Digital Garment Printer with Automated Unloader for Integrated Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mass-production digital textile printing systems require excessive factory floor space and manpower due to separate and loosely integrated systems for printing and drying, leading to inefficiencies in production capacity and flexibility.
Innovation Solution
An integrated digital garment printing system with an automatic unloader that transfers garments from printing pallets to a drying belt, utilizing a two-part conveyor system with lifts on both sides and coordinated drying and printing speeds, allowing for automatic unloading and loading on the same side of the printing unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate printing and drying systems are used with manual transfer, then each system can be operated independently, but excessive factory floor space and manpower are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate printing and drying systems into an integrated automated production line where the printing press, drying conveyor, and transfer mechanism form a unified system. This merging eliminates the need for separate manual transfer operations and reduces overall factory floor space while maintaining independent operational control through automated coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automated transfer mechanism as an intermediary between the printing press and drying conveyor. This mediator automatically moves printed garments from the printing area to the drying area without manual intervention, reducing the space required for operator movement and positioning while maintaining system independence.
2Productivity
If multiple printers operate in parallel with separate dryers, then production capacity increases, but the number of human operators required increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a multi-functional automated system where a single integrated production line can handle multiple garment types, sizes, and printing requirements through programmable controls. The automated transfer mechanism and drying conveyor serve multiple printers simultaneously, allowing one operator to manage the entire system rather than requiring separate operators for each printer-dryer pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service automation where the system automatically loads garments onto printing pallets, transfers them to the drying conveyor, and coordinates the entire production process without human intervention. The automated mechanism serves itself by continuously cycling garments through the printing and drying processes, eliminating the need for manual loading and transfer operations.
3Device complexity
If manual loading and unloading of garments is used, then system complexity is reduced, but production volume and efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the garment handling process into distinct automated functions: garment feeding, pallet loading, printing, automated transfer, and drying. Each segment is handled by a specialized automated mechanism that works in coordination with the others, allowing the system to achieve high production volumes through modular automation rather than requiring a single complex manual system.
4Manufacturing precision
If precise registration is required for printing, then pallet design must be highly accurate, but this makes automatic transfer to dryers difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the precise registration function from the pallet itself and implements it through the printing press positioning system and automated transfer mechanism. The pallet serves only as a simple carrier, while the automation system handles the precise positioning and alignment requirements, allowing easy automatic transfer without compromising printing accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital garment printing system for printing and drying of garments comprises a loading station for loading garments for printing onto pallets, a conveyor, at least one printing functional unit, an unloading station, a dryer; and a drying belt for carrying the garments through the dryer after printing, wherein the unloading station comprises an automatic unloader for removing the garments from pallets and placing the garments on said drying belt.