Abstract: In some examples, a screen printing unit includes a screen printing forme cylinder, an impression cylinder, and a frame including two frame side walls. The screen printing unit further includes first and second base modules, each comprising two stationary base side walls that each have a one-piece design. Each base module includes four installation areas for rotational transport bodies whose positions coincide in the base modules, and the respective first and second installation areas of each base module form a respective selection group of the base module. An impression cylinder cooperating with the screen printing forme cylinder is in one of the installation areas of the selection group of the first base module, and a respective rotational transport body is arranged in each of the four installation areas of the base modules. A functionally different rotational transport body is arranged in an installation area of the first base module.

Abstract: A printing machine (10) comprises a doctor blade (14), a drive system (20) for urging the doctor blade (14) against a printing cylinder (16) of the printing machine (10), a sensor (32) adapted for sensing a force with which the doctor blade (14) is urged against the printing cylinder (16), and a mechanical locking element (34) adapted for locking the drive system (20) in its operating position. Further, a method of operating a printing machine (10) is presented.

Abstract: A recording device includes a recording unit configured to perform recording on a medium, a housing unit configured to house the recording unit and including an opening through which the recording unit is visible, an opening/closing cover configured to open and close the opening, and an illumination unit provided at a predetermined position above the recording unit and configured to illuminate an interior of the housing unit. The illumination unit is configured to move to a retracted position farther away from the recording unit than is the predetermined position, in response to the opening/closing cover being opened.

Abstract: A method for screen printing of a material on a substrate is provided. The method includes moving a process head assembly having at least one deposition device from a first position to a second position to perform a stroke, wherein the stroke includes at least a first phase for material processing of a material on a screen device using the at least one deposition device and a second phase for a material transfer from the screen device to the substrate. The at least one deposition device moves in a first direction in the first phase. At least one device moves in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction in the first phase. The at least one deposition device and the at least one device simultaneously move during at least a part of the first phase. The at least one device is selected from the group including the at least one deposition device, a material processing device, the screen device, and a substrate support.

Abstract: A solder recovery device includes a recovery plate, a lifting and lowering device, and multiple connecting sections. The recovery plate recovers solder. The lifting and lowering device lifts up and lowers the recovery plate. The multiple connecting sections include a fixing portion provided on the recovery plate and configured to detachably attach the recovery plate to the lifting and lowering device and a fixed portion provided on the lifting and lowering device and to which the fixing portion is fixed, and are configured to restrain the recovery plate from moving in a predetermined direction relative to the lifting and lowering device when the fixing portion is fixed to the fixed portion. The multiple connecting sections have different restraining directions in which the recovery plate is restrained from moving relative to the lifting and lowering device.

Abstract: A vision system is used in a stencil printer configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The vision system includes a housing, a dual camera assembly supported by the housing and a prism assembly supported by the housing and configured with the dual camera assembly to provide a first optical path that looks vertically up at a bottom of a stencil and a second optical path that looks vertically down on an electronic substrate.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit (26) for a printing machine is presented. It comprises a dryer interface (28) connectable to a dryer unit (18) of the printing machine in a heat conductive manner and a print interface (30) connectable to a printing unit (14) of the printing machine in a heat conductive manner, wherein the refrigeration unit (26) is adapted to transfer heat (32, 34) from the print interface (30) to the dryer interface (28). Furthermore, a printing machine is described. It comprises a printing unit (14) adapted for printing on a web of carrier material, a dryer unit (18) being adapted for drying printed web of carrier material, and a refrigeration unit (26) as mentioned above.

Abstract: A direct to mesh (DtM) screen printer for creating a screen stencil is provided. The DtM screen printer includes a fixture to hold a frame, which holds a pre-stretched mesh in place during application of a jettable emulsion, a platen having a cavity and an array of holes in a top surface of the platen, a non-woven fabric placed on the top surface of the platen and saturated with a release fluid located against one side of the pre-stretched mesh, and a printer carriage supporting a print head for printing the jettable emulsion on a side of the pre-stretched mesh opposite the non-woven fabric.

Abstract: An over-varnish unit and mandrel pre-spin system for a can decorator, especially for beverage can bodies, can have a mandrel pre-spin belt that is outside of the over-varnish unit housing. The position of the can infeed on the mandrel wheel and the print point is controlled.

Abstract: In some examples, a screen printing unit includes a screen printing forme cylinder, an impression cylinder, and at least one further rotational transport body. A fixing element of the impression cylinder includes inner and outer contact surfaces for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface has a base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the impression cylinder. A cylinder barrel of the impression cylinder has a supporting surface for sheets that includes an impression portion having a constant barrel radius, which extends over at least 170° about the axis of rotation of the impression cylinder and the barrel radius is larger than the base radius. A fixing element of the further rotational transport body includes an inner and an outer contact surface for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface includes the base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the further rotational transport body.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for printing images on generally cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises an impression station that includes a movable imaging surface for bearing an ink image; and a transport mechanism for advancing the objects through the impression station, comprising a drive member rotatably connected to a plurality of rotatable mandrels, each for mounting a respective one of the objects, the transport mechanism being configured to cause each object to rotate during passage through the impression station such that, within a nip region of the impression station, the surface of the object makes rolling contact with the imaging surface, thereby causing the ink image to be impressed on the object. An impression platen is provided opposite the imaging surface within the nip region, the impression platen being configured to apply a force, directly or indirectly, to the objects to ensure rolling contact between the objects and the imaging surface.

Abstract: A sensor is located upstream of a conveyance roller in a sheet conveyance direction. A switch switches driving and stopping of a photosensitive drum. A controller performs a first mode process as a warm-up process of driving the conveyance roller and a fuser. The first mode process includes: driving the photosensitive drum for a particular time; in response to detecting a sheet within the particular time by the sensor, controlling the switch to continue driving the photosensitive drum after the particular time elapses and to discharge the detected sheet to a sheet discharge tray; and in response to not detecting the sheet within the particular time by the sensor, controlling the switch to stop driving the photosensitive drum at a time point when the particular time elapses, and driving the conveyance roller and the fuser to complete the warm-up process in a state where the photosensitive drum is stopped.

Abstract: Printing machine of the blocking press type, comprising a heating block which comprises a curved carrier medium surface of a printing plate, an application head comprising means of guidance of the heating block in a tilting motion, and an actuator for tilting of the heating block relative to the application head.

Abstract: Support blocks for printed circuit boards (PCB's) and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA's), wherein the support blocks are produced from a 3D printing process. The support block including a bottom surface having a vacuum connection; a top surface having at least one vacuum hole; at least one recessed surface that is offset from the top surface; and at least one vacuum channel extending from the vacuum connection to the at least one vacuum hole.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an accommodating part configured to accommodate a sheet-like medium wound in a roll shape, an apparatus main body provided with a conveyer and an image forming engine, an electrically driven cutter, a cover configured to take a closed position for forming an exposable portion of a conveying path downstream in the conveying direction of the cutter and an open position to expose the exposable portion of the conveying path to the outside, a detector configured to detect a conveyance jam of the medium at a position downstream in the conveying direction of the exposable portion of the conveying path, a notifier configured to make notification to a user, and a controller configured to cause the notifier to prompt the user to cut off the medium at an arbitrary position in the exposable portion of the conveying path when the detector detects the conveyance jam.

Abstract: A method of decorating a metal can body and comprising printing a fine pattern onto the can body using a non-varnishable ink, and applying a varnish over the printed fine pattern while the printed non-varnishable ink remains wet. The pattern is configured to give rise to a textured pattern in the varnish once the varnish has dried.

Abstract: A hot stamping machine is provided, including a machine table, a processing platform, a hot stamping device and a license plate conveying device, wherein the hot stamping device includes an upper heating plate, a single-rod cylinder, a carbon ribbon and a carbon ribbon conveying mechanism; two groups of lifting mechanisms are used for driving lifting plates to move in the perpendicular direction, tops of two groups of grabbing devices are connected, and grabbing device moving mechanisms are used for driving the grabbing devices to move linearly between the two groups of lifting plates and the processing platform up and down and to the left and the right. Compared with an existing rolling hot stamping machine, the hot stamping machine does not require manual involvement in feeding and discharging, shortens the time for hot stamping one license plate by two-thirds, and has a high hot stamping efficiency.

Abstract: A layer transfer device includes: a cover; a heat roller; a controller; temperature sensors including first and second sensors; and a locking member movable between a locking position to lock the cover to a closed position and an unlocking position to permit movement of the cover from the closed position to an open position. The first sensor measures temperature of a first member heated by a multilayer film or a sheet having been heated by the heat roller. The second sensor measures temperature of a second member heated by the heat roller. The controller determines evaluated temperatures based on temperatures measured by the temperature sensors, places the locking member in the locking position when at least one of the evaluated temperatures is not lower than a first threshold value, and places the locking member in the unlocking position when the evaluated temperatures are all lower than the first threshold value.

Abstract: Methods and systems of actively cooling a card while the card is within a card processing machine are described. One or more cooling stations are provided within the card processing machine to actively cool the card prior to performing a processing operation, during a processing operation, and/or after a processing operation on the card in order to reduce a temperature of the surface of the card.

Abstract: A platen assembly for printing on face masks which includes a base member having a plurality of jig members mounted thereon. The base member has a top surface and a bottom surface, with its bottom surface operative to attach to a platen holding mechanism of a conventional direct to garment printer. Each of the jig members may be attached to the top surface of the base member and hold a single face mask in such a manner that it can be printed on. Edges of the base member and of each jig member include interface portions which allow portions of the face mask to be selectively threaded through to more effectively keep the face masks in place, being held smooth and taught.