Device and Method For In-Line Thread Treatment
A device and method for in-line treatment of a thread are disclosed. The device comprises treatment and fixation units located downstream a thread feeding unit. A thread consuming system comprising a thread consuming device, such as an embroidery machine and/or a weaving machine and/or a sewing machine and the device is also disclosed.
1 .- 24 . (canceled)
25 . A device for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device such as an embroidery machine, a weaving machine, or a sewing machine, comprising:
a thread feeding unit;
a treatment unit located downstream the thread feeding unit, said treatment unit is configured to dispensing a coating material to the thread as the thread from the thread feeding unit passes the treatment unit; and
a fixation unit for fixing the applied coating material to the thread prior to thread consumption by means of the thread consuming device.
26 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein the treatment unit is a coloring unit.
27 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein the treatment unit comprises one or more discharge nozzles, such as inkjets and/or one or more electrospray units.
28 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein the thread feeding unit comprises an electric motor.
29 . The device according to claim 25 , further comprising a control unit connected to the thread feeding unit.
30 . The device according to claim 29 , wherein the control unit is configurable to adjust the speed of the thread as the thread passes the thread treatment unit.
31 . The device according to claim 29 , wherein the control unit is configurable to control the treatment unit based on the thread speed.
32 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein the thread feeding unit comprises a thread consumption measurer.
33 . The device according to claim 32 , wherein the thread consumption measurer is an encoder wheel.
34 . The device according to claim 26 , wherein the coloring material is a liquid.
35 . The device according to claim 34 , wherein the liquid is selected from a dye, an ink, or a combination thereof.
36 . The device according to claim 25 , wherein the fixation unit comprises a heating unit, a drying unit, a UV or IR radiation unit, and/or a unit that discharges an electron beam or charged particle beam, or any combination thereof.
37 . The device according to claim 25 , further comprising a thread buffer unit located downstream the treatment unit.
38 . The device according to claim 37 , further comprising a thread tension controlling unit connected to the thread buffer unit.
39 . The device according to claim 25 , further comprising an additional thread feeding unit arranged downstream the treatment unit.
40 . A thread consuming system, comprising a thread consuming device such as an embroidery machine, a sewing machine, or a weaving machine, and the device according to claim 25 .
41 . A method for in-line treatment of thread upstream a thread consuming device, comprising the steps of:
feeding the thread from a thread feeding unit to a treatment unit;
applying a coating material to the thread as the thread passes the treatment unit;
fixing the applied coating material to the thread before the thread is consumed by the thread consuming device.
42 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising the step of supplying the thread to the thread feeding unit.
43 . The method according to claim 41 , further comprising the step of measuring, and optionally adjusting the speed of the thread as the thread passes the thread treatment unit.
44 . The method according to claim 41 , further comprising the step of measuring the amount of thread consumed during feeding.