US 11,752,787 B2
Gripper mechanism for garment printer
Ohad Snir, Kiryat-Ono (IL); and Nuriel Amir, Yokneam Ilit (IL)
Assigned to Kornit Digital Ltd., Rosh HaAyin (IL)
Appl. No. 16/763,238
Filed by Kornit Digital Ltd., Rosh HaAyin (IL)
PCT Filed Nov. 12, 2018, PCT No. PCT/IL2018/051218
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 12, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/092727, PCT Pub. Date May 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/584,831, filed on Nov. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0307277 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. B41J 13/22 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); B65H 5/10 (2006.01); B65H 5/04 (2006.01); B41F 15/18 (2006.01); B41J 11/06 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 13/22 (2013.01) [B41J 3/4078 (2013.01); B65H 5/04 (2013.01); B65H 5/10 (2013.01); B41F 15/18 (2013.01); B41J 11/06 (2013.01); B65H 2701/174 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for positioning a garment on a printing platen for digital printing, the device comprising:
a first gripper configured to controllably grip onto a first edge of the garment at a first side of the platen;
a sliding mechanism connected to said gripper and configured to slide said gripper from said first side of the platen to a second side of said platen opposite said first side, thereby to pull said edge to said second side and position said garment across said platen for printing at a digital printer, said sliding mechanism comprising a rail extending along a length of said platen from said first side to said second side, a trolley movable along said rail, and a motor to move said trolley, said gripper being mobile with said trolley;
a laser source;
a photodetector;
an indicator, the photodetector positioned to detect occlusions caused by wrinkles or folds of said garment on said platen, said indicator being connected to said photodetector to provide a warning to said operator concerning said wrinkles; and
a housing, the housing holding said sliding mechanism over said platen and said gripper being suspended from said rail within said housing, the housing comprising a hood extending over said platen from above, said hood being located to obscure a platen loading position and thereby prevent manual loading of said garment onto said platen, said first gripper extending downwardly from said hood.