Wick Strand Color Patterning With Tensioned Spray Application

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for coloring wick strands made of loosely assembled hair and fibers require frequent cleaning of relief pressure rollers and are limited in the number of dyeings per hair, leading to suboptimal quality and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A device with a transport wheel and guideway system that applies tension to the wick strand, combined with a contactless coloring mechanism using spraying nozzles, allowing for precise and increased color application without physical contact, enabling multiple dyeings per hair and preventing color loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If relief pressure rollers are used for printing, then the pattern can be applied to the wick strand, but frequent cleaning is necessary to maintain quality standards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern application qualityVSAvoidcleaning frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful contact between the printing device and the wick strand by replacing relief pressure rollers with a spray application device. The color is applied through a spray nozzle that does not physically touch the wick strand, eliminating the contamination and cleaning requirements associated with contact-based relief printing while maintaining pattern application quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If the number of dyeings per hair is increased, then the quality level of the finished cloth improves, but technological limits are reached with prior methods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor intensity and qualityVSAvoidtechnological limits
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical relief pressure roller system with a spray-based application device. This substitution allows for precise control of color application through spray parameters (pressure, nozzle distance, spray pattern) rather than mechanical pressure, enabling multiple dyeings per hair without the technological constraints of the mechanical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of time

If contactless color application is used, then cleaning frequency is reduced, but the precision of pattern application may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning frequencyVSAvoidpattern application precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a spray nozzle system that applies color through a fluid (spray) mechanism. The spray is directed onto the wick strand with precise control over spray pressure, nozzle-to-strand distance, and spray pattern, achieving accurate pattern application without physical contact. This pneumatic/hydraulic approach maintains precision while eliminating the cleaning issues associated with contact-based mechanical printing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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

The device enables precise and efficient application of multiple colors to wick strands, reducing the need for frequent cleaning and increasing the number of dyeings per hair, while ensuring full color absorption and maintaining high-quality patterns.

Implementation Method 1

the transport device has a delay device, which puts the wick strand moved by the transport device under tension. The tensile stress or prestressing of the wick strand achieved by means of the retarding device causes the wick strand to rest snugly on the transport device, as a result of which a certain strength is achieved in the application zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTensile stress: Tension

Implementation Method 2

the coloring device is designed for applying, preferably spraying, color onto and/or into the wick strand, without any physical contact between the wick strand and the coloring device being provided for this purpose

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpraying: Spray

Implementation Method 3

the applied color is fully adsorbed by the yarns, which means that there is no loss of color

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2047023B1Device for the superimposition of color patterns
Publication Date: 2016.06.22 PETER ZIMMER KEG
  • EP2047023B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4

AI summary

Device for the superimposition of color patterns onto at least one candlewick thread (1) from loosely jointed or thread-like spun hairs and/or fibers and/or textiles with a dyeing device (2) and a transport device (3) for the movement of the candlewick thread relative to the dyeing device, with the device having a delay mechanism (4) that staggers the candlewick thread (1) that is moved by the transport device by means of nominal tensile stress.