Abstract: A method to impart an image or a substrate comprising(a) placing a heat sensitive thermoplastic resin film supported on an ink pervious porous screen on a surface of a self-adhesive frame,(b) placing a sheet containing the desired image in a carbon base on the resultant assembly from (a) with the image side in close contact with the resin film surface of the resultant assembly from (a),(c) irradiating the resultant assembly formed in (b), the irradiating producing openings in the resin film in corresponding portions of the resin film which are opposed to the image,(d) peeling the sheet off of the resultant assembly from (c),(e) stretching taut the resultant assembly from (d) by placing the resultant assembly from (d) in a sheet stretching holding frame,(f) placing the resultant assembly from (e) onto a screen printer means and(g) applying ink on the resultant assembly from (a) containing the openings produced in (c) to force the ink through the openings onto the substrate.

Abstract: A device for facilitating sublistatic printing which includes an elastic member for covering an arcuate article surface to be imprinted in a stretched condition, holding a sublistatic transfer sheet against the article surface, and exerting a uniform pressure against the transfer sheet and article surface to achieve intimate contact therebetween; and an installing apparatus, one form of which includes a frame, band receiving means supported by the frame, two operating arms rotatably mounted to the frame, an article receiving member carried by the frame, and means associated with the arms to hold the elastic member. The arms are selectively movable from an elastic member receiving position to a transfer sheet receiving position to an article surface covering position. The elastic member is stretched prior to placement around the article surface to be imprinted and is provided with appropriate means to be releasably secured around the article.

Abstract: A sheet stretching apparatus is provided. The sheet stretching apparatus includes a first planar frame having a first circumferential portion having a given first radial width, a given first axial depth, a first outer edge and a first inner edge, a second planar frame having a second circumferential portion having a given second radial width, a given second axial depth, a second outer edge and a second inner edge and a third planar frame having a third circumferential portion having a given third radial width, a given third axial depth, a third outer edge and a third inner edge, wherein the third inner edge extends radially inwardly of the first inner edge and the second inner edge. An adhesive is used for adhering a flexible sheet to one surface of the first planar frame. A stretching member is attached to one surface of the third planar frame. The stretching member is adjacent to the third inner edge and is disposed radially inwardly of the first and second inner edges.