CLOTH SUPPORT BASE

Abstract

A cloth support base includes a cloth support surface and a storage portion. The cloth support surface extends in a first and a second direction. The storage portion includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls. The plurality of side walls protrude from the bottom wall in a third direction. The bottom wall and the plurality of side walls form a storage space configured to store a storage object including at least one of water vapor and water. The plurality of side walls and the bottom wall form at least one groove. The at least one groove is configured to guide the storage object stored in the storage space to move to the outside of the storage space in the first direction and is configured to restrict the storage object stored in the storage space from moving to the outside of the storage space in the second direction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-091906 filed on Apr. 28, 2016, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a cloth support base.

An image forming method is known in which heat treatment is performed on a cloth to which a treating agent has been applied, before image formation.

SUMMARY

The heat treatment is performed using, for example, a flat heating plate included in a heat press machine. In the heat treatment, the cloth to which the treating agent has been applied is placed, for example, on a sponge provided on a base of the heat press machine. The heating plate of the heat press machine comes into contact with the cloth from an opposite side to the sponge. As a result, water vapor is generated by moisture contained in the treating agent being heated, and the generated water vapor moves through the sponge.

However, the water vapor that moves through the sponge cannot pass through the base. Therefore, the water vapor or water generated by the water vapor being cooled leaks from side portions of the sponge. There is a possibility that the water that has leaked or the water vapor may wet the cloth and the heat press machine. When the cloth is wet, there is a case in which density unevenness occurs in the treating agent applied to the cloth, and color unevenness may occur when image formation is performed. Further, when the cloth is wet, there is a case in which heat is not uniformly transmitted from the heating plate of the heat press machine to the cloth, and unevenness in the heat treatment may occur. Further, the wetting due to the water vapor may cause the cleanliness of the heat press machine to deteriorate.

Various embodiments of the general principles described herein provide a cloth support base capable of reducing a possibility that a cloth and a heat press machine become wet.

Embodiments herein provide a cloth support base configured to be installed on a heat press machine. The cloth support base includes a cloth support surface and a storage portion. The cloth support surface extends in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The storage portion includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls. The bottom wall is positioned on a back side of the cloth support surface. The plurality of side walls protrude from the bottom wall in a third direction. The third direction is a direction from the bottom wall toward the cloth support surface. The bottom wall and the plurality of side walls form a storage space configured to store a storage object including at least one of water vapor and water. The water vapor is generated as a result of moisture contained in a cloth supported by the cloth support surface being heat-treated by the heat press machine. The water is generated as a result of the water vapor being cooled. The plurality of side walls and the bottom wall form at least one groove. The at least one groove configured to guide the storage object stored in the storage space to move to the outside of the storage space in the first direction, and configured to restrict the storage object stored in the storage space from moving to the outside of the storage space in the second direction.

Embodiments herein provide a cloth support base installable on a heat press machine. The cloth support base includes a cloth support surface and a storage portion. The cloth support surface extends in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The storage portion includes a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls. The bottom wall is positioned on a back side of the cloth support surface. The plurality of side walls protrude from the bottom wall in a third direction. The third direction is a direction from the bottom wall toward the cloth support surface. The bottom wall and the plurality of side walls form at least one groove which is storable a storage object including at least one of water vapor and water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat treatment system;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cloth support base;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of a storage portion;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a connection groove taken along a line A-A shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connection groove taken along a line B-B shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B shown in FIG. 2, and shows a collection member collecting a storage object; and

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an auxiliary member of the cloth support base covering a housing body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A heat treatment system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained. The heat treatment system 1 performs heat treatment on a cloth before printing is performed by a print device (not shown in the drawings). The cloth is a T-shirt 5, for example. A liquid pretreatment agent is applied to the T-shirt 5 before the heat treatment is performed. The pretreatment agent contains a metal salt that functions to agglomerate ink ejected by the print device. The pretreatment agent is a calcium chloride aqueous solution, for example. As a result of the heat treatment system 1 performing the heat treatment, the metal salt of the pretreatment agent is fixed to the T-shirt 5. A user places the T-shirt 5, to which the metal salt has been fixed, on the print device. The print device is an inkjet printer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-207338, for example. The print device ejects the ink to a section of the T-shirt 5 to which the metal salt has been fixed. Since the metal salt has been fixed to the T-shirt 5, the ink attached to the T-shirt 5 has various effects, such as reduced bleeding, reduced fading, or excellent color development. Hereinafter, the upper side, the lower side, the lower right side, the upper left side, the lower left side and the upper right side of FIG. 1 respectively correspond to the upper side, the lower side, the right side, the left side, the front side and the rear side of the heat treatment system 1.

The structure of the heat treatment system 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat treatment system 1 is provided with a heat press machine 20 and a cloth support base 10. The heat press machine 20 performs the heat treatment on the T-shirt 5. The cloth support base 10 supports the T-shirt 5 in a state in which the cloth support base 10 is installed on the heat press machine 20. The cloth support base 10 is configured to be attached to and detached from the heat press machine 20.

The heat press machine 20 is provided with a base 22, a support portion 24, an arm 25 and a heating plate 26. The base 22 is a base on which the cloth support base 10 is configured to be installed, and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The support portion 24 has a box shape and supports the base 22. The support portion 24 is positioned below the base 22. The arm 25 extends upward from the support portion 24 and bends forward. The arm 25 is connected to the support portion 24 such that the arm 25 can move up and down. The heating plate 26 is connected to a lower surface of a front portion of the arm 25. For example, the heating plate 26 extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. When the cloth support base 10 has been removed from the heat press machine 20, the heating plate 26 faces the base 22 from above. The heating plate 26 is provided with a heating element (not shown in the drawings). A lower end surface of the heating plate 26 is a heating surface 27 that is formed in a planar shape.

A drive portion (not shown in the drawings) and a control portion (not shown in the drawings) are provided inside the support portion 24. The drive portion is, for example, an air cylinder built into the support portion 24. The drive portion is connected to the arm 25. The control portion is electrically connected to the drive portion via a first conductive wire (not shown in the drawings). The control portion drives the drive portion, and thus causes the arm 25 and the heating plate 26 to integrally move up and down. The heating surface 27 is movable within a range between an upper end position shown in FIG. 5 and a lower end position shown in FIG. 6.

The control portion is electrically connected to the heating element of the heating plate 26 via a second conductive wire (not shown in the drawings) provided inside the support portion 24 and inside the arm 25. The second conductive wire may be arranged outside the arm 25. The control portion causes the heating element to generate heat, and thus raises the temperature of the heating surface 27 up to a predetermined temperature, such as 180 degrees Celsius. The control portion is electrically connected to an operation portion (not shown in the drawings) via a third conductive wire (not shown in the drawings). The operation portion is provided on the support portion 24, for example. The user can input various commands to the control portion via the operation portion.

The structure of the cloth support base 10 will be explained with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, assuming that the cloth support base 10 is installed on the heat press machine 20 (refer to FIG. 1). In an area surrounded by a two dotted line W2 in FIG. 2, a cover member 110 (to be described later) in an area surrounded by a two dotted line W1 is enlarged and shown. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in order to facilitate visualization of the drawings, hatching is omitted for each of the heating plate 26, the T-shirt 5, an auxiliary member 30 to be described later, and a porous member 60 to be described later.

The cloth support base 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a base that is configured to be installed on the base 22 of the heat press machine 20. The cloth support base 10 is provided with a storage portion 50, the porous member 60, the auxiliary member 30 and a connection groove 80. The storage portion 50 has a box shape that is open rearward. The storage portion 50 is formed of, for example, a resin, such as a polycarbonate resin or an acrylic resin. A water vapor 7 (refer to FIG. 6) that is generated by the pretreatment agent contained in the T-shirt 5 being heat-treated, and a water 8 (refer to FIG. 6) that is generated by the water vapor 7 being cooled can enter the inside of the storage portion 50. Note that at least part of the water vapor 7 may be cooled and change to the water 8 after entering the inside of the storage portion 50. Hereinafter, the water vapor 7 and the water 8 that have entered the inside of the storage portion 50 are collectively referred to as a “storage object 6” (refer to FIG. 6). The storage portion 50 is configured to store the storage object 6. The storage portion 50 is provided with, for example, a first layer 51 and a second layer 52. The first layer 51 is provided above the second layer 52. The first layer 51 and the second layer 52 are formed integrally.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first layer 51 has a plate shape, and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. A top surface 51A of the first layer 51 is an upwardly directed plane. The first layer 51 is provided with a plurality of hole rows 51B, each of which includes a plurality of holes 51C arranged at equal intervals along the front-rear direction. The plurality of hole rows 51B are arranged at equal intervals along the left-right direction. Each of the holes 51C has a circular shape, and penetrates the first layer 51 in the up-down direction.

In two of the hole rows 51B that are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, the holes 51C included in one of the hole rows 51B and the holes 51C included in the other hole row 51B are arranged in a zigzag manner. More specifically, each of the holes 51C included in one of the hole rows 51B is provided in a position displaced in the front-rear direction by half of a predetermined pitch with respect to each of the holes 51C included in the other hole row 51B. The predetermined pitch is a distance between centers of the two holes 51C that are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction in each of the hole rows 51B. The predetermined pitch is shown as a dimension H in FIG. 3.

The second layer 52 is positioned below the first layer 51. In other words, the second layer 52 is positioned on the reverse side of (namely, below) the top surface 51A. The second layer 52 is provided with a bottom wall 53, side walls 54 and a front wall 59 (refer to FIG. 2). The bottom wall 53 has a plate shape, and extends in parallel to the first layer 51. The side walls 54 protrude upward from the bottom wall 53, and are connected to the first layer 51. The side walls 54 are walls that extend in the front-rear direction. The side walls 54 are arranged at equal intervals along the left-right direction. The plurality of side walls 54 include side walls 54M, each of which is provided between two of the hole rows 51B that are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. The plurality of side walls 54 include a side wall 54R provided to the right of the plurality of hole rows 51B, and a side wall 54L provided to the left of the plurality of hole rows 51B. Two of the plurality of side walls 54 that are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, and the bottom wall 53 form a groove 55 that extends in the front-rear direction. A storage space 55A that is configured to store the storage object 6 (refer to FIG. 6) is formed inside the groove 55.

As shown in FIG. 2, the porous member 60 is placed on the top surface 51A of the first layer 51. More specifically, the porous member 60 is provided above the side walls 54 (refer to FIG. 3) of the groove 55 and the bottom wall 53 (refer to FIG. 3). Note that another member may be interposed between the top surface 51A and the porous member 60. A top surface 61 of the porous member 60 comes into contact with the auxiliary member 30 that will be described later. The porous member 60 is elastic. The porous member 60 is a sponge, for example. The porous member 60 has permeability that allows the water vapor 7 and the water 8 to permeate the porous member 60. The porous member 60 has heat resistance that can withstand at least the aforementioned predetermined temperature of the heating surface 27. It is desirable that the porous member 60 has heat resistance that can withstand 200 degrees Celsius, for example.

The auxiliary member 30 is a cloth that is formed by fibers, such as polyester or nylon, for example. The auxiliary member 30 has permeability that allows the water vapor 7 and the water 8 to pass through the auxiliary member 30. The auxiliary member 30 has heat resistance that can withstand at least the aforementioned predetermined temperature of the heating surface 27. It is desirable that the auxiliary member 30 has heat resistance that can withstand 200 degrees Celsius, for example.

The auxiliary member 30 is provided with a bag portion 31. The bag portion 31 has a bag shape that is open toward at least one of the front side and the rear side. The bag portion 31 covers the storage portion 50 and the porous member 60. It is sufficient if the bag portion 31 is positioned above the storage portion 50 and the porous member 60, and the bag portion 31 may or may not be positioned below the storage portion 50 and the porous member 60. Note that, when taking into consideration the fact that the bag portion 31 is arranged for various sizes of the storage portion 50 and the porous member 60, it is desirable that the bag portion 31 has a size sufficient for the bag portion 31 to be positioned to the side of the storage portion 50 and to the side of the porous member 60. An upper portion of the bag portion 31 is positioned above each of the storage portion 50 and the porous member 60. A right portion of the bag 31 is positioned to the right of each of the storage portion 50 and the porous member 60, and a left portion of the bag portion 31 is positioned to the left of each of the storage portion 50 and the porous member 60. A lower portion of the bag portion 31 is positioned below the storage portion 50, and a rear portion of the bag portion 31 is positioned further to the rear than the rear end portion of the porous member 60.

The bag portion 31 includes a placement surface 32 and a first surface 33 (refer to FIG. 5). The placement surface 32 is an upwardly directed surface. The friction coefficient of the placement surface 32 is smaller than the friction coefficient of the top surface 61 of the porous member 60. In the cloth support base 10, the placement surface 32 functions as a cloth support surface. The cloth support surface is a surface with which the cloth comes into contact from above. Therefore, the T-shirt 5 (refer to FIG. 1) to which the pretreatment agent has been applied is placed on the placement surface 32. The first surface 33 is a surface on an opposite side to the placement surface 32. The first surface 33 (refer to FIG. 5) comes into contact with the top surface 61 of the porous member 60.

The connection groove 80 is connected to the rear end portion of the storage portion 50. The connection groove 80 extends in the left-right direction, and is connected to the rear end portion of each of the plurality of grooves 55. The right end portion of the connection groove 80 is positioned further to the right than the right end portion of the storage portion 50, and the left end portion of the connection groove 80 is positioned further to the left than the left end portion of the storage portion 50. The connection groove 80 is formed of a metal material, for example. Both the end portions of the connection groove 80 are respectively provided with two sealing members (not shown in the drawings). The two sealing members block an inside space 81, which is a space inside the connection groove 80, from the left and right sides.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connection groove 80 is provided with a wall 82, a pair of extension walls 84 and a pair of protrusion walls 86. The wall 82 is provided to the rear of the storage portion 50, and extends in the up-down direction. Two connection holes 82A are provided in the wall 82. The two connection holes 82A are located at positions that are left-right symmetric with respect to the center in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. The two connection holes 82A are respectively positioned at end portions in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80.

One of the pair of extension walls 84 protrudes to the front from the upper end portion of the wall 82, and the other of the pair of extension walls 84 protrudes to the front from the lower end portion of the wall 82. The extension wall 84 located above is positioned higher than the storage portion 50. The extension wall 84 located below is positioned lower than the storage portion 50. More specifically, at least a part of the connection groove 80 is provided at a position opposite to the top surface 51A of the first layer 51 with respect to the plurality of grooves 55.

The extension wall 84 located below the other of the pair of extension walls 84 is provided with two circular holes 84A (refer to FIG. 5). The two circular holes 84A are located at positions that are left-right symmetric with respect to the center in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. The two circular holes 84A are located between the two connection holes 82A (refer to FIG. 4) of the wall 82. Two circular cylinders 84B (refer to FIG. 5) are provided in the two circular holes 84A, respectively. The circular cylinders 84B extend downward from the circular holes 84A.

One of the pair of protrusion walls 86 protrudes downward from the front end portion of the extension wall 84 located above, and the other of the pair of protrusion walls 86 protrudes upward from the front end portion of the extension wall 84 located below. The pair of protrusion walls 86 clamp the rear end portion of the storage portion 50 in the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, extension portions 70 are inserted through the two connection holes 82A of the wall 82, respectively. The extension portions 70 have a rod shape and extend in the front-rear direction. The extension portions 70 are inserted between the first layer 51 and the second layer 52 of the storage portion 50, via the inside space 81 of the connection groove 80. Further, the extension portions 70 located to the rear of the connection groove 80 are inserted through cylindrical members 72. The cylindrical members 72 are in contact with a rear surface of the wall 82. Clamp members 73 are respectively provided on outer peripheral surfaces of the cylindrical members 72. The clamp members 73 clamp the extension portions 70 via the cylindrical members 72. A hem of the T-shirt 5 (refer to FIG. 1) is placed on the extension portions 70 located to the rear of the cylindrical members 72.

An exhaust pipe 95 shown in FIG. 5 is, for example, an elastically deformable tube that extends in the up-down direction. Two of the exhaust pipes 95 are provided respectively corresponding to the two circular cylinders 84B. In an expanded state, the upper end portion of an inner peripheral surface of the exhaust pipe 95 is firmly attached to an outer peripheral surface of the circular cylinder 84B. More specifically, the exhaust pipe 95 is connected, via the circular cylinder 84B, to a section of the connection groove 80 that is displaced from a central portion in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. Further, the exhaust pipe 95 is connected, via the circular cylinder 84B, to a section of the connection groove 80 between both the end portions in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. A collection member 99 is provided below the exhaust pipe 95. The collection member 99 is, for example, a jar that is open upward.

The connection groove 80 is covered by the cover member 110. In order to reduce an exposed section of the connection groove 80, it is desirable that the cover member 110 covers the surface of the connection groove 80 as widely as possible. The cover member 110 is formed in a C shape in a left side view, and has a substantially cylindrical shape that extends in the left-right direction. The cover member 110 is formed by a material whose thermal conductivity is lower than thermal conductivity of the metal material used to form the connection groove 80. For example, the cover member 110 is formed by a material such as silicone rubber. Therefore, the cover member 110 has a higher thermal insulation performance than the connection groove 80 formed by the metal material. In a state in which an inner peripheral surface of the cover member 110 is expanded, it is desirable that the cover member 110 is firmly attached to at least a part of an outer peripheral surface of each of the wall 82, the pair of extension walls 84 and the pair of protrusion walls 86. An opening portion 117 that extends in the left-right direction is formed in the front end portion of the cover member 110. The rear end portion of the storage portion 50 enters the inside of the opening portion 117.

Four clamp members 89 (refer to FIG. 2) are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cover member 110. The four clamp members 89 are arranged side by side with a space therebetween in the left-right direction. The clamp members 89 are elastic members that clamp and urge the cover member 110 in the up-down direction. Note that the cover member 110 may be firmly attached to the connection groove 80 by being urged inwardly by the clamp members 89.

Two first insertion holes 111 (refer to FIG. 4) and two second insertion holes 112 are provided in the cover member 110. The two cylindrical members 72 are inserted through the two first insertion holes 111, respectively. The two circular cylinders 84B are inserted through the two second insertion holes 112, respectively.

A method in which the heat treatment system 1 performs the heat treatment on the T-shirt 5 will be explained with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. Before the heat treatment is started, the heating surface 27 of the heat press machine 20 is in the upper end position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the user places the T-shirt 5, to which the pretreatment agent has been applied, on the placement surface 32 of the bag portion 31 of the auxiliary member 30. When printing by the print device is performed on the front body of the T-shirt 5, the T-shirt 5 is placed such that the front body is directed upward. Further, the hem of the T-shirt 5 is placed on the extension portions 70. The placed T-shirt 5 covers the cloth support base 10. For example, a part of the T-shirt 5 is positioned to the right of the cloth support base 10 and another part of the T-shirt 5 is positioned to the left of the cloth support base 10. Then, the user installs the cloth support base 10, on which the T-shirt 5 has been placed, on the base 22 of the heat press machine 20. Note that the user may place the T-shirt 5 on the cloth support base 10 that has been installed on the base 22. The cloth support base 10 installed on the base 22 is positioned below the heating surface 27. Further, a center position of the cloth support base 10 in the left-right direction substantially matches a center position of the heating surface 27 in the left-right direction.

The user may adjust the position of the T-shirt 5 after the user has installed the cloth support base 10 on the base 22. For example, the user may cause the T-shirt 5 to slide with respect to the placement surface 32 of the auxiliary member 30 so that an application portion 5A (refer to FIG. 5), which is a section of the T-shirt 5 to which the pretreatment agent has been applied, is positioned below the heating surface 27 of the heating plate 26. Since the friction coefficient of the placement surface 32 of the auxiliary member 30 is smaller than the friction coefficient of the top surface 61 of the porous member 60, the T-shirt 5 can easily slide with respect to the auxiliary member 30. At this time, the auxiliary member 30 is configured to easily maintain a stationary state while being in contact with the top surface 61 of the porous member 60.

After that, the user inputs a command, which causes the heat treatment system 1 (refer to FIG. 1) to start the heat treatment, to the control portion (not shown in the drawings) via the operation portion (not shown in the drawings) of the heat press machine 20. The control portion (not shown in the drawings) of the heat press machine 20 causes the heating element of the heating plate 26 to generate heat. The temperature of the heating surface 27 of the heating plate 26 increases to the predetermined temperature.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the control portion (not shown in the drawings) of the heat press machine 20 (refer to FIG. 1) drives the drive portion (not shown in the drawings), and causes the heating plate 26 and the arm 25 (refer to FIG. 1) to move downward as indicated by an arrow J in FIG. 5. The heating surface 27 urges the porous member 60 downward via the T-shirt 5 and the bag portion 31 of the auxiliary member 30. As a result, the porous member 60 is elastically deformed in a direction in which the porous member 60 is compressed in the up-down direction as indicated by arrows K in FIG. 6. After the heating surface 27 has moved to the lower end position, the control portion stops the drive of the drive portion.

As shown in FIG. 6, the T-shirt 5, the auxiliary member 30 and the porous member 60 are clamped between the heating surface 27 that is at the lower end position and the top surface 51A of the first layer 51. At this time, the elastically deformed porous member 60 uniformly urges the upper portion of the bag portion 31 and the T-shirt 5 toward the heating surface 27 over the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. Thus, the heating surface 27 is configured to come into contact with the T-shirt 5 over the left-right direction and the front-rear direction. Accordingly, since the heat of the heating surface 27 is uniformly transmitted to the T-shirt 5, unevenness of the heat treatment with respect to the T-shirt 5 is less likely to occur. The pretreatment agent contained in the application portion 5A is heat-treated uniformly over the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. Further, since the porous member 60 is located between the heating surface 27 and the first layer 51, the heat of the heating surface 27 is not easily transmitted to the first layer 51. Thus, the storage portion 50 is less likely to be deformed as the temperature of the storage portion 50 increases.

The water vapor 7 is generated by the pretreatment agent being heat-treated. Further, the water 8 is generated by the water vapor 7 being cooled. The water vapor 7 and the water 8 pass through the auxiliary member 30 and the porous member 60 in that order, and move to the top surface 51A of the first layer 51. In this case, since the plurality of holes 51C are formed in the porous member 60, the water vapor 7 and the water 8 can easily pass through the inside of the porous member 60. The water vapor 7 and the water 8 that have passed through the porous member 60 and moved to the first layer 51 enter the storage space 55A via the plurality of holes 51C. The water vapor 7 and the water 8 are stored in the storage portion 50 as the storage object 6.

The two side walls 54 that form the groove 55 restrict the storage object 6 stored in the storage space 55A from moving toward the outside of the storage space 55A in the left-right direction. The front wall 59 restricts the storage object 6 from being discharged forward from the storage space 55A. The first layer 51 restricts the storage object 6 from being discharged upward from the storage space 55A. As a result of the restrictions, the storage space 55A is gradually filled with the storage object 6. The bottom wall 53 and the two side walls 54 that form the groove 55 guide the movement in the front-rear direction of the storage object 6 filling the storage space 55A. After the movement in the front-rear direction of the storage object 6 is guided by the groove 55, the storage object 6 moves to the connection groove 80. Note that at least part of the water vapor 7 included in the storage object 6 may be cooled and change to the water 8 when the water vapor 7 is being guided by the groove 55.

The storage object 6 that has moved to the connection groove 80 gradually fills the inside space 81. The water vapor 7 in the inside space 81 comes into contact with the connection groove 80 formed of the metal material, and is thereby cooled. Thus, at least part of the water vapor 7 in the inside space 81 changes to the water 8. The temperature of the connection groove 80 that is in contact with the high temperature water vapor 7 or the water 8 in the inside space 81 increases. Particularly, when the connection groove 80 is formed of the metal material, the temperature of the connection groove 80 significantly increases. However, since the cover member 110 covers the connection groove 80, the heat of the connection groove 80 is unlikely to be transmitted to the air outside the connection groove 80.

The storage object 6 filling the inside space 81 is discharged from the connection groove 80 via the two circular holes 84A. The storage object 6 discharged from the connection groove 80 sequentially passes through the circular cylinders 84B and the exhaust pipes 95 that correspond to the respective circular holes 84A. The storage object 6 is discharged from the exhaust pipes 95 toward the collection members 99. As a result, the storage object 6 is collected by the two collection members 99. Note that, when the storage object 6 moves from the connection groove 80 to the collection members 99, at least part of the water vapor 7 included in the storage object 6 may change to the water 8.

The control portion of the heat press machine 20 (refer to FIG. 1) drives the drive portion (not shown in the drawings), and causes the heating surface 27 to move from the lower end position to the upper end position. As shown in FIG. 5, the heating surface 27 moves upward away from the T-shirt 5. Then, the user grips the T-shirt 5 and pulls the T-shirt 5 to the front. In this case, since the hem of the T-shirt 5 is arranged on the extension portions 70, the hem of the T-shirt 5 does not hang down. As a result, it is less likely that the hem of the T-shirt 5 will hang down and be caught up on the cloth support base 10. Thus, the user can smoothly pull out the T-shirt 5.

In the above explanation, the description has been made for the case in which the front body and the rear body of the T-shirt 5 are both placed, from above, on the placement surface 32 of the auxiliary member 30. However, the T-shirt 5 may be fitted onto the cloth support base 10 as if the cloth support base 10 is being worn (this case is not shown in the drawings). More specifically, one of the front body and the rear body of the T-shirt 5 on which the print surface is arranged may be placed on the placement surface 32, and the other may be placed on the base 22 of the heat press machine 20. Even in this case, the T-shirt 5 covers the cloth support base 10.

As explained above, when the heat press machine 20 performs the heat treatment on the pretreatment agent, the water vapor 7 is generated. The generated water vapor 7 and the water 8 generated by the water vapor 7 being cooled are stored in the storage space 55A of the storage portion 50 as the storage object 6. The groove 55 guides the storage object 6 to move in the front-rear direction toward the outside of the storage space 55A, and restricts the storage object 6 from moving in the left-right direction toward the outside of the storage space 55A. Therefore, it is less likely that the storage object 6 will leak from the storage portion 50 in the left-right direction. Thus, the storage object 6 is unlikely to come into contact with the T-shirt 5 supported by the top surface 51A of the first layer 51, and with the heat press machine 20 on which the cloth support base 10 has been installed. Thus, the cloth support base 10 can reduce a possibility that the T-shirt 5 and the heat press machine 20 become wet.

Since the T-shirt 5 is less likely to become wet, it is less likely that the heat of the heating surface 27 will not be uniformly transmitted to the T-shirt 5. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a possibility that density unevenness will occur in the treating agent and color unevenness will occur when image formation is performed. Further, since the heat press machine 20 is less likely to become wet, the cloth support base 10 can reduce a possibility that cleanliness of the heat press machine 20 will deteriorate.

The grooves 55 are provided such that the grooves 55 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In comparison to a case where the single groove 55 is provided in the storage portion 50, the interval between the two side walls 54 of the groove 55 in the left-right direction is shorter. Therefore, the storage object 6 is effectively discharged to the rear from the storage portion 50.

Each of the plurality of side walls 54 that are arranged side by side in the left-right direction connects the bottom wall 53 of the second layer 52 and the first layer 51. Thus, the strength of the storage portion 50 can be improved in the up-down direction. Therefore, even when the heating surface 27 at the lower end position downwardly urges the first layer 51 via the T-shirt 5, the auxiliary member 30 and the porous member 60, the storage portion 50 is unlikely to be deformed.

The cloth support base 10 is provided with the connection groove 80 that is connected to the rear end portion of the storage portion 50. The storage object 6 guided by the grooves 55 is collected into the connection groove 80. When the connection groove 80 is not provided, the storage object 6 guided by the grooves 55 is released into the air without being collected. In other words, the storage object 6 discharged from the storage spaces 55A spreads over a wider area. As a result, the possibility that the storage object 6 will wet the T-shirt 5 and the heat press machine 20 becomes higher than when the connection groove 80 is provided. However, since the connection groove 80 is provided, the space into which the storage object 6 is discharged from the storage spaces 55A is limited to the inside space 81 of the connection groove 80. Then, the storage object 6 is discharged from the connection groove 80 to the collection members 99. Thus, the possibility that the T-shirt 5 and the heat press machine 20 become wet is lower than when the connection groove 80 is not provided. Further, the connection groove 80 is connected to each of the rear end portions of the plurality of grooves 55. Since each of the plurality of grooves 55 is not connected to both the end portions in the front-rear direction of the connection groove 80, the cloth support base 10 can be realized with a simpler structure. Since the structure of the cloth support base 10 becomes simpler, the manufacturing of the cloth support base 10 becomes simpler.

Of the pair of extension walls 84, the extension wall 84 located below is provided at a position below the top surface 51A of the first layer 51. In other words, the grooves 55 are positioned between the top surface 51A and the extension wall 84 located below. As a result, after the movement of the storage object 6 is guided to the outside of the storage space 55A along the front-rear direction, the storage object 6 can easily move to the extension wall 84 located below. It is unlikely that the storage object 6 that has moved to the extension wall 84 located below will return to the grooves 55 located above. Particularly, the water 8 included in the storage object 6 that has moved to the extension wall 84 located below is unlikely to return to the grooves 55. Therefore, the storage object 6 is effectively discharged from the connection groove 80.

When the connection groove 80 is formed of the metal material, part of the water vapor 7 included in the storage object 6 is cooled by the contact with the connection groove 80, and dew condensation is generated. Accordingly, it is less likely that the water vapor 7 that has moved to the connection groove 80 will flow back to the grooves 55. Further, since the ratio of the water vapor 7 occupying the inside space 81 of the connection groove 80 reduces, the water vapor 7 included in the storage object 6 filling the storage spaces 55A is likely to be guided from the grooves 55 to the connection groove 80. Further, heat resistance of the cover member 110 is higher than heat resistance of the connection groove 80. Thus, even when the temperature of the connection groove 80 increases, the cover member 110 can inhibit the heat of the connection groove 80 from being transmitted to the outside.

The exhaust pipes 95 are respectively connected to the two circular holes 84A of the connection groove 80 via the circular cylinders 84B. The storage object 6 that has moved to the connection groove 80 is discharged to the collection member 99 via the exhaust pipes 95. Since the storage object 6 is collected into the collection member 99, it is less likely that the storage object 6 will wet the T-shirt 5 and the heat press machine 20.

The two exhaust pipes 95 are provided. The storage object 6 guided to the connection groove 80 is discharged via at least one of the two exhaust pipes 95. Therefore, in comparison to when the single exhaust pipe 95 is provided, the storage object 6 guided to the connection groove 80 is more likely to be discharged from the connection groove 80.

The exhaust pipes 95 are connected to sections of the connection groove 80 that are displaced from the central portion in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. It is easy to position the heating plate 26 to a position above the central portion in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. However, in the present embodiment, the positions in the left-right direction at which the exhaust pipes 95 are connected to the connection groove 80 are displaced from the central portion in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. Therefore, the exhaust pipes 95 are unlikely to come into contact with the heating plate 26 of the heat press machine 20.

The exhaust pipes 95 are connected to sections of the connection groove 80 that are between both the end portions in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. When each of the exhaust pipes 95 is connected to one end portion or the other end portion of the connection groove 80 in the left-right direction, the T-shirt 5 is likely to come into contact with the exhaust pipes 95. Particularly, when the T-shirt 5 is fitted onto the cloth support base 10 as if the cloth support base 10 is being worn, the exhaust pipes 95 are highly likely to obstruct the T-shirt from being fitted. However, in the present embodiment, the exhaust pipes 95 are connected to the connection groove 80 between both the end portions in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. Therefore, the T-shirt 5 that covers the cloth support base 10 is unlikely to come into contact with the exhaust pipes 95. Thus, it is easy for the user to place the T-shirt 5 on the cloth support base 10.

The storage portion 50 is provided with the first layer 51 positioned above the second layer 52. The first layer 51 restricts the upward movement of the storage object 6 that has entered the storage space 55A via the plurality of holes 51C. Particularly, there is a case in which the water vapor 7 that has entered the storage space 55A via the holes 51C moves upward. However, the water vapor 7 that has entered the storage space 55A is restricted from moving upward by the first layer 51. Thus, it is less likely that the storage object 6 stored in the storage space 55A will leak upward, namely, toward the top surface 51A of the first layer 51.

The storage portion 50 is provided with the plurality of holes 51C that penetrate the first layer 51 in the up-down direction. The water vapor 7 generated by the pretreatment agent being heat-treated, and the water 8 generated by the water vapor 7 being cooled can, respectively, easily enter the inside of the storage portion 50 via the plurality of holes 51C. Therefore, the storage portion 50 is configured to easily store the water vapor 7 and the water 8 that have entered the storage portion 50. Further, in comparison to when the single hole 51C that corresponds to the plurality of holes 51C is provided, the strength of the first layer 51 in the up-down direction is improved. Further, in the two hole rows 51B that are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, the holes 51C included in one of the hole rows 51B and the holes 51C included in the other hole row 51B are alternately arranged in the zigzag manner in the front-rear direction. Thus, in both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, bias is unlikely to occur in the positions at which the plurality of holes 51C are provided. Therefore, the water vapor 7 and the water 8 that have moved to the first layer 51 can easily enter the inside of the storage portion 50 via at least one of the plurality of holes 51C. Further, it is less likely that the water vapor 7 and the water 8 that have moved to the first layer 51 will be restricted from entering the inside of the storage portion 50 by the first layer 51. Thus, it is less likely that the water vapor 7 and the water 8 will leak laterally from the porous member 60.

The porous member 60 is placed on the top surface 51A of the first layer 51. The water vapor 7 generated by the pretreatment agent being heat-treated can easily move inside the porous member 60. Further, the porous member 60 urged downward by the heating surface 27 is elastically deformed. As a result, the heating surface 27 can uniformly urge the T-shirt 5 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.

The friction coefficient of the placement surface 32 of the auxiliary member 30 is smaller than the friction coefficient of the top surface 61 of the porous member 60. The T-shirt 5 placed on the placement surface 32 of the auxiliary member 30 can easily slide with respect to the placement surface 32. Therefore, the user can easily adjust the position where the T-shirt 5 is placed on the cloth support base 10. Note that, when the T-shirt 5 is fitted onto the cloth support base 10 as if the cloth support base 10 is being worn, since the friction coefficient of the placement surface 32 is smaller than the friction coefficient of the top surface 61, the user can easily fit and remove the T-shirt 5 to and from the cloth support base 10.

The hem of the T-shirt 5 is placed on the extension portions 70. Thus, the hem of the T-shirt 5 does not hang down. Therefore, when the user pulls out the T-shift 5 on which the heat treatment is complete, it is less likely that the hem of the T-shirt 5 will be caught up on the cloth support base 10. Thus, the user can smoothly pull out the T-shirt 5 on which the heat treatment has been performed. Further, the extension portions 70 are inserted between the first layer 51 and the second layer 52. Therefore, even when the extension portions 70 are deflected by the weight of the hem of the T-shirt 5, the extension portions 70 is configured to come into contact with a lower surface of the first layer 51. Therefore, the force applied to the extension portions 70 by the weight of the hem of the T-shirt 5 is dispersed, and thus the strength of the extension portions 70 in the up-down direction is improved.

The side walls 54 extend continuously in the front-rear direction in a state in which the side walls 54 stand in the up-down direction. In comparison to when a through hole (not shown in the drawings) is provided in each of the side walls 54, the groove 55 is configured easily to restrict the storage object 6 from moving to the outside of the storage space 55A in the left-right direction. Therefore, it is less likely that the storage object 6 will leak in the left-right direction from the storage portion 50.

The present disclosure can be applied to various embodiments other than the above-described embodiment. The heat treatment system 1 may perform heat fixing, which is an example of the heat treatment, on the T-shirt 5 to which the pretreatment agent has been applied by the user and then printing has been performed by the print device. The arm 25 may be capable of, for example, rotating around a central axis that extends in the left-right direction, instead of being capable of moving in the up-down direction. Even in this case, the heating surface 27 can move between the upper end position and the lower end position. Instead of the T-shirt 5, clothes, such as a bathing suit, a sweat shirt, a sock or the like may be placed on the cloth support base 10. Alternatively, fabric products, such as a bag, a shoe, a flag or the like, may be placed. The cloth to be placed on the cloth support base 10 may be a woven fabric or a knitted fabric, or may be a non-woven fabric.

Instead of being open toward the rear side, the storage portion 50 may be open toward the front side, or may be open toward at least one of the left side and the right side. In this case, the direction in which the side walls 54 extend may be parallel to the direction in which the storage portion 50 is open. Further, the bag portion 31 of the auxiliary member 30 may be open toward at least one of the left side and the right side, instead of being open toward at least one of the front side and the rear side.

The extension portions 70 may have, for example, a cylindrical shape, instead of a rod shape. Further, the extension portions 70 need not necessarily be provided. The friction coefficient of the placement surface 32 of the auxiliary member 30 may be the same as the friction coefficient of the top surface 61 of the porous member 60, or may be larger than the friction coefficient of the top surface 61.

The bag portion 31 of the auxiliary member 30 need not necessarily cover both the porous member 60 and the storage portion 50, and may cover the porous member 60 only. In this case, the lower portion of the bag portion 31 may be provided between the porous member 60 and the first layer 51. Further, the auxiliary member 30 may be provided with a base portion (not shown in the drawings) formed in a sheet shape, instead of the bag portion 31. In this case, the sheet-shaped base portion is placed on the top surface 61 of the porous member 60. The length of the sheet-shaped base portion in the left-right direction may be longer than the length of the porous member 60 in the left-right direction. In this case, the sheet-shaped base portion may cover the porous member 60. Further, the auxiliary member 30 may be formed of a metal material. For example, the auxiliary member 30 may be a perforated metal. Even in this case, the auxiliary member 30 has the above-described permeability and heat resistance.

The cloth support base 10 need not necessarily be provided with at least one of the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51. For example, when the cloth support base 10 is not provided with the first layer 51, among the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, the porous member 60 is placed on top surfaces of the side walls 54 of the second layer 52. In this case, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the placement surface 32 functions as the cloth support surface, and the top surface 61 of the porous member 60 functions as a contact surface that is in contact with the first surface 33 of the auxiliary member 30.

Further, when the cloth support base 10 is not provided with the porous member 60, among the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, the first surface 33 of the auxiliary member 30 is in contact with the top surface 51A of the first layer 51A. Therefore, instead of the top surface 61 of the porous member 60, the top surface 51A functions as the contact surface that is in contact with the first surface 33 of the auxiliary member 30.

Further, when the cloth support base 10 is not provided with the auxiliary member 30, among the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, the T-shirt 5 is placed on the top surface 61 of the porous member 60, instead of the placement surface 32 of the auxiliary member 30. Therefore, in this case, the top surface 61 functions as the cloth support surface.

Further, when the cloth support base 10 is not provided with the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, among the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, the first surface 33 of the auxiliary member 30 is in contact with the top surfaces of the side walls 54 of the second layer 52. Therefore, each of the top surfaces of the side walls 54 functions as the contact surface that is in contact with the first surface 33 of the auxiliary member 30.

Further, when the cloth support base 10 is not provided with the auxiliary member 30 and the first layer 51, among the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, the T-shirt 5 is placed on the top surface 61 of the porous member 60. In this case, the top surface 61 of the porous member 60 functions as the cloth support surface.

Further, when the cloth support base 10 is not provided with the auxiliary member 30 and the porous member 60, among the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, the top surface 51A of the first layer 51 functions as the cloth support surface. Further, when the cloth support base 10 is not provided with all of the auxiliary member 30, the porous member 60 and the first layer 51, each of the top surfaces of the side walls 54 of the second layer 52 functions as the cloth support surface.

The porous member 60 need not necessarily be elastic. Specifically, instead of the sponge, the porous member 60 may be a porous metal that is formed of a metal material. Even in this case, the porous member 60 has the above-described permeability and heat resistance.

The plurality of holes 51C need not necessarily be provided in the first layer 51 of the storage portion 50. In this case, the first layer 51 may include a plurality of plate-shaped members that extend in the left-right direction. The plurality of plate-shaped members may be provided at intervals in the front-rear direction, for example. The water vapor 7 generated by the pretreatment agent being heat-treated, and the water 8 generated by the water vapor 7 being cooled respectively pass between the plurality of plate-shaped members and enter the storage space 55A. Further, the first layer 51 and the second layer 52 may be formed as separate bodies, instead of being formed integrally. In this case, at least one of the first layer 51 and the second layer 52 may be formed of a resin material other than the polycarbonate resin and the acrylic resin, or may be formed of a metal material, a glass material, a wooden material or the like. Further, the holes 51C of the first layer 51 need not necessarily be circular. The holes 51C may have, for example, an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape. Therefore, the first layer 51 of the storage portion 50 may have a honeycomb structure.

The two sealing members (not shown in the drawings) need not necessarily be provided. In this case, each of the exhaust pipes 95 may be connected to the right end portion or another end portion of the connection groove 80. Then, an inner peripheral surface of one end portion of the exhaust pipe 95 may be, for example, firmly attached to the outer surface of the right end portion of the connection groove 80 in a state in which the one end portion of the exhaust pipe 95 is pushed open. Further, the circular holes 84A may be provided in the extension wall 84 located above, instead of the extension wall 84 located below. In this case, the circular cylinders 84B extend upward from the circular holes 84A, and the exhaust pipes 95 are connected to upper portions of the circular cylinders 84B.

Instead of the two exhaust pipes 95, three of the exhaust pipes 95 may be provided. When the three exhaust pipes 95 are provided, the exhaust pipe 95 at the center may be connected to, for example, the central portion in the left-right direction of the connection groove 80. In this case, one of the circular holes 84A is provided at a central portion in the left-right direction of the extension wall 84 located below the connection groove 80. Further, the single exhaust pipe 95 may be provided, instead of the two exhaust pipes 95. Further, the exhaust pipe 95 need not necessarily be a tube, and may be a pipe formed of a metal material or a glass material. The exhaust pipe 95 need not necessarily be provided in the cloth support base 10.

The cover member 110 may be formed of, for example, a metal material or a glass material. For example, when the cover member 110 is steel wool or glass wool, air is contained inside the cover member 110. Therefore, the cover member 110 has higher heat resistance than the connection groove 80. Further, it is sufficient if the cover member 110 covers at least a part of the connection groove 80. Further, the connection groove 80 need not necessarily be provided with the cover member 110.

The connection groove 80 may be formed of, for example, a resin material, a glass material or a wooden material, instead of being formed of the metal material. The connection groove 80 may be provided below the storage portion 50, or may be provided above the storage portion 50. In this case, for example, tubular member that connect the plurality of storage spaces 55A of the storage portion 50 and the inside space 81 of the connection groove 80 may be provided. The storage object 6 stored in the plurality of storage spaces 55A moves to the inside space 81 of the connection groove 80 via the tubular member.

Instead of being connected to the rear end portion of the storage portion 50, the connection groove 80 may be connected to the front end portion of the storage portion 50, or may be formed in a central portion in the front-rear direction of the storage portion 50. In the case of the connection groove 80 formed in the central portion in the front-rear direction of the storage portion 50, each of the plurality of grooves 55 is connected to both the end portions in the front-rear direction of the connection groove 80. Further, instead of extending in the left-right direction, the connection groove 80 may, for example, extend forward or rearward as it proceeds toward the right. Even in this case, the connection groove 80 extends along the left-right direction. Further, in this case, the rear end portion of the storage portion 50 may extend in parallel with the extending direction of the connection groove 80. Further, instead of extending along the left-right direction, the connection groove 80 may extend in the up-down direction. The connection groove 80 that extends in the up-down direction may be connected to, for example, a central portion in the left-right direction of the rear end portion of the storage portion 50. The connection groove 80 need not necessarily be provided in the cloth support base 10.

The side walls 54 may be provided with through holes (not shown in the drawings), instead of extending continuously in the front-rear direction in a state in which the side walls stand in the up-down direction. The through holes penetrate the side walls 54 in the left-right direction. The second layer 52 may be provided with the single side wall 54M, instead of being provided with the plurality of side walls 54M. In this case, the bottom wall 53 and the side walls 54 form two of the grooves 55. Further, the side walls 54M need not necessarily be provided. In this case, the bottom wall 53 and the side walls 54L and 54R form the single groove 55.

A cloth support base 11, which is a modified example of the cloth support base 10, will be explained with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a schematic front view of the cloth support base 11. Note that structural members that are the same as the structural members of the cloth support base 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 7, and are briefly explained. The cloth support base 11 is provided with an auxiliary member 140 instead of the auxiliary member 30.

The auxiliary member 140 includes a bag portion 145, two insertion portions (not shown in the drawings), a first section 141, a second section 142 and a coupling portion 143. The bag portion 145 has a bag shape that is open to the front side and not open to the rear side. The length of the bag portion 145 in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the bag portion 31 of the auxiliary member 30 in the left-right direction. The bag portion 145 covers the porous member 60 and the storage portion 50. Hereinafter, the porous member 60 and the storage portion 50 are collectively referred to as a “housing body 160.”

The two insertion portions have a circular cylindrical shape, and extend in the front-rear direction. One of the two insertion portions is provided at the left end portion of the bag portion 145, and the other of the two insertion portions is provided at the right end portion of the bag portion 145. In the present modified example, as an example, the insertion portions are formed integrally with the bag portion 145. Both the first section 141 and the second section 142 are aluminum pipes that extend in the front-rear direction. The first section 141 is inserted into one of the two insertion portions, and the second section 142 is inserted into the other of the two insertion portions.

The coupling portion 143 is provided with a first coupling member 151, a frame-shaped member 155, a clamp member 156 and a second coupling member 152. The first coupling member 151 is formed in a band shape. The first coupling member 151 is provided with a one end portion 151A and another end portion 151B. The one end portion 151A is fixed to the first section 141. The first coupling member 151 is inserted through the inside of the frame-shaped member 155. More specifically, the first coupling member 151 is twisted around a part of the frame-shaped member 155, and is folded toward the first section 141.

The clamp member 156 is provided between the frame-shaped member 155 and the other end portion 151B of the first coupling member 151, in the extending direction of the first coupling member 151. The clamp member 156 clamps a folded-back section of the first coupling member 151. The second coupling member 152 is formed in a band shape. One end portion of the second coupling member 152 is fixed to the frame-shaped member 155. A hook 152A, which can be engaged with the second section 142, is provided on the other end portion of the second coupling member 152.

A method for the user to install the cloth support base 11 on the base 22 of the heat press machine 20 will be explained with reference to FIG. 7. The user causes the housing body 160 to enter the interior of the bag portion 145 of the auxiliary member 140 from the front side. At this time, the first section 141 and the second section 142 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction with the housing body 160 interposed between the first section 141 and the second section 142. For example, a crease or deflection occurs in an upper portion of the bag portion 145.

As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the user moves the first section 141 and the second section 142 to positions below the housing body 160, respectively. As a result, the bag portion 145 of the auxiliary member 140 is twisted around both the end portions in the left-right direction of the housing body 160. Then, the user causes the hook 152A to be engaged with the second section 142. The first coupling member 151 couples the first section 141 and the second section 142 in a posture in which the first coupling member 151 extends in the left-right direction. The user pulls the other end portion 151B of the first coupling member 151 to the left as indicated by an arrow W in FIG. 7 (b). At this time, the other end portion 151B moves to the left, and the first section 141 moves to the right. Therefore, the length in the left-right direction of the coupling portion 143 that couples the first section 141 and the second section 142 becomes shorter. The length in the left-right direction of the coupling portion 143 that couples the first section 141 and the second section 142 is shown as a dimension L in FIG. 7 (b).

Since the dimension L is shortened, tension is applied to the bag portion 145. As a result, the crease or deflection in the upper portion of the bag portion 145 is eliminated, and the upper portion of the bag portion 145 is stretched in the left-right direction. The upper portion of the bag portion 145 faces and comes into contact with the top surface of the housing body 160. Then, the user installs the cloth support base 11 on the base 22 of the heat press machine 20 (refer to FIG. 1). When the heating surface 27 has moved to the lower end position, the upper portion of the bag portion 145 faces and is in contact with the top surface of the housing body 160. Therefore, the application portion 5A (refer to FIG. 5) of the T-shirt 5 can easily maintain a flat state between the upper portion of the bag portion 145 and the heating surface 27. Thus, the heat generated by the heating surface 27 can be transmitted to the application portion 5A uniformly in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, and a crease is unlikely to occur in the application portion 5A that is heated.

Note that the bag portion 145 of the auxiliary member 140 is configured to cover a housing body (hereinafter referred to as a first housing body, which is not shown in the drawings) having a different size from the housing body 160. Hereinafter, the housing body 160 and the first housing body are collectively referred to as a “specified housing body.” Even when the bag portion 145 covers the first housing body, the user can adjust the length in the left-right direction of the coupling portion 143 that couples the first section 141 and the second section 142, corresponding to the size of the first housing body. Therefore, the upper portion of the bag portion 145 can face and come into contact with the top surface of the first housing body.

As described above, corresponding to the size of the specified housing body, the user adjusts the length in the left-right direction of the coupling portion 143 that couples the first section 141 and the second section 142. Thus, the upper portion of the bag portion 145 can face and come into contact with the top surface of the specified housing body.

Note that the bag portion 145 may be open upward, instead of being open forward. In this case, the opening of the bag portion 145 may be provided with a fastener that extends in the front-rear direction. The coupling portion 143 may be, for example, an elastic cord, instead of being provided with the first coupling member 151, the frame-shaped member 155, the clamp member 156 and the second coupling member 152. The elastic cord is connected to the first section 141, for example, and is provided with the hook 152A. In this case, the user causes the hook 152A to be engaged with the second section 142 in a state in which the elastic cord is stretched. Thus, tension is applied to the bag portion 145.

The coupling portion 143 may be provided with a hook portion (not shown in the drawings) that is configured to be engaged with the first section 141. In this case, the coupling portion 143 is configured to be attached to and detached from the first section 141 and the second section 142. Further, the first section 141 and the second section 142 may be, for example, annular members formed of a resin material, instead of the aluminum pipes that extend in the front-rear direction. As long as the first section 141 and the second section 142 are fixed to the bag portion 145, the bag portion 145 need not necessarily be provided with the two insertion portions (not shown in the drawings).

The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.

Claims

1. A cloth support base configured to be installed on a heat press machine, comprising:

a cloth support surface extending in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and

a storage portion including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, the bottom wall being positioned on a back side of the cloth support surface, the plurality of side walls protruding from the bottom wall in a third direction, the third direction being a direction from the bottom wall toward the cloth support surface, the bottom wall and the plurality of side walls forming a storage space configured to store a storage object including at least one of water vapor and water, the water vapor being generated as a result of moisture contained in a cloth supported by the cloth support surface being heat-treated by the heat press machine, the water being generated as a result of the water vapor being cooled, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall forming at least one groove, and the at least one groove being configured to guide the storage object stored in the storage space to move to the outside of the storage space in the first direction, and configured to restrict the storage object stored in the storage space from moving to the outside of the storage space in the second direction.

2. The cloth support base according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall form a plurality of the grooves arranged side by side in the second direction.

3. The cloth support base according to claim 2, further comprising:

a connection groove connected to each of the plurality of grooves and extending in the second direction.

4. The cloth support base according to claim 3, wherein

the connection groove is connected to end portions of the respective grooves on one side in the first direction.

5. The cloth support base according to claim 3, wherein

at least a part of the connection groove is provided opposite side to the cloth support surface with respect to the plurality of grooves.

6. The cloth support base according to claim 3, wherein

the connection groove is formed of a metal material.

7. The cloth support base according to claim 3, further comprising:

a cover member having heat resistance higher than heat resistance of the connection groove, and covering at least a part of the connection groove.

8. The cloth support base according to claim 3, further comprising:

an exhaust pipe connected to the connection groove.

9. The cloth support base according to claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of the exhaust pipes.

10. The cloth support base according to claim 8, wherein

the exhaust pipe is connected to a section of the connection groove, the section being displaced from a central portion, in the second direction, of the connection groove.

11. The cloth support base according to claim 8, wherein

the exhaust pipe is connected to a section of the connection groove, the section being between both end portions, in the second direction, of the connection groove.

12. The cloth support base according to claim 1, wherein

the storage portion includes: a first layer formed of a metal material or a resin material; and a second layer formed of a metal material or resin material, the second layer being provided on an opposite side to the cloth support surface with respect to the first layer, and being provided with the at least one groove.

13. The cloth support base according to claim 12, wherein

the storage portion includes a hole penetrating the first layer in a direction parallel to a direction from the first layer toward the second layer.

14. The cloth support base according to claim 1, further comprising:

a porous member having elasticity and provided on the third direction side with respect to the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall.

15. The cloth support base according to claim 1, further comprising:

an auxiliary member including the cloth support surface and a first surface, the first surface being a surface on an opposite side to the cloth support surface, a friction coefficient of the cloth support surface being smaller than a friction coefficient of a contact surface with which the first surface comes into contact.

16. The cloth support base according to claim 15, wherein

the auxiliary member includes: a bag portion configured to cover the storage portion and the cloth support surface; a first section provided on the bag portion; a second section provided on the bag portion, the first section and the second section being arranged side by side in the second direction; and a coupling portion configured to couple the first section and the second section, and adjust a length of the coupling portion in the second direction.

17. The cloth support base according to claim 1, further comprising

an extension portion provided on one side in the first direction with respect to the cloth support surface, and extending in the first direction.

18. The cloth support base according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of side walls extend in the first direction.

19. A cloth support base being installable on a heat press machine, comprising:

a cloth support surface extending in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and

a storage portion including a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls, the bottom wall being positioned on a back side of the cloth support surface, the plurality of side walls protruding from the bottom wall in a third direction, the third direction being a direction from the bottom wall toward the cloth support surface, the bottom wall and the plurality of side walls forming at least one groove which is storable a storage object including at least one of water vapor and water.