Printing of pattern designs with computer controlled pattern dyeing device

A method of providing a plurality of first and second different complete patterns having pattern lines, on textile material, each of said complete patterns including at least two colors, wherein a plurality of applicator means controlled by pattern information extend across a path of movement of the textile material and are spaced apart along the path of movement of the material to apply fluids to pattern lines on the material, comprising:

• (a) moving the textile material in a path of travel under the plurality of applicator means;
• (b) controlling a number of successive applicator means with pattern information to apply fluids to the textile material to form a number of repeats of the first complete pattern;
• (c) determining when the final repeat of the first complete pattern is being formed on the textile material;
• (d) sequentially stopping each said successive applicator means from forming the first complete pattern with pattern information after the final pattern line of the final repeat moves past each said successive applicator means;
• and
• (e) sequentially controlling each of a number of successive applicator means with pattern information to apply fluid to the textile material to provide the first repeat of the second complete pattern as the first line of the first repeat of the second complete pattern moves under each successive applicator means, the final repeat of the first complete pattern being provided while the first repeat of the second complete pattern is being provided.

A method of printing different complete patterns on material, each of said complete patterns including at least two colors, wherein a plurality of applicator means storing fluids are controlled by pattern data to print said complete patterns on the material, the applicator means being spaced apart along a path of travel of the material and each applicator means extending across the width of the material to apply fluid to a line of a pattern, comprising:

• (a) storing first data representing a first complete pattern in a first storage means;
• (b) storing second data representing a second complete pattern in a second storage means;
• (c) transferring the stored data of the first complete pattern to a number of the applicator means to print a number of repeats of the first complete pattern;
• (d) determining when the final repeat of the first complete pattern is being printed;
• (e) transferring the stored data of the second complete pattern to a number of the applicator means and transferring the stored data of said first complete pattern to other of the applicator means to print simultaneously the final repeat of the first complete pattern and the first repeat of the second complete pattern;
• and
• (f) transferring the stored data of the second complete pattern to a number of the applicator means to print a number of repeats of the second complete pattern.

In a computer controlled system for printing patterns on textile material moving in a path of travel, the system including a plurality of successive gun bars spaced apart along the path of travel of the textile material and across the width of the material, each gun bar containing dyestuff, the system further including a storage means for temporarily storing pattern data for respective gun bars which are controlled by the temporarily stored pattern data to apply dyestuff on the material for a respective line of a pattern, a method of transferring data to the storage means, comprising:

• (a) storing in a first buffer means first groups of pattern data for a first pattern, each first group including first subgroups of data having pattern data for successive gun bars commencing with the first of the gun bars, each of the first subgroups having data for a respective gun bar;
• (b) storing in a second buffer means second groups of data for a second pattern different from the first pattern, each second group including second subgroups of data having pattern data for successive gun bars commencing with the first gun bar, each of the second subgroups having data for a respective gun bar;
• (c) providing a source of other data for preventing the gun bars from applying dyestuff on the material;
• (d) periodically transferring a first group of first pattern data from the first buffer means to the storage means to print a number of repeats of the first pattern;
• (e) determining when the final repeat of the first pattern is being printed;
• (f) after the final pattern line of the final repeat has passed the first gun bar, periodically transferring a second subgroup of a second group from the second buffer means to the storage means for the first gun bar and transferring first subgroups of a first group from the first buffer means to the storage means for other gun bars;
• (g) after the final pattern line has passed succeeding gun bars, periodically transferring second subgroups of a second group to the storage means for gun bars passed by the final line and transferring subgroups of a first group to the storage means for other gun bars to print the final repeat;
• (h) transferring the other data from the source to the storage means for gun bars which do not apply dyestuff for the first or second patterns when the gun bars apply dyestuff for both the first and second patterns;
• (i) periodically transferring a group of second pattern data to the storage means to print a number of repeats of the second pattern;
• and
• (j) transferring a subgroup of the other data for a gun bar to the storage means only when a subgroup or other data for a preceding gun bar is stored in the storage means.