Abstract: Improvements in a rotary screen printer that operates with a stepper motor for indexing the screen printer. The stepper motor provides a positive rotation and locating of the printing arms. The stepper motor can also have a controlled acceleration and deceleration speed while it indexes. The stepper motor further drives a spur gear to improve the drive ratio from the stepper motor to the indexing arms. The rotary screen printer uses pneumatic cylinders to operate the screening arms. Pneumatic cylinders are controllable for the downward force by adjusting pressure regulator(s) and the stroke by adjusting either limit switches or mechanical stops. Each station is interchangeable to accommodate the printing requirements of each job. Each station can be operated as a screen printing station, a drying station, a pad printer, and the number of stations can be changed by reprogramming the number of steps between each station stop.

Abstract: Improvements in a rotary screen printer that operates with a stepper motor for indexing the screen printer. The stepper motor provides a positive rotation and locating of the printing arms. The stepper motor can also have a controlled acceleration and deceleration speed while it indexes. The stepper motor further drives a spur gear to improve the drive ratio from the stepper motor to the indexing arms. The rotary screen printer uses pneumatic cylinders to operate the screening arms. Pneumatic cylinders are controllable for the downward force by adjusting pressure regulator(s) and the stroke by adjusting either limit switches or mechanical stops. Each station is interchangeable to accommodate the printing requirements of each job. Each station can be operated as a screen printing station, a drying station, a pad printer, and the number of stations can be changed by reprogramming the number of steps between each station stop.

Abstract: Improvements in a rotary screen printer that operates with a stepper motor for indexing the screen printer. The stepper motor provides a positive rotation and locating of the printing arms. The stepper motor can also have a controlled acceleration and deceleration speed while it indexes. The stepper motor further drives a spur gear to improve the drive ratio from the stepper motor to the indexing arms. The rotary screen printer uses pneumatic cylinders to operate the screening arms. Pneumatic cylinders are controllable for the downward force by adjusting pressure regulator(s) and the stroke by adjusting either limit switches or mechanical stops. Each station is interchangeable to accommodate the printing requirements of each job. Each station can be operated as a screen printing station, a drying station, a pad printer, and the number of stations can be changed by reprogramming the number of steps between each station stop.

Abstract: Improvements in printing on shirts are disclosed. The shirt printer incorporates multiple elongated single color print heads arranged in-line. As opposed to using standard three or four colors, the clothing printer uses multiple heads where each print head uses a single specific color to eliminate mixing of the colors to obtain a specific hue. Between each print head, a dryer is placed to ensure each color is dry before the application on a subsequent color is applied. The method reproduces a similar method to clothing that is silk-screened. Clothing is placed on blank clothing holders and passes through the printing machine in an assembly line format. Print heads can be arranged on both sides of the blank clothing holder to allow for simultaneous printing on multiple sides of the clothing. Three printing styles are disclosed for a gauntlet style printers and a barrel style printer.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus prints on a substrate with successive strokes, which may be of different lengths. An electrically programmable controller controls the operation of a servo motor for causing relative movement between the squeegee and the print head during a printing stroke. A programming apparatus is provided at the print head for programming the programmable controller to establish the starting point, and the end points of the printing stroke as well as the velocity of movement of the print stroke travel between the starting and ending points. The programming apparatus preferably includes a data entry device and a display for allowing the adjusting of the print stroke to absolute units of speed, e.g., inches per minute, to allow the printing inks to be sheared and spread in an optimal manner.

Abstract: A screen printer prints ink on a plurality of substrates being carried by traveling pallets passing successively through printing stations. A manually operable controller is located at each printing head to operate position-controllable motors, such as stepping motors, to raise or lower a screen printing frame assembly to change an off-contact distance between it and an underlying substrate. A display at each printing head shows the relative distance being raised or lowered with operation of the manually-operable controller. Preferably, the stepper motors are positioned at the four corners of the screen printing frame. A common controller has a display for showing an operative or inoperative status of a screen printing head at each station and circuits to render the printing heads operative or inoperative. The controllers preferably are operably by a touch pad.

Abstract: A blade mounting assembly for squeegee or flood bar blades of screen printing machines is provided which includes a clamping mechanism connected to a mounting bar that releasably secures the blade assembly to the bar and over a printing screen mounted in the machine. When released, the clamping mechanism herein stays attached to the mounting bar and allows for quick and easy blade assembly replacement operations. In addition, the clamping mechanism is readily adapted to be used with mounting bars provided in screen printing machines and with blade holders that are currently clamped to the mounting bars with U-clamps. Preferably, the clamping mechanism is a spring plate which can be toggled between clamped and unclamped positions by the printer with one hand. Other forms of clamping mechanisms can include screw and air clamps for releasably securing the blade assemblies to the mounting bar of the screen printing machine.

Abstract: An oval printing machine has a plurality of traveling pallets for moving about an endless path and sequentially through a plurality of screen printing stations. During set-up of the oval screen printing station, it is often desired to shift a pallet, hereinafter "start pallet", from one printing station to a remote printing station without pausing at intervening stations. Also, it is preferable that the start pallet travel the shortest distance to the destination printing station, even if this means reversing the direction of normal travel, An icon button at a master control panel is operated to indicate a start pallet, and a GOTO button is operated followed by an icon button for the destination to identify the destination station. A master computer calculates the shortest distance and direction between the start pallet and the destination print station and causes the start pallet to travel to the destination station along the shortest path without pausing at intervening printing stations.

Abstract: A system of control is disclosed for an oval printing machine comprising a plurality of travelling pallets sequentially moved in a first direction on an endless path through a plurality of screen printing stations during a printing mode of operation in which the pallets pause at the printing stations, the system of control comprising: a print head controller associated with each printing station for storing parameters defining print head functions in the print mode and for controlling printing operations at the associated printing station responsive to the stored parameters; an index controller storing parameters defining index controller functions in the print mode and for controlling the movement of pallets through the printing stations in response to the stored parameters; and a master controller electrically connected to the print head controller of each printing station and to the index controller for directing the index controller to move the pallets and the print head controllers to perform printing op

Abstract: The screen printing press has pallet supports in the form of arms that carry movable pallets having substrates thereon between a plurality of printing stations to receive successive screen prints on the substrates. The pallet is shifted relative to the stationary support arm and is registered relative to a printing head at each of the print stations. Unlike conventional registration systems, where the support arm is shifted during registration as is the pallet which is fixed to the support arm, the pallet herein is releasably interlocked and is unlocked for shifting relative to the stationary support arm. When the pallet reaches a printing station, a movable pallet locator unlocks the pallet which is then free to float on the support arm. The movable locator shifts the floating pallet on the stationary support arm to engage a second locator, which is preferably fixed to the press frame and oppositely located from the movable locator.