A system, a method and a machine for treating threads or parts thereof, the machine having one or more cartridges each configured for containing thread treatment-material therein; one or more injectors, each injector being configured for applying treatment-material from its respective cartridge over a passing portion of the thread; drive means for operating the one or more injectors; and a communication and control unit for receiving treatment plan data indicative of at least one machine readable treatment related parameter associated with at least one treatment effect for each thread portion to be treated for controlling the treatment effect of each passing thread portion, according to the received treatment plan data. A designated application of the system may be used having a unique user interface allowing creating treatment plans.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head including a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles lined in a row and configured to discharge a liquid, a conveyor configured to convey the liquid application target, and a liquid receptacle configured to receive the liquid discharged from the head. The conveyor defines a conveyance passage of a liquid application target to which the head applies the liquid. The liquid receptacle has an opening through which the liquid discharged from the head passes. A longitudinal direction of the opening is along a movement direction of the liquid application target. A width of the opening is greater than a width of the liquid application target in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction.

A thread printing system includes a source spool containing thread. The system also includes various print heads, each of which is fluidly connected to an ink tank. The print heads are positioned to direct and apply ink to a segment of the thread as the thread travels along a transport path along from the source spool. The system also includes a fuser having one or more print rollers that are connected to a heating element. The fuser receives the dyed thread and fuses the ink to the thread. The system may include a controller that is configured to apply ink of different colors to different segments of the thread.

The present invention relates to a device for dyeing a moving yarn that comprises a liquid dye supply line, a first nozzle positioned above the yarn and configured to deposit dye on a first surface of the yarn, a second nozzle positioned above the yarn and configured to deposit dye on a second surface of the yarn corresponding to a surface opposite the first surface relative to the axis of the yarn, a synchronization mechanism for actuating the nozzles as a function of the movement of the yarn such that, between the first and the second nozzle, the yarn is able to pivot axially under the effect of the gravity of the dye deposited by the first nozzle.

A system for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device is provided. The system includes a treatment unit having a plurality of nozzles arranged at different positions relative the thread, said thread being in motion in use, each nozzle being configured to dispense one or more coating substances onto the thread when activated; and a control unit configured to activate at least two of the nozzles to dispense the coating substance at different circumferential positions of the thread when the thread twists along its longitudinal axis.

An article of manufacture, comprising, an artifact formed from at least a portion of at least one continuous artifact fiber, the artifact fiber dyed by a first digitally controlled dyeing process to exhibit a visible first color section and a visible color gradient section transitioning from and visibly distinguishable from the first color section; and, a textile portion, comprising at least one dyed fiber that has been dyed by a second digitally controlled dyeing process; wherein said artifact fiber is dyed by the first dyeing process applying metadata, said metadata relating to at least said first color, and wherein said textile portion fiber is dyed at least said first color by the second dyeing process applying said metadata.

A system and method of printing on a strand element with a printer head. The printer head includes a conduit and a cavity formed within the conduit, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the strand element and pass the strand element from a first end of the cavity to a second end of the cavity. The printer head also includes a first set of fluid nozzles formed on the conduit and positioned on a perimeter of the cavity around a first target location within the cavity, wherein each of the fluid nozzles in the first set is positioned to aim at the first target location, and the first target location corresponds to a location of a first segment of the strand element when the strand element is positioned within the cavity.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a head including a nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzles lined in a row and configured to discharge a liquid, a conveyor configured to convey the liquid application target, and a liquid receptacle configured to receive the liquid discharged from the head. The conveyor defines a conveyance passage of a liquid application target to which the head applies the liquid. The liquid receptacle has an opening through which the liquid discharged from the head passes. A longitudinal direction of the opening is along a movement direction of the liquid application target. A width of the opening is greater than a width of the liquid application target in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction.

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head including a nozzle face in which a nozzle is formed and configured to discharge a liquid, a carriage on which the liquid discharge head is mounted, and a guide shaft configured to hold the carriage movably. The liquid discharge apparatus further includes a driver configured to move the carriage, and a coupling between the carriage and the driver. The coupling is disposed on an axis of the guide shaft in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the guide shaft.

A system and method for treatment of thread includes a thread printer that applies colored coatings to thread. A camera is positioned to capture images of the treated thread after it passes through an outlet of the thread printer. The system processes the images to determine whether the location of a selected segment of the treated thread corresponds to an expected location. If the actual location of the selected segment corresponds to the expected location, the system will continue instructing the thread printer to selectively apply the colored coatings to the thread according to the pattern. However, if the actual location does not correspond to the expected location, the system will modify the pattern so that thread printer adjusts the size of one or more segment to automatically account for the misalignment.