Abstract: An optical rotary joint communication apparatus for communicating between a rotor and a stator. Optical sources and detectors are arranged on both the rotor and the stator to provide bi-directional communication. As the rotor rotates, downlink detectors on the rotor sequentially communicate via line-of-sight optical channels with corresponding downlink receivers on the stator. Each downlink receiver is provided a curved mirror reflecting the downlink beam onto the downlink receiver when the rotation angle of the rotor is within a corresponding angle interval. When the rotation angle moves past the angle interval, the downlink beams transition to another mirror and another downlink receiver. The downlink beams are directed predominantly tangential to the rotor circumference.

Abstract: An optical rotary joint communication apparatus for communicating between a rotor and a stator. Optical sources and detectors are arranged on both the rotor and the stator to provide bi-directional communication. As the rotor rotates, downlink detectors on the rotor sequentially communicate via line-of-sight optical channels with corresponding downlink receivers on the stator. Each downlink receiver is provided a curved mirror reflecting the downlink beam onto the downlink receiver when the rotation angle of the rotor is within a corresponding angle interval. When the rotation angle moves past the angle interval, the downlink beams transition to another mirror and another downlink receiver. The downlink beams are directed predominantly tangential to the rotor circumference.

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: 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