JP2022530879A - Methods and equipment for dyeing clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device and a method for dyeing clothes, which can respond to a rapid change in product demand in an economically and environmentally efficient manner. SOLUTION: A dye injection system configured to dispense a concentrated liquid dye, a dyeing machine including a dyeing chamber configured to dye clothes in a dyeing bath, and a dye injection system and a dyeing machine. The controller receives the garment parameters corresponding to the garment and, based on the received garment parameters, contains a volume of concentrated liquid dye containing an amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by the garment. Is dispensed into the dye injection system and is configured to cause the dyeing machine to perform a dye cycle so that substantially all of the dye in the dispensed concentrated liquid dye is absorbed by the garment in the dyeing chamber. .. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[Cross-reference to related applications]
This patent application is the United States of Patent Application Nos. 62/837, 165 of April 22, 2019 and October 23, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. It claims priority from Patent Provisional Application Nos. 62/925, 078.

Known clothes dyeing processes, both industrial and commercial, are expensive and time consuming. In particular, existing clothes dyeing processes use large amounts of dyes, water, salts, and other substances, which are used to add the desired color to the clothes and must be disposed of. Traditional dyeing steps often use dyes containing dyes, water, salts, and premixed solutions of dyes, garments, fabrics, or other elements added to enhance dye compatibility with fibers. Need that. The premixed solution may be delivered to a dyeing machine containing water, where the garment absorbs only a portion of the dye present in the dyeing bath, leaving the resulting effluent in the dyeing machine.

Various steps have evolved to include complex and expensive methods of filtering and / or treating the stained water, but the contaminants remaining in the water stain the remaining water in a variety of flexible colors. Prevents reuse in the process. In fact, even modern dyeing processes cannot avoid the excessive and inefficient consumption of raw materials.

In an industry driven by consumer needs, adapting to evolving trends or seasonal preferences requires the flexibility and efficiency lacking in existing clothes dyeing processes. Not only are the mass batch manufacturing processes that currently define the industry wasteful, they are unable to support the rapid shift in customer color preferences. Current garment dyeing processes are defined by rigid systems that cannot accept, for example, garment color and / or pattern variability or custom production without sacrificing efficiency, quality, and / or resources. .. In addition, existing clothes dyeing processes have long been defined by the inefficient use of excess water, dyes, and other wasteful by-products, which are significant for controlling pollution and environmental impact. It requires effort.

Therefore, there is a need in the background art for a fast and flexible method of dyeing garments that can respond to rapid changes in product demand in an economically and environmentally efficient manner.

The various embodiments described herein relate to devices and methods for dyeing garments. Various embodiments relate to a device for dyeing garments, the device being a dye injection system configured to dispense a concentrated liquid dye, a concentrated liquid dye received from the dye injection system and the like. It comprises a dyeing machine comprising a dyeing chamber configured to dye at least one garment in a dyeing bath having a volume of solvent, a dye injection system and a controller communicating with the dyeing machine, the controller of which is at least. It receives at least one garment parameter corresponding to one garment and contains an amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by at least one garment, at least partially based on at least one received garment parameter. A volume of concentrated liquid dye is dispensed into a dye injection system and dyed so that substantially all of the dye in the dispensed volume of concentrated liquid dye is absorbed by at least one garment in the dyeing chamber. It is configured to cause the machine to perform a dye cycle.

In various embodiments, the dye bath in the dyeing chamber may be substantially free of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, and alkali content throughout the dye cycle. In various embodiments, the dyeing machine can be configured to perform a dye cycle using a dyeing bath at substantially ambient room temperature. In various embodiments, the at least one garment parameter can include the weight of at least one garment. In certain embodiments, the device may further comprise a weight sensor. Further, in various embodiments, the controller can be further configured to receive the weight of at least one garment from the weight sensor. In various embodiments, the dyeing machine can be configured to maintain the volume of solvent in a substantially closed loop system. In certain embodiments, the device may further comprise at least one retention tank that communicates fluidly with the staining chamber, the at least one retention tank being configured to retain the volume of solvent during the staining cycle. be able to.

In various embodiments, the volume of solvent can include water. In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye can include a dye and water. In various embodiments, the dye injection system may include a plurality of concentrated liquid dye cartridges, each of which comprises a volume of concentrated liquid dye having a unique dye color. It is composed of. In certain embodiments, the plurality of concentrated liquid dye cartridges in the dye injection system can include between 7 and 12 concentrated liquid dye cartridges. In various embodiments, the controller comprises the volume of concentrated liquid dye containing an amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by at least one garment, at least in part based on the desired garment color selected by the user. Is further configured to be dispensed into the dye injection system. In various embodiments, the controller is out of a plurality of concentrated liquid dye cartridges to produce the desired garment color selected by the user during the dye cycle, at least partially based on the desired garment color selected by the user. One or more of the concentrated liquid dyes can be further configured to be dispensed into the dyeing chamber. In certain embodiments, the device may further comprise a user interface configured to allow the user to select the desired garment color. In various embodiments, the dispensed volume of concentrated liquid dye contains substantially less than or equal to the dye absorption capacity of at least one garment.

Various embodiments relate to a method of dyeing a garment, the method comprising a dye injection system configured to dispense a concentrated liquid dye and dyeing at least one garment in a dye bath. A stage of preparing a device for dyeing clothes, comprising a dyeing machine having a configured dyeing chamber, a step of accepting at least one piece of clothes and a volume of solvent in the dyeing chamber of the dyeing machine, and at least. The concentrated liquid dye dispensed from the dye injection system and the solvent of said volume based at least in part on the step of receiving at least one garment parameter corresponding to one garment and at least one received garment parameter. A volume of concentrated liquid dye containing an amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by at least one garment is dispensed through a dye injection system and dispensed to produce a dye bath. Containing a step of performing a dye cycle such that substantially all of the dye in the concentrated liquid dye by volume is absorbed by at least one garment in the dyeing chamber.

In various embodiments, the dye in the concentrated liquid dye in the dispensed volume is at least substantially additional dyeing enhancer to the resulting dyeing bath placed in the dyeing chamber of the dyeing machine at the time of performing the dye cycle. The steps of performing the dye cycle, which are configured to be non-existent, include the steps of keeping the dye bath substantially at ambient temperature. In various embodiments, the at least one garment parameter comprises a garment weight corresponding to the weight of at least one garment.

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing performed in color. A copy of this patent or patent application gazette with color drawings will be provided by the Patent Office at the time of request and payment of the required fees.

Here, the attached drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to a certain scale, are referred to below.

It is a schematic diagram of an exemplary dyeing apparatus. It is a figure which shows typically the exemplary apparatus by various embodiments. It is a flow chart of the exemplary method of dyeing a garment according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a flow chart of an exemplary method of cationizing a garment according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a figure which shows the exemplary garment cationized according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a figure which shows the exemplary garment cationized according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a figure which shows the exemplary garment dyed according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a figure which shows the exemplary garment dyed according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a figure which shows the exemplary garment dyed according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a figure which shows the exemplary garment dyed according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. FIG. 3 shows an experimental exemplary garment stained according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. It is a figure which shows the exemplary garment dyed according to some exemplary embodiments described herein. FIG. 6 shows various experimental exemplary garment portions stained according to some exemplary embodiments described herein.

The following description should be read with reference to the drawings in which similar reference numbers show similar elements through several figures. The detailed description and drawings show some embodiments intended to illustrate the disclosure of the present invention. Any numbering of the feature to be disclosed (eg, first, second, etc.) and / or directional terms used in conjunction with the feature to be disclosed (eg, front, back, top, bottom, side, etc.) are relevant. It must be understood that it is a relative term that indicates an exemplary relationship between features.

Hereinafter, exemplary implementations of one or more embodiments will be described, but the disclosed assemblies, systems, and methods are used in any number of techniques, whether currently known or not yet present. You must first understand what you can do. The disclosure of the present invention should by no means be limited to the exemplary practices, drawings, and techniques described below, but rather may be modified within the appended claims along with the full range of their equivalents. Although we disclose values for the dimensions of various elements, the drawings may not be at a constant scale.

As used herein, the term "example" or "exemplary" is intended to mean "useful as an example, case, or example." None of the embodiments described herein as "examples" or "exemplary embodiments" may be preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

Summary Described herein are methods and devices for efficiently dyeing garments that enable on-demand dyeing of garments in a substantially closed loop system. As will be appreciated from the description herein, the various methods and equipment disclosed will minimize waste and environmental impact. In an exemplary practice, garments can be dyed at an expandable level (eg, individual garments, small batches of garments, or large batches of garments) using methods and devices for dyeing garments. Although the various embodiments described herein relate to dyeing garments, the methods and apparatus embodiments disclosed herein describe materials other than garments (eg, garment yarns, twisted yarns, woven sheets, any colorable fabrics. , Or any other dye-absorbing material) must be configured to be dyed.

In various embodiments, the methods and devices include various salts (eg, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate) and various other additions used in conventional dyeing steps, as described in more detail herein. Use a predetermined amount of concentrated liquid dye that is free of substances (eg, sodium ash, caustic soda, etc.). In such embodiments, the amount of concentrated liquid dye used is based on the garment parameter corresponding to the dye absorption capacity of the garment (eg, the weight (or mass) of the fibers in the garment being dyed).

In such an exemplary practice, the concentrated liquid dye is composed primarily of dye and water and can be dispensed directly into the dyeing machine. In the dyeing machine, the dispensed concentrated liquid dye is mixed with a dyeing solvent (eg, water) at the time of dyeing to form a dyeing bath. The garment cationized in the dyeing machine can then absorb all of the dye present in the dyeing bath (eg, as a result of a weight-based injection of a predetermined amount of concentrated liquid dye). .. Therefore, this step results in empty water except for trace contaminants (eg, less than 5% contaminant concentration), and the resulting water is directly reused in subsequent dyeing steps. Will be suitable for.

In various practices, a filtration system can be used to treat the remaining water before it can be reused in the dyeing process, using auxiliary materials such as cutting debris from garment manufacturing. The residual volume of the dye in the dyeing bath can be absorbed. Such an exemplary system configuration allows subsequent garments to be dyed with different dye color combinations using the same solvent, resulting in different colors of garments for subsequent use utilizing a closed loop water system. It enables a dyeing process that maintains the flexibility of dyeing. The exemplary closed-loop water system described herein not only eliminates the large amount of water consumption that defines many traditional dyeing processes, but also eliminates the need for bulky water retention tanks and substantially reduces the footprint of the dyeing equipment. Can be minimized.

In an exemplary practice, the amount of water present in the system can be independent of the dyeing process, as long as the garment can completely absorb the dye, it is the relationship that influences the dye absorption of the garment. This is because the ratio of dye volume to weight. The complex chemical calculations required by conventional staining steps to ensure optimal staining conditions are greatly simplified by substantially eliminating the solution-to-commodity ratio as a variable to be adjusted. As described herein, such an exemplary configuration allows for a simplified dyeing process of concentrated liquid dyes to be injected into a dyeing machine given the resulting garment color selected. The amount is based solely on the weight of the dyed garment.

In a variety of applications, due to the minimization of physical and environmental footprints and the simplification of chemical calculations, the improved dyeing process disclosed herein allows users in both retail and manufacturing environments. It can be possible to dye clothing to a selected color on demand based on input.

Further described herein are patterned garments that allow on-demand pattern cationization of garments and subsequently form a predetermined pattern of dye when the garment undergoes a dyeing process. A system and method for staining. As will be appreciated from the description herein, the disclosed method is substantially automated, rapid and minimizes waste and environmental impact. In an exemplary embodiment, the method of dyeing patterned garments is available at expandable levels (eg, individual garments, small batches of garments, or large batches of garments). Understand that the methods of dyeing patterned garments described herein can be used independently of or in combination with the disclosed methods and devices for dyeing garments, as described herein. Must.

In various embodiments, the method of dyeing patterned garments can include the step of selectively applying a cationizing agent to one or more areas on the garment to form a localized cationic pattern. .. The cationizing agent can be added to the garment using various techniques such as screen printing, spraying, and / or digital printing. In such a situation, when the garment is subsequently subjected to a dyeing operation, substantially all of the dye volume absorbed by the garment is absorbed into the area of the garment to which the cationizing agent has been added, while untreated. The garment area can retain the original garment color. Further, the shade depth of the tinting pattern is one or two of the dye volume used for the dyeing operation, the operating time of the dye cycle, and the concentration of the cationizing agent applied to the area of the garment (“cation concentration”). It can be selectively changed by changing the above. As described herein, it is often necessary to achieve the desired pattern by selectively applying a local amount of cationization pretreatment to produce a tinted pattern on the garment. There is no need for a subsequent reduction step. That is, as described herein, the present invention reduces both the amount of waste liquid discharged in the dyeing process and the production time associated with the production of patterned garments.

Equipment for Dyeing As shown in FIG. 1, the exemplary dyeing device 100 includes a device housing 101, a dyeing machine 110, a dye injection system 120, a filtration system 130, one or more holding tanks 140, and a controller 200. be able to.

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 can include a commercial dyeing container configured to receive one or more cationized garments. The dyeing machine 110 can be further configured to receive a volume of solvent and a volume of concentrated liquid dye dispensed directly from the dye injection system 120 positioned adjacent to the dyeing machine 110. .. The dyeing machine 110 can be positioned on a support surface such as a floor. In various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 can be configured to perform a dye cycle. The dye cycle comprises mixing one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye directly dispensed into the dyeing machine and dyeing the garment in the dyeing machine 110. As described herein, the dyeing machine 110 is a garment (or garments) in a dyeing machine in which substantially all of the dye in a volume of concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the dyeing machine. It can be configured to perform a dye cycle to be absorbed by. In various embodiments, the dyeing machine can comprise a machine configured for a beam dyeing, yarn dyeing, jigger dyeing, wins dyeing, soft flow dyeing, or air flow dyeing process.

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 can include a dyeing chamber configured to dye at least one garment in the dyeing bath. The dyeing chamber can be configured to receive at least one garment and a dyeing bath (eg, a volume of solvent such as water and a volume of concentrated liquid dye). For example, the dyeing chamber can include an internal chamber located within the housing 101 of the dyeing machine 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner chamber of the dyeing machine is the inner cylindrical chamber 111. In some embodiments, the inner cylindrical chamber 111 of the dyeing machine 110 has a volumetric capacity between, for example, 10 and 10,000 liters and rotates at a speed between, for example, 1 and 100 RPM during the dye cycle. Can be configured to. In various embodiments, the rotational speed of the inner cylindrical chamber 111 of the dyeing machine can be constant or varied throughout the dye cycle to facilitate garment entanglement with the volume of dye present in the dye bath. Relative movement between clothes and dyeing bath can be facilitated.

In various embodiments, the dye bath can comprise a volume of solvent and a volume of concentrated liquid dye. Therefore, the dye bath may be composed of essentially a volume of solvent and a volume of concentrated liquid dye throughout the dye cycle. In embodiments where the concentrated liquid dye itself contains water and a dye, the dye bath can also contain a volume of water and a certain amount of dye (dispensed through the concentrated liquid dye).

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 can be configured to keep the dye bath substantially at ambient temperature during the dye cycle. For example, depending on the type of dye used (eg, reactive, direct, or acidic), the dyeing machine is configured to maintain the temperature of the dye bath between 18 and 95 ° C. throughout the dye cycle. be able to. As described herein, by operating the dye cycle at substantially ambient temperature, the dyeing machine 110 needs to heat the dye bath to a temperature substantially higher than the ambient temperature (eg, 20 ° C.). The property can be avoided, whereby the amount of energy consumed during the dyeing process is significantly reduced as compared to the conventional dyeing process. The dyeing machine 110 is configured to perform a dye cycle over a period of time that lasts for the period associated with the weight of the garment in the dyeing machine, the shade depth of the resulting garment color, and the consumption of the dye into the fibers of the garment. Can be done. In an exemplary practice, the dye cycle may include a length of time between 20 and 60 minutes (eg, between 30 and 45 minutes).

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 can be fluid connected to the filtration system 130. In such an exemplary embodiment, the dyeing machine 110 has a volume of solvent and residue of the dyeing bath that has not been absorbed by the garment so that the dyeing bath can be directed to the filtration system 130 after the completion of the dyeing cycle. The dyeing bath containing the volume can be configured to be dispensed. Further, the dyeing machine 110 can be fluid connected to one or more holding tanks 140. In various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 is to receive at least a substantially clean volume of solvent from either one or more retention tanks 140 or directly from the filtration system 130 prior to performing the dye cycle. Can be configured in. In various embodiments, the volume of solvent accepted by the dyeing machine 110 can be substantially equal to or less than the volume of the dyeing machine 110. Further, in various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 may include one or more liquid flow meters positioned at the solvent inlet and / or the solvent outlet, each of which is received by the dyeing machine 110. It is configured to measure the volume of water in and the volume of water being dispensed. The dyeing machine 110 may further include a liquid level indicator configured to measure the volume of water present in the dyeing machine 110.

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine can be configured to wash and / or dry the garment after the dye cycle is complete and the remaining dyeing bath is dispensed from the dyeing machine 110. In various embodiments, the garment can be washed once or more than once to wash away the volume of hydrolyzed dye from the garment. In various embodiments, the number of times the garment is washed may depend on the shade depth of the garment output color selected by the user.

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine 110 may further include a weight sensor (eg, a scale) to determine the weight of the garment being dyed. In various embodiments, the weight sensor can either be incorporated within the dyeing machine 110 or as an independent component. In various embodiments, the weight sensor can be configured to communicate the measured weight to the controller 200.

As merely an example, the dyeing machine 110 can be equipped with a Flainox NRG, E-Color, and Essiccatoi machine, or any other suitable dyeing machine having the configurations as described herein.

In various embodiments, the dye injection system 120 is such that one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed directly into the dyeing machine 110 from the dye injection system 120 into the dyeing machine 110. Can be positioned adjacently. The dye injection system 120 may include a dye housing 121 configured to accommodate each of one or more volumes of concentrated liquid dye and a corresponding dispensing mechanism. As described herein, concentrated liquid dyes can include a certain amount of dye and a certain volume of solvent and may be associated with a unique color based on the composition of the dye. For example, the concentrated liquid dyes used in various embodiments may consist solely of water and dyes (eg, chromophores). In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye is like, for example, various added salts (eg, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate), alkali content (eg, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate), or other contaminants. It may not contain various additives conventionally used to increase the uptake rate of dyes in various dyeing processes. In certain embodiments, the concentrate is water and dye, plus one or more life improvers configured to extend the useful life of the concentrated liquid dye (eg, sodium tripolyphosphate and / or antibacterial). Agent) can be provided.

In various embodiments, one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye can be stored in one or more concentrated liquid dye cartridges 122, respectively. The dye housing 121 can be configured to secure and position each of the one or more concentrated liquid dye cartridges 122 so that they are fluid-connected to their respective dispensing headers 123. In various embodiments, the dye injection system 120 comprises between 1 and 20 (eg, between 7 and 12) concentrated liquid dyes, each containing a concentrated liquid dye associated with the respective concentrated liquid dye color. A cartridge 122 can be provided. In various embodiments, one or more corresponding dye dispensing headers 123 can be configured to direct the flow of concentrated liquid dye in volume dispensed from the concentrated liquid dye cartridge 122 towards the dyeing machine 110. .. The exemplary device shown in FIG. 1 has 12 concentrated liquid dye cartridges 122 and 12 corresponding dye dispensing headers 123.

As described herein, the dye injection system 120 facilitates dispensing one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye into the dyeing machine to produce a preselected obtained garment-colored garment. Can be configured in. In various embodiments, each of the concentrated liquid dyes can be associated with the color of the concentrated liquid dye, respectively. As a non-limiting example, various concentrated liquid dyes can include orange 1, orange 2, yellow 1, yellow 2, blue 1, turquoise 3, and / or red 2. A variety of one or more concentrated liquid dyes such that the total concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the dyeing machine 110 includes a dye input color configured to produce a user-preselected obtained garment color. It can be dispensed in any ratio. As a non-limiting example, the various obtained garment colors are exemplary proprietary colors with manufacturer-specified properties (eg, for convenience, light orange, bold orange, pale yellow, dark yellow, dark blue, as used herein. (Called light turquoise, dark red, etc.) can be included. In various embodiments, each resulting garment color can be associated with a depth of shading (eg, light orange contains a lighter shading depth than bold orange). In various embodiments, the percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color (ie, the dispensing ratio of each concentrated liquid dye) determines the dye input color and affects the shade of the resulting garment color. Further, as described herein, the shade depth of the resulting garment color is at least the total amount of dye (per unit weight or other garment parameter) required to produce garments with the resulting garment color. Can be partially addressed. For example, in an exemplary situation where the first obtained garment color comprises a shadow depth that is more pronounced than the light shade depth of the second obtained garment color, to produce a garment with the first obtained garment color. , May require more total amount of dye (eg, per unit weight of dyed garment).

Further, in various embodiments, each volume of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) is at least to the garment parameter corresponding to at least one garment in the dyeing machine 110. May be partially based. In various embodiments, the garment parameter can be a characteristic of the garment (or garment group) that at least partially determines the function of the garment to absorb a certain volume of pigment (eg, the pigment absorption capacity of the garment). In other words, the garment parameter is a characteristic or characteristic of the garment (or garment group) known to correspond to the pigment absorption capacity of the garment (eg, the total amount of pigment that the garment or garment group can absorb from the dye bath). Can be. As a non-limiting example, garment parameters include garment weight, garment size (eg, for known garment types where the garment size corresponds to a known absorption capacity), garment SKU, and known dye absorption capacity. Can be any garment value corresponding to. For example, in various embodiments, each volume of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) can correspond proportionally to the weight of the garment in the dyeing machine 110. (For example, so that the total amount of concentrated liquid dye dispensed from the dye injection system to produce the resulting garment-colored garment depends on the weight of the garment). For example, the amount of pigment in the total volume concentrated liquid dye dispensed to dye the garment may be less than the dye absorption capacity of the garment.

Further, for example, in various embodiments, each volume of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) can correspond to the cation concentration of the garment in the dyeing machine 110. .. In various embodiments, it may be known that the maximum volume of concentrated liquid dye that the garment can absorb results in the maximum deep garment color. Similarly, the maximum volume of this absorbable concentrated liquid dye determines the maximum volume of concentrated liquid dye that can be dispensed into the system for dyeing garments. As understood from the description herein, the maximum volume of the concentrate liquid dye that can be absorbed is the concentration of the concentrated liquid dye (eg, the amount of dye per unit volume of the solvent containing the concentrated liquid dye) and is dyed. It depends on the weight of the garment (eg, a heavy garment can absorb more dye than a light garment of the same material).

In various embodiments, a smaller amount of dye can be injected into the machine to affect the shade depth of the dye input color (eg, to produce a brighter shade of the dye input color). As a non-limiting example, in various embodiments, the first obtained garment color corresponding to a brighter shading depth is a smaller amount of dye than the second obtained garment color corresponding to a more pronounced shading depth. It may be necessary to dispense (per unit weight of garment) into the machine (eg, through one or more volumes of concentrated liquid dye). Thus, in various embodiments, the resulting garment color is a percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color and the amount of concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the system (proportional to the weight of the dyed garment). Can be both functions of.

The controller 200 can be configured to calculate both the appropriate ratio and the appropriate volume of each concentrated liquid dye to be dispensed, based on the input received from the user in the user interface. For example, the controller is substantially based on at least one garment parameter, at least in part, on the amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by at least one garment (ie, substantially more than the dye absorption capacity of at least one garment. A volume of concentrated liquid dye containing (smaller or equal) can be configured to be dispensed into the dye injection system. The dye injection system 120 can be configured to receive communications from the controller 200 and thereby dispense an appropriate amount of each concentrated liquid dye to the dyeing machine 110.

In various embodiments, one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed directly from the respective dispensing header 123 into the dyeing machine 110. In various other embodiments, a volume of concentrated liquid dye may be dispensed from each dispensing header 123 into the mixing tank to facilitate sufficient mixing prior to further dispensing into the dyeing machine 110. can. In yet another embodiment, one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye are configured to accept one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye from the respective dispensing header 123 and feed each volume to the dyeing machine 110. May be dispensed into a common delivery conduit. In such embodiments, one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye can be present in the delivery conduit at substantially the same time to facilitate mixing of the respective volumes within the delivery conduit. In certain embodiments, the delivery conduit may further comprise mixing hardware present in the delivery conduit configured to further facilitate mixing by creating a winding fluid flow. The delivery conduit can also be fluid connected to a concentrated liquid dye recovery funnel or other suitable recovery mechanism configured to capture each of one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye and direct it towards the delivery conduit.

As merely an example, the dye injection system 120 may include a ColorService SRL JIT automatic dye administration machine, a Datacolor Autolab TF dispensing system, or any other suitable dye injection system having the configuration as described herein. ..

In various embodiments, the filtration system 130 can be configured to accept the dye bath from the dyeing machine 110 after the dye cycle is complete and remove the entire residual volume of dye remaining in the dye bath. In various embodiments, the filtration system 130 can include a reservoir and auxiliary materials. The reservoir can be configured to maintain the volume of the dye bath dispensed from the dyeing machine 110. In various embodiments, the reservoir can be made from a non-absorbable inactive material such as polypropylene. In various embodiments, the auxiliary material of the filtration system 130 can be configured to be immersed in the volume of the dye bath to interact with and absorb the entire residual volume of the dye. In one exemplary device, the auxiliary material can include extra fabric, fibers, plying, cotton and can be cationized to promote dye absorption. For example, the auxiliary material may be sewn into a polypropylene container (ie, a "tea bag") to facilitate the interaction of the auxiliary material with the dye bath contents and maintain control during immersion of the auxiliary material. can. Alternatively, in various embodiments, the filtration system 130 may include a container with one or more filters configured to remove the entire residual volume of dye from the dye bath. Further, in an alternative environment, the filtration system 130 may not include a reservoir, but instead is immersed in the dye bath after the dye cycle is complete but before the dye bath is dispensed from the dyeing machine 110. May contain only auxiliary materials configured to be such. In various embodiments, the filtration system 130 detects when the dye bath is sufficiently washed by measuring the transmission of light through the volume of the dye bath to quantify the presence of residual impurities. Further sensors configured to do so can be provided.

In various embodiments, after the volume of dye obtained has been removed from the dye bath, the filtration system 130 dispenses into one or more retention tanks 140 to store a substantially clean volume of solvent. Can be configured to. Alternatively, the filtration system 130 can be configured to dispense a substantially clean volume of solvent and return it to the dyeing machine 110 for use in the next dye cycle.

As merely an example, the filtration system 130 can be equipped with an Axium Process dyeing plant wastewater treatment and water recycling system, or any other suitable filtration system having the configuration as described herein.

In various embodiments, the one or more holding tanks 140 comprises one or more containers configured to contain the extra solvent present in the closed loop system of the staining apparatus 100 described herein. be able to. In various embodiments, each of the one or more holding tanks 140 holds a volume of solvent that is substantially equal to or greater than the volume of solvent that can be used to determine the dye bath. Can be done. In various embodiments, the one or more holding tanks 140 can be configured to receive a substantially clean volume of solvent from either the filtration system 130 or the dyeing machine 110. In various embodiments, the one or more retention tanks 140 can be configured to retain a volume of solvent during the staining cycle. One or more holding tanks 140 can be further configured to dispense a volume of solvent to the dyeing machine 110. One or more holding tanks 140 may not be present in various embodiments of the clothes dyeing apparatus 100 as described herein.

As merely an example, one or more holding tanks 140 may include any suitable commercially available liquid holding tank having the configurations as described herein.

As shown in FIG. 2, the exemplary controller 200 includes a processing circuit 202, a memory 204, an input-output circuit 206, a communication circuit 208, a dyeing machine circuit 210, a dye injection system circuit 220, a power supply circuit 214, and a user interface circuit 216. Can be provided. The exemplary controller 200 can be configured to perform the operations described above with respect to FIG. 1 and the operations described below with respect to FIG. In various embodiments, the controller 200 is configured as a separate component that is located within the device housing 101 or electronically connected to various other components having the device as described herein. May be outside the housing. A portion of these components 202-216 will be described with respect to their functional characteristics, but it must be understood that certain implementations necessarily involve the use of specific hardware to implement such functional characteristics. It doesn't become. Similarly, it should be understood that certain of these components 202-216 can be equipped with similar or common hardware. For example, the two circuit sets do not require duplicate hardware for each circuit set, as both can utilize the same processor, network interface, storage medium, etc. to perform their associated functions.

Accordingly, as used herein with respect to the components of the dyeing apparatus 100, the use of the term "circuit" is a particular configuration configured to perform the function associated with each circuit described herein. Equipped with hardware. Of course, the term "circuit" must be broadly understood to include hardware, but in some embodiments, the circuit can also include software for configuring the hardware. For example, in some embodiments, the "circuit" can include a processing circuit, a storage medium, a network interface, an input-output device, and other components. In some embodiments, other elements of the controller 200 may provide or complement the functionality of a particular circuit. For example, the processing circuit 202 can provide a processing function, the memory 204 can provide a storage function, and the communication circuit 208 can provide a network interface function among the functions.

In some embodiments, the processing circuit 202 (and / or the coprocessor, or any other processing circuit that assists the processor or is otherwise associated with the processor) is a bus for passing information between the components of the device. It can communicate with the memory 204 through. The memory 204 can be non-temporary and may include, for example, one or more volatile and / or non-volatile memories. For example, the memory 204 can be an electronic storage device (eg, a computer-readable storage medium). In another example, memory 204 is a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium that stores computer-executable program code instructions that cause the computer system to perform the various operations described herein when performed by the computer system. Can be done. The memory 204 may include information, data, content, signal applications, or instructions (eg, computer executable program code instructions) that allow the controller 200 to perform various functions in accordance with the exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present invention. Can be configured to store. For example, the memory 204 has garment type data; garment weight data; concentrated liquid dye cartridge filling status data; dye color combination data; concentrated liquid dye data (eg, dye concentration); dye cycle construction technology; concentrated liquid dye dispensing calculation; Dye composition data; dye injection techniques; energy consumption data; water consumption data; monitor data; any other suitable data or data structure; or any one or more combinations thereof can be configured to be stored. Memory 204 is any electronic information, data, data structure, embodiment, embodiment, diagram, process, operation, technique, algorithm, instruction, system, apparatus, method, or computer program product described herein, or any of them. It will be appreciated that any combination of can be configured to store partially or wholly.

The processing circuit 202 can be embodied in several different ways and may include, for example, one or more processing devices configured to perform independently. In addition to or in lieu of this, the processing circuit 202 is one or more processors configured in tandem through the bus to allow independent execution of instructions, pipelines, multithreading, or a combination thereof. Can be provided. The use of the term "processing circuit" can be understood as including a single core processor, a multi-core processor, multiple processors inside the device, a remote processor or a "cloud" processor, or a combination thereof.

In an exemplary embodiment, the processing circuit 202 may be configured to execute an instruction stored in memory 204 or otherwise accessible to the processing circuit 202. Alternatively or additionally, the processing circuit 202 can be configured to perform hard-coded functions. Therefore, regardless of whether the processing circuit 202 is composed of hardware or a software method or a combination of hardware and software, the processing circuit 202 operates according to the embodiment of the disclosure of the present invention while being appropriately configured. It can represent an entity that can be executed (eg, physically embodied in a circuit). As another example, when the processing circuit 202 is embodied as an executor of a program code instruction, the instruction specifically configures the processor to perform the operations described herein when the instruction is executed. can do.

In some embodiments, the controller 200 may include an input-output circuit 206, which in turn communicates with the processing circuit 202 to provide output to the user, in some embodiments. In the form, it is possible to receive an input such as a command given by the user. The input-output circuit 206 can include a user interface such as a graphical user interface (GUI), including a web user interface, a GUI application, a mobile application, a client device, or any other suitable hardware or software. Can be equipped with a display that can. In some embodiments, the input-output circuit 206 is also a keyboard, mouse, joystick, display device, display screen, touch screen, touch area, soft keys, microphone, speaker (eg, buzzer), light emitting device (eg, buzzer). It can include red light emitting diodes (LEDs), green LEDs, blue LEDs, white LEDs, infrared (IR) LEDs, ultraviolet (UV) LEDs, or combinations thereof), or other input-output mechanisms. Processing circuit 202, input-output circuit 206 (processing circuit 202 can be utilized), or both are computer executable program code instructions (eg, memory 204) stored on a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium (eg, memory 204). For example, it can be configured to control one or more functions of one or more user interface elements through software (software, firmware). The input-output circuit 206 is optional, and in some embodiments, the controller 200 may not include an input-output circuit. For example, if the controller 200 does not interact directly with the user, the controller 200 generates and generates user interface data for display by one or more other devices with which one or more users interact directly. User interface data can be sent to one or more of those devices. For example, the controller 200 can use the user interface circuit 216 to generate user interface data for display by one or more display devices and transmit the generated user interface data to those display devices. ..

The communication circuit 208 is either hardware or a combination of hardware and software configured to receive or transmit data to and from any other device, circuit, or module that communicates with the network or controller 200. It can be any embodied device or circuit. In this regard, the communication circuit 208 may include, for example, a network interface that allows communication with a wired or wireless communication network. For example, the communication circuit 208 is one or more network interface cards, antennas, buses, switches, routers, modems, and support hardware and / or software, or anything else suitable for enabling communication over a network. Can be equipped with devices. In some embodiments, the communication interface may include circuits that interact with the antenna to allow communication of the signal through the antenna or to process reception of the signal received through the antenna. These signals are IEEE 802.11, code split multiplex access (CDMA), pan-European digital mobile telephone system (GSM), universal mobile communication system (UMTS), Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Bluetooth® v1. .0 and v5.0, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), infrared radio (eg IrDA), ultra-wideband radio (UWB), inductive radio transmission, Wi-Fi, short-range radio communication (NFC), Worlddide Interoperability for Microwave Controller 200 using any of several Internet technologies such as (WiMAX), radio frequency (RF), RFID, or other suitable technology, Bluetooth technology, cellular technology, satellite technology, or radio technology. Can be transmitted or received by.

The dyeing machine circuit 210 receives, processes and generates data associated with the execution of the dye cycle by the dyeing machine and its interaction with other components of the dyeing apparatus 100, such as the dye cycle start and end signals. And includes hardware components designed or configured to transmit. In various embodiments, the dyeing machine circuit 210 can be configured to receive, for example, a dye cycle start command based on a signal transmitted from the input-output circuit 206. Further, the dyeing machine circuit 210 can be configured to communicate with the memory 204 and process commands associated with the dye cycle configuration (eg, operating time, dyeing bath temperature). In various embodiments, the dyeing machine circuit 210 can be configured to transmit a dye cycle completion signal to one or more circuit elements of the controller 200.

The dye injection system circuit 212 comprises hardware components designed or configured to receive, process, generate, and transmit data such as color composition data and concentrated liquid dye dispensing data. In various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to receive a user-selected garment color signal from the input-output circuit 206. In various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to communicate with the memory 204 and retrieve the concentrated liquid dye ratio data associated with the user-selected garment color shown in the received signal. .. The concentrated liquid dye ratio data can include each ratio (ie, recipe) of each concentrated liquid dye to be dispensed to produce the dye input color associated with the resulting garment color. For example, in various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye ratio data is dispensed to produce the resulting clothing color, along with the dye concentration of each concentrated liquid dye (ie, the ratio of the dye to water in the concentrated liquid dye). Each ratio of each dye that should be included can be included. In various embodiments, the memory 204 can store concentrated liquid dye ratio data for each of the available garment colors that can be selected. In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye ratio data is one or more lookup tables associated with each of the available garment colors (eg, concentrated liquid to produce garments of the resulting garment color). Correlate the appropriate ratio of dyes and / or the appropriate total amount of dye to be dispensed). As a non-limiting example, an exemplary look-up table can include various concentrated liquid dye color ratios corresponding to various unique obtained garment colors, for example:

(table)

Further, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to receive at least one garment parameter corresponding to at least one garment from one or more components of the controller 200. For example, the dye injection system circuit 212 is configured to receive a garment weight signal (eg, a user-selected garment weight signal) from the dyeing machine circuit 210 (eg, from a weight sensor) and / or from an input-output circuit 206. be able to. Alternatively and / or additionally, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to receive a user-selected garment type signal and / or garment count signal, in which case the dye injection system circuit 212. , Can be further configured to identify garment weights corresponding to user-selected garment types and / or garment counts. In such an exemplary embodiment, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to communicate with the memory 204 to determine the weight of the garment corresponding to the garment type. In various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 has an appropriate size factor applied to each volume of concentrated liquid dye configured to dispense in the ratios described above, eg, based on the weight of the garment. It can be configured to determine. For example, in various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 provides one or more look-up tables associated with a correlation of garment weight to the total volume of dye required to completely dye the corresponding garment. You can retrieve the data you have. In various embodiments, the total volume of dye required to completely dye the corresponding garment may depend on the resulting garment color selected. As a non-limiting example, the total volume of dye required to completely dye the first garment to the unique obtained garment color of dark blue is the unique light red of the second garment of equal garment weight. It may be larger than the total volume of dye required to completely dye the resulting garment color. In such embodiments, the total volume of dye required to fully dye a garment of known garment weight, regardless of the garment color obtained at the user's choice, is the fully cationized garment of the corresponding weight. Does not exceed the dye absorption capacity of.

As described herein, the dye injection system circuit 212 is configured to calibrate the total volume of concentrated liquid dye dispensed through the dye injection system based at least in part on the cation concentration of at least one garment. can do. The total volume of the concentrated liquid dye dispensed through the dye injection system can be optimized to minimize the volume of dye remaining in the dye bath as a result of performing the dye cycle. For example, in various embodiments, the total volume of the concentrated liquid dye dispensed through the dye injection system can contain substantially less than or equal to the dye absorption capacity of the garment. As a non-limiting example, various exemplary look-up tables corresponding to various unique obtained garment colors are, for example, the total amount of dye to be dispensed calibrated for different garment weights, such as: And / or the total concentrated liquid dye can be included.

(table)

As another non-limiting example, various exemplary look-up tables corresponding to various uniquely obtained garment colors, such as light red, are calibrated for different garment weights, for example: It can contain different volumes of each concentrated liquid dye to be dispensed.

(table)

In various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to transmit the results of the above calculations and decisions to the dye injection system 120. In various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to transmit a dye injection completion signal to one or more circuit elements of the controller 200. As another non-limiting example, the dye injection system circuit 212 can be configured to receive a garment pattern signal from one or more components of the controller 200, in which case the dye injection system circuit 212. Can be further configured to identify the garment cation concentration corresponding to the received garment pattern signal.

As a non-limiting example, the controller 200 (eg, dye injection system circuit 212) may receive data corresponding to a garment weight of 150 grams and a user choice of garment color to obtain a uniform proprietary light red. can. As described herein, the dye injection system circuit 212 has a 3.0 mL dye injection system to produce the resulting garment color of light red against 150 grams of fully cationized cotton. Data can be retrieved from the lookup table indicating that the Yellow 1 Concentrated Liquid Dye, 1.5 mL Orange 1 Concentrated Liquid Dye, and 6.0 mL Red 2 Concentrated Liquid Dye must be dispensed into an exemplary dyeing machine. can. In various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 is further configured to determine the dye injection rate at which the three volumes of the concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed, at least partially based on the corresponding garment weight. Can be done.

As yet another non-limiting example, the controller 200 (eg, Dye Injection System Circuit 212) accommodates two size L cotton T-shirts and a user choice of garment color to obtain a uniform proprietary light red. You can receive the data to be used. As described herein, the dye injection system circuit 212 can retrieve data from the lookup table indicating that one size L cotton T-shirt has a garment weight of 75 grams, and further stain. It can be determined that the garment weight of one or more garments to be garment is 150 grams. As described herein, the dye injection system circuit 212 is a dye of Yellow 1 and Orange 1 to produce the resulting garment color of light red against 150 grams of fully cationized cotton. Data can be retrieved from the lookup table indicating that the ratio of dye to dye of Red 2 should be 2: 1: 4. The dye injection system circuit 212 provides data from a look-up table showing that in the case of 150 g of fully cationized cotton, 10.50 mL of concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed to produce a light red garment color. Can be taken out. The dye injection system circuit 212 has two sheets with a light red garment color, at least partially based on the known percentage assignments of the various concentrated liquid dyes and the total total concentrated liquid dye volume to be dispensed. 3.0 mL of Yellow 1 Concentrated Liquid Dye, 1.5 mL of Orange 1 Concentrated Liquid Dye, and 6.0 mL of Red 2 Concentrated Liquid Dye must be dispensed into the dyeing machine to produce a size L cotton T-shirt. You can decide not to.

As an alternative non-limiting example, the controller 200 (eg, dye injection system circuit 212) receives data corresponding to a garment weight of 150 grams and a user choice of garment color to obtain a uniform custom red. Can be done. In various embodiments, the dye injection system circuit 212 is to the data retrieved from the data lookup table corresponding to the resulting garment color of the proprietary light red determined to be at least substantially similar to the selected custom red color. Divide the Yellow 1 Concentrated Liquid Dye, the Orange 1 Concentrated Liquid Dye, and the Red 2 Concentrated Liquid Dye in a 1: 1: 2 ratio to produce a user-selected custom red garment color, at least in part. You can decide that you have to note. The dye injection system circuit 212 further comprises 150 grams, at least partially based on the data taken from the lookup table corresponding to the resulting garment color of the proprietary light red and the shade depth of the determined custom red color. It can be determined that in the case of fully cationized cotton, 12 mL of concentrated liquid dye must be dispensed to produce the resulting garment color of the custom red of choice. The dye injection system circuit 212 is a garment with an orange output color at maximum shading depth, at least partially based on the determined percentage allocation of various concentrated liquid dyes and the total total concentrated liquid dye volume to be dispensed. It can be determined that 3.0 mL of Yellow 1 concentrated liquid dye, 3.0 mL of Orange 1 concentrated liquid dye, and 6.0 mL of Red 2 concentrated liquid dye must be dispensed into the dyeing machine to produce. ..

In various embodiments, the power supply circuit 214 can be configured to receive power and supply power to the controller 200. As a non-limiting example, the power supply circuit 214 may include one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, one or more constant power supplies (eg, wall outlets), and the like. In some embodiments, the power supply circuit 214 may include an external power source positioned outside the device housing 101 and configured to deliver AC or DC power to the controller 200. Further, in some embodiments, the power supply circuit 214 may include an internal power source such as, for example, one or more batteries positioned within the device housing 110.

The user interface circuit 216 comprises hardware components designed or configured to receive, process, generate, and transmit data such as user interface data. In various embodiments, the user interface circuit 216 comprises available available garment colors, user-selected colors, available garment types, user-selected garment types, user-selected garment weights, dye cycle start signals, and rest. It can be configured to generate user interface data representing dye cycle times, dye cycle completion signals, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the user interface data can include a visual illustration that previews the user-selected garment type in user-selected colors. In some cases, the user interface data is a list of available clothing colors, clothing weights, and / or clothing types (eg, selectable drop-down lists, selectable icons (eg, mouse clicks). Includes clickable icons configured to, ordered groupings of virtual icons (virtual icons that appear on the touch screen and configured to be pressed with the user's finger), text-based prompts, voice-based prompts). Can be done. For example, the user interface circuit 216 comprises hardware components designed or configured to generate user interface data based on any of the embodiments or combinations of embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. be able to.

In some embodiments, the user interface circuit 216 is to communicate with a display device (eg, an input-output circuit 206, a user device, or a display device communicatively connected to them) and thus the user interface data. It can be configured to send to the display device. For example, the user interface circuit 216 can be configured to generate user interface data and transmit the generated user interface data to the input-output circuit 206, which in turn receives the user interface data. The received user interface data can be configured to be displayed on one or more display screens. In various embodiments, for example, the user interface circuit is configured to receive user input (eg, user selection) on a display device (eg, display screen) located near and / or on the dyeing machine 110. Can be configured in.

In some embodiments, each of the dyeing machine circuit 210, the dye injection circuit 212, and the user interface circuit 216 is a separate processor, specially configured field programmable gate array (FPGA) to perform the above functions. , An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a cloud utility can be provided. In some embodiments, the hardware components described above with reference to the dyeing machine circuit 210, the dye injection circuit 212, and the user interface circuit 216 are, for example, the communication circuit 208, or any suitable wired or wireless communication path. Can be utilized to communicate with the user device and with any other suitable circuit or device.

In some embodiments, one or more of the dyeing machine circuit 210, the dye injection circuit 212, and the user interface circuit 216 may be hosted locally on the controller 200. In some embodiments, one or more of the dyeing machine circuit 210, the dye injection circuit 212, and the user interface circuit 216 will be hosted remotely (eg, by one or more cloud servers). Therefore, it does not have to be physically resident in the controller 200. Accordingly, some or all of the functions described herein can be provided by remote circuitry. For example, the controller 200 can access one or more remote circuits through any kind of network connection that facilitates the transmission of data and electronic information between the controller 200 and the remote circuits. Next, the controller 200 can remotely communicate with one or more of the dyeing machine circuit 210, the dye injection circuit 212, and / or the user interface circuit 216.

As described above and as acknowledged in accordance with the disclosure of the invention, embodiments of the disclosure of the invention are systems, devices, methods, mobile devices, back-end network devices, computer program products and other suitable devices. , And a combination thereof. Accordingly, embodiments can include various means comprising hardware alone or any combination of software and hardware. Further, embodiments can take the form of computer program products on at least one non-temporary computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions (eg, computer software) embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium with a non-temporary hard disk, CD-ROM, flash memory, optical storage device, or magnetic storage device can be utilized. As will be appreciated below, any computer program instruction and / or other type of code described herein can be loaded into the circuit of a computer, processor, or other programmable device to generate a machine. As such, a computer, processor, or other programmable circuit that executes code on that machine produces means for performing various functions, including those described herein.

In some embodiments, the user device can be embodied in one or more computer devices or systems that can also include processing circuits, memory, input-output circuits, and communication circuits. For example, the user device can be a laptop computer on which an application (eg, a GUI application) is running or otherwise executed by a processing circuit. In yet another example, the user device can be a smartphone on which an application (eg, a web page browsing application) is running or otherwise executed by a processing circuit. When related to the operation described in the disclosure of the present invention, the functionality of these devices may utilize components with names similar to those described above with respect to FIG. For the sake of brevity, additional discussion of the mechanics of these components is omitted. Working together, these device elements provide each computer system with the functionality necessary to facilitate data communication with the exemplary dyeing apparatus described herein.

For various uses, the exemplary methods disclosed herein can be implemented, for example, in either a retail or manufacturing environment.

Staining Method FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method 300 according to the various embodiments described herein.

In block 301, the exemplary method of dyeing a garment can include the step of cationizing the garment, for example a garment made of cotton. As is generally understood, the step of cationizing cotton garments can include the step of chemically modifying the cellulosic polymer to introduce a positive charge into the garment. Specifically, cationization involves the introduction of an amino compound into the garment, the reaction of which can make the cellulose fibers present in the garment cationic. Cationation creates an electrostatic interaction between the positive charge of the cotton fiber and the negative charge of the anionic dye, which substantially enhances the cotton's affinity for the anionic dye. In various practices, this step can increase the amount of dye consumed by the cotton garment during the dyeing step. In addition, the cationization described herein creates a need for large amounts of additives previously used in the dyeing process to increase dye uptake, such as various salts or other alkaline components. It can be significantly reduced. Cationation of clothing can be performed using a cationizing agent.

In various embodiments, the entire garment can be cationized by adding a volume of cationizing agent to the entire garment. Further, a particular garment area, which is defined to be smaller than the entire garment, can be cationized by selectively adding a volume of cationizing agent to the particular garment area. As described herein, any given volume of the cationizing agent contains an electric charge. The total charge of a particular volume of cationizing agent may be proportional to the amount of cationizing agent in a particular volume (ie, volume size). As described herein, a cationized garment area is charged before its dye absorption threshold (ie, saturation point) is reached until all of the dye is exhausted from the dye bath or the garment area is charged. As long as it is maintained, it will continue to absorb the dye from the dye bath. Thus, in various embodiments, the higher the cation concentration of a particular portion of the garment, the more dye the particular portion of the garment retains (thus increasing the depth of shading of the particular portion of the garment). Therefore, the concentration of the cationizing agent added to the clothes can be selectively changed to affect the shade depth of the clothes color.

Depending on the various embodiments, the cationizing agent uses various additional devices and methods such as, for example, screen printing, manual spraying (eg, hand spraying), automatic spraying (eg, inkjet printing). It can be selectively added to clothes. In various embodiments, the cationizing agent can include (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC). As merely an example, the cationizing agent can include Dow ECOFAST® Pure Sustainable Textile Treatment.

In block 302, an exemplary method of dyeing a garment can include mixing a volume of dye with a volume of solvent to form a concentrated liquid dye. In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye can comprise a mixture of a volume of dye and a volume of water. A volume of water is thoroughly mixed with the dye to keep the dye in suspension in order to facilitate dispensing of the dye as a concentrated liquid dye into the dyeing machine. In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye can include a water-to-dye ratio of 2: 1 and 50: 1 (eg 3: 1 and 8: 1). In various embodiments, additives such as, for example, gels can be added to the concentrated liquid dye to further promote suspension. In various embodiments, preservatives such as, for example, sodium tripolyphosphate and / or antibacterial agents can be added to the liquid concentrated dye to extend the useful life of the concentrated liquid dye. It must be understood that any additive introduced into the concentrated liquid dye (eg, preservatives) does not affect the dye uptake rate in the dyeing process.

In various embodiments, the step of mixing a volume of dye and a volume of solvent to produce a concentrated liquid dye is for one or more volumes of dye, each associated with a different color. Can be repeated. Each of the resulting concentrated liquid dyes can be associated with a separate color associated with the color of the dye in each volume. As described herein, one or more exemplary concentrated liquid dyes include, for example, various added salts (eg, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate), alkali content (eg, sodium hydroxide, carbonate). Understand that the dyeing process, which is at least substantially free of various additives such as sodium), dust removers, or other contaminants, minimizes the number of possible variables that affect the resulting garment color. There must be. Thus, such an exemplary concentrated liquid dye composed of dye and water allows for a more predictable dyeing process that can reliably and repeatedly produce the desired resulting garment color. For example, each concentrated liquid dye can contain a known dye concentration (ie, the ratio of the dye to water within the concentrated liquid dye). A known dye concentration and user-selected garment color input are used to adjust the volume of one or more exemplary concentrated liquid dyes, simply proportional to a volume of dye and the weight of the dyed garment. Based on the relationship, an absorption rate of at least substantially 100% of the volume of dye contained therein can be achieved. Needs for color trials (eg, lab-dip) and color approval by improving predictability with the elimination of input variables such as the amount of water, the amount of dye additives, and the chemistry associated with each of them. The properties are reduced, which allows for a dyeing process that requires less concentrated liquid dye as the basis for producing many available available garment colors.

In various embodiments, one or more concentrated liquid dyes are an array of 1 and 20 (eg, 7 and 15) basic colors (eg, concentrated liquid dye colors) that can be selectively combined in various ratios. Can be determined. In one exemplary embodiment, the commercial dye injection system described herein can be configured to produce up to 3 million dye input colors using 7 and 15 basic colors. The dye input color to be given is a color defined by the color range within a given color space. For example, the 7 and 15 basic colors used in combination can be configured to facilitate the generation of the resulting garment color, the resulting garment color having a color gamut within a given color space. It is one of up to 3 million colors defined by.

In various embodiments, one or more concentrated liquid dyes can be stored in cartridges, respectively. The concentrated liquid dye cartridge can be placed inside the dye housing. In various embodiments, each of one or more concentrated liquid dye cartridges can be configured to be fluid-connected to their respective dispensing headers so that different proportions of concentrated liquid dye can be applied through the dispensing header. It can be injected into a dyeing machine, mixing tank, or delivery conduit.

In block 303, an exemplary method of dyeing garments is one or more volumes of concentrated liquid dye to be injected into the dyeing machine using a dye injection system to produce garments of selected obtained garment color. It can include a step in which the ratio of is determined by the processor. In various embodiments, the garment parameters (eg, garment weight, garment size, garment SKU) and the resulting garment color can be selected by the user, for example, through a user interface. Thus, in order to produce a user-selected garment color, the processor can determine the extent to which each of the concentrated liquid dyes is dispensed into the dyeing machine to entangle with the garment. In various embodiments, the determination of such an exemplary processor is the determination of the two components, the percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color dispensed into the dyeing machine, and the total concentrated liquid dye volume to be dispensed. And can be included.

In various embodiments, each of the concentrated liquid dyes can be associated with a concentrated liquid dye color. One or more concentrated liquid dyes are such that the total concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the dyeing machine 110 has a dye input color configured to produce the resulting garment color selected by the user. It can be dispensed in various ratios. In various embodiments, the percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color determines the dye input color and affects the shade of the resulting garment color.

Further, in various embodiments, each volume of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) is at least a portion of the garment parameter corresponding to at least one garment in the dyeing machine. May be based on the target. In various embodiments, the garment parameter may be a characteristic of the garment (eg, the total garment group) that at least partially determines the function of the garment to absorb a volume of pigment (eg, the pigment absorption capacity of the garment). can. As a non-limiting example, the garment parameter can be the weight of the garment and / or the cation concentration of the garment. For example, in various embodiments, each volume of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) corresponds to the weight of the garment in the dyeing machine. In various embodiments, it may be known that the maximum volume of concentrated liquid dye that the garment can absorb produces the resulting garment color with the greatest depth, the maximum volume of which is in the garment. On the other hand, the maximum volume of concentrated liquid dye that can be dispensed into the system is determined. In such an exemplary situation, the total dispensing volume of the concentrated liquid dye containing the amount of dye is substantially less than or equal to the dye absorption capacity of the garment. In various embodiments, a smaller amount of dye can be injected into the machine to affect the shade depth of the dye input color (eg, to produce a brighter shade of the dye input color). Thus, in various embodiments, the resulting garment color can be a function of both the percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color and the total amount of concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the system. Thus, in various embodiments, the processor can determine the ratio of each concentrated liquid dye to the total total concentrated liquid dye dispensed, based on the user-selected garment color obtained. Similarly, in various embodiments, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the system may vary, at least in part, based on the user-selected garment color obtained.

Further, in various embodiments, given the selected resulting garment color, the total volume of concentrated liquid dye injected into the dyeing machine and thus the individual volume of concentrated liquid injected into the dyeing machine. The dye may simply be determined by the weight of the garment to be dyed. Thus, in various embodiments, the processor can determine the total concentrated liquid dye volume to be dispensed based on the available clothing color of the user choice. In such an exemplary method, the processor can determine to dispense each volume of concentrated liquid dye present in the dye injection system based on the user-selected garment weight and the desired garment color. For example, the processor produces the garment color obtained at maximum shading depth and the ratio of various pigments corresponding to the desired garment color, at least in part, based on the garment weight of the user choice and the desired garment color. It can be configured to determine the total amount of dye required for. Based at least in part on the known dye concentration of each concentrated liquid dye, the processor dispenses, as described above, such that the calculated amount of dye contained therein is dispensed to the dyeing machine. It is possible to determine the concentrated liquid dye for each volume to be.

In block 304, the exemplary method of dyeing clothing can include injecting one or more volumes of concentrated liquid dye determined by the processor from the dye injection system into the dyeing machine. In various embodiments, the dyeing machine may be at least partially filled with at least a substantially clean solvent. Each volume of concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed directly from each dye cartridge into the dyeing machine through the corresponding dispensing header. In various embodiments, the garment can be present in the dyeing machine before one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye are injected.

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine can be, for example, a dyeing container and can be configured to be fluid connected to one or more holding tanks and thus stored in one or more holding tanks. The resulting volume of solvent can be dispensed into the dyeing machine. The concentrated liquid dye and solvent dispensed into the dyeing machine can determine the dyeing bath. In an exemplary embodiment, the solvent can be, for example, water. The amount of solvent dispensed into the dyeing machine by pre-cationization of the garment, which leads to maximizing dye consumption and eliminating the need for salt addition to the dye, is an exemplary method disclosed herein. Not an important variable to consider. The amount of solvent dispensed into the dyeing machine may vary based on the volume of the dyeing machine, but the ratio of the concentrated liquid dye to the solvent present in the dyeing bath is valid for the methods disclosed herein. Does not affect sex.

As mentioned above, in various embodiments, one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed directly into the dyeing machine, into a mixing tank, or into a common delivery conduit. Can be noted.

In block 305, an exemplary method of dyeing a garment operates the dyeing machine until at least substantially all of the dye volume present in one or more concentrated liquid dyes dispensed into the dyeing machine is absorbed by the garment. It can include a step to make it. The dyeing machine can be configured to facilitate the interaction between the garment and the dyeing bath. Further, the dyeing machine can be configured to start operation after one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye have been dispensed from the dyeing injection system into the dyeing machine. In various embodiments, the step of activating the dyeing machine can include the step of performing a dyeing cycle.

In various embodiments, the uptime of the dye cycle may be at least proportional to the weight of the garment in the dyeing machine, the shade depth of the resulting garment color, and the consumption of the dye in the fabric of the garment. In an exemplary embodiment, the dye cycle can include a time length of between 20 and 60 minutes (eg, between 30 and 45 minutes). Further, in various embodiments, the dyeing machine can be configured to keep the dyeing bath substantially at ambient temperature. For example, the dyeing machine can be configured to maintain a dye bath temperature between 10 and 75 ° C (eg, between 18 and 40 ° C) throughout the dye cycle. Such exemplary methods described herein can eliminate the need to heat the dye bath to a temperature substantially higher than the ambient temperature (eg, 60 ° C.), thereby conventional dyeing. The amount of energy consumed during the dyeing process is significantly reduced compared to the method.

In various embodiments, the total volume of dye present in the dye bath at the beginning of the dye cycle may be absorbed by the garment during the dye cycle. In various embodiments, the resulting dye bath can be composed entirely of water, and there may be no residual volume in the dye bath for dyes, salts, or other forms of effluent. Alternatively, in various embodiments, the dye and / or one or more components contained in the concentrated liquid dye remaining in the dye bath at the end of the dyeing cycle shall be of substantially small volume. can do. For example, in various embodiments, the resulting dye bath has traditionally been used to increase dye uptake in the dyeing process as a result of dispensing a calibrated volume of concentrate dye as described herein. May not contain the additives used. In various embodiments, the garment can be subsequently washed and / or dried after the dye cycle is complete. As described herein, the garment can be subsequently washed and / or dried using a dyeing machine or any other suitable machine configured to wash and / or dry the garment. ..

In block 306, the exemplary method of dyeing garment can include filtering the dye bath to remove the entire residual volume of dye. In various embodiments, the dyeing bath is provided to remove substantially the volume of dye remaining in the dyeing bath after the dyeing cycle is complete, leaving substantially clean water suitable for reuse in the dyeing process. Can be filtered. In various embodiments, the step of filtering the dye bath can include the step of exposing the dye bath to the filtration system. For example, the step of filtering the dye bath is the step of loading the dyeing machine or other container to which the dye bath has been transferred (eg, the reservoir of the filtration system) with an auxiliary material processed to absorb the entire residual volume of the dye. Can be included. In various embodiments, the auxiliary material can be cationized and may include extra fabric, fiber, plying, cotton, or other garment portion. In various embodiments, the auxiliary material can be sewn into, for example, a polypropylene container (ie, a "tea bag"), which is placed in the dye bath to retain the dye present in the dye bath. The entire volume can be absorbed by the auxiliary fabric. Alternatively, in various embodiments, the filtration system can include a container with one or more filters configured to remove the entire residual volume of dye from the dye bath.

In block 307, the exemplary method of dyeing garments can include the step of recirculating at least a substantially clean volume of solvent for reuse in subsequent dye cycles. In various embodiments, the solvent, at least in a substantially clean volume, can include a volume of clean water. In various exemplary embodiments, the volume of water may be transferred directly from either the dyeing machine or the filtration system to one or more holding tanks for storage. The retention tank can include, for example, multiple reservoirs that communicate fluid with the dyeing machine and / or the filtration system. The retention tank can be configured to receive at least a substantially clean volume of solvent from either the dyeing machine and / or the filtration system and dye a volume of solvent before the start of a new dye cycle. Can be configured to send back to. Alternatively, in various embodiments, the volume of water may be returned directly from the filtration system into the dyeing machine for reuse in the next dye cycle. As described herein, exemplary methods have a substantially closed loop system for solvents.

For various uses, the exemplary methods disclosed herein can be implemented, for example, in either a retail or manufacturing environment.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but rather that one of ordinary skill in the art can make many modifications and modifications within the scope of the disclosed invention. For example, while the exemplary embodiments described above relate to dyeing garments, embodiments of the methods and devices disclosed herein include a weight (or bulk) material other than garments, such as garment threads. It must be understood that it can be configured to dye twisted yarns, woven sheets, any colorable fabric, or any other dye-absorbing material.

Dyes and Concentrated Liquid Dye Compositions In various embodiments, the methods and devices for dyeing garments disclosed herein can utilize a volume of dye for dyeing garments. The dyes described herein can be, for example, powders and can include the composition of soluble substances that can be collectively associated with a particular color. In various embodiments, a volume of dye can be mixed with water to produce a concentrated liquid dye, which can be associated with the same color as the volume of dye contained therein. .. A volume of water can be sufficiently mixed with the dye to facilitate injection of the dye into the dyeing machine. Upon injection into the dyeing machine, the concentrated liquid dye interacts with a volume of solvent present in the dyeing machine, thereby creating a dye bath. As described herein, at least substantially all of a volume of dye injected into the dye bath in the form of a concentrated liquid dye is sufficiently immersed in the dye bath so that the garment can absorb it. can do.

In various embodiments, the dyes described herein can be reactive dyes. Moreover, in various embodiments, the dye can be any direct dye or acid dye suitable for use in the devices and methods described herein.

The exemplary methods and devices described above can, in various embodiments, include the use of dyes composed solely of chromophores. For example, an exemplary volume of dye may not contain additional dyeing enhancers such as cutting agents (eg, potato starch), added salts, and emulsified dust removal oils.

Therefore, the concentrated liquid dyes used in various embodiments may consist solely of water and a chromophore. Importantly, the exemplary methods and devices disclosed herein include, for example, various added salts (eg, sodium chloride, sodium sulphate), alkali content (eg, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate), and the like. Alternatively, it can be configured to utilize concentrated liquid dyes that do not contain many of the various additives traditionally used to increase dye uptake in dyeing processes such as other contaminants. In various embodiments, the exemplary concentrated liquid dye volume comprises one or more preservatives configured to extend the useful life of the concentrated liquid dye, such as sodium tripolyphosphate and / or antibacterial agents. Can be done.

Further, it is understood that in various embodiments, the dye concentration in the concentrated liquid dye (ie, the ratio of the dye to water in the concentrated liquid dye) may have little or no effect on the effectiveness of the dyeing process. Must. In various embodiments, the only variable important for dyeing garments can be a certain volume of dye dispensed into the dyeing machine, and additional dyes added to facilitate injection. The solvent, in the injected state, may simply be incorporated into a large amount of solvent already present in the dye bath. The volume of dye in the dye bath can interact with the garment in the dyeing machine, but the volume of solvent present in the concentrated liquid dye can be a passive component of the dye bath.

Method of Staining Patterned Garment FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method 400 according to the various embodiments described herein.

In block 401, the exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments can include the step of receiving a garment pattern command corresponding to the garment pattern. In various embodiments, the garment pattern can include one or more pattern elements, each pattern element having a pattern element shape, a pattern element color, and a pattern element shading depth. The garment pattern instruction can include a detailed description corresponding to various attributes of the garment pattern and / or one or more instructions (eg, computer instructions). In various embodiments, the garment pattern instruction may be given through user input from the user in either the retail or manufacturing environment.

Each of one or more pattern elements can be determined by a plurality of pattern element characteristics such as, for example, the shape of the pattern element, the color of the pattern element, and the shadow depth of the pattern element. As described herein, the shape of the pattern element can be determined by both the composition of the outer boundaries of the pattern element and the position of the pattern element on the garment. The color of the pattern element can be defined as the output color of the garment in a particular pattern element. Further, the shading depth of the pattern element can be determined as the relative lightness of the color of the pattern element. For example, the maximum depth, i.e. 100% shading depth of a pattern element, can determine a user-selected pattern element color, while the shading depth decreases and the pattern element becomes thinner (ie, thinner). White will appear (more pale) assuming a base color garment. In various embodiments, the depth of shading in a particular clothing area has three shade depth input variables: the volume of the dye used in the dye cycle (ie, the concentrated liquid dye), the uptime of the dye cycle, and the garment. It may be affected by the concentration of cationizing agent added to the area (“cation concentration”). Therefore, as described herein, one or more of the above-mentioned shading depth input variables can be selectively varied alone or in combination to achieve the desired pattern element shading depth.

In block 402, an exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments is to apply a volume of cationizing agent to one or more local garment areas of the garment corresponding to each of one or more pattern element shapes. Can include stages of In various embodiments, a volume of cationizing agent can be added to the garment as part of the cationization step. As is generally understood, cationization can include a pretreatment step that chemically modifies the cellulosic polymer of cotton garments to introduce a positive charge into at least a portion of the garment. Cationation creates an electrostatic interaction between the positive charge of the cotton fiber and the negative charge of the anionic dye, which substantially increases the cotton's affinity for the anionic dye. The garment can be cationized by adding the cationizing agent to the garment.

As described herein, a particular garment area, defined smaller than the entire garment, can be cationized by selectively adding a volume of cationizing agent to the particular garment area. .. A volume of cationizing agent can be added to one or more garment areas corresponding to the respective pattern element shapes of one or more pattern elements. For example, a volume of cationizing agent can be added to one or more garment areas having figures, letters, numbers, or any combination thereof. Further, in various embodiments, a volume of cationizing agent can be added over the clothing area either by gradually increasing or decreasing the cation concentration, as described herein. When the garment is dyed as described, at least a portion of the garment pattern exhibits a gradient effect rather than a discontinuous change in color or shade depth. As described herein, the gradient effect results in a gradual change in the depth of shadow of the pattern element corresponding to the cation concentration gradient in the clothing area. The cationizing agent can be added in any condition in which the cationizing agent, such as, for example, sprays, liquids, and / or gels, can penetrate the fibers of clothing.

In various embodiments, the cationizing agent uses various additional devices and methods such as, for example, screen printing, manual spraying (eg, hand spraying), automatic spraying (eg, inkjet printing). It can be selectively added to clothes. In various embodiments, the cationizing agent can include (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC). As merely an example, the cationizing agent can include Dow ECOFAST® Pure Sustainable Textile Treatment.

As described herein, any given volume of the cationizing agent contains an electric charge. The total charge of a particular volume of cationizing agent may be proportional to the amount of cationizing agent in a particular volume (ie, volume size). Therefore, the smaller the garment area in which a specific volume of cationizing agent is dispersed, the more concentrated the cationizing agent in that volume, and the higher the charge of the garment over the garment area. As described herein, a cationized garment area is charged before its dye absorption threshold (ie, saturation point) is reached until all of the dye is exhausted from the dye bath or the garment area is charged. As long as it is maintained, it will continue to absorb the dye from the dye bath. Thus, in various embodiments, the higher the cation concentration of a particular cationized garment area, the more dye the particular garment area will retain, thereby shadowing in that particular cationized garment area. Depth increases. Therefore, the concentration of the cationizing agent added to the pattern element can be selectively changed to affect the shadow depth of the pattern element.

In block 403, the exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments can include the step of curing a volume of cationizing agent with each of one or more pattern elements. As is known, the garment can be cured during cationization so as to solidify a certain volume of cationized agent fixative into a particular location on the garment and avoid migration or spillage. In various embodiments, the step of curing at least a portion of the garment can include one or more known curing steps such as pad dry curing, pad flash curing, drip dry curing.

In block 404, an exemplary method of dyeing patterned garment is to stain the garment until at least substantially all of the volume of cationizing agent applied to the garment is neutralized with a certain volume of dye that is consumed. The steps can include, in which case the dyeing machine is configured to facilitate the interaction between the garment and the dyeing bath. In various embodiments, the dyeing machines described herein can be configured to perform at least a portion of the dyeing operation. In such situations, the dyeing machine promotes the interaction between the garment and the dyeing bath. The dye used in the dyeing operation can correspond to the garment pattern output color selected by the user and / or the pattern element color of one or more pattern elements. In various embodiments, the step of activating the dyeing machine can include the step of performing a dyeing cycle.

In various embodiments, as described herein, the concentrated liquid dye utilized during the dyeing operation is any salt or other alkaline material such that the concentrated neutral charge itself contains a charge. May not be included. In addition, the dye cycle is performed at substantially ambient temperature, which is known to adversely affect dye uptake by untreated garments due, at least in part, to the cationization process as described herein. In some cases. Thus, at least substantially all of the volume of dye absorbed by the garment may be absorbed by one or more pattern elements of the garment to which the cationizing agent has been added. The cationized garment area defined by one or more pattern element shapes can continue to absorb the dye until each charge is neutralized. Thus, uncharged neutral garment areas, such as untreated (ie, non-cationized) garment areas, or garment areas neutralized due to absorption of dye volume, are one or more of the garments. It may absorb a relatively small amount of dye compared to the cationized pattern element (ie, absorb little or no dye). The untreated garment area can at least substantially maintain the original color of the unstained garment through the dyeing operation. With each of the one or more pattern areas neutralized, each of the one or more pattern elements of the garment pattern is in the color of the dye volume used for the dyeing operation, as described herein. It is possible to indicate the corresponding pattern element color and the pattern element shading depth that is at least substantially proportional to the respective cation concentration of the pattern element. Changes in color and shading depth between one or more pattern elements, as well as changes in color and shading depth between untreated garment areas and one or more pattern elements, as described herein. Produces an overall garment look that defines the garment pattern.

In various embodiments, the uptime of the dye cycle is the weight of the garment in the dyeing machine, the shade depth of the resulting garment color, the volume of cationizing agent added to the garment, and / or the dye on the garment fabric. May be proportional to the wear of. In an exemplary embodiment, the dye cycle can include a time length of between 20 and 60 minutes (eg, between 30 and 45 minutes). Moreover, in various embodiments, the dyeing machine can be configured to keep the dyeing bath substantially at ambient temperature. For example, the dyeing machine can be configured to maintain a dye bath temperature between 10 and 75 ° C (eg, between 18 and 40 ° C) throughout the dye cycle. Such exemplary methods described herein can eliminate the need to heat the dye bath to a temperature substantially higher than the ambient temperature (eg, 60 ° C.), thereby conventional dyeing. The amount of energy consumed during the dyeing process is significantly reduced compared to the method.

In various embodiments, the uptime of the dye cycle can be selectively shortened to affect the shading depth of one or more pattern elements. As a non-limiting example, the exemplary dye cycle comprises a time length of about 35 minutes and utilizes a volume of dye sufficient to provide maximum pattern element shading depth to one or more pattern elements. You can dye your clothes. The 35 minute dye cycle uptime can be long enough for the total volume of dye present in the dye bath at the start of the dye cycle to be absorbed by one or more pattern elements of the garment. .. In such a situation, one or more pattern elements can include the maximum pattern element shading depth. Moreover, in various embodiments, the uptime of the dye cycle can be selectively shortened so that one or more pattern elements include a smaller (ie, brighter) pattern element shading depth. Using the non-limiting example described above, if the dye cycle is stopped after 25 minutes of uptime, one or more pattern elements will have one or more patterns exposed for 35 minutes of uptime. It will include a pattern element shading depth that is lighter than the element shading depth. Further, when the dye cycle is stopped after 15 minutes of uptime, one or more pattern elements are lighter than the shading depth of one or more pattern elements exposed for 25 minutes of uptime. It will include the shadow depth. Thus, as described herein, the uptime of the dye cycle can be a shading depth input variable that can be calibrated to achieve the desired pattern element shading depth.

As yet another example, FIG. 10 shows 6 different garment parts, each of which has undergone an experimental dyeing process, with 6 different garment parts being 6 different garments and / or 6 different parts within each garment. Represents a pattern element. Each garment portion undergoes substantially the same dyeing process, in which case each garment portion contains the same cation concentration and the same volume of dye is injected into the dyeing machine for each of the respective dye cycles. .. However, for each of the six experimental dye cycles, the uptime of the dye cycle was varied. The table below gives the respective dye cycle uptime associated with each of the six garment portions.

(table)

As shown in FIG. 10, the garment portion 1001 exposed to a certain volume of dye over the most time contains the highest shading depth when compared to the other five garment elements. Conversely, the garment portion 1006 exposed to a volume of dye over the least amount of time contains the lowest (ie, lightest) shading depth when compared to the other five garment elements. In addition, each of the garment portions 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, including an intermediate shade depth, exhibits different shade depths that correspond relative to the uptime of each dye cycle.

Returning to the description of the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, in various embodiments, the entire volume of dye present in the dye bath at the start of the dye cycle may be absorbed by the garment during the dye cycle. Therefore, the volume of dye used in the dyeing operation can be selectively reduced so as to affect the shading depth of one or more pattern elements. As a non-limiting example, an exemplary dyeing operation can include dyeing garments with 3 liters of concentrated liquid dye. In such situations, the total volume of dye present in the dye bath at the start of the dye cycle may be absorbed by one or more pattern elements of the garment. In addition, a volume of dye present in 3 liters of concentrated liquid dye can give one or more pattern elements the maximum depth of pattern element shading. Further, in various embodiments, a volume of dye utilized in the dyeing operation can be selectively reduced so that one or more pattern elements contain less pattern element shadow depth. Using the same non-limiting example described above, when dyeing clothing with 2 liters of concentrated liquid dye, one or more pattern elements are the volume of dye present in 3 liters of concentrated liquid dye. It will contain a lighter pattern element shading depth than one or more pattern elements exposed to. Further, when the garment is dyed with only 1 liter of concentrated liquid dye, one or more pattern elements are exposed to one or more volumes of dye present in 2 liters of concentrated liquid dye. It will contain the shadow depth of the pattern element that is lighter than the pattern element. Thus, as described herein, a volume of dye utilized in the staining operation can be a shading depth input variable that can be calibrated to achieve the desired pattern element shading depth.

As described herein, in an exemplary embodiment in which the entire volume of dye present in the dye bath at the beginning of the dye cycle is absorbed by the garment during the dye cycle, the resulting dye bath consists of water only. There may be no residual volume of dye, salt, or other form of effluent in the dye bath. Alternatively, in various embodiments, the dye and / or one or more components contained in the concentrated liquid dye remaining in the dye bath at the end of the dye cycle are substantially small in volume. Can be. For example, in various embodiments, the resulting dye bath, as described herein, has traditionally been used to increase dye uptake in the dyeing process as a result of dispensing a calibrated volume of concentrate dye. May not contain the additives used from. In various embodiments, the garment can be subsequently washed and / or dried after the dyeing cycle is complete. As described herein, the garment can be subsequently washed and / or dried using a dyeing machine or any other suitable machine configured to wash and / or dry the garment. ..

In various embodiments, the method of dyeing patterned garments can include partially or wholly the methods of dyeing the garments described herein, utilizing the garment dyeing apparatus described herein. You have to understand what you can do. Further, it is understood that any dyeing technique, process, and / or apparatus that can be performed in conjunction with one or more of the exemplary embodiments of the method of dyeing patterned garments described herein can be utilized. Must.

In block 405, the exemplary method of dyeing garments further comprises mixing one or more volumes of dye with one or more volumes of solvent to form one or more concentrated liquid dyes. Can be done. In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye can include a mixture of a volume of dye and a volume of water. A volume of water is thoroughly mixed with the dye to keep the dye in suspension in order to facilitate dispensing of the dye as a concentrated liquid dye into the dyeing machine. In various embodiments, the concentrated liquid dye can contain a water-to-dye ratio between 2: 1 and 50: 1 (eg, 3: 1 and 8: 1). In various embodiments, for example, an additive such as a gel can be added to the liquid concentrated dye to further promote suspension, and any additive introduced into the concentrated liquid dye will have a dye uptake rate in the dyeing process. Does not affect.

In various embodiments, the step of mixing a volume of dye and a volume of solvent to produce a concentrated liquid dye is for one or more volumes of dye, each associated with a different color. Can be repeated. Each of the resulting concentrated liquid dyes can be associated with a separate color associated with the color of the dye in each volume. In various embodiments, one or more concentrated liquid dyes can define an array of between 1 and 20 colors (eg, between 7 and 15 colors) that can be selectively combined in various ratios. , It allows for a large number of available pattern colors as described herein.

In various embodiments, one or more concentrated liquid dyes can be stored in the cartridge, respectively. The concentrated liquid dye cartridge can be placed inside the dye housing. In various embodiments, each of one or more concentrated liquid dye cartridges can be configured to be fluid-connected to their respective dispensing headers so that different proportions of concentrated liquid dye can be applied through the dispensing header. It can be injected into a dyeing machine, mixing tank, or delivery conduit.

In block 406, an exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments is one or more of the concentrated liquid dyes to be injected into the dyeing machine using a dye injection system to produce garments of the selected output color. Further steps can be included in which the volume is determined by the processor. In various embodiments, as described above, the weight and pattern color of the garment can be selected by the user through the user interface. Thus, in order to generate a user-selected pattern element color, the processor can determine the extent to which each of the concentrated liquid dyes is dispensed into the dyeing machine to entangle with the garment. In various embodiments, the determination of such an exemplary processor is the determination of the two components, the percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color dispensed into the dyeing machine, and the total concentrated liquid dye volume to be dispensed. And can be included.

In various embodiments, each of the concentrated liquid dyes can be associated with a concentrated liquid dye color. One or more concentrated liquid dyes vary so that the total concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the dyeing machine has a dye input color configured to produce the resulting garment color selected by the user. It can be dispensed in any ratio. In various embodiments, the percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color determines the dye input color and affects the resulting garment color.

Moreover, in various embodiments, each volume of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) can correspond to the weight of the garment in the dyeing machine. In various embodiments, it may be known that the maximum volume of dye that a garment can absorb produces the resulting garment color with the greatest depth, the maximum volume of which is relative to the garment. Determine the maximum volume of concentrated liquid dye that can be dispensed into the system. In various embodiments, a smaller amount of dye can be injected into the machine to affect the shade depth of the dye input color (eg, to produce a brighter shade of the dye input color). Thus, in various embodiments, the resulting garment color can be a function of both the percentage assignment of each concentrated liquid dye color and the amount of concentrated liquid dye dispensed into the system. Thus, in various embodiments, the processor can determine the ratio of each concentrated liquid dye to the total total concentrated liquid dye to be dispensed, based on the clothing color obtained at the user's choice.

Moreover, in various embodiments, each volume of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) is one of one or more pattern elements defined to be smaller than the entire garment. Alternatively, it can be further calibrated in light of the fact that the dye may only be absorbed in the garment area corresponding to more than one pattern element shape. In such situations, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye can be proportionally reduced to correspond to the weight of one or more garment areas corresponding to one or more pattern elements.

Further, in various embodiments, the volume of each of each dispensed concentrated liquid dye (ie, the total amount of concentrated liquid dye) is further calibrated based on the dye absorption capacity of one or more pattern elements. can do. For example, the amount of total concentrated liquid dye that should be understood to contain a volume of dye as described herein is at least partially determined by the volume of cationizing agent added to the garment. It can be calibrated to be dispensed in proportion to the dye absorption capacity. In such situations, one or two or more cation concentrations of one or more pattern elements below the total volume (ie, a lower absorption threshold than the clothing area can physically absorb) are chemically applied. The total amount of concentrated liquid dye can be reduced to accommodate the cation concentration produced in.

In various embodiments, given the selected resulting garment color, the total volume of concentrated liquid dye injected into the dyeing machine and thus the individual volumes of concentrated liquid dye injected into the dyeing machine is simply. It may be determined by the weight of the garment to be dyed. Thus, in various embodiments, the processor can determine the total concentrated liquid dye volume to be dispensed based on the user-selected garment weight. In such an exemplary method, the processor can determine to dispense each volume of concentrated liquid dye present in the dye injection system based on the user-selected garment weight and the resulting garment color.

In block 407, the exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments can further include injecting one or more volumes of concentrated liquid dye determined by the processor into the dyeing machine, in which case the dyeing machine. The garment is loaded and at least partially filled with a substantially clean solvent. Each volume of concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed directly from each dye cartridge into the dyeing machine through the corresponding dispensing header. In various embodiments, the garment can be present in the dyeing machine before one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye are injected.

In various embodiments, the dyeing machine can be, for example, a dyeing vessel and can be configured to be fluid connected to one or more holding tanks and thus stored in one or more holding tanks. A certain volume of solvent can be dispensed into the dyeing machine. The concentrated liquid dye and solvent dispensed into the dyeing machine can determine the dyeing bath. In an exemplary embodiment, the solvent can be, for example, water. In various embodiments, the amount of solvent dispensed into the dyeing machine by pre-cationization of the garment, which leads to maximizing dye consumption and eliminating the need for salt addition to the dye, is described herein. It is not an important variable to consider in the exemplary method disclosed. The amount of solvent dispensed into the dyeing machine may vary based on the volume of the dyeing machine, but the ratio of concentrated liquid dyes and / or dyes to the solvent present in the dyeing bath is disclosed herein. Does not affect the effectiveness of the method.

As mentioned above, in various embodiments, one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed directly into the dyeing machine, into a mixing tank, or into a common delivery conduit. Can be dispensed.

In block 408, an exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments was added to a particular garment design (eg, garments having one or more pattern elements, each containing a pattern element shading depth corresponding to the cation concentration). One or more volumes of concentrated liquid dye injected into the dyeing machine to determine the minimum volume of concentrated liquid dye required to neutralize substantially all of the cationizing agent in a volume. Can further include a step of calibrating. In various embodiments, the steps of calibrating a volume of concentrated liquid dye injected into the dyeing machine for such garment are the steps of completing the first dyeing operation and the resulting volume of dye. It can include a step of dispensing the resulting dye bath containing the dye and a step of repeating the dyeing operation at different volumes of the concentrated liquid dye (eg, the first actuated obtained dyeing solution contains excess dye. Inject a smaller volume of concentrated liquid dye if contained, and inject a larger volume of concentrated liquid dye if the first operative obtained dye bath did not contain excess dye). .. The calibration step is a volume of concentrated liquid dye such that at least substantially all of the injected dye volume neutralizes at least substantially all of the volume of cationizing agent applied to the garment. Can include an empirical modification of a volume of concentrated liquid dye that is iteratively repeated until it is injected into the dyeing machine.

As will be appreciated from the description herein, this calibration step supports efficient dyeing of garments with complex pattern elements. As a result of the calibration, the resulting dye bath is composed of a substantially clean solvent volume suitable for reuse. In various embodiments where reproduction of patterned garments of a particular weight and particular garment pattern is desirable, the efficiency of the dyeing process can be increased by calibrating a volume of concentrated liquid dye injected into the dyeing machine.

An exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments when dyeing garments until at least substantially all of a volume of cationizing agent applied to the garments is neutralized with the depleted dye volume is in block 409. A step of adding a second cationizing agent layer to the patterned garment can be further included. In various embodiments, the garment pattern can include one or more set of pattern elements, such as, for example, a primary pattern element and a secondary pattern element. Each of the respective pattern element sets following one or more primary pattern elements is in one or more subsequent operations that reflect those described above with respect to blocks 402, 403, and 404 as described herein. Can be accommodated.

In various embodiments, the second cationization agent layer is a cationization treatment applied to one or more local areas of the garment corresponding to each of the pattern element shapes of one or more secondary pattern elements. It can contain one or more volumes of the agent. In various embodiments, each of the one or more secondary pattern elements is with one or more pattern elements previously exposed to the staining operation (ie, "primary pattern element"), as described above. May differ in pattern element shape, pattern element color, and / or pattern element shading depth. As described above for one or more primary pattern elements in block 402, a volume of cationizing agent may be applied to one or more cationization agents corresponding to the respective pattern element shapes of each of the one or more pattern elements. Can be added to the clothing area. In various embodiments, the pattern element shape of one or more secondary pattern elements corresponds to a previously untreated garment area (ie, one that maintains the original garment color through the dyeing operation described above). Or can overlap 1 or 2 or more of 1 or 2 or more primary pattern elements in whole or in part. By adding a second cationizing agent layer to the garment area where the secondary pattern element overlaps the primary element, the garment area is substantially recharged, affecting the dye absorption capacity of the garment in that area. be able to.

In block 410, the exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments can further include injecting one or more volume of concentrated liquid dye determined by the processor into the dyeing machine, in which case the dyeing machine. Is loaded with patterned garments and at least partially filled with a substantially clean solvent. As mentioned above for one or more primary pattern elements in block 407, each volume of concentrated liquid dye can be dispensed directly from each dye cartridge into the dyeing machine through the corresponding dispensing header. In various embodiments, the patterned garment can be present in the dyeing machine before one or more volumes of the concentrated liquid dye are injected.

In various embodiments, the processor can determine the extent to which each of the concentrated liquid dyes is dispensed into the dyeing machine in order to generate pattern element colors for one or more user-selected secondary pattern elements. .. In various embodiments, the pattern element color of one or more secondary elements may differ from the pattern color of one or more primary pattern elements. In such a situation, when the secondary pattern element overlaps the primary pattern element, the resulting garment pattern color at that position of the patterned garment comprises a combination of the primary pattern element and the pattern color of the secondary pattern element. Can be done. In various embodiments, as described herein, the determination of such an exemplary processor is a percentage assignment of two components, i.e., each concentrated liquid dye color dispensed into the dyeing machine, and a fraction. It can include the total concentrated liquid dye volume to be noted.

In block 411, the exemplary method of dyeing patterned garments further comprises the step of dyeing patterned garments until at least substantially all of the second cationizing agent layer is neutralized with the depleted dye volume. Can be done. As mentioned above for one or more primary pattern elements in block 404, at least substantially all of the dye volume absorbed by the patterned garment is one or two of the garment to which the second cationizing agent layer is added. It may be absorbed by the above secondary pattern elements. The cationized garment area defined by the pattern element shape of one or more secondary pattern elements can continue to absorb the dye until the respective charges are neutralized. Thus, uncharged neutral garment areas, such as untreated (ie, non-cationized) garment areas, or garment areas neutralized due to absorption of dye volume, are one or more of the garments. It is capable of absorbing a relatively small amount of dye compared to the cationized secondary pattern element (ie, absorbing little or no dye). The garment area corresponding to one or more primary pattern elements neutralized at this time, along with the untreated garment area, is the color shown prior to the second dye cycle through the second dyeing operation (ie). , The color of the original undyed garment and the pattern element color of one or more primary pattern elements) can be at least substantially maintained. Upon neutralization of each of the garment areas cationized by the second cationizing agent layer, each of the one or more secondary pattern elements of the garment pattern is a second, as described herein. It is possible to indicate a pattern element color that at least partially corresponds to the color of the dye volume used in the dyeing operation and a pattern element shading depth that is at least substantially proportional to the cation concentration of each of the secondary pattern elements. Its between each of the respective pattern element sets, with the untreated garment area, one or more primary pattern elements, and the change in color and shading depth between one or more secondary pattern elements. The changes produce an overall garment appearance that defines the garment pattern of patterned garments as described herein.

In various embodiments, the patterned garment can be subsequently washed and / or dried after the dye cycle is complete. As described herein, the garment can be subsequently washed and / or dried using a dyeing machine or any other suitable machine configured to wash and / or dry the garment. ..

Exemplary Operation Figures 5A-9 show various exemplary patterned garments produced according to various exemplary methods as described herein. It is understood that the various exemplary patterned garments shown in FIGS. 5A-9 are disclosed herein as exemplary products of one or more methods for dyeing the patterned garments disclosed herein. Must be, and by no means intended to represent the entire range of patterned garment configurations that can serve as a limited example or can be manufactured by the present invention.

In various embodiments, the garment pattern command corresponding to the garment pattern can be received. In various embodiments, the garment pattern can include one or more pattern elements, and each pattern element can include a desired pattern element shape, a desired pattern element color, and a desired pattern element shading depth. The garment pattern can include one or more pattern element sets, and each pattern element set has one or more pattern elements. In various embodiments, the garment pattern can include a pattern designed by the enterprise, a custom pattern designed by a user (eg, a customer of the enterprise), or a combination thereof.

i. First Exemplary Operation In various embodiments, a volume of cationizing agent is one or more of the garment corresponding to each of the one or more pattern element shapes of one or more pattern elements. Can be added to local areas.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the garment pattern command corresponding to the first garment pattern 510 can be received. As shown, the first garment pattern 510 includes a first pattern element 511, a second pattern element 512, and a third pattern element 513. The first, second, and third pattern elements can include a first pattern element shape, a second pattern element shape, and a third pattern element shape, respectively. In various embodiments, a volume of cationizing agent can be added to the first cationized garment area 511, the second cationized garment area 512, and the third cationized garment area 513, these. Areas can correspond to the first, second, and third pattern element shapes, respectively. In various embodiments, a volume of cationizing agent added to each of the cationized garment areas 511, 512, 513 allows for the level of dye absorption that produces the maximum pattern element shading depth. It can be large enough. Further, in various embodiments, the cation concentrations of each cationized garment area 511, 512, 513 are selectively varied as described herein to accommodate the first, second, and third pattern elements, respectively. Pattern element can affect the shadow depth. As a non-limiting example, the first garment pattern 510 can include any combination thereof along with figures, letters, numbers, images, graphics and the like.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the garment pattern command corresponding to the second garment pattern 520 can be received. As shown, the second garment pattern 520 includes a pattern element 521, which includes a pattern element shape. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the pattern element shape is a graphic including the "RL" logo. In various embodiments, a volume of cationic treatment agent can be added to the cationized garment area 521 that can accommodate the pattern element shape of the pattern element 521. As a non-limiting example, the second garment pattern 520 can include a logo or any other image associated with a company such as a company, institution, organization.

ii. Second exemplary operation A garment having one or more pre-treated cationized garment areas has one or two or more pre-treated cationized garment areas interacting with a volume of dye. It can be dyed to produce one or more pattern elements of the garment pattern.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the first garment pattern 610 corresponds to the first garment pattern shown in FIG. 5A. As shown, the first garment pattern 610 includes a first pattern element 611, a second pattern element 612, and a third pattern element 613. The first, second, and third pattern elements 611, 612, and 613 can include a first pattern element shape, a second pattern element shape, and a third pattern element shape, respectively. It can correspond to a first cationized garment area 511, a second cationized garment area 512, and a third cationized garment area 513 as shown in FIG. 5A. As described herein, each of the first, second, and third pattern elements 611, 612, 613 is capable of absorbing a certain volume of dye during dyeing operation. In various embodiments, at least substantial of the dye volume absorbed by the garment during the dyeing operation, at least partially due to the cationization of the garment area corresponding to the first, second, and third pattern element shapes. All are collectively absorbed by the first, second, and third pattern elements 611, 612, 613, while the untreated garment area retains its original garment color. Based on user input, the dye volume utilized during the dyeing operation can be configured to generate pattern elements that include a particular pattern element color. Each pattern element 611, 612, 613 contains a specific pattern element color corresponding to the dye volume utilized during the dyeing operation.

As described herein, the extent to which a pattern element absorbs a certain volume of dye and thus the pattern element shading depth of the pattern element is the three shading depth input variables, i.e. the dye volume used in the dye cycle. It may be affected by the operating time of the dye cycle and the concentration of cationizing agent applied to the clothing area (“cation concentration”). It must also be understood that in various embodiments, the 100% cation concentration is the minimum cation concentration required to achieve the maximum pattern element shading depth. In various embodiments, 100% dye volume means that a particular clothing area is physically under a given dye cycle operating condition set, assuming 100% cation concentration, as described herein. It must also be understood that it is the maximum amount of dye that can be absorbed. Moreover, in various embodiments, 100% dye cycle uptime is the maximum pattern given 100% cation concentration and 100% dye volume under a given dye cycle operating condition set. It must also be understood that it is the minimum time it takes to achieve the element shading depth. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, each of the first pattern element 611, the second pattern element 612, and the third pattern element 613 can contain about 100% shading depth. In one exemplary embodiment, the dye cycle uptime and dye volume may each be 100% as described herein, and each of the pattern elements 611, 612, and 613 is 100% cation. Concentrations can be included.

In various embodiments, as described herein, one or more of the above-mentioned shading depth input variables can be selectively varied alone or in combination to achieve the desired pattern element shading depth. .. For example, using the exemplary pattern element shown in FIG. 6A, each of the first pattern element 611, the second pattern element 612, and the third pattern element 613 can contain about 50% shading depth. .. In an exemplary embodiment, each pattern element 611, 612, and 613 can contain a cation concentration of 50%. That is, a certain volume of cationizing agent added to each of the cationized garment areas corresponding to the first, second, and third pattern element shapes may allow the garment area to absorb the maximum dye volume. 50% of the theoretical volume of the cationizing agent as possible. The selectively reduced 50% cation concentration chemically produces an absorption threshold 50% less for each of the pattern elements 611, 612, 613 than the garment can physically absorb. Thus, the pattern element shading depth of each pattern element 611, 612, 613 is the maximum shading, despite the dye cycle uptime and volume dye normally used in the dyeing operation sufficient to produce the maximum shading depth. It may be only 50% of the depth. In various embodiments, the cation concentrations of the first, second, and third pattern elements may differ from each other. In such a situation, the shadow depth of at least one pattern element of the pattern element may be different from the shadow depth of at least one pattern element among the other pattern elements of the garment pattern.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the second garment pattern 620 corresponds to the exemplary garment pattern shown in FIG. 5B. As shown, the second garment pattern 620 includes a pattern element 621, which includes a pattern element shape corresponding to the cationized garment area 521 as shown in FIG. 5B. As described herein, at least substantially all of the dye volume absorbed by the garment during the dyeing operation is pattern element 621 due, at least in part, to the cationization of the garment area corresponding to the pattern element shape. The untreated garment area retains its original garment color. Based on user input, the dye volume utilized during the dyeing operation can be configured to generate pattern elements that include a particular pattern element color. The pattern element 621 can include a specific pattern element color corresponding to the dye volume utilized during the dyeing operation. As shown in FIG. 6B, the pattern element 621 can include a shadow depth of about 100%. In one exemplary embodiment, the dye cycle uptime and dye volume may each be 100% as described herein, and the pattern element 621 may contain 100% cation concentration.

In various embodiments, as described herein, one or more of the above-mentioned shading depth input variables can be selectively varied alone or in combination to achieve the desired pattern element shading depth. .. For example, by using the exemplary pattern element shown in FIG. 6B, the cycle operating time can be selectively reduced to 50% while the dye volume and cation concentration of the pattern element 621 are each set to 100%. In such an exemplary situation, the dye cycle uptime can be half the time it takes to achieve the maximum pattern element shading depth under a given dye cycle operating condition set. As described herein, the pattern element shading depth of the pattern element 621 is less than 100% (eg, 50%) and the pattern element 621 has a dye cycle uptime of 100% under similar circumstances. It will look thinner than it is.

As yet another non-limiting example, again using the exemplary pattern element shown in FIG. 6B, as described herein, the dye cycle uptime and the cation concentration of pattern element 621 are each maintained at 100%. By selectively reducing the dye volume to 50%, the shadow depth of the pattern element 621 can be reduced. In such an exemplary situation, the dye volume utilized in the dyeing operation may be half the volume required to achieve the maximum pattern element shading depth under a given dye cycle operating condition set. can. As a result, the pattern element shading depth of the pattern element 621 is less than 100% (eg, 50%), and the pattern element 621 will appear thinner than under similar circumstances where the dye volume is 100%.

iii. Third Exemplary Operation As shown in FIG. 7A, the garment pattern 700 corresponds to the first garment pattern shown in FIG. 5A. In various embodiments, the garment pattern 700 can include a first pattern element set 710. As shown, the first pattern element set 710 includes a first pattern element 711, a second pattern element 712, and a third pattern element 713. The first, second, and third pattern elements 711, 712, and 713 can include a first pattern element shape, a second pattern element shape, and a third pattern element shape, respectively. It can correspond to a first cationized garment area 511, a second cationized garment area 512, and a third cationized garment area 513 as shown in FIG. 5A. As described herein, each of the first, second, and third pattern elements 711, 712, 713 can absorb a certain volume of dye during the first staining operation. In various embodiments, at least substantial of the dye volume absorbed by the garment during the dyeing operation, at least partially due to the cationization of the garment area corresponding to the first, second, and third pattern element shapes. All are collectively absorbed by the first, second, and third pattern elements 711, 712, 713, while the untreated garment area retains its original garment color.

In various embodiments, the garment can be dyed until at least substantially all of the added cationization treatment agent is neutralized with the depleted dye volume. In such a situation, the garment can undergo a second dyeing operation, which comprises adding a second cationizing agent layer to the patterned garment and each containing a volume of dye 1. Alternatively, a step of injecting two or more volumes of concentrated liquid dye and a step of dyeing the patterned garment until at least substantially all of the second cationizing agent layer is neutralized with the depleted dye volume. Can be included. In various embodiments, the dye volume utilized in the second dyeing operation can correspond to a secondary pattern element color, which can include the pattern element color of the second pattern element set. As shown in FIG. 7B, the garment pattern 700 can further include a second pattern element set 720. As shown, the second pattern element set 720 includes a pattern element 721, which includes a pattern element shape corresponding to the cationized garment area 521 as shown in FIG. 5B. As described herein, at least substantially all of the dye volume absorbed by the garment during dyeing is due, at least in part, due to the cationization of the garment area corresponding to the pattern element shape of the pattern element 721. Is absorbed by the pattern element 721. The pattern element 721 can include a specific pattern element color corresponding to the dye volume utilized during the dyeing operation. As shown in FIG. 7B, since the first pattern element set 710 and the second pattern element set 720 can contain different pattern element colors, the garment pattern 700 can be a multicolor pattern. In various embodiments, the pattern element size, pattern element color, and / or pattern element shading depth of each of the pattern elements of the garment pattern 700 can be selected by the user and / or described herein. It can be selectively modified to do so.

As yet another example, FIG. 8 shows an experimental garment comprising a garment pattern 800. As shown, the garment pattern 800 includes both a first pattern element set 810 and a second pattern element set 820. Both the first and second pattern element sets include a plurality of pattern elements, each of which contains a pattern element shape, a pattern element color, and a pattern element shading depth.

The garment pattern 800 was first generated by selectively applying different volumes of cationizing agents to different garment areas (garments corresponding to the first pattern element set 810) by hand spraying addition methods. It is a thing. The exemplary garment was then cured and subsequently exposed to the first dyeing operation, where the dye volume corresponding to the red garment output color was injected into the dyeing machine through a volume of concentrated liquid dye. To generate a garment pattern containing the first pattern element set 810, at least substantially all of the added cationization treatment agent is neutralized with the depleted dye volume, as described herein. The first staining operation was performed until. As shown in FIG. 8, each of the pattern elements of the first pattern element set 810 includes a red pattern element color, and the respective shade depth of each pattern element corresponds to the pattern element shape of each pattern element. It varies based on the cation concentration of the area.

Subsequently, a second pattern element set 820 was added to the garment pattern 800 through a second dyeing operation. Again, different volumes of cationizing agents were selectively applied onto the first pattern element set for different clothing areas (corresponding to the second pattern element set 820) by hand spraying addition methods. .. The exemplary garment was then cured and subsequently exposed to a second dyeing operation, where the dye volume corresponding to the yellow garment output color was at least partially filled with a substantially clean solvent. Injected into the machine. As described herein, a second staining operation is performed until at least substantially all of the cationizing agent applied on top of the first pattern element set is neutralized with the depleted dye volume. did. As shown, by repeating the dyeing operation with different dyes corresponding to different garment output colors, the garment pattern 800 includes both a first pattern element set 810 and a second pattern element set 820. It can be configured as a multicolored garment pattern.

iv. Fourth Exemplary Operation As shown in FIG. 9, the first garment pattern 910 corresponds to the first garment pattern shown in FIG. 5A. As shown, the first garment pattern 910 includes a first pattern element 911, a second pattern element 912, and a third pattern element 913. The first, second, and third pattern elements 911, 912, and 913 can include a first pattern element shape, a second pattern element shape, and a third pattern element shape, respectively. It can correspond to a first cationized garment area 511, a second cationized garment area 512, and a third cationized garment area 513 as shown in FIG. 5A. As mentioned herein, the cationizing agent can be selectively added to the garment using a variety of addition devices and methods. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, each of the first pattern element 911 and the second pattern element 912 uses a manual spraying step, such as hand spraying, to provide a volume of cationization agent. Can correspond to the cationized garment area to which is added. Further, as shown, the third pattern element 913 corresponds to a cationized garment area to which a certain volume of cationizing agent has been added using an automated spraying step, such as using an inkjet printer. can do. In such situations, a volume of cationization agent can be added to the garment area as an array of substantially smaller local concentrations, which concentration array collectively when undergoing subsequent staining steps. Can correspond to pattern elements. In various embodiments, each volume of cationizing agent applied to one or more cationized garment areas is either the same or different addition device and / or method, as described herein. Can be added using.

As described herein, each of the first, second, and third pattern elements 911, 912, 913 can absorb a certain volume of dye during dyeing. In various embodiments, at least substantial of the dye volume absorbed by the garment during the dyeing operation, at least partially due to the cationization of the garment area corresponding to the first, second, and third pattern element shapes. All are collectively absorbed by the first, second, and third pattern elements 911, 912, 913, while the untreated garment area retains its original garment color. Based on user input, the dye volume utilized during the dyeing operation can be configured to generate pattern elements that include a particular pattern element color. Each pattern element 911, 912, 913 contains a specific pattern element color corresponding to the dye volume utilized during the dyeing operation.

As shown in FIG. 9, each of the first pattern element 911, the second pattern element 912, and the third pattern element 913 can include a gradient shading depth, and each shading depth ratio is each pattern element. Gradually decrease over at least a portion of. In one exemplary embodiment, the dye cycle uptime and dye volume may each be 100% as described herein, and each of the pattern elements 911, 912, and 913 has a gradient cation concentration. Can include. As shown, each of the first and third pattern elements 911, 913 includes a linear gradient shading depth, whereas the second pattern element 912 contains a radial gradient shading depth. As described above herein, the pattern element shading depth, which gradually transitions from maximum shading depth to less shading depth in the first direction over a portion of the pattern element, is the first over the garment area corresponding to the pattern element. It is possible to cope with a cation concentration gradient that gradually decreases in the direction. Such gradient pattern element shading depths may be desirable to avoid distinct shading depth changes. It must be understood that pattern elements can include gradient shading depths of any shape, intensity, and / or directional configuration.

Conclusion Many modifications and other embodiments will be recalled to those skilled in the art to which the disclosure of the invention benefits from the above description and the teachings presented in the relevant drawings. Accordingly, it is understood that the disclosure of the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the appended claims. .. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used only for general and descriptive meaning, not for limiting purposes.

100 Dyeing device 110 Dyeing machine 120 Dye injection system 123 Dye dispensing header 200 Controller

Claims (18)

A device for dyeing clothes
A dye injection system configured to dispense concentrated liquid dyes,
A dyeing machine comprising a dyeing chamber configured to dye at least one piece of clothing in a dyeing bath having the concentrated liquid dye received from the dye injection system and a volume of solvent.
A controller that communicates with the dye injection system and the dyeing machine,
Equipped with
The controller
Receiving at least one garment parameter corresponding to the at least one garment,
The dye injection system comprises a volume of concentrated liquid dye containing an amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by the at least one garment, at least in part based on the at least one received garment parameter. To dispense,
Allowing the dyeing machine to perform a dye cycle such that substantially all of the dye in the dispensed volume of concentrated liquid dye is absorbed by the at least one garment in the dyeing chamber.
Is configured as
A device characterized by that. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dyeing bath in the dyeing chamber is substantially free of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, and alkali content throughout the dye cycle. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dyeing machine is configured to perform the dye cycle at substantially ambient room temperature. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one garment parameter comprises the weight of the at least one garment. Equipped with a weight sensor
The controller is further configured to receive the weight of the at least one garment from the weight sensor.
The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the apparatus is characterized by the above. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dyeing machine is configured to maintain the volume of solvent in a substantially closed loop system. Further equipped with at least one holding tank for fluid communication with the dyeing chamber.
The at least one retention tank is configured to retain the volume of solvent during the staining cycle.
The apparatus according to claim 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solvent in the volume contains water. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the concentrated liquid dye contains a dye and water. The dye injection system comprises a plurality of concentrated liquid dye cartridges, each of which is configured to contain a volume of concentrated liquid dye having a unique dye color. The device according to claim 1. 10. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of concentrated liquid dye cartridges of the dye injection system comprises between 7 and 12 concentrated liquid dye cartridges. The controller comprises the volume of concentrated liquid dye containing the amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by the at least one garment based at least in part on the desired garment color selected by the user. The device of claim 1, further configured to be dispensed into an injection system. The controller puts a concentrated liquid dye into the dyeing chamber to produce the desired garment color selected by the user during the dye cycle, at least partially based on the desired garment color selected by the user. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising being configured to dispense into one or more of a plurality of concentrated liquid dye cartridges. 13. The device of claim 13, further comprising a user interface configured to allow the user to select the desired garment color. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispensed concentrated liquid dye in the volume contains a dye in an amount substantially less than or equal to the dye absorption capacity of the at least one garment. It ’s a method of dyeing clothes.
For dyeing garments, comprising a dye injection system configured to dispense concentrated liquid dye and a dyeing machine having a dyeing chamber configured to dye at least one garment in a dye bath. The stage of preparing the equipment and
A step of receiving at least one garment and a volume of solvent in the dyeing chamber of the dyeing machine.
The stage of receiving at least one garment parameter corresponding to the at least one garment,
The at least one garment to generate a dye bath having the concentrated liquid dye dispensed from the dye injection system and the solvent of the volume, at least in part based on the at least one received garment parameter. A volume of concentrated liquid dye containing an amount of dye that can be substantially absorbed by the dye injection system is dispensed through the dye injection system.
A step of performing a dye cycle such that substantially all of the dye in the dispensed volume of concentrated liquid dye is absorbed by the at least one garment in the dyeing chamber.
A method characterized by including. The dye in the dispensed volume of concentrated liquid dye is at least substantially free of additional dyeing enhancer in the resulting dyeing bath placed in the dyeing chamber of the dyeing machine at the time of performing the dye cycle. Configured,
The steps of performing the dye cycle include maintaining the dye bath at substantially ambient temperature.
16. The method of claim 16. 16. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one garment parameter comprises a garment weight corresponding to the weight of the at least one garment.

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