WO2008146143A2

WO2008146143A2 - Apparatus for removing clothes from a support

Info

Publication number: WO2008146143A2
Application number: PCT/IB2008/001360
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Dal Pont
Original assignee: Paolo Dal Pont
Priority date: 2007-06-01
Filing date: 2008-05-29
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: WO2008146143A3; ITMO20070190A1

Abstract

An apparatus for removing a garment from a support (11), comprising gripping means (5) arranged for gripping a portion of said garment (4), a further portion (24) of said garment (4) adhering to said support (11), and moving means (37) for reciprocally moving said gripping means (5) and said support (11) so as to separate said garment (4) from said support (11). A method for removing a garment from a support (11), comprising gripping a portion of said garment, reciprocally moving said garment (4) and said support (11) along a movement direction (Al) so that said garment (4) and said support (11) slide in relation to one another, and further moving part of said portion along a further movement direction (A2) transverse to an operating plane (P) identified by said support (11) to move said garment (4) at least partly away from said operating plane (P).

Description

Apparatus for removing clothes from a support

The invention relates to an apparatus for removing clothes or garments from a support, particularly shirts on which silk-screen printing has been done. Lines are known for silk-screen printing on shirts comprising a printing area, in which the silk-screen printing is done on a shirt, and a drying area, in which the colours of the print are fixed to the fabric of the shirt by heat. In the printing area, support panels are provided, arranged for being used as the supporting plane for the silk-screen printing. A part of the shirt on which the printing is to be done is first glued to the support panel so that this part is spread and adheres to the support panel. When printing is complete, the shirt is manually detached from the support panel by an operator, who transfers it to a conveyor belt arranged for conveying the shirt through an oven in the drying area.

A defect of these lines is that they require at least one operator to remove the shirts manually from the support panel after the printing and to transfer the shirt to the conveyor belt.

A further defect is that these lines have significant overall dimensions. In fact, the conveyor belt must be positioned at a certain distance form the support panel to allow the operator, placed between the conveyor belt and the panel, to have sufficient working space.

An object of the invention is to improve the lines for silk- screen printing on garments, particularly on shirts. A further object is to obtain a more compact line as compared to known lines.

A still further object is to obtain a line that makes it possible to reduce the number of operators required for the operation.

In a first aspect of the invention is provided an apparatus for removing a garment from a support, comprising gripping means arranged for gripping a portion of said garment, a further portion of said garment adhering to said support, and moving means for reciprocally moving said gripping means and said support so as to separate said garment from said support . Owing to the gripping means and moving means, it is possible to remove a garment automatically from a support on which a further portion of the garment was earlier glued. In this way, it is no longer necessary to have an operator to remove the garments from the supports, as this operation is performed automatically. Furthermore, by installing the apparatus in a line for printing on garments, it is possible to reduce the overall dimensions of this line as compared to known lines since it is no longer necessary to provide a work space for the operator between the support panel and the conveyor belt.

In a second aspect of the invention, is provided a method for removing a garment from a support, comprising gripping a part of said garment, reciprocally moving said garment and said support in a movement direction so that said garment and said support slide in relation to one another and further moving part of said portion in a further movement direction transverse to a first operating plane identified by said support to move said garment at least partly away from said operating plane. Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is therefore possible to remove a garment from a support rapidly. Moreover, the garment is removed from the support by means of simple movements which do not require large operating spaces . The invention will be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, that show some exemplifying embodiments in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a printing line comprising an apparatus; Figure 2 is a view of the line as in Figure 1, during an operating configuration; Figure 3 is a view of the line as in Figure 1, during a further operating configuration;

Figure 4 is a lateral and partial view of a support and of a garment ; Figure 5 is a partial plan and schematic view of the apparatus ;

Figure 6 is a view of the apparatus as in Figure 5, during an operating configuration;

Figure 7 is a partial lateral and schematic view of a part of the apparatus during a first operating configuration;

Figure 8 is a partial lateral and schematic view of a further part of the apparatus during a first operating configuration;

Figure 9 is a view of the part of the apparatus as in Figure

7, during a second operating configuration; Figure 10 is a view of the further part of the apparatus as in Figure 8, during a second operating configuration;

Figure 11 is a view of the part of the apparatus as in Figure

7, during a third operating configuration;

Figure 12 is a view of the further part of the apparatus as in Figure 8, during a third operating configuration;

Figure 13 is a view of the part of the apparatus as in Figure

7, during a fourth operating configuration;

Figure 14 is a view of the further part of the apparatus as in Figure 8, during a fourth operating configuration; Figure 15 is a schematic lateral and partial view of the apparatus during a fifth operating configuration;

Figure 16 is a view of the apparatus as in Figure 15, during a sixth operating configuration;

Figure 17 is a view of the apparatus as in Figure 15, during a seventh operating configuration.

Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a line 20 for silk-screen printing on garments, particularly on shirts 4. Line 20 comprises a printing area 21, in which the printing is done, and a drying area 22, in which the colours are fixed on the shirts 4 through a drying phase. In the printing area 21 a plurality of support panels 11 are provided, arranged radially on a carousel (not shown) rotating around an axis Cl. To a support panel 11 of said plurality a portion 24 of shirt 4 is fixed on which a design 23 is to be printed, as shown in Figure 4. In particular, a fixing material such as an adhesive or glue is used to glue portion 24 to support panel 11 on one face 25, opposite a further face 26 intended for receiving the design 23. The shirt 4 thus has a part 33, which comprises the portion 24 and is arranged on an operating plane P defined by support panel 11, and a further part 34, arranged on the opposite side of part 33 in relation to the support panel 11. During the carousel rotation, the support panel 11 reaches printing means (not shown) arranged for applying a design 23 on shirt 4, for example, by means of a silk-screen printing technique .

During the printing, since portion 24 is glued to support panel 11, the fabric of portion 24 remains substantially stretched without curling, thus allowing optimum printing of design 23 on shirt 4.

Once the printing is complete, the carousel continues to rotate until the support panel 11, to which the shirt 4 has been glued, reaches an apparatus 1, arranged for removing shirt 4 from support panel 11. ,

The apparatus 1 comprises gripper means 5 positioned so as to interact in an end area 28 of support panel 11 arranged in the part opposite axis Cl. Figures 5 and 6 show the gripper means 5 comprising a first gripper 7 arranged for gripping shirt 4 at an area of shirt 4 intended for being in contact with a first shoulder of a user, and which will hereafter be referred to as the first shoulder area 12. Gripper means 5 further comprises a second gripper 8 , which is structurally and functionally shaped like the first gripper 7, and is opposite the first gripper 7 along a direction A3, substantially tangent to the carousel. The second gripper 8 grips shirt 4 at a further area of shirt 4 intended for being in contact with a second shoulder of a user, and which will hereafter be referred to as the second shoulder area 13.

Gripper means 5 further comprises a movable gripper 9, which is positioned between the first gripper 7 and the second gripper 8 along the direction A3, and is arranged for gripping the shirt 4 at neck 10 of shirt 4. Support panel 11 is provided with a first cavity 29 at the first shoulder area 12, a second cavity 30 at the second shoulder area 13, and a central cavity 31 at neck 10. The first gripper 7, the second gripper 8 and the movable gripper 9 comprise a first gripping element 14 and a second gripping element 15, hinged to a support element 16, as shown in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10. The gripper means 5 can assume a rest configuration Xl, in which the first gripping element 14 and the second gripping element 15 are distant from one another, and a working configuration X2 , in which the first gripping element 14 and the second gripping element 15 are close to one another, thereby making it possible for gripper means 5 to grip a part of shirt 4, possibly arranged between the first gripping element 14 and the second gripping element 15. The support elements 16 are connected to a crosspiece 35, which is arranged along direction A3 and is connected to moving means 37 comprising a moving device 36 and a rotation device (not shown) . The moving device 36 moves the crosspiece 35 in an advance direction Al which is substantially perpendicular to direction A3 and along which a conveyor belt 3 is arranged. Moving device 36 comprises a support arm 17, having an end fixed to the crosspiece 35. Support arm 17 has a further end 19, which is opposite to the end 18 and hinged to a frame 32. The further end 19 is also slidably supported by frame 32 so that support arm 17 is free to slide along a direction identified by its main dimension. The support arm 17 can therefore make angular movements in a direction of rotation Rl and can move inside frame 32 so that crosspiece 35, moving along the movement direction Al, and remains substantially perpendicular to movement direction Al. Owing to moving device 36, the gripper means 5 can therefore move from the printing area 21 into the drying area 22, arranged downstream of the printing area 21 along the advance direction Al . Gripper means 5 may comprise adjusting means for changing the position of the first gripper 7 and the second gripper 8 on crosspiece 35 both along the movement direction Al and along the direction A3. In particular, owing to adjusting means, it is possible to change the distance between the first gripper 7 and the second gripper 8. Therefore support panels 11 may be provided, having different widths so that the support panels 11 can receive shirts 4 of different sizes. In this case, the distance between the cavities present in the support plane 11 is different and first gripper 7 and second gripper 8 must therefore be adjusted along the direction A3.

Moreover, it may be necessary to adjust the position of the first gripper 7 and the second gripper 8 along movement axis Al, so as to modify the distance of the first gripper 7 and of the second gripper 8 in relation to movable gripper 9 along the movement direction Al. Thus, the apparatus 1 can remove shirts 4 having necks 10 with different depths, for example V-necks, from support panel 11. During the operation, the gripper means 5 removes shirt 4 from support panel 11 and conveys it inside drying area 22. Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 show the gripper means 5 which grips shirt 4, still glued to support panel 11, and removes it from support panel 11. With reference to Figure 5, gripper means 5 initially assumes a rest configuration Xl and is arranged near support panel 11 at a sufficient distance to prevent gripper means 5 from interfering with the rotation of support panel 11. The gripper means 5 approaches support panel 11, owing to translating movement of crosspiece 35 along a direction opposite to movement direction Al, as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. In particular, the first gripper 7 arranges itself at the first cavity 29 so that part 33 and further part 34 are placed between the first gripping element 14 and the second gripping element 15 of first gripper 7. Moreover, the second gripper 8 arranges itself at the second cavity 30 so that part 33 and further part 34 are arranged between the first gripping element 14 and the second gripping element 15 of the second gripper 8. On the other hand, movable gripper 9 arranges itself at the neck 10 so that only part 33 is arranged between the first gripping element 14 and the second gripping element 15 of movable gripper 9, particularly, the second gripping element 15 of movable gripper 9 inserts itself in the central cavity 31 through an opening of the shirt 4 arranged near neck 10. Gripper means 5 therefore assumes an operating configuration X2 , such that both the first gripper 7 and the second gripper 8 block two layers of shirt 4, while the movable gripper blocks only one layer of shirt 4. Particularly, the first gripper 7 and the second gripper 8 block part 33 as well as further part 34 at the first cavity 29 and at the second cavity 31, respectively, while the movable gripper 9 blocks only part 33 at the central cavity 31, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Subsequently, the crosspiece 35 moves away from support panel 11, translating along the direction Al, owing to the moving device 36. Gripper means 5 therefore moves together with crosspiece 35 in the advance direction Al; moreover, the rotation device (not shown) , arranged on crosspiece 35 near the end 18, causes the movable gripper 9 to perform a series of vertical angular movements in alternate directions around a further axis, which is perpendicular to the movement direction Al and movable together with crosspiece 35.

The rotation device may comprise, for example, a rotary- device or a pantograph device. In the second case, the pantograph device comprises an articulated quadrilateral in which the support element 16 is arranged on a movable connecting rod hinged to one end of a pair of oscillating arms. The pair of oscillating arms has a second end which is opposite the first end and is hinged to the crosspiece 35. Each point of movable gripper 9 moves a number of times in a direction opposite to a circumference arc Tl while the movable gripper 9 remains, or does not remain, parallel to the advance direction Al, depending on the rotation device used. The movement of the movable gripper 9 can therefore be split up into a first component having the advance direction Al and into a second component having a further direction A2 , substantially perpendicular to the operating plane P. The movement of the movable gripper 9 in relation to the crosspiece 35 ^~ thus makes it possible to move the part 33 repeatedly away from or closer to operating plane P, thereby facilitating detachment of the portion 24, glued earlier, from support panel 11. So, while the first gripper 7 and the second gripper 8 remove the shirt 4 from support panel 11, the movable gripper 9 detaches the portion 24 from the support panel 11.

When the portion 24 is completely detached from the support panel 11, the movable gripper 9 ends its alternate movement in relation to crosspiece 35. Gripper means 5 then moves shirt 4 inside the drying area 22, in which conveyor belt 3 is provided, arranged lateral to frame 32 along the advance direction Al. Owing to the further translating movement of the crosspiece 35, gripper means 5 continues to advance in the advance direction Al, in such a manner that part of shirt 4 is arranged on a movement plane P2 , which is defined by conveyor belt 3 and positioned at a vertical height less than gripper means 5, as shown in Figure 15. Subsequently, gripper means 5 assumes a rest configuration Xl depositing the shirt 4 on conveyor belt 3, as shown in Figure 15. Gripper means 5 then continues to move along the advance direction Al, with a speed greater than that of conveyor belt 3, thus allowing the second gripping element 15 of the movable gripper 9 to get separated from shirt 4 through the opening at neck 10. Figure 17 shows shirt 4 which is completely supported and moved by conveyor belt 3 towards an oven (not shown), in the movement direction Al. Inside the oven the colours deposited during the printing are fixed permanently to the fabric of shirt 4.

Claims

1. Apparatus for removing a garment from a support (11), comprising gripping means (5) arranged for gripping a portion of said garment (4), a further portion (24) of said garment (4) adhering to said support (11) , and moving means (37) for reciprocally moving said gripping means (5) and said support (11) so as to separate said garment (4) from said support (11) .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said moving means (37) comprises first moving means (36) connected to said gripping means (5) for moving said gripping means (5) away from and closer to said support (11) in a movement direction (Al) .

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said moving means (37) comprises second moving means connected to said gripping means (5) for moving said gripping means (5) along a direction (A2) transverse to an operating plane (P) identified by said support (11) .

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said second moving means rotates said gripping means (5) around an axis (A3) which lies on said operating plane (P) .

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said axis (A3) is substantially perpendicular to said movement direction (Al) .

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 , wherein said gripping means (5) comprises first gripping means (9) driven by said first moving means (36) and by said second moving means and second gripping means (7, 8) driven by said first moving means (36) .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said gripping means (9) is arranged to grip said garment (4) in a central area (10) of said portion.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, or 7, wherein said first gripping means (9) comprises a gripping element (15) arranged for being inserted in an opening of said garment (4) so that said first gripping means (9) can grip only a layer (33) of said garment (4) .

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , wherein said first gripping means comprises a gripping unit (9) and said second gripping means comprises a gripping unit (7) and a further gripping unit (8) , said gripping unit (9) being placed between said gripping unit (7) and said further gripping unit (8) .

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein said gripping means (5) comprises adjusting means arranged for changing the position of said second gripping means (7, 8) in relation to said first gripping means (9) .

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, as appended to claim 9, wherein said adjusting means can change the distance between said gripping unit (7) and said further gripping unit (8) .

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein said second gripping means (7, 8) is arranged at a vertical height less than that of said first gripping means (9) so as to grip two overlapped layers of said garment (4) .

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said gripping means (5) comprises grippers .

14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said garment comprises a shirt (4) .

15. Support for a garment arranged for interacting with an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, and comprising cavity means (29, 30, 31) arranged in a peripheral area (28) of said support (11) so that said cavity means (29, 30, 31) receives said gripping means (5) .

16. Support for a garment according to claim 15, wherein a profile of said peripheral area (28) is shaped like a person's shoulders.

17. Plant for printing garments, comprising a printing device and an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

18. Plant for printing garments, according to claim 17, and comprising at least one support according to claim 15, or 16.

19. Plant for printing garments according to claim 17, or 18, wherein said printing device comprises a silk-screen printing device.

20. Method for removing a garment from a support (11), comprising:

-gripping a portion of said garment (4) ; -reciprocally moving said garment (4) and said support (11) along a movement direction (Al) so that said garment (4) and said support (11) slide in relation to one another;

- further moving part of said portion along a further movement direction (A2) transverse to an operating plane (P) identified by said support (11) to move said garment (4) at least partly away from said operating plane (P) .

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein said reciprocal movement comprises moving said garment (4) in relation to said support (11) .

22. Method according to claim 20, or 21, wherein said further moving comprises moving said part alternately away from and closer to said operating plane (P) .

23. Method according to any one of claims 20 to 22 wherein said further moving is simultaneous with said reciprocally moving.

24. Method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein said gripping comprises holding three areas (10, 12, 13) of said portion.

25. Method according to claim 24, wherein said holding comprises simultaneously holding said three areas (10,

12, 13) of said portion.

26. Method according to claim 24, or 25, wherein said gripping comprises locking a single layer (33) of said garment (4) in an area (10) of said three areas.

27. Method according to claim 26, wherein said area (10) is a central area of said portion.

28. Method according to claim 26, or 27, wherein before said locking inserting a gripping element (15) inside an opening of said garment (4) is provided.

29. Method according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein said gripping comprises further locking two overlapped layers (33, 34) of said garment (4) in two areas (12, 13) of said three areas.

30. Method according to claim 29, wherein said two areas are lateral areas (12, 13) of said portion.

31. Method according to any one of claims 20 to 30, wherein before said gripping, there is provided making said garment (4) adhere to said support (11) in order to keep said garment (4) stretched during a printing operation.

32. Method according to claim 31, wherein said making said garment (4) adhere to said support (11) comprises gluing said garment (4) to said support (11) .

33. Method according to any one of claims 20 to 32, wherein said garment is a shirt (4) .