Abstract: Apparatus for picking a garment having a front and a back and placing the garment over a pallet such that the front and the back of the garment are on the front and the back sides respectively of the pallet. The apparatus comprises a picking arm to approach the garment and then withdraw towards the pallet; and one or more adherence locations on the picking arm, the adherence location being smaller than the first side, the adherence location for contacting the garment and causing adherence of the garment at the contact location, thereby causing the picking arm to pull the front of the garment over the front of the pallet, the back of the garment sliding under the first side onto the back of the pallet. Adherence may involve freezing.

Abstract: A process for digital printing on fabrics using cationic UV-curable ink compositions having acceptable wash-fastness and acceptable hand-feel.

Abstract: There is provided a computer implemented method of setting up a target printing system for printing on a target media, comprising: providing a dataset of a plurality of records, wherein a record comprises: (i) at least one sample media parameter of a sample media for processing and/or printing thereon by a sample printing system, (ii) an indication of a quality of a processing and/or a printing by the sample printing system set up with at least one sample process parameter, and (iii) a label indicating the at least one sample process parameter, assigning using the dataset, a combination of a target quality and at least one target media parameter, to at least one target process parameter, and providing the at least one target process parameter predicted to obtain the target quality, for generating instructions for processing and/or printing on the target media by the target printing system.

Abstract: A loading and printing system for textile printing, carrying textile from a loading station to a printing area, has a loading path including at least one loading station, and a printing path with at least one printing functional unit for carrying out a printing function on the textile. The loading path and printing path are separate and mutually disconnected and the loading path may provide pallets loaded with the textile to the printing pallet path as needed and receive the loaded pallets in return after printing.

Abstract: Provided herein is a water-based metallic ink composition specifically adapted for direct digital inkjet printing on non-while fabrics and textile, which affords high resolution, high gloss and high luster metallic effect (high flop index) in decorations and designs that are wash-fast and stretchable. Also provided are processes of using the metallic ink compositions with other colored ink composition in direct digital inkjet printing on textile.

Abstract: A post printing apparatus for drying and curing printed textiles, comprises a first, pre-curing, section to dry a printed textile, a second, curing, section to cure the dried textile from the first section, and a controller. The controller obtains data of the printing of the printed textile and uses that data to control timing and/or temperature of one or both of the first section and the curing section. The apparatus may thus provide a customized post printing process for different kinds and colors of garments and the different printing processes that they may have undergone.

Abstract: A textile printer with decoration support comprises a track for a printing pallet extending along a first axis, the printing pallet being controllably mobile along the track, a rail for a print head, the rail along a second axis at right angles to the first axis, a digital print head mounted on the rail and controllably mobile along the second axis to scan across the printing pallet and print an image onto a garment on the printing pallet using textile printing inks, and a material deposition head also mounted to scan across the printing pallet to deposit material onto the garment in alignment with the image.

Abstract: A hold-down pallet for a textile printer, the pallet comprising a central board and flaps, the flaps moving between an open position to allow placing of a garment and a closed position to hold a garment firmly on the board for printing, the pallet travelling between a garment setting position and a printing area and comprising an engagement mechanism which engages the pallet as it enters the garment setting position. Engagement opens the flaps so that the flaps are in the open position in the garment setting area, the pallet disengaging to close the flaps as it heads for the printing area.

Abstract: Provided herein is a process for forming a 3D object on a substrate using liquid inkjet compositions, machinery and methodologies, devoid of dry powders or UV-curable agents. The 3D object is digitally printed according to the additive approach, by inkjet printing a top layer over a base layer before curing the base layer, whereas a layer is formed as a gel, and the gelatinous object is thereafter cured.

Abstract: An adjustable pallet for digital printing comprises a flat printing surface having a flatness tolerance and a parallelism tolerance, the printing surface formed by at least two separable portions, which portions are configured to separate and re-engage while retaining said flatness tolerance and said parallelism tolerance. The tolerance may be maintained by using a defined mechanical path for moving the portions.

Abstract: Provided herein is a digital ink composition containing a minimal amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC), and a method for reducing VOC emission during digital printing of an image on a fabric.

Abstract: Palletization apparatus for loading a garment onto a pallet for processing comprises a form pallet, having an upper surface and a form collar, and an imaging device that views the pallet and the collar area. The garment meanwhile has a neckline or collar. The imaging device is connected to an image processor and the image processor identifies the region around the form collar and the garment neckline or collar and determines firstly that the garment is present, and then secondly that the garment neckline or collar is symmetrically placed in relation to the form collar, thereby to provide an indication of correct placement of the garment on the form pallet.

Abstract: A reconfigurable form pallet provides a manual or automated feeder to a garment processor, such as a printer or the like, and is adapted for a garment having appendages such as sleeves.

Abstract: Provided herein is an inkjet dye-sublimation ink composition that is formulated to interact with an immobilizing composition such that the ink composition coagulates on the surface of an absorptive substrate, thereby substantially limiting soaking of the ink composition into the substrate. Also provided are a printing process and a printing machine, wherein the ink composition is directly printed on the substrate concomitantly with the immobilizing composition, and thereafter undergo heat-pressing to afford a dye-sublimation transfer of the dye to the substrate, thereby forming an image which is characterized by sharp and well defined edges of the dyed areas.

Abstract: Novel inkjet ink compositions for forming an image in a form of an elastic film attached to a surface of a stretchable and/or flexible substrate and processes utilizing same for inkjet printing color images on various substrates such as colored and absorptive or impregnable stretchable materials, which are characterized by heightened efficiency in process time, ink and energy consumption, as well as products having durable, wash-fast and abrasion-fast images printed thereon by the process, are disclosed. The novel ink compositions comprise a first part, which contains a property-adjusting agent and a carrier, and a second part which contains an emulsified property-sensitive proto-elastomeric film-forming agent, a colorant and a carrier, such that the second part congeals upon contact with the property-adjusting agent. The second part is digitally applied to the substrate less than 1 second following the application of the first part to the substrate.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method for forming an image on a dyed synthetic fabric, using a dye-discharge agent, the method is effected by printing an ink composition on the fabric and applying a dye-discharge agent essentially on the same area of the ink composition, wherein applying the dye-discharge agent is effected while the ink composition is still wet (uncured), prior to a curing of the image, and followed by curing the fully formed image, whereas the dye-discharge agent discharged the dye that migrated during the curing step, but not the dyed fabric.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking a garment having a front and a back and placing the garment over a pallet such that the front and the back of the garment are on the front and the back sides respectively of the pallet. The apparatus comprises a picking arm to approach the garment and then withdraw towards the pallet; and one or more adherence locations on the picking arm, the adherence location being smaller than the first side, the adherence location for contacting the garment and causing adherence of the garment at the contact location, thereby causing the picking arm to pull the front of the garment over the front of the pallet, the back of the garment sliding under the first side onto the back of the pallet. Adherence may involve freezing.

Abstract: An automated system for packaging an item includes a pallet, a packaging station and a controller. The pallet supports both the item and a packaging layer. The package is formed with the packaging layer. The packaging station folds the item and the packaging layer such that the item is enclosed within the packaging layer. The controller controls operation of the system. The item may be for example a textile, a digitally printed textile and/or a garment.

Abstract: A method of printing a garment, particularly for use in sport and outdoor activities, to retain moisture wicking or heat management properties of an underlying fabric. The method comprises mapping active body regions onto a print file for the garment. Thus the print file defines standard print areas and modified print areas where the modified printing areas correspond to the active body regions. Printing onto the garment over the standard print areas uses a standard ink density, but printing onto the garment at the active areas uses a second lower ink density which preserves, or at least does less harm to, wicking and venting properties of the underlying fabric.

Abstract: Novel inkjet ink compositions for forming an image in a form of an elastic film attached to a surface of a stretchable and/or flexible substrate and processes utilizing same for inkjet printing color images on various substrates such as colored and absorptive or impregnable stretchable materials, which are characterized by heightened efficiency in process time, ink and energy consumption, as well as products having durable, wash-fast and abrasion-fast images printed thereon by the process, are disclosed. The novel ink compositions comprise a first part, which contains a property-adjusting agent and a carrier, and a second part which contains an emulsified property-sensitive proto-elastomeric film-forming agent, a colorant and a carrier, such that the second part congeals upon contact with the property-adjusting agent. The second part is digitally applied to the substrate less than 1 second following the application of the first part to the substrate.