GB1563545A

GB1563545A - Patterning apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1563545A
Application number: GB3660677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-09-07
Filing date: 1977-09-01
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: JPS5352786A; IT1116934B; DE2640131A1; DE2640131B2; CH616618A5; AT364340B; NL7709633A; ATA601577A; DE2640131C3

Abstract

Rams (1) which can be controlled individually or in groups each have a hollow space (10) extending over part of their length. These rams pass through a space (24) which can be subjected to overpressure for a printing substance containing ink or adhesive, for example. Each ram (1) can be displaced axially between an upper dead-centre point forming the rest position and a lower dead-centre point forming the working position. At the lower dead-centre point, the ram (1) is able to contact the material (3) or partially penetrate it. The material rests on a conveying device and is moved forwards by the latter in accordance with the pattern. The part of each ram (1) constructed in the manner of a hollow item is provided with at least one through-opening (110). This opening serves for allowing the hollow space (10) of the ram to be filled with a viscous printing substance during the ram advance through the printing-substance space (24); on the other hand, it is intended for producing the connection of the hollow space (10) of the ram to a source of compressed air at the lower dead-centre position of the ram (1). The discharge speed of the printing substance can be increased in this manner. This saves time in the case of patterns and allows a sufficient supply of the printing substance, e.g. printing paste, to thick-pile material. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) PATTERNING APPARATUS (71) I, MATHIAS MITTER, of Austrian nationality, of Falkenstrasse 57, 4815 Schloss Hole, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the mehod by which it is to be performed) to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to patterning apparatus, for example for patterning textile material in the form of webs or flat individual portions.

According to claim 1 of our co-pending application No. 19147/76 (Serial No.

1 543 979), there is provided a method of printing a web of material, wherein ink is applied to the web of material in the form of individual dots that make up the print surface, the individual dots being applied to the web of material by a plurality of separate ink carrying rods which are selectively axially movable relative to one another, either individually or groups, and which are brought into contact with, or into partial penetration of, the web of material, the rods being either laterally immovable or laterally non-rotatably movable backwards and forwards in one direction only.

Our above-mentioned co-pending application also provides apparatus for printing a web of material, including a plurality of separate rods which are selectively axially movable relative to one another either individually or in groups, means for supplying ink to the rods, and displacement means for bringing the rods into contact with, or into partial penetration of, the web of material when the latter is opera tively carried in a working plane relative to the rods, the rods being either laterally immovable or laterally non-rotatably movable backwards and forwards in one direction only.

The rods are movable vertically between raised and lowered positions, and each rod is hollow in at least part of its interior, for applying ink or dye to the surface to be patterned. The present invention provides an improvement of the apparatus of above mentioned copending applications.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for patterning an article, comprising a pattern carrier, pushrods axially movably mounted in the carrier, for applying dye (as herein defined) to the article, control means for controlling the pushrods individually or in groups in accordance with the pattern to be applied, means for supplying dye to the pushrods, each pushrod having at least one flow section for receiving dye in its interior and applying the dye to the article, and a compressed gas conduit means for supplying compressed gas to the flow section of each pushrod.

The term dye in this specification is intended to include not only printing ink and other colouring or printing substance, but also other agents such as glazing agent, adhesive or the like.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view partly in cross-section, of part of a first embodiment of the apparatus.

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view in cross-section of part of a further embodiment.

Figure 3 shows the diagrammatic side view of a machine including the patterning apparatus.

Figure 4 shows a view in cross-section taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a patterning apparatus, which is of generally similar construction and mode of operation as that disclosed in our above-stated co-pending patent application, includes a carrier shown in the form of a beam 2 which extends across the material to be patterned. The beam 2 carries a plurality of pushrods 1 which are axially slidable in the beam 2 vertically between raised and lowered positions. The beam 2 has in its interior a dye chamber 24 into which dye can be pumped under presure from a supply 124 by a controllable pump 224 by way of a pipe 324 of which at least part may be flexible.

Each pushrod 1 is hollow over a lower part of its length, thus defining a dye-receiving chamber 10 which in operation is filled with dye for transfer thereof to the material to be patterned, as will be described below. For this purpose, each pushrod is nrovided, at or adiacent the upper end of its hollow part, with at least one through-flow section 110, shown for example as a bore. In the rest nosition of the pushrod, as shown at the left-hand side in Figure 1, the bore 110 is in such a position as to be sealed off with respect to the chamber 24, while as the pushrod is moved downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow to the position shown at the right-hand side in Figure 1, dye will flow from the chamber 24 under pressure into the interior 10 of the pushrod 1. If the viscosity of the dye is relatively high, the pressure in the conduit or pipe 324 must be suitably high, and similarly for the pressure in the chamber 24. In the extended position of the pushrod, as shown at the right-hand side in Figure 1, the pushrod will be in contact with or extend into the article to be patterned, for example a textile pile-bearing or loop-formation article, as shown in Figure 2.

In order for the dye material, which may be of high viscosity, to be discharged from the hollow body portion of the pushrod 1, the pushrod can be brought into communication with a compressed air conduit 9 in the beam 2. The compresser air is supplied by a compressor 90 by way of a servicing unit 91, a water separator or trap 92 and a control member with indicator means 93, to the compressed air conduit 9. The conduit 9 communicates with a plurality of enlarged annular chambers 99, a respective pushrod 1 extending through chamber 99. In the lower limit position of each pushrod 1, the bore 110 is in communication with the respective chamber 99. The conduit 9 is in the lower part of the beam, between the chamber 24 and working 33 (see Figure 2), and joins the chambers 99 in the regions in which the respective pushrods 1 emerge from the beam 2. The conduit 9 is an open flow section, e.g. without control valves therein.

As the pushrods move from their upper limit position into their lower limit position, in a fraction of a second, each chamber 10 receives dye from the chamber 24, and this dye is blown out of the interior of the pushrod 1 by the compressed air which is introduced thereinto automatically by way of the respective bore 110 as the pushrod moves into its lower or working position in which the bore 110 and the conduit 9 are in an at least partly overlapping relation. The inflow of compressed air causes the dye-receiving chamber 10 to be emptied onto the article to be printed. The dye can be blown out of the pushrod above the loops or pile of the particle, i.e. when the pushrod 1 has its lower end in contact with or possibly just above the article surface to be patterned, or, as shown in Figure 2, the pushrod 10 may be inserted partly into the article 3, so that the dye is discharged within the pile or loop formation of the article. In Figure 2, the article lies on a printing blanket 4 which in turn is guided over a working table 400 which can be in the form of a pressure or support beam, in known manner.

The embodiment of Figure 2 is similar to that of Figure 1, and shows that the pushrods 1 may be controlled by magnetic means or solenoids 11a and 11b. Stop screws 28 ensure prescise positioning of the pushrods 1 in their upper position.

The pushrods 1 may be controlled individually or in groups, to produce the desired pattern on the article to be printed.

Figures 3 and 4 show an embodiment of a machine incorporating apparatus as described above. This embodiment of the machine has three working beams 2 which are arranged above the working plane 33 on which the article 3 to be patterned is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow, by a printing blanket 4. The article can be a textile material, e.g. in the form of a web or flat individual portions. However, a different kind of article may also be printed, for example a fibre fleece, absorbent paper or the like.

The printing blanket 4 is driven in an endless circulation by a main tractor roller 40, and also passes around a belt adjusting roller 41, and an intake-end or entry roller 42 provided with a tensioning device 43. The printing blanket is disposed with its drive means in a machine frame 6.

The drive for the printing machine is effected stepwise or, for printing some patterns, continuously, by a main drive arrangement which is shown by way of example as a stepping drive. A main drive motor 5 drives a crank disc 50, connecting rod 150 and link 250. The link 250 carries a pawl 51 for rotating a pawl wheel 52. The main traction roller 40 for the printing blanket 4 is driven from the wheel 52 by way of an e.g. gear transmission 53. Each step of the advance movement of the blanket 4 can be designed or adjusted, depending on the transmission ratio.

e.g. from 0.5 mm up to the desired value of the step.

Figure 4 shows the drive 5, 50, 150, 250, 52, and also shows that the working beams 2 are mounted on fixed stands 120 at their ends.

The working beams and their control means are connected to control units St by way of conduits 21. The control units St can operate in the manner of computers, and control can be effected by perforated cards, manetic tapes or similar reading devices. The devices which are known for controlling Jacquard machines can each produce a completely fresh pattern.

In an alternative form of the machine, the pattern applicator arrangement including the pushrods, may be displaceable relative to the particle, instead of the article being displaceable relative to the applicator arrangement as in the machine of Figures 3 and 4.

The above-described constructions can pro vide a considerable increase in the speed at which the dye is discharged from the pushrods, so that there is a saving of time when applying the pattern, and in addition it is also possible to apply sufficient dye to thick-pile material, as the compressed air blast will blow the dye deep into the pile. Furthermore, the compressed air ensures that all the dye is blown out of the pushrods, even when the dye is of high viscosity, for example it is possible to operate with pushrods even when using dyes in the form of highly viscous pastes. It will also be noted that the apparatus has no movable dye-supply lines which could suffer from the danger of rupture, due to their being connected to the axially movable pushrods.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Apparatus for patterning an article, comprising a pattern carrier, pushrods axially movably mounted in the carrier, for applying dye (as herein defined) to the article, control means for controlling the pushrods individually or in groups in accordance with the pattern to be applied, means for supplying dye to the pushrods, each pushrod having at least one flow section for receiving dye in its interior and applying the dye to the article, and a compressed gas conduit means for supplying compressed gas to the flow section of each pushrod.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said carrier provides a dye-receiving chamber and said conduit means is arranged between the dye chamber and the working plane in which in use said article is disposed, said conduit means being communicable with the interior - of the respective pushrods in the region of the carrier in which the pushrods emerge from the carrier wherein in the working position of each pushrod said conduit means at least partially overlaps with an opening into the interior of the pushrod.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said dye-receiving chamber is a pressurisable chamber.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said conduit means has enlarged annular chambers through which the respective pushrods extend, 5. Apparatus according to claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein said dyereceiving chamber is, in use, connected by a pipe to a controllable pump for supplying dye.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims including a control unit connected to the pushrod assembly and the compressed gas conduit means.

7. Apparatus for patterning an article, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. In a printing machine, apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the working plane in which in use said article is disposed is at a spacing below the lower limit position of the pushreds.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the working place in which in use said article is disposed is arranged to be contacted or approximately contacted by the tips of the pushrods in their lower limit position.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. vide a considerable increase in the speed at which the dye is discharged from the pushrods, so that there is a saving of time when applying the pattern, and in addition it is also possible to apply sufficient dye to thick-pile material, as the compressed air blast will blow the dye deep into the pile. Furthermore, the compressed air ensures that all the dye is blown out of the pushrods, even when the dye is of high viscosity, for example it is possible to operate with pushrods even when using dyes in the form of highly viscous pastes. It will also be noted that the apparatus has no movable dye-supply lines which could suffer from the danger of rupture, due to their being connected to the axially movable pushrods. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Apparatus for patterning an article, comprising a pattern carrier, pushrods axially movably mounted in the carrier, for applying dye (as herein defined) to the article, control means for controlling the pushrods individually or in groups in accordance with the pattern to be applied, means for supplying dye to the pushrods, each pushrod having at least one flow section for receiving dye in its interior and applying the dye to the article, and a compressed gas conduit means for supplying compressed gas to the flow section of each pushrod.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said conduit means has enlarged annular chambers through which the respective pushrods extend,

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein said dyereceiving chamber is, in use, connected by a pipe to a controllable pump for supplying dye.