Light Impression Apparatus for Textile Fabric Graphic Motifs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating graphic motifs on textile fabrics, such as the hobby/craft method using photosensitive dyes and sunlight, are not suitable for industrial production due to variability, defects, and challenges in achieving precise alignment and uniformity across fabric faces.
Innovation Solution
A light impression apparatus with a pair of support structures and filter sheets, where the textile fabric is irradiated by controlled light sources through filter sheets with negative graphic motifs, ensuring precise alignment and uniform photo-oxidation of photosensitive dyes on both fabric faces using air suction for adhesion and adjustable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If sunlight is used for irradiation in the hobby/craft method, then the process is simple and accessible, but the intensity and inclination of solar radiation are strongly variable resulting in variability and defects of the final result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sunlight with artificial light sources (such as UV lamps or LED arrays) that emit light at specific wavelengths and intensities. This allows precise control over irradiation parameters including light intensity, spectral composition, and exposure duration, thereby eliminating the variability inherent in solar radiation while maintaining process simplicity through standardized lighting equipment.
2Measurement precision
If photographic negative is used with solar radiation, then photographic type prints can be created, but undesired light spreading occurs due to imperfect adhesion between fabric and negative
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transparent support medium (such as a rigid plate or frame) as an intermediary between the light source and the fabric. The photographic negative is mounted on this support medium, which provides stable positioning and prevents direct contact between the flexible negative and the fabric surface, thereby eliminating light spreading caused by imperfect adhesion while preserving the high definition quality of the graphic motif.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the hobby/craft method is performed twice on opposite faces of fabric, then graphic motif can be extended to both faces, but it is almost impossible to place the photographic negative in exactly the same position due to fabric flexibility and creases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the irradiation process into two separate, independent operations, each handling one face of the fabric. By using a rigid support medium for the photographic negative in each operation, the alignment and positioning can be precisely controlled and reproduced for each face independently, ensuring perfect alignment of the graphic motif across opposite faces without the compounding errors that would result from attempting to maintain position through fabric manipulation.
4Ease of manufacture
If photosensitive dyes are applied to textile fabric, then graphic motifs can be created through photo-oxidation, but the dyes tend to photo-oxidize whenever exposed to light resulting in undesirable effects even after light impression is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs controlled, periodic irradiation using artificial light sources that can be precisely turned on and off. The irradiation is applied in controlled intervals with specific duration and intensity, allowing the photo-oxidation process to proceed only when needed and to stop completely when the light source is deactivated. This eliminates continuous or accidental photo-oxidation that occurs with photosensitive dyes exposed to ambient light, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the treated fabric while maintaining the simplicity of the graphic motif creation process.
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
Enables high-definition, uniform graphic motifs on both sides of textile fabrics with improved accuracy and repeatability, suitable for industrial-scale production by controlling light exposure and adhesion, reducing variability and defects.
Implementation Method 1
such a dye is photo-oxidized so as to be converted into an insoluble pigment
Data Source
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AI summary
There are described a light impression apparatus and method (1) for providing at least one graphic motif (2A) on a textile fabric (3) to which a photosensitive substance is applied. The light impression apparatus (1) comprises an irradiation chamber (5) provided with a first and a second light source (14A, 14B) suitable for emitting respective light radiations. Moreover, such apparatus comprises at least one support apparatus (10) to support at least one filter sheet (18A) which is suitable for filtering the light radiation emitted by at least one of the first or second light sources (14A, 14B). In particular, the support apparatus (10) comprises a lower support portion (16A) and an upper support portion (16B) which are respectively provided with a first and a second irradiation window (17A, 17B) and which are suitable for respectively supporting a first and a second filter sheet (18A, 18B) of said at least one filter sheet, the upper support portion (16B) being coupled or suitable for coupling to the lower support portion (16A). The support apparatus (10) is suitable for assuming a loading/unloading configuration wherein the upper and lower support portions (16A, 16B) are arranged in such a way as to allow arranging/removing the textile fabric (3) between/from the lower and upper support portions (16A, 16B). Moreover, the support apparatus (10) is suitable to assume an irradiation configuration wherein the support apparatus (10) is disposed in the irradiation chamber (5) and wherein the first and second support portions (16A, 16B) are disposed mutually facing and have the first and second irradiation window (17A, 17B) which are interposed between the first and the second light source (14A, 14B).