METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE SHARPNESS AND STABILITY OF PRINTED TEXTILE FABRICS

Abstract

The present invention refers to a method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics and a textile product obtained by the method, which is aimed at solving the problem of capturing a predetermined digital image on a fabric of hair, where the image has characteristics of definition, contrast and durability of the print without neglecting or affecting the texture and joints of the tissue on which it is shaped. Preferably without intending to limit the scope of the invention, the woven material can be bedding such as blankets, quilts and the like, clothing, woven items for personal use, among others made of hair fabrics.

Claims

1. A method to improve the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics, the method comprising the steps of: a) polishing a hair fabric by passing the hair through a heat transfer device, at a temperature between 150 and 180 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 10 and 26 m/min; b) making a print of a digitized image, preferably by digital printing on the hair fabric; c) passing the hair tissue through a drying chamber comprising the arrangement of cooling and fluid dispersion means, preferably fans configured to work between 500 to 800 rpm and heat emission means configured to reach temperatures between 120 to 160 C., where the fabric passes at a speed of between 4 to 25 m/min; d) applying hot steam to the hair fabric within an airtight space at a temperature of at least 100 C. for at least 5 min to heat set the colors; e) washing to remove excess color from hair tissue; f) drying the hair tissue; g) stretching the hair tissue to eliminate wrinkles; h) performing a rip to confer terry characteristics to the tissue by obtaining hair; i) shaving the hair in order to match the height of the hair to the same length, or remove the remaining fiber; ii) polishing the hair fabric for the second time by passing it through a heat transfer device, at a temperature between 100 and 190 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 5 and 20 m/min; k) drying the hair tissue by branch to heat set and avoid shrinkage and deformation; l) applying a stream of hot air under pressure at a temperature of at least 180 C. at a speed of at least 2 m/min on the surface of the hair fabric to increase the diameter or volume of the hairs present.

2. The method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics according to claim 1, further comprising an optional step of contacting the hair fabric with a color penetrating agent, preferably water.

3. The method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the printing is sublimed, where firstly a printing on paper of the bond type and extra cellulose of 18 to 85 grams in dimensions coinciding with those of the fabric in treatment, where through a calender that inside has oil at a temperature between 205 and 215 C. and rotating at a speed of 3.4 m/min transfers the heat present in the oil and captures the image on the tissue.

4. The method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the cooling and fluid dispersion means and the heat emission means are configured to regulate the temperature in a drying chamber, which can regulate the temperature gradually.

5. The method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics according to claim 1, wherein washing after the printing process, there is a washing step, wherein the fabric is subjected to a wash to remove excess color or residual material that may be present in the stamping stage; During the washing step a formulation consisting of a reducing agent, preferably thiourea dioxide, caustic soda and a detergent, mixed with water in the following proportions, 5% thiourea dioxide, caustic soda 5% detergent 15% and 75% water is used wherein said mixture is applied at a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius and in this way the excess color is removed without affecting the fabric.

6. The method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the drying is carried out in an electric boiler, where it transmits heat at a temperature between 120 and 140 C. displacing the hair tissue at a speed of 13 m/min.

7. The method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the hair fabric is stretched at least 5% more by applying heat at a temperature between 175 and 190 C.

8. The method for improving the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics in accordance with claim 1, further including the steps of cutting and making to finish a textile hair product.

9. A system to improve the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics, the system comprising: a) a heat transmission device for polishing a hair tissue by passing it through, which is configured to work at a temperature between 150 and 180 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 10 and 26 m/min; b) a digital printing module, specially designed to print a scanned image by digital printing on the hair fabric; c) a drying chamber through which the hair fabric comprising a plurality of cooling and fluid dispersion devices such as fans configured to work between 500 to 800 rpm and heat emission means configured to pass through reach temperatures between 120 to 160 C. wherein the fabric passes at a speed of between 4 to 25 m/min; d) an airtight chamber that contains a plurality of hot steam devices to the hair fabric at a temperature of at least 100 C. for at least 5 min to heat set the colors; e) a washing station consisting of a plurality of containers where the hair fabric is passed to remove the excess color; f) a boiler to dry the hair tissue; g) a branch machine to stretch the hair tissue and eliminate wrinkles; h) a rip machine specially designed to confer terry characteristics to the fabric by obtaining hair; i) a shaver machine to match the height of the hair of the fabric to the same length or remove the remaining fiber; j) a second heat transmission device to polish the hair tissue by passing it through it for the second time configured to work at a temperature between 100 and 190 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 5 and 20 m/min; k) a branch machine through which the hair fabric is passed to heat set and avoid shrinkage and deformation; l) a heat machine specially designed to apply a stream of hot air under pressure at a temperature of at least 180 C. at a speed of at least 2 m/min on the surface of the hair fabric to increase the diameter or volume of the hairs present.

10. A textile product obtained according to claim 9, further including a digitally printed hair fabric, wherein said hair has greater color penetration in its fibers and an increase in its circumference.

11. The textile product according to claim 9, wherein the textile product is bedding into blankets, quilts, clothing, woven articles for personal use, or any manufactured from hair fabrics.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart of the method of the invention for making a quilt.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the system to improve the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics.

[0025] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a representative image of a hair of a fabric, where 3a is obtained by conventional methods and 3b is obtained by the proposed method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention refers to a pattern on a woven material, particularly the hair fabric and the method of manufacturing it, which is aimed at solving the technical problem of capturing a predetermined digital image in a hair fabric, wherein said Image presents characteristics of definition, contrast and durability of the print without neglecting or affecting the texture and joints of the tissue on which it is shaped. Preferably without intending to limit the scope of the invention, the woven material can be bedding such as blankets, quilts and the like, clothing, woven items for personal use, among others made of hair fabrics.

[0027] The method object of protection influences the effectiveness of penetrating the color and the uniformity of the tones of the prints seen from the four cardinal points, particularly in the height of the hair of the fabric, being able to offer these qualities in hair with height from 0.5 mm to 25 mm

[0028] The invention also contemplates hair textile products obtained with the method to improve the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing, which allows several images or design elements in different legs of the hair fabric, visually improving them; highlighting that so far there are no products with these characteristics on the market. Being able to generate designs with a central image of different colors that corresponds to the surface of, for example, a mattress and a perimeter pattern that falls to the sides of the mattress without seams and with the same or different colors; designs that include an image on the entire surface, designs that include a header with images and the rest of the surface with a pattern of ornate figures or patterns; designs with an engraving in the upper area and valance as you carry texts, graphics and engravings in the same or different color.

[0029] The textile fabric can be made of at least one of natural fibers, such as wool, cotton, silk, miraguan, linen, hemp, jute, abaca, esparto, coconut, broom, ramie, sisal, sunn, henequen, maguey. It can also be manufactured from at least one of artificial and synthetic fabrics, selected from acetate, alginate, cupro, modal, protein, triacetate, viscose, acrylic, chlorofiber, fluorofiber, modacrylic, polyamide or nylon, aramid, polyimide, lyocell, polylactide, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbamide, polyurethane, vinyl, trivinyl, elastodiene, elastane, fiberglass, elastomultyester, elastolefin, melamine, or a combination of natural and synthetic fibers.

[0030] The method to improve the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics is comprised of the following stages:

[0031] Polish a hair fabric by passing it through a heat transfer device, at a temperature between 150 and 180 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 10 and 26 m/min, preferably 15 m/min;

[0032] Make a print of a digitized image, preferably by digital printing on the hair fabric;

[0033] Pass the hair tissue through a drying chamber comprising the arrangement of cooling and fluid dispersion means, preferably fans configured to work between 500 to 800 rpm and heat emission means configured to reach temperatures between 120 to 160 C., preferably at 155 C., where the fabric passes at a speed of between 4 to 25 m/min;

[0034] Apply hot steam to the hair fabric within an airtight space at a temperature of at least 100 C., preferably at 110 C. for at least 5 min to heat set the colors;

[0035] Wash to remove excess color from hair tissue;

[0036] Dry the hair tissue;

[0037] Stretch the hair tissue to eliminate wrinkles;

[0038] Perform a rip to confer terry characteristics to the tissue by obtaining hair;

[0039] Shave the hair in order to match the height of the hair to the same length, or remove the remaining fiber;

[0040] To polish the hair fabric for the second time by passing it through a heat transfer device, at a temperature between 100 and 190 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 5 and 20 m/min;

[0041] Dry the hair tissue by branch to heat set and avoid shrinkage and deformation;

[0042] Apply a stream of hot air under pressure at a temperature of at least 180 C. at a speed of at least 2 m/min on the surface of the hair fabric to increase the diameter or volume of the hairs present.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, there is contemplated a modality of a method for manufacturing a quilt with improved sharpness and stability characteristics of digital printing patterns, which comprises the following steps:

Warped (101)

[0044] First, there is a well-known stage for a technician in the field of textile engineering. In the warp a warp is rolled up on a folder, where it has at least one pair of bobbins, to this warp is placed a plurality of preferably polyester threads ordered and folded in orthogonal arrangement that have a length of at minus 1 m, and a diameter of at least 50 cm.

Fabric (102)

[0045] In a first embodiment, a series of interlocking of at least one pair of threads consisting of the longitudinal serial connection of a warp with another obtained from the warping stage (101), which has a length of at least 1m. In a considered embodiment, the fabric can also be made of a plurality of ties that interweave to form a mesh that has a length of at least 1 m.

First Cut (103)

[0046] Subsequently, there is a stage of a first cut, where the previously manufactured fabric is sectioned which meets the size of the fabric to be used in later stages.

First rip (104)

[0047] Once sectioned in the first cutting stage, each of the process fabrics is incorporated into a first rip stage, where through a plurality of blades incorporated in a cylinder arranged at least 1.5 mm apart scrape or they tear the fabric and by means of the circular movement of said cylinders at a depth of at least 1 mm with respect to the face of the fabric where these blades are arranged against each other having to be given the fabric plush characteristics by obtaining hair by means of the tearing caused by the blades.

Branch (105)

[0048] Subsequently there is a branch process where thermofix and gives measure to the fabric.

First Polish (106)

[0049] During the development of the present invention it was found that when performing a polishing step prior to printing, better results of clarity of the prints were obtained. For this case, it was necessary to determine the specific conditions that could give the desired result, since if this stage is not carried out with the appropriate parameters the results confer undesirable characteristics on the color. The first polishing consists in passing the hair tissue through a heat transmission device, preferably by convection at a temperature between 150 and 180 degrees Celsius at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 10 and 26 m/min, preferably 15 m/min, which allows the fabric to acquire a constant gloss finish in case it should be stored.

Soak (107)

[0050] The soaking stage is optional and consists of moistening the fabric with some penetrating agent, although the water can serve, this allows the colors to be absorbed and cover a greater surface when stamping e of the hairs of the fabric and consequently a greater impregnation is obtained.

Stamping (108)

[0051] For the stamping stages, the possibility of carrying it out in any of the following steps is preferably more non-limiting:

[0052] A first embodiment includes a digital printing process, where the fabric is subjected to a digital printing process (1081) through a series of digital printing machine that allows the implementation of a large number of images, using combinations of colors such as black, yellow, magenta and cyan.

[0053] In a second embodiment, there is a sublimated printing process (1082), where firstly a printing on bond and extracellulose paper of 18 to 85 grams is preferably available in dimensions coinciding with those of the fabric being treated, where through a calender that inside has oil at a temperature between 205 and 215 C. and turning at a speed that allows an exposure time of 3.4 m/min transfers the heat present in the oil and captures the image on the tissue.

[0054] Even more desired, the printing can be by digital sublimation, for which there is a system and printing of images in high resolution on woven material that uses the technique of sublimation perfection as described in Mexican MX applications 2013012016 (A) and MX 2013012017 (A).

Fixing Drying (109)

[0055] Fixing drying includes subjecting the hair tissue to a drying chamber comprising the arrangement of cooling and fluid dispersion means, preferably fans configured to work between 500 to 800 rpm and heat emission means configured to reach temperatures of between 120 to 160 C., preferably at 155 C., where the fabric passes at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 4 to 25 m/min. Preferably, the fluid cooling and dispersion means and the heat emission means are configured to regulate the temperature in a drying chamber, such that said step can be done by gradually regulating the temperature for better results. in fixing different colors that can change their hue under different conditions.

Steamed (110)

[0056] This stage consists of placing the fabric in an airtight space and entering hot steam with a temperature of at least 100 C., preferably at 110 C. for at least 5 min to heat set the colors.

Wash (111)

[0057] After the vaporization stage, a washing stage is available, in which the hair tissue is subjected to a wash to remove excess color or residual material that may be present in the printing stage; During the washing step a formulation consisting of a reducing agent, preferably thiourea dioxide, caustic soda and a detergent, mixed with water in the following proportions, 5% thiourea dioxide, Caustic soda 5% detergent 15% and 75% water is used wherein said mixture is applied at a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius and in this way the excess color is removed without affecting the fabric.

Drying cloth (112)

[0058] The drying stage only has the purpose of drying the hair tissue, for which a method widely used in the state of the art is foreseen, the use of an electric boiler, where it transmits heat at a temperature between 120 and 140 C. when the hair tissue is passed through its structure where it travels inside at a speed of 13 m/min which allows it to eliminate the moisture present in its fibers.

Branch (113)

[0059] The branch process includes stretching the hair fabric by at least 5% more than the fabric size by applying heat at a temperature between 175 and 190 C. to eliminate wrinkles that are generated in the previous stages of washing and drying , if these wrinkles reach the perching process, where the wrinkle is found, hair cannot be removed. This stage homologates the height and compaction of the tissues.

Second Rip (114)

[0060] In the second rip process the hair fabric is subjected to a tearing passage through a plurality of blades incorporated in a cylinder or drum where said blades have a separation of at least 1.5 mm and have the property of scraping/tear the fabric in an area close to its upper/lower surface by circular movement of said cylinders at a depth of at least 1 mm from the face of the hair fabric, where these blades are arranged against each other having to be conferred to the fabric characteristics of plush by obtaining hair by means of tearing from the intervention of blades in the hair tissue. In this second rip stage, the rip is applied on the reverse of the hair fabric, that is to say on the opposite side of where the stamping was made, and a second step from the opposite side to the first tear and a third tear again from the first face.

Shaved (115)

[0061] In the shaving stage, there are a plurality of blades that reduce the length of the hair generated in the second perching process, where the shaving is applied in one pass in the reverse part, that is to say in the face of the hair fabric opposite of the face where the stamping has been performed, and a cutting pass through the opposite face on the face where the stamping has been performed, this in order to match the height of the hair to the same length, or eliminate the remaining fiber.

Second Polished (116)

[0062] Once the fabric has received the shaving treatment, it has to be subjected to a polishing step where it is subjected to a temperature of between 100 and 190 C. for a time of at least 1 min at a speed of between 5 and 20 meters per minute, time in which the printing of the image of the fabric has an appreciation of greater brightness in addition to highlighting the colors more, appreciating in a greater way the differences between shades, differentiation of backgrounds in the captured image.

Branch Finished (117)

[0063] Subsequently there is a finished branch process where the thermofixation of the fabric is finished to the extent required in cutting to avoid shrinkage and deformation, with this step the dimensional stability is ensured.

Smoothing (118)

[0064] In order to raise the level of softness of the fabric and the clarity of the prints when viewed from various cardinal points, it was found advantageously that when applying a stream of hot air under pressure of at least 180 C. by minus 2 m/min on the surface of the fabric it is possible to increase the diameter or volume of the hairs present in the fabric, which were previously subjected to stages that allowed them a greater fixation of color and bright, resulting in a high-hair fabric (without limiting it to short-haired fabrics such as velvety), with a better image sharpness stamped by digital printing or sublimation, which had not been done before, also providing smoothing.

Fabric Cut (119)

[0065] This step consists in making a manual cut of each one of the pieces to the desired size.

Fused Cut (120)

[0066] This process consists of splicing the 3 faces or components that a quilt has, Face A, Wadding (Filled), Face B

Confection (121)

[0067] This process consists of making the different sewing finishes through a sewing machine.

[0068] Still another object of the present invention refers to a system to improve the sharpness and stability of prints by digital printing on hair fabrics (FIG. 2), characterized in that it comprises:

[0069] A heat transmission device (201) for polishing a hair tissue by passing it through, which is configured to work at a temperature between 150 and 180 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 10 and 26 m/min, preferably 15 m/min;

[0070] A digital printing module (202), specially designed for printing a scanned image, preferably by digital printing on the hair fabric;

[0071] A drying chamber (203) through which the hair fabric comprising a plurality of cooling and fluid dispersion means, preferably fans configured to work between 500 to 800 rpm and configured heat emission means, is passed to reach temperatures between 120 to 160 C., preferably at 155 C., where the fabric passes at a speed of between 4 to 25 m/min;

[0072] An airtight chamber (204) which contains a plurality of means for applying hot steam to the hair fabric at a temperature of at least 100 C., preferably at 110 C. for at least 5 min to heat set the colors;

[0073] A washing station (205) formed by a plurality of containers where the hair fabric is passed to remove the excess color;

[0074] A boiler (206) for drying the hair tissue;

[0075] A branch machine (207) to stretch the hair tissue and eliminate wrinkles;

[0076] A rip machine (208) specially designed to confer terry characteristics to the fabric by obtaining hair;

[0077] A shaver machine (209) to match the height of the fabric hair to the same length or remove the remaining fiber;

[0078] A second heat transmission device (2010) to polish the hair tissue by passing it through it for the second time configured to work at a temperature between 100 and 190 C. at a speed that allows an exposure time of between 5 and 20 m/min;

[0079] A branch machine (2011) through which the hair tissue is passed to heat set and avoid shrinkage and deformation;

[0080] A heat machine (2012) specially designed to apply a stream of hot air under pressure to a at a temperature of at least 180 C. at a speed of at least 2 m/min on the surface of the hair tissue to increase the diameter or volume of the hairs present.

[0081] Still a further aspect of the invention relates to a textile product obtained according to the method described above, which has a digitally printed patterned hair fabric, wherein said hair has greater color penetration in its fibers and a thickening in its circumference.

[0082] Although the above description was made taking into account the preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be taken into account by those skilled in the field, that any modification of form and detail will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The terms in which this report has been written must always be taken in a broad and non-limiting sense. The materials, form and description of the elements, will be susceptible of variation as long as this does not imply an alteration of the essential characteristic of the model.