System and method for simultaneous sublimation printing on both sides of a single layer of fabric and double-sided garment produced thereby

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and system for simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single-layer fabric and a single layer, double-side garment produced thereby. The method and system includes the preparation of compatible top and bottom sublimation transfer sheets, as well as the use and selection of varying temperatures for the top and bottom panels of a double-sided sublimation printing machine. The product produced by this method and system is a double-sided, single layer garment which is light weight, extremely versatile, aesthetically appealing and less costly to manufacture than other double-sided garments.

1 . A system and method for simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layered fabric, which comprises the steps of: 
 preparation of compatible top and bottom sublimation transfer sheets;    placement of said sublimation transfer sheets on opposite sides of said single layered fabric;    moving said transfer sheets and said fabric into a double-sided sublimation printing machine;    raising the temperature and pressure on both sides of said double-sided sublimation printing machine to appropriate levels for an appropriate period of time; and    removal of said transfer sheets and said fabric from said printing machine and removal of said transfer sheets from said single layered fabric.    
   
   
       2 . The system and method of simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layered fabric set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein said step of producing compatible top and bottom sublimation transfer sheets is comprised of selecting specific pigments and their percentages in the color formulation for said transfer sheets which do not interact with each other when simultaneously sublimated on opposite sides of said single layered fabric.    
   
   
       3 . The system and method of simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layered fabric set forth in  claim 2 , 
 wherein said step of selecting said colored dyes for the top and bottom transfer sheets is comprised of a top transfer sheet which contains colors of a lighter shade than the color shades of the bottom transfer sheet.    
   
   
       4 . The system and method for simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layered fabric as defined by  claim 3 , 
 wherein said step of preparing compatible top and bottom sublimation transfer sheets is also comprised of identifying the base pigments that the colored dyes on the top and bottom transfer sheets share, and reducing or eliminating the shared base pigments in the dyes to be used on the top side of the fabric.    
   
   
       5 . The system and method for simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layered fabric as defined by  claim 1 , 
 wherein said step of preparing compatible top and bottom transfer sheets is comprised of selecting dyes for the top transfer sheet which are lighter in shade then those used on the bottom transfer sheet and where the common base pigments in the top transfer sheet are reduced or eliminated as compared to the bottom transfer sheet.    
   
   
       6 . The system and method for simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layered fabric as defined by  claim 1 , 
 wherein said step of raising the temperatures of the top and bottom panels of said double-sided sublimation printing machine is further comprised of raising the temperature of the top panel of said printing machine to approximately 190-200 degrees Celsius and the temperature of the bottom panel of said printing machine to approximately 200-215 degrees Celsius.    
   
   
       7 . The system and method for simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layer of fabric as defined in  claim 1 , 
 wherein said step of raising the pressure applied by said double-sided sublimation printing machine is further comprised of raising the pressure to approximately 5-8 bar for approximately 30-55 seconds.    
   
   
       8 . The system and method for simultaneously sublimating two or more sublimation dyes on the opposite sides of a single layered fabric as defined by  claim 1 , 
 wherein said step of raising the temperatures of the top and bottom panels of said double-sided sublimation printing machine is further comprised of raising the temperature of the top panel of said printing machine to approximately 190-200 degrees Celsius and the temperature of the bottom panel of said printing machine to approximately 200-215 degrees Celsius; and    wherein said step of raising the pressure applied by said double-sided sublimation printing machine is further comprised of raising the pressure to approximately 5-8 bar for approximately 30-55 seconds.    
   
   
       9 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       10 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 2 .  
   
   
       11 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 3 .  
   
   
       12 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 4 .  
   
   
       13 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 5 .  
   
   
       14 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 6 .  
   
   
       15 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 7 .  
   
   
       16 . The double-sided, single layer fabric produced by the system and method of  claim 8.