# US 11,897,188 B2 · Method and system for 3D printing on fabric > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,188 B2 - Document ID: US11897188B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/776,650 - Filed: 2020-01-30 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-30 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Applicants: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Joseph Michael Ferrara; Christopher Douglas Atwood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897188B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM] - B29B 11/06: by moulding the material - B29C 48/92: Measuring, controlling or regulating - B29C 64/209: Heads; Nozzles - B29C 64/245: Platforms or substrates (support structures intended to be sacrificed after manufacture B29C64/40) - B29C 64/295: Heating elements - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B29C 48/02: Small extruding apparatus, e.g. handheld, toy or laboratory extruders - B29C 48/05: Filamentary, e.g. strands - B29C 48/266: {Means for allowing relative movements between the apparatus parts, e.g. for twisting the extruded article or for moving the die along a surface to be coated} - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29K 2713/00: Use of textile products or fabrics for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts (B29K2105/06 takes precedence) - B33Y 70/00: Materials specially adapted for additive manufacturing - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract A method of printing on fabric includes: (a) loading a thermoplastic material into a nozzle of an extruder, such as an extruder of a three dimensional (3D) printer; (b) positioning a substrate that includes fabric in a print area proximate to the nozzle; (c) heating the thermoplastic material in the nozzle to a temperature that is equal to or greater than a melting point temperature of the fabric; and (d) extruding the heated thermoplastic material from the nozzle as a filament onto the fabric to yield a printed pattern on the fabric. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of printing on fabric, the method comprising: loading a thermoplastic material into a nozzle of an extruder; using a support structure to apply tension to stretch a fabric having fibers; positioning proximate to the nozzle a fabric having fibers while holding the fabric in a stretched condition; heating the thermoplastic material to a temperature that is equal to or greater than a melting point temperature of the fabric; heating the fabric to a temperature that is above ambient temperature and below the melting point temperature of the fabric; and while holding the fabric in a stretched condition with the support structure, extruding the heated thermoplastic material from the nozzle as a filament onto the fabric to at least partially melt at least some of the fibers in the fabric to provide a secure bond between the heated thermoplastic material and the fabric and yield a printed pattern on the fabric. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the support structure comprises a concentric ring structure; and using the support structure to apply tension to stretch the fabric comprises placing the fabric around an inner ring of the concentric ring structure and using an outer ring of the concentric ring structure to secure the fabric between the inner ring and the outer ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein heating the fabric to a temperature that is above ambient temperature and below the melting point temperature of the fabric comprises heating the fabric to a temperature that is between 50% and 95% of the melting point of the fabric. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein pre-heating the fabric comprises: placing the fabric on a thermally conductive plate; and heating the thermally conductive plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to loading the thermoplastic material into the nozzle of the extruder, pre-heating the thermoplastic material in a heating chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the melting point temperature of the fabric is about 200° C. to about 250° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein heating the thermoplastic material comprises heating the thermoplastic material to a temperature of about 200° C. to about 260° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises a thermoplastic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fabric material comprises one or more of the following: acrylic, acetate, polyester, polyolefin, olefin, nylon 6, polyvinyl chloride, modacrylic, spandex or elastane, or rayon. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material comprises thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the extruder is a component of a three dimensional (3D) printer. ### Claim 12 A method of printing on fabric, the method comprising: loading a thermoplastic material into a nozzle of an extruder of a three dimensional (3D) printer; positioning on a support structure in a print area of the 3D printer a fabric having fibers, wherein the support structure holds the fabric in a stretched condition; heating the thermoplastic material to a temperature that is equal to or greater than a melting point temperature of the fabric; heating the fabric to a temperature that is above ambient temperature and below the melting point temperature of the fabric; and extruding the heated thermoplastic material from the nozzle as a filament onto the fabric in the print area to at least partially melt at least some of the fibers in the fabric to provide a secure bond between the heated thermoplastic material and the fabric and yield a printed pattern on the fabric. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the fabric comprises a thermoplastic material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein: the melting point temperature of the fabric is about 200° C. to about 250° C.; and heating the thermoplastic material comprises heating the thermoplastic material to a temperature of about 200° C. to about 260° C.