IE74404B1 - A method for producing a reel of fabric labels - Google Patents

Abstract

Printed fabric labels are manufactured by drawing off fabric 8 from a reel 1 which is tensioned by a braking mechanism including a depending arm 28 having a weight 30 which may be fixed in a desired position. At a first printing station printing ink is drawn across a screen 44 by a first wiping element in a first stroke and by a second wiping element in a return stroke. The printed fabric is dried and may be further printed at a second printing station prior to final drying. The printed fabric is then wound onto a take up reel.

Description

A method for producing a reel of fabric labels* The invention relates to a method for producing fabric « labels and in particular to a method for producing fabric labels for garments which may be printed in one or more k colours.

Fabric labels are widely used to provide information on garments, for example, the trade mark of a manufacturer, the size range and cleaning instructions. The labels comprise a woven fabric base on which characters are printed. The term fabric as used in this specification refers not only to fabrics made from natural material such as rayon, but also nylon, acrylic, cellulose acetate and polyester. The fabric may be coated or impregnated with any suitable material.

There is a need to produce a wide range of different fabric labels with maximum throughput and minimum changeover time between batches. It is essential to maintain the quality of the printed label so that the label has substantially permanent printing to resist repeated washing or cleaning of the garment.

According to the invention there is provided a method for manufacturing a reel of fabric labels comprising the steps of: mounting a reel of fabric to be printed on a mounting frame; tensioning the reel to control the draw off of fabric · from the reel; drawing the fabric between a first flat platten and a first screen; 744C4 applying printing ink over the screen; wiping the ink over the screen in a first stroke with a first wiping element mounted to a support frame; further wiping the ink over the screen in a return 5 stroke with a second wiping element mounted to the support frame; drying the fabric thus printed; guiding the printed fabric to a take up roll; and reeling the printed fabric onto the roll.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the method includes the step of adjusting the tensioning of the reel to control the draw-off of fabric.

Preferably, the tensioning of the reel is adjusted by applying an adjustable braking force to the reel.

In a preferred arrangement, the first wiping is carried out in a first stroke along the screen by the first wiping element of substantially resilient material. Preferably, the second wiping is carried out in a return stroke along the screen by the second wiping element of rigid material.

Most preferably, the second wiping element is mounted for movement between a raised position on the first stroke to a lowered position on the return stroke.

Preferably the first wiping element is mounted for movement between a lowered position on the first stroke to a raised position on the return stroke.

Preferably also the wiping elements are mounted in a jig which is slidably movable along the support frame between the first and return strokes.

In a preferred arrangement the jig is slidably movable by a ram means on the first and return strokes.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the screen support frame is pivotally mounted for movement about an axis which is parallel to the direction of travel of the fabric and the method includes the steps of raising the support frame, changing the screen as required, and clamping the support frame in a closed position.

In one embodiment of the invention the method includes the step of drawing the printed fabric between a secdnd flat platten and a second screen, applying a printing ink over the screen and, wiping the ink over the screen in first and return strokes.

Preferably the method includes the step of drying the fabric prior to drawing the printed fabric between the second platten and screen.

In a preferred arrangement the method includes the step of further drying the fabric after wiping the ink over the second screen.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the longitudinal side edges of the printed fabric are guided to the take up roll.

The invention also provides a reel of fabric labels whenever produced by a method of the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:5 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating steps in the method for manufacturing fabric labels according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a reel tensioning arrangement used in the method of the invention; Fig. 3 is an end view of the reel tensioning arrangement of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side, partially cross sectional, view of a printing station used in the method of the invention; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of part of the printing station; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the printing station; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a drying apparatus used in the method of the invention; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a guiding and reeling apparatus used in the method of the invention.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1 thereof, in the method for manufacturing a reel of fabric labels according to the invention, a reel 1 of fabric is mounted on a roll having side flanges 2. The reel 1 is mounted in opposed mounting slots 6 in a mounting frame 5 as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The fabric 8 is led from the reel around a series of guides 9 to a first silk screen printing station 10 at which ink is printed onto the fabric in a desired pattern. If desired, a second , colour may be printed onto the fabric at a second screen printing station 11 prior to drying of the fabric in a » final drying station 12. The printed and dried fabric is wound onto a take off reel 15 at a reeling station 13.

The fabric is also preferably dried after the screen printing stations 11,12.

In more detail, the flanges 2 of the reel 1 are gripped between a first stop 20 which may be screwed into a desired position on a support shaft 21 by a locking screw 23 and a second stop 24 which again may be screwed in a position by an adjustment screw 25. A coil spring 26 is provided between the stop 24 and the adjacent flange to adjust the spring braking pressure applied to the flanges 2 of the reel 1. The stops 20, 24 are provided with depending arms 27, 28 respectively, which engage a crossbar 29 as illustrated in Fig. 2. One of the arms 28 has a tubular weight 30 which may be moved up and down the arm 28 to a desired position and locked into position by a locking screw 31. The positioning of the weight 30 on the arm 28 determines the braking pressure applied to the flanges 2 of the reel 1.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 to 6, the fabric 8 from the reel 1 is led over a conveyor 37 coated with a protective plastics material and led to a printing station . At the printing station 10, an enlarged platten 42 is provided which is coated with a plastics material 43 on which the fabric 8 is laid. A conventional screen 44 for * silk screen printing is laid over the fabric 8 as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5. A support frame 40 is , pivotally mounted by pivots 45 on an axis which extends substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the fabric 8 for movement of the support frame from a raised position for setting up the screen 44 for printing to a lowered position illustrated in Fig. 6 ready for printing. Toggle clamps 47 are used for locking the frame 40 in the closed position.

A first wiping element 50 having a wiping head 51 of substantially resilient material is connected to the piston element 53 of a ram 54 for movement of the wiping head 51 across the screen 44 in the direction of the arrow X to spread ink applied over the screen 44 to ensure that it travels onto the fabric 8 in the required pattern. A second wiping element 55 having a wiping head 56 which is, in this case is of rigid material, is pivotally mounted at 57 to an arm 58 and is tilted by a ram 59 from a raised position to an extended wiping position as illustrated particularly in Fig. 4 for further wiping the ink over the surface of the screen 44 to ensure even spread of the ink onto the fabric 8 in the desired pattern. The wiping elements 50,55 are mounted in a jig which is slidably moved over the screen by the ram 54. In a first or forward stroke the first wiping element 50 wipes ink across the screen while the second wiping element 55 is raised. On a return stroke the second wiping element 55 further wipes the ink across the screen for improved print quality.

After printing, the printed fabric 8 is led across a heated plate 60 of a final drier 61 having heating elements 62.

The printed fabric is then directed under a guide roller and between a pair of longitudinal guide members 66 which are spaced-apart for a distance corresponding to the width of the fabric 8 to maintain the tension in the fabric 8 and prevent wrinkling as the fabric is wound onto Ί the take up reel 15. This arrangement is illustrated particularly in Fig. 8.

It will be appreciated that the guiding and reeling apparatus used in the method of the invention may have a number of different take-up reels located at different angular positions. Additional guide means may be provided for directing the fabric to a desired take up reel.

It will also be appreciated that the in feed reel mounting frame may also have a plurality of different reel mounting locations and may be provided with additional guide means for directing fabric from a desired in feed reel.

The invention provides a method for manufacturing a plurality of different printed fabric labels of high quality at maximum throughput. Because of the developments in guiding the fabric at every stage of the process and maintaining tension in the fabric at every stage, and in ensuring that the printing ink is effectively spread on the fabric, a high quality product is produced.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (16)

1. A method for manufacturing a reel of fabric labels comprising the steps of:mounting a reel of fabric to be printed on a 5 mounting frame; tensioning the reel to control the draw off of fabric from the reel; drawing the fabric between a first flat platten and a first screen; 10 applying printing ink over the screen; wiping the ink over the screen in a first stroke with a first wiping element mounted to a support frame; further wiping the ink over the screen in a 15 return stroke with a second wiping element mounted to the support frame; drying the fabric thus printed; guiding the printed fabric to a take up roll; and 20 reeling the printed fabric onto the roll.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 including the step of adjusting the tensioning of the reel to control the draw-off of fabric.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tensioning of the reel is adjusted by applying an adjustable braking force to the reel. ,

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein , the first wiping is carried out in a first stroke along the screen by the first wiping element of substantially resilient material.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the second wiping is carried out in a return stroke along the screen by the second wiping element of rigid material.

6. A method as claimed in claims 4 or 5 wherein the second wiping element is mounted for movement between a raised position on the first stroke to a lowered position on the return stroke.

7. A method as claimed in claims 4 or 5 wherein the first wiping element is mounted for movement between a lowered position on the first stroke to a raised position on the return stroke.

8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wiping elements are mounted in a jig which is slidably movable along the support frame between the first and return strokes.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the jig is slidably movable by a ram means on the first and return strokes . u

10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein * the support frame is pivotally mounted for movement about an axis which is parallel to the direction of travel of the fabric and the method includes the steps of raising the support frame, changing the screen as required, and clamping the support frame in a closed position.

11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim including 5 the step of drawing the printed fabric between a second flat platten and a second screen, applying a printing ink over the screen and, wiping the ink over the screen in first and return strokes.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 including the step 10 of drying the fabric prior to drawing the printed fabric between the second platten and screen.

13. A method as claimed in claim 11 or 12 including the step of further drying the fabric after wiping the ink over the second screen.

14. 15 14. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the longitudinal side edges of the printed fabric are guided to the take up roll. 15. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. 20

16. A reel of fabric labels whenever produced by a method as claimed in any preceding claim. Dated this I4th day of September 1993