Direct-to-textile printing method and system

Abstract

A method of digitally printing UV-curable ink with a direct-to-textile printing system onto a textile includes positioning the textile in the direct-to-textile printing system, applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to a digital design file; and at least partially curing the UV-curable ink applied to the textile with UV light.

1 . A method of digitally printing UV-curable ink with a direct-to-textile printing system onto a textile that has not been pretreated with chemical pretreatment agents, the method comprising:
 positioning the textile in the direct-to-textile printing system;   applying a liquid to the textile that includes water and that excludes chemical pretreatment agents;   applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to a digital design file, after the liquid has been applied to the textile; and   applying UV light to the textile containing the liquid and the UV-curable ink, with sufficient intensity to at least partially cure the UV-curable ink so as to promote adherence of the UV-curable ink to the textile.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the liquid to the textile that includes water and that excludes chemical pretreatment agents is performed by a mechanized process. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid consists of distilled water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid consists essentially of water and a surfactant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant comprises about 1% of the liquid sprayed on the textile. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises a synthetic fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the textile comprises a natural fabric or a blend of a natural fabric and a synthetic fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after the step of applying UV light to the textile with UV light, applying heat to the textile. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying heat to the textile comprises heat pressing the textile for about 30 seconds at about 250° F. (121° C.). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the UV-curable ink is partially cured with the UV light, and is fully cured by applying heat to the textile. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the UV-curable ink is partially cured with the UV light, and is fully cured by subsequently applying additional UV light to the textile. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying UV light to the textile comprises completely curing the UV-curable ink with the UV light. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying UV light to the textile comprises application of UV light by at least one LED light source. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system and applying UV light to the textile are performed in at least one pass of a print head subassembly that carries at least one inkjet print head and at least one UV light source, such that UV-curable ink is applied to the textile by the at least one inkjet print head and is at least partially cured immediately after application to the textile by the at least one UV light source. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system and applying UV light to the textile are performed by advancing the textile on a roll-to-roll media adjacent to at least one print head subassembly that carries at least one inkjet print head and at least one UV light source, such that UV-curable ink is applied to the textile by the at least one inkjet print head and is at least partially cured immediately after application to the textile by the at least one UV light source. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to the digital design file comprises:
 applying at least one layer of white ink on the textile; and   applying CMYK colored ink and/or clear ink on the at least one layer of white ink on the textile.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the textile is a dark colored textile. 
     
     
         18 . A method of digitally printing UV-curable ink with a direct-to-textile printing system onto a textile that has not been pretreated with chemical pretreatment agents, the method comprising:
 positioning the textile in the direct-to-textile printing system;   applying a liquid to the textile that includes water and that excludes chemical pretreatment agents, thereby creating a modified interfacial surface of the textile due to the presence of the liquid in the textile;   applying UV-curable ink, after the liquid has been applied to the textile, to the modified interfacial surface of the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to a digital design file, thereby allowing the UV-curable ink and the liquid applied to the textile to partially mix together in the textile; and   applying UV light to the textile containing the liquid and the UV-curable ink, with sufficient intensity to at least partially cure the UV-curable ink so as to promote adherence of the UV-curable ink to the textile.   
     
     
         19 . A direct-to-textile digital printing system comprising:
 a support media configured to receive and support a textile;   a mechanized spraying apparatus configured to spray a liquid that includes water and that excludes chemical pretreatment agents onto the textile;   at least one print head subassembly carrying at least one inkjet print head that is configured to apply UV-curable ink to the textile containing the liquid sprayed thereon, according to a digital design file; and   at least one UV light source configured to apply UV light to the textile containing the liquid and the UV-curable ink, after the UV-curable ink is applied to the textile by the at least one print head subassembly, to at least partially cure the UV-curable ink applied to the textile so as to promote adherence of the UV-curable ink to the textile;   wherein at least one of the support media and the at least one print head subassembly are movable with respect to each other.   
     
     
         20 . The direct-to-textile printing system of  claim 19 , wherein the support media comprises a roll-to-roll system configured to move the textile. 
     
     
         21 . The direct-to-textile printing system of  claim 19 , wherein the support media comprises a flatbed of a direct-to-textile printer. 
     
     
         22 . A method of digitally printing ultraviolet UV-curable ink with a direct-to-textile printing system onto a textile that has not been pretreated with chemical pretreatment agents, the method comprising:
 positioning the textile in the direct-to-textile printing system;   applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to a digital design file, with the textile having received no liquid or chemical treatment prior to applying the UV-curable ink to the textile; and   applying UV light to the textile containing the UV-curable ink, with sufficient intensity to at least partially cure the UV-curable ink so as to promote adherence of the UV-curable ink to the textile.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein applying UV-curable ink to the textile with the direct-to-textile printing system according to the digital design file comprises:
 applying CMYK colored ink directly onto the textile that has received no liquid or chemical treatment prior to applying the UV-curable ink to the textile.