Garment printing pallet

A pallet for holding garments during printing comprises a base and a frame pivotally attached to the base, to hold a garment in a space between the base and the frame, the frame being locked onto the base over the garment to define the space. The pallet comprises a primary locking mechanism to lock the frame into a first position defining a relatively small space for a thin garment and a secondary locking mechanism for locking the frame into a second position defining a relatively large space for thicker garments, thereby providing a single pallet that can accommodate garments of a larger range of thicknesses, for example t-shirts and sweaters or hoodies.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a pallet for holding garments for printing and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a pallet for use when printing garments of different thicknesses.

Garments need to be held tightly for printing. If the garment is not held tightly then movement can smear out the printing, and wrinkles can block print nozzles. Thus the pallet carrying the garment has to hold the garment at the edges and close firmly over the garment. The pallet then has to lock over the garment so that it does not swing open during printing, which would cause damage to the printing apparatus.

Now not all garments are made of the same material. Sweaters, hoodies and coats are considerably thicker than shirts and t-shirts. Thus different pallets are used for the different garments, each pallet being designed for a given thickness range. If the garment is too thin for the pallet then the garment is too loosely held and is able to move or form wrinkles. If the garment is too thick for the pallet then the pallet cannot lock closed. Hence it is important that the correct pallet is used for the garment being printed.

In many cases only one sort of garment is printed, so that only a single pallet is needed. But in cases where a range of thicknesses are printed, multiple pallets are provided and the operator has to change the pallet manually. The additional pallets are an extra cost for the printing machine, and indeed are generally quite large, so as to accommodate adult sized garments, hence comprising a large amount of metal which means they may be quite heavy, often at the limits of what a typical machine operator can manage, so that manual changeover of the printing pallet is probably the hardest operation that the operator carries out.

It is noted that relatively small differences in thickness of the same type of garment can usually be accommodated with a single pallet, since textiles are compressible to a certain extent. Hence the issue only arises when significantly different thicknesses are involved as found in different types of garment, say t-shirts and swim suits as against sweaters or hoodies, and a third category being winter coats.

Hence it would be desirable to have a way of printing garments of different thicknesses without having to change the pallet each time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a pallet with an auxiliary locking mechanism that allows a pallet designed for a relatively thin garment to be locked at a wider position using the auxiliary locking mechanism when printing a relatively thicker garment. The pallet reaches a suitably tight position with the thicker garment in the pallet, but this is a position that falls short of or is too wide for, the main lock. Then the auxiliary locking mechanism is engaged and the pallet is locked to firmly hold the thicker garment in position, even though the pallet could not be considered closed and could not be locked in such a wide position with the primary locking mechanism.

According to an aspect of some embodiments of the present invention there is provided a pallet for holding garments during printing, the pallet comprising a base and a frame pivotally attached to said base, to hold a garment in a space between said base and said frame, said frame being locked onto said base over said garment to define said space, the pallet comprising a first locking mechanism to lock the frame into a first position defining a first sizing of said space and a secondary locking mechanism for locking the frame into a second position defining a second sizing of said space, thereby allowing for accommodation of garments of different thicknesses.

In an embodiment, said first locking mechanism and said secondary locking mechanism are used as alternatives.

In an embodiment, said first locking mechanism comprises a magnetic latch and said secondary locking mechanism comprises a lever.

In an embodiment, the lever has a rest position and an active position.

In an embodiment, said lever is located on one member of the group comprising said frame and said base, said lever being configured to engage a corresponding groove in a second member of said group only when in said active position.

In an embodiment, said lever is configured to change between said active and said rest position by rotation.

In an embodiment, said lever is configured to change between said active and said rest position by guidance through a shaped groove.

In an embodiment, said first sized space is under 3 mm and said second sized space is over 3 mm.

In an embodiment, said first sized space is suitable for t-shirts and said second sized space is suitable for sweaters and hoodies.

Embodiments may comprise a fail-safe locking sensor for detecting whether said pallet is locked to prevent an unlocked pallet from entering a printing area, the fail-safe locking sensor having a first sensing mechanism for sensing a state of said first locking mechanism and a second sensing mechanism for sensing a state of said secondary locking mechanism, and an OR gate for allowing said entering a printing area when either one of said first and secondary locking mechanisms is engaged.

Embodiments may comprise hinges for said pivotal attachment of said base to said frame, said hinges being mounted on adjustable mounts.

In an embodiment, said secondary mechanism comprises a plurality of locking positions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of fitting a garment on a pallet for printing, the pallet having a base, and a frame that fits over the base to close the garment onto the base with a surface of the garment exposed within the frame for printing, the frame then being locked to the base to hold the garment firmly for said printing, the method comprising:

Placing the garment on the base;

Closing the frame over the garment and if the frame reaches a predetermined first locking position on the base then locking the frame at said first predetermined locking position, but if the garment thickness does not allow for the frame to reach said first predetermined position then locking the frame at a second locking position.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiments may provide a pallet for holding garments for printing that is able to accommodate garments of varying degrees of thickness, by adding an auxiliary locking mechanism.

The auxiliary locking mechanism allows for the pallet to be closed and locked over the garment selected for printing and placed in the pallet even when the garment thickness prevents the pallet from reaching the normal pallet closure position. Such an event happens if the garment in the pallet is significantly thicker than the thickness the pallet was designed for and hence not fitting in the space that the pallet was designed to provide.

With the auxiliary locking mechanism, a pallet is thus provided that is suitable for any expected thickness of garment. Typically the pallet is built for the thinnest range of garments and then one or more gradations of auxiliary locking mechanisms allow for the pallet to accommodate thicker ranges of garments, so that a single pallet may for example accommodate anything from thin summer shirts to thick winter coats.

For purposes of better understanding some embodiments of the present invention, reference is first made to the construction and operation of a known printing pallet as illustrated inFIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 1illustrates a known printing pallet10in the open position. A base part12is connected via a hinge with a frame14. A garment is placed on the base part12and then the frame14is lowered to fit around the base part and hold the garment firmly by the edges to the base part12. The end16of the base opposite the hinge is generally shaped like a clothes hanger to hold the neck or collar of the garment. The end16contains a groove18which receives a locking pin20on the frame so that the frame may be locked in the closed position once a garment is inserted. A pair of springs22connected between the base and the frame ensure a smooth transit of the frame between open and closed positions, and may be combined with a latch, not shown, to latch the frame in the open position. The base is shaped with a groove24extending around the edges and corresponding to the shape of the frame, for the frame to fit when in the closed position. Thus the upper surface of the frame14forms a continuous surface with the top of the base or at least does not extend above the surface of the base or the garment on the base and hence does not interfere with the printer when the pallet enters the printing area.

FIG. 2illustrates the frame10ofFIG. 1in the closed position. Garment30has been placed on the base and the frame14has been closed over the garment to leave the face of one surface of the garment tightly held and exposed within the frame for printing. It is noted that as the frame is lowered into groove24it pulls the edges of the garment down with it, thus ensuring that the garment is tightly held. Only when the pallet is locked shut is it generally allowed to enter the printing area for printing of the garment.

FIGS. 3 and 4are both side views of pallet10.FIG. 3illustrates the pallet10with the frame14locked over the base with a standard size garment inside. The locking pin20of the frame14engages the groove18of the base and the pallet is successfully locked.

FIG. 4illustrates the case where a thicker garment is placed in the pallet. The frame14is unable to fully close due to the thickness of the garment and accordingly the locking pin20never reaches the groove and thus cannot lock the pallet.

Reference is now made toFIG. 5, which is a simplified diagram showing a printing pallet50modified according to embodiments of the present invention. As before, a base part12is connected via a hinge with a frame14. A garment is placed on the base part12and then the frame14is lowered to fit around the base part and hold the garment firmly by the edges to the base part12. The end16of the base opposite the hinge is generally shaped like a clothes hanger to hold the neck or collar of the garment. The end16contains a primary locking mechanism52which is made up of a magnetic latch located in the end16of the base. A groove56is located in the same position as groove18of the known pallet, but the groove forms part of a secondary locking mechanism. Indexing plunger58is located on the frame and is retained normally in a rest position as shown. However, when a thicker garment causes the primary locking mechanism to fail to engage, the indexing plunger may be pulled out of its rest position to engage with groove56and lock the pallet. Thus the frame may be locked shut over a thicker garment. Hence the space defined between the frame and the base is allowed to increase in size due to the secondary locking mechanism. Thus the primary locking mechanism defines a first, small space for thin garments and the secondary locking mechanism defines a second, larger space for thicker garments.

As before, a pair of springs22connected between the base and the frame ensure a smooth transit of the frame between open and closed positions, and may be combined with a latch, not shown, to latch the frame in the open position. The base is shaped with a groove24extending around the edges and corresponding to the shape of the frame, so that the upper surface of the frame14forms a continuous surface with the top of the base or at least does not extend above the surface of the base or the garment on the base. In embodiments some leeway is provided so that with a thinner garment the upper surface of the closed frame is below the upper surface of the base and with a thicker garment the surfaces are flush.

Thus the primary locking mechanism is designed to support thin garments, in the approximate range of 0.4-3 mm, generally covering shirts and t-shirts. The secondary locking mechanism supports thicker garments, typically in the range of 3-8 mm, and may typically be used for sweaters and hoodies.

As well as a multi-level locking mechanism on the locking side of the pallet, a multi-level hinge mechanism may be added. Hinges60and62connect the base12and frame14, and a latch (not shown) may allow the hinge mountings to be moved between two or more different positions on either the base or the frame or both.

A failsafe closure sensor may be provided to ensure that the pallet is closed before the pallet is allowed to enter the printer. The closure sensor may be a dual sensor detecting locking via either of the primary and secondary closure mechanisms and using an OR gate to allow operation if either of the closure mechanisms is engaged.

In an embodiment, more than one groove may be provided in the frame, so that the secondary locking mechanism may define more than one garment thickness. Hence an even greater range of garments may be accommodated.

FIGS. 6 and 7are views from above and from the front, andFIGS. 8A to 8Care side cutaway views, all showing the pallet ofFIG. 5and illustrating operation of an exemplary primary locking mechanism. The frame14includes a metal plate64which latches onto the magnetic latch of the primary locking mechanism. The indexing plunger58remains in the rest position and an approximately 2 mm space—70—is allowed for the garment. It is noted that although the space actually provided for the garment is 2 mm, garments with thicknesses up to 3 mm may be accommodated, since fabrics can be compressed.

FIGS. 9 and 10are views from above and from the front, andFIGS. 11A to 11Care side cutaway views, all showing the pallet ofFIG. 5and illustrating operation of an exemplary secondary locking mechanism. The frame14includes a metal plate64which in this case fails to attach onto the magnetic latch of the primary locking mechanism since the thickness of the garment does not allow the frame to get near enough to the base12for the magnetism to take effect. The indexing plunger58is placed in the active position and engages groove56at the coat hanger end16of the base to lock the pallet. A space72of approximately 7.5 mm is provided for the garment. It is noted that although the space actually provided for the garment is 7.5 mm, garments with greater thicknesses may be accommodated, since, as discussed above, fabrics can be compressed.

FIG. 12Ais a perspective view of an indexing plunger80that may be used in the pallet ofFIG. 5.FIG. 12Bshows a profile of the indexing plunger80andFIG. 12Cshows the profile after rotation by 90 degrees. Rotating the plunger allows for release of the plunger from the rest position so that it may be activated and used to lock the pallet when needed. Indexing plungers are levers with a rest position and are used where the plunger is normally expected to remain in a retracted rest position. The plunger is rotated to release from the rest position and a notch keeps the plunger in the active position until rotated back again.

Reference is now made toFIGS. 13A and 13Bwhich show open and closed states respectively in an alternative embodiment of the secondary locking mechanism. The primary locking mechanism may be the same as in the embodiment ofFIG. 5. In the present embodiment, the lever is the handle part of a spring-loaded bolt90, which is placed in an L-shaped groove92in the frame14. The bolt90is slidably held to the surface of the frame14by two hinges91. In the open position the bolt handle is in the base93of the L and spring94pushes the bolt handle96outwardly from the hinges causing bolt head98to remain clear of a latching groove100in the base.

In the closed position, the bolt handle96is in the upper part95of the L-shaped grove so that spring94is compressed and bolt head98engages groove100to lock the pallet shut.

In another embodiment of the invention the locking mechanism may comprise a linear ratchet mechanism. The linear ratchet provides several locking positions and thus allows a suitable locking position to be chosen by the operator based on the actual thickness of the item of clothing being printed at the time.

Reference is now made toFIG. 14, which illustrates the fail-safe locking mechanism referred to above. A fail-safe locking sensor for detecting whether the pallet110is locked may be provided in order to prevent an unlocked pallet from inadvertently entering the printing area. The fail-safe locking sensor has a first sensing mechanism114for sensing a state of the first locking mechanism112and a second sensing mechanism118for sensing a state of the secondary locking mechanism116. An OR gate120allows entering the printing area when either one of the first and secondary locking mechanisms is engaged.

The term “consisting of” means “including and limited to”.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment and the present description is to be construed as if such embodiments are explicitly set forth herein. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or may be suitable as a modification for any other described embodiment of the invention and the present description is to be construed as if such separate embodiments, subcombinations and modified embodiments are explicitly set forth herein. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.