019] In addition, the opening 105 is formed at the center of the top plate portion 102. The stopper holding portions 108 are provided on the front, rear, left and right insides of the top plate portion around the opening 105 respectively. When the box body member 100 is assembled, free ends of these stopper holding portions 108 abut onto the stopper member 300 from its above (see Figs. 2A and 2B) so as to hold the position of the stopper member 300, said stopper member 300 fixing the T-shirt 400 as will be described below.

[0020] Next, description will be made about the stopper member 300. The stopper member 300 is a flat-plate-like member. In the stopper member 300, a rectangular opening 301 is formed for passing therethrough the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 described above. The stopper member 300 is formed of corrugated board pattern as shown in Fig. 3C.

[0021] The box body member 100, the transfer table member 200 and the stopper member 300 are configured thus respectively. The transfer table member 200 is fixedly bonded to the inside of the box body member 100 with the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 being opposite to the top plate portion 102. In this case, the transfer table member 200 is fixed bonding its bonding portions 203 to parts of the bottom plate portion 101 around the opening 104 formed in the bottom plate portion 101. As a result, the lower surface of the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 is faced from the outside through the opening 104. Incidentally, the bonding is performed by use of an adhesive agent, a double-sided tape, or the like.

[0022] In the above-mentioned fabric product fixing device 10, the T-shirt 400 is mounted on the transfer table member 200 with the portion 400a to be transferred thereof being located on the mounting portion 201, and it is fixed by the stopper member 300. Then, the stopper member 300 is disposed so as to allow the mounting portion 201 to be passed through the opening 301 of the stopper member 300, and thus, the ends of the stopper holding portions 108 of the box body member 100 abut onto the upper surface of the stopper member 300 so that the position of the stopper member 300 can be held.

[0023] Since the T-shirt 400 is thus fixed by the stopper member 300, the portion 400a to be transferred of the T-shirt 400 is held spreading on the mounting portion 201 without generation of any wrinkles. In addition, portions of the T-shirt 400 other than the above portion 400a are received in a space 109 formed around the transfer table member 200 by the box body member 100 and so on. In addition, since the T-shirt 400 is fixed by the stopper member 300 as mentioned above, the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 is exposed from the opening 105 formed in the top plate portion 101 of the box body member 100.

[0024] Next, description will be made about the process for fixing the T-shirt 400 in the fabric product fixing device 10 of this embodiment.

[0025] First, as shown in Fig. 4, the transfer table member 200 formed by bending the corrugated board pattern (see Fig. 3B) is fixedly bonded to the bottom plate portion 101 of the corrugated board pattern (see Fig. 3A) constituting the box body member 100. In this case, as mentioned above, the bonding portions 203 of the transfer table member 200 are bonded to parts of the bottom plate portion 101 around the opening 104 formed therein by use of an adhesive agent, a double-sided tape, or the like.

[0026] Next, as shown in Fig. 5, the T-shirt 400 is mounted on the transfer table member 200 with its portion 400a to be transferred being located on the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200. Then, as shown in Fig. 6, the stopper member 300 (see Fig. 3C) is disposed so as to pass the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 through its opening 301. Thus, the stopper member 300 allows the T-shirt 400 to be fixed and then, the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 is held spreading on the mounting portion 201 without generation of any wrinkles.

[0027] Next, as shown in Fig. 7, portions of T-shirt 400 projecting from the bottom plate portion 101 are collected around the transfer table member 200, for example, by folding as shown by the arrows. Then, as shown in Fig. 8, the portion between the bottom plate portion 101 and the top plate portion 102 of the box body member 100 is fold, while the stopper holding portions 108 around the opening 105 formed in the top plate portion 102 are bent. Further, as shown in Fig. 9, the plug-in portions 113 provided continuously to the top plate portion 102, and the reinforcing tongue pieces 111 provided continuously to the side plate portions 113 are bent, while the portions of the side plate portion 103 and the lapping portion 106 provided continuously to the bottom plate portion 101 are bent.

[0028] Next, as shown in Fig. 10, the plug-in portions 113 are inserted into the notches 112. In this case, the respective stopper holding portions 108 extend downward along the standing-down portions 202 of the transfer table member 200 so that the ends of the stopper holding portions 108 can abut onto the upper surface of the stopper member 300. As a result, the position of the stopper member 300 remains stably in the state where the T-shirt 400 is fixed as mentioned above. Next, the side plate portions 103 and the lapping portions 107 provided continuously on each of the rear and front sides of the top plate portion 102 are bent and then, the lapping portions 107 are put into the inside of the box body member assembly, so that the fixing is completed (see Fig. 1).

[0029] Here, brief description will be made about a print system 500 for thermally transferring an image to the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 fixed on the fabric product fixing device 10 in this embodiment. Fig. 11 shows the visual appearance of the print system 500. In this print system 500, a monitor 502 with a touch panel, a CCD (charge coupled device) camera 503 for picking up an image of a user, an image capture port 504 for setting a photograph or the like thereon and capturing an image thereof, an discharge port 505 for discharging the fabric product fixing device 10 and transfer paper 510 after thermal transfer operation, and so on, are disposed on the front surface of a casing 501 of the print system 500.

[0030] Fig. 12 shows schematically only portions concerned with thermal transfer operation in the print system 500 for the purpose of simplifying the description. The print system 500 includes stokers 511 and 512 for stocking fabric product fixing devices 10 with T-shirts 400 fixed thereon as mentioned above, a printer 513 of a dye sublimation type, a thermal wax type, or the like, for obtaining the transfer paper 510 printed with an image to be transferred, and a thermal transfer machine 514 for thermally transferring the image of the transfer paper 510 to the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 fixed to the fabric product fixing device 10. For example, a plurality of fabric product fixing devices 10 on which different-sized T-shirts 400 are fixed are received in the stokers 511 and 512 respectively. A user can select the size of the T-shirt 400 by operating the touch panel on the basis of indications through display images on the monitor 503.

[0031] When a user operates the touch panel on the basis of the indications through the display images on the monitor 502 so as to determine an image to be transferred, a thermal transfer process is started. For example, an image of the user picked up by the CCD camera 500 is combined with a pre-selected frame (back image) to form an image to be transferred. Alternatively, for example, an image is captured from a photograph or the like disposed on the image capture port 504 to form an image to be transferred.

[0032] The thermal transfer process will be described briefly with reference to Figs. 13A to 13E. First, as shown in Fig. 13A, only one fabric product fixing device 10 with a T-shirt 400 fixed thereto is extracted from the stoker 511 or 512, and delivered to the thermal transfer machine 514.

[0033] The thermal transfer machine 514 has a heating portion 514a, which is also used as a base, and a press portion 514b, as shown in Fig. 13B. The heating portion 514a is at a high temperature in a range of from about 180° to about 200°. The fixing device 10, which is delivered as mentioned above, is located so as to touch the press portion 514b. In this case, the press portion 514b passes through the opening 104 formed in the bottom plate portion 101 of the box body member 100 so as to abut onto the lower surface of the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 (see Figs. 2A and 2B).

[0034] Next, an image corresponding to the image determined to be transferred as mentioned above is formed on the transfer paper 510 by the printer 513. Then, as shown in Fig. 13C, the transfer paper 510 on which the image has been formed is delivered to the thermal transfer machine 514 wherein it is disposed between the press portion 514b and the heating portion 514a. In this case, the image is formed on the upper surface of the transfer paper 510, and is a reversed image of the image determined as the one to be transferred as mentioned above. Then, the reversed image is disposed oppositely to the portion 400a to be transferred of the T-shirt 400, which is exposed from the opening 105 formed in the top plate portion 102 of the box body member 100 of the fixing device 10 (Figs. 2A and 2B).

[0035] Next, as shown in Fig. 13D, the press portion 514b moves downward, and further the heating portion 514a moves upward, thereby applying pressure to the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 so that the image formed on the transfer paper 510 can be pressed onto the above portion 400a. This pressure is applied, for example, for 10 to 20 seconds. In this case, heat is conducted from the heating portion 514a to the image on the transfer paper 510 and the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 and then, the image formed on the transfer paper 510 is thermally transferred to the portion 400a of the T-shirt 400. As shown in Fig. 13E, after such thermal transfer is completed, the fixing device 10 fixing the T-shirt 400 of which the image has been thermally transferred to the above portion 400a, and the transfer paper 510 on which the image had been formed till then, are discharged from the discharge port 505 (see Fig. 11) to the outside of the print system 500.

[0036] As has been described, in the fabric product fixing device 10 in this embodiment, the T-shirt 400 mounted on the transfer table member 200 with the above portion 400a being located on the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 is fixed by the stopper member 300 which has the opening 301 at its center, said opening 301 being penetrated by the above-mentioned mounting portion 201, and this allows the portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 to be held spreading on the mounting portion 201 without generation any wrinkles. Accordingly, the T-shirt 400 is not pasted using spray paste as in the background art, and hence there is no fear that the T-shirt 400 is changed in color or the like.

[0037] In addition, in the fabric product fixing device 10 in this embodiment, the portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 is exposed to the outside through the opening 105 formed in the top plate portion 102 of the box body member 100, while the lower surface of the mounting portion 201 of the transfer table member 200 is faced from the outside through the opening 104 formed in the bottom plate portion 101 of the box body member 100. Accordingly, the press portion 514b constituting the thermal transfer machine 514 can touch the lower surface of the mounting portion 201 through the opening 104 of the bottom plate portion 101, and, in that state, the press portion 514b together with the heating portion 514a constituting the thermal transfer machine 514 can apply pressure to the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 so that an image on the transfer paper 510 can be pressed onto the above portion 400a, thus allowing the thermal transfer of image to the above portion 400a of the T-shirt 400 to be performed very well.

[0038] In addition, in the fabric product fixing device 10 of this embodiment, the respective members 100, 200 and 300 are formed of corrugated boards and they can be incinerated or recycled after they are used, this presenting a superior advantage that they are easy on the ecology.

[0039] Although the above-mentioned embodiment described the fabric product fixing device 10 for fixing the T-shirt 400, the present invention is not limited to the case of fixing the T-shirt 400, but it is similarly applicable to the case of fixing any other fabric product to which an image formed by a printer or the like is to be thermally transferred.

[0040] In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment showed an example in which the openings 104 and 105 formed in the box body member 100 and the opening 301 formed in the stopper member 300 were rectangular, the shapes of the openings are not limited to rectangular shapes, but they may be other shapes such as circular shapes, triangular shapes, or the like.

[0041] In addition, although the respective members 100, 200 and 300 were formed of corrugated boards in the above-mentioned embodiment, they may be formed of materials other than corrugated boards.

[0042] Thus, according to the present invention, a fabric product which is mounted on the transfer table member with a portion to be transferred thereof being located on the mounting portion of the transfer table member is fixed by the stopper member having an opening the shape of which is the same as the mounting portion, and thus, the portion to be transferred of the fabric product can be held spreading on the mounting portion without generation of any wrinkles, so that, in this invention, the fabric product is not bonded using spray paste as in the background art, this preventing the fabric product from being changed in color or the like.

[0043] Further the portion to be transferred of a fabric product is exposed to the outside through the second opening of the top plate portion of the box body member, while the lower surface of the mounting portion of the transfer table member is faced from the outside through the first opening of the bottom plate portion of the box body member, and thus, for example, a press portion constituting a thermal transfer machine can touch the lower surface of the mounting portion of the transfer table member through the first opening of the bottom plate portion and, in this state, the press portion, together with a heating portion constituting the thermal transfer machine, can apply pressure to transfer paper so that an image on the transfer paper can be pressed against the portion to be transferred of the fabric product, thus allowing the thermal transfer of image to the above portion of the fabric product to be excellently performed.

[0044] In addition, when the respective members are formed of corrugated boards, they can be incinerated or recycled after they are used; this presenting a superior advantage that they are easy on the ecology.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0045] As described above, a fabric product fixing device according to the present invention is preferably applicable to printing system wherein the fixing device is used for fixing a fabric product including a T-shirt when an image formed by using printer, for example, a dye sublimation printer, a thermal wax printer, or the like, will be thermally transferred thereto.

Claims

1. A fabric product fixing device comprising a box body member, a transfer table member and a stopper member;

wherein said transfer table member includes a mounting portion with a predetermined shape, standing-down portions each extending downward from end portion of said mounting portion, and bonding portions each extending in a horizontally outside direction from lower end of said standing-down portion;

wherein said box body member includes a bottom plate portion having a first opening substantially as large as said mounting portion of said transfer table member, side plate portions extending upward from ends of the bottom plate portion, a top plate member being attached to an upper end of each of the side plates and having a second opening with said predetermined shape for exposing said mounting portion of said transfer table member to the outside, and stopper holding portions each extending downward from end portion of the top plate portion corresponding to said second opening;

wherein said stopper member is a flat-plate-like member, and has a third opening with said predetermined shape for passing therethrough said mounting portion of said transfer table member;

wherein said bonding portions of said transfer table member are bonded around said first opening of said bottom plate portion, thereby fixing said transfer table member to said bottom plate portion with its mounting portion being opposite said top plate portion;

wherein said fabric product is mounted on said transfer table member with its portion to be transferred being located on said mounting portion of said transfer table member, said mounting portion penetrating said third opening, and said fabric product is fixed by said stopper member, the position of which is held by said stopper holding portions of said box body member;

wherein said portion to be transferred of said fabric product is exposed from said second opening of said top plate portion of said box body member to the outside, while a lower surface of said mounting portion of said transfer table member is faced from the outside through said first opening of said bottom plate portion of said box body member.

2. A fabric product fixing device according to Claim 1,
   wherein said predetermined shape is rectangular.

3. A fabric product fixing device according to Claim 1,
   wherein said box body member, said transfer table member and said stopper member are formed of corrugated boards respectively.

Drawing