Back to results
US 2022/0016905 A1Published application
Systems and methods of printing on flexible materials
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTodd W. Miller, Eli R. Troyke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This disclosure relates generally to manufacturing systems and, more particularly, to systems and methods for printing on flexible materials. Various novel systems and methods of using the same are provided, including printing systems, roll dispensing system, and other processing systems.
Claims21
A printing system for printing on a substrate, comprising:
- a conveyor system for conveying a substrate along a longitudinal axis of the conveyor system;
- a headbox supported over at least a portion of the conveyor system, the headbox having a plurality of print assemblies sequentially arranged in rows along the longitudinal axis, the plurality of print assemblies including at least a first print assembly, a second print assembly, a third print assembly, and a fourth print assembly;
- an actuating system configured to move the headbox laterally across the substrate on the conveyor system;
- the first print assembly being located within a first row of the headbox and having a plurality of first printheads;
- the second print assembly being located within a second row of the headbox and having a plurality of second printheads;
- a third print assembly being located within a third row of the headbox and having a plurality of third printheads;
- and
- a fourth print assembly being located within a fourth row of the headbox and having a plurality of fourth printheads,
- wherein the first print assembly, the second print assembly, the third print assembly, and the fourth print assembly are configured to independently dispense print materials onto the substrate.
6 more elements
A method of printing on a substrate being conveyed along a longitudinal axis of a conveyor system, comprising:
- positioning a headbox over the substrate, the headbox comprising a plurality of print assemblies arranged sequentially in rows along the longitudinal axis, the plurality of rows of print assemblies including at least a first print assembly, a second print assembly, a third print assembly, and fourth print assembly, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth print assemblies has a plurality of printheads;
- performing a first printing operation comprising:
- dispensing first print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the first print assembly on a first portion of the substrate to form a first layer;
- dispensing second print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the second print assembly on a second portion of the substrate to form a second layer, the second portion having already received the first layer of print materials;
- dispensing third print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the third print assembly on a third portion of the substrate, the third portion having already received the first layer of first print materials and the second layer of second print materials;
- and
- dispensing fourth print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the fourth print assembly on a fourth portion of the substrate, the fourth portion having already received the first layer of first print materials, the second layer of second print materials, and the third layer of third print materials;
- advancing the position of the substrate on the conveyor system along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- performing a second printing operation comprising:
- dispensing first print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the first print assembly on a subsequent portion of the substrate to form a first layer;
- dispensing second print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the second print assembly on the first portion of the substrate to form a second layer, the first portion having already received the first layer of print materials;
- dispensing third print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the third print assembly on the second portion of the substrate, the second portion having already received the first layer of first print materials and the second layer of second print materials;
- and
- dispensing fourth print materials from one or more of the plurality of printheads of the fourth print assembly on the third portion of the substrate, the third portion having already received the first layer of first print materials, the second layer of second print materials, and the third layer of third print materials,
- wherein the headbox moves laterally across the substrate as it dispenses the first, second, third, and fourth print materials.
13 more elements
21-40. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.