Abstract: A squeegee or flood bar for the print carriage of a screen printing machine which consists of a mounting bracket and blade portion in which the bracket portion is adapted for quick attachment and detachment to the print carriage and the bracket is attached to the blade portion on one side of the blade portion. The bracket attaches to one face of the blade near the upper edge and this offset position means that a change in the angle of inclination of the blade does not result in a large change in position of the bottom edge of the blade. The attachment means is preferably a toggle clamp on the carrier bar for the squeegee and flood bar. By simply releasing the toggle clamp the bracket and blade can be quickly removed and replaced.

Abstract: A method of transfer printing from a web of foil or flock onto a garment mounted on the pallet of a rotary screen printing machine. A heat press machine with a web feed attachment mounted on the upper platen of the heat press is provided at one printing station of a rotary screen printing machine. The foil feed direction is in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the rotary printing machine. A pallet with a garment is brought into register with the heat press and the upper platen is lowered to apply the transfer to said garment. The upper platen is raised and the printing machine is indexed so that the pallet arms are rotated and the next pallet with a garment is brought into register with the heat press. The foil web is also indexed so that the next sequential foil area is in register with the garment on the pallet.

Abstract: A print arm for a screen printing machine of the type having radial print arms and radial pallet arms that rotate relative to the print arms the print arms incorporating a detachable print carriage drive assembly from which the print carriage is suspended the print carriage drive assembly incorporation an electrically driven belt to reciprocate the print carriage and the belt path is horizontal. In one embodiment a print assembly plate is provided as the base for the print carriage support assembly so that all the components are mounted to the plate and the plate can be easily attachable to the print arm. In a second embodiment a channel member is used in conjunction with three mounting plates instead of the one assembly plate.

Abstract: A quick release pallet for a screen printing machine in which the pallet for supporting an item to be screen printed having having a longitudinal axis a top surface for supporting a garment to be printed and an underneath portion for attachment to a pallet arm; a top plate of a porous material; and at least one key hole slot in the underneath portion of said pallet. The pallet arm supports the pallet along its longitudinal axis and has attachment means to cooperate with the underneath portion of the pallet. The attachment means comprises two fastening heads adapted to fit and slide in the slot in the underneath portion of the pallet and the fastening heads are able to be clamped against the slot to fix the pallet to the pallet arm. The advantages are that the pallet has no attachments and can be very quickly positioned and released. Because there are no screw holes in the top surface of the pallet it has a larger print area. The pallet can be modified to a vacuum pallet with a perforated or porous top plate.

Abstract: A carousel screen printing machine which includes a stationary column supporting a plurality of print heads; a rotatable carousel mounted on said column supporting a plurality of pallet support arms and drive means located at or above said carousel for indexed movement of said carousel about said stationary column. Indexation and registration is achieved using bushes on the carousel rotor to cooperate with complementary pins at an indexing station and at a registration station. The location of the motor makes the machine more stable during rotation and is easier to access. The registration and indexing system is simpler and uses fewer parts than in the prior art. In one embodiment an additional print head is used in association with a dual purpose load unload station.

Abstract: A method of transfer printing from a web of foil or flock onto a garment mounted on the pallet of a rotary screen printing machine. A heat press machine with a web feed attachment mounted on the upper platen of the heat press is provided at one printing station of a rotary screen printing machine. The foil feed direction is in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the rotary printing machine. A pallet with a garment is brought into register with the heat press and the upper platen is lowered to apply the transfer to said garment. The upper platen is raised and the printing machine is indexed so that the pallet arms are rotated and the next pallet with a garment is brought into register with the heat press.

Abstract: A transfer heat press which is intended for use with a rotary screen printing machine, incorporates a C shaped frame mounted on a support and moveable vertically relative to said support. A heater platen is mounted to the top of the C frame. A lower platen adapted to support the pallet of the rotary screen printing machine is mounted on the lower part of the C frame. The lower platen is moveable toward the upper platen. The lower platen applies a force to the underside of the pallet arm of a screen printing machine which results in the platen frame being allowed to move downwardly. This downward movement is guided and cushioned by a pneumatic or hydraulic spring. This arrangement means that the force on the pallet arm is equal to the weight of the platen frame less the upthrust of the pneumatic hydraulic ram. This reduces the risk of damage to the pallet arm.

Abstract: A carousel screen printing machine which includes a stationary frame supporting a plurality of print heads, a rotatable central column supporting a plurality of pallet support arms and a base for the rotatable column consisting of two base frame members joined at one end and extending away from each other at an acute angle and cross members extending between said base frame members. An elevated platform above the base frame is supported by a member extending from the junction of the base frame members and from adjacent the free ends of the base frame members. A stator support is located on at least one cross member and arranged so that the column extends through the elevated platform. At least part of the drive means for the rotatable column is located below the support platform.

Abstract: A transfer heat press which is intended for use with a rotary screen printing machine, incorporates a C shaped frame mounted on a support and moveable vertically relative to said support. A heater platen is mounted to the top of the C frame. A lower platen adapted to support the pallet of the rotary screen printing machine is mounted on the lower part of the C frame. The lower platen is moveable toward the upper platen. The lower platen applies a force to the underside of the pallet arm of a screen printing machine which results in the platen frame being allowed to move downwardly. This downward movement is guided and cushioned by a pneumatic or hydraulic spring. This arrangement means that the force on the pallet arm is equal to the weight of the platen frame less the upthrust of the pneumatic hydraulic ram. This reduces the risk of damage to the pallet arm.

Abstract: Preparation time of a multi print head screen printing machine is reduced by inputting the printing parameters into an electronic storage device on the silk screen when carrying out test printing, to avoid rekeying the information at the print head. The storage means can be accessed by cable connection or wireless connection.

Abstract: A garment loader for a screen printing machine includes a carriage 37 which reciprocates between an extended position where a garment is fed into the jaws of grippers 42 attached to the carriage 37. The grippers are raised above the pallet 22 and the carriage retracts to the other end of the pallet 22 where the grippers 42 are lowered and release the garment which is now fitted on the pallet. While the pallet is rotated to the first print station the carriage is extended and the grippers lowered to be ready for loading the next garment.

Abstract: Screen printing machines of the carousel type and apparatus for use in those machines. One of the features relates to a print head assembly having a carriage mounted for reciprocating movement, the carriage comprising two spaced apart bearing sections arranged relative to three support members. Another feature relates to an improved air manifold for the print head assembly. Yet another feature is concerned with an improved screen holding device utilizing inflatable bags. Yet another feature relates to an improved vacuum supply mechanism. A further feature is concerned with an improved frame structure.

Abstract: A screen printing machine of the type comprising a multiple armed fixed frame and a multiple armed movable frame mounted to rotate above or below the fixed frame through a series of operative positions or operating stations. Print heads may be operatively connected to the fixed frame and screen platens operatively connected to the movable frame or vice versa. The movable frame can be axially moved towards or away from the fixed frame between a non-print position and a print position so that a printing operation can be effected. In one aspect there is provided a centrally disposed drive for causing axial movement of the movable frame. This drive may include a counter balancing mechanism and a preliminary locating device.

Abstract: A print head assembly for use with a screen printing machine of the carousel type having a multiple armed fixed frame and a multiple armed movable frame mounted for rotation relative thereto. The print head assembly (40) comprises: a mounting frame (45) operatively connected to an arm of the carousel. A carriage (44) is operatively connected to the mounting frame (45) and arranged for reciprocating movement relative thereto along a path of travel. Drive means is provided for causing the reciprocating movement, the drive means comprising a piston/cylinder assembly (41) including a cylinder (43) having a longitudinal axis, and opposed ends with a piston rod (42) extending from one of those ends there being a region defined between the lateral axes at respective ends of the cylinder (43) these lateral axes extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the assembly.