# US 10,308,048 B2 · Apparel printing system and methods for printing on articles with repeating patterns > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,048 B2 - Document ID: US10308048B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/922,803 - Filed: 2018-03-15 - Published: 2018-07-19 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-22 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: David Turner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308048B2 ## CPC - B41J 11/04: Roller platens - B41F 15/18: Supports for workpieces - B41F 16/02: for textile material - B41F 17/003: {Special types of machines for printing textiles (using the screen printing process B41F15/00; printing on knitted fabrics B41F17/38)} - B41F 17/005: {Supports for workpieces; Devices for securing the workpieces to the supports} - B41J 3/4078: {Printing on textile} - D04B 1/24: wearing apparel - D04B 1/246: {Upper torso garments, e.g. sweaters, shirts, leotards} - D04B 21/207: {Wearing apparel or garment blanks} - D06B 11/0073: {of articles} - D06H 1/02: Marking by printing or analogous processes - A41D 2500/10: Knitted - B41P 2217/60: Means for supporting the articles - D06B 1/02: by spraying or projecting (D06B1/08 takes precedence) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L) - D04B: KNITTING - D06B: TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS, GASES OR VAPOURS (mechanical treatment of natural fibrous or filamentary material to obtain fibres or filaments D01B) - D06H: MARKING, INSPECTING, SEAMING OR SEVERING TEXTILE MATERIALS (seaming by sewing D05B) - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES - B41P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS ## Abstract An apparel printing system for printing on regions of tubular fabrics with repeating patterns includes a textile printer having a print head and a tubular platen that includes features on the platen surface to retain and register the tubular fabric on the platen surface during printing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of apparel having a tubular knit textile region, the tubular knit textile region having an internal side and an opposite external side configured to be exposed during use, the tubular knit textile region comprising: a plurality of yarns in an arrangement of interlocked loops; a series of parallel rows of loops on the external side formed from the arrangement of interlocked loops, the rows of loops each having a pair of opposite side portions and a top portion therebetween facing outward from the tubular region; a plurality of channels on the external side formed between adjacent ones of the parallel rows of loops, each of the plurality of channels including a base channel portion facing outward from the tubular region and opposing side portions of the adjacent rows of the loops that form the channel; and a printed ink design on the external side of the tubular knit textile region formed from ink applied to the parallel rows of loops and to the channels, wherein the tubular knit textile region includes a repeating pattern of a plurality of orientation gaps formed therein having a first geometric shape, the plurality of orientation gaps being configured to orient the tubular knit textile region on a platen surface during printing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the printed ink design comprises an application of ink covering the series of parallel rows of loops and the channels including the top portions of the parallel rows of loops and the base channel portion of the channels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of apparel of claim 2, wherein the application of ink further covers the opposing side portions of each of the channels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the plurality of rows and channels are oriented in a longitudinal direction generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tubular knit textile region and extend along a length of the tubular knit textile region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The article of apparel of claim 4, wherein the tubular knit textile region comprises a warp knit textile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the tubular knit textile region comprises a seamless knit textile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The article of apparel of claim 1, wherein the tubular knit textile region is expandable in a lateral direction generally transverse to the plurality of rows and channels, and a width of the rows increases as the tubular knit textile region is expanded in the lateral direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of apparel of claim 7, wherein the width of the rows is greater while in an expanded condition than while in a relaxed condition. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The article of apparel of claim 8, wherein the printed ink design is applied while the tubular knit textile region is in the expanded condition. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The article of apparel of claim 7, wherein the rows of loops are interconnected via connections below the level of the loops, which form the base channel portions disposed between the rows. ### Claim 11 An article of apparel having a tubular knit textile region, the tubular knit textile region having an internal side and an opposite external side configured to be exposed during use, the tubular knit textile region comprising: a plurality of yarns in an arrangement of interlocked loops; a series of parallel rows of loops on the external side formed from the arrangement of interlocked loops, the rows of loops each having a pair of opposite side portions and a top portion therebetween facing outward from the tubular region; a plurality of channels on the external side formed between adjacent ones of the parallel rows of loops, each of the plurality of channels including a base channel portion facing outward from the tubular region and opposing side portions of the adjacent rows of the loops that form the channel; and a printed ink design on the external side of the tubular knit textile region formed from ink applied to the parallel rows of loops and to the channels, wherein the tubular knit textile region includes a plurality of orientation gaps formed therein and configured to orient the tubular knit textile region on a platen surface during printing, and wherein the tubular knit textile region is expandable in a lateral direction generally transverse to the plurality of rows and channels, and a width of the rows increases as the tubular knit textile region is expanded in the lateral direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The article of apparel of claim 11, wherein the printed ink design comprises an application of ink covering the series of parallel rows of loops and the channels including the top portions of the parallel rows of loops and the base channel portion of the channels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article of apparel of claim 12, wherein the application of ink further covers the opposing side portions of each of the channels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The article of apparel of claim 11, wherein the plurality of rows and channels are oriented in a longitudinal direction generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tubular knit textile region and extend along a length of the tubular knit textile region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The article of apparel of claim 14, wherein the tubular knit textile region comprises a warp knit textile. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The article of apparel of claim 11, wherein the tubular knit textile region comprises a seamless knit textile. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The article of apparel of claim 11, wherein the width of the rows is greater while in an expanded condition than while in a relaxed condition. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The article of apparel of claim 17, wherein the printed ink design is applied while the tubular knit textile region is in the expanded condition.