System, apparatus, and method for integrating screen printing and embroidery on a garment while mounted in a single hoop
OwnerJames Buckinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system, apparatus and method of screen printing and embroidering a workpiece in a single workpiece holder is disclosed. The workpiece is secured in a hoop that is interchangeably mountable to a screen printing machine and an automated embroidery machine. The hoop is mounted in a first hoop sash or holder on the screen printing machine, screen printed, and removed from the first hoop holder. The hoop is then mounted in a second hoop sash or holder on the automated embroidery machine such that the hoop centers and rotationally aligns the workpiece during embroidery without having to remove the workpiece from the hoop between operations.
Claims23
A system for both screen printing and embroidering a workpiece, comprising:
- a screen printing machine having a first hoop holder;
- an automated embroidery machine having a second hoop holder;
- a hoop that interchangeably engages the first or second hoop holders, such that the hoop supports, centers, and rotationally aligns a workpiece during both screen printing and embroidery without having to remove the workpiece from the hoop between operations;
- and
- the first and second hoop holders being adjustable in a width direction to accommodate workpieces and hoops of various sizes.
A system for both screen printing and embroidering a textile substrate, comprising:
- a screen printing machine having a frame, a platen mounted to the frame, a screen assembly mounted to the frame that is movable relative to the platen, and a first tubular embroidery hoop holder mounted to the frame adjacent to but spaced apart from the platen;
- an automated embroidery machine having a second tubular embroidery hoop holder;
- and
- a tubular hoop having a pair of arms that interchangeably engage the first or second tubular embroidery hoop holders, such that the tubular hoop supports, centers, and rotationally aligns a textile substrate during both screen printing and embroidery without having to remove the textile substrate from the tubular hoop between operations.
A method of screen printing and embroidering a workpiece, comprising:
- (a) securing a workpiece in a hoop that is interchangeably mountable to a screen printing machine and an automated embroidery machine;
- then
- (b) mounting the hoop in a first hoop holder on the screen printing machine;
- (c) screen printing on the workpiece;
- (d) removing the hoop from the first hoop holder;
- and then
- (e) mounting the hoop in a second hoop holder on the automated embroidery machine, such that the hoop centers and rotationally aligns the workpiece during embroidery without having to remove the workpiece from the hoop between operations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.