WO2020074024A1

WO2020074024A1 - A method for textile processing for its pigment printing and a modular device for performing the method

Info

Publication number: WO2020074024A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2019/000024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frantisek BALAZSY; Daniel SULIK
Original assignee: Pikto Digital A.S.
Priority date: 2018-10-12
Filing date: 2019-05-07
Publication date: 2020-04-16
Also published as: CZ2018543A3

Abstract

The subject matter of the invention is a textile processing method for textile pigment printing and a modular device for performing this method. The machine application of the technology producing printed textiles using pigment dyes can be implemented in two forms, more specifically, as (i) a bifunctional machine unit, consisting of a spray module (2), one or a series of radiation modules (3) and a cooling module (4), or (ii) a production line consisting of various combinations of the presented modules together with a commercial printing device. Both forms of the machine applications ensure a technological process of large-format industrial textile production using pigment dyes and offer a suitable substitute for the existing textile printing technologies with other dyes characterized by excessive water consumption. The production technology is suitable for any textile type family, as well as for woven and knitted forms of textile, thus significantly increasing the production agility of the industrial area to which it belongs.

Description

A method for textile processing for its pigment printing and a modular device for performing the method

Technical Field

The following invention relates to a method of processing a textile for its digital pigment inkjet printing and a modular device for performing this method. Specifically, this is a machine application of the large-format textile printing technology consisting of the chemical treatment of fabric - so-called pre-treatment, its printing with pigment dyes, using a conventional printer, and subsequent polymerization of dyes and binders, using either thermal or UV stabilization, in order to minimize water and energy consumption during this process.

Background Art

The digital textile printing methods, such as the inkjet technology, start to play a very important role in textile printing and offer a lot of advantages over conventional techniques, such as silk- screen printing or cylindrical screen printing. Digital printing eliminates the need for timely and costly production of mesh forms or preparation of printing cylinders, thus enabling the production with great diversification and dynamics of printed patterns, as well as the printing of small batches and custom-made printing. It also allows printing with visual effects, such as colour tone gradients and infinite pattern length, which is otherwise limited by the mesh width or cylinder diameter in the said technologies. In order to achieve a high sharpness of the printed pattern, its large colour scale and mechanical resistance in the case of pigment inkjet printing, it is necessary to chemically pre- treat the fabric being printed, which means its saturation in a chemical solution of multivalent cationic salts, non-ionic latex polymers and other additives. As a result, a positive electrical charge is generated on the fabric being printed to maintain a drop of dye coming out of the piezoelectric nozzle of the print head at an exact point, without its further feathering, which guarantees the sharpness of the printed pattern. It also provides for stronger absorption and adhesion to pigments and various ingredients of dye pastes (binders, thickeners, carbamide, refiners, acid-forming groups, alkalis) used in inkjet printing dyes, resulting in a finer nature of the output fabric, its high mechanical resistance and wider colour gamut, as compared to untreated fabrics. The current technology provides the possibility of applying the chemical pre-treatment in the form of padding, which means soaking the fabric in a chemical solution in an industrial tank; this procedure is described in greater detail in Document CN101597846B. After the solution has been soaked in the fabric, it is necessary to subsequently press it using cylinders that compress the fabric, or to suck out the solution using a vacuum head and to dry up the solution from the fabric on evaporation cylinders; this procedure is described in greater detail in Document CN201392081Y. It is also possible to dry the fabric freely in the air, but both the said procedures have considerable drawbacks, such as excessive electricity consumption during the drying due to obvious loss of heat from the drying cylinders, or temporal and spatial intensity caused by the passive drying. It also causes an unnecessary chemical and water consumption due to the excessive saturation of the fabric with the solution because in terms of the process, it is not possible to control the solution quantity supplied to the fabric. Other drawbacks are the ironing effect caused by the press cylinders and the complications associated with the absence of possible system control to achieve direct continuous contact of the fabric with the drying cylinders caused by its elasticity when working with knitted fabrics and stretch fabrics. It is also obvious that such a process is also ineffective in terms of the operation of the particular invention because during any replacement of the fabric being processed, it is necessary to thread and wind it through the given process equipment, which reduces the work dynamics of the particular invention. Including the wet bath in the production process also causes more severe operating conditions and more demanding environment requirements.

The fabric so treated is prepared for printing using a conventional printer (Robustelli Mona Lisa, Flora T180, Color Jet Metro and others), fitted with piezoelectric print heads. The dye pastes used are based on pigment, whose application brings into the process the need to fix it on the fabric after the printing because the solid pigment particles do not naturally adhere to the fabric, and therefore, the paste contains soft ingredients of the organic base (monomers and/or oligomers), which serve as a binder of these particles, and after it is applied, it is necessary to polymerize it and thereby to ensure a solid bonding of the dye with the fabric being processed. The conventional method of stabilizing the pigment dyes and thereby achieving the desired bond between the fabric fibre and the dye consists in their thermal treatment in order to ensure that the said soft organic base converts into a strong polymer. At present, the thermal treatment takes place in more complex conventional furnaces based on heat generation by electric resistive heating elements, heat generation based on gas or by connection to the factory hot oil distribution system from the central heating element. These emitters drive the heated air, which is below the temperature required by the current process, onto the fabric through the nozzles placed in a closed chamber, thereby heating the fabric to the fixing temperature at which the polymerization process takes place. Another heating process is also used in terms of the conventional heating technology that can heat the fabric homogenously, such as heat presses or heated plates over which the fabric is conveyed until it is dried up or final polymerization takes place. The disadvantage of this process is the generation of excess heat in the vicinity of the fabric, which must be transferred to the fabric by the transfer medium (air) so that the fabric is heated to the desired temperature for an adequate period of time to achieve polymerization.

Another option is the UV radiation-based polymerization, which is significantly more efficient in terms of the obvious limiting factors of the thermal treatment, such as high polymerization temperature, resulting in excessive energy consumption, thermal process equipment start-up time and also the possibility of damage to the thermally treated substrate. The UV radiation- based polymerization requires that the dye paste applied to the textile contains an adequate photoinitiator.

The advantage of pigment-based dyes is their simple application, which means the elimination of further processing after printing, as is the case of printing with reactive or acidic dyes, where it is necessary to further thermally process the printed fabric using hot steam and treat it in a series of chemical stabilizing baths and washing, which increases operating costs and is characterized by enormous water consumption, leading to an environmentally unfriendly and permanently unsustainable process. Furthermore, it also eliminates the need for textile knowhow because the printing result can be seen immediately after printing, whereas in the case of the above-mentioned methods, the real visual of these colours only appears after the aforesaid steaming and washing processes are completed. Another disadvantage of reactive and acidic dyes, and also of dispersion and sublimation dyes consists in a narrow range of their application because each of these techniques is suitable for a particular textile type and composition, which prevents their widespread use, and the commercial printing of different fabric types requires the purchase of separate technology for each textile type family, which significantly increases the input costs. The pigment-based dyes are suitable for every kind of textile and are characterized by the lowest water consumption during their application. Therefore, there is a need for a more advanced machinery design and a corresponding production process for the fulfilment of the process requirements of the described chemical and physical treatment of the printed textile as simply and accurately as possible. The goal is to streamline the process in terms of water, chemical and energy consumption. The process also requires a machine application to increase the production speed, simplify the installation requirements, bring healthier working conditions and eliminate the need for skills and know-how in textile printing, thereby making the large-format textile printing available to a wide range of customers.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to the textile processing method for the digital pigment inkjet printing of the textile and the modular device for performing this method, and provides a universal machinery and technology platform for the textile pre-treatment before textile printing by a conventional inkjet printer or another pigment-based dyeing mechanism, its possible chemical post-treatment and subsequent fixation. The device consists of block modules, which can be connected in series using various combinations and logically interconnected by means of a control unit, thereby achieving the desired method of producing printed textiles. The machine can consist of four types of modules:

1. Spray Module - the drawbacks of the conventional methods of applying a chemical pre- treatment solution, which also include the padding, are eliminated by the presented module applying the spraying. The main advantage of spraying over fabric soaking is that during the spraying, it is possible to precisely control the quantity of solution applied to the fabric and therefore, also its saturation. In addition, it is not necessary for the entire depth of the fabric, but only its printed portion, to be water-soaked because the pigments and other dye components do not penetrate through its entire structure. In terms of the process, it is thus necessary to produce a homogenous coating on the printed side of the fabric which will naturally penetrate into a deeper section of the fabric structure, but will not saturate its whole. This approach addresses the issue of excessive fluid and chemical consumption. It is also evident that different fabric types and weights require different quantities of the solution to be applied. This problem is solved by using spray nozzles based on the constant system pressure. Unlike the conventional nozzles, the flow of which is controlled by changing the fluid pressure in the system, the nozzles used in the present invention are designed so as to dispense the fluid by opening the nozzle hole electrically by means of a coil at constant fluid pressure upstream of the nozzle. This approach provides a considerably higher level of control over the solution quantity sprayed onto the fabric, as compared to the conventional spray technologies, and also reduces the quantities of aerosol residues naturally saturating the air in the spray module chamber. This property of theirs is used to apply a uniform solution layer onto the fabric such that the nozzles are opened and closed by a high-frequency electrical signal from the control unit. The signal is generated on the basis of several input parameters, the major of which including the speed of the conveyor belt with the processed fabric and its weight, on the basis of which the control unit adjusts the signal frequency and the operating cycle in view of the process. The problem with the variable fabric width is solved by a motorized nozzle suspension system, which, using optical sensors, detects the fabric width and adapts the geometric position of the nozzles both in width and height. The change in the nozzle position in height depends on the fabric width and is required for optimal spray stream overlap to achieve a uniform layer. The width parameter also adjusts the generated signal entering the nozzles. Due to the nozzle design and the need to maintain the desired spray stream overlap, a waste fluid stream is formed at both ends. The waste fluid stream is retained by the side members and is drained through the duct system so as not to come into contact with the fabric and not to disturb the spraying uniformity because any residual solution drops on the fabric would appear visibly downstream of the printing outlet. The chamber is designed so that no undesirable residues or aerosols naturally occurring during spraying will enter the nozzle mechanism. The mechanism is insulated from aerosols by a sheet metal suspended on the platform along with the nozzles such that only the end sections of the nozzles protrude from it. In order to maintain a uniform spray stream overlap at different fabric widths, it is necessary that the distance between the nozzles is always the same. This is achieved by using a pantograph, on which the individual nozzles are fixed by means of a platform. The pantograph is divided into two independent parts, which solves the problem with possible centrally asymmetric entry of the fabric under the spray apparatus. The spray module also contains a tank designed to collect waste fluids, which are driven there through a duct system. It is also designed to protect the components installed under it against the solution in the event that the system is badly set by the operator or if any emergency fluid leakage occurs.

Radiation Module - solves the drawbacks of conventional fabric heating methods for the drying of the treatment solutions or the dye fixation itself by applying infrared (“IR”) radiators at medium and short application wavelengths. The advantage of using the IR radiators consists in the fact that the fabric heating does not use the heat transfer through conduction, where the fabric surroundings are heated to the desired temperature using injected air or direct contact with the hot cylinder, but it uses heat transfer control.

This method has the advantage that heat is emitted in the form of electromagnetic waves, which hit and heat the fabric directly. Thereby, they do not heat the entire fabric surroundings and from the surroundings the fabric itself as in the case of the conventional furnace. Using this method, it is possible to ensure that the power consumed by the IR radiators appears in the fabric itself. The problem is that when the IR radiators are used, they heat everything that is hit by the emitted rays in direct proportion to the absorptivity of the particular material, i.e. also the heating chamber walls. This problem is solved by the IR radiator suspension platform, which is made of high-gloss stainless steel, and the conical shape of the IR radiator seat also ensures that the rays are reflected directly towards the fabric. Likewise, each part of the heating chamber is made of high-gloss stainless steel to achieve the highest possible reflectance of materials in the fabric surroundings, and thus also the energy efficiency of the furnace. It is obvious that after a certain period of time, the fabric itself heats the chamber space to its own temperature, as follows from the laws of thermodynamics. However, using the IR radiators significantly accelerates the start-up time because the conventional furnaces require a certain period of time to be heated, and as per the described solution, the fabric can be put into the chamber practically immediately. Each radiation module in the present machine design is divided into three equally large sections parallel to the width of the fabric being processed. Each section has its own structure of IR radiators, as well as a separate control loop, i.e. its own temperature sensor. It is obvious that the number of control sections may vary depending on the production width of the technology. According to the number of sections and modules, a MIMO (multiple inputs, multiple outputs) controller bank is implemented in the control unit to separately adapt the actuating variable in each section on the basis of the data collected from the temperature sensors. By dividing the thermal tunnel into multiple zones, the required homogenous temperature of the fabric was achieved without smallest leakage or heat losses in the entire volume of the heating chamber. The technology uses IR radiators radiating in medium to short IR wavelength ranges, i.e. mid-wave IR radiators. This IR radiator type has the best properties when heating fabrics. It is obvious that longer waves penetrate deeper materials in a more difficult way, and therefore, they show favourable characteristics for heating thin materials or surfaces, which corresponds to the surface spraying of the fabric from the spray unit during drying and also the polymerization of the printed layer of the fabric being treated. During drying and partly also during fixation, vapour and other residues are formed, which saturate the internal chamber, and which need to be removed during the process. This problem is solved using an ventilation pipeline, which is part of each module. The ventilation pipeline is designed to exhaust undesirable vapours into the higher heat recovery system or to supply the warm air back to the system as an outlet from the heat recovery unit. Each module also includes a mechanism designed for air stirring in the chamber to ensure the air homogeneity during exhaustion and suction in order to achieve its complete exchange throughout the system.

The same principle also applies to the use of the ultraviolet radiator (“UV”) technology. However, UV radiators do not require the above-mentioned actuating elements or any added insulation. The glossy stainless steel material ensures maximum reflection of UV rays to activate the photoinitiators, and thereby, the polymerization of the layer being printed.

3. Cooling Module - consists of a lower frame that serves as a platform for the upper skeleton in which a series of fans is installed. The fans are designed to convey cold air onto the fabric coming from the fixation or drying process. It is used to remove residual moisture from the fabric by convection cooling. It also includes a sensor measuring the fabric moisture, which controls the power of these fans to ensure the lowest possible energy consumption. It is also used to warn of critical moisture of the produced fabric.

4. Printing Module - a conventional inkjet printer fitted with piezoelectric print heads or other advanced printing technology. It may also include conventional rotary printing or silk-screen printing so as to meet the required production parameters, in particular, the ability to apply pigment-based dyes.

The presented large-format textile printing production technology itself is established through various arrangements of the presented modules in a functional unit. It is obvious that the machine must also contain a mechanism designed for feeding and taking up (i.e. withdrawing) the processed textile. Any solution adequate to the folded-type parameters can be implemented, either as a roll-to-roll solution or another feed and take-up mechanism that is part of a larger production process.

The technology can be simply implemented as a separate mechanism, consisting of the feed mechanism followed by a downstream series of logically connected modules. The modules are connected in the following order: a spray module, any number of radiation modules fitted with IR radiators and a cooling module. Downstream of such an assembled unit, there is a take-up mechanism. Such an assembled machine unit is capable of operating in two modes, whose logic is completely covered by the control unit, which can fully prepare the fabric through the first mode for printing using a pre-treatment solution, and after the printing is completed, it can, through the second selected mode, fix or possibly chemically post-treat the fabric so that downstream of the outlet, the fabric will be prepared for further mechanical processing in the garment industry. Thus, the production process is such that first of all, the raw fabric is inserted into the machine feed mechanism and is processed through the first mode; downstream of the outlet, the fabric is wound up on a roll or is taken up by another take-up mechanism, and subsequently, it is clamped in the feed mechanism of the printing technology, where it will be printed and re-taken up by the take-up mechanism that is part of the printing technology so that it can be re-inserted into the machine feed mechanism for processing through the second mode, where downstream of the outlet, the take-up mechanism withdraws the final product, i.e. the printed fabric. It should be added that in such a configuration, it is necessary for the printing module to be equipped with its own fabric feed and take-up mechanisms. The advantage of this solution is its versatility offered for solutions aimed at less efficient production or smaller input costs.

Another option of the machine application of the production technology consists in assembling an entire production line, where the input is a white raw fabric and the output is a fixed and printed fabric. Such assembled production process equipment consists of a feed mechanism, a series of modules assembled as described above, followed by a printing module, downstream of which there is a series of radiation modules equipped with IR or UV radiators, as required by the used chemical treatment, and all this terminated with a take-up mechanism, e.g. a roll- to-roll feed/take-up mechanism. The production process in this machine application starts by introducing the raw fabric into the feed mechanism of the machine line or by introducing the raw fabric into the inlet using any other mechanism of a larger process, and the fabric is then processed in one step, where at the outlet, the final product, i.e. printed fabric, is withdrawn by the take-up mechanism or continuously runs further.

It is also advantageous that the heat recovery unit, which is logically connected to the whole technology by means of the control unit, is included in the presented technology. It is designed to filter waste residues resulting from the drying and fixation processes and also to serve as an heat exchanger to drive and supply fresh air to the system for its subsequent saturation and to remove the saturated air into the heat exchanger, which is part of it, in order for the energy consumption in the production process to be as low as possible.

The machine unit in these configurations provides a technological platform for applying the printed textile production method consisting in a series of chemical and physical treatments. In order to achieve sharp printing and to ensure the maximum adhesion of the dye to the fabric, it is necessary to first treat the fabric through chemical pre-treatment, which is applied by means of sprays in an adequate quantity according to the weight and type family of the fabric directly to the fabric. After saturating the fabric in the chemical solution, it is necessary to reduce its moisture to an equilibrium level with the moisture of the dry fabric at room temperature. The absolute moisture of the fabric may, of course, vary according to the relative humidity of the ambient air. The fabric moisture is critical at this point because the multivalent cationic salts contained in the chemical solution form an electrical potential on the fabric surface, which provides a strong bond with the oppositely electrically charged pigment paste during its application, and it is obvious that the residual moisture content in the fabric degrades this electric charge. After drying, the fabric is prepared for printing by the pigment paste using a conventional digital printer or any other device designed for its application. The pigment paste and/or chemical pre-treatment solution contain various additives. The main ones include binders (monomers and/or oligomers), which, after polymerization, provide a solid bond between the pigments and the fabric structure. The printed fabric can be chemically post-treated before polymerization, for example, using a hydrophobic layer or other chemical means of the additive treatment for its application in technical or any other special-purpose textile. After the dye application and possible chemical post-treatment, the fabric is prepared for polymerization by thermal or UV fixation. The chemical composition of the individual components and the principle of their successful processing are described in greater detail in Document US8784508B2.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the machine design for two-mode process application.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the machine design for process application in the form of a continuous production line. Fig. 3 is a side view of the spray apparatus in terms of the geometric arrangement of its parts and components, explaining the relationship between/among the retaining side members, drain duct system and collecting tank.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the spray apparatus showing schematically the positional and structural relationship between its parts and components.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory view of the spray showing schematically the positional and structural relationship between its parts and components.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory view showing the spray apparatus placement in the skeleton of the dedicated spray module.

Fig. 7 is a side view showing schematically the positional relationship between/among the reflective chamber, radiator suspension chamber and air-conditioning components.

Fig. 8 is a front view showing schematically the positional relationship between/among the reflective chamber, radiator suspension chamber and air-conditioning components.

Fig. 9 is Explanatory View 1 showing an example of the radiation chamber fitted with IR radiators.

Fig. 10 is Explanatory View 2 showing an example of the radiation chamber fitted with UV radiators.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view showing the radiation chamber placement along with the door installed in the skeleton of the dedicated radiation module.

Fig. 12 is an explanatory view showing schematically the positional relationship of the air emitters used for fabric cooling.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory view showing schematically the positional relationship in the case of the spray apparatus of an increased capacity.

Fig. 14 is an explanatory view showing schematically the conveyor belt application.

Fig. 15 is a front view showing schematically the positional relationship of the nozzle system arrangement in the spray apparatus and explaining the mutual geometrical arrangement.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory view showing an example of the heat exchanger. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Example 1 - Bifunctional Machine Unit

Fig. 1 is a side view of the production technology ensured by the present invention in two modes. The two modes mean that the machine can be used either for spraying the material and its subsequent drying, or also for post-treatment and polymerization of the textile after the printing thereof with pigment pastes. The entire process with selecting the modes and their implementation is controlled by the control unit on which a graphical interface is implemented, whereby the operator chooses the desired mode. In the presented solution, either side of the machine must be provided with the feed mechanism \ and take-up mechanism 5, which is illustrated as the roll-to-roll system. It is obvious that any larger production system may be connected to the presented technology, whether it be the feed mechanism \ or take-up mechanism 5, or any other technological units processing the same material in another continuous process. Apart from the feed and take-up systems, this technological unit includes the spray module 2, firmly connected either with one piece, or, as shown with a series of the radiation modules 3, terminated by the cooling module 4. The continuous fabric passage through the processing modules is ensured by the conveyor belt system 40, as can be seen in Fig. 14. The technology modularity consists in the fact that at any time, it is possible to extend the machine production capacities by including other radiation modules 3, or any other modules.

Example 2 - Production Line

Fig. 2 is a side view of the production technology ensured by the present invention as one continuous process. Downstream of the feed mechanism L there is a technological unit, consisting of the spray module 2. firmly connected either with one piece, or, as shown with a series of the radiation modules L, terminated by the cooling module 4, connected with the conveyor belt 40, as described in the Bifunctional Machine Unit section. After leaving this unit, the fabric continues to the printing module 6 and further to the fixation machine, which is composed in the same way as the bifunctional machine unit in Fig. 1, or as shown in Fig. 2, as a machine unit consisting only of the radiation module 3 or its series and the cooling module 4. The fixation module may be equipped with IR radiators 25, as shown in Fig. 9 or UV Radiators 27. as shown in Fig. 10.

Example 3 - Spray Module Fig. 6 provides an explanatory view of the method of placing the spray apparatus 33 in the dedicated module, which consists of the lower frame 31 of the spray module made of iron, which holds the stainless steel collecting tank 21 of the spray apparatus and the iron upper skeleton 32 of the spray module, which forms a suspension structure for mounting the spray apparatus 33 and the stainless steel drainage duct 20 of the spray apparatus. The spray apparatus 33 with the structure of the upper skeleton 32 of the spray module is firmly connected only with the vertical linear motors 7 on both its inner sides.

Example 4 - Spray Apparatus

Fig. 4 provides a front view of the spray apparatus 33 as part of the upper skeleton 32 of the spray module, and all this without the drainage duct 20 of the spray apparatus for clearer understanding. All the components forming the spray apparatus 33 mechanism are made of stainless steel or materials resistant to corrosion upon contact with chemicals. By means of a support structure, the entire system is suspended on the vertical linear motors 7, which ensure its movement along the Y-axis in the space of the upper skeleton 32 of the spray module such that they perform the movement simultaneously, and the movement of the entire system along the Y-axis will be relative to the spray head movement along the X-axis. The movement along the Y-axis is directly dependent on the fabric width, which is detected by a group of optical sensors that are firmly connected by the side member 15, which is installed at both ends of active width of the spray mechanism. The left and right side members 15 are set in parallel to the fabric edges automatically during the process such that depending on the fabric edge position, they adjust the spread of the spray heads in the X axis. The side member area depends on the Y-axis stroke height and is set automatically such that it adjusts its size by height. The change of the area by height is ensured by inserting a sheet metal plate behind the sheet metal plate of the side member suspension platform H and side member 15, which ensures a thorough waste fluid collection at any spraying height. The connection of the side member suspension platform H, and thus also of the side member 15 itself, is implemented using the prismatic guide carriage 17, which travels in the X-axis along the rail 13 of the prismatic guide of the side members. To ensure the spraying over the entire fabric width, the side members 15 are firmly connected with optical sensors, which activate the spread of the groups of left set spray heads 12 and right set spray heads 16 along the X-axis. The linear movement of these groups is ensured by means of carriages 17 of the prismatic guide and rails 8 of the prismatic guide of spray heads. In order to provide against any fabric deviation during the introduction or production process, the spray heads are divided into two subsystems, i.e. left set spray heads 12 and right set spray heads 16, which ensure their independent spread length. The subsystems are centrally symmetrical and split into right and left. The left spread subsystem includes the left set spray heads 12, which are firmly connected with the carriages 17 of the prismatic guide by means of the inner platform 19 of the spray head, where the outer spray head suspension uses the left outer platform 10 of the spray head, which also ensures for the suspension platform 14 of the side member, and thus also for the side members 15 themselves, the movement along the X-axis simultaneously with the left set spray heads 12 in the left half plane. The left outer platform 10 of the spray head and the set of inner platforms 19 of the spray heads are firmly connected with the left pantograph ϋ on the central crossings of pantograph lamellas to ensure that they are uniformly spread and that the same space between the heads is maintained at all design spread lengths. Spreading the described left subsystem is motorized by the left horizontal linear motor 9, the movable section of which is firmly connected with the left outer platform of the spray head 10, and thus also with the last crossing of the left pantograph ϋ lamellas. The right spread subsystem consists of the right set spray heads 16, which are firmly connected with the right set of carriages 17 of the prismatic guide by means of the inner platform 19 of the spray head, and the outer spray head by means of the right outer platform 10 of the spray head, which also ensures for the suspension platform 14 of the side member, and thus also for the side members 15 themselves, the movement along the X-axis simultaneously with the right set spray heads 16 in the right half plane. The right outer platform 39 of the spray head and the set of inner platforms 19 of the spray heads are firmly connected with the right pantograph 34 on the central crossings of pantograph lamellas to ensure that they are uniformly spread and that the same space between the spray heads is maintained at all design spread lengths. Spreading the described left subsystem is motorized by the right horizontal linear motor 38, the movable section of which is firmly connected with the right outer platform 39 of the spray head, and thus also with the last crossing of the right pantograph 34 lamellas. The system comprises two independent pantographs, as shown in Fig. 3, namely the right pantograph 34 and the left pantograph H, so that the spreading of right set spray heads 16 and left set spray heads 12 can be performed separately, while maintaining the proportional spacing between the spray heads. The system also includes the lower nozzle protection platform 18, which, along with the entire mechanism, moves along the Y-axis to prevent leakage of any aerosol residues resulting from spraying into the spray apparatus 33 mechanism, with which only the nozzles of right set spray heads 6 and left set spray heads 12 come into contact, placed so as to minimally penetrate into the area saturated with aerosols, as shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 3 shows a side view of the spray apparatus 33 together with the collecting tank 21 of the spray apparatus and drainage duct 20 of the spray apparatus. The side member 15 is designed with a sloped drainage duct on the lower side used to drain the fluid trapped by the side member to the drainage duct 20 of the spray apparatus, which can be clearly seen in Fig. 5, sloped symmetrically from the centre to the edges, where there is an outlet for removing the fluid, which is further trapped by the collecting tank 21 of the spray apparatus and led away from the system. This is the way of how to trap the residual fluid formed during the spraying over the entire width of the side member 15 travel and thus to provide a uniform coating layer on the fabric being processed.

The displacement of the suspended system along the Y-axis, as described above, is subject to the displacement along the X-axis of both the spray head subsystems in a direction from the centre out, and the displacement travel in the Y-axis direction is calculated by the algorithm proposed by the control unit, because their dependence is nonlinear. It is obvious that the critical part of the spraying technology is the source code in the control unit that controls the nozzle and motor functions, thus ensuring the proper running and operation of the presented technology.

The critical dimensions of the components and the geometric arrangement of the nozzles and components designed for their movement and function must be chosen so as to provide a spray stream overlap with an adjacent 25% of their total functional spray width at a spray angle of 95°, as shown in Fig. 15, where the LI value indicates the total functional spray width, and the L2 and L3 values are directly dependent on it and result from the above-mentioned values, and all the critical dimensions of the parts and components of the whole technology depend on these values. For example, if the fabric 44 being processed with a Ll width of 1,600 mm is to be sprayed on, the L2 dimension value will be 160 mm and the L3 dimension value will be 262 mm, when using six spray heads.

In the case of a higher capacity requirement, the system will be extended, as shown in Fig. 13, by means of spacers 35, thereby adding the additive left spray head set 36 and the additive right spray head set 37 to form a double capacity system, or possibly, two consecutive spray modules 2 with a different structural design of the upper skeleton 32 of the spray module can be installed m senes.

Example 5 - Radiation Chamber Fig. 9 provides an explanatory view of the radiation chamber 45, which consists of the chamber skeleton 26, radiator platform 24 and spacer bars 41. The internal sides of the chamber skeleton 26. made of highly polished stainless steel, form a mirror environment for emitted radiation. The radiator platform 24 is made of the same material as the chamber skeleton 26 and carries the radiators and other sensory equipment. On the radiator platform 24. Fig. 7 shows a cone- shaped design of the radiator seats, which provides a maximum reflection of the rays directly towards the textile being processed and also displays the air-conditioning apparatus, comprised of the centrifugal blower 23 and ventilationpipeline 22, which actively ensures, through the process parameters, controlled air exchange throughout the system, and is further connected to the higher heat exchanger 46, either as its inlet or outlet. Fig. 8 provides a front view of the radiation chamber 45 and explains the radiator platform 24 suspension by means of spacer bars 41. which are firmly connected with the chamber skeleton 26. The geometry of the radiation chamber 45 and its components in terms of the width depends on the desired width of the fabric being processed, and in terms of the height, it should be purposefully arranged such that it can be reduced by an additional insulation placed in the radiation module 3.

Example 6 - Radiation Module

Fig. 11 provides an explanatory view of the radiation module 3, consisting of the iron lower frame 43 of the radiation module and the firmly connected upper skeleton 42 of the radiation module, made of iron, and shows the radiation chamber 45 placement in the upper skeleton 42 of the radiation module. The upper skeleton 42 of the radiation module provides thermal insulation of the radiation chamber 45 on all sides and also forms a platform for mounting the insulating door 28, which hermetically closes the opening in the chamber skeleton 26 by a surface made of the same materials as the chamber skeleton 26. The radiation module 3 is designed so that in connection with another technological module, it will seal and form a hermetically closed space for the chemically saturated polymerization or drying process, and the materials used show high chemical resistance and their surface finish is characterized by a low absorptivity of the microwave to UV spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. In terms of the width, the radiation module 3 geometry is dependent on the radiation chamber 45, and in terms of the height, it is directly dependent on the spray module 2 so that they can be linearly connected.

Example 7 - Cooling Module Fig. 12 provides an explanatory view of the cooling module 4 and shows the cooling module air supply duct 30, made of iron, and the cooling module air emitter platform 29, made of iron, which are structurally and geometrically adapted to direct connection downstream of the last radiation module 3, while cooling the processed fabric and conventionally removing the residual moisture content from the fabric after it leaves the thermal treatment section.

Example 8 - Printing Module

Fig. 2 provides a side view of the production line with the printing module 6. For the complete textile printing, the printing module 6 must also be included in the bifunctional machine unit, but as a separate printing machine unit with its own dedicated feed mechanism 1 and take-up mechanism 5. The printing module 6 may be any commercial inkjet printer or a machine unit operating on another principle and capable of applying pigment pastes in the production parameters that the invention subject is configured in.

Example 9 - Processing Method

The raw fabric meeting the PFP (prepared for print) parameters shall be put in the feed mechanism 1, through which it is conveyed under the spray apparatus 33, which applies a uniform layer of the chemical pre-treatment solution to it. It is continuously conveyed by the conveyor belt system 40 to one or a series of radiation modules 3, where excess moisture is removed from the fabric using (i) a temperature ranging from 90 to 120 °C and (ii) continuous exhaust of vapour-saturated air, as well fresh air supply to the system by means of the heat exchanger 46 for the period of time required to completely dry up the fabric being processed. After the fabric has been dried up, the fabric shall be printed with a pigment dye using a commercial device designed to apply pigment dyes. Before the printing is finalized, it is possible to apply an additive chemical layer to the fabric in the same way as the chemical pre- treatment solution. The print fixation is accomplished by polymerizing the dyes in the radiation module 3 either by heat treatment from l20°C to 200°C for 3 to 6 minutes, depending on the type family of the fabric being processed, or by UV polymerization depending on the chemical treatment used. Industrial Applicability

The subject matter of the invention is usable in any textile production segment that deals with textile printing. The subject matter of the invention can be used to print any type of textile, as well as woollen and woven fabrics. It uses the minimum water and energy quantities, and therefore, it is also suitable for operations with limited access to water resources, and as such, textiles can also be produced in areas with permanently restricted access to water for technological purposes. It makes the textile production environmentally friendly, thus supporting the trend of sustainable development.

List of reference signs:

1 - Feed Mechanism

2 - Spray Module

3 - Radiation Module

4 - Cooling Module

5 - Take-Up Mechanism

6 - Printing Module

7 - Vertical Linear Motor

8 - Spray Head Prismatic Guide Rails

9 - Left Horizontal Linear Motor

10 - Spray Head Left Outer Platform 11 - Left Pantograph

12 - Left Set Spray Head

13 - Side Member Prismatic Guide Rail

14 - Side Member Suspension Platform

15 - Side Member

16 - Right Set Spray Head

17 - Prismatic Guide Carriage

18 - Lower Nozzle Protection Platform

19 - Spray Head Inner Platform

20 - Spray Apparatus Drainage Duct

21 - Spray Apparatus Collecting Tank

22 - Ventilation Pipeline

23 - Centrifugal Blower

24 - Radiator Platform

25 - IR Radiators

26 - Chamber Skeleton

27 - UV Radiators

28 - Insulating Door

29 - Cooling Module Air Emitter Platform

30 - Cooling Module Air Supply Duct

31 - Spray Module Lower Frame

32 - Spray Module Upper Skeleton

33 - Spray Apparatus

34 - Right Pantograph

35 - Spacers

36 - Additive Spray Head Left Set

37 - Additive Spray Head Right Set

38 - Right Horizontal Linear Motor

39 - Right Spray Head Outer Platform

40 - Conveyor Belt

41 - Spacer Rods

42 - Radiation Module Upper Skeleton

43 - Radiation Module Lower Frame

44 - Fabric Being Processed

45 - Radiation Chamber

46 - Heat Exchanger

Claims

1. A method of processing a textile for its pigment printing comprising the following steps:

- uniform application of the chemical pre-treatment solution to the fabric;

- removal of moisture, arising from the application of the chemical pre-treatment solution, from the fabric;

- fabric printing using pigment-based dyes;

- print fixation by polymerization of chemical components applied to the fabric in the previous steps.

2. A modular textile processing device for its pigment printing comprising the following modules: spray module (2), radiation module (3) and cooling module (4), and advantageously containing the feed mechanism (1), printing module (6), take-up mechanism (5) and heat exchanger (46).

3. A modular textile processing device according to Claim 2 comprising the spray

apparatus (33) for applying a homogenous chemical solution layer to the textile, including a series of electrically opening left set spray heads (12) and right set spray heads (16), mounted on the left outer platform (10) of the spray head, inner platform (19) of the spray head and right outer platform (39) of the spray head, firmly connected with prismatic guide carriages (17) mounted on the rails (13) of the prismatic guide of the side members for their laterally independent, uniform horizontal spreading ensured by the left pantograph (11) and right pantograph (34), motorized by the left horizontal linear motor (9) and right horizontal linear motor (38), where by using the vertical linear motors (7), it is possible to adapt the active spray width and adequately to it, also the height of the textile being processed on the basis of the laser sensors, installed on the side members (15), which are also designed to collect residual fluid produced at both ends of the active spray width and adapt their height to the height of the stroke of the lower protective platform of nozzles (18), which provides protection of the entire mechanical apparatus above it against the chemically saturated air below it, naturally occurring during the spray process.

4. A modular textile processing device according to Claim 2 characterized in that the spray module (2) comprises the spray module lower frame (31), spray apparatus (33) and spray module upper skeleton (32), which forms the main suspension structure for the spray apparatus (33), the fixed component of which is a system of ducts including the spray apparatus drainage duct (20), which removes any residual fluid from the side members (15) to the spray apparatus collecting tank (21).

5. A modular textile processing device according to Claim 2 characterized in that the radiation chamber (45) comprises the chamber skeleton (26), which forms a structure to suspend the radiator platform (24) using spacing bars (41), in the conical seats of which there are IR radiators (25) or UV radiators (27).

6. A modular textile processing device according to Claim 2 characterized in that the radiation module (3) comprises the radiation module lower frame (43) and the radiation module upper skeleton (42), which forms a functional skeleton for the radiation chamber (45), and further comprises the insulating door (28), ventilation pipeline (22) and centrifugal blower (23).