Apparatus and method for treating fabric
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current fabric pre-treatment and inkjet printing processes are inflexible, leading to inferior finish quality due to lint and dust accumulation, and the inability to quickly change pre-treatment chemicals or ink types without significant downtime and thermal damage to the fabric.
Innovation Solution
An integrated apparatus and method that includes a moveable drying station using infrared radiation and a treatment station with movable nozzles to control chemical penetration, along with a cleaning station and motion converter to manage fabric motion, allowing for inline treatment and printing with reduced downtime and improved control over the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If fabric is held stationary in the stationary drier for too long during inkjet printing, then the fabric can be printed on by moving inkjet heads, but the fabric suffers thermal damage by scorching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the stationary drier with a moveable drying zone that travels with the fabric through the printing area. This allows the fabric to remain in motion under the infrared emitters, preventing thermal damage while enabling inkjet printing. The drying zone moves synchronously with the fabric, maintaining continuous drying without stationary contact that causes scorching.
2Loss of energy
If the stenter is turned off after use, then energy is saved, but fabric must be continually moved through the cooling stenter to prevent scorching
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable infrared drying zone eliminates the need for a large stationary stenter that requires continuous operation. The drying function is dynamically applied only when and where needed, allowing the system to be turned off completely when not in use. This converts the continuous operation requirement into on-demand operation, saving energy while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the drying function from the large stationary stenter and concentrates it into a moveable infrared drying zone. This separation allows the drying capability to be applied independently without requiring the entire stenter system to remain operational, enabling energy savings while maintaining continuous fabric processing capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pre-treatment chemicals are changed to facilitate ink type changes, then printing flexibility is improved, but downtime increases and fabric integrity is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The moveable treatment and drying zones enable quick repositioning and reconfiguration for different chemical treatments and ink types. The system can dynamically adjust to different processing requirements without lengthy shutdowns, reducing downtime while maintaining fabric integrity through controlled, mobile processing rather than stationary immersion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pre-treatment and drying processes into movable, independent zones that can be quickly repositioned or reconfigured. This segmentation allows different chemical treatments to be applied in separate, movable stations, enabling rapid changes between ink types without affecting the entire system or requiring extended downtime.
4Productivity
If fabric is manipulated or contacted with other surfaces during processing, then the fabric can be moved through the process, but localized damage occurs generating lint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cleanroom environment and controlled airflow as intermediaries between the fabric and processing equipment. The moveable zones operate within this controlled environment, reducing direct contact with contaminating surfaces while maintaining fabric movement. The airflow field acts as a mediator to prevent lint generation during fabric handling and processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables efficient, customizable, and repeatable fabric treatment and printing, reducing downtime, preventing thermal damage, and improving finish quality by minimizing lint and dust issues, while allowing for quick changes in chemical treatments and ink types.
Implementation Method 1
The emitter is arranged to transfer thermal energy through the emission of infrared radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The apparatus (100) comprises several stations for treating fabric (10). For example, a cleaning station (20) is provided that is arranged to remove loose debris from the fabric and move the fabric in a continuous motion through the cleaning station. A treatment station (40) is then arranged to receive the fabric from the cleaning station and to transfer treatment fluid to the fabric in a treatment zone. Finally, a drying station (50) is arranged to receive the fabric from the treatment station and to dry the fabric in a drying zone. Advantageously, the treatment station is arranged to transfer the treatment fluid by spraying the treatment fluid under pressure onto a side of the fabric.