Patent US3915113A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3915113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multicolour yarn printing apparatus
Assignee: Cambridge Consultants Ltd
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Filing: 1973-10-25
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1993-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A multicolour yarn printing apparatus comprising yarn transfer means for conveying groups of yarns in parallel paths printing stations spaced along the yarn groups, printing heads at each station to apply printing liquid over a predetermined length of travel of the yarn groups, each printing head comprising nozzles, means for applying printing liquid under pressure to the nozzles to form liquid jets, means for stimulating drop formation in each liquid jet, charge electrodes disposed adjacent the jets between the nozzles and the yarn groups at the location of drop formation, deflection electrodes between the charge electrodes and the yarn groups for deflecting charged drops in the jet paths transversely with respect to said paths and printing liquid collection means located below the yarn groups for collecting drops of printing liquid not needed for printing the yarns, the printing head being arranged in relation to the yarn group from below so that only deflected or, alternatively, only undeflected drops are applied to the yarns of the group.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony David Paton
- 👤 Paul Michael Wiley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:49
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B13/00; B05B13/02; B05B13/0207; B05B13/0214; B05B5/00; B05B5/08; B05B5/14; D; D06; D06B; D06B11/00; D06B11/0056; D06B11/0059; D06B11/0063; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S101/00; Y10S101/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
268 words
Multicolor yarn printing apparatus comprising yarn transport means for conveying in parallel paths groups of yarns each group having longitudinally extending yarns, a plurality of printing stations spaced in the direction of yarn travel above the yarn groups, each printing station extending transversely of the yarn groups, electrically operated printing heads at each station for the respective groups of yarns and serving to enable printing liquid of a particular color to be applied to the groups of yarns in excess of the amount of printing liquid needed to print the respective group of yarns, and, switching means for operating the printing heads so as to apply printing liquid to the corresponding yarn groups over a predetermined length of travel thereof, each printing head comprising a plurality of nozzles, means for applying printing liquid under pressure to the nozzles to form liquid jets directed towards the corresponding yarn group, means for stimulating drop formation in each liquid jet, charge electrode means disposed adjacent the jets between the nozzles and the corresponding yarn group at the location in the jets of drop formation and adapted when charged to apply charge to the drops in the jet paths, deflection electrodes between the charge electrode means and the corresponding yarn group for deflecting charged drops in the jet paths transversely with respect to said paths and printing liquid collection means located below the yarn groups for collecting drops of printing liquid not required for printing the yarns, the printing head being arranged in relation to the corresponding yarn group so that only undeflected drops are applied to the yarns of the group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
268 words
Multicolor yarn printing apparatus comprising yarn transport means for conveying in parallel paths groups of yarns each group having longitudinally extending yarns, a plurality of printing stations spaced in the direction of yarn travel above the yarn groups, each printing station extending transversely of the yarn groups, electrically operated printing heads at each station for the respective groups of yarns and serving to enable printing liquid of a particular color to be applied to the groups of yarns in excess of the amount of printing liquid needed to print the respective group of yarns, and, switching means for operating the printing heads so as to apply printing liquid to the corresponding yarn groups over a predetermined length of travel thereof, each printing head comprising a plurality of nozzles, means for applying printing liquid under pressure to the nozzles to form liquid jets directed towards the corresponding yarn group, means for stimulating drop formation in each liquid jet, charge electrode means disposed adjacent the jets between the nozzles and the corresponding yarn group at the location in the jets of drop formation and adapted when charged to apply charge to the drops in the jet paths, deflection electrodes between the charge electrode means and the corresponding yarn group for deflecting charged drops in the jet paths transversely with respect to said paths and printing liquid collection means located below the yarn groups for collecting drops of printing liquid not required for printing the yarns, the printing head being arranged in relation to the corresponding yarn group so that only undeflected drops are applied to the yarns of the group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printing heads are arranged in rows at the respective printing stations which extend transversely to the direction of yarn travel and the nozzles of each printing head extenD in a line transverse to the direction of yarn travel, the charge electrode means constituting parallel plates disposed at respective opposite sides of the jet paths from the line of nozzles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the deflection electrodes of the printing heads comprise parallel plates disposed respectively on opposite sides of the jet paths from the line of nozzles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein in each row of printing heads disposed between the deflection electrodes and the yarn groups are further printing liquid collection means in the form of gutters which extend parallel with the deflection electrodes for intercepting drops of printing liquid not required for printing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein downpipes are provided for discharging printing liquid from the further printing liquid collection means to the printing liquid collection means below the yarn groups.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for removing surplus printing liquid from the yarn groups.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means for removing surplus printing liquid from the yarn groups comprise a duct extending above the yarn groups parallel with each row of printing heads and disposed forwardly in the direction of yarn travel of the row of printing heads, the duct having means for the supply thereto of air under pressure and means for directing air under pressure downwardly towards the yarn groups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein in each row of printing heads the heads are arranged in groups of successive heads, the heads of each group being supplied with printing fluid from a common manifold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein each common manifold includes means for vibrating printing fluid therein to stimulate drop formation in the printing head liquid jets.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching means for operating the printing heads are adapted to control the connection of an electrical supply potential to the charge electrode means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for operating the switching means in accordance with a predetermined programme thereby to apply colour to the yarn groups in bands extending transversely with respect to the direction of yarn travel, the colour of the bands being either the same or different from one to the next group of yarns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the programme for operating the switching means is formed on magnetic tape and comprises a series of multibit words representative of colours to be printed at successive yarn groups successively at the printing stations.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein electronic means are provided for presenting in parallel to the printing heads at each printing station the multibit words representative of the colours to be printed and means are provided to activate the printing heads when a word representing the colour to be printed at a printing head corresponds with the colour of printing liquid supplied to that printing head.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for presenting in parallel to the printing heads at each printing station the multibit words include a separate shift register for each word adapted to clock the work therethrough at a speed related to yarn speed, there being connected to each shift register at spacings corresponding with the spacing of the printing stations respective preset colour code comparators whereby as a word is clocked through its shift register, when the colour of which the word is representative corresponds with the preset code of a comparator the printing head for the corresponding yarn group is activated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
268 words
Multicolor yarn printing apparatus comprising harn transport means for conveying in parallel paths groups of yarns each group having longitudinally extending yarns, a plurality of printing stations spaced in the direction of yarn travel abOve the yarn groups, each printing station extending transversely of the yarn groups, electrically operated printing heads at each station for the respective groups of yarns and serving to enable printing liquid of a particular color to be applied to the groups of yarns in excess of the amount of printing liquid needed to print the respective group of yarns, and, switching means for operating the printing heads so as to apply printing liquid to the corresponding yarn groups over a predetermined length of travel thereof, each printing head comprising a plurality of nozzles, means for applying printing liquid under pressure to the nozzles to form liquid jets directed towards the corresponding yarn group, means for stimulating drop formation in each liquid jet, charge electrode means disposed adjacent the jets between the nozzles and the corresponding yarn group at the location in the jets of drop formation and adapted when charged to apply charge to the drops in the jet paths, deflection electrodes between the charge electrode means and the corresponding yarn group for deflecting charged drops in the jet paths transversely with respect to said paths and printing liquid collection means located below the yarn groups for collecting drops of printing liquid not required for printing the yarns, the printing head being arranged in relation to the corresponding yarn group so that only deflected drops are applied to the yarns of the group.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
268 words
Multicolor yarn printing apparatus comprising harn transport means for conveying in parallel paths groups of yarns each group having longitudinally extending yarns, a plurality of printing stations spaced in the direction of yarn travel abOve the yarn groups, each printing station extending transversely of the yarn groups, electrically operated printing heads at each station for the respective groups of yarns and serving to enable printing liquid of a particular color to be applied to the groups of yarns in excess of the amount of printing liquid needed to print the respective group of yarns, and, switching means for operating the printing heads so as to apply printing liquid to the corresponding yarn groups over a predetermined length of travel thereof, each printing head comprising a plurality of nozzles, means for applying printing liquid under pressure to the nozzles to form liquid jets directed towards the corresponding yarn group, means for stimulating drop formation in each liquid jet, charge electrode means disposed adjacent the jets between the nozzles and the corresponding yarn group at the location in the jets of drop formation and adapted when charged to apply charge to the drops in the jet paths, deflection electrodes between the charge electrode means and the corresponding yarn group for deflecting charged drops in the jet paths transversely with respect to said paths and printing liquid collection means located below the yarn groups for collecting drops of printing liquid not required for printing the yarns, the printing head being arranged in relation to the corresponding yarn group so that only deflected drops are applied to the yarns of the group.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |