Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Organic additive for dye composition – dye composition... – Polymeric additive
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-15
2004-06-22
Einsmann, Margaret (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Organic additive for dye composition, dye composition...
Polymeric additive
C008S478000, C428S195100, C442S059000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06752841
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a process for dyeing a textile substrate in a predetermined pattern by dispensing an aqueous colorant using a plurality of individually-controllable colorant applicators. More specifically, this invention is directed to a process in which the dye or liquid colorant is used in combination with a thickening agent having specific properties. The use of thickening agents with such properties results in unexpectedly superior dyeing performance on the substrate as well as enhanced operation of the dyeing equipment.
BACKGROUND
Although the dyeing of textiles is among the oldest of arts, the subject continues to invite innovation and improvement. Among such innovations have been dyeing processes, and equipment to carry out such processes, that provide for the automated dyeing or patterning of textiles in accordance with electrically encoded patterning instructions. Such processes have evolved along two different approaches. In a first approach (the “drop on demand” approach), the dye or colorant is applied directly from valved applicators positioned over the textile substrate to be patterned. In an example of one such system, a valve is opened when the dye or colorant is to be dispensed onto the substrate, and is closed when the requisite quantity of dye has been delivered to the appropriate predetermined area of the substrate. Examples of this first approach include the patterning devices distributed by Zimmer Machinery, Inc. of Spartanburg, S.C. under the trade name Chromojet®. In such devices, a print head containing a plurality of individual dye nozzles is traversed across the path of a substrate to be patterned. One or more dye nozzles may be separately connected to individual dye supplies, each of which may supply dye of a different color and provide for multi-color patterning. Electronically defined patterning instructions are directed to selected nozzles as the print head is traversed and the substrate is appropriately indexed forward.
In a second approach (the “recirculating” approach), a continuously generated dye solution stream is directed into a catch basin. The dye solution stream is diverted onto the path of a moving substrate by an intermittently-actuated (i.e., actuated in accordance with pattern data) transverse stream of air or other control fluid, thereby causing the dye solution to avoid the catch basin and strike the surface of the substrate for a time interval sufficient to dispense the quantity of dye specified by the electronically defined pattern data. An example of such a device is indicated in
FIGS. 1-2
, the details of which are discussed below, as well as in a number of U.S. Patents, including commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,116,626, 5,136,520, 5,142,481, and 5,208,592, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In the devices and techniques described in the above-referenced U.S. patents, the substrate pattern is defined in terms of pixels, and individual colorants, or combinations of colorants, are assigned to each pixel in order to impart the desired color to that corresponding pixel or pixel-sized area on the substrate. The application of such colorants to specific pixels is achieved through the use of many individual dye applicators, mounted along the length of color bars that are positioned in spaced, parallel relation across the path of the moving substrate to be patterned. Each applicator in a given color bar is supplied with colorant from the same colorant reservoir, with different arrays being supplied from different reservoirs, typically containing different colorants. By generating applicator actuation instructions that accommodate the position of the applicator along the length of the color bar and the position of the color bar relative to the position of the target pixel on the moving substrate, any available colorant from any color bar may be applied to any pixel within the pattern area on the substrate, as may be required by the specific pattern being reproduced.
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Chambers Anthony R.
Hersey Edwin
Kang Peter K.
McBride Daniel T
Einsmann Margaret
Fisher George M.
Milliken & Company
Moyer Terry T.
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