US4268263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for immersion printing of pile fabrics
Assignee: Mohawk Carpet LLC
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Filing: 1980-02-27
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Granted: 1981-05-19
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Expires: 2000-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A horizontally moving belt has a waffle grid surface into the compartments of which dyes are injected in accordance with a desired color pattern to be printed. Carpeting is moved adjacent the waffle grid surface with the pile facing down toward the grid. A counter roller supports the waffle grid at the printing station, and an oppositely disposed protuberance-bearing pressure roller pushes the backing of the carpet so that the pile enters the compartments of the waffle grid and is immersed in the dye pattern. The protuberances ensure adequate immersion of the pile while permitting escape of air and avoiding squeezing of the dye from the pile, which would otherwise occur by engagement of the pressure roller with the grid walls in the absence of the protuberances. The angle of approach of the carpet to the printing station is slightly inclined from the horizontal to ensure a gradual depression of the pile and to avoid rolling the dye out away from the nip region of the printing station.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Meredith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:43
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06B; D06B11/00; D06B11/0056; D06B11/0069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
In a process of applying a coloring agent to a fabric having pile on one face thereof wherein an area of pile on the face of the fabric is introduced into a receptacle comprising a movable belt having a multiplicity of compartments with upstanding side walls therebetween and containing a coloring agent in liquid form, and the receptacle and the fabric are brought into mutual engagement by exerting pressure against the back of the fabric, the improvement comprising the steps of: driving said belt in a generally horizontal direction at a predetermined speed; feeding said fabric toward said region of engagement; rotating a pressure roller having a protuberance-bearing surface adjacent said belt, at a peripheral speed equal to said predetermined speed and in synchronism with the movement of said belt, adjacent said region of engagement, so that the protuberances of said pressure roller urge said fabric toward each of said compartments; and supplying said coloring agent to said compartments upstream of said region of engagement in accordance with a desired color pattern to be printed on said fabric.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
In a process of applying a coloring agent to a fabric having pile on one face thereof wherein an area of pile on the face of the fabric is introduced into a receptacle comprising a movable belt having a multiplicity of compartments with upstanding side walls therebetween and containing a coloring agent in liquid form, and the receptacle and the fabric are brought into mutual engagement by exerting pressure against the back of the fabric, the improvement comprising the steps of: driving said belt in a generally horizontal direction at a predetermined speed; feeding said fabric toward said region of engagement; rotating a pressure roller having a protuberance-bearing surface adjacent said belt, at a peripheral speed equal to said predetermined speed and in synchronism with the movement of said belt, adjacent said region of engagement, so that the protuberances of said pressure roller urge said fabric toward each of said compartments; and supplying said coloring agent to said compartments upstream of said region of engagement in accordance with a desired color pattern to be printed on said fabric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 1, further comprising means for feeding said fabric toward said region of engagement at an acute angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process according to claim 2, wherein a counter roller supports and is rotated by said belt at said region of engagement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said coloring agent is supplied by injection from a plurality of nozzles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said coloring agent is supplied by screening.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for applying a coloring agent to a fabric having pile on one face thereof wherein an area of pile on the face of the fabric is introduced into a receptacle, comprising a movable belt having a multiplicity of compartments with upstanding side walls therebetween for containing a coloring agent in liquid form, and means for bringing the receptacle and the fabric into mutual engagement by exerting pressure against the back of the fabric, the improvement comprising: means for driving said belt in a generally horizontal direction at a predetermined speed; a plurality of rollers for feeding said fabric toward said region of engagement; a counter roller for supporting said belt at said region of engagement; a pressure roller disposed adjacent said belt opposite said counter roller, said pressure roller having a protuberance-bearing surface; means for rotating said pressure roller at a peripheral speed equal to said predetermined speed and in synchronism with the movement of said belt, so that the protuberances of said pressure roller urge said fabric toward each of said compartments; and means for supplying said coloring agent to said compartments upstream of said region of engagement in accordance with a desired color pattern to be printed on said fabric.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
204 words
An apparatus for applying a coloring agent to a fabric having pile on one face thereof wherein an area of pile on the face of the fabric is introduced into a receptacle, comprising a movable belt having a multiplicity of compartments with upstanding side walls therebetween for containing a coloring agent in liquid form, and means for bringing the receptacle and the fabric into mutual engagement by exerting pressure against the back of the fabric, the improvement comprising: means for driving said belt in a generally horizontal direction at a predetermined speed; a plurality of rollers for feeding said fabric toward said region of engagement; a counter roller for supporting said belt at said region of engagement; a pressure roller disposed adjacent said belt opposite said counter roller, said pressure roller having a protuberance-bearing surface; means for rotating said pressure roller at a peripheral speed equal to said predetermined speed and in synchronism with the movement of said belt, so that the protuberances of said pressure roller urge said fabric toward each of said compartments; and means for supplying said coloring agent to said compartments upstream of said region of engagement in accordance with a desired color pattern to be printed on said fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of rollers is disposed so as to feed said fabric toward said region of engagement at an angle of gradual engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said supplying means comprises a plurality of nozzles for injecting said coloring agent into said compartments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said supplying means comprises screening apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the protuberances of said pressure roller are of generally cylindrical shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the protuberances of said pressure roller have generally truncated pyramidal shapes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said protuberances comprise gear-like projections.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the walls of said compartments each comprise a plurality of spikes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said fabric is a knitted yarn sleeve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said fabric is a knitted yarn sleeve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-05-18 | 1984-11-17 | 1985-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-18 | 1988-11-17 | 1989-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-18 | 1992-11-17 | 1993-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |