Device and Method For In-Line Thread Treatment

Abstract

A device and method for in-line treatment of a thread are disclosed. The device comprises treatment and fixation units located downstream a thread feeding unit. A thread consuming system comprising a thread consuming device, such as an embroidery machine and/or a weaving machine and/or a sewing machine and the device is also disclosed.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A device for in-line treatment of thread for use with a thread consuming device such as an embroidery machine, a weaving machine, or a sewing machine, comprising:
 a thread feeding unit;   a treatment unit located downstream the thread feeding unit, said treatment unit is configured to dispensing a coating material to the thread as the thread from the thread feeding unit passes the treatment unit; and   a fixation unit for fixing the applied coating material to the thread prior to thread consumption by means of the thread consuming device.   
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the treatment unit is a coloring unit. 
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the treatment unit comprises one or more discharge nozzles, such as inkjets and/or one or more electrospray units. 
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the thread feeding unit comprises an electric motor. 
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 25 , further comprising a control unit connected to the thread feeding unit. 
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein the control unit is configurable to adjust the speed of the thread as the thread passes the thread treatment unit. 
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein the control unit is configurable to control the treatment unit based on the thread speed. 
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the thread feeding unit comprises a thread consumption measurer. 
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 32 , wherein the thread consumption measurer is an encoder wheel. 
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 26 , wherein the coloring material is a liquid. 
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 34 , wherein the liquid is selected from a dye, an ink, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The device according to  claim 25 , wherein the fixation unit comprises a heating unit, a drying unit, a UV or IR radiation unit, and/or a unit that discharges an electron beam or charged particle beam, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The device according to  claim 25 , further comprising a thread buffer unit located downstream the treatment unit. 
     
     
         38 . The device according to  claim 37 , further comprising a thread tension controlling unit connected to the thread buffer unit. 
     
     
         39 . The device according to  claim 25 , further comprising an additional thread feeding unit arranged downstream the treatment unit. 
     
     
         40 . A thread consuming system, comprising a thread consuming device such as an embroidery machine, a sewing machine, or a weaving machine, and the device according to  claim 25 . 
     
     
         41 . A method for in-line treatment of thread upstream a thread consuming device, comprising the steps of:
 feeding the thread from a thread feeding unit to a treatment unit;   applying a coating material to the thread as the thread passes the treatment unit;   fixing the applied coating material to the thread before the thread is consumed by the thread consuming device.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising the step of supplying the thread to the thread feeding unit. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising the step of measuring, and optionally adjusting the speed of the thread as the thread passes the thread treatment unit. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 41 , further comprising the step of measuring the amount of thread consumed during feeding.