Abstract: In this printing machine, which is of the type comprising a horizontal printing station and, in vertical alignment with the latter, an exchange station, there are two transfer arms which are disposed at 90.degree. relative to each other, one on each side of a rotation axis inclined at 45.degree. which is common to them, in a plane containing the latter, and which occupy alternately a vertical position at the exchange station and a horizontal position at the printing station, and the holding means equipping each of these transfer arms for grasping an object to be printed comprises at least one clamp the two branches of which are each provided at their free end with a jaw adapted to encircle at least partially, in conjunction with the jaw of the other one, an object of this kind.

Abstract: A transfer apparatus conveys work holder supports along a closed pathway, defined by a fixed guideway, passing by at least one work station. A first, drive conveyor which is preferably an endless conveyor and operates continuously transports the work holder supports along a first segment of the closed pathway and a second, pickup conveyor which in practice operates intermittently transports the work holder supports along a second segment passing by the work station or stations. The path of the first conveyor has a section which is detoured away from the work station or stations. The work holder supports are releasable engageable with the dogs on the first conveyor and projecting pins on cranks of the second conveyor for coupling and uncoupling the work holder supports upstream and downstream of the work station or stations.

Abstract: A stamping machine comprises at least one imprinting station of the gilding press type, wherein two shells mounted movably relative to one another are intended to mutually enclose at least the portion to be imprinted of the article to be imprinted, so as to apply to this latter a foil suitable for the impression desired. Both the shells are mounted movably relative to the machine frame in synchronism and opposed to one another, said shells being subject to the same control means which acts on one of them by way of transmission means suitable for reversal of movement. The machine is particularly applicable to the imprinting of articles with a neck, such as bottles.

Abstract: An automatic bottle handling machine comprises a storage hopper for bottles in random orientation, a plurality of conveyor channels having conveyors extending between the hopper and a corresponding plurality of drop chutes and selective reversing devices for turning around neck first bottles before reaching the drop chutes. A sensor in each drop chute detects the prolonged presence of a bottle therein to stop the corresponding conveyor. A yoke member below each sensor indefinitely arrests the downward movement of an incorrectly oriented bottle or a defective bottle having a spur or flash on the bottom thereof to stop traffic in the corresponding drop chute and thereby stop the supply of bottles by the corresponding conveyor until the offending bottle has been removed by the operator. Another sensor for detecting a crushed bottle may be provided at the upper end of each drop chute for similarly stopping the corresponding conveyor.

Abstract: A `flat` silk-screen printing machine is disclosed wherein the table is reciprocably displaced along an inclined table support between a raised, advanced, printing position wherein the table is parallel to and immediately below a horizontal screen and a lowered, retracted, access position in which the table is inclined and extends forwardly of the inclined table support so that the greater part of the table protrudes outwardly of the machine, thereby providing enhanced access for positioning and removing the substrate to be printed. The table is pivotally mounted on the inclined table support and pivoted by a combination of a linkage and fluid cylinder and is attached to a belt running along the inclined table supported for translation up and down the same.

Abstract: A printing machine is disclosed comprising a drum with a plurality of article holding mandrels. A feeding mechanism selectively feeds and positions article to be printed on the mandrels. An ejection mechanism automatically removes the printed articles from the mandrels. A drive effects stepwise annular displacement of the drum. A first actuating means effects reciprocating operation of the feeding mechanism and another actuating means effects reciprocating operation of the ejecting mechanism. Both the actuating mechanisms are controlled in synchronism with the drive and are independent and distinct from each other. The drive comprises a freewheel having an inner race fixed for rotation with the drum and a crank-connecting rod system attaching the outer race of the freewheel to a rotatably mounting driving shaft. Preferably the speed ratio of the actuating means of the feeding mechanism to that of the ejection mechanism is 2 to 1.

Abstract: A silk screen printing machine wherein a screen is supported on a frame for engagement with an object to be printed. A squeegee is mounted for engagement with the screen during printing, and drive means operate to displace the screen and squeegee from the printing position after each printing operation whereby a new printing cycle can be initiated. The drive means pivots an arm which supports the squeegee. A link extends from the arm, and the link is operatively connected to the frame supporting the screen. Pivoting of the arm thereby simultaneously moves the squeegee away from the screen while moving the screen away from the object printed. The support for the screen frame is confined by a track holding the frame in a predetermined path of movement toward and away from the object printing position.

Abstract: Apparatus for ultraviolet drying and/or curing of freshly applied solvent-free ink on three-dimensional articles such as containers. Baskets for carrying the articles are swivelly mounted at spaced locations on an endless conveyor. The conveyor pathway has a bend or loop when viewed in elevation, the shape of which is determined by a drum or sprocket. A tubular ultraviolet lamp is arranged, preferably in the crook of the bend or loop, parallel to the axis of curvature of the bend or loop. The baskets are of perforate construction, preferably comprising wire strips in planes which intersect along lines parallel to their respective swivel axis. The lamp irradiates a predetermined sector of each passing article in the course of displacement over the bend or loop; shadows falling on the articles due to nonperforate portions of the baskets move continuously along the predetermined sector so that no spot on the predetermined sector is constantly obstructed from the ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: A transfer device for a printing machine transfers an object to be printed, for example a bottle, from a feed conveyor to a printing station. The device comprises a transfer member carried by a sleeve mounted on a shaft, and means for moving the sleeve and thereby the transfer member in a movement which is partially along the shaft and partially rotational about the axis of the shaft. The transfer device may be provided on a machine for printing a succession of objects, comprising a printing station, such as a silk-screen printing station, and a feed conveyor adapted to present the objects to be printed in sequence to the printing station. The transfer device transfers the objects one by one from the feed conveyor to the printing station.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding objects from a conveyor on which they are conveyed lying down to a printing station of a printing machine where the objects are to be printed on. At the discharge end of the conveyor, at an ejection position, are provided a pair of spaced apart selector fingers having retaining and releasing positions for introducing and ejecting one object at a time. The object is accelerated or propelled from the ejection position by a tangential component of force exerted e.g. by a rotary brush or compressed-air jets, to a transfer carriage level and in alignment with the discharge end of the conveyor. Beyond the transfer carriage is a stabilizing back-up stop member having a suction head which steadies the ejected object on the transfer carriage. The transfer carriage is swung in a plane perpendicular to the axis of displacement of conveyor from its pick-up position to its feed-in position level with grippers which are adapted to introduce the object to be printed on into the printing station.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for automatically printing two faces of an object. The present invention is an attachment for use with a screen printing press of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,300, issued to Louis Gilbert Dubuit on May 21, 1963. The attachment permits the utilization of two separate sections of the same screen to print the face and reverse side of an object of revolution, such as a bottle, and particularly bottles of oval or irregular shape. The attachment consists of a main drive train which rotates the bottle at the same surface speed as the movement of the screen. Means are provided to flip or invert the bottle 180.degree. during the return stroke with a separate means provided to shift the screen relative to the drive, presenting a different section of the screen to the reverse side of the bottle for printing when the machine cycles through its normal print stroke.

Abstract: A silk screen printing machine comprises a frame, a pair of parallel spaced-apart levers pivotally mounted on opposed side walls of the frame, and a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder connected to one of the levers for raising and lowering a pair of parallel bars of which one is connected between a pair of corresponding ends of the levers. A carriage for the silk screen is mounting for translational sliding movement on the bars. A transverse member is provided for supporting a squeegee carrier unit cooperable with the silk screen for printing on an object. A longitudinal bar parallel to the bars carries the transverse member and is secured at its ends beyond the limits of the stroke of the carriage along the bars to connecting links in which the bars are journaled at their ends.