Abstract: A printer includes a dispensing head for dispensing viscous material, such as solder paste. The dispensing head defines a chamber and includes at least one source port and a dispensing slot, wherein the viscous material flows from a supply mounted to the source port, into the chamber and out the dispensing slot. Within the chamber, a stirring mechanism is mounted. The stirring mechanism is coupled to a drive mechanism that displaces the stirring mechanism through the chamber, thereby stirring the viscous material. The stirring mechanism is particularly effective in preventing or reducing compaction of solder paste within the chamber.

Abstract: A stencil discharge apparatus for a stencil printing machine has a discharge box for storing a predetermined amount of stencil sheets after being peeled off from a printing drum so as to discharge the stencil sheets. The stencil discharge apparatus includes a compressing device for compressing the stencil sheets discharged into the discharge box through motion of a compressing plate; a compressing pressure sensing device for sensing and outputting a compressing pressure of the compressing means; a moving amount sensing means for sensing and outputting an amount of motion of the compressing plate; and a control device for calculating a storing amount of the stencil sheets in the discharge box on the basis of sensing a predetermined pressure through the compressing pressure sensing device and an amount of motion sensed by the moving amount sensing device.

Abstract: A machine for screen-printing on a flat sheet comprises at least one first mobile frame connected to a support plane for the sheet to be printed and at least one second mobile frame that supports a screen for printing, a doctor, and the members to guide and move the doctor. Pairs of eccentric wheels are provided so as to cyclically move the first and second frames in a direction perpendicular to the support plane between an open position, corresponding to which an already printed sheet is removable and a sheet to be printed is introducible, and a closed position in which the sheet to be printed may be retained on the support plane during the printing phase.

Abstract: A marking machine with fixed motors comprising a first electric and fixed motor for transmitting motion to a first head sliding on a first guide in the OX direction, a second electric and fixed motor for transmitting motion to a working head sliding on a second guide in the OY direction; wherein a support is integral with the first head and the second guide; the first and second motors being controlled so as to create a differential motion between the two motors sufficient to effect displacement in the OY direction.

Abstract: A device for application of coating powder in a process including a conveyor with an air permeable conveyor surface for conveying a base sheet in a direction of travel, wherein the base sheet is coated with at least one layer upstream of the conveyor, and a powder-applying device, arranged to apply coating powder onto the base sheet. A device for directing a jet of air towards the base sheet is also arranged downstream of the powder applying device such that the jet of air effectively removes any excess coating powder from the base sheet. A suction device is also arranged to create an under-pressure beneath the conveyor surface, causing the base sheet to be pulled towards the conveyor surface, and forcing the excess coating powder to pass through the conveyor surface.

Abstract: A stencil printing machine is provided with a paper feed section feeding a print sheet, which is allowed to have paper dusts thereon, in a paper feed path, and a print section to which the print sheet is transferred, and including a printing drum carrying thereon a stencil sheet having a perforated image area formed on the basis of image data and a rotary printing press member located in close proximity to an outer circumferential periphery of the printing drum to impart printing pressure thereto to allow the print sheet to be transferred in press contact between the printing drum and the rotary printing press member such that printing ink is transferred onto the print sheet to generate a desired image thereon through the perforated image area.

Abstract: A stencil printing machine 1 is provided with a stencil drum 16 and a opposite 17 which are a pair of cylindrical parts located with their external peripheral surfaces being close to each other, a stencil sheet 15 being detachably wound on the external peripheral surface of the stencil drum 16, and serves to perform stencil printing process by rotating the stencil drum 16 and the opposite 17 in order that the external peripheral surfaces thereof are located close to each other and moved in the same direction while the stencil sheet 15 is pressed against the opposite 17, and by making the stencil sheet 15 in contact under pressure with a sheet of paper 22 passing between the stencil drum 16 and the opposite 17 by the pressing force of the stencil drum 16. The stencil drum 16 is detachably mounted on the stencil printing machine and provided with storage units 201 to 203 for storing information about the pressing force of the stencil drum 16 against the opposite 17.

Abstract: A printer for printing a viscous material at predetermined positions forming a pattern on a substrate. The printer includes a frame, a device, mounted to the frame, having a number of perforations arranged to form the pattern, a support apparatus, coupled to the frame, that supports the substrate in a printing position beneath the device, and a material dispenser. The material dispenser has a chamber to contain the viscous material to be printed on the substrate. The chamber has an opening through which the viscous material is dispensed. The material dispenser is coupled to the frame, positioned over the device, and constructed and arranged to dispense the viscous material through the perforations in the device and onto the substrate. The material dispenser has a retraction device that prevents leakage of the viscous material from the opening after dispensing is complete. The material dispenser includes a temperature control system.

Abstract: A stencil (8) with a tension part combined with an operational device allowing deposition of solder paste to replace constituents on an electronic board. The stencil consists of a flat sheet (1), of rectangular shape, made of synthetic flexible material or metal and outfitted with transfer openings (2) for transferring and distributing a product. Two of the parallel sides of the sheet are connected to rigid and mobile vertical tabs (3) in an affixed position on a tension unit of the sheet. The other two parallel sides of the sheet, orthogonal to the former ones, are extended with flexible walls (6), orthogonal to the sheet. Bead folds (7) separate the perforated sheet and each of the flaps and delimit the sheet. The flaps freely rotate around the folds. The invention also has an operational device consisting of arm (20) with several jointed strands outfitted with a sole means of locking (22) its joints. The stencil may be configured and moved in accordance with 6 degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A thermal stencil sheet for use in a laser stencil printing system comprising a stencil sheet comprising a base layer, a radiation absorbing layer, and a thermal film overlying the radiation absorbing layer. The base layer comprises a porous fibrous material which is saturatable with liquid.

Abstract: A multicolor printing method using a plurality of ink drums each being loaded with a respective master and a system therefore are disclosed. A plurality of removable ink drums replaceable with each other are fed with respective masters by fixed master feeding devices smaller in number than ink drums via the replacement of the drums and are used for printing. The method and system of the present invention are low cost and enhance downsizing and accurate registration between the masters.

Abstract: Screen-printing device for printing a substrate (6), comprising at least one printing station (2) for a removable screen (10) and a printing-medium feed; and substrate-conveying means (4, 5) for guiding a substrate (6) past the printing station (2) in which device the following are also provided: a movement mechanism for moving the screen (10) and the substrate-conveying means (4, 5) with respect to one another between a printing position and a free position, a shield (15) which can move between an at-rest position and a shielding position, in which shielding position the shield (15) forms a barrier between the screen (10) and the substrate-conveying means (4, 5) or a substrate (6) which is being guided over these means, and liquid-discharge means (20) for discharging liquids which are deposited on a shield (15) which is located in the shielding position.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a stencil making system which makes a stencil by imagewise perforating a stencil material in a controlled position on the basis of an image signal, a printing system which makes prints by the use of the stencil made by the stencil making system and a control system which controls the stencil making system and the printing system. The control system is provided with a first stencil making position controller adapted to control of the stencil making position when a stencil is to be made on the basis of an internal image signal optically read out from an original, a second stencil making position controller adapted to control of the stencil making position when a stencil is to be made on the basis of an external image signal input through a path different from the path along which the internal image signal is input, and a selector which selectively makes active one of the first and second stencil making position controllers.

Abstract: A method and system for providing an image for display by an illuminated display device is provided whereby certain areas of the image appear highlighted to a viewer. An illuminated display device for displaying an image on a medium or on a transparency is also provided. The images are modified so that, as displayed, white and/or partially white areas appear as highlighted to a viewer.

Abstract: A fixture element which enhances loading/unloading of a ball relative thereto while promoting supporting engagement with and positioning of the ball to allow an image to be imprinted on an outer spherical surface thereof by a printing process requiring a predetermined area defined by the outer spherical surface of said ball to remain unobstructed during the printing process is disclosed. Such element includes a head portion and a shaft portion extending from the head portion. The head portion of the element defines a generally curved inner surface extending thereacross and generally corresponding to a segment on the outer spherical surface of said ball. To increase the interface with the ball, the head portion of the element defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced wings for positioning and supporting the ball engaged thereby for rotation about the axis of the element's shaft portion.

Abstract: A microchannel that can be used for separating two or more substances present in a sample has a first substrate and a second substrate with printed component printed on one or both of the substrates and is shaped to define a perimeter of the channel. The substrates are affixed to one another so that the component is sandwiched between the substrates and is in contact with both substrates. The microchannel is constructed using printing techniques to define the channel on one or both of the substrates.

Abstract: A printing machine includes an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of spaced object supports, at least one screenprinting station vertically aligned with the path of movement of the object supports and at least one digital inkjet printing station adapted to operate on demand. Applications include printing compact discs.

Abstract: A squeegee blade system having a pair of squeegee blade holders, each holder having a squeegee blade secured thereto. When one squeegee blade moves to and from a print stroke position, the other holder moves its associated blade from and to a non-print stroke position. Each of the squeegee blade holders have an actuator and a sensor/display such that the actuator of one holder communicates with the sensor of the other holder. Each time one squeegee blade holder is moved to the print stroke position the actuator of the one squeegee blade holder actuates the sensor/display in the other squeegee blade holder such that an accurate count of the squeegee blade usage is displayed. In another embodiment, a squeegee blade system on a squeegee head has a pair of mirror image squeegee blades secured thereto such that the head moves to and from a stencil. A sensor and a means for counting are secured to the squeegee head such that the sensor is actuated each time the squeegee head moves to the stencil.

Abstract: A stencil printing machine in which a stencil is sheared off of a continuous roll of stencil sheet to a length determined by a selected size of printing paper, mounted onto a printing drum, removed from said printing drum, and transported to and inserted into a used stencil container by a transport means, which comprises a stencil length specifying means which specifies the length of the stencil according to a selected size of printing paper when the stencil is prepared for printing, and a control means which controls an operation amount of the transport means, at the time the stencil is removed from the printing drum, in relation to the length of the stencil as specified by the stencil length specifying means. The control means may comprise a random access memory to record the data from the stencil length specifying mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for transporting circuit boards in a screen printer. In embodiments of the present invention, a transportation system is provided for a printer that prints material on a substrate. The transportation system has the ability to independently move substrates from one position to another within the printer without moving other substrates contained within the transportation system. In one embodiment, the transportation system includes a conveyor system and a plurality of lifters that lift substrates off of the conveyor system to prevent at least one substrate from moving when other substrates are moved by the conveyor system. In another embodiment, the transportation system includes a conveyor system and a plurality of retractable pins, that are individually controllable to be raised above the conveyor system to contact at least one substrate on the conveyor system and prevent the substrate from moving when other substrates are moved by the conveyor system.

Abstract: A multicolor printing method and system including a master making device having plurality of removable ink drums replaceable with each other and a printing device. The plurality of removable ink drums are fed with respective masters to be used for printing, by fixed master feeding devices smaller in number than the removable ink drums. The removable ink drums fed with the respective masters are then used by the printing device for printing onto paper. The method and system provides multicolor printing with lower cost, reduced size and accurate registration between the respective masters, as compared to conventional methods and systems.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus for applying a printing agent in different thicknesses to a plate. A mask of the apparatus has a width corresponding to or matching the widths of two plates to be printed. A first portion of the mask, for applying a first printing to the plate, is reduced by recessing an upper surface of the mask portion, with screen holes being provided therein pursuant to a desired pattern. A second portion of the mask, for applying a second printing to the plate, is provided with screen holes in a different pattern. Recesses are provided in the lower surface of the second portion of the mask for receiving the printing agent applied via the first portion of the mask, thereby preventing the printing agent from attaching to the second portion of the mask. A single printing operation, on two plates disposed side by side, is performed by moving a squeegee having two portions with different thicknesses or heights. The plate to be printed can be shifted under the lower surface of the mask.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a screen of a screen printing machine, including the steps of taking, with an image taking device, an image of at least one opening of the screen, and judging, based on image data representing the taken image, whether the opening of the screen is clogged.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method for improving the productivity of a screen printer for an electronics-mounting machine. Thus, a screen printer according to this invention uses a recognition camera to inspect the results of printing of a circuit board concurrently with a cleaning operation of the rear surface of a screen, thereby enabling the effective use of time. This screen printer also enables cream solder to be automatically supplied to reduce the operation time by determining whether the next screen to be used is unused. During automatic screen replacement, this screen printer enables a desired screen stored in the corresponding stocker to be automatically specified in order to replace the current screen in response to a selected NC program.

Abstract: A residual amount in the discharged stencil sheet box is displayed, a superior compression is performed against the discharged stencil sheet and many stencil sheets can be stored in the box. When the perforated stencil sheet 22 transferred by the feeding means 41 into the discharged stencil sheet box 42 is compressed by the discharged stencil sheet compression plate 43, the encoder 50 is utilized for detecting moving amount and compression force of the plate 43. When the pulse width of the pulse generated from the encoder 50 becomes a predetermined value, it is discriminated that the compression force with the plate 43 reaches a desired value, and the compression motor 44 is stopped. The number of pulses generated by the encoder 50 is counted to detect the moving position of the plate 43 and the residual amount in the box 42 is displayed in response to the moving position.

Abstract: A very fine pixel pattern can be formed by first screen printing a conductive paste and electron-emitting carbon paste material in sequence before removing a predetermined portion of the screen-printed layers simultaneously such that remaining portions become a fine pixel pattern. This method not only enables fine pixel pattern formation but also provides an electrode/emitter structure that increases electron emission. Furthermore all these improvements can be made with less manufacturing time and cost.

Abstract: A stencil printing machine 6 including an image reading section 2a, an image processing section 2c for processing to convert image data into binary perforating data which is used for perforating to a stencil sheet, an image perforating section 2b for thermally perforating the stencil sheet in accordance with image of the perforating data, a printing section 3 for transcribing ink to a print sheet by using the perforated stencil sheet and a data holding section 5 for holding perforating data in stencil making operation as re-perforating data simultaneously with the stencil making operation of the stencil sheet by the image perforating section 2b, in which when the print sheet is printed by a limited number of sheets or more, the re-perforating data held in the data holding section 5 is used by a control section 4 by input instruction from an operation panel section 1.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with a platen roller, a head capable of being pressed against the platen roller and forming an image onto a recording medium, a first impelling member impelling so as to press the head against the platen roller, an impelling roller capable of being pressed against the platen roller, and a second impelling member impelling so as to press the impelling roller against the platen roller. Here, while the head is pressed against the platen roller by use of the first impelling member and the recording medium supplied between the head and the platen roller is pressed, and while the impelling roller is pressed against the platen roller by use of the second impelling member, the recording medium is transported as the image is formed on the recording medium.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus is designed so that cream solder 17 disposed on a mask plate 12 can be preserved at a certain appropriate temperature by the limited use of blown air. An air nozzle unit 20 is provided above the mask plate 12 at a place on the side edge running in parallel with the moving direction of a squeegee 16. The temperature-conditioning air is blown sidewise from the air nozzle unit 20 towards the cream solder 17 during the operation of printing the cream solder 17 on the surface of a substrate through the mask plate 12 disposed in contact therewith.

Abstract: An additive is dispersed in a matrix having a larger thermal expansion coefficient, which forms a film that prevents the permeation of the ink at the room temperature while allowing the permeation of the ink at high temperature. An ink roller is formed by covering a roller-like sponge body containing ink (an ink holder) with the film. Along the outer circumference of the ink roller, a thermal head that heats the surface of the ink roller according to a print pattern and a platen roller that sandwiches recording sheet between itself and the ink roller are disposed. Then, by rotating the ink roller and heating the thermal head, the ink permeates through the heated part of the film and is transferred to the recording sheet to form an ink image on the recording sheet.

Abstract: A hand-held spray paint marking tool includes a lower chamber for holding at least one can of spray paint in an inverted position. The chamber extends upward and terminates in a handle grip that includes an activation mechanism. A stencil including the desired marking pattern is attached to the underside of the lower chamber. When the activation mechanism is depressed by the user, the spray paint cans are activated such that the paint passes through the stencil and marks the ground underneath.

Abstract: A new face painting stencils for helping paint images, logos and other designs on the face of a user. The inventive device includes a card having substantially planar first and second surfaces, a pair of end edges and a pair of side edges extending between the end edges of the card. The card has at least one hole therethrough extending between the first and second surfaces of the card.

Abstract: A machine for processing hollow glass objects (8) is described. The machine includes a sequence of like processing units (1) to (15) and (A, B) on which a small number of processing steps can be carried out on the workpiece (8). The workpieces (8) are brought to the processing unit on a clock-driven loading belt (4) and taken therefrom. A workpiece, which is being processed in a unit, is held during the entire sequence by one and the same workpiece holder. Each processing unit includes two separate handling units with which two workpieces run through the workstations time displaced. The machine arrangement permits processing units to be taken out or switched into the line without a production standstill.

Abstract: A screen printing method and apparatus for printing a circuit pattern corresponding to that of a stencil (4), onto a print-object article (1) placed on an ascendable/descendable positioning stage (2), through moving a squeegee (5a, 5b) horizontally while the squeegee is pushed in on the stencil so that print paste (9) is printed to the article via the stencil. The squeegee is lifted to an extent of a push-in stroke, to which the squeegee has been pushed in on the stencil, and thereafter the article is separated away from the stencil by moving the stage downward. The board is classified into first and second areas (121, 120) where values of opening sizes of the stencil along a squeegee moving direction are smaller than and not smaller than a threshold, and a speed of the squeegee at the first area is made slower than that at the second area.

Abstract: A printing system comprises a printer for conducting stencil making and printing, a finisher such as a sorter for receiving and holding printed sheets discharged from the printer and aligning the received printed sheets, and control means for starting stencil making in the printer without waiting for the finisher to finish aligning the printed sheets. The control means is preferably responsive to completion of printed sheet insertion in the finisher for substantially simultaneously starting the stencil making operation in the printer and the aligning operation in the finisher. The printing system enables a reduction in overall printing time.

Abstract: A squeegee for use in screen printing, including a flexible portion, and one separation or two separations extending from a contact edge of the flexible portion for contact with a screen, toward a base portion of the squeegee, thereby at least partly separating the flexible portion, so that the flexible portion includes a first portion between the one separation and a lateral edge of the flexible portion, or between the two separations, and a second portion different from the first portion, and so that the first portion and the second portion are flexible independent of each other.

Abstract: A printer including a plurality of print drums and capable of producing, e.g., color printings is disclosed. When a closed position sensor responsive to a door outputs a close signal and when a drum sensor assigned to a print drum to be mounted outputs an absence signal, a controller controls drum drive sections such that a mount/dismount drive section assigned to the print drum to be mounted takes the position corresponding to a mount position. Also, in response to a mount position signal output from a mount position sensor, the controller controls the drum driving device such that the mount/dismount drive section stops at the position corresponding to the mount position. The printer allows an operator thereof to mount the print drums without pressing, e.g., mount/dismount keys each time and thereby saves time.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus which is structured such that a printing agent is not left within a screen hole of a mask after printing, having a main body of the screen printing apparatus whose upper side within it is formed as a chamber which can be sealed by setting a mask supporting table as a boundary, and a pressure within the chamber can be ascended and descended at a desired timing by suitable pressure ascending and descending means such as air bags and the like.

Abstract: A lip stencil plate for placing stencils on a user's lips. The lip stencil plate includes a stencil panel for placing against a user's face. The stencil panel has an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface is convex and the inner surface is concave for placement against the face of a user. A plurality of bores through the panel are used for stenciling.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus 199, 169 has a roll paper vibrating device which vibrates roll paper in contact with the lower surface of a screen mask in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the roll paper while the roll paper is being moved in contact with the lower surface of the screen mask. Thereby, the roll paper in contact with the lower surface of the screen mask is moved in a waveform-shape pattern. Therefore, the cumulative contact area of the roll paper on the lower surface of the mask is increased, and it is possible to efficiently remove residue, such as paste attached onto the lower surface of the screen mask of the printing apparatus and paste attached inside pattern openings of the screen mask, to maintain a good printing performance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing excessive pigment buildup on the exterior surface of a rotary printing screen in a region adjacent the edge of fabric being printed including a flexible wiper member biased against the exterior surface of the rotary printing screen and positioned in the excessive pigment region and a mounting bracket for holding the wiper member in a predetermined orientation with respect to the exterior surface of the rotary printing screen. The wiper member is positioned in the excessive pigment region and is angled to the axis of rotation of the rotary printing screen so as to push the excessive pigment buildup away from the fabric being printed. The method further includes applying a lubricant stream to the exterior surface adjacent to and upstream of the flexible wiper member.

Abstract: A screen printing machine with an improved device for aspirating excess ink, comprising a printing bed for supporting a glass plate to be printed, which is provided in an upward region with a frame with a mesh surface forming a permeable portion. Ink is placed on the frame. The machine has a doctor unit comprising a doctor and a complementary doctor whose dimensions are equal to the width of the frame and which are adapted to move along the frame from one end to the other in order to respectively distribute and collect the ink. The machine further comprises a suction unit provided with a suction nozzle and means for guiding the nozzle along a preset path. The suction nozzle moves on the mesh surface so as to follow the path traced by the perimetric edge of the glass plate in order to aspirate the excess ink.

Abstract: A re-useable stencil kit made of a semi-rigid panel material for the application of painted address characters and a decorative painted background on a street curb. A base decorative background stencil (10) having an elongated opening featuring a decorative shape (12, 28) at the right and left sides of the opening. Address characters formed in separate, character stencil cards (18) featuring one address character (20) each, are arranged within the cavity of the opening in the background stencil along with blank spacer cards (22, 24, 26) to form the desired address. The spacer cards fill in void space on either side of, and center the character stencil cards, simultaneously masking the painted background. The stencils and spacers fit closely together to prevent paint over spray and to provide accurate character alignment.

Abstract: A new ink deflector for a squeegee assembly for use in a printing operation having a screening surface is disclosed. The squeegee has a first and second surface, and a pair of opposite ends, and an attachment for holding the squeegee at a suitable operating angle relative to the screening surface. A pair of ink deflectors are provided which are each detachably positioned at an operating angle relative to the screening surface along an end of the squeegee. The operating angle of each ink deflector in the present invention is independent of the operating angle of the squeegee. Each ink deflector, which has a first surface, is designed to direct ink towards the center of the first squeegee surface. Additionally, the ink deflector has a second surface which directs ink toward the center of the second squeegee surface.

Abstract: Solder Paste, adhesives and other materials are screen printed onto Printed Circuit Boards (PCB's) during the assembly process for electronic circuit assemblies. Pressure forces may be applied to the material to aid in separating the material from the apertures within the stencil. The pressure forces are created from sound pressure waves generated from a vibrational energy source located some distance from the stencil. Examples of non-contacting vibrational energy sources include Ultrasonic transducers, horns, speakers, and tuning forks. Additional assistance to separate the material from the apertures may be applied by a vibrational source by contacting to the stencil. Examples of the contacting vibrational energy sources may be off-balanced motors, piezo-electric transducers, and mass-resonant vibrators.

Abstract: A slide mechanism for a cantilever type screen-printing machine and a driving mechanism for elevating the slide mechanism are provided. The slide mechanism includes an elevating mechanism and a transverse sliding assembly both including members formed from aluminum extrusions and therefore having high rigidity and strength. The transverse sliding assembly is vertically adjustably connected to a guide block through two small slide pairs connected between the transverse sliding assembly and the guide block, and the guide block is in turn connected to two big slides of the elevating mechanism. The driving mechanism includes a gear reduction motor, a driving bar of which is connected to the guide block in order to drive the transverse sliding assembly to stably move up and down along the elevating mechanism at high speed to achieve high precision printing in high efficiency.

Abstract: The system comprises two oppositely working scraping blades (8, 9) fixed to a blade support (6, 7) for depositing a silk-screen printing product (18) via a screen (17) on a support (21) to be coated. According to the invention, each extremity of the blade support comprises means (28, 29) for fixing a cheek for confinement of the product. The cheek (24, 25) is a plate of flexible material which engages the screen (17) by means of its free edge, with a small spacing being saved between the blade and the plate. The plate is oriented in such a way that the silk-screen printing product (26, 27), which passes beyond the extremity of the blade during its passage under pressure on the screen, is brought back to within the screen in the work zone of the blade.

Abstract: A stencil printer of the present invention includes at least one ink drum for wrapping a master around its outer periphery. An ink feed device feeds ink to the master wrapped around the ink drum. A pressing member is movable into and out of contact with the ink drum at a position where it faces the ink feed device. An image is printed on a paper fed from a paper feed section at a print section where the ink drum and pressing member face each other. A belt conveyor includes a belt extending between the paper feed section located upstream of the print section in the direction of paper conveyance and a paper discharge section located downstream of the print section in the same direction through the print section. The belt conveys the paper fed from the paper feed section while causing it to electrostatically adhere thereto. The paper is sufficiently electrostatically adhered to the belt before it reaches the print section, so that air suction, an air knife, a separator or the like is not necessary.

Abstract: There are provided a printing method of printing an image of characters, figures or the like on a plate-making surface of a plate-making sheet, and an apparatus therefor. The apparatus feeds a plate-making sheet by a predetermined amount assigned to a forward end of the plate-making sheet when the forward end is detected by a sensor. When a mark for detection provided on the plate-making sheet is detected during the feeding of the plate-making sheet by the predetermined amount assigned to the forward end, the apparatus further feeds the plate-making sheet by a predetermined amount from a position of the plate-making sheet where the mark for detection is detected, to thereby locate the start of an image-forming area of the plate-making sheet. On the other hand, when the mark for detection is not detected, the apparatus continues feeding of the plate-making sheet.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a printing apparatus which includes a polygonal support frame, a plurality of spaced apart pallets movably mounted on the support frame, and a pallet drive assembly mounted to the support frame and connected to the pallets for indexing the pallets around the support frame to desired printing locations.