Abstract: Disclosed is a system for dispensing ink to a silk screen for printing thereby. A squeegee is reciprocated relative to the silk screen and each cycle of movement provides an air pulse to a counter. The counted pulses are compared with a preset number of pulses based on the actual amount of ink which is used during the printing operations. When the counted pulses are counted up to the preset number, a control signal is fed to a valve to operate a piston and cylinder assembly which is coupled to a piston to force a measured quantity of ink from a cylinder. The cylinder is fed with a supply of ink from an ink pot. A check valve in the bottom of the cylinder opens only when the ink in the cylinder is pressurized by the piston. The measured quantity of ink dispensed from the cylinder is delivered by a conduit to the silk screen.

Abstract: Printing on a cylindrical or conical surface of a container is carried out by a method and apparatus wherein the container is supported against rotation about a support axis. A squeegee is positioned at one side of a decorating screen to establish line contact between the opposite side of the screen and the surface of a container. The decorating screen is rolled along a tangential path about the surface of the container and concurrently the squeegee is moved along an orbital path about the support axis to force printing medium through the screen onto the surface of the container at the line of contact therewith.

Abstract: A positive planetary drive having zero backlash interconnects coaxial input and output shafts in a drive unit. A plurality of rollers orbiting about the input shaft is always entrapped in rolling contact with a plurality of wedges supported by the output shaft. Cams in the drive unit provide cam surfaces contacted by orbiting rollers on the input shaft to provide a continuous constant velocity output motion at a speed which is less than the input motion. Intermittent motion is provided by cam surfaces engaged by the same rollers which contact the wedges. A gear drive engaged with a cam plate used to form the various cams provides a variable angular relationship between the input shaft and the output shaft. Protection against a torque overload at the output shaft is provided by permitting plungers to rotate with the cam plate when disengaged from seats supported by the housing.

Abstract: An overload clutch or coupling includes a hub section connected to one drive element and a housing connected to another drive element. Plungers are fitted in sockets in the housing such that the shank portions of the plungers project from one side of the housing and conical end faces project from the other side of the housing where they engage with plunger seats on the hub. The hub has pull pin sockets that receive spring-biased pull pins and apply a force to a pressure plate that acts on the projecting shank portions of the plungers to maintain them in the plunger seats. The plungers are displaced from the seats when the torque between the hub and housing exceeds the maximum torque to be transmitted by the coupling or clutch. The housing can slide along the plungers to accommodate floating movement between the driven and driving parts of the clutch or coupling. A keeper plate is attached to the hub to retain the housing against such floating axial movement when desired.