Heat press suitable for applying a water-based ink print on a stack of fabric layers of different sizes

Abstract

A heat press includes a screen printing head and a stamp unit. The stamp unit includes a frame, carriages, a support, and a platen or ironer. The horizontal position of the platen relative to the horizontal position of the screen printing head can be adjusted by unlocking carriages from the guide rails and sliding the carriages while the frame remains attached to the screen printing head. Also, the platen is coupled to the support so that a horizontal position of the platen relative to the support is fixed, and a vertical position of the platen relative to the support is floating. The heat press is suitable for applying a print on a substrate, such as a stack of fabric layers of different sizes.

Claims

1. A stamp unit for use in a heat press, comprising: a frame, the frame including guide rails; carriages, each of the carriages being capable of sliding in a first direction along one of the guide rails and being locked to or unlocked from the one of the guide rails; a support attached to all of the carriages; and a platen, the platen being coupled to the support so that a horizontal position of the platen relative to the support is fixed, and a vertical position of the platen relative to the support is floating, wherein the horizontal position of the platen relative to a horizontal position of a screen printing head of the heat press can be adjusted by unlocking the carriages from the guide rails and sliding the carriages in the first direction while the frame remains attached to the screen printing head.

2. The stamp unit of claim 1, wherein a first end of each of the guide rails is coupled to a first beam, and a second end of each of the guide rails, which is opposite to the first end, is coupled to a second beam.

3. The stamp unit of claim 1, wherein each of the guide rails includes a beam having at least one slot, and each of the carriages includes a bolt or screw sized to traverse the at least one slot.

4. The stamp unit of claim 1, wherein springs apply a biasing force pushing the platen away from the support.

5. The stamp unit of claim 1, further comprising clamps for attaching the frame to the screen printing head, whereby the frame can be positioned at various horizontal positions relative to the screen printing head along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction.

6. A method of using a stamp unit in a heat press, the stamp unit including a frame, carriages, a support, and a platen, the method comprising: attaching the frame to a screen printing head of the heat press; unlocking the carriages from guide rails included in the frame; sliding the carriages in a first direction along the guide rails while the frame remains attached; adjusting the horizontal position of the platen relative to a horizontal position of the screen printing head; and allowing vertical movement of the platten relative to the support while preventing horizontal movement of the platen relative to the support.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a first end of each of the guide rails is coupled to a first beam, and a second end of each of the guide rails, which is opposite to the first end, is coupled to a second beam.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the guide rails includes a beam having at least one slot, and each of the carriages includes a bolt or screw sized to traverse the at least one slot.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein springs apply a biasing force pushing the platen away from the support.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising positioning the frame at one of various horizontal positions relative to the screen printing head along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, and attaching the frame to the screen printing head at the one of various horizontal positions using clamps.

11. A heat press including a stamp unit, the heat press comprising: a screen printing head; and a stamp unit, the stamp unit including a frame, carriages, a support, and a platen, wherein the frame is attached to a screen printing head, wherein the frame includes guide rails; wherein each of the carriages is capable of sliding in a first direction along one of the guide rails and being locked to or unlocked from the one of the guide rails; wherein the support attached to all of the carriages, wherein the platen is coupled to the support so that a horizontal position of the platen relative to the support is fixed, and a vertical position of the platen relative to the support is floating, and wherein the horizontal position of the platen relative to a horizontal position of the screen printing head can be adjusted by unlocking the carriages from the guide rails and sliding the carriages in the first direction while the frame remains attached to the screen printing head.

12. The heat press of claim 11, wherein a first end of each of the guide rails is coupled to a first beam, and a second end of each of the guide rails, which is opposite to the first end, is coupled to a second beam.

13. The heat press of claim 11, wherein each of the guide rails includes a beam having at least one slot, and each of the carriages includes a bolt or screw sized to traverse the at least one slot.

14. The heat press of claim 11, wherein springs apply a biasing force pushing the platen away from the support.

15. The heat press of claim 11, further comprising clamps for attaching the frame to the screen printing head, whereby the frame can be positioned at various horizontal positions relative to the screen printing head along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] For a more detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stamp unit; and

[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stamp unit shown in FIG. 1 in use in a heat press.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] It is to be understood that the following disclosure describes several exemplary embodiments for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Exemplary embodiments of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the disclosure; however, these exemplary embodiments are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various exemplary embodiments and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various exemplary embodiments and/or configurations discussed in the various Figures. Finally, the exemplary embodiments presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, i.e., any element from one exemplary embodiment may be used in any other exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, an inline screen printing heat press is capable of flattening a print imprinted on a garment, removing moisture from the garment and the print, and supercharging and heating the pallets of the screen printing press. The inline screen printing heat press is optimized for the use of water-based inks, specifically the removal of moisture from the inks on the heat press. An example of water-based ink is high-solid acrylic ink. This acrylic ink can provide a smoother and gelled foundation for top colors and generate good-quality matte prints. However, water-based ink is just an example of use and is not required for using the inline screen printing heat press.

[0024] In use, a layer of white high-solid acrylic ink is first applied in a viscous form on a garment (e.g., the t-shirt 10 shown in FIG. 2) disposed on a pallet (e.g., the pallet 12 shown in FIG. 2) of the inline printing press. Then, the pallet and the garment are moved under a stamp unit (e.g., the stamp unit 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). The stamp unit fits inside a screen printing heat (e.g., the screen printing head 16 shown in FIG. 2). The screen printing heat moves the stamp unit under the control of a main controller of the press in order to stamp down the garment. The controller includes a timer programmable by the operator of the press, which controls the duration of the stamping down. The heating element removes moisture from the garment. The heating element removes moisture from the ink and turns the ink into a solid by gelling it. After the stamping down, the ink is dry and is no longer transferring upon contact. Then other colors can be layered on top of the dried ink.

[0025] The stamp unit includes a frame (e.g., the frame 18 shown in FIG. 1), a support (e.g., the support 20 shown in FIG. 1) coupled to the frame, a heating element (e.g., the heating element 22 shown in FIG. 1) coupled to the support and having a platen or ironer, and a control panel (e.g., the control panel 24 shown in FIG. 2). As the stamp unit moves against the garment, springs (e.g., the springs 26 shown in FIG. 1) can compress.

[0026] The proper centering of the springs relative to any small extra layer of fabric of the garment can lead to a more even distribution of pressure and temperature on the small extra layer of fabric. In order to center the springs relative to any small extra layer of fabric of the garment and limit the tilt of the platen or ironer that may be caused by the extra layer of fabric, a first horizontal position (e.g., the position along the front/back direction 28 shown in FIG. 1) is adjustable. In order to do so, the frame is made of first and second parallel beams (e.g., the beams 30a and 30b shown in FIG. 1) to which first and second guide rails (e.g., the guide rails 32a and 32b shown in FIG. 1) are connected. The support is connected to the frame by four carriages (e.g., the carriages 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d shown in FIG. 1). Also, in contrast with the heat press shown in U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,995, the heating element is substantially smaller than the frame.

[0027] Additionally, a second horizontal position (e.g., the position along the left/right direction 36 shown in FIG. 2) can also be adjustable. In order to do so, the first and second parallel beams can slide within and be locked clamps (e.g., the clamps 38a shown in FIG. 2).