Modular pallet
A modular pallet for a textile printing machine, to hold textile products of different shapes and sizes to allow for effective printing on the products, the modular pallet having two parts, a first part which is fixed to the printing machine and is designed for removably fitting a second, modular part. The second part is made up of a range of exchangeable parts which are shaped and configured for different textile products. Each exchangeable part is able to fit into the first part, so that the pallet can be modified for printing different textile products.
1 . A modular pallet for a textile printing machine, to hold textile products of different shapes and sizes taut to allow for effective printing on said products, the modular pallet comprising:
a first part, the first part comprising a frame, the frame having a length and a width, the frame connected to the printing machine and configured to alternate between open and closed positions, the first part comprising at least one attachment for removably fitting a second part, the attachment being configured for accurate location of said second part, said attachment comprising first and second U-shaped grooves for accepting said second part at a given alignment and allowing said second part to slide linearly along said length of said frame at said given alignment into a secured position, the secured position being along said length and reachable by said linear sliding along said length, for opening and closing of said first part and second part together while being secured; and
the second part, attachable to said first part, said second part being configured for fitting a textile product while secured in said secured position and said first part is in said open position and to hold taut at least one of a size and shape of said textile product currently to be printed when connected to said first part in said secured position and said first part is in said closed position, wherein said second part comprises a pallet tray connectable to said main frame and sized and shaped for a given textile product.
2 . The modular pallet of claim 1 , wherein said first part comprises an attachment base for attaching to said textile printing machine, and a main frame for fitting said second part thereto.
3 . The modular pallet of claim 1 , wherein said main frame is pivotally attached to said attachment base.
4 . The modular pallet of claim 3 , comprising an opening and closing mechanism for moving said main frame between said open and said closed positions, said opening and closing mechanism being mounted on said first part.
5 . The modular pallet of claim 4 , wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises at least one member of the group comprising: an actuator, a magnet, a microswitch, a hinge and a powered spring.
6 . The modular pallet of claim 1 , wherein said second part comprises a holding frame connectable to said main frame for holding a garment taut when in said closed position, the holding frame sized and shaped for a given textile product.
7 . The modular pallet of claim 1 , comprising a third part, the third part being insertable into said second part and comprising a back support removably positionable for extending a part of a back of said textile product into a printing plane.
8 . The modular pallet of claim 1 , said second part further comprising a top frame component, said top frame component fixable into said pallet tray to provide a second printing surface for said textile product, said top frame component being variably selectable to compensate for different thicknesses and thereby provide the printer with a uniform height for printing thereon, irrespective of a thickness of the garment.
9 . A modular pallet for a textile printing machine, to hold textile products of different shapes and sizes to allow for effective printing on said products, the modular pallet comprising:
a first part, the first part attached to the printing machine, and having a length and a width; and
a plurality of differently configured second, exchangeable parts, each of the differently configured exchangeable parts being removably attachable along said length, via a fitting, to said first part, the fitting being configured for accurate location of said second part into said first part and comprising a mechanical latching mechanism for latching said second part onto said first part to be openable and closeable while latched, said mechanical mechanism comprising first and second U-shaped grooves extending along said length of said first part along which said second part is able to slide linearly at a given alignment into a secured position, said secured position being reachable by said linear sliding, said second part to be openable and closeable while secured; each of the different configured second parts being configured for at least one of a size and shape of one of a range of textile products to be printed.
10 . The modular pallet of claim 9 , wherein said first part comprises an attachment base for attaching to said textile printing machine, and a main frame for fitting said second exchangeable parts thereto.
11 . The modular pallet of claim 10 , wherein said main frame is pivotally attached to said attachment base.
12 . The modular pallet of claim 11 , comprising an opening and closing mechanism for moving said main frame between an open and a closed position, said opening and closing mechanism being mounted on said first part.
13 . The modular pallet of claim 12 , wherein said opening and closing mechanism comprises at least one member of the group comprising: an actuator, a magnet, a microswitch, a hinge and a powered spring.
14 . The modular pallet of claim 9 , wherein at least one of said second parts comprises a pallet tray connectable to said main frame and sized and shaped for a given textile product.
15 . The modular pallet of claim 14 , wherein at least one of said second parts comprises a top frame component, said top frame component fixable into said pallet tray to provide a second printing surface for said textile product, said top frame component being variably selectable to compensate for different garment thicknesses and thereby provide the printer with a uniform height for printing thereon.
16 . The modular pallet of claim 9 , wherein at least one of said second parts comprises a holding frame connectable to said main frame for holding a garment taut when in a closed position, the holding frame sized and shaped for a given textile product.
17 . The modular pallet of claim 9 , comprising a third part, the third part being insertable into said second part and comprising a back support removably positionable for extending a part of a back of said textile product into a printing plane.
18 . A method of printing a garment comprising:
selecting a garment of a first size and shape for printing;
modifying a printing pallet by accurately locating through linear sliding along first and second U-shaped grooves into a secured position at least one additional part and mechanically securing said at least one additional part, at said secured position, on a main frame of said pallet, said printing pallet comprising said first and second U-shaped grooves extending along a length of said printing pallet upon which said at least one additional part is able to slide linearly at an alignment defined by said U-shaped grooves, into the secured position to be openable and closeable while secured; said at least one additional part being selected for said first size and shape, said linear sliding along said U-shaped grooves being along a length of said main frame of said pallet and said secured position being reachable via said linear sliding along said groove;
fitting said garment on said modified printing pallet while said main frame and said additional part are secured together;
closing said pallet over said garment while said main frame and said additional part remain secured together;
providing a uniform height for printing thereon irrespective of a garment thickness, in that said at least one additional part comprises a pallet tray connected to said main frame and sized and shaped for a given textile product, wherein said additional part comprises a top frame component, said top frame component being fixed into said pallet tray to provide a second printing surface for said textile product, said top frame component being configured to compensate for different garment thicknesses; and
printing said garment while held in said pallet.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said at least one additional part comprises a holding frame based on said first size and shape for modifying a size of said main frame to hold said garment.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said at least one additional part further comprises a pallet tray based on said first size and shape to underlie said selected garment during printing.
21 . The method of claim 18 , comprising:
selecting a garment of a second size and shape for printing subsequently to printing said first garment;
further modifying said printing pallet by removing said additional part selected for said first size and shape and inserting an alternative additional part selected for said second size and shape;
fitting said garment of said second size and shape on said modified printing pallet;
closing said pallet over said garment of said second size and shape; and
printing said garment of said second size and shape while held in said pallet.