Abstract: This invention is a retractable registration apparatus (10) mounted on a printing machine (12) for aligning a screen printing frame (28) with an image platform (14). The apparatus (10) has a pair of registration mechanisms, such as pins (64), for coupling with the screen printing frame (28) and a registration appendage (56) which carries the registration mechanism (64). The registration appendage (56) is rotatably mounted to the printing machine (12) for allowing rotation of the registration appendage (56) from a registration position to a retracted position. A locking mechanism, such as a detent (102), retains the appendage (56) with the registration mechanism (64) in the exact registration position.

Abstract: A method of screen printing is provided. The method includes the step of providing a squeegee for interacting with ink and a printing screen. The squeegee has a mounting head having an attachment portion and a blade mounting portion. The blade mounting portion is made of material resistant to change caused by interaction with the ink. A contact blade is detachably received by the blade mounting portion of the mounting head and adapted for interacting with the screen and the ink. The contact blade may be quickly and rapidly replaced, when needed, in order to maintain constant pressure on the ink.

Abstract: A device is provided for stretching a screen secured to a screen printing roller frame. A series of wrenching stations are provided on a fixed work area. The wrenching stations include a wrench member shaped and dimensioned to mate with the end portions of the roller frame rollers so that the wrench may cause rotation of the roller. A first and second wrenching station are positioned adjacent one another at one corner of the work area and are fixed in position. A third wrenching station is positioned opposite the first wrenching station for rotating the opposing parallel roller in the roller frame at the same end as the first wrenching station. A fourth wrenching station is provided in an opposing relationship with the second wrenching station similar to the relationship between the first and third wrenching station. Actuation of the wrenching stations rotates and torques the respective rollers, stretching the screen on the roller frame.

Abstract: A device for stretching a screen on a roller frame includes at least three torsion stations and a support structure. Each torsion station includes a torsion tool, for example, a wrench head, which can be attached to one end of one of the sides of the frame and torqued for the purpose of stretching the screen. Each torsion tool is attached to a shaft structure at a first pivot point. Each shaft structure is attached to the support structure at a second pivot point. Each shaft structure has a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder positioned intermediately along its length for altering the length of the shaft structure between its first and second pivot points, thereby causing the wrench head to torque and rotate one of the rollers of the frame. A control panel allows the operator to activate all of the pneumatic cylinders simultaneously and with substantially equal forces, thereby resulting in a more rapidly and evenly stretched screen.

Abstract: A squeegee for interacting with ink and a printing screen. The squeegee has a mounting head. The mounting head has an attachment portion and a blade mounting portion. A contact blade is received by the blade mounting portion of the mounting head and adapted for interacting with the screen and the ink.

Abstract: A retractable registration apparatus is mounted on a screen printing type press for aligning a printing frame with an image platform, such as a vacuum table. The apparatus has a pair of registration pins for coupling with the printing frame and a registration appendage which carries the registration pins. The registration appendage is rotatably mounted to the printing press for rotation from a registration position to a retracted position. A locking mechanism retains the appendage with the registration pins in the exact registration position.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a screen printing frame to a printing machine for screen printing, the apparatus has a retainer for the screen printing frame and a mounting head carried by the printing machine. A plurality of adjustment mechanism are interposed between the mounting head and the retainer for screen printing frame for adjusting the retainer and the screen printing frame relative to the mounting head. At least one of the adjustment mechanisms has a sleeve having a threaded bore carried by either the retainer or the mounting head and a threaded shaft carried by the other. Rotating of the threaded shaft in the threaded bore adjust the position of the screen printing frame relative to the mounting head. The sleeve has a hole extending through the threaded bore and a pin adaptable for insertion in the hole for locating the end of the threaded shaft for use as a stop position for locating a zero position of the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: An off-contact setup device is provided for a screen printing type machine. The setup device includes a frame that releasably clamps onto a levelled image pallet of the screen printing machine. The height of the setup frame relative to the pallet surface is adjusted. This height is calibrated to a desired off-contact distance between a printing screen and the substrate to be printed (which is positioned on the pallet during printing). The frame holding arm of the printing machine, which is used to support the screen printing frame, is brought into position and secured to the setup frame. The height and level adjustments for the screen frame holding assembly are then fixed so as to conform to the position of the setup frame on the pallet. This process is repeated for all stations on the printing machine. Thus, the relative distance between all pallets and the screen printing frames attached to the holding assemblies are set to be the same, providing a consistent printing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus spreads and positions ink into orifices of a screen fabric for printing. The apparatus has a flooding portion having an ink interaction surface spaced and overlying the screen. The ink interaction surface is adapted for interacting with the ink to force the ink into the orifices of the screen fabric. Several of the embodiments of the apparatus have a bottom surface generally parallel to the screen, wherein the bottom surface has sufficient width for forcing the ink into the orifices of the screen fabric. In addition, the ink interaction surface in several of the embodiments has at least one concave curved portion adapted for rotating the ink. In some embodiments, the ink interaction surface has a pair of concave curved portions wherein one of the concave curved portions has a larger radius than the other concave curved portion.

Abstract: A pin registration bar aligning an image film to a screen mesh of a screen printing frame. The pin registration bar has a bar and a plate, The bar has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a pair of side surfaces. The plate has a pair of generally parallel surfaces. A portion of one of the parallel surfaces engages the upper surface of the bar. The plate is mounted to the upper surface of the bar. The plate projects outward over one of the side surfaces. The pin registration bar has a pair of sets of pins. The first set of pins projects upward from the other parallel surface of the plate for aligning with holes in the image film. The second set of pins projects downward from the one of the parallel surfaces of the plate for aligning with openings carried by the screen printing frame.

Abstract: A registration/adapter apparatus for aligning a priming screen with an image platform. A screen tensioning and printing frame has four tensioning rollers coupled together by comer members. The comer members support the rollers for rotation about their longitudinal axis. Each roller has a channel for retaining an edge of a screen fabric. A means of locking each roller in a predetermined rotative position to hold the screen fabric at the desired tension is associated with each corner member. One of the rollers and its associated corner members has a pair of alignment means. The alignment means have a hole associated with one corner member and a slot associated with the other corner member. A registration member associated with the image platform has a pair of pins for aligning and being received by the hole and slot in the alignment means associated with the screen tensioning and printing frame.

Abstract: A retractable registration apparatus aligns a printing screen with an image platform. The apparatus has a pair of arms. Each arm extends along a longitudinal axis and has at least two sections with a substantially square cross-section along the longitudinal axis and at least two other sections along the longitudinal axis having a circular cross-section inscribed within the square cross-section. A pair of mounting brackets are associated with each of the arms and each have a substantially square opening extending through the bracket for slideably receiving the substantially square cross-section of the arm. The pair of mounting brackets are mounted to the lower surface of an image platform so that the side walls of each bracket are in the same plane and are parallel to the center line. Each arm has a track formed within the arm, and one of the mounting brackets associated with the arm has a guide pin projecting into the arm for guiding the movement of the arm.

Abstract: A curved item printing apparatus has a screen tensioning and printing frame. The frame has a plurality of tensioning devices coupled together by corner members which support the tensioning devices for rotation about their longitudinal axis. Each tensioning device has a screen retainer for retaining an edge portion of a screen fabric. At least one of the tensioning means is a thin edge retainer having a screen engagement edge, a screen engaging surface for directing the screen and a thin edge surface. The screen engaging surface and the thin edge surface converge at the screen engaging end. The perpendicular distance between the longitudinal axis of the thin edge retainer and the thin edge surface is less than the distance between the longitudinal axis and the screen engaging edge.

Abstract: A registration/adapter apparatus aligning a printing screen with an image platform. A screen tensioning and printing frame has four tensioning rollers coupled together by corner members. The corner members support the rollers for rotation about their longitudinal axis. Each roller has a channel for retaining an edge of a screen fabric. A bolt associated with each corner member locks each roller in a predetermined rotative position to hold the screen fabric at the desired tension. One of the rollers has a pair of associated adapters interposed between the head of the bolt and the associated corner member. The adapter has a hole on one surface and a slot on the opposite surface. A registration member associated with the image platform has a pair of pins for aligning and being received by the hole and slot in the adapter associated with the screen tensioning and printing frame. The pins received by the hole and slot ensure alignment of the screen tensioning printing frame with the image platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for screen tensioning and printing using a frame including rollers having a screen secured thereto. Each roller is supported at opposite ends for rotation about its longitudinal axis to transversely tension the screen substantially equally along the length of the roller. The printed image being linearly varied by adjusting the relative position of the ends of the roller and thereby adjusting the linear tension of the screen to accommodate for the tolerances created within the screen setup and the printing process.

Abstract: A screen tensioning and printing frame having a plurality of rollers coupled at their ends to corner members. Each roller is also coupled to one edge portion of a screen material. The screen is tensioned by the rotation of the rollers about their longitudinal axis. Each roller includes at least one end plug having a series of engagement surfaces for causing rotation of the roller and a corresponding screen tension. The engagement surface being substantially elongated in the axial direction to increase the strength of the end plug upon rotation thereof by a wrench or the like.

Abstract: A screen tensioning and printing frame includes sets of parallel rollers coupled at their ends to corner members. Each roller has a longitudinally extending peripheral fabric locking groove defined in part by straight surfaces which converge outwardly. Adjacent and on opposite sides of the locking groove there is provided one or more fabric registration grooves on the periphery of each roller.

Abstract: A fabric tensioning roller has a longitudinally extending channel within which is disposed a fabric holder. A threaded member on the roller is connected to the fabric holder for selectively moving the fabric holder relative to the roller in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roller for fabric repositioning at selected locations along the roller.

Abstract: The edge portions of a screen fabric are attached to a screen printing frame. The frame has discrete springs in contact with the fabric adjacent the location of securement of the fabric to the frame. The springs provide for a limited amount of movement of the fabric toward a substrate by deformation of the springs instead of relying only on stretching the fabric.

Abstract: A post member and a rail member are joined together by a short hollow fitting. The fitting has a head shaped to mate with one of said members. A fitting is welded to each of the members.