Abstract: A tape cassette includes an ink ribbon having an ink layer formed thereon and a film tape having a transparent film with an adhesive layer formed on one side thereof. In the tape cassette, the adhesive layer and an ink layer contact at a printing position and the adhesive layer is heated by a thermal head, thereby exhibiting adhesiveness. Then, the ink layer and the adhesive layer are adhered and characters are printed on the film tape. In a tape printing apparatus, a cutter unit is arranged close to the downstream side from the thermal head in the conveying direction. Accordingly, the film tape is cut immediately after printing. The adhesive layer side of the film tape is adhered to an auxiliary sheet medium at the position of a feed roller. The film tape is cut by the second cutter arranged downstream of the feed roller in the conveying direction.

Abstract: In a flexographic printing system, the both the process parameters and equipment setup and configuration may play a role in producing the desired printed pattern. One component of the equipment setup is the printer roller assembly which may comprise a roller and a flexoplate as well as tape. The properties of the flexoplate and the tape as well as the relative dimensions of each in the assembly may affect the geometry and quality of the transferred pattern, as well as the ability of the system to produce a pattern on a repeatable, consistent basis.

Abstract: A printing method includes a step of dividing the to-be-printed surface 10 of a to-be-printed object 100 into a plurality of small to-be-printed surfaces 1a, 1b, . . . (a, b, . . . will be omitted below) and dividing a picture 20 to be printed on the to-be-printed surface 10 into small pictures 2 to be printed on the small to-be-printed surfaces 1, a step of a creating small developed picture 3 by developing each of the small pictures 2 into a plane, a step of putting ink on small printing original plate 30 corresponding to the small to-be-printed surface 1 according to the small developed picture 2, a step of a pressing small printing blanket 40 corresponding to each of the small to-be-printed surfaces 1 against the corresponding small printing original plate 30 and transferring the ink, and a step of printing the picture 20 on the to-be-printed surface 1 by pressing the small printing blanket 30 grasped by the arm of a multi-axis robot against the small to-be-printed surface 1 to print the small picture 2.

Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning preprinted images on a roll of substrate to the moving components of a web press are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes determining the speed of the moving components of the press, determining the speed of the web of preprinted images and adjusting the speed of the web of preprinted image to match the speed of the web. In particular embodiments, a press which produces rolls of preprinted material can be modified to change the equivalent cutoff length of the press. In further embodiments, a method of pasting new rolls of material to expiring rolls of material is accomplished by modulating the drive speed of the new roll of material to match the expiring roll of material while at the same time aligning the images on the new roll with the expiring roll.

Abstract: A print section patterns a coating layer to form a pattern layer on a carrier and then transfers the pattern layer to a substrate. A controller obtains a first carrier thickness by measuring the thickness of the carrier carrying the coating layer and adjusts a gap between the carrier carrying the coating layer and the printing plate based on the first carrier thickness immediately before the coating layer is patterned. The controller also obtains a second carrier thickness by measuring the thickness of the carrier carrying the pattern layer and adjusts a gap between the carrier carrying the pattern layer and the substrate based on the second carrier thickness immediately before the pattern layer is transferred.

Abstract: Image forming apparatus and methods are disclosed which include an intermediate transfer member to transfer images to media, an impression roller including a gripping device to receive the media, and a determination module to determine the length of the media held by the at least one gripper unit based on respective detections by first and second set of sensors.

Abstract: A printing device for printing elements in sheet fond: a platen press 310 for depositing onto each sheet 10, by stamping, colored or metalized film from at least one stamping foil; a conveyor using a succession of gripper bars for moving each sheet 10 individually through the platen press 310; a blower member separates each stamping foil from each sheet as it leaves the platen press, the blower member being movable between a work position, in which it is able to operate from the transfer region in which the gripper bars 610 run to the exit of the platen press 310, and a withdrawn position, in which it keeps away from said transfer region.

Abstract: A sheet placement unit on which a plurality of sheet bundles having been produced by folding a plurality of sheets are stacked while being overlapped. The sheet placement unit includes a sheet placement section on which the folded sheet bundle having been provided with a folding process is loaded, the sheet placement section being inclined so that a downstream side of the sheet placement section in a sheet conveying direction is higher than another side, a sheet conveyance device to convey the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet placement section in a sheet conveying direction while the plurality of sheet bundles are overlapped, and a sheet holding device provided swingably above the sheet placement section, the sheet holding device comprising a sheet contacting section which comes in contact an upper surface of the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet placement section.

Abstract: A screen-printing panel comprising a locking strip sewn to screen-printing mesh is described. The mesh along an edge of the panel is folded around the locking strip and secured using a line of stitching. A gap between the end of the locking strip and the edge of the mesh contributes to corner softening. Another gap between the end of the stitching and the end of the locking strip also contributes to corner softening. Locking strips have various cross sections including rectangular, triangular, and complex curves. Two colors of thread may be used to aid in orienting the panel. An adhesive may be used to hold the mesh to the locking strip for convenience during handling and sewing.

Abstract: A panel for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The panel includes locking strips secured to the edges using stitching through the mesh and locking strips. A method for fabricating the panel and tensioning the panel on a frame is also described. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus including two screen printers, each including a substrate introduction portion by which a substrate is introduced from an upstream side of a component mounting line, a printing portion which performs a screen printing to the introduced substrate, a substrate discharge portion by which the substrate is discharged to a downstream side, and a substrate moving stage which receives the substrate to position the substrate with respect to the printing portion and to move the substrate to the substrate discharge portion. The two substrate introduction portions, the two printing portions, and the two substrate discharge portions are arranged symmetrically to each other with respect to a perpendicular symmetrical plane extending in a transportation direction of the substrate in the component mounting line, respectively. Each printing portion is provided at a position further from the perpendicular symmetrical plane than the substrate discharge portion.

Abstract: A screen printing line with higher utility is provided. In a screen printing line including a plurality of screen printing machines and a plurality of shuttle conveyors each provided between any adjacent two of the plurality of screen printing machines, each of the screen printing machines includes: a main body; a front conveyor having a substrate support device; a rear conveyor configured to allow passage of a circuit substrate; a printing device configured to carry out screen printing on the circuit substrate supported by the substrate support device. Also, each of the plurality of shuttle conveyors includes a movable conveyor movable between a position continuous to the front conveyor and a position continuous to the rear conveyor.

Abstract: According to one example of the present invention there is provided a printer for a printing on a roll of substrate. The printer comprises a substrate support for receiving a roll of substrate, a drive mechanism for driving substrate from a roll of substrate when installed on the substrate support through a print writing module, and a substrate edge trimming module for trimming the longitudinal edges of a substrate prior to the substrate passing through the print writing module.

Abstract: A sheet pressing device includes plurality of pressing members and a support member. The plurality of pressing members is provided on a downstream side in a discharging direction of fixing unit which carries out a fixing treatment over a sheet having an unfixed image transferred thereonto along the discharging direction. The plurality of pressing members presses both ends of the sheet in a direction along a surface of the sheet carried out the fixing treatment by the fixing unit and in a direction crossing the discharging direction. The support member supports the plurality of pressing members movably in such a direction as to approach or separate from the sheet when the sheet passes through the sheet pressing device.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for transporting a web through a press are disclosed. The web has a first print zone on a first side and a second print zone on a second side opposite the first print zone. The first print zone is fed past a first print station and then in an inward spiraling direction around and toward a second print station. The second print zone is fed past the second print station and then in an outward spiraling direction.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus includes a printing execution unit that performs screen printing on a substrate. At least one substrate support table that is provided movably along a specific direction orthogonal to the conveying direction. A table drive mechanism that moves the substrate support table at least between substrate entry and exit positions along a specific direction. The substrate entry and exit positions are set asymmetrically with respect to the specific direction. A printing execution unit drive mechanism is provided to drive the printing execution unit along the specific direction. A control unit is provided to control the printing execution unit drive mechanism so that the printing execution unit is driven to set the printing position on a substrate conveying path needed for the substrate support table to move from the substrate entry to the substrate exit.

Abstract: In methods for operating a printer a sheet is provided in a printing path leading to a printing area, a receiver is provided having a cross edge to which a printed image is to extend in the printing path for movement with the sheet. The receiver and the sheet are moved through the printing area so that the cross edge is moved through printing area during transfer of a toner to form the print image. The receiver and the sheet are further moved through the printing area with the cross edge of positioned on the sheet to separate a portion of the sheet that is masked from transfer of the print image from an unmasked portion of the sheet and the unmasked portion of the sheet is positioned to receive any portion of the print image that is transferred when the receiver is not in the printing area.

Abstract: A cylindrical can decorator inker assembly having a non-oscillating first transfer roll, a non-oscillating second transfer roll and a non-oscillating third transfer roll, and further having axially oscillating distributor and ghost chaser rolls to prevent ghosting on the decorated cans. The inker assembly preferably has an improved oscillator drive assembly, oscillating roll structure, transfer roll structure and inker assembly mount.

Abstract: The preset invention is directed to an embossing tool. The embossing tool includes a drive mechanism that advances a tape, an embossing mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism cuts the tape to form a tag. The cutting mechanism also forms a mounting feature in the ends of the tag. The cutting mechanism includes a pair of dies with openings therethrough and at least one punch moveable within the openings for engaging the tape.

Abstract: A method of preparing cylinders for printing on a web during auto transfer operations is provided. The method includes the steps of printing images on a web with at least one first printing cylinder; accelerating at least one second printing cylinder so that the at least one second printing cylinder has a surface velocity that equals a velocity of the web; adjusting a phasing of the at least one second printing cylinder with respect to the web during the accelerating step and before the surface velocity of the at least one second printing cylinder equals the velocity of the web; moving the at least one first printing cylinder away from the web and moving the at least one second printing cylinder towards the web; and printing images on the web with the at least one second printing cylinder. A printing press configured for auto transfer is also provided.