Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a printing system including a printer which is a printing apparatus that performs printing by ejecting ink, and a post-processing machine that performs a predetermined post-processing step on a printed product obtained by performing a printing step with the printer, and a control apparatus that determines conditions for the post-processing step based on conditions for the printing step. The post-processing machine is a steaming machine or a washing machine. The washing machine uses a large amount of water for washing and energy, and in this case, the post-processing step is a washing step. The control apparatus controls steaming or washing conditions that are, for example, conditions for the washing step based on conditions for the printing step.

However, although a fabric on which printing has been performed is processed using a steaming machine or a washing machine in the printing system described in <CIT>, there is a problem that the processing is insufficient to improve the texture of the fabric.

<CIT> discloses textile repeated printing and dyeing equipment including a frame and a dyeing pool fixedly arranged in the middle of the inner bottom wall of the frame. A fixed plate is fixedly arranged above the middle part, close to the dyeing pool, of the rear wall in the frame. Guide rods are inserted into the left side and the right side in the fixing plate, springs are wound around the lower portions, close to the fixing plate, of the guide rods, supporting rods are fixedly arranged at the bottom ends of the two sets of guide rods, the upper ends and the lower ends of the springs are fixedly connected with the fixing plate and the supporting rods correspondingly, and contact balls are fixedly arranged at the left ends and the right ends of the supporting rods. The spring and the contact ball are arranged so a vibration exciter can drive an eccentric wheel to rotate and generate vibration to drive the contact ball of the supporting rod to move up and down. Meanwhile, the spring is used for increasing the vibration amplitude and frequency of the supporting rod. The contact ball abuts against and impacts cloth and vibration of the cloth is used for vibrating off excess materials on the surface of the cloth.

A printing system according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

A processing apparatus according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

Embodiments of a printing system will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Assuming that the printing system <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is placed on a horizontal plane, the direction of gravity is indicated as a Z axis, and the directions along the horizontal plane are indicated as an X axis and a Y axis. The X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis are orthogonal to one another. In the following description, the direction along the Y axis is also referred to as a conveyance direction Y because it is the direction in which a fabric M is conveyed in the printing system <NUM>. In addition, the direction along the X axis is also referred to as a width direction X because it is the width direction intersecting the conveyance direction Y in which the fabric M is conveyed. Furthermore, a direction along the Z axis is also referred to as a vertical direction Z.

A configuration of the printing system <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the printing system <NUM> includes a printing apparatus <NUM> that performs printing on a fabric M, and a processing apparatus <NUM> that processes the fabric M on which printing has been performed by the printing apparatus <NUM>.

The processing apparatus <NUM> includes vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> that come in contact with the fabric M on which printing has been performed by the printing apparatus <NUM> to apply vibration to the fabric M and thus improve the texture of the fabric M. That is, the processing apparatus <NUM> is a texture improvement processing apparatus that improves texture of the fabric M. The vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> improve the texture of the fabric M by breaking a part of the fabric M including a surface layer thereof. The processing apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment includes a first vibration applying unit <NUM> for roughing and a second vibration applying unit <NUM> for finishing. Further, a configuration with only one of the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> may be adopted.

In addition, the printing system <NUM> may include a drying apparatus <NUM> that dries the fabric M on which printing has been performed by the printing apparatus <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The drying apparatus <NUM> is provided between the printing apparatus <NUM> and the processing apparatus <NUM> in the conveyance direction Y of the fabric M. The drying apparatus <NUM> performs a drying process on the fabric M that has undergone the printing process by the printing apparatus <NUM>, that is, the fabric M on which printing has been completed. The processing apparatus <NUM> receives supply of the fabric M that has undergone the drying process by the drying apparatus <NUM>.

The printing system <NUM> conveys the fabric M in the roll-to-roll method. The printing system <NUM> includes a feeding unit <NUM> in which a first roll body R1 is mounted, the first roll body having the fabric M before printing wound therearound, and a winding unit <NUM> that winds the fabric M with texture processed after printing as a second roll body R2. In this embodiment, the feeding unit <NUM> is provided in the printing apparatus <NUM>, and the winding unit <NUM> is provided in the processing apparatus <NUM>. The fabric M fed from the first roll body R1 mounted on the feeding unit <NUM> is subjected to printing while passing through the printing apparatus <NUM>, the printing on the fabric M is dried while the fabric passes through the next drying apparatus <NUM>, and further, the texture of the fabric M is improved while the fabric passes through the processing apparatus <NUM>. Then, the fabric M having improved texture is wound as the second roll body R2 by the winding unit <NUM>.

The printing system <NUM> includes a conveyance path T along which the fabric M is conveyed from the feeding unit <NUM> to the winding unit <NUM>. The conveyance path T includes a first conveyance path T1 which is a path on which the printing apparatus <NUM> conveys the fabric M, a second conveyance path T2 which is a path on which the drying apparatus <NUM> conveys the fabric M, and a third conveyance path T3 which is a path on which the processing apparatus <NUM> conveys the fabric M.

In this way, in the course of being fed from the feeding unit <NUM> and wound around the winding unit <NUM>, printing by the printing apparatus <NUM>, drying by the drying apparatus <NUM>, and the texture improvement process by the processing apparatus <NUM> are continuously performed on the conveyed fabric M.

The printing system <NUM> includes a control apparatus <NUM> (see <FIG>) that controls operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> in response to operations of the printing apparatus <NUM>. Details of control of the control apparatus <NUM> over the operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> in response to the operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> will be described below.

Next, configurations of the printing apparatus <NUM>, the drying apparatus <NUM>, and the processing apparatus <NUM> constituting the printing system <NUM> will be described in detail in order. First, a configuration of the printing apparatus <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The printing apparatus <NUM> performs printing on the fabric M as illustrated in <FIG>. That is, the printing apparatus <NUM> performs a printing process on the fabric M. The printing apparatus <NUM> applies a liquid onto the fabric M to perform printing on the fabric M. The printing apparatus <NUM> includes a housing 11A. The feeding unit <NUM> is supported on the outside of the housing 11A. The feeding unit <NUM> includes a feeding motor <NUM> that is a drive source for rotating the mounted first roll body R1 in the feeding direction. The printing apparatus <NUM> includes a conveyor unit <NUM> that conveys the fabric M fed from the feeding unit <NUM>. The conveyor unit <NUM> includes a driving roller 14A, a driven roller 14B, and an endless conveyor belt <NUM> suspended on both rollers 14A and 14B. The conveyor unit <NUM> includes a conveyor motor <NUM> that is a drive source for rotating the driving roller 14A. The conveyor motor <NUM> drives to rotate the conveyor belt <NUM>. The fabric M on the conveyor belt <NUM> is conveyed in the conveyance direction Y as the conveyor belt <NUM> rotates. Further, the driven roller 14B is paired with a roller <NUM>, and supplies the fabric M onto the conveyor belt <NUM> while nipping the fabric M with the roller <NUM>.

A printing unit <NUM> that performs printing on the fabric M conveyed along the first conveyance path T1 is disposed in the housing 11A as illustrated in <FIG>. The printing unit <NUM> includes a print head <NUM>. The print head <NUM> ejects a liquid such as ink supplied from a liquid container such as an ink cartridge or an ink tank, which is not illustrated, to the fabric M. The liquid container contains the same type of liquid as the liquid ejected by the print head <NUM>. A liquid ejected by the print head <NUM> is not limited to ink, and includes a pre-treatment liquid that is ejected before printing is performed on the fabric M, or a post-treatment liquid ejected after printing is performed on the fabric M. Thus, the printing process performed on the fabric M by the printing apparatus <NUM> may include a process of ejecting the pretreatment liquid, the post-treatment liquid, and the like onto the fabric M, in addition to the process of ejecting ink onto the fabric M.

For example, when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs color printing using N colors of ink, N liquid containers containing each of the N colors of ink are mounted on a mounting unit provided at a predetermined position in the printing apparatus <NUM>. When the N colors are, for example, four colors, four liquid containers containing each of the four colors of ink including cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are mounted on the mounting unit. Color printing is not limited to printing in three colors or four colors, and may be printing in one color, two colors, or printing in five or more colors.

The printing apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment is a serial digital textile printer. The serial printing unit <NUM> includes a carriage <NUM> configured to be movable in the width direction X and the print head <NUM> fixed to the carriage <NUM>. The print head <NUM> is fixed to the surface of the carriage <NUM> on the side facing the first conveyance path T1, and moves back and forth in the width direction X along the carriage <NUM>. The print head <NUM> has a plurality of nozzles (not illustrated) that open on a nozzle surface that is a surface facing the fabric M.

The carriage <NUM> has a carriage motor <NUM> (see <FIG>) as a drive source. The printing apparatus <NUM> includes a power transmission mechanism (not illustrated) that converts power of the carriage motor <NUM> into a linear motion of the carriage <NUM> in the width direction X. The power transmission mechanism is, for example, a belt-type power transmission mechanism. The carriage <NUM> is guided by a guide rail (not illustrated) to be movable in the width direction X. The carriage <NUM> is fixed to a portion of an endless timing belt constituting the belt-type power transmission mechanism, and the carriage motor <NUM> is driven by forward and reverse motion of the timing belt, and thus the carriage <NUM> moves back and forth in the width direction X.

The print head <NUM> is printed on the fabric M as a liquid such as ink is ejected from the nozzles while the carriage <NUM> is moving in the width direction X. One movement of the print head <NUM> in the width direction X will be referred to as one pass. An image or the like is printed on the fabric M based on print data PD by repeating a printing operation in which the carriage <NUM> moves in the width direction X and the print head <NUM> performs one pass or a plurality of passes of printing and a conveying operation in which the fabric M is conveyed to the next printing position in an alternating manner.

The printing apparatus <NUM> includes a maintenance unit <NUM> in the housing 11A as illustrated in <FIG>. The maintenance unit <NUM> performs maintenance operations for the print head <NUM>. One of the maintenance operations is cleaning. Cleaning is a process of cleaning the nozzles of the print head <NUM>. The cleaning is a process of forcibly discharging foreign substances such as thickening ink, bubbles, and fiber powder from the nozzles by forcibly discharging a liquid such as ink from the nozzles of the print head <NUM>. The maintenance unit <NUM> includes a cap (not illustrated) that can be brought in contact with the nozzle surface of the print head <NUM> to apply pressure or negative pressure on the nozzles to forcibly discharge a liquid such as ink. The waste liquid such as discharged ink is received in the cap, and collected in a waste liquid tank (not illustrated) through a tube, which is not illustrated, from the cap.

Cleaning is performed at a predetermined cleaning execution time. A condition for determining the cleaning execution time may be set as appropriate. For example, a cleaning execution time may be set to come after the predetermined time passes from a previous cleaning end time. Alternatively, a cleaning execution time may be set to come after printing of a predetermined time length is performed from the previous cleaning end time. Further, the print head <NUM> performs a blank ejection (also referred to as "flushing") in which ink in the nozzles is flushed by ejecting a liquid such as ink that is not related to printing, toward the cap of the maintenance unit <NUM> as one maintenance operation.

As a result, when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs printing on the fabric M, the fabric M is intermittently conveyed. In addition, when the cleaning execution time comes in the middle of printing on the fabric M, the printing apparatus <NUM> temporarily stops the printing while cleaning is performed, and conveyance of the fabric M is also stopped accordingly. Furthermore, when the image or the like to be printed on the fabric M is changed, the print data PD is changed. When the print data PD is changed, the conveyance of the fabric M is temporarily stopped as well. As described above, the operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> involve a temporary stop of the fabric M in the intermittent conveyance operation of the fabric M by the conveyor unit <NUM>, the execution of maintenance including cleaning, and a change in the print data PD.

Further, the printing unit <NUM> may be of a line printing type instead of a serial printing type in which the print head <NUM> is movable in the width direction X along with the carriage <NUM>. The line printing-type printing unit <NUM> includes the line-type print head <NUM> (so-called line head) having a plurality of nozzles in a range across the entire width of the assumed maximum width of the fabric M. In the line printing-type printing apparatus <NUM>, the conveyor unit <NUM> conveys the fabric M at a constant speed. The print head <NUM> ejects a liquid such as ink from the nozzles to the fabric M conveyed at the constant speed to print an image or the like on the fabric M. In the operation of the line printing-type printing apparatus <NUM>, there is no temporary stop of the conveyance operation attributable to the intermittent conveyance of the fabric M, but conveyance of the fabric M may be temporarily stopped at the time of execution of maintenance including cleaning and change in the print data PD.

Next, the drying apparatus <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The drying apparatus <NUM> has a second conveyance path T2 as a path on which the fabric M is conveyed to pass through the housing <NUM> in the conveyance direction Y as illustrated in <FIG>. Furthermore, the drying apparatus <NUM> includes a heater <NUM> that is a heat source to dry the fabric M in the housing <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is housed in an air duct <NUM> disposed at a position above the second conveyance path T2 in the housing <NUM>. A fan <NUM> is disposed in a portion that communicates with the outside of the housing <NUM> in the air duct <NUM>. When the fan <NUM> is driven, air is taken into the air duct <NUM> from the outside of the housing <NUM>, the air taken into the air duct is heated while passing through the heater <NUM>, and the heated air is blown as hot air or warm air from the vent of the air duct <NUM> to the print surface of the fabric M on the second conveyance path T2.

Thus, the liquid such as ink printed on the fabric M in the printing apparatus <NUM> is dried while the fabric M is conveyed along the conveyance path T2 of the drying apparatus <NUM>. Then, the fabric M with the dried liquid such as ink discharged from the drying apparatus <NUM> is supplied to the processing apparatus <NUM>. A buffer unit <NUM> is provided between the drying apparatus <NUM> and the processing apparatus. In this example, the buffer unit <NUM> is included in the processing apparatus <NUM>. Further, the buffer unit <NUM> may be included in the drying apparatus <NUM>. In addition, a first roller pair <NUM> on the upstream among two roller pairs <NUM> and <NUM> constituting the buffer unit <NUM> may be included in the drying apparatus <NUM>, and the second roller pair <NUM> on the downstream may be included in the processing apparatus <NUM>. Further, the printing system <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is provided with a roller <NUM> and a plurality of guide rollers <NUM> to <NUM> forming the conveyance path T in addition to the roller pairs <NUM> and <NUM>.

Next, the processing apparatus <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The processing apparatus <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is an apparatus that performs processing for improving the texture of the fabric M that has finished with printing and drying. The processing apparatus <NUM> includes the above-described first vibration applying unit <NUM> and second vibration applying unit <NUM> that perform treatments for improving texture. The first vibration applying unit <NUM> is for roughing, and the second vibration applying unit <NUM> is for finishing.

The first vibration applying unit <NUM> is located on the upstream of the conveyance path T3 from the second vibration applying unit <NUM>, and performs roughing process on the fabric M. The second vibration applying unit <NUM> is located on the downstream of the conveyance path T3 from the first vibration applying unit <NUM> and performs finishing process on the fabric M that has undergone the roughening process.

The first vibration applying unit <NUM> includes a pair of contact members <NUM> disposed at a position at which the members face each other having the third conveyance path T3 therebeween on which the fabric M is conveyed. In addition, the second vibration applying unit <NUM> includes a pair of contact members <NUM> disposed at a position at which the members face each other having the third conveyance path T3 therebetween.

The first vibration applying unit <NUM> performs the roughing process on the fabric M on which printing has been performed by the printing apparatus <NUM>, by performing a vibration operation of sticking the fabric M with the pair of contact members <NUM> a plurality of times per second. The second vibration applying unit <NUM> performs the finishing process on the fabric M that has completed with the roughing process by performing a vibration operation of sticking the fabric M with the pair of contact members <NUM> a plurality of times per second. Further, in this embodiment, the contact members <NUM> will also be referred to as first contact members <NUM> and the contact members <NUM> will also be referred to as second contact members <NUM>.

Furthermore, the processing apparatus <NUM> includes tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> capable of adjusting tension acting on the processed fabric M. The first tension adjustment unit <NUM> can adjust a tension acting on the portion of the fabric M processed by the first vibration applying unit <NUM>. The second tension adjustment unit <NUM> can adjust a tension acting on the portion of the fabric M processed by the second vibration applying unit <NUM>.

Furthermore, the processing apparatus <NUM> includes heating units <NUM> and <NUM> that heats the fabric M after printing is performed thereon by the printing apparatus <NUM> and the fabric M before being processed by the processing apparatus <NUM>. The first heating unit <NUM> heats the portion of the fabric M before being processed by the first vibration applying unit <NUM>. The second heating unit <NUM> heats the portion of the fabric M to be processed by the second vibration applying unit <NUM>.

Furthermore, the processing apparatus <NUM> includes a cleaning unit <NUM> that cleans the fabric M after the fabric M is processed by the processing apparatus <NUM>. The cleaning unit <NUM> includes removal members <NUM> and <NUM> that clean the fabric M while in contact with the fabric M. Further, the processing apparatus <NUM> includes a collecting unit <NUM> that collects fiber powder and the like generated from cleaning by the cleaning unit <NUM>. The collecting unit <NUM> includes a first collector <NUM> that collects fiber powder and the like generated from cleaning by the first removal member <NUM>, and a second collector <NUM> that collects fiber powder and the like generated from cleaning by the second removal member <NUM>.

Detailed configurations of the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM>, the heating units <NUM> and <NUM>, the cleaning unit <NUM>, and the like will be described below. First, a detailed configuration of the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> will be described.

First, a configuration of the first vibration applying unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The first vibration applying unit <NUM> includes the contact members <NUM> having a plurality of protrusions <NUM> that come in contact with the fabric M on which printing has been performed by the printing apparatus <NUM>, and a vibration generating source <NUM> that applies vibration to the contact members <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. With application of vibration from the vibration generating source <NUM>, the pair of contact members <NUM> vibrate with displacement in the Z axis direction, which is the direction intersecting the print surface of the fabric M. Due to the vibration applied, the pair of contact members <NUM> repeats approach to and separation from the fabric M in the Z axis direction. The pair of contact members <NUM> may repeat approach to and separation from the fabric M approximately at the same timings. In addition, the pair of contact members <NUM> may repeat approach to and separation from the fabric M at different timings.

The protrusions <NUM> have a cylindrical shape or a rod shape such as a needle shape with a sharp tip. In a case that the protrusions <NUM> have a rod shape, the print surface and the back surface of the fabric M are stuck with the protrusions <NUM> when the pair of contact members <NUM> approach the fabric M, and thereby the portion of the fabric M including the ink layer would be torn. In addition, when a resin layer is formed for the purpose of smoothing the printed surface (surface) of the fabric M, the resin layer that is the lower layer of the ink layer would also be torn. In such roughing, the ink layer and the resin layer that contribute to the hardness of the fabric M with printing would be torn. However, the ink layer is torn to an extent that bleeding (blurring) or the like caused by powder from tearing of the ink layer diffused in the surroundings will not be a problem.

Driving of the vibration generating source <NUM> is controlled by the control apparatus <NUM> (see <FIG>). As driving of the vibration generating source <NUM> is controlled, the vibration applied to the pair of contact members <NUM> is controlled. Specifically, the control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the pair of contact members <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> may control both amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the pair of contact members <NUM>.

The control apparatus <NUM> may control amplitude of the pair of contact members <NUM> in the range of, for example, <NUM> to <NUM>. In addition, the control apparatus <NUM> may control frequency of the pair of contact members <NUM> in the range of, for example, <NUM> to <NUM>. Further, amplitude and frequency of the pair of contact members <NUM> are not limited to these numerical ranges, and may be controlled at values other than the range described above. In addition, the contact members <NUM> to which vibration is applied are not limited to being a pair. For example, a configuration including a non-vibrating platform and a contact member <NUM> disposed at a position facing the platform having the third conveyance path T3 therebetween may be employed. Further, the control apparatus <NUM> may have a configuration in which only the amplitude of the contact members <NUM> is controlled, a configuration in which only the frequency of the contact members <NUM> is controlled, a configuration in which the contact members <NUM> are driven only with a predetermined amplitude, and a configuration in which the contact members <NUM> are driven only with a predetermined frequency.

Next, a configuration of the second vibration applying unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The second vibration applying unit <NUM> includes the contact members <NUM> having a plurality of protrusions <NUM> that come in contact with the fabric M on which printing has been performed by the printing apparatus <NUM>, and a vibration generating source <NUM> that applies vibration to the contact members <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. With application of vibration from the vibration generating source <NUM>, the pair of contact members <NUM> vibrate with displacement in the Z axis direction, which is the direction intersecting the print surface of the fabric M. Due to the vibration applied, the pair of contact members <NUM> repeats approach to and separation from the fabric M in the Z axis direction. The pair of contact members <NUM> may repeat approach to and separation from the fabric M approximately at the same timings. In addition, the pair of contact members <NUM> may repeat approach to and separation from the fabric M at different timings.

The protrusions <NUM> have a rounded surface shape such as a convex spherical shape or a wavy curved surface shape. Since the protrusions <NUM> have a rounded surface shape, when the pair of contact members <NUM> approach the fabric M, the protrusions <NUM> smooth the rough surface of the fabric M after roughing. In other words, the protrusions <NUM> smooth the rough-machined surface of the ink layer and the resin layer of the fabric M damaged in the roughing and performs finishing to finish the surface layer of the fabric M to have desired texture.

The control apparatus <NUM> may control amplitude of the pair of contact members <NUM> in the range of, for example, <NUM> to <NUM>. In addition, the control apparatus <NUM> may control frequency of the pair of contact members <NUM> in the range of, for example, <NUM> to <NUM>. Further, amplitude and frequency of the pair of contact members <NUM> are not limited to these numerical ranges, and may be controlled at values other than the range described above.

In addition, the contact members <NUM> are not limited to being a pair, similarly to the contact members <NUM> for roughing. For example, a platform and the contact members <NUM> may be combined. Further, the control apparatus <NUM> may have a configuration in which only the amplitude of the contact members <NUM> is controlled, a configuration in which only the frequency of the contact members <NUM> is controlled, a configuration in which the contact members <NUM> are driven only with a predetermined amplitude, and a configuration in which the contact members <NUM> are driven only with a predetermined frequency.

Furthermore, the control apparatus <NUM> may control driving of the vibration generating sources <NUM> and <NUM> in a condition where the vibration applied to the second contact members <NUM> is smaller than the vibration applied to the first contact members <NUM>. For example, the control apparatus <NUM> may control driving of the vibration generating sources <NUM> and <NUM> in a condition where the amplitude of the vibration applied to the second contact members <NUM> is smaller than the amplitude of the vibration applied to the first contact members <NUM>. Furthermore, the control apparatus <NUM> may control driving of the vibration generating sources <NUM> and <NUM> in a condition where the frequency of the vibration applied to the second contact members <NUM> is lower than the frequency of the vibration applied to the first contact members <NUM>.

Next, a configuration of the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The first tension adjustment unit <NUM> adjusts the tension acting on the portion of the fabric M processed by the first vibration applying unit <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. The first tension adjustment unit <NUM> includes a set of roller pairs <NUM> and <NUM> arranged at respective positions between which the portion of the fabric M to which the first vibration applying unit <NUM> applies vibration is disposed in the conveyance direction Y. The first tension adjustment unit <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> that drives the roller pair <NUM> and a motor <NUM> that drives the roller pair <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls driving of the motors <NUM> and <NUM> such that a difference in conveyance speed at which the set of roller pairs <NUM> and <NUM> is conveyed is made to adjust the tension of the portion of the fabric M facing the contact members <NUM>.

The second tension adjustment unit <NUM> can adjust the tension acting on the portion of the fabric M processed by the second vibration applying unit <NUM>. The second tension adjustment unit <NUM> includes a set of roller pairs <NUM> and <NUM> arranged at respective positions between which the portion of the fabric M to which the second vibration applying unit <NUM> applies vibration is disposed in the conveyance direction Y. The second tension adjustment unit <NUM> includes a motor <NUM> that drives the roller pair <NUM> and a motor <NUM> that drives the roller pair <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls driving of the motors <NUM> and <NUM> such that a difference in conveyance speed at which the set of roller pairs <NUM> and <NUM> is conveyed is made to adjust the tension of the portion of the fabric M facing the contact members <NUM>.

Next, a configuration of heating units <NUM> and <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> utilize exhaust heat of the drying apparatus <NUM> (see <FIG>) as a heat source. The processing apparatus <NUM> includes an exhaust heat system <NUM> that uses exhaust heat of the drying apparatus <NUM>. The exhaust heat system <NUM> includes an exhaust heat duct <NUM> extending from the inside of the drying apparatus <NUM>, and an exhaust heat fan <NUM> provided in the middle of the exhaust heat duct <NUM>. The exhaust heat of the drying apparatus <NUM> is supplied to the processing apparatus <NUM> by driving the exhaust heat fan <NUM>.

The first heating unit <NUM> includes a first supply duct part <NUM> that branches from the exhaust heat duct <NUM>, and a first heating fan <NUM> disposed within the first supply duct part <NUM>. The first supply duct part <NUM> has an air blowing port 73A at the leading end portion. The air blowing port 73A faces the portion of the fabric M before being processed by the first vibration applying unit <NUM>. The first heating unit <NUM> heats the portion of the fabric M before being processed by the first vibration applying unit <NUM> with hot air blown out from the air blowing port 73A by driving the first heating fan <NUM>. In this way, the first heating unit <NUM> can heat the portion of the fabric M that the first vibration applying unit <NUM> will be processed by using exhaust heat of the drying apparatus <NUM>. That is, the first heating unit <NUM> heats the portion of the fabric M that has been processed with printing by the printing apparatus <NUM>, drying by the drying apparatus <NUM> to dry the fabric M, and that will be processed by the first vibration applying unit <NUM>. Further, a collection duct part 79A for collecting the hot air from the air blowing port 73A is disposed at a position facing the air blowing port 73A having the conveyance path T3 therebetween.

The processing apparatus <NUM> includes a first temperature detector <NUM> that detects a temperature of the portion of the fabric M heated by the first heating unit <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls temperature to which the fabric M will be heated with hot air blown out from the air blowing port 73A by controlling a rotational speed of the first heating fan <NUM> based on a detection temperature of the first temperature detector <NUM>. Further, the first heating unit <NUM> is not limited to the configuration of blowing hot air, and may heat the portion of the fabric M before being processed by the first vibration applying unit <NUM> with radiant heat from a heat source such as a heater.

The second heating unit <NUM> includes a second supply duct part <NUM> that branches from the exhaust heat duct <NUM>, and a second heating fan <NUM> disposed within the second supply duct part <NUM>. The second supply duct part <NUM> has an air blowing port 75A at the leading end portion. The air blowing port 75A faces the portion of the fabric M before being processed by the second vibration applying unit <NUM>. The second heating unit <NUM> heats the portion of the fabric M before being processed by the second vibration applying unit <NUM> with hot air blown out from the air blowing port 75A by driving the second heating fan <NUM>. In this way, the second heating unit <NUM> can heat the portion of the fabric M that the second vibration applying unit <NUM> will be processed by using exhaust heat of the drying apparatus <NUM>. Further, a collection duct part 79B for collecting the hot air from the air blowing port 75A is disposed at a position facing the air blowing port 75A having the conveyance path T3 therebetween.

The processing apparatus <NUM> includes a second temperature detector <NUM> that detects a temperature of the portion of the fabric M heated by the second heating unit <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls temperature to which the fabric M will be heated with hot air blown out from the air blowing port 75A by controlling a rotational speed of the second heating fan <NUM> based on a detection temperature of the second temperature detector <NUM>. Further, the second heating unit <NUM> is not limited to the configuration of blowing hot air, and may heat the portion of the fabric M before being processed by the second vibration applying unit <NUM> with radiant heat from a heat source such as a heater.

In addition, as illustrated in <FIG>, the processing apparatus <NUM> includes a cooling unit <NUM> that cools the fabric M at a position upstream of the first heating unit <NUM> in the conveyance direction Y. The cooling unit <NUM> includes a cooling duct part <NUM> that captures outside air from the outside of the housing 30A, and a cooling fan <NUM> disposed in the cooling duct part <NUM>. The cooling duct part <NUM> has an air blowing port 77A at the leading end portion. The air blowing port 77A is located upstream of a first heating position at which heating is performed by the first heating unit <NUM> in the conveyance direction Y. The cooling unit <NUM> cools the portion of the fabric M, which has been heated in the drying process by the drying apparatus <NUM> (see <FIG>) and reached at a predetermined temperature higher than room temperature, to a temperature closer to room temperature before being heated by the first heating unit <NUM>. Cooling makes it easier to control the temperature of the heated fabric M because the first heating unit <NUM> start heating of the fabric M from the predetermined temperature close to room temperature at all times, regardless of the heating temperature of the drying apparatus <NUM>. Further, a third collection duct part 79C for collecting cold air from the air blowing port 77A is disposed at a position facing the air blowing port 77A having the conveyance path T3 therebetween. The hot air or cold air collected from each of the collection duct parts 79A, 79B, and 79C passes through a collection duct <NUM>, is incorporated in the exhaust heat duct <NUM>, and then is discharged to the outside through a duct (not illustrated) that is piped inside the factory.

Next, a configuration of the cleaning unit <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The cleaning unit <NUM> includes the removal members <NUM> and <NUM> that clean the fabric M while in contact with the fabric M as illustrated in <FIG>. The first removal member <NUM> cleans the fabric M while in contact with the print surface of the fabric M. The second removal member <NUM> cleans the fabric M while in contact with the back surface, which is the surface opposite to the print surface of the fabric M. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the removal members <NUM> and <NUM> are rotary brushes. The cleaning unit <NUM> includes a drive unit <NUM> (see <FIG>) that drives the removal members <NUM> and <NUM>. The removal members <NUM> and <NUM> have a width dimension that allows the entire region of the fabric M in the width direction X to be cleaned assuming that the fabric M having a maximum width. When the removal members <NUM> and <NUM> are rotary brushes, bristles are formed at the outer circumferential surfaces of the cylindrical brushes as if helixes in the opposite directions are depicted on both sides from the width center, and fiber powder is guided toward the outside of the fabric M in the width direction X while the members are rotating.

The pair of rotating brushes rotates, for example, in contact with both surfaces of the fabric M, and removes foreign matters such as fiber powder from both surfaces (processed surfaces) of the fabric M. The rotating brushes may be configured such that the rotational speed at which the brushes rotate can be adjusted while in contact with the processed surface of the fabric M. In this case, the control apparatus <NUM> may perform control such that the rotational speed of the rotating brushes becomes higher as a processing strength, which is determined based on an amplitude and a frequency of vibration applied to the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, increases so that more fiber powder is generated.

Furthermore, the cleaning unit <NUM> includes a collecting unit <NUM> that collects the fiber powder generated by the removal members <NUM> and <NUM> cleaning the fabric M. The collecting unit <NUM> includes a first collector <NUM> that collects the fiber powder generated when the first removal member <NUM> cleans the print surface of the fabric M, and a second collector <NUM> that collects the fiber powder generated when the second removal member <NUM> cleans on the back surface of the fabric M.

The first collector <NUM> includes a collection duct 95A having a suction port facing the print surface of the fabric M at a position downstream of the cleaning position at which the first removal member <NUM> can come in contact with the fabric M in the conveyance direction Y and a dust box 95B disposed in the middle of the collection duct 95A. The first collector <NUM> includes a fan <NUM> and a filter <NUM> at a position downstream of the dust box 95B inside the collection duct 95A in the air flow direction. The fiber powder is suctioned into the collection duct 95A from the print surface of the fabric M via the suction port by the suction force generated by rotating the fan <NUM>, and the suctioned fiber powder is collected in the dust box 95B. In addition, the airflow suctioned into the collection duct 95A is filtered out by the filter <NUM>, and then discharged from the processing apparatus <NUM>.

The second collector <NUM> basically has the same configuration as the first collector <NUM>. The second collector <NUM> includes a collection duct 96A having a suction port facing the back surface of the fabric M at a position downstream of the cleaning position of the second removal member <NUM> in the conveyance direction Y, and a dust box 96B, a fan <NUM>, and a filter <NUM> disposed within the collection duct 96A. The fiber powder is suctioned into the collection duct 96A from the back surface of the fabric M via the suction port by the suction force generated by rotating the fan <NUM>, and the suctioned fiber powder is collected in the dust box 96B. In addition, the airflow suctioned into the collection duct 96A is filtered out by the filter <NUM>, and then discharged from the processing apparatus <NUM>.

Next, an electrical configuration of the printing system <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the control apparatus <NUM> is electrically coupled to the printing apparatus <NUM>, the drying apparatus <NUM>, and the processing apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the printing apparatus <NUM>, the drying apparatus <NUM>, and the processing apparatus <NUM>. The feeding motor <NUM>, the conveyor motor <NUM>, the printing unit <NUM>, and the maintenance unit <NUM> constituting the printing apparatus <NUM> are electrically coupled to the control apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> by controlling the feeding motor <NUM>, the conveyor motor <NUM>, the printing unit <NUM>, and the maintenance unit <NUM>.

In addition, the control apparatus <NUM> is electrically coupled to the heater <NUM> and the fan <NUM> constituting the drying apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature to which the drying apparatus <NUM> heats the fabric M by controlling at least one of the temperature of the heater <NUM> and the rotational speed of the fan <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the buffer unit <NUM>, the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM>, the heating units <NUM> and <NUM>, the cooling unit <NUM>, the cleaning unit <NUM>, and a winding motor <NUM> constituting the processing apparatus <NUM> are electrically coupled to the control apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> by controlling the buffer unit <NUM>, the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM>, the heating units <NUM> and <NUM>, the cooling unit <NUM>, the cleaning unit <NUM>, and the winding motor <NUM>.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the first vibration generating source <NUM> when controlling the first vibration applying unit <NUM>, and thus can control at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration to be applied to the contact members <NUM>. In addition, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the second vibration generating source <NUM> when controlling the second vibration applying unit <NUM>, and thus can control at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration to be applied to the contact members <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when controlling the first tension adjustment unit <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the rotational speeds of the motors <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) separately and thus can adjust the tension to be applied to the portion of the fabric M to be processed by the first contact members <NUM>. In addition, when controlling the second tension adjustment unit <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the rotational speeds of the motors <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) separately and thus can adjust the tension to be applied to the portion of the fabric M to be processed by the second contact members <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the first heating unit <NUM> such that the portion of the fabric M to be processed by the first contact members <NUM> is heated at a position upstream of the processing position in the conveyance direction Y. In addition, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the second heating unit <NUM> such that the portion of the fabric M to be processed by the second contact members <NUM> is heated at a position upstream of the processing position in the conveyance direction Y. The heating units <NUM> and <NUM> of this embodiment utilize exhaust heat of the drying apparatus <NUM>, and thus the temperature of the exhaust heat depends on the heating temperature required to the drying apparatus <NUM>. For this reason, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the rotational speeds of the fans <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) so that the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> can heat the fabric M to the required temperature even when the temperature of the exhaust heat, that is, the heating temperature of the drying apparatus <NUM>, is changed.

Furthermore, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the cooling unit <NUM> such that the temperature of the portion of the fabric M supplied to the processing apparatus <NUM> from the drying apparatus <NUM> is temporarily cooled. This operation causes the temperature of the fabric M to be reset to a temperature in range near room temperature (e.g., a predetermined temperature range of <NUM> to <NUM>) before the first heating unit <NUM> heats the fabric M. By resetting the temperature of the fabric M to a temperature within the predetermined temperature range by cooling, the temperature of the fabric M when being heated by the first heating unit <NUM> can be easily controlled.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the cleaning unit <NUM> includes the drive unit <NUM> that drives the removal members <NUM> and <NUM>. The drive unit <NUM> is, for example, a motor in the present example in which the removal members <NUM> and <NUM> are rotary brushes. When controlling the cleaning unit <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> such that the cleaning strength at the time of cleaning the fabric M, for example, the rotational speeds or rotational torque of the removal members <NUM> and <NUM>, is adjusted. Further, the control apparatus <NUM> may control the fan <NUM> such that the cleaning strength at the time of cleaning the fabric M, for example, the suction force of the fan <NUM>, is adjusted. That is, the control apparatus <NUM> may control at least one of the drive unit <NUM> and the fan <NUM> such that the cleaning strength when cleaning the fabric M is adjusted.

Furthermore, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the feeding motor <NUM>, the conveyor motor <NUM>, the motors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and the winding motor <NUM>, which are the drive sources of the conveyance system, separately such that the fabric M is controlled at required speeds (including a stop) in each of units between the feeding unit <NUM> and the winding unit <NUM>.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the motors <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) constituting the buffer unit <NUM> at the same speed such that the portion of fabric M in the processing apparatus <NUM> is conveyed at the same conveyance speed as the conveyance speed of the fabric M in the printing apparatus <NUM> and the drying apparatus <NUM>. Furthermore, the control apparatus <NUM> stops the motor <NUM> and then drive the motor <NUM> and thus the operation of the processing apparatus <NUM> can continue even when the operation of the printing apparatus <NUM> is stopped until there is no slack of the fabric M in the buffer unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the printing system <NUM> includes an input unit <NUM> that is operated for an operator to input information, a display unit <NUM> that displays a menu, or the like. The input unit <NUM> and the display unit <NUM> are electrically coupled to the control apparatus <NUM>. The input unit <NUM> enables to select information of the strength with which the cleaning unit <NUM> performs cleaning and to receive information input.

In addition, the first temperature detector <NUM>, the second temperature detector <NUM>, and a third temperature detector <NUM> are electrically coupled to the control apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the first heating unit <NUM> based on a temperature detection value detected by the first temperature detector <NUM> such that the temperature of the portion of the fabric M to be processed by the first contact members <NUM> is adjusted to a required temperature. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the second heating unit <NUM> based on a temperature detection value detected by the second temperature detector <NUM> such that the temperature of the portion of the fabric M to be processed by the second contact members <NUM> is adjusted to a required temperature. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the cooling unit <NUM> based on a temperature detection value detected by the third temperature detector <NUM> such that the temperature of the portion of the fabric M positioned upstream of the heating position at which the first heating unit <NUM> performs heating in the conveyance direction Y to be reset to a value within the temperature range near room temperature.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the control apparatus <NUM> includes a first controller <NUM> that controls the printing apparatus <NUM> mainly, and a second controller <NUM> that controls the processing apparatus <NUM> mainly. Although the control apparatus <NUM> may include a third controller (not illustrated) that controls the drying apparatus <NUM>, the first controller <NUM> may control the drying apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> of this embodiment controls operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> in response to operations of the printing apparatus <NUM>.

Furthermore, although the configuration in which the printing system <NUM> includes one control apparatus <NUM> is introduced in the example illustrated in <FIG>, a configuration with two control apparatuses including a first control apparatus including the first controller <NUM> and a second control apparatus including the second controller <NUM> may be adopted. In this case, the second control apparatus may control operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> in response to operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> based on information about the operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> received from the first control apparatus.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> based on the input print data PD. The print data PD includes printing condition information and print image data. The printing condition information includes fabric-related information including the type, size, thickness, and the like of the fabric M, information of the number of passes of the print head <NUM>, and the like. Here, the type of fabric M refers to a material, such as the type of fiber composing the fabric M. The first controller <NUM> calculates the average ink application amount per unit area of the fabric M when the print head <NUM> ejects ink on the fabric M based on print image data. In this embodiment, when it is described that the control apparatus <NUM> controls the operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the average ink application amount per unit area of the fabric M, the average ink application amount per unit area of the fabric M may be simply referred to as an "amount of ink".

Next, detailed control of the control apparatus <NUM> over operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> will be described. The control apparatus <NUM> controls operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> in accordance with operations of the printing apparatus <NUM>. The operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> include a stop operation required for printing. The stop operation of the printing apparatus <NUM> leads to a stop of conveyance of the fabric M, and thus the control apparatus <NUM> performs stop in association with the processing apparatus <NUM> when necessary. In addition, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the operations of the processing apparatus <NUM> in accordance with a value of a parameter included in the printing condition information. Examples of the parameter include the type of fabric M, the thickness of the fabric M, the average ink application amount (amount of ink), and the like. Detailed control of the control apparatus <NUM> over the processing apparatus <NUM> will be described below.

The printing system <NUM> of this embodiment conveys the fabric M in the roll-to-roll method. The conveyed fabric M sequentially undergoes printing by the printing apparatus <NUM>, drying by the drying apparatus <NUM>, and processing (e.g., texture improvement processing) by the processing apparatus <NUM> in this order.

When printing is performed on the same type of fabric M under the same printing conditions, the processing apparatus <NUM> processes the fabric M at the same processing speed (e.g., frequency) and processing strength (e.g., amplitude). When the fabric M that printing and drying have been completed is supplied to the processing apparatus <NUM> at a constant speed, the processing apparatus <NUM> may perform processing on the fabric M at the same processing speed and processing strength. However, the speed of the fabric M fed by the printing apparatus <NUM> changes in accordance with an operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. The speed of the fabric M supplied to the processing apparatus <NUM> changes in accordance with an operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. When the processing apparatus <NUM> continues processing at the same processing speed and processing strength, the degree of processing applied to the fabric M is changed in accordance with the change in the conveyance speed. For example, when the printing apparatus <NUM> temporarily stops feeding the fabric M in accordance with an operation required for printing, if the processing apparatus <NUM> continues to perform processing on the fabric M at the same processing speed and processing strength, the processing repetitive at the same position of the stopped fabric M. This causes excess processing to the fabric M.

For this reason, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the operation of the processing apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. Specifically, the control apparatus <NUM> changes at least one of the strength and the speed of the processing performed by the processing apparatus <NUM> on the fabric M in accordance with the operations of the printing apparatus <NUM>. While the printing apparatus <NUM> performs a first operation in which the fabric M is conveyed at a first conveyance speed V1, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the processing apparatus <NUM> at a first processing strength and a first processing speed in accordance with the first operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. On the other hand, while the printing apparatus <NUM> performs a second operation in which the fabric M is conveyed at a second conveyance speed V2 (including a stop at V2 = <NUM>) that is different from the first conveyance speed V1, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the processing apparatus <NUM> at a second processing strength and a second processing speed in accordance with the second operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. Here, at least one of the second processing strength and the second processing speed may have a different value from the first processing strength and the first processing speed. Further, in the example in which the process performed on the fabric M is controlled with the vibration applied to the contact members <NUM> and <NUM>, the processing strength corresponds to amplitude, and the processing speed corresponds to frequency.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> as follows. While the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation in which the fabric M is conveyed at the first conveyance speed V1, the control apparatus <NUM> causes the processing apparatus <NUM> to perform a vibration applying operation at a first amplitude and a first frequency in accordance with the first operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. While the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the second operation in which the fabric M is conveyed at the second conveyance speed V2 (including a stop in which the conveyance speed is zero) that is different from the first conveyance speed V1, the control apparatus <NUM> causes the processing apparatus <NUM> to perform a vibration applying operation at a second amplitude and a second frequency obtained by changing at least one of the first amplitude and the first frequency in accordance with the second operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. Here, at least one of the second amplitude and the second frequency has a different value from the first amplitude and the first frequency.

In the printing system <NUM> that continuously performs printing and processing on the fabric M conveyed in the roll-to-roll method, the degree of processing performed by the processing apparatus <NUM> on the fabric M can be set to be uniform, regardless of the operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>.

The second operation in which the printing apparatus <NUM> stops (V2 = <NUM>) or shifts (V1 = V2 is not satisfied) the conveyance of the fabric M includes the following cases.

The above-described (a) to (d) will be described below.

In (a) described above, in the serial printing method, the fabric M is intermittently conveyed. That is, a printing operation in which printing is performed for one row (one pass of printing) by ejecting ink from the print head <NUM> while the fabric M is stopped and the carriage <NUM> is moved in the width direction X and a conveyance operation in which the fabric M is conveyed to the next printing position are alternately performed. The conveyance operation in which the fabric M is conveyed to the next printing position corresponds to the first operation, and the printing operation in which the fabric M is stopped in the period in which the print head <NUM> is moved in the width direction X and printing is performed corresponds to the second operation. The control apparatus <NUM> reduces at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration during a stop period in which the conveyance of the fabric M is stopped in intermittent conveyance. For example, when an operation of the printing apparatus <NUM> (intermittent conveyance operation) switches from the first operation (conveyance) to the second operation (stop), the control apparatus <NUM> performs control such that the processing apparatus <NUM> stops the conveyance of the fabric M, and at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> is reduced. For example, the control apparatus <NUM> may reduce both the amplitude and frequency of the vibration to zero to stop the vibration.

In (b) described above, the number of passes is set according to a request such as a printing resolution in the serial printing method. The operator sets the number of passes according to a required print resolution. Here, an operation in which the print head <NUM> is moved one time in the width direction X during printing will be referred to as "one pass". The number of passes refers to the number of movements of the print head <NUM> required to perform printing on the fabric M in the unit of length in the conveyance direction Y. The conveyance distance of the fabric M conveyed every one pass becomes shorter as the printing resolution becomes higher. For this reason, as the number of passes increases, the feeding amount at one time of the intermittent conveyance becomes shorter, and as a result the average conveyance speed decreases. That is, by changing from a first number of passes to a second number of passes, the average conveyance speed is switched from the first conveyance speed V1 to the second conveyance speed V2. The control apparatus <NUM> switches the conveyance speed at which the processing apparatus <NUM> conveys the fabric M from the first conveyance speed V1 to the second conveyance speed V2, and controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> to the fabric M. If a shift from the first conveyance speed V1 to the second conveyance speed V2 is deceleration (V1 > V2), at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration is reduced. On the other hand, if a shift from the first conveyance speed V1 to the second conveyance speed V2 is acceleration (V1 < V2), the control apparatus <NUM> increases at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration.

In (c) described above, the printing apparatus <NUM> performs cleaning when a predetermined cleaning time comes during printing. The cleaning is an operation in which the print head <NUM> is moved to the home position, the cap of the maintenance unit <NUM> is brought in contact with or close to the print head <NUM> to forcibly discharge the ink from the nozzles of the print head <NUM> for cleaning. Through cleaning, foreign substances such as thickened ink in the nozzles or bubbles in the ink are forcibly discharged. By performing cleaning, printing errors caused by defective ejection of the print head <NUM> can be avoided or resolved. When cleaning is performed, neither printing operation nor conveyance of the fabric M is stopped. The operation of printing when cleaning is not performed corresponds to the first operation, and the cleaning operation in which cleaning is performed corresponds to the second operation. If the printing apparatus <NUM> switches to the cleaning operation (second operation) when the cleaning time comes, the control apparatus <NUM> gives a command to the processing apparatus <NUM> to stop the conveyance of the fabric M and stop the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>.

In (d) described above, when printing content such as design performed by the printing apparatus <NUM> on the fabric M is to be changed, the operator operates the input unit <NUM> to change the print data PD. During the operation of changing the print data PD, the printing operation of the printing apparatus <NUM> is temporarily stopped. The carriage <NUM> moves to the home position, and the print head <NUM> is capped with the cap of the maintenance unit <NUM>. When the print data PD is to be changed, the conveyance of the fabric M is stopped by stopping the printing operation. The printing operation corresponds to the first operation, and the change operation of the print data PD corresponds to the second operation. The change operation of the print data PD refers to a series of processing operations of a temporary stop of the printing operation based on the current print data PD by the operator, a change operation to change to the next print data PD by the operator, and reception of a printing restart operation. Upon receiving an instruction to change the print data PD from the input unit <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> switches to a series of print data change processing (second operation) including a stop of the printing operation based on the current print data PD. When the operation transitions to the print data change processing, the control apparatus <NUM> gives a command to the processing apparatus <NUM> to stop the conveyance of the fabric M and stop the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>.

Next, control of the control apparatus <NUM> over the processing apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the type of fabric M will be described. The control apparatus <NUM> performs at least one of control of vibration applied by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, control of tension by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM>, and control of the heating temperature of the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> in accordance with the type of fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> may perform, for example, all of these three kinds of control. Here, the type of fabric M includes cotton, wool, silk, synthetic fiber, and the like. The synthetic fiber further is a type of fabric M depending on the difference in material such as polyester. The type of fabric M is also a fabric M including a synthetic resin between fibers among cotton, wool, silk, synthetic fibers, and the like. The type of fabric M may be determined by, for example, inputting information to the control apparatus <NUM> by the user via an operation unit such as a touch panel or transmitting measurement results of a measurement unit that measures the characteristics of the fabric M such as a camera to the control apparatus <NUM>.

Fabric M differs in hardness depending on the difference in cloth material, cloth thickness, cloth mesh density, fiber thickness, and the like. Here, the type of fabric M may be a type for determining hardness of the fabric M based on differences such as cloth material, cloth thickness, cloth mesh density, and fiber thickness. In addition, the type of fabric M containing a synthetic resin between fibers is stiffer than the fabric M of a type containing no synthetic resin between fibers. The type of fabric M having high stiffness needs to be given stronger vibration than a fabric M having less stiffness to achieve the same degree of texture improvement.

Thus, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the degree of texture processing by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> depending on the type of fabric M. Specifically, the control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> according to the type of fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> such that stronger vibration applied to the fabric M is of the type having higher stiffness. The control apparatus <NUM> may perform any of control only the frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, control of only the amplitude, and control of both the frequency and the amplitude according to the type of fabric M.

When the type of fabric M is a first type, the control apparatus <NUM> increases at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> more than when the type of fabric M is a second type that is less stiff than the first type. Further, it may be possible to select a range of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the contact members <NUM> to the extent that bleeding (blur) caused by damage of the ink layer by the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> is not problematic.

The fibers of the fabric M are bent in a wavy shape according to the weaving method instead of extending straight in the conveyance direction Y. Since fibers of the fabric M and the cloth are bent when the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> are brought in contact with the fabric, shear stress applied on the fabric M by the protrusions <NUM> and <NUM> of the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> decreases. That is, the bending of the fabric M and the fibers at the time of application of vibration causes the degree of processing of the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> on the fabric M to be mitigated. Here, a greater amount of tension applied to the fabric M prevents the fabric M or the fibers from bending when the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> are brought in contact with the fabric, and thus, the shear stress applied to the fabric M by the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> can be curbed. In other words, a greater amount tension to the fabric M causes the shear stress applied to the fabric M by the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> to increase and the degree of processing to increase.

For this reason, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the operation of the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> according to the type of fabric M. Here, the type of fabric M may be a type for determining hardness of the fabric M based on differences such as cloth material, cloth thickness, cloth mesh density, and fiber thickness. The control apparatus <NUM> adjusts the tension applied to the fabric M by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> such that stronger tension is applied to the fabric M of the type with higher stiffness.

When the type of fabric M is a synthetic fiber, it has the property of softening when the heating temperature increases while there is a difference in the glass transition temperature and the melting point depending on the material of the synthetic fiber. The softening caused by heating of the fabric M increases the degree of texture improvement processing caused by vibration of the contact members <NUM> and <NUM>. Even when the type of fabric M such as cotton, wool, silk, or the like, is the fabric M containing a synthetic resin between fibers, it has a property of softening when the heating temperature increases, similarly to synthetic fibers. In addition, even when the fabric M is a fabric containing <NUM>% of cotton, wool, or silk, the dried ink contains a synthetic resin as a component, and thus, at least the ink portion has the property of softening when the heating temperature becomes higher. As described above, although fabrics have varied properties depending on the content of synthetic fibers or synthetic resin, the fabric M after printing has the property of softening when the heating temperature becomes higher. Softened synthetic fibers or synthetic resin contained in the fabric M act to increase the degree of processing (degree of texture improvement) applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> applying vibration.

Fabric M differs in hardness depending on the difference in cloth material, cloth thickness, cloth mesh density, fiber thickness, and the presence of a synthetic resin among fibers, and the like. The type of fabric M may be a type for determining a hardness of the fabric M. The fabric M of the type having higher stiffness can increase the degree of processing when vibration is applied to the fabric M by increasing the heating temperature, compared to a fabric M with a less hardness.

For this reason, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M according to the type of fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M such that the fabric M of the type having higher stiffness is heated at a higher temperature.

The ink portion formed at the dried fabric M contains a synthetic resin as a component, and thus the fabric M tends to be harder as the amount of ink, that is, the average amount of ink per unit area of the fabric M, increases The control apparatus <NUM> performs at least one of control of vibration applied by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, control of tension by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM>, and control of the heating temperature of the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> in accordance with an amount of ink. The control apparatus <NUM> may perform, for example, all of these three kinds of control in accordance with an amount of ink.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied on the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> according to an amount of ink. The control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> such that the vibration applied to the fabric M with a larger amount of ink becomes stronger.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls operations of the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> in accordance with an amount of ink. The control apparatus <NUM> adjusts the tension applied to the fabric M by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> to further increase the tension to be applied to the fabric M of the type with a greater amount of ink.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M according to an amount of ink. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M such that the temperature at which the fabric M with a larger amount of ink is heated becomes higher.

Furthermore, the operator can operate the input unit <NUM> to select the strength with which the cleaning unit <NUM> cleans the fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> such that the cleaning unit <NUM> cleans the fabric M with the strength based on the selection signal input from the input unit <NUM>. The input unit <NUM> is an example of an operation unit.

Next, actions of the printing system <NUM> of this embodiment will be described. In the following, a case that the printing apparatus <NUM> is of a serial printing method will be described as an example.

Hereinafter, there are a first example in which the buffer unit <NUM> is not utilized and a second example in which the buffer unit <NUM> is utilized. First, the first example in which the buffer unit <NUM> is not utilized will be described.

Operations of the printing apparatus <NUM> include the first operation associated with conveyance of the fabric M and the second operation associated with a stop of the fabric M. When the buffer unit <NUM> is utilized, even if the printing apparatus <NUM> stops the conveyance of the fabric M, the processing apparatus <NUM> can continue processing for the amount of the slack of the fabric M formed in the buffer unit <NUM>. The buffer unit <NUM> is not utilized in the first example. For this reason, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the operation of the processing apparatus <NUM> such that the operation is stopped or reduced in accordance with the operation of the printing apparatus <NUM> when the printing apparatus <NUM> shifts from the first operation to the second operation.

When the printing apparatus <NUM> is of the serial printing method, the fabric M is intermittently conveyed. The printing apparatus <NUM> alternately performs a printing operation in which printing is performed for one row (one pass of printing) by ejecting ink from the print head <NUM> while the fabric M is stopped and the carriage <NUM> is moved in the width direction X and a conveyance operation in which the fabric M is conveyed to the next printing position. When the conveyance operation (first operation) ends, it switches to the printing operation (second operation), and the conveyance of the fabric M is stopped during this printing operation. That is, the printing apparatus <NUM> intermittently conveys the fabric M during printing. When the printing apparatus <NUM> stops at the intervals of the intermittent conveyance of the fabric M, the control apparatus <NUM> stops conveyance of the fabric M to the processing apparatus <NUM> and stops the operations of the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>. Then, the control apparatus <NUM> causes the conveyance of the fabric M by the printing apparatus <NUM> to restart, the conveyance of the fabric M to the processing apparatus <NUM> to restart, and the operations of the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> to restart. Thus, even when the fabric M is intermittently conveyed by the printing apparatus <NUM>, the processing apparatus <NUM> can perform texture improvement processing at an appropriate degree of processing on the printed fabric M.

Parameters of printing conditions include print resolution (or number of passes). The conveyance distance of the fabric M conveyed every one pass becomes shorter as the printing resolution becomes higher. For this reason, as the number of passes becomes higher, the average conveyance speed of the fabric M conveyed in the intermittent conveyance becomes lower. That is, by changing from the first number of passes to the second number of passes that is a higher number than the former, the average conveyance speed of the fabric M at the printing apparatus <NUM> is switched from the first conveyance speed V1 to the second conveyance speed V2 that is lower than the former. The control apparatus <NUM> switches the conveyance speed at which the processing apparatus <NUM> conveys the fabric M from the first conveyance speed V1 to the second conveyance speed V2, and performs control such that at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> is reduced.

The printing apparatus <NUM> performs cleaning by driving the maintenance unit <NUM> when a predetermined cleaning time comes during printing. The cleaning is an operation in which the print head <NUM> is moved to the home position, the cap of the maintenance unit <NUM> is brought in contact with or close to the print head <NUM> to forcibly discharge the ink from the nozzles of the print head <NUM> for cleaning. In this state, the nozzles are cleaned by forcibly discharging ink from the nozzles of the print head <NUM>. Through cleaning, foreign substances such as thickened ink in the nozzles or bubbles in the ink are forcibly discharged. When cleaning is performed, neither printing operation nor conveyance of the fabric M is stopped. In other words, the first operation in which printing is performed transitions to the second operation in which cleaning is performed. When the printing apparatus <NUM> performing printing transitions to the cleaning operation (second operation) from the printing operation (first operation) when the cleaning time comes, the control apparatus <NUM> causes the processing apparatus <NUM> to stop the conveyance of the fabric M and the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> to stop applying vibration to the fabric M.

When printing content such as design performed by the printing apparatus <NUM> on the fabric M is to be changed, the operator operates the input unit <NUM> to change the print data PD. During the operation of changing the print data PD, the printing operation of the printing apparatus <NUM> is temporarily stopped. The carriage <NUM> moves to the home position, and the print head <NUM> is capped with the cap of the maintenance unit <NUM>. When the print data PD is to be changed, the printing operation and the conveyance of the fabric M stop. When the operator operates the input unit <NUM> to select a change of the print data PD, the control apparatus <NUM> stops the printing operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> stops the printing operation based on the current print data PD by the operator. The control apparatus <NUM> stops the operation of the processing apparatus <NUM> in accordance with the stop of the printing apparatus <NUM>. In other words, upon receiving the replacement of the print data during printing by the printing apparatus <NUM>, the control apparatus <NUM> causes the printing apparatus <NUM> to transition from the printing operation (first operation) to the print data replacement operation (second operation). The control apparatus <NUM> causes the processing apparatus <NUM> to stop the conveyance of the fabric M and the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> to stop applying vibration to the fabric M according to the transition of the operations of the printing apparatus <NUM>.

The control apparatus <NUM> performs at least one of control of vibration applied by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>, control of tension by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM>, and control of the heating temperature of the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> in accordance with the type of fabric M.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> according to the type of fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> such that stronger vibration is applied to the fabric M of the type having higher stiffness. When the type of fabric M is a first type, the control apparatus <NUM> increases at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> more than when the type of fabric M is a second type that is less stiff than the first type. Further, the fabric M tends to become harder as the thickness increases. Thus, the control apparatus <NUM> may control at least one of the amplitude and frequency of vibration applied to the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> according to the thickness of the fabric M, similarly to the type of fabric M.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> according to the amount of ink ejected onto the fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> controls at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> such that the vibration applied to the fabric M with a larger amount of ink becomes stronger. The control apparatus <NUM> increases at least one of the amplitude and frequency of the vibration applied to the contact members <NUM> and <NUM> more when the amount of ink is a first ink amount than when the amount of ink is a second ink amount that is smaller than the first ink amount.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls operations of the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> according to the type of fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> adjusts the tension applied to the fabric M by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> such that stronger tension is applied to the fabric M of the type with higher stiffness. The control apparatus <NUM> increases the tension applied to the fabric M by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> more when the type of fabric M is the first type than when the type of fabric M is the second type that is less stiff than the first type. Further, the fabric M tends to become harder as the thickness increases. Thus, the control apparatus <NUM> may control the operations of the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> according to the thickness of the fabric M, similar to the type of fabric M.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the operations of the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> in accordance with the amount of ink ejected onto the fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> adjusts the tension applied to the fabric M by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> to further increase the tension to be applied to the fabric M of the type with a greater amount of ink. The control apparatus <NUM> increases the tension applied to the fabric M by the tension adjustment units <NUM> and <NUM> more when the amount of ink is the first ink amount than when the amount of ink is the second ink amount that is smaller than the first ink amount.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M according to the type of fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M such that the fabric M of the type having higher stiffness is heated at a higher temperature. The control apparatus <NUM> increases the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M more when the type of fabric M is the first type than when the type of fabric M is the second type that is less stiff than the first type. Further, the fabric M tends to become harder as the thickness increases. For this reason, the control apparatus <NUM> may control the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M according to the thickness of the fabric M, similar to the type of fabric M.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M according to an amount of ink ejected onto the fabric M. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M such that the fabric M with a larger amount of ink is heated at a higher temperature. The control apparatus <NUM> increases the temperature at which the heating units <NUM> and <NUM> heat the fabric M more when the amount of ink is the first ink amount than when the amount of ink is the second ink amount that is smaller than the first ink amount.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the operation of the drive unit <NUM> of the cleaning unit <NUM> according to an operation of the processing apparatus <NUM>. For example, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the strength with which the cleaning unit <NUM> cleans the fabric M according to an operation of the processing apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the strength with which the cleaning unit <NUM> cleans the fabric M such that the cleaning strength increases as the strength of the processing performed on the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> becomes greater. This is because there is a tendency that more fiber powder is generated as the strength of the processing performed on the fabric M by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> becomes greater. The control apparatus <NUM> increases the strength with which the cleaning unit <NUM> cleans the fabric M more when the strength of the processing performed on the fabric M is a first strength than when it is a second strength that is smaller than the first strength. For example, by increasing the driving speed of the drive unit <NUM>, the strength with which the cleaning unit <NUM> cleans the fabric M, for example, the rotational speed of the rotary brushes, is increased.

The control apparatus <NUM> controls the operation of the collecting unit <NUM> removing the fiber powder from the portion of the fabric M after the fabric M is cleaned according to an operation of the processing apparatus <NUM>. For example, the control apparatus <NUM> controls the strength with which the collecting unit <NUM> removes the fiber powder from the portion of the fabric M after the fabric M is cleaned according to an operation of the processing apparatus <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> controls the strength with which the collecting unit <NUM> removes the fiber powder such that the fiber powder is removed with greater strength when the cleaning strength is higher. This is because there is a tendency that, when the cleaning strength is higher, more fiber powder is generated since the fabric M has been subjected to stronger processing by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM>. The control apparatus <NUM> increases the strength with which the collecting unit <NUM> removes fiber powder more when the cleaning strength is a first strength than when it is a second strength that is smaller than the first strength. For example, by increasing the rotational speed of the fan <NUM>, the collecting unit <NUM> has a greater strength for removing (sucking) the fiber powder.

Next, a second example in which the buffer unit <NUM> is utilized will be described. Even when the printing apparatus <NUM> transitions from the first operation to the second operation, the processing is continued under the same conditions as when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation by utilizing the buffer unit <NUM>, without stopping or changing the processing of the processing apparatus <NUM>.

When the conveyance operation of the fabric M is temporarily stopped or decelerated in the printing apparatus <NUM>, the processing apparatus <NUM> continues the operation of processing on the fabric M under the same conditions as when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation in the tolerance period in which a slack of the fabric M formed in the buffer unit <NUM> disappears.

The tolerance period of the buffer unit <NUM> is acquired from a calculation result obtained by calculating the difference between the amount of slack of the fabric M formed in the buffer unit <NUM> and the detection result of a sensor (not illustrated) or the amount of the fabric M fed between the printing apparatus <NUM> and the processing apparatus <NUM>. Since the tolerance period is longer than the intermittent stop period associated with intermittent conveyance described in (a) above, even when the printing apparatus <NUM> transitions from the first operation to the second operation using an intermittent stop, the processing apparatus <NUM> continues the operation of processing the fabric M under the same conditions as when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation. By gradually reducing the slack of the fabric M in the buffer unit <NUM> in this intermittent stop period, the supply of the fabric M to the processing apparatus <NUM> is continued.

In addition, if this tolerance period is set to be longer than the cleaning period s, the processing apparatus <NUM> continues the operation of processing the fabric M under the same conditions as when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation. Specifically, even when the operation transitions to the cleaning operation (second operation) in which the printing operation is stopped for cleaning and the conveyance of the fabric M is temporarily stopped, the processing apparatus <NUM> continues the operation of processing the fabric M under the same conditions as when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation. By gradually reducing the slack of the fabric M in the buffer unit <NUM> in this cleaning period, the supply of the fabric M to the processing apparatus <NUM> is continued.

Further, even in the print data replacement time described in (d) above, the processing apparatus <NUM> may continue the operation of processing the fabric M under the same conditions as when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation in the tolerance period. In addition, when the cleaning period described in (c) above is longer than the tolerance period, the processing apparatus <NUM> may continue the operation of processing the fabric M under the same conditions as when the printing apparatus <NUM> performs the first operation in the tolerance period. Since the print data replacement time described in (d) above is determined based on the operator's operation time and the time is variable, the operation of the processing apparatus <NUM> may be stopped and the processing speed may be reduced at the time when the printing apparatus <NUM> switches from the first operation to the second operation. When the processing speed is reduced, a longer required time exceeding the tolerance period can be ensured, and the frequency of stopping the processing can be reduced. By reducing the processing speed, it is possible to prevent the texture improvement degree of the portion of the fabric M from being significantly different from other portions due to the longer time to stop the processing.

The control apparatus <NUM> performs control similar to that of the first example in which the buffer unit <NUM> is not utilized, except for the above-described control in which the buffer unit <NUM> is utilized. That is, the control apparatus <NUM> similarly performs the control of (e) to (i) described above in the first example.

In the above-described first and second examples, regardless of the operation of the printing apparatus <NUM>, the processing by the vibration applying units <NUM> and <NUM> is uniformly performed on the fabric M on which printing has been completed and fed from the printing apparatus <NUM>. Thus, it is possible to manufacture a fabric M2 with appropriate texture with a uniform texture improvement degree as a roll body R2.

According to an embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

Claim 1:
A printing system (<NUM>) comprising:
a printing apparatus (<NUM>) configured to perform printing on a fabric (M);
a processing apparatus (<NUM>) including a contact member (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a plurality of protrusions (<NUM>, <NUM>) that come in contact with the fabric on which printing was performed by the printing apparatus, and a vibration applying unit (<NUM>, <NUM>) including a vibration generating source (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to apply vibration to the contact member; and
a control apparatus (<NUM>) configured to control an operation of the processing apparatus according to an operation of the printing apparatus,
characterized in that either
the fabric is intermittently conveyed in the processing apparatus (<NUM>), and
the control apparatus (<NUM>) reduces at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the vibration during a stop period in which conveyance of the fabric is stopped in the intermittent conveyance,
or
the control apparatus (<NUM>) controls at least one of an amplitude or a frequency of the vibration according to a type of the fabric.