This invention relates to an apparatus and a process for colouring articles and in particular textile articles when made up into garments and the like and further in particular the invention relates to applying a colour or a series of colours in the form of a pattern which may be a random or repeating pattern on socks, stockings and items of hosiery in particular.

Various forms of apparatus for applying colour to fabric materials are known. For instance, it is usual to use rotary cylindπcal printing screens such as are utilised in screen printing machines which can be arranged to apply a uniform colour coating. Such known systems are not satisfactory when it is required to apply a colour to an essentially non smooth and non uniform surface such as the outside surface of hosiery.

United States patent specification 2019156 describes a method of printing decoration designs on hosiery by mounting a hose on a circular form which is in contact with an absorbent facing. A stencil is fitting about the girth of the form and the portion of the hose and the colouring medium is sprayed on to the hosiery through perforations in the stencil.

Japanese patent specification 63069683 discloses a method of printing stockings and socks by transferring a mixture of a temperature sensitive dye and a light accumulating pigment in a patterned state of different hues.

Japanese patent specification 60009982 relates to a method of printing articles of woven cloth such as hosiery by shaping the cloth into a form and then placing it between printing screen sheets or transfer papers which have flat printing faces.

Another form of printing device for transferring dye onto textile fabrics is descπbed in German patent specification 2637916 which utilises heat and vacuum while fabric and a carrier film for the dye stuff is in contact with each other. A hollow supporting cylinder is utilised to carry the materials and the cylinder has an opening whereby the fabric and the carrier film can be inserted or withdrawn.

New Zealand patent specification 239625/240078/240770 discloses a process for applying a pattern to a textile article by bringing a pattern which is provided with one or more apertures which define the design into an overlying relationship about the article on a support and then causing the support to expand to press the textile article against the interior of the pattern. A colouring agent is applied through the pattern on to the article and the support is then contracted and the pattern and the article removed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved or alternative process for the printing of textile articles and in particular hosiery and also apparatus which is capable of at least semi-automated printing of such articles.

Accordingly, one form of the invention may be said to comprise apparatus for printing a pattern of colour on a textile article, said apparatus including;

a form to receive the textile article,

a pattern tube having a series of holes defining a pattern formed in the wall of the tube, the said pattern tube being locatable within a spray chamber,

means to insert the form, with the textile article, into the pattern tube,

expansion means to compress the textile article against the inside of the wall of the pattern tube,

means to rotate the pattern tube with the textile article within the spray chamber,

means to spray a colouring agent onto the pattern tube as the said tube is being rotated within the spray chamber, and

means to withdraw the textile article from the pattern tube.

Preferably the pattern tube comprises a tube closed at one end and has adjustment arrangement associated with the open end whereby the tube can be adjustably attached to drive means which can rotate the pattern tube within the said spray chamber.

Preferably the adjustment arrangement for the pattern tube comprises at least one lug extending radially from the said pattern tube and having an elongated slot into which a sleeve having a bore and a screw threaded external wall can be located.

Preferably the drive means comprises a pinion having a bore in which the pattern tube is located, and has a pin which extends substantially coaxially from the pinion and

which is formed to enter the bore of a sleeve of the adjustment means of the pattern tube.

Preferably the form comprises a bladder support tube and an elastomeric bladder located on the exterior of the bladder support tube and includes means to inflate and deflate the bladder.

Preferably means are provided to insert the bladder support tube into the bladder and to withdraw the bladder support tube from the bladder.

Preferably the means to spray a colouring agent onto the pattern tube comprises a spray head located within the spray chamber and which can be reciprocated vertically in relation to the pattern tube within the spray chamber during the spraying process.

Preferably the apparatus includes at least one sock tube having an open end over which the textile article is inserted, and preferably a plurality of sock tubes are positioned in a circular format on a sock turntable which is rotatable to index the turntable to a position whereby the sock tube can register with a form onto which the textile article may be loaded.

In another form the invention may be said to comprise a method of applying a pattern of colour to a textile article comprising the steps of locating the textile article on a form, inserting the article while located on the form into a pattern tube, the wall of which has a series of holes to form a pattern, locating the said pattern tube within a spray chamber, expanding the form to compress the textile article against the interior of the wall of the pattern tube, and spraying a colouring agent onto the exterior wall of

the pattern tube while rotating the pattern tube within the spray chamber, relaxing the form and withdrawing the form and the article from the pattern tube and withdrawing the article off the form.

Preferably the textile article is located on the form by first loading the article on a sock tube in an inside out configuration and then inserting the form into the sock tube over the sock to remove the article from the sock tube and to engage the article on the said form.

Preferably after the form with the textile article has been inserted into the said pattern tube, air under pressure is fed into the form to compress the textile article against the interior of the pattern tube and the air pressure is maintained until the spraying process is complete.

Preferably the form comprises a bladder support tube on which an elastomeric bladder is engaged and the withdrawal of the form with the textile article from the pattern tube comprises releasing the air under pressure from the interior of the bladder, withdrawing the bladder support tube from the bladder and withdrawing the bladder with the textile article from the pattern tube.

A preferred form of the invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein;

Figure 1 is a view partly in section of a portion of one preferred form of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the apparatus in the first step of processing.

Figure 3 is an elevational view partly in section of a portion of the apparatus illustrating the placement of certain component parts when the apparatus is at the first step of operation and further illustrating a sock in position prior to processing.

Figure 4 is a view partly in section of the apparatus in the second stage of processing but showing the bladder partly inserted into a sock tube.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view partly in section showing the apparatus in the third step of operation in which a sock is in position prior to insertion into the bladder support tube.

Figure 6 is a partly sectioned view of the apparatus illustrating the sock in the pattern tube during the spraying process.

Figure 7 is a view showing the sock just prior to removal from the bladder.

Figure 8 is a detail of the yoke and of the latching mechanism.

Figure 9 is a view of a detail of part of the apparatus showing a sock on a bladder.

Figure 10 is a view of a pattern tube.

Figure 1 1 is a view of the drive means for the pattern tube.

Figure 12 is a view of a spray head.

Figure 13 is a view of the components relating to the spray apparatus.

Figure 14 is a view of a detail.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a base plate 20 spaced from an intermediate table 21 and surmounted by a top plate 22. The plates 20 and 22 and the table 21 are preferably formed of a suitable metallic stock or the like and are maintained in the desired spatial relationship by stanchions 23. The top plate 22 is of a size and shape that it can form a support for the apparatus as it progresses between a first step I. a second step II and a third step III as will be hereinafter further described.

A main post 28 extends between the top plate 22 and the intermediate table 21 and supports the body of three pistonless pneumatic rams 31 (one of which is shown in Figure 1 ) in a manner that actuation of the ram will result in a block 32 reciprocating longitudinally along the ram in the direction of the arrows. A yoke 35 comprises a strut 351 which joins arms 352 (see Figure 8) each of which is provided with a bearing 353 so the yoke can have sliding movement on the posts 355 which are supported at either end by arms 365 which pivot on the main post 28. The arms 352 further include bearings 354 which support a shaft 36.

The yoke 35 includes a latch mechanism which comprises upper and lower annular discs 370 and 371 which, when in the position shown in Figure 8 are driveably connected to each other by a pin 372. A locking disc 361 is attached to and forms part of the upper annular disc 370 which are both rotatable on the shaft 36. Both the upper and lower annular discs 370 and 371 have a periphery which includes a flat 370a and 371a. The upper and lower annular discs 370 and 371 can be maintained

in dπveable connection by a latch 373 which consists of a detent 374 pivotally connected to the flat 370a of the upper disc 370 and which in the engaged position as shown will also bear against the flat 371 a of the lower disc 371 so that rotation of the shaft 36 will result in rotation of the lower annular disc 371. The detent 374 includes a cam arrangement 375 which has a tooth 376 which when in the position indicated in Figure 8 will maintain the upper and lower annular discs 370 and 371 together by reason of a lock pm 378 engaging in an annular groove 377 formed in the periphery of the locking disc 361.

As indicated more particularly in Figure 8. a bearing 357 is located on a stub 358 which projects outwardly from the strut 351 as indicated, with the bearing being so formed that it can engage within a rebate 321 of the block 32. When it is in the engaged position as shown in Figure 1 , reciprocation of the block 32 by operation of the ram 31 will also result in corresponding reciprocation of the yoke 35 on the shafts 355.

A bridge 31 1 is fixed to the ma post 28 to extend between each ram 31 so that as the apparatus moves between the various operating positions, the bearing 357 will roll on the face 312 of the bridge 31 1 to maintain correct positioning of the bearing so that it can engage within the appropriate rebate 321 of each of the blocks 32.

The upper annular disc 370 is attached to a bladder support tube 38 which comprises a cylindrical tube blanked at its lower end by a suitable end cap and which includes at least one but preferably more air holes (not shown in the drawings) which are formed in the wall of the bladder support tube. A bladder 60 as will be hereinafter further described is positioned over the bladder support tube 38 and has its lower end

blanked with a locating pin 40. The bladder support tube is suitably sealed so an airline 41 can pass through the seal and into the interior of the bladder support tube 38 to enable air under pressure to be let into the bladder support tube 38 to inflate the bladder 60 as required.

As shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3, the apparatus also includes a sock turntable 50 which is journalled by a bearing 501 to the base plate 20. A number of sock tubes 51 extend upwardly from the sock turntable in a manner that their upper ends which are open, terminate below the intermediate table 21. Preferably the sock tubes 51 are positioned a circular format in relation to the axis of the sock turntable 50 as indicated. A sock insertion hole 53 is formed in the intermediate table 21 for passage of the sock holding means as will be hereinafter further descπbed.

As shown m Figure 3 wherein the apparatus is at the first step, a sock 55 has been engaged over a sock tube 51 by placing the open end of the sock over the top of the tube when the sock is in an inside out condition and then sliding the sock down on to the sock tube. This loading of the sock 55 onto the sock tube 51 can be done manually or by suitable automatic means as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. After the sock has been loaded on to the sock tube 51 , the sock turntable is indexed through to the position shown in Figure 3 so that the sock 55 and the sock tube 51 are aligned below the sock hole 53.

The bladder 60 which may be formed from rubber or other suitable elastomeric material is of a shape that it can be located on the bladder support tube so as to extend substantially the length of the bladder support tube. The upper end of the bladder 60 is fixed to the shaft 36. The combined diameter of the bladder 60 and of the bladder

support tube 38 is such that when the bladder is in position on the bladder support tube, it can be engaged within the sock tube 51 and provide adequate clearance as will be hereinafter further explained. To load the sock 55 from the sock tube 51 on to the bladder 60, the pneumatic cylinder 31 is actuated to lower the yoke 35 which will move the bladder support tube and the bladder 60 through the sock hole 53 to align the bladder support tube and bladder with the open end of the sock tube. As the bladder 60 is further lowered into the sock tube, the sock will be loaded onto the bladder in the manner indicated in Figure 4 When the sock 35 has reached the limit of its travel, the sock 55 will be fully loaded on to the bladder. The bladder 60 together with the sock 55 is then withdrawn from the sock tube 51 by reactivating the ram 31 to raise the yoke 35.

The apparatus also includes a pattern tube 70 (see particularly Figure 10), which can be formed from a non corrodible metallic substance or the like and which has holes 71 formed in the wall of the tube, with the holes being so shaped and positioned that they will form a desired pattern as will be hereinafter further descπbed. The lower end 72 of the pattern tube is blanked and is provided with a locating hole (not shown m the drawings) which is of a shape complementary to the shape of a locating pin 72 (see particularly Figure 5) to enable the pattern tube to be located within the spray chamber 90 as will be hereinafter described.

The mouth of the pattern tube 70 (see Figure 10) is provided with lugs 74 which project radially outwardly from the wall of the pattern tube 70 with the lugs including mounting holes 75 which may be elongated but have a longitudinal axis which is substantially coaxial with the axis of the wall of the pattern tube 70 as indicated in the drawings. Cylindrical sleeves 76 each of which has a bore 761 , have their exterior

walls screw threaded or the like to receive mounting nuts 77. The sleeves 76 are attached to the pattern tube by passing the sleeves through the respective mounting holes 75 in the lugs 74 and tightening the nuts to sandwich the lug between the mounting nuts. Such a form of attachment enables a desired vertical positioning of the pattern tube to be obtained by a suitable adjustment of the nuts 77 on the sleeves 76.

A drive pmion 80 (see Figure 1 1 ) is rotatably journalled by suitable bearings to the intermediate table 21 with the pinion having its periphery formed with teeth 81 or the like so that a drive belt 82 can pass around the periphery of the drive pmion and be driven by a drive gear 83 the rotation of which is arranged through a stepper electric motor or the like (not shown in the drawings). The drive pinion includes a bore 85, the diameter of which is sufficient to allow the pattern tube 70 to pass through the bore. The drive pinion 80 also includes studs 86 which as shown particularly in Figure 1 1 extend upwardly from the axial face of the pinion 80 and which are so positioned and located that the studs 86 can engage into the hollow bore of the sleeves 76. When the pattern tube has been inserted within the bore 85 of the drive pinion and the studs 86 have been engaged within the bore of the sleeves 76 then rotation of the drive pmion 80 will also result in rotation of the pattern tube 70.

The apparatus also includes a substantially closed spray chamber 90 which can be of a suitable shape but which is preferably substantially oval in cross-section. The spray chamber is formed of a suitable material which is resistant to corrosion. The floor 92 of the spray chamber 90 is preferably stepped as shown in Figures 5 and 6 to provide a well 93 to collect excess dye. A suitable bung or extractor device or the like can be incorporated in the floor to discharge excess dye.

An air/dye delivery tube 94 is supported to have guided sliding movement through a hole formed in the intermediate table 21 and terminates within the spray chamber 90 at a manifold 95. The air/dye delivery tube 94 houses an air line 99 by which air under pressure can be ducted to the spray nozzle 98. The air/dye delivery tube also houses a dye line 100 which terminates inside the spray tank at the manifold 95 which is joined by a duct 96 to a reservoir 97 which in turn communicates with a spray nozzle 98. The other end of the dye line communicates with an external reservoir for dye or other liquid that will be used to colour the hosiery. Air under pressure is controlled through appropriate valving to discharge dye through the spray nozzle and can be premixed with the dye prior or after discharge in any desired known manner to form a desired spray pattern.

The air/dye delivery tube 94 is arranged to have reciprocal up and down movement in relation to the spray chamber 90 by being attached through an arm 101 to an actuating rod 102 which is suitably connected to a pneumatic ram 103 so that upon operation of the ram, the spray nozzle 98 can be moved upwardly and downwardly within the spray chamber 90 according to the requirements.

Means are provided so that the bladder 60, the sock which is located on the bladder and the pattern tube 70 will simultaneously rotate within the spray chamber. One preferred means as indicated particularly in Figure 9 comprises studs 1 10 which project downwardly from an axial face of the shaft 36 and which are so formed that the studs 1 10 can engage within stud holes 1 12 formed in the annular face of the drive pmion 80. Consequently, it will be seen that when the bladder has been fully inserted within the pattern tube 70, rotation of the drive pinion 80 will result in rotation of the combined pattern tube 70, the bladder 60 and the sock 55. To ensure the correct

positioning of the sock within the pattern tube air under pressure can be lead through the air line 41 into the interior of the bladder 60 so that the sock is pressed against the interior of the wall of the pattern tube 70.

Operating means are provided whereby dye can be sprayed from the spray nozzle 98 m the direction of the pattern tube 70 and the spray characteristics are adjusted so that spray will pass through the spray holes 71 and will impinge on the sock that is positioned within the pattern tube 70. To enable the sock to receive a uniform amount of spray, while the spray nozzle is actuated into a spray pattern, the drive pmion 80 is rotated so that the pattern tube 70 is also rotated. During the rotation, the pneumatic rain 103 is activated to enable the spray nozzle 98 to rise and/or fall within the spray chamber 90 by the required speed to ensure coverage of the spray on to the exterior of the sock.

When the spraying stage is complete, rotation of the drive pinion 80 is ceased and the air pressure to the spray nozzle 98 is shut off and the air pressure in the air line 41 is released whereupon the cylinder 31 is actuated to withdraw the sock and the bladder out of the pattern tube 70.

If a further colour is to be applied to the sock, after withdrawal of the sock from the pattern tube 70 the apparatus will move to the station III and the process repeated using a different colour or type of dye. It will also be understood that the sock with the bladder will be completely withdrawn from the pattern tube and inserted into a fresh pattern tube at the next stage. The second pattern tube can have the same or different pattern of holes in the wall of the tube. Further stages can also be included if required.

The apparatus is returned to the station I by means of the actuating pneumatic ram 25 and the ram 31 is operated to lower the bladder with the sock through the sock hole 53 (see Figure 7) in the intermediate table for removal of the sock from the bladder. For this purpose the bladder is deflated and the bladder support tube 38 is withdrawn from the bladder 61 by activating a pneumatic ram 120 which is pivotally connected to a bell crank apparatus 121 which is pivoted on a post 355. The bell crank apparatus includes an extension 122 which has an arcuate formation 125 which is so shaped that it can engage within an annular groove 123 in a crown 124 which is fixed to and extends from the locking disc 361. The engagement of the arcuate extension 125 within the groove will retain the crown 124 and the locking disc 361 against vertical movement so that when the yoke 35 is lowered, the latching mechanism is unlocked allowing the bladder support tube 38 to be withdrawn from the bladder 60. The bladder 60 is thus rendered pliable to allow the sock to be withdrawn from the bladder.

One mechanical means of removing the sock from the bladder comprises an apparatus such as that shown in Figure 7 which consists of a clamp 130 pivotally mounted to arms 131 with the clamp 130 being suitably connected through actuating means (not shown in the drawings) so that the sock can be removed from the bladder by actuating the clamp 130 and then swinging the clamp arms 131 downwardly to withdraw the sock 55 off the bladder 60. The sock withdrawal mechanism will then position the sock at a discharge station and the clamp 130 loosened to allow the sock to be disengaged.

It will be understood that in the foregoing description the one piece of mechanism as described can be repeated to form a multi-function machine. Consequently, one

machine can include a series of stations and the operation of the stations can be controlled by suitable electrical, electronic and/or mechanical means as is known is the art.

Having read the foregoing description it w ll be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and amendments can be made to various aspects of the invention and yet still remain within the general concept of the invention as disclosed. All such modifications and amendments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.