Abstract: A screen drive assembly is described for use with screen printing presses for facilitating the printing of elongated articles. In the printing press of the subject invention, the screen is driven towards and away from the press over the article to be printed by a unique drive which converts the reciprocal motion of the drive carriage between the end supports to a reciprocal motion in a perpendicular direction. The article is mounted for printing with an axis of rotation parallel to the primary support shafts, and may be substantially freely rotated, in response to the passage of the screen over the article during the printing cycle.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus having a screen support carriage and squeegee support mechanism which are both mounted for separate lateral back and forth movement on horizontal support bars which are in turn mounted for vertical movement. The vertical movement of the support bars and the lateral movement of either the squeegee support mechanism or the carriage support mechanism is produced by penumatic cylinders which are sequentially operated through a pneumatic control system.

Abstract: A silk screen printing machine wherein a screen is supported on a frame for engagement with an object to be printed. A squeegee is mounted for engagement with the screen during printing, and drive means operate to displace the screen and squeegee from the printing position after each printing operation whereby a new printing cycle can be initiated. The drive means pivots an arm which supports the squeegee. A link extends from the arm, and the link is operatively connected to the frame supporting the screen. Pivoting of the arm thereby simultaneously moves the squeegee away from the screen while moving the screen away from the object printed. The support for the screen frame is confined by a track holding the frame in a predetermined path of movement toward and away from the object printing position.

Abstract: In a screen printing process and machine for stepwise printing a succession of images, the screen printing stencil is moved along with the material during the printing operation, while the material is supported by a rotatable backing roller against the force applied to the material by the screen and a doctor blade disposed opposite the backing roller. During the printing operation the material is rolled against the stencil by the backing roller which together with the doctor may be moved in the opposite direction to the stencil. The direction of movement of the backing roller and an upstream guide roller, relative to the direction of movement of the stencil, is such as to promote separation of the material after printing from the stencil.

Abstract: The machine for serigraphic printing on planar or circular objects is of the type comprising a support block having a device for holding the object to be printed and a printing screen above which is vertically movable ink squeegee is suspended. The screen and squeegee undergo a relative movement of reciprocating translation. The machine comprises an adjustable device for cyclically limiting the reciprocating travel of the screen relative to the squeegee or vice-versa. The adjustable device acts alternately on devices for controlling, lowering or raising the squeegee relative to the screen or vice versa. The adjustable device is moreover coupled to a device for withdrawing the support block. The support block is provided with an ejector of the objects mounted on the support block.

Abstract: A rotary cylindrical-screen printing apparatus for specularly printing equal patterns and/or colors onto the opposite faces of a fabric is disclosed, comprising two rotary screen printing machines, each equipped with electromechanical means for synchronizing the speed of the belt with the speed of the printing rollers, in which said machines are coupled by arranging one machine over the other, the fabric entering the underlying machine and thereafter entering the second upper machine which prints the opposite face of the fabric, the second machine comprising a transmission roller associated with its belt having a diameter equal to at least twice the diameter of the contiguous roller of the first machine, the apparatus comprising means for synchronizing the speeds of the printing rollers of two machines, including a transducer linked to the speed of the belt of a machine, whose outgoing frequency signal is sent to pilot the electrohydraulic motors controlling the printing rollers of both machines and means for

Abstract: A screen printing machine is described which multiplies the normal carriage stroke of a printing machine to allow printing on the surfaces of large objects of revolution. The drive means comprises a sprocket-chain assembly with a chain connected to the carriage drive for following its lateral reciprocal movement. The sprocket is fixedly mounted in axial alignment with a pinion gear for rotation about that axis. The pinion gear in turn is engaged with a rack gear mounted on the screen. As the sprocket rotates, the pinion gear drives the rack and screen in lateral motion. The ratio of pinion gear diameter size to sprocket diameter size governs the stroke length of the screen. With a large (2 to 1 or 3 to 1) ratio the screen stroke or lateral movement of the screen may be doubled or tripled in length.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for treating sheet material with liquid substances employing a squeegee for the application of ink or the like onto a sheet material by means of a screen. A side stop arrangement employing sealing plates for cooperating with the squeegee, laterally limits the amount of ink being applied to the material. The stop arrangement has at least one wall portion which is inclined with respect to the direction of motion of the screen and the sealing plate is adjusted so that the bottom surface of the plate is in a portion of an ink pool but spaced from a rotary printing screen so as to form a gap between the bottom surface of the sealing plate and the screen.

Abstract: An improved low cost screen printing apparatus for printing on both flat and curvilinear objects. Two vertically aligned shafts support the printing head and, by following the pivotal motion of a rocker arm, raise and lower the printing head relative to the object being printed with a straight vertical displacement, resulting from the controlled movement of the upper shaft by the rocker arm which drives the upper shaft through an elongated slot. The squeegee assembly operates in a timed relationship with the raising and lowering of the screen head to alternatively raise and lower the squeegee assembly concurrently with the raising and lowering of the screen so that the squeegee and flood bar are retained in an operative position and parallel to the screen surface during both print and flood cycles. When the screen and squeegee assembly are in the raised position, the squeegee assembly and screen frame are selectively connectable to a reciprocating carriage, for printing either curvilinear or flat objects.

Abstract: A squeege structure for a screen stencil of a printing machine comprises an elongated carrier frame and a squeegee coupled to the carrier frame by a thrust drive for moving the squeegee between operative and nonoperative positions. The thrust drive includes a central first thrust drive unit and a plurality of second thrust drive units mounted on each side of the first thrust drive unit. The movable portion of the first thrust drive unit may only move along its thrust axis which is in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the carrier frame and is restrained from moving in a direction perpendicular to the thrust axis. The movable members of the second thrust drive units may move along their thrust axes and may also move in a direction perpendicular to the thrust axis and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the carrier frame, but may not move in a direction perpendicular to both the thrust axis and the carrier frame longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A squeegee blade for a thick film printing apparatus is held between horizontally compressing holder plates. One of the holder plates is integrally formed with a member for attachment to the pressure printing apparatus. The other holder plate attaches to the first one. The squeegee presents a sharp corner edge exposed from the holding plates and provision is made for varying the angle of attack for different inks used in the film printing process.

Abstract: Stencilling apparatus having a trough type fluid scoop positioned behind, parallel to, and spaced from the stencilling squeegee, the scoop being pivotally shiftable through a scooping motion to scoop up excess fluid after the squeegee is elevated. The pivotal shifting is from a first scoop position wherein an edge of the scoop serves as a flow coater to a second position wherein the scoop retains the fluid scooped.

Abstract: Stencilling apparatus having a trough-type fluid scoop ahead of the squeegee and pivotally shiftable in a rearward direction from a fluid dumping position, through a sweeping fluid scooping action adjacent the screen, to a fluid retention position in engagement with the squeegee.

Abstract: A screen printing machine comprising a transporting mechanism supporting thereon a material to be printed for transporting the material continuously or intermittently to a printing operation zone is disclosed in which a lifting device is used to bring the material to be printed into contact with a screen and a squeegee member. The printing machine includes a screen disposed in the printing operation zone above a running passage for the material to be printed and a squeegee member disposed to squeeze out a printing paste or ink through the screen onto the material to be printed.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the phase of a flat screen in an automatic flat screen printing machine, which comprises a supporting member for supporting a flat screen, a supporting and driving system for supporting said screen supporting member in such a state that the screen supporting member can be moved in the lengthwise direction of the machine, at least one adjustment screw mechanism for connecting said screen supporting member to said screen supporting and driving system, a phase adjustment driving mechanism for turning said screw mechanism to displace said screen supporting member in the lengthwise direction of the machine.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly for stencilling apparatus employing cooperative front and rear panels astraddle the squeegee, the panels being shiftable between (1) an extended condition away from the squeezee and in which such cooperatively form an open bottom chamber for the stencilling fluid about the squeegee, and also the rear panel serves as a flow coater and the front panel serves as a fluid barrier, and (2) a retracted position at the squeegee to close the fluid chamber about the squeegee. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to stencilling apparatus, and more particularly to a stencilling assembly with control of the stencil fluid.In recent years, several developments have been made in squeegee assemblies of stencilling apparatus to obtain better control of the stencil fluid characteristics during continued stencilling.

Abstract: A silk screen printing machine comprises a frame, a pair of parallel spaced-apart levers pivotally mounted on opposed side walls of the frame, and a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder connected to one of the levers for raising and lowering a pair of parallel bars of which one is connected between a pair of corresponding ends of the levers. A carriage for the silk screen is mounting for translational sliding movement on the bars. A transverse member is provided for supporting a squeegee carrier unit cooperable with the silk screen for printing on an object. A longitudinal bar parallel to the bars carries the transverse member and is secured at its ends beyond the limits of the stroke of the carriage along the bars to connecting links in which the bars are journaled at their ends.

Abstract: A doctoring device for a printing block such as a screen stencil. The doctor profile frictionally holds the doctor blade which is both reversible and replaceable. An elastomer profile may be provided to resiliently support a portion of the doctor blade adjacent its working edge.

Abstract: A "silk screen" is provided with a patterned pervious portion the dimension of which, in the direction of screen movement, is substantially less than the circumference of the cylindrical substrate. The screen is then moved beneath a squeegee through a distance which is greater than the indicated dimension of the pattern but less than the substrate circumference, the result being that a thick film of resistive material is metered onto the substrate without any overlapping or smearing. The squeegee, at the end of the screen-printing stroke, is located at an impervious portion of the screen, so that even unspindled small-diameter ceramic substrates are disengaged from the screen with no sticking or smearing. Such cylindrical substrates are solid in order to be economical, and to permit zero moisture intrusion. It is a feature of the invention that such economical solid substrates can be used, and are driven solely by screen friction so that loading, unloading and other problems are minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus for the silk screen printing of labels, artwork, descriptive material, etc. on cylindrical containers. The silk screen is prepared and set up in a carriage for reciprocative movement above a container cradle assembly positioned for pivotally moving a container into and out of peripheral engagement with the underside of the silk screen. An adjustable measuring device is provided to receive a cylindrical container and to indicate the diameter thereof on a calibrated scale in indexing reference numeral graduations. The measuring device is interconnected with an air cylinder utilized to drive the container cradle assembly so as to control the pivotal stroke thereof to properly position all subsequent like-diameter containers inserted in the cradle for the silk screen printing operation and for removal from the cradle.

Abstract: Stencilling apparatus having a print and flow action relative to a combination squeegee and flow coater assembly, wherein excess stencilling fluid ahead of the squeegee can flow through the assembly, by flow over the squeegee into a control reservoir behind the squeegee and ahead of the trailing flow coater, and a controlled layer of the fluid flows from the reservoir beneath the lower edge of the flow coater onto the underlying stencil screen.

Abstract: A flexible squeegee for use in round or irregularly shaped screen-printing frames, whose design permits it to sweep all, or substantially all, of the screen surface.

Abstract: Improved squeegee apparatus for screen printing of carpets and other materials. A reservoir for receiving printing liquid is supported in spaced apart relation with a printing screen having a perforated pattern design therein. A squeegee head having screen-contacting sealing members is suspended from the reservoir with a flexible interconnection allowing the squeegee to ride along the screen surface, as the screen and the squeegee head undergo relative movement during printing. The squeegee head is provided with pressure reactive surfaces which adjust the screen-engaging force of the squeegee head, and also the sealing of the sealing surfaces, in response to pressure of the printing liquid in the reservoir. The present squeegee apparatus is especially useful for rotary screen printing of carpets.

Abstract: An arrangement on screen printing machines, particularly rotary screen printing machines, in which the dyestuff is taken from a dye pan and passed through the apertures in a screen and is applied onto the web of goods to be treated, which comprises a dye shutter disposed in the penetration zone for the dyestuff on the side of the screen remote from the weg of goods, to be closed when the machine is stopped.

Abstract: In a stencil screen printing system, submersion transfer apparatus for forcing fluid through the pattern screen, including an elongated member with downwardly depending end supports having therebetween a strand submersed in the coating fluid e.g. printing ink. The elongated member is fitted in place of the conventional squeegee on a stencil screen press, so that the submerged strand is positioned in contact with the upper surface of the stencil screen during the print stroke to force fluid such as ink through the pattern of the mesh screen.

Abstract: Stencilling apparatus for applying successive coatings to traveling web stock. The web stock may be advanced in successive wraparound turns to the same stencilling station. The adjacent turns are stencilled simultaneously at this station by a multipart squeegee in a multipart stencil frame, after each is placed in registry. The web tension in each turn of web stock is independently controlled by a pressure differential controller that retains a variable length loop of web under tension by a dynamic air flow pressure differential, which also causes a drying action of any coating on the web.

Abstract: A stencil screen printing press especially suitable for web stock, employing a stencil frame that rocks back and forth over a curved bed in a controlled relation to retractable web register means and to web directional control and advancing means.

Abstract: A stencilling printer with a flow coater specially mounted to sense viscosity of stencil fluid flowing from a reservoir between the flow coater and the squeegee, the flow coater being shiftable and operably associated with a supply of viscosity-altering liquid for controllably altering the viscosity of stencil fluid in the reservoir.

Abstract: Slit registry apparatus and method for registry of flexible, generally planar stock as for stencilling thereon, involving formation of periodic transverse slits and adjacent edges in the stock, at least one of the edges and the adjacent stock zone or area being offset from the plane of the stock for engagement of this offset edge by a registration surface.

Abstract: A dyestuff applicator, located inside a cylindrical printing screen, comprises a horizontal tube which supports an axially extending dyestuff-distributing member immediately overlying the inner screen surface. The distributing member, or at least a membrane-shaped bottom thereof, is under pressure of the liquid dyestuff supplied to the tube at a superatmospheric pressure equivalent to a head of at least 1000 mm water. To insure full effectiveness of this pressure over the length of an outlet zone in the bottom of the distributing member, the body of liquid overlying that zone within the applicator should have a cross-section exceeding in at least one dimension 1.5% of the length of a flow path as measured from a point of entry of the dyestuff into the space containing that body of liquid.

Abstract: A stencil printing, coating or coloring machine has a flexible hollow metal cylinder in contact with the stencil, and a perforate strip in the area of contact between the stencil and cylinder. The ends of the cylinder are sealed by deformable covers, and the interior of the cylinder is at least partially filled with printing, coating or coloring material.

Abstract: A stencil printer has a base mounting an ink container and yieldable guides adapted to be traversed by a stencil carrier and a card carrier. The ink container has curved bottom and end walls and is spanned by a removable flexible plastic sheet confined by removable bearing blocks which journal the ends of roller shafts. The stencil holder releasably anchors a stencil in a manner convenient for removal and in proper printing position. The card carrier includes a card anchor spring urged to anchoring position and releasable incident to movement of the carrier to a releasing position. The device includes cushioning bumpers to deaden noise incident to operating movement of the device.

Abstract: A dyestuff applicator, located inside a cylindrical printing screen, comprises a horizontal ink tube which supports an axially extending ink-distributing member with freedom of relative mobility in a vertical axial plane of the tube. The distributing member, resting on the inner screen surface, forms a discharge slot communicating with the interior of the tube through a multiplicity of conduits closely spaced along the tube axis, the conduits being disconnectable from the slot with the aid of an axially slidable or rotatable shutter common to all the conduits and lodged in the distributing member. This distributing member is weighted down by the pressure of the ink in an overlying space, or by springs or fluid cushions inserted between that member and the tube.

Abstract: A dyestuff applicator, overlying an area of a movable printing screen through which dyestuff is to be fed to a substrate, comprises a horizontal supply tube which supports an axially extending dyestuff-distributing member with freedom of relative movement in a vertical axial plane of the tube. The distributing member, resting under pressure on the screen, forms a discharge slot communicating with the interior of the tube through a multiplicity of conduits closely spaced along the tube axis, the conduits being disconnectable from the slot with the aid of a slidable or rotatable shutter lodged in the distributing member and controlled by an external actuator mounted on the supply tube.

Abstract: A silkscreen printing machine, having a printing drum supporting material which is to be printed. Sensing means for indicating the position of the material are arranged on the drum, and an adjusting device is arranged to stop the front edge of the material at a predetermined position, in which gripper means grips the material.

Abstract: Automatic registration of the web of sheet material on a printing cylinder is effected in a silk screen printing apparatus which includes a printing frame reciprocably movable in an impressing and return cycle. A printing cylinder is arranged for carrying a web of sheet material in impression receiving relation to said printing frame during the impression-forming portion of its movement. Web guide rollers are arranged to direct the web to and from said printing cylinder. A first drive arrangement, including a first motor, is connected both to drive the printing frame reciprocably and said printing cylinder unidirectionally in the impression-receiving direction. The printing cylinder is disengaged from the first drive during the reverse travel of the printing frame so that the web is stationary. A second drive arrangement is provided, including a second motor, connected to drive the printing cylinder in a second direction, that is the reverse of the printing direction.

Abstract: A screen printing press employs a screen carriage securing a printing screen frame and screen therein and which reciprocates through print and return strokes over a reciprocally rotating print cylinder. Printing stock is advanced between the print cylinder and the screen during printing strokes. The screen carriage includes a disengageable drive which permits feeding print stock through the machine without effecting printing thereon. The screen carriage further includes adjustable screen frame holding means to which the screen frame is slidably mounted permitting partial or total removal of the screen frame from the screen carriage. A fully adjustable squeegee means and flow coater assembly is positioned above the screen and is provided for elevating and longitudinally shifting the flow coater and squeegee assembly away from the printing area for inspection and maintenance of the press.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly for use on a screen printing machine which includes a squeegee holder and associated squeegee blade having a liquid filled tubular member for exerting a liquid or hydraulic pressure on the squeegee blade in a manner whereby the pressure exerted by the squeegee blade is equalized along the entire length thereof and to provide the squeegee blade with the flexibility necessary to conform to a printing surface. The assembly may also include a piston and cylinder assembly to vary the liquid pressure exerted on the squeegee blade and/or a contour bar through which the liquid pressure is transmitted to the squeegee blade.