Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the location of a screen frame holder of a silk screen printing head in the x-axis to maintain accuracy in registration of color-to-color in a multi-color printing process due to the inaccuracies in indexing of an indexing transport member.

Abstract: A system for the flexographic printing of compact discs is provided in which the transport member for the compact discs travels in an oval-shaped path. The transport member is made up of individual segments connected together so that each end can be pivoted on a vertical axis. These individual segments are provided with top and bottom rollers that are engaged by a sprocket drive. A support member for a compact disc tooling fixture is attached to each of the individual segments. The flexographic print heads are caused to move at the same rate as the transport member for the compact discs by rack segments that are provided on each of the individual segments of the transport member and which mesh with a toothed gear on the print heads. The flexographic print heads can be moved laterally and radially to provide registration of the decoration to be printed on the compact disc supported by a particular tooling fixture for the compact disc.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the manufacture of silk-screens is provided for use in the printing of halftones, e.g. in a four color printing process. The angle at which the mesh of a silk-screen should be relative to the screen frame to eliminate or at least minimize or localize moire' is predetermined for each of the color film separations. This angle is then carried to stretching apparatus for the woven fabric from which the silk-screens are to be made. The stretching appararatus has a table that is provided with a plurality of rotatable members. A screen frame is placed on each of the rotatable members and the rotable member is rotated to the angle determined by the pre-registration apparatus. The fabric is stretched to the desired tension and the screen frames having been provided at the desired angles are adhered to the stretched fabric, resulting in the mesh in each silk-screen being at the correct angle with respect to the screen frame.

Abstract: A system for the flexographic printing of compact discs is provided in which the transport member for the compact discs travels in an oval-shaped path. The transport member is made up of individual segments connected together so that each end can be pivoted on a vertical axis. These individual segments are provided with top and bottom rollers that are engaged by a sprocket drive. A support member for a compact disc tooling fixture is attached to each of the individual segments. The flexographic print heads are caused to move at the same rate as the transport member for the compact discs by rack segments that are provided on each of the individual segments of the transport member and which mesh with a toothed gear on the print heads. The flexographic print heads can be moved laterally and radially to provide registration of the decoration to be printed on the compact disc supported by a particular tooling fixture for the compact disc.

Abstract: Silk-screens of annular-shape are provided for the silk-screen printing of halftones on compact discs. The silk-screens are rotatably provided in a carrier so that the angle at which moire can be eliminated or at least minimized or localized for the printing of a particular color can be determined. Following the determination of that angle for each of the colors to be printed, the screens are each then provided with photosensitive emulsion, exposed to light, and washed. The silk-screens are then placed in another carrier at the same angle as before determined for the elimination or at least the minimization or localization of moire, this carrier being capable of being placed directly into the nest of a print head of a conventional silk-screen printing machine.

Abstract: Silk-screens of annular-shape are provided for the silk-screen printing of halftones on compact discs. The silk-screens are rotatably provided in a carrier so that the angle at which moire can be eliminated or at least minimized or localized for the printing of a particular color can be determined. Following the determination of that angle for each of the colors to be printed, the screens are each then provided with photosensitive emulsion, exposed to light, and washed. The silk-screens are then placed in another carrier at the same angle as before determined for the elimination or at least the minimalization or localization of moire, this carrier being capable of being placed directly into the nest of a print head of a conventional silk-screen printing machine.

Abstract: Silk-screens of annular-shape are provided for the silk-screen printing of halftones on compact discs. The silk-screens are rotatably provided in a carrier so that the angle at which molre can be eliminated or at least minimized or localized for the printing of a particular color can be determined. Following the determination of that angle for each of the colors to be printed, the screens are each then provided with photosensitive emulsion, exposed to light, and washed. The silk-screens are then placed in another carrier at the same angle as before determined for the elimination or at least the minimalization or localization of molre, this carrier being capable of being placed directly into the nest of a print head of a conventional silk-screen printing machine.

Abstract: Silk-screens of annular-shape are provided for the silk-screen printing of halftones on compact discs. The silk-screens are rotatably provided in a carrier so that the angle at which moire can be eliminated or at least minimized or localized for the printing of a particular color can be determined. Following the determination of that angle for each of the colors to be printed, the screens are each then provided with photosensitive emulsion, exposed to light, and washed. The silk-screens are then placed in another carrier at the same angle as before determined for the elimination or at least the mimimalization or localization of moire, this carrier being capable of being placed directly into the nest of a print head of a conventional silk-screen printing machine.

Abstract: A system for the flexographic printing of compact discs is provided in which the transport member for the compact discs travels in an oval-shaped path. The transport member is made up of individual segments connected together so that each end can be pivoted on a vertical axis. These individual segments are provided with top and bottom rollers that are engaged by a sprocket drive. A support member for a compact disc tooling fixture is attached to each of the individual segments. The flexographic print heads are caused to move at the same rate as the transport member for the compact discs by rack segments that are provided on each of the individual segments of the transport member and which mesh with a toothed gear on the print heads. The flexographic print heads can be moved laterally and radially to provide registration of the decoration to be printed on the compact disc supported by a particular tooling fixture for the compact disc.

Abstract: A print head for silk-screen printing apparatus is provided. The silk-screen frame and squeegee of the print head are fixedly connected together to provide that the two move together in rotational manner. Thus, the squeegee can be made to always print across the square-shaped mesh of the woven screen rather than across diamond-shaped mesh whereby to eliminate or at least minimize or localize moire. The silk-screen frame and squeegee can be rotated together to a predetermined angle or degree, in advance of the printing of a particular color in the silk-screen printing of halftones.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the manufacture of silk-screens is provided for use in the printing of halftones, e.g. in a four color printing process. The angle at which the mesh of a silk-screen should be relative to the screen frame to eliminate or at least minimize or localize moire' is predetermined for each of the color film separations. This angle is then carried to stretching apparatus for the woven fabric from which the silk-screens are to be made. The stretching appararatus has a table that is provided with a plurality of rotatable members. A screen frame is placed on each of the rotatable members and the rotable member is rotated to the angle determined by the pre-registration apparatus. The fabric is stretched to the desired tension and the screen frames having been provided at the desired angles are adhered to the stretched fabric, resulting in the mesh in each silk-screen being at the correct angle with respect to the screen frame.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the silk-screen printing of the top surface of a compact disc. Each compact disc is registered in a precise location prior to being printed. A compact disc is registered by an elongated registration pin which is raised vertically upwardly so as to intrude into the center hole of the compact disc from the bottom surface of the disc.

Abstract: Registration of compact discs for the silk-screen printing thereof is accomplished by a single registration pin located below the transport member at the loading point for a disc. The registration pin is raised upwardly and intrudes into the center hole of the disc as the disc is placed into the disc fixture. The registration pin is retracted with application of vacuum.

Abstract: Silk-screen printing apparatus is provided for the silk-screen printing of articles such as oval-shaped bottles and containers on the two major curved peripheral surfaces thereof, sequentially, with one printing pass. The apparatus utilizes, in this case, two squeegees positioned one behind the other and synchronized in such a manner as to force ink through a screen provided with two image patterns as each of the two image patterns on the screen moves sequentially over the two curved surfaces to be printed.

Abstract: Silk-screen printing apparatus is provided for the silk-screen printing of articles such as oval-shaped bottles and containers on the two major curved peripheral surfaces thereof, sequentially, with one printing pass. The apparatus utilizes, in this case, two squeegees positioned one behind the other and synchronized in such a manner as to force ink through a screen provided with two image patterns as each of the two image patterns on the screen moves sequentially over the two curved surfaces to be printed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatic transport of compact discs one-at-a-time from a loading station in a horizontally disposed, circular defined path through various work stations e.g., silk-screen printing and UV-curing, to an off-loading station. The compact discs are automatically loaded by loading apparatus onto the transport apparatus one-at-a-time in a predetermined location from apparatus automatically supplying compact discs to the loading apparatus for loading onto the transport apparatus in a plurality of vertically disposed stacks, each stack providing a plurality of discs horizontally disposed and superposed one above the other. Subsequent to printing and curing of the printing ink, the printed compact discs are off-loaded from the annular-shaped transport apparatus one-at-a-time by unloading apparatus and provided in a plurality of vertically disposed stacks of compact discs, each stack containing a plurality of horizontally disposed printed discs superposed one above the other.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatic transport of compact discs one-at-a-time from a loading station in a horizontally disposed, circular defined path through various work stations e.g., silk-screen printing and UV-curing, to an off-loading station. The compact discs are automatically loaded by loading apparatus onto the transport apparatus one-at-a-time in a predetermined location from apparatus automatically supplying compact discs to the loading apparatus for loading onto the transport apparatus in a plurality of vertically disposed stacks, each stack providing a plurality of discs horizontally disposed and superposed one above the other. Subsequent to printing and curing of the printing ink, the printed compact discs are off-loaded from the annular-shaped transport apparatus one-at-a-time by unloading apparatus and provided in a plurality of vertically disposed stacks of compact discs, each stack containing a plurality of horizontally disposed printed discs superposed one above the other.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatic transport of compact discs one-at-a-time from a loading station in a horizontally disposed, circular defined path through various work stations e.g., silk-screen printing and UV-curing, to an off-loading station. The compact discs are automatically loaded by loading apparatus onto the transport apparatus one-at-a-time in a predetermined location from apparatus automatically supplying compact discs to the loading apparatus for loading onto the transport apparatus in a plurality of vertically disposed stacks, each stack providing a plurality of discs horizontally disposed and superposed one above the other. Subsequent to printing and curing of the printing ink, the printed compact discs are off-loaded from the annular-shaped transport apparatus one-at-a-time by unloading apparatus and provided in a plurality of vertically disposed stacks of compact discs, each stack containing a plurality of horizontally disposed printed discs superposed one above the other.