Device and Method For In-Line Thread Treatment

Abstract

A device and method for in-line treatment of a thread are disclosed. The device comprises treatment and fixation units located downstream a thread feeding unit. A thread consuming system comprising a thread consuming device, such as an embroidery machine and/or a weaving machine and/or a sewing machine and the device is also disclosed.

Claims

1.-24. (canceled)

25. A device for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device such as an embroidery machine, a weaving machine, or a sewing machine, comprising: a thread feeding unit; a treatment unit located downstream the thread feeding unit, said treatment unit is configured to dispensing a coating material to the thread as the thread from the thread feeding unit passes the treatment unit; and a fixation unit for fixing the applied coating material to the thread prior to thread consumption by means of the thread consuming device.

26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the treatment unit is a coloring unit.

27. The device according to claim 25, wherein the treatment unit comprises one or more discharge nozzles, such as inkjets and/or one or more electrospray units.

28. The device according to claim 25, wherein the thread feeding unit comprises an electric motor.

29. The device according to claim 25, further comprising a control unit connected to the thread feeding unit.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the control unit is configurable to adjust the speed of the thread as the thread passes the thread treatment unit.

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein the control unit is configurable to control the treatment unit based on the thread speed.

32. The device according to claim 25, wherein the thread feeding unit comprises a thread consumption measurer.

33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the thread consumption measurer is an encoder wheel.

34. The device according to claim 26, wherein the coloring material is a liquid.

35. The device according to claim 34, wherein the liquid is selected from a dye, an ink, or a combination thereof.

36. The device according to claim 25, wherein the fixation unit comprises a heating unit, a drying unit, a UV or IR radiation unit, and/or a unit that discharges an electron beam or charged particle beam, or any combination thereof.

37. The device according to claim 25, further comprising a thread buffer unit located downstream the treatment unit.

38. The device according to claim 37, further comprising a thread tension controlling unit connected to the thread buffer unit.

39. The device according to claim 25, further comprising an additional thread feeding unit arranged downstream the treatment unit.

40. A thread consuming system, comprising a thread consuming device such as an embroidery machine, a sewing machine, or a weaving machine, and the device according to claim 25.

41. A method for in-line treatment of thread upstream a thread consuming device, comprising the steps of: feeding the thread from a thread feeding unit to a treatment unit; applying a coating material to the thread as the thread passes the treatment unit; fixing the applied coating material to the thread before the thread is consumed by the thread consuming device.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of supplying the thread to the thread feeding unit.

43. The method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of measuring, and optionally adjusting the speed of the thread as the thread passes the thread treatment unit.

44. The method according to claim 41, further comprising the step of measuring the amount of thread consumed during feeding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a device and method for continuous in-line coloring of thread according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a thread feeding unit according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] As previously mentioned, an aspect of the invention relates to a device for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device, such as an embroidery machine, a weaving machine, or a sewing machine comprising at least one thread feeding unit, a treatment unit located downstream the at least one thread feeding unit for applying a coating material to the thread as the thread from the thread feeding unit passes the treatment unit, and preferably also a fixation unit for fixing the applied coating material to the thread prior to embroidery, weaving, or sewing of the thread. In a preferred embodiment, the treatment unit is a coloring unit, and the device for in-line coloring of thread may thus comprise additional units arranged downstream the coloring unit for ensuring coloring quality and sewability of the thread. Such additional units may e.g. include a cleaning unit, a lubrication unit, an additional thread feeding unit, etc.

[0035] A schematic of the device and method according to one embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. The device for in-line treatment of thread comprises a thread supplier 104 for holding a thread 102. A thread feeding unit 106 draws the thread 102 from the thread supplier 104 and feeds the thread 102 to a treatment unit 112. In the shown embodiment, the treatment unit 112 is a thread coloring unit. A control unit 108 and a thread consumption measurer 110, e.g. in the form of a thread speed measurer, are connected to the thread feeding unit 106. As the thread 102 moves through or passes the coloring unit 112, a coloring material (not shown) is applied to the thread 102 by the coloring unit 112. After coloring of the thread 102, thread feeding unit 106 continues to feed the thread 102 to fixation unit 116 where unfixed coloring material is fixed to thread 102, at least to some extent. The thread 102 passes a thread buffer unit 118 applying a tension to the thread 102, and pulling the thread 102 forward. The thread buffer unit 118 applies a pulling force to the thread 102 downstream the treatment unit 112 (i.e. upstream the buffer unit 118 and downstream the thread feeding unit 106). The thread buffer unit 118 may be arranged between the treatment unit 112 and the fixation unit 116, even more preferably somewhere along the extension of the fixation unit 116. A controlling unit 120 is connected to the thread buffer unit 118 and is adapted to apply a tension in the thread 102, e.g. by means of a buffer arm in accordance with the embodiment described above. A thread consuming device 122 then receives the thread 102 from thread buffer unit 118 for embroidery, weaving, or sewing of the thread 102 as desired. In the method described in FIG. 1, thread 102 may also pass from the thread buffer unit 118 to one or more processing units 124 before the thread 102 moves to thread consuming device 122. Such additional processing steps may be provided by a cleaning unit, a lubrication unit, etc.

[0036] In other embodiments two or more thread feeding units 106 are provided, of which at least one is arranged upstream the coloring unit 112. Additional feeding units 106 may be arranged downstream the coloring unit 112, e.g. after the fixation unit 116. Preferably, such additional feeding units may be arranged close to the thread consuming device 122. This is advantageous in that the thread consuming device 122 needs to apply a very little force for pulling the thread forward, which is desired.

[0037] The coloring unit 112 is preferably an inkjet unit configured to discharge a predetermined quantity of liquid onto the thread passing through the coloring unit 112, the thread 102 being feed by means of the thread feeding unit 106. The predetermined quantity may be calculated during operation, such that the exact amount of liquid may be based on thread speed, thread tension, temperature, a predetermined coloring pattern, etc.

[0038] An example of a thread feeding unit 106 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The thread 102 is entering the thread feeding unit 106 from a thread supply (not shown), and is guided by a wheel 106a. The rotational axis of the wheel 106a is connected to an encoder wheel used for measuring the length of the thread 102 passing through the thread feeding unit 106. Hence, the encoder wheel will rotate with the wheel 106a and an associated sensor will measure the movement of the thread 102. A pair of driven rollers 106b,c are arranged downstream the encoder wheel 106a, whereby the thread 102 passes through the nip formed between the rollers 106b,c. Preferably, at least one of the rollers 106b,c are spring biased towards the other one of said rollers 106b,c. The rollers 106b,c are preferably driven by one or more electrical motors (not shown). In a specific embodiment, the rollers 106b,c are connected to each other by means of gears. A pivotally supported lever arm 106d may be arranged downstream the two rollers 106b,c for tensioning the thread 102. The position of the lever arm 106d may also be controlled for moving the thread into and out from the normal thread position during operation. A final guide roller 106e is arranged downstream the lever arm 106d for ensuring the desired vertical position of the thread 102, as well as the desired position in the horizontal direction.

[0039] Various modifications of the thread feeding unit 106 are possible. For example, the driven rollers 106b,c may be arranged upstream the wheel 106a (and hence also upstream the encoder wheel). In such embodiment, the wheel 106a may also act as a thread guide whereby the provision of the lever arm 106d may be omitted.

[0040] Preferably, the coloring unit 112 is synchronized with the feeding unit 106. This may be achieved by triggering discharge from the coloring unit 112 upon a signal from the encoder wheel as mentioned above.

[0041] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims.

[0042] In the claims, the term comprises/comprising does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms a, an, first, second etc do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.