Adjustable printing tray

Abstract

An adjustable pallet for digital printing includes a flat printing surface having flatness and parallelism tolerances, the printing surface formed from at least two separable portions, the portions configured to separate and re-engage while maintaining the flatness and parallelism tolerances. Tolerances can be maintained through the use of defined mechanical paths for moving the portions.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 132,544, filed December 31, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0003] Field and background of the invention

[0004] In some embodiments of the invention, the invention relates to trays, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to holding or feeding trays for digital textile printing machines.

[0005] For printing on garments, the garments need to be stretched and kept horizontal. Therefore, a supply structure is typically used, consisting of a tray that provides the surface and a frame that holds the garment in place on the tray. Garments come in various shapes and sizes, so not all trays are suitable for all garments. Trays used in textile printing machines are often large and heavy, and not easily maneuverable by the operator. That said, changing trays to print on different garment sizes or types of garments or other textile products can be challenging for the operator. However, trays with sizes or shapes suitable for garments, etc., are generally required, and exemplary digital textile printers perform digital printing on garments manually loaded onto trays, depending on their type, thus having specialized trays for shirts, bags, sleeves, hoodies, etc., in various sizes. Therefore, trays on the printing press need to be constantly changed to support all the different applications. Thus, different garment sizes, such as baby clothes, children's clothes, adult clothing, work clothes, and even tote bags and other textile-based accessories, may require tray changes. The weight of a tray can often exceed 10 kg, so changing trays for different sizes or shapes of garments takes time, and not all operators are capable of this task.

[0006] Current pallet solutions typically consist of individual pallets, each containing all the technical systems required for its operation. Examples of such technical systems include gas springs, safety latches, open / close latches, open / close handles, magnets, hinges, etc.

[0007] The result is that the pallet contains many complex components, making it costly and heavy. All of the aforementioned mechanical characteristics are part of the pallet, and it needs to be removed and replaced with a different pallet each time a different size garment is printed. The machine is provided with a range of pallet sizes and shapes, and more specialized sizes and shapes may need to be ordered and manufactured separately.

[0008] Therefore, the all-in-one concept is neither scalable nor modular, and is not precise enough to meet the requirements of printing presses. There are many interchangeable parts to support all applications; the combination of parts required for each application is relatively complex, and not all applications can be achieved with the provided all-in-one tray, thus limiting the availability of the machine.

[0009] Furthermore, the design of the pallet is closely related to the ergonomics of the printing press, so the redesign of the pallet is a long-term project, and the pallet is a long-term component of the printing press.

[0010] U.S. Patent 7,765,927 discloses a platen for printing that uses an operator-insertable portion to manually increase the flat operating area of ​​the platen. This device is not automated and is therefore considered to lack the necessary precision. U.S. Patent No. 6,640,714 discloses a tray adjustable along its width to specifically accommodate garments of various sizes. A pair of retractable wings extend simultaneously from both sides of the main tray base.

[0011] U.S. Patent Application No. 2018 / 0370258 discloses a textile tray with an adjustable frame that allows for adjustment of the tray's width to accommodate textiles larger than typical textiles placed in the center of the tray.

[0012] However, adjustable frames cannot guarantee a sufficiently flat surface to allow for digital printing, and in fact, state-of-the-art digital printing requires a pallet flatness of approximately 0.25 mm, and individually requires the surface to be parallel to the print head, with an accuracy of 0.1 mm in both the length and width of the pallet. Summary of the Invention

[0013] This embodiment relates to a tray that can be manually or automatically resized to accept garments of different sizes for printing while maintaining the necessary flatness. A continuous flat surface is provided for printing, but the dimensions of the surface can be varied. One embodiment inserts an inner portion between sliding outer portions. Another embodiment has outwardly removable wings, and a third embodiment has folding wings. All three systems are automated, providing the necessary tolerance levels for digital printing, and tray adjustment can be input by the operator for individual printing, or can be provided digitally, for example, along with the printing pattern, so that both the printing press and the tray can be digitally set for incoming print jobs.

[0014] According to one aspect of some embodiments of the present invention, an adjustable tray for digital printing is provided, comprising:

[0015] A flat printed surface having flatness tolerance and / or parallelism tolerance, the printed surface being formed of at least two separable portions configured to separate and rejoin while maintaining the flatness tolerance and / or parallelism tolerance.

[0016] In one embodiment, the flatness tolerance is less than 1 mm and / or the parallelism tolerance is less than 0.25 mm.

[0017] In one embodiment, the flatness tolerance is 0.25 mm and / or the parallelism tolerance is 0.1 mm.

[0018] The implementation may include at least one mechanical path through which at least two separable parts are guided to allow separation and re-engagement.

[0019] In one embodiment, the mechanical path is a rotational path having at least three separable parts, one of which is fixed and the other two are rotatable.

[0020] In one implementation, the mechanical path is linear and has at least three separable parts, one of which is fixed and the other two are linearly sliding. Linear and rotational mechanical paths can be combined so that the implementation can provide linear paths for some panels and rotational paths for others. Each panel can have its own independent mechanical path, or some panels can have associated paths. Thus, in one case, two outer panels can have different rotational paths but are mechanically connected to rotate together in opposite directions.

[0021] In one embodiment, at least one mechanical path includes a linear path having at least three separable portions, at least two of which are linearly slidable in a plane of a flat printed surface, and at least one separable portion is slidable perpendicularly from the flat printed surface.

[0022] In one embodiment, the separable portion includes at least two planar slidable outer portions and a vertically slidable inner portion, the inner portion being configured to slide below the outer portions to form a relatively small tray and engage with the outer portions to form an abutment surface to produce a relatively large tray.

[0023] In one embodiment, the inner portion includes a central portion and two surrounding portions, the central portion being configured to slide independently of the surrounding portions, thereby forming a relatively large tray having an outer portion, an inner portion and surrounding portions, a relatively medium-sized tray having an outer portion and a central portion, and a relatively small tray having only an outer portion.

[0024] In one embodiment, the separable portions are pushed together by the action of a tensioning device.

[0025] In one embodiment, the separable portion includes pins for positioning each other and corresponding sockets.

[0026] The tray may include a neckline and a slider for sliding the separable portion onto the tray, with the garment sliding onto the tray above the neckline. The slider may be positioned a distance from the neckline, at least equal to the length of the largest garment the tray can accommodate.

[0027] Similarly, the tray may have a collar end over which garments slide onto the tray, and a retainer for holding the separable portion in place, wherein the retainer contacts the separable portion at a distance from the collar end, the distance being at least the length of the largest garment the tray can accommodate.

[0028] Implementation may include a stretching element for stretching garments from below a tray, the stretching element being placed on a slider, at least one separable portion of which is slidable.

[0029] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for printing garments of different sizes is provided, comprising:

[0030] Obtain the first size of the first garment to be printed;

[0031] Panels are moved together or apart via a defined mechanical path to form a flat surface for a printing tray;

[0032] Place the garments on the printing tray;

[0033] Printed clothing;

[0034] Obtain the second size of the second garment to be printed;

[0035] If the second dimension is significantly different from the first dimension, the panel is rearranged via a defined mechanical path to form a flat surface of the tray that is adapted to the second dimension.

[0036] Place the second garment on the adjustable tray; and

[0037] Printed clothing.

[0038] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an adjustable tray for digital printing is provided, comprising:

[0039] A flat printed surface having flatness tolerance and / or parallelism tolerance, the printed surface being formed of at least two separable portions configured to separate and rejoin using a predefined mechanical path, thereby maintaining the flatness tolerance and / or parallelism tolerance.

[0040] In one embodiment, the flat printed surface has both flatness tolerance and parallelism tolerance.

[0041] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and / or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Although similar or equivalent methods and materials may be used to implement or test embodiments of the invention, exemplary methods and / or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification (including definitions) shall prevail. Furthermore, materials, methods, and embodiments are illustrative only and are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

[0042] Brief description of several views in the attached diagram

[0043] This document describes some embodiments of the invention by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference will now be made in detail to the drawings, with emphasis placed on the details shown as examples and for illustrative purposes in relation to embodiments of the invention. In this regard, the description taken in conjunction with the drawings will make it apparent to those skilled in the art how to practice the embodiments of the invention.

[0044] In the attached diagram:

[0045] Figures 1A to 1C are simplified views showing the adjustable tray in three different adjustment states according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 This is a simplified diagram showing the actuator for operating the adjustable trays of Figures 1A to 1C;

[0047] Figures 3A to 3C are simplified cross-sectional views showing the adjustable tray in three different adjustment states according to the embodiments of Figures 1A to 1C;

[0048] Figures 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views of the adjustable trays in Figures 3A and 3B at different adjustment stages.

[0049] Figures 5A to 5C are three cross-sectional views showing the actuating components used to achieve the adjustment shown in Figures 3A-C;

[0050] Figures 6A and 6B are three end cross-sectional views showing the adjustment of Figures 3A-C;

[0051] Figures 7A to 7C are three simplified views showing the adjustable tray in three different adjustment states according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figures 8A to 8C are simplified views illustrating the adjustable tray according to a third embodiment of the present invention in three different adjustment states; and

[0053] Figures 9A and 9B are two views showing the mechanical components added to the tray to achieve the adjustments shown in Figures 8A to 8C;

[0054] Figures 10A and 10B illustrate the tensioning mechanism associated with the embodiments shown in Figures 8A to 8C;

[0055] Figure 11A illustrates the flatness tolerances included in this embodiment;

[0056] Figure 11B is a simplified diagram illustrating the parallelism tolerances included in this embodiment; and

[0057] Figure 12 This is a simplified flowchart illustrating the process of printing on garments of different sizes and using an adjustable tray according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0058] Description of specific embodiments of the invention

[0059] In some embodiments, the present invention relates to an adjustable tray for digital printing of textiles and garments, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a tray comprising automatic adjustment of a flat printing surface while ensuring the high level of tolerances required for digital textile printing.

[0060] In the printing process of garments such as T-shirts or cut fabrics, trays are used to obtain a flat surface, making the fabric smoother and wrinkle-free. Loading small garments onto a fixed-size tray may be too small to fit and may require a smaller tray. Attempting to load large garments onto a small tray can lead to flatness and positioning problems, resulting in inaccurate placement of the printed artwork.

[0061] This implementation aims to eliminate the need to replace the entire tray for garment size adjustments. Because the tray width changes automatically and quickly to the required width dimension, system throughput can be increased.

[0062] Because a mechanism allows a single pallet to replace three or more different sizes on a single pallet infrastructure, machine costs can be reduced. In addition to operational improvements, the resulting reduction in the number of pallets also leads to a significant reduction in required storage space (due to the larger pallets) and a reduction in maintenance (because less maintenance is required).

[0063] More specifically, printing on garments requires proper positioning of the garment relative to the print head, and the primary function of the printing tray is to hold the garment in place during printing. Different garment sizes necessitate the use of correspondingly sized printing trays. Changing printing trays is a complex task, and the cost of such trays is relatively high.

[0064] Conversely, multi-size trays may be able to handle a wider range of garment sizes without replacing complete fixed-size trays. Therefore, the tray can consist of sections or panels that together form a flat surface, where the panels can be separated and then put back together in a manner that maintains very high tolerance levels. High tolerance levels can be achieved by using well-defined mechanical paths (such as linear or rotary paths) followed by each panel. In one embodiment, the flat surface can be made of multiple panels, each mounted on a mechanism defining a linear path for the panels. To reduce width, some panels are retracted downwards along a vertical linear path, while the remaining panels move laterally along a horizontal linear path to fill the vacated space. Depending on the number of panels, any number of different widths can be achieved. A five-panel variation is shown here by way of example.

[0065] In the second embodiment, the width of the multi-size tray can be changed by rotating the triangular segment of its cross-section; that is, the two outer panels have rotation paths, while the inner panel is fixed. The rotation of the triangle can be initiated manually or automatically, although a mechanical mechanism can be provided to ensure that the resulting increased tray surface has the tolerances required for digital printing.

[0066] In a third embodiment, the loading method uses a tension bar to stretch garments, such as T-shirts, on a multi-size tray. The tray changes its size by adding or removing sliding arms or sections, while requiring the clearance needed to load the garments. That is, the center panel is fixed, while the outer panels have a horizontal linear path. The garments are stretched and secured to the tray via the next extension of the tray itself or via a dedicated tension bar that slides under the tray.

[0067] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of components and / or methods set forth in the following description and / or the drawings and / or embodiments. The invention can have other embodiments or can be implemented or performed in various ways.

[0068] Referring now to Figure 1, which shows three views. Figure 1A – standard width, Figure 1B – child's width, and Figure 1C – intermediate width of a first embodiment of the invention, wherein the tray 10 comprises a flat upper surface consisting of a plurality of panels. In Figure 1A, five panels 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 constitute the surface. Each panel is mounted on a mechanism for being movable. Three center panels 14, 16, and 18 are mounted on mechanisms that pull them up and down, and two outer panels 12 and 20 are mounted on mechanisms that pull them to the side. To reduce the width, one or more of the panels are retracted downwards, and the remaining panels are moved to the side to fill the vacated space. Figure 1B shows the case where the second, third, and fourth panels 14, 16, and 18 have been retracted to provide a minimum width. Figure 1C shows the case where the second and fourth panels have been retracted but the third panel 16 remains, thus providing an intermediate width. Depending on the number of panels, any number of different widths can be achieved, for example, providing more child sizes or more adult sizes. The five-panel variant shown herein is merely an example.

[0069] The tray also includes a length-adjustable collar 22. The length-adjustable collar includes end pieces 24 located on the end sides of the main collar portion 26. The main collar portion 26 slides outward from the tray on a sliding portion 28. Collar wings 30 and 32 are slidably arranged between the main collar portion 26 and the outer tray panels 12 and 20 so that when the tray is opened and the main collar portion slides outward, the collar wings slide outward to occupy the increased width. Thus, the length-adjustable collar is at its maximum extent in the case of FIG. 1A and at its minimum extent in FIG. 1B.

[0070] Now for reference Figure 2 This is a simplified view illustrating the mechanism for operating the panels or sections shown in Figures 1A to 1C. Lateral push and release motors operate lateral push and engage actuators 34 to engage and push the outer panels 12 and 20 outward. In one embodiment, a spring mechanism can be used to push the outer panels back to the center position whenever the outer panels are released and the intermediate panel is removed.

[0071] When the center panel is not required, the push-down actuator 36 operates to lower the center panels 14, 16, and 18. The actuator can be pneumatically operated, operated by an electric motor, or by any other suitable method. The loading table can axially position the pallet relative to the actuator, and the lateral positioning clamping screws can be used for precise lateral positioning.

[0072] Figure 3A shows a perspective view of sliding panels 12 and 20 and raised panels 14, 16, and 18. Figure 3B shows the same view from above, with arrows 62 and 64 indicating the sliding direction. Figure 3C is a cross-sectional view from above and shows the opening and releasing actuator 34 and the synchronizing slider 66, which slides the outer panels 12 and 20 together to mechanically ensure that precise tolerances are maintained. A spring-loaded return mechanism 68 ensures that the outer panels return to the center of the table when the inner panels are removed. A linear track 70 supports the left and right movement of the sliding panels 12 and 20.

[0073] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate the raising and lowering mechanism and the inner panels 14, 16, and 18. In the top of Figure 4A, all three panels are raised. In the middle of Figure 4A, only the center panel 16 is raised. In the lower part of Figure 4A, all three panels 14, 16, and 18 are lowered. With the surrounding panels already lowered, the lower push rod 70 allows the center panel 16 to lower. Figure 4B shows the rising sections 14, 16, and 18 located between sliding sections 12 and 20.

[0074] Referring now to Figures 5A-5C, a parallelogram mechanism for raising the three center panels is shown. Figure 5A is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a portion of the parallelogram. The inner parallelogram can be used to raise the middle panel 16 independently of the other two panels 14 and 18, which are raised by the outer parallelogram, respectively. The panels themselves form the top of the parallelogram, which consists of a base 80 and upper and lower pivots, 82 and 84 for panel 14, 86 and 88 for panel 16, and 90 and 92 for panel 18. Figure 5B shows all three panels raised together, and Figure 5C shows the inner panel 16 raised alone. A latch 94 latches the parallelogram in the upper position.

[0075] Referring now to Figures 6A and 6B, it is shown how the rising panels 14, 16, and 18 are controlled by the position of sliding panels 12 and 20. When sliding panels 12 and 20 are slightly opened, the middle panel 16 can rise, as shown by insert 100. When the sliding panels are fully opened, the further panels 14 and 18 can rise to form the table at its maximum size. Engaging pins 102 and 104 mate into corresponding sockets on the inner or outer rising panels to ensure precise engagement. Rollers or rolling elements 106 ensure smooth movement of the sliding panels over the rising panels.

[0076] Generally, the system of this embodiment may include two parts: an adjustable tray itself and an actuator part. In this embodiment, the actuator is separated from the tray part to reduce the cost of multi-tray platforms and to avoid exposing the actuator to corrosive process chemicals. However, the actuator may also be built into the printing tray.

[0077] The tray has three, five, or more segments that can move to slide along the printing surface or move vertically. These segments are arranged together to form a printing table, and adding more segments increases the printing area. As mentioned above, these segments can be added automatically by actuators, although they can also be inserted manually to meet the tolerance requirements of digital printing.

[0078] The system can support flexible, raised panels of various sizes. Additionally, individual mini panels can be provided to offer different levels of support for thicker parts of garments, such as pockets, zippers, etc.

[0079] In addition to or in place of the tension flaps described above, the tray may include various garment tension mechanisms.

[0080] Referring now to Figures 7A to 7C, three positions of a multi-size tray according to a second embodiment of the invention are shown. The central tray portion 110 has a flat upper surface 112 and a sliding collar 114 and forms a smaller, complete tray, as shown in Figure 7A. Outer wings 116 and 118 rotate away from the central tray and do not contact it, so that shirts can be loaded directly onto the central tray.

[0081] When a larger tray is needed, the outer wings 116 and 118 rotate into the central tray and engage its edges, as shown in Figure 7B. Figure 7C shows the final position, where the outer wings are fully engaged with the central tray to form a larger adjacent surface. Simultaneously, the sliding collar 114 slides outward to provide an enlarged collar.

[0082] This solution addresses the challenge of obtaining trays in multiple sizes. Rotating each triangle alters the width of the printing surface.

[0083] Referring now to Figures 8A through 8C, which are simplified views of another embodiment of the invention, a base platen 130 has one or more outer arms 132, 134, 136, 138 that slide along a slider 140 into place to engage the base platen and increase the printing width. The slider 140 is spaced 142 from the collar 144 to allow shirts, blouses, etc., to be freely inserted onto the tray. Figure 8A shows the minimum width, with the base platen 130 itself and all arms 132, 134, 136, and 138 retracted. Figure 8B shows the intermediate dimension, with outer arms 132 and 138 retracted and inner arms 134 and 136 engaged with the center platen 130. In Figure 8C, all four arms are engaged with the center platen 130 to form the standard width. Each of these arms may include an extension 146 for the collar 144 so that the collar is enlarged as more arms are engaged.

[0084] Figures 9A and 9B show the slider in more detail. The slider 140 includes a rod inserted into the outer arm. A piston 150 causes the outer arm to slide back and forth on the slider. The piston can be operated using a stepper motor.

[0085] This solution addresses the issue of obtaining multi-size pallets while utilizing pallet extensions for a simple stretching effect. The actions to correct the pallet size and the stretching action are performed in the same motion.

[0086] Referring now to Figure 10A, which illustrates the stretching mechanism of Figures 8A-8B for stretching garments mounted on a tray. As shown in Figure 10A, a sliding stretcher 160 slides on a rod to stretch the garment from below. The stretcher slides on the rod under the influence of a stepper motor that pulls the stretcher outward from either side. The stretcher 160 is held in place by a stretcher retainer 164 and includes a rubber layer 166. The stretcher 160 slides under a tray of any size to stretch the garment from below, thereby tightening the upper surface of the garment and thus flattening the upper surface for printing. The action of correcting the size to the tray and the stretching action are accomplished as part of the same mechanism.

[0087] Referring now to Figure 11A, which is a simplified diagram showing the possible flatness tolerance levels for a printing platen used in digital printing, Figure 11B is a simplified diagram showing the required parallelism tolerances for a printing platen used in digital printing. The flatness tolerance of the print head 170 is 0.25 mm along the length of the printing platen. The maximum increment of the distance 172 from the surface to the print head is 0.1 mm, and the maximum spacing between the print head and the garment surface is 0.35 mm.

[0088] Now for reference Figure 12 This is a simplified diagram illustrating a method of using a printing tray according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes first obtaining a first size of a first garment to be printed (180). The size can be entered by an operator, obtained electronically, provided with a printing pattern, or even read from a barcode on the garment itself.

[0089] Once the dimensions are known, the panels can be moved together or apart via a defined mechanical path to form a flat surface suitable for the size of the garment to be printed on the printing tray. The garment can then be slid onto the tray and printed. The process can then be repeated for the next garment, with the tray dimensions adjusted for each garment or batch.

[0090] The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “have,” and their variations mean “including but not limited to.”

[0091] The term "composed of" means "including and limited to".

[0092] The term "consistently made up of" means that a composition, method, or structure may include additional ingredients, steps, and / or portions, provided that such additional ingredients, steps, and / or portions do not substantially alter the essential and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, method, or structure.

[0093] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0094] It should be understood that, for clarity, certain features of the invention described in the context of individual embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment, and this description should be interpreted as if such embodiments were explicitly set forth herein. Conversely, for brevity, various features of the invention described in the context of individual embodiments may also be provided individually or in any suitable sub-combination, or may be adapted as modifications to any other described embodiment of the invention, and this description should be interpreted as if such individual embodiments, sub-combinations, and modified embodiments were explicitly set forth herein. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not considered essential features of those embodiments unless the embodiment cannot operate without these elements.

[0095] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be readily apparent. Therefore, it is intended to cover all such alternatives, modifications, and variations falling within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

[0096] The applicant intends that all publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually cited and would be incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, any reference or identification in this application should not be construed as an admission that such references are prior art to the invention. The section headings used should not be construed as necessarily limiting.

[0097] Furthermore, any priority documents of this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. An adjustable tray for digital printing, comprising: A flat printed surface having flatness tolerances and / or parallelism tolerances, said printed surface being formed of at least two separable portions configured to separate and rejoin while maintaining said flatness tolerances and / or said parallelism tolerances. At least one mechanical path through which the at least two separable portions are guided to allow separation and re-engagement, wherein the at least one mechanical path comprises a linear path, there are at least three separable portions, at least two of which are linearly slidable in the plane of the flat printed surface, and at least one of the separable portions is slidable perpendicularly from the flat printed surface.

2. The adjustable tray according to claim 1, wherein the flatness tolerance is less than 1 mm and / or the parallelism tolerance is less than 0.25 mm.

3. The adjustable tray according to claim 1, wherein the flatness tolerance is 0.25 mm and / or the parallelism tolerance is 0.1 mm.

4. The adjustable tray according to claim 1, having at least three separable parts, one of which is fixed and the other two are linearly slidable.

5. The adjustable tray of claim 1, wherein the separable portion comprises at least two slidable outer portions in the plane and a vertically slidable inner portion, the inner portion being configured to slide below the outer portions to form a relatively small tray and engage with the outer portions to form an abutment surface to produce a relatively large tray.

6. The adjustable tray of claim 5, wherein the inner portion comprises a central portion and two peripheral portions, the central portion being configured to slide independently of the peripheral portions, thereby forming a relatively large tray having an outer portion, the central portion and the peripheral portions, a relatively medium-sized tray having the outer portions and the central portion, and a relatively small tray having only the outer portions.

7. The adjustable tray according to claim 1, wherein the separable portions are pushed together by the action of a tensioning device.

8. The adjustable tray of claim 1, wherein the separable portion includes pins for positioning each other and corresponding sockets.

9. The adjustable tray of claim 1, the tray having a collar end over which garment slides onto the tray, and a slider for sliding the separable portion, wherein the slider is a distance from the collar end, the distance being at least the length of the largest garment suitable for the tray.

10. The adjustable tray of claim 1, the tray having a collar end over which garment slides onto the tray, and a retainer for holding the separable portion in place, wherein the retainer contacts the separable portion at a distance from the collar end, the distance being at least the length of the largest garment suitable for the tray.

11. The adjustable tray of claim 1, further comprising a stretching element for stretching garments from below the tray, the stretching element being placed on a slider, at least one of the separable portions being slidable on the slider.

12. A method for printing garments of different sizes, comprising: Obtain the first size of the first garment to be printed; Define one or more mechanical paths; Separable portions are moved together or separated via the defined mechanical path to form a flat surface for a printing tray, two separable portions are guided to allow separation and re-engagement, wherein one of the one or more mechanical paths includes a linear path, at least three separable portions are present, at least two are linearly slidable in the plane of the flat printing surface, and at least one of the separable portions is slidable perpendicularly from the flat printing surface. Place the garment on the printing tray; Print the garments described; Obtain the second size of the second garment to be printed; If the second dimension is significantly different from the first dimension, the separable portion is rearranged via the defined mechanical path to form a flat surface of an adjustable tray suitable for the second dimension; Place the second garment on the adjusted tray; as well as Print the garment.

13. An adjustable tray for digital printing, comprising: A flat printed surface having flatness tolerances and / or parallelism tolerances, said printed surface being formed of at least two separable portions configured to separate and rejoin using a predefined mechanical path, thereby maintaining said flatness tolerances and / or said parallelism tolerances. At least one mechanical path through which the at least two separable portions are guided to allow separation and re-engagement, wherein the at least one mechanical path comprises a linear path, there are at least three separable portions, at least two of which are linearly slidable in the plane of the flat printed surface, and at least one of the separable portions is slidable perpendicularly from the flat printed surface.

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