Systems For Treating A Garment With Pre-Treatment Solution, And Related Methods

Abstract

A system for treating a garment with a pre-treatment solution includes a fluid application assembly configured to dispense pre-treatment solution onto pre-determined target areas of the garment. A fluid supply and delivery assembly is coupled with the fluid application assembly and configured to provide a supply of pre-treatment solution to the fluid application assembly for dispensing onto the garment at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 30 psig. A garment movement assembly is configured to move the garment with respect to the fluid application assembly so that the target areas of the garment can receive the pre-treatment solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating a garment with a pre-treatment solution before the garment undergoes a direct-to-garment printing operation, the system comprising:
 a fluid application assembly configured to dispense pre-treatment solution onto pre-determined target areas of the garment,   a fluid supply and delivery assembly coupled with the fluid application assembly and configured to provide a supply of pre-treatment solution to the fluid application assembly for dispensing onto the garment at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 30 psig, and   a garment movement assembly configured to move the garment with respect to the fluid application assembly so that the target areas of the garment can receive the pre-treatment solution.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid application assembly comprises:
 a dispensing nozzle for dispensing the pre-treatment solution, and a nozzle movement assembly for moving the dispensing nozzle.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the nozzle movement assembly comprises:
 a first transport assembly for moving the dispensing nozzle along a first axis generally parallel with a garment axis defined by a substantially planar portion of the garment.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the nozzle movement assembly further comprises:
 a second transport assembly for moving the dispensing nozzle along a second axis generally perpendicular with the garment axis.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the garment movement assembly comprises:
 a platen for supporting the garment, and   a platen trolley for receiving the platen and for moving the garment with respect to the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the platen comprises:
 a garment support surface for supporting a portion of the garment in a substantially planar configuration and a first alignment feature,   and wherein the platen trolley includes:   a second alignment feature configured to cooperate with the first alignment feature to align the platen with respect to the platen trolley.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first alignment feature of the platen is a spherically-shaped alignment feature and the second alignment feature of the platen trolley is a socket configured to receive the spherically-shaped alignment feature. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply and delivery assembly comprises:
 a fluid supply containing pre-treatment solution,   a fluid conduit system coupled with the fluid supply and the fluid application assembly, and   a first fluid pump configured for moving pre-treatment solution from the fluid supply toward the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid supply and delivery assembly further comprises:
 a fluid reservoir between the fluid supply and the fluid application assembly, and   a second fluid pump configured for moving pre-treatment solution from the fluid reservoir toward the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid supply and delivery assembly comprises:
 a recirculation circuit for circulating pre-treatment solution between the fluid reservoir and the fluid supply.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid reservoir has a substantially vertical column shape and provides a visual indication of the level of pre-treatment solution contained in the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid reservoir comprises:
 a light source for illuminating the pre-treatment solution contained in the fluid reservoir.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid reservoir comprises:
 a fluid level sensor operatively coupled with the first fluid pump, the first fluid pump being configured to move pre-treatment solution from the fluid reservoir to the fluid reservoir in response to a signal from the fluid level sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fluid pump is a peristaltic pump and the second fluid pump is an air-over-fluid pump. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid supply and delivery assembly is configured so that pre-treatment solution only contacts the fluid conduit system and the fluid reservoir between the fluid supply and the fluid application assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid supply and delivery assembly comprises:
 a secondary fluid supply separate from the fluid supply and containing pre-treatment solution, the secondary fluid supply coupled with the fluid conduit system and the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid supply comprises:
 a bag containing pre-treatment solution, and the bag is coupled with the fluid conduit system by a quick-connect fitting.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid supply and delivery assembly is configured for dispensing onto the garment at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 20 psig. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating a garment, comprising:
 moving a pre-treatment solution in a fluid supply and delivery assembly toward a fluid application assembly at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 30 psig, and   dispensing the pre-treatment solution from the fluid application assembly onto pre-determined target areas of the garment.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid application assembly includes a dispensing nozzle for dispensing the pre-treatment solution, and further comprising:
 moving the dispensing nozzle.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein moving comprises movement along an axis generally parallel with a garment axis defined by a substantially planar portion of the garment. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein moving comprises movement along an axis generally perpendicular with a garment axis defined by a substantially planar portion of the garment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 moving the garment on a garment movement assembly with respect to the fluid application assembly while dispensing the pre-treatment solution.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 positioning the garment on a platen of the garment movement assembly, and   positioning the platen on a platen trolley of the garment movement assembly before moving the garment.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein positioning the platen comprises:
 placing a first alignment feature on the platen into cooperating alignment with a second alignment feature on the platen trolley.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first alignment feature of the platen includes a spherically-shaped alignment feature and the second alignment feature of the platen trolley includes a socket, and wherein placing the first alignment feature into cooperating alignment comprises:
 placing the spherically-shaped alignment feature into the socket.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 removing the platen from the platen trolley after dispensing the pre-treatment solution.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 performing a printing operation on the garment on the platen.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 drying the pre-treatment solution on the garment before performing a printing operation.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising:
 adjusting a distance between the garment and the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein moving a pre-treatment solution comprises:
 moving the pre-treatment solution in a fluid conduit system from a fluid supply toward the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein moving a pre-treatment solution comprises:
 moving the pre-treatment solution to a fluid reservoir separate from the fluid conduit system between the fluid supply and the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein moving a pre-treatment solution comprises:
 circulating the pre-treatment solution between the fluid reservoir and the fluid supply.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 providing a visual indication of the level of pre-treatment solution contained in the fluid reservoir.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein moving a pre-treatment solution further comprises:
 moving the pre-treatment solution from the fluid reservoir to the fluid application assembly using an air-over-fluid pump.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein moving a pre-treatment solution comprises:
 selectively moving the pre-treatment solution in a fluid conduit system from a first fluid supply or a second fluid supply toward the fluid application assembly.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein moving a pre-treatment solution is at fluid pressures of between about 5 and about 20 psig. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid supply and delivery assembly includes a fluid supply and a fluid conduit system, and wherein moving pre-treatment solution comprises:
 moving pre-treatment solution in the fluid conduit system.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 coupling the fluid supply with the fluid conduit system before moving pre-treatment solution.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the fluid supply includes a bag, and wherein coupling comprises:
 coupling the bag with the fluid conduit system using a quick-connect fitting.   
     
     
         41 . A cleaning assembly for cleaning a nozzle tip having a dispensing opening, comprising:
 a housing having a socket configured for receiving the nozzle tip,   a reservoir configured for holding a volume of cleaning solution,   a cleaning solution conduit system, and   a pump configured for moving the cleaning solution in the cleaning solution conduit system from the reservoir to the socket, through the opening in the nozzle tip in the socket to clean the nozzle tip, and from the socket back to the reservoir.   
     
     
         42 . The cleaning assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the pump is further configured to move the cleaning solution in the cleaning solution conduit system under vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         43 . A method of cleaning a nozzle tip having an opening, comprising:
 operating a pump to move cleaning solution in a cleaning solution conduit system from a reservoir toward the nozzle tip,   moving the cleaning solution through the opening in the nozzle tip,   moving the cleaning solution from the nozzle tip back into the cleaning solution conduit system, and   moving the cleaning solution from the cleaning solution conduit system back into the reservoir.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein moving the cleaning solution includes moving the cleaning solution under vacuum pressure.