Abstract: A portable resin curing apparatus is used for curing or drying materials printed on a screen press which has rotatable platens carrying screen printed sheets from a printing station to a curing station. The portable curing apparatus is located and the curing station has electrical resistance heating elements alternating between low voltage and high voltage in conjunction with a forced airflow between the heating elements and printed material being cured. A controller is employed which sends an electrical signal upon advancement of the printed materials. Full curing voltage with no forced airflow is supplied to the heating elements during curing operations, whereas a lower voltage in combination with forced airflow is employed during the intervals between successive curing operations to prevent heat from continuing to be imparted to the printed material while still allowing for rapid re-attainment of full curing upon resumption of production.

Abstract: A pallet for supporting shirts for printing over the entire surface of the shirt, particularly including the sleeves. A shirt is telescoped over a thin upper panel whereafter separate sleeve panels mounted to the upper panel are slid outward into the sleeves of the shirt to provide support thereto. The sleeve panels may be provided with means for moving to their extended position automatically. With the sleeve panels still maintained outward, the upper panel is then lowered down into abutment with the lower panel to secure the shirt between the upper and lower panels. Lowering of the upper panel with the sleeve panels mounted thereto causes the sleeve panels to be raised so that the pallet forms a generally planar overall surface upon which the shirt is supported and maintained in a stationary position during printing.

Abstract: A registration apparatus and method is provided to accurately register film positive on screens held by screen frames and to likewise accurately register the screen frames within a printing apparatus with a registration system which reduces set-up time required for the printing machine without requiring an expensive automated registration system. An image positive is positioned on a vacuum table relative to a pair of registration pins or members which fit registration clamps on the screen frame. A plurality of pin tabs are secured on the vacuum table with their respective pins projecting through holes in the image positive. Each successive positive will be positioned on these pin tabs so that all successive positive have the same relationship between their respective image and the registration clamps of their associated screen frames.

Abstract: An automatic screen printing press has a frame with a plurality of platens which are movable seriatim through a plurality of stations in an endless path of movement past printing heads having a power-driven squeegee carriage thereon. At least one of the printing heads is mounted for movement and is positioned at a first location adjacent an open printing station at which cooling or drying of the ink is done when printing in a first sequence. When desiring to print in a different or second sequence, the movable printing head is shifted to previously open printing station to print at this latter station during this second sequence thereby leaving its previously-occupied station open for cooling or drying of ink during this second sequence. The movable head allows the user to print a larger number of sequences using fewer printing heads than a user can print using a conventional, automated screen printer which has the same number of printing heads, but all of which heads are fixedly mounted.

Abstract: Screen emulsions in accordance with the present invention include a poly vinyl alcohol and poly vinyl acetate or a poly vinyl acetate copolymer emulsified in water along with appropriate amounts of diacetone acrylamide and an acrylic monomer. The emulsions preferably also include a cyclic amide, phthalate plasticizers, an initiator of monomer polymerization and a thermal stabilizer. The emulsions are intended to be admixed with a photosensitive free radical-generating compound that initiates cross-linking of the polymeric components and then applied to a mesh or screen. The screen is overlaid with an obliterating material, exposed to light and then washed to remove non-exposed emulsion. The resulting screen can be used without further hardening with both water- and solvent-based inks, and the film can be removed with emulsion-removing chemicals to permit reuse of the screen.

Abstract: A multi-color printing apparatus for automatically screen printing workpieces in diverse colors. The apparatus has a plurality of printing units spaced about a central support. A number of radially extending support arms cantilevered from the central support carry the workpiece at their free end for movement between printing units. After being indexed to its approximate final position at a particular station, a brake is engaged to prevent rotation of the support arm and a lock engages the support arm bring the arm into a registered position for the duration of the printing operation, after which the brake and locking bar are disengaged, allowing the support arm to rotate to another printing unit.