Champion Products, Inc.

Joseph E Geary

Joseph Pelensky

John Peter Hart

In a system for flocking a substrate, such as a garment, the improvement comprising a method, apparatus and article for adjustably controlling the moisture content of the flock in the flock tray to any desired moisture level, whereby the flocking machine is not limited to use only in a plant having a humidity controlled atmosphere.

System for controlling the moisture content of flock in a flocking

A flocking system including a cabinet supporting a substrate to be flocked and a flock tray, means for raising and lowering the flock tray into and out of contact with the substrate (such as a garment), and means for sealing the moving flock tray to the cabinet to prevent flock from getting into the cabinet to prevent contamination of the mechanics of the internal portion of the cabinet by flock. The flock tray includes a slowly rotating rotor for keeping the flock agitated, a telescoping shaft connecting the rotor to the motor, a flock tray holder for maintaining the seal with the cabinet, and a flock tray cover with one or more flocking masks with various size openings.

Apparatus for applying flock to a substrate

A garment holding turret system for a flocking machine including spring biased means for holding excessive portions of a garment in place while the adhesive is being applied and during the flock cycle. The turret has no protuberance at the chest or stomach of the operator to hinder the operator's movements in placing a garment on the turret or during the screen printing operation. The turret can be rotated in one direction for setting up the machine or making adjustments without activating the high voltage and can be rotated in the other direction to activate the high voltage for the flocking operation.

Garment holding turret system for a flocking machine

A method and apparatus for applying flock to a substrate, such as a garment, comprising a compact, portable, self-contained flocking machine in which the cabinet and flocking trays are non-metallic and are preferably wood and plastic, respectively, whereby the electric field from an electrode in the flocking tray to the metallic garment holding platen causes the flock to move in a straight, uniform, dense pattern from the flock tray to the garment. In addition, the high voltage electrode in the flock tray is not energized until the flock tray has moved up and made contact with the garment holding platen to prevent flock from coming up out of the tray while the tray is moving up and down and to prevent any risk of shock to the operator. The platen is mounted on a rotatable shaft and diametrically opposed to a similar platen in an uppermost position which is operatively associated with a screen printer. In use, a printed substrate is flocked while an additional substrate is being printed.

Method of applying flock to a substrate

An apparatus for applying flock to a substrate, such as a garment, comprising a compact, portable, self-contained flocking machine in which the cabinet and flocking trays are non-metallic and are preferably wood and plastic, respectively, whereby the electric field from an electrode in the flocking tray to the metallic garment holding platen causes the flock to move in a straight, uniform, dense pattern from the flock tray to the garment. In addition, the high voltage electrode in the flock tray is not energized until the flock tray has moved up and made contact with the garment holding platen to prevent flock from coming up out of the tray while the tray is moving up and down and to prevent any risk of shock to the operator.

A method and apparatus for making flocked heat transfers such that, when the resultant flocked heat transfer is applied to a receiving surface such as a garment, no objectionable thermoplastic deposit is left on the garment in the background areas of the flocked graphic design. The method comprises applying the flocked pattern onto a thermoplastic film carrier, placing an open mesh carrier cloth on top of the flocked pattern and film, and then applying a vacuum behind the cloth carrier while heating the sandwich structure to draw the heat softened thermoplastic film deep into the fibers of the carrier cloth of the heat transfer. The carrier cloth has a weave and absorbency so as to accept the thermoplastic material and retain it when the flocked heat transfer is finally applied to a receiving surface such as a garment, so that none of the film transfers to the garment in the background areas.

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Rochester, NY, United States of America

Joseph E Geary