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US 11,691,331 B2Granted
Direct printing to fabric
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsDavid P. Jones, Ryan R. Larson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed for three-dimensional printing directly onto an article of apparel. Disclosed is a method and system for direct three-dimensional printing onto an article of apparel, including positioning at least a portion of the article on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray, printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the article using a three-dimensional pattern, curing the printed material, and removing the article from the three-dimensional printing system.
Claims22
A method of direct three-dimensional printing onto an article of apparel, comprising:
- positioning a fabric portion of the article of apparel on a flat tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the fabric portion being positioned substantially flat on the flat tray to provide a fabric printing substrate;
- printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the fabric portion using a three-dimensional pattern, wherein the three-dimensional material includes a first strip and a second strip, wherein the first strip extends from a first section of the fabric portion toward a second section of the fabric portion, wherein the second strip extends from the first section of the fabric portion toward the second section of the fabric portion and intersects the first strip, wherein the first section of the fabric portion is a medial section, wherein the second section of the fabric portion is a lateral section, and wherein each of the first strip and the second strip extends above a surface of the fabric portion with a predetermined thickness;
- curing the three-dimensional material such that the three-dimensional material is adhered to the fabric portion;
- and
- removing the fabric portion from the three-dimensional printing system.
2 more elements
A method of fabricating an article of apparel, comprising:
- providing a three-dimensional pattern to a print server;
- positioning a fabric portion of the article of apparel on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the fabric portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray to provide a fabric printing substrate, wherein the fabric portion has at least one irregular surface having an irregular surface topology;
- aligning the fabric portion on the tray with the three-dimensional pattern;
- printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the fabric portion using the three-dimensional pattern on the print server and the three-dimensional printing system, wherein printing the three-dimensional material comprises compensating for irregularities in the at least one irregular surface by at least one of adjusting a distance between a printhead and the at least one irregular surface and adjusting at least one of size, rate, and distribution of material ejected from the printhead, wherein the three-dimensional material includes a first strip and a second strip, wherein the first strip extends from a medial region of the fabric portion toward a lateral region of the fabric portion, and wherein the second strip extends from the medial region of the fabric portion to the lateral region of the fabric portion and intersects the first strip;
- curing the three-dimensional material;
- removing the fabric portion from the three-dimensional printing system;
- and
- assembling the article of apparel using the fabric portion.
5 more elements
A method of fabricating an article of apparel, comprising:
- providing at least a first three-dimensional pattern and a second three-dimensional pattern to a print server;
- positioning at least a first fabric portion of the article of apparel on a tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the first fabric portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray to provide a first fabric printing substrate, wherein the first fabric portion comprises a first region of the article of apparel;
- aligning the first fabric portion with the first three-dimensional pattern;
- printing at least one layer of a first three-dimensional material having a first material property directly onto the first fabric portion using the first three-dimensional pattern, wherein the at least one layer of the first three-dimensional material includes a first strip extending from a medial portion of the article of apparel to a lateral portion of the article of apparel;
- allowing the at least one layer of the first three-dimensional material to at least partially absorb into the first fabric portion;
- curing the at least one layer of the first three-dimensional material;
- positioning at least a second fabric portion of the article of apparel on the tray, the second fabric portion being positioned substantially flat on the tray to provide a second fabric printing substrate, wherein the second fabric portion comprises a second region of the article of apparel;
- aligning the second fabric portion with the second three-dimensional pattern;
- printing at least one layer of a second three-dimensional material having a second material property directly onto the second fabric portion using the second three-dimensional pattern, wherein the at least one layer of the second three-dimensional material includes a second strip extending from the medial portion of the article of apparel to the lateral portion of the article of apparel and intersecting the first strip;
- allowing the at least one layer of the second three-dimensional material to at least partially absorb into the second fabric portion;
- curing the at least one layer of the second three-dimensional material;
- removing the first and second fabric portions from the three-dimensional printing system, wherein the first and second fabric printing substrates are part of the article of apparel;
- and
- assembling the article of apparel using the first and second fabric portions.
11 more elements
A method of direct three-dimensional printing onto an article of apparel, comprising:
- positioning a fabric portion of the article of apparel on a flat tray in a three-dimensional printing system, the fabric portion being positioned substantially flat on the flat tray to provide a fabric printing substrate;
- printing a three-dimensional material directly onto the fabric portion using a three-dimensional pattern, wherein the three-dimensional material includes a first strip and a second strip, wherein the first strip extends from a first section of the fabric portion toward a second section of the fabric portion, wherein the second strip extends from the first section of the fabric portion toward the second section of the fabric portion and intersects the first strip, wherein the first section of the fabric portion is a lateral section, wherein the second section of the fabric portion is a medial section, and wherein each of the first strip and the second strip extends above a surface of the fabric portion with a predetermined thickness;
- curing the three-dimensional material such that the three-dimensional material is adhered to the fabric portion;
- and
- removing the fabric portion from the three-dimensional printing system.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.