Textured Fabric Printing Alignment via Imaging Markers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patterned fabrics face limitations in color variation and design flexibility due to the fixed nature of woven or quilted patterns, which restrict customization and alignment of printed designs, especially when fabrics stretch or distort.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses imaging technology to identify and adjust for threadings such as stitches and bindings in patterned fabrics, allowing for precise alignment and modification of printed designs to match the fabric's distortion, enabling high-quality printing on patterned fabrics with varying textures and colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fabric patterns are created through weaving or quilting processes, then the fabric has tactile appeal and structural pattern, but the color variation and design flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fabric structure is segmented into base fabric layer and overlay pattern layer, allowing independent design and customization of each layer while maintaining the tactile benefits of woven/quilted structures
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic customization of fabric designs by allowing digital modification of pattern parameters, colors, and layouts after the base fabric is manufactured, providing adaptability without requiring complex re-weaving processes
2Adaptability or versatility
If fabric is printed before pattern creating stitches are added, then printing can be performed, but the printed design cannot be easily changed and customization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The base fabric is prepared with pattern creating stitches and reference markings in advance, but the final printed design is applied later through a digital imaging system that allows customization without requiring time-consuming re-weaving or re-quilting processes
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows modification of design parameters including colors, patterns, and layouts through digital imaging technology, enabling customization of printed designs on already-structured fabrics without physical restructuring
3Ease of operation
If fabric stretches or distorts during manufacturing, then the fabric becomes more flexible, but the alignment of printed designs becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system captures images of the actual fabric position and compares it with the expected digital model, providing feedback that is used to dynamically adjust and correct print alignment compensating for fabric distortion in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses colored reference markings on the fabric that are detected by the imaging system to establish coordinate transformations and alignment corrections, enabling precise print placement even when fabric distorts
Data Source
AI summary
A patterned fabric with a number of threadings therein which cause surface variations in the fabric. A selvedge of the fabric includes reference markers therein, preferably also identified by threadings in the fabric (e.g. bindings or stitches). The reference markers include some matching portions that allow for computer imaging identification of the markers at the threading level and a coded portion which varies to identify where along the fabric the marker is located and thus allow a printing and imaging apparatus to identify threadings within a pattern area between the selvedges which pattern area will be printed or is printed with a printed design.