Abstract: A doctor blade for use in screen printing includes a head, a base in the form of a lip and at least one elastically deformable member connecting the head and the base. The elastically deformable member is structurally discontinuous on at least one location in the longitudinal direction of the doctor blade extending along a plurality of spaced spring layers. The elastically deformable member is realized from a plurality of elastically deformable wires which are arranged in spirals or in undulations or from a cut-out sheet so as to form a double comb the stiffness of which is controlled by the transverse dimension of the windings, undulations, or cut-outs, or the characteristics of the constituent material, and the spacing between the teeth of the comb.

Abstract: A new apparatus and methods for automatically unloading or removing an article from a printing machine, and preferably transferring the same to a suitable drying surface is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a support frame, an extendable gripping means attached to the support frame for engaging the article, and a conventional controller for controlling operation of the extendable gripping means. Additionally, at least one platen attached to the printing machine in a manner allowing the extendable gripping means to vertically extend from the support frame to an area of the platen(s) is also disclosed. To permit gripping of the articles, the platen are notched at the area corresponding to the extendable gripping means.

Abstract: A dispenser for a surface mounting paste or the like comprises a substrate 12 and a plurality of nozzles 9, 10 and 11 attached thereto such that they can be vertically driven. The paste dispenser 8 is moved by means of a squeegee moving mechanism.

Abstract: A device for collecting waste or used masters and applicable to a stencil printer or similar printer is disclosed. The device includes a waste master box accommodating a compression plate therein. The compression plate is rotatable at least more than 90 degrees about a shaft on which it is mounted. Every time a waste master peeled off a print drum is introduced into the box, the compression plate rotates over the above angular range in order to compress the waste master. The box prevents consecutive waste masters sequentially compressed by the compression plate from being localized.

Abstract: A screen apparatus including a screen plate including a screen and a screen frame to which the screen is fixed, a support table having a support surface which supports the screen frame, an adjusting device which adjusts a position of the screen plate relative to the support table in a direction parallel to the screen, a fixing device which, when the adjusting device adjusts the position of the screen plate, permits the screen plate to be moved relative to the support table and, after the adjustment, presses the screen frame against the support surface of the support table, thereby fixing the screen plate to the support table, at least three balls which are supported by the screen frame and/or the frame-support table such that each of the balls is movable between its advanced position and its retracted position, at least three biasing devices each of which supports a corresponding one of the balls such that the one ball is rollable and which biases the one ball toward its advanced position, and at least three

Abstract: A stencil printing machine includes a main body; a covering openably attached to a surface of the main body and enclosing a space between the main body and the covering for storing a printing sheet and a stencil sheet therein; a flexible sheet attached to the covering so as to face the stencil sheet; a pressure reducing device disposed under the main body so as to communicate with the space and reducing pressure in the space; and a manual operating device for operating the pressure reducing device when being pressed downwardly from an operation start position that is substantially in the same level as the covering.

Abstract: In a method for forming a duplicate image by reading an original image from an original sheet and forming a duplicate image according to the original image, to allow the designation of a number of regions for forming duplicate regional images, from an overall image, with desired color separation or other various attributes to be carried out accurately, promptly and simply by mounting the original sheet only once on a digitizer or the like without regard to the number of processes of forming a duplicate image, a plurality of regions designated on a single original sheet are stored in a storage device such as computer memory, either the designated region stored in the storage device or the region other than the designated region is defined as an effective region, a duplicate image of only the effective region is formed for a first process of forming a duplicate image, only the region other than the effective region for the first process of forming a duplicate image is defined as a new effective region, and a du

Abstract: A wool attaching machine for cloth is composed of a working table, a conveyer, a plurality of printing rollers, a bonding agent transfer device, a static electricity wool attaching device and a baking device. The conveyer is installed on the working table for delivering cloth, and the printing rollers are used for printing patterns on the cloth. The bonding agent transfer device has a bonding agent roller with stencil patterns, a strainer net attached closely to an inner surface of the stencil patterns, to enable bonding agent in the bonding agent roller to penetrate slowly from the strainer net through the stencil patterns onto the cloth to form bonding agent patterns. The static electricity wool attaching device is installed behind the bonding agent transfer device.

Abstract: A system for registering a work support pallet on an arm of a printing machine with a screen frame of the machine has spaced-apart rods pivotally mounted on a pallet tool and on an arm of the machine for accurate shuttle movement of the pallet tool and a work support pallet thereon into proximity with the screen frame.

Abstract: To prevent a positional displacement of a screen mask in accordance with movement of a squeegee, a single squeegee device and a printing agent feeding device moves in synchronism with each other along a guide member. A squeegee elevated/lowered at a predetermined timing is mounted at a lower end of the squeegee device. A printing agent scraping device is mounted at a lower end of said printing agent feeding device. The printing agent scraping device is structured by a scraping frame which is elevated and lowered at a predetermined timing and moves in a direction in contact with or away from the squeegee and a printing agent extruding plate which is retracted/projected at a predetermined timing within the scraping frame.

Abstract: An exposure frame (30) and a registration printing pallet (130) are disclosed for registering a printing screen frame (10) holding a screen (12) first to the artwork (4) and next to the pallet (19) supporting the product (T) to be screened.

Abstract: An exposure frame (30) and a registration printing pallet (130) are disclosed for registering a printing screen frame (10) holding a screen (12) first to the artwork (4) and next to the pallet (19) supporting the product (T) to be screened.

Abstract: A device for stretching a screen on a roller frame includes at least three torsion stations and a support structure. Each torsion station includes a torsion tool, for example, a wrench head, which can be attached to one end of one of the sides of the frame and torqued for the purpose of stretching the screen. Each torsion tool is attached to a shaft structure at a first pivot point. Each shaft structure is attached to the support structure at a second pivot point. Each shaft structure has a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder positioned intermediately along its length for altering the length of the shaft structure between its first and second pivot points, thereby causing the wrench head to torque and rotate one of the rollers of the frame. A control panel allows the operator to activate all of the pneumatic cylinders simultaneously and with substantially equal forces, thereby resulting in a more rapidly and evenly stretched screen.

Abstract: A used stencil receptacle for facilitating the disposal of used stencils. The used stencil receptacle is in the shape of a box, and comprises a base, a pair of long straight sides, a short straight side, and an open side or a movable side which is freely opened and closed.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive mimeograph stencil having a uniform shape of openings, which have an excellent balance of retention and permeation of printing ink is disclosed.The heat-sensitive mimeograph stencil includes a polyester film and a porous support made of polyester fibers, which is laminated on the polyester film, wherein the porous support constitutes a network having fused points formed by fusion of the fibers, and that membranes spanning the fibers are formed at some of the fused points, the membranes having thicknesses smaller than average diameter of the fibers. By virtue of this structure, the printed matter obtained by mimeographing using the stencil has high quality and is free from backside transcription. Further, the mimeograph stencil is excellent in ease of transportation.

Abstract: A used stencil receptacle for facilitating the disposal of used stencils. The used stencil receptacle is in the shape of a box, and comprises a base, a pair of long straight sides, a short straight side, and an open side or a movable side which is freely opened and closed.

Abstract: A polyimide precursor composition which is produced by (i) providing a polyamide acid solution obtained by reacting an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component and a diamine component in the presence of an oxygen-containing solvent and (ii) subjecting said polyamide acid solution to heat treatment. The polyimide precursor composition exhibits a desirable apparent viscosity and a desirable thixotropic property and it excels in film forming ability, and because of this, it enables the formation a high quality relief pattern film with no defect and which excels in form retention by way of the screen printing.

Abstract: An arrangement to prevent loosening of a stencil which is wound round a core in the shape of a roll. The stencil roll has at least one side surface thereof applied with a paste. This is effective in preventing the stencil from becoming loose by an inertia force of the stencil roll when it is unstable during its rotation. Thus, the stencil can be paid out from the stencil roll without becoming slack.

Abstract: A silk-screen printing machine with safe removal of the printed product including a support structure, a printing head provided with a doctor blade and scraper and on which a silk-screen frame can be positioned, a printing table and, located to the side of the printing table, an element for depositing and collecting the printed product, in which the printing table is provided with a plurality of grooves, into the grooves there being insertable gripping elements which can be moved between a position in correspondence with the depositing and collecting element and a position inside the grooves. In this manner the printed product can be manipulated without danger of scoring its totally printed upper surface.

Abstract: A solder paste stencil printing apparatus in which a stencil plate having a porous figure printing area may be used for single component solder paste application. The printing operation is performed by alignment of the stencil pattern figure over the appropriate component substrate pads. With the stencil plate being held in place by downward force, solder paste is dispensed over the stencil plate pattern allowing gravity flow of the paste material into the stencil pattern pores. Excess paste material is squeegeed level to the top surface of the stencil plate and the plate lifted from the substrate surface leaving solder paste in the configured pattern. An associated stencil plate holder matched to the printer head shaft allows any number of stencil plate patterns to be made available for solder paste application.

Abstract: A stencil shifter (800) for positioning a differential thickness stencil stencil (14' integrally formed from two sieves (601 and 602) having different thicknesses (701 and 702) for a two-stage solder printing process for printing the solder mask for a fine-pitch component alongside that of a larger component on the same side of a printed circuit board. This same stencil shifter (800) can also be used for a top and bottom side two-stage printing process. This two-stage printing process uses an integral stencil (814) having a plurality of sieves (801 and 802), the plurality of sieves including at least a first sieve (801) for paste stenciling a first side (191) of a board and a second sieve (802) for paste stenciling a second side (202) of the board. What side the board is facing is first determined by an optical sensor (193) and in response to the side detected, the integral stencil (814) is positioned to locate one of the pluralities of sieves over the board for printing that side.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly for a screen printing machine is provided comprising a squeegee body formed of a resilient material and an attached thin flexible polished metal plate, said plate attached to and supported by a front face of said squeegee body in a linear manner, a bottom end of said flexible plate projecting from a bottom end of said squeegee body, and support means supporting said squeegee body and attached flexible plate in an inclination angle of 60.degree..about.70.degree. relative to a direction of movement of said squeegee.

Abstract: A stencil discharging apparatus for a stencil printing machine in which a stencil is used, the stencil discharging apparatus includes: a conveyer for conveying the stencil to be discharged; a used-stencil accommodating section having an opening and a stencil accommodating space in which the stencil conveyed by the conveyer is accommodated; and a compressing board pivotally provided, wherein the compressing board presses the stencil accommodated in the stencil accommodating space toward the opposite of the opening of the used-stencil accommodating section in accordance with moving the compressing board in the stencil accommodating space.

Abstract: An improved squeegee for a screen printing system. A squeegee with two substantially rectangular shaped elements adjacent each other and each having a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axes are not aligned and instead intersect at an angle unequal to zero. Alternatively, the improved squeegee for a screen printing system may include a center section with outward projections, a first substantially rectangular shaped element adjacent the center section and having a first longitudinal axis and a second substantially rectangular shaped element adjacent to the center section and having a second longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis intersecting at an angle unequal to zero.

Abstract: A polyimide precursor composition which is produced by (i) providing a polyamide acid solution obtained by reacting an aromatic tetracarboxylic acid component and a diamine component in the presence of an oxygen-containing solvent and (ii) subjecting said polyamide acid solution to heat treatment. The polyimide precursor composition exhibits a desirable apparent viscosity and a desirable thixotropic property and it excels in film forming ability, and because of this, it enables the formation a high quality relief pattern film with no defect and which excels in form retention by way of the screen printing.

Abstract: A system for registering printing screens used for printing in series on a substrate which includes a plurality of outwardly projecting electrical switches, with a pair of the switches being positioned to engage a first side of a screen frame and at least one switch being positioned to engage a second side of the screen frame. The first and second sides of the frame are orthogonal relative to each other and, a pair of lights are activated by engagement of the frame with the switches, both of the lights being activated by simultaneous engagement of each of the switches by a screen frame. Similar sets of switches are provided on a table that supports the screens during exposure to an image to be replicated during printing and on a device that temporarily replaces a printing platen for alignment of each screen in a multi screen printing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading and depositing a viscous liquid or paste-like material on a substrate includes a housing removably insertable into a diamond- or square-shaped squeegee blade holder, the blade holder itself mounted to a squeegee head assembly of a screen or stencil printer. The squeegee head assembly is driven in a linear direction over and above the substrate, dragging the blade over the substrate and forcing deposition of the material onto the substrate. The housing includes a pair of oppositely-disposed locking clamps that attach to both ends of the housing. A shaft having a blade secured thereto is disposed through the channels of the clamps and within a groove of the housing, and the shaft is rotatable within the housing and the locking clamps so that the angle of attack between the blade and substrate can be selectively adjusted and, once the appropriate angle of application is selected, the blade is fixed in position by tightening the clamps against the shaft.

Abstract: The invention resides in a photosensitive composition for screen printing. Preferably, the composition of the invention comprises a polymer comprising a vinylpyridine monomer or polymer having a pyridinium salt character and a photoreactable constituent. The resulting stencil, once dried, exposed, cured, and subjected to alkaline treatment obtains enhanced solvent/water resistance but can be reclaimed using an acidic wash. In use, the stencil provides a screen/stencil assembly or blockout utility of high structural integrity through repeated use and screen printing images of high resolution and quality.

Abstract: A device for recovering accumulated ink from a screen in a printing press, the screen having interstices corresponding to printed indicia, the device comprising means for applying the screen with ink while travelling along the length of the screen in a first direction, first means for generating a signal when said ink applying means has reached a desired point of travel after printing, means for stopping travel of said ink applying means in response to said signal from said first signal generating means, second means for generating a signal when recovery of ink is desired, and means for permitting further travel of said ink applying means in response to said signal generated by said second signal generating means, and lowering said ink applying means.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive mimeograph stencil which gives a high quality of image because the permeation of printing ink is not hindered by an adhesive, and which is free from the problems caused by an adhesive, that is, poor resistance to ink, sticking to thermal head, and generation of toxic chlorine, as well as production process thereof is disclosed. The heat-sensitive mimeograph stencil is prepared by thermally adhering a polyester film and a porous support consisting essentially of polyester fibers and then co-stretching the resultant, and the peeling strength between said polyester film and said porous support is not less than 1 g/cm, so that the printed matter obtained by mimeograph using the stencil has very high quality of image.

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 stencil-making-type printing machine in which, even if rotary cylindrical drums having printing regions of different sizes are frequently used while being replaced with one another, the machine accurately detects when a used-stencil accommodating box is filled with used stencil, and notifies the operator. In the stencil-making-type printing machine, a CPU 200 determines the type of a rotary cylindrical drum loaded therein from output signals of dip switches 133 and 135 which are applied to it through electrical connectors 137 and 139.

Abstract: A stencil discharging apparatus in a stencil printing machine which uses a stencil paper wound on the outer cylindrical surface of a rotary cylindrical drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing a viscous material onto a surface of a board through the medium of a screen having openings therein. The apparatus includes a viscous material dispenser of the type having a box-like housing in which a chamber for containing the material and a slit-like bottom aperture communicating therewith are provided. A pair of blades depend from the housing on opposite sides of the bottom aperture. A rear wall of the housing includes a fixed upper wall section and a height-adjustable lower wall section height-adjustably connected thereto. The lower wall section is connected to manually operable height-adjustable device mounted on the housing and for adjusting the height of the lower wall section having the squeegee blade so that by adjusting the height-adjustable device, the contacting pressure of the lower end of the squeegee blade to be applied against the upper surface of the screen can be adjusted as desired.

Abstract: A stencil discharger includes a stripping device for removing a spent stencil paper from the outer peripheral surface of a drum; a stencil holding section for holding the spent stencil paper that has been removed from the outer peripheral surface of the drum; a transport device for transporting the spent stencil paper that has been removed from the outer peripheral surface of the drum; a compression member which is openable in the direction of transport of the spent stencil paper and provided on the transport route between the transport device and the stencil holding section, to check the transport of the spent stencil paper that has been transported by the transport device; and a push-out device which opens the compression member to discharge the spent stencil paper into the stencil holding section by pushing out, from the transport device side, the spent stencil paper which has been compressed by the compression member.

Abstract: A laser generator and a receiver are used to transmit and receive a laser beam for reflection by the leading edge of existing printing on ware to establish an indexing reference for printing to be newly applied to the ware. The receiver provides an electrical signal to disconnect drive motor from a drive train and engage a non-operating screen drive train to stop rotation of the ware. After indexing has been accomplished, the printing cycle is initiated causing silk screen to reciprocate in a synchronous speed with rotation of the ware while a squeegee establishes line contact with a screen to force printing medium through open spaces on the screen onto the ware.

Abstract: A system for registering printing screens used for printing in series on a substrate which includes a plurality of outwardly projecting electrical switches, with a pair of the switches being positioned to engage a first side of a screen frame and at least one switch being positioned to engage a second side of the screen frame. The first and second sides of the frame are orthogonal relative to each other and, a pair of lights are activated by engagement of the frame with the switches, both of the lights being activated by simultaneous engagement of each of the switches by a screen frame. Similar sets of switches are provided on a table that supports the screens during exposure to an image to be replicated during printing and on a device that temporarily replaces a printing platen for alignment of each screen in a multi screen printing device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a flood bar and squeegee for printing apparatus. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the flood bar or squeegee comprises an elongated member having an ink engaging face. A plurality of spaced apart fins are arranged across the face. The fins are generally parallel to one another and each end of the member is bent inwardly so as to inhibit the flow of ink to the sides of the screen.

Abstract: A method for applying and reproducing an original visual image such as an oil painting or photograph onto a rough vinyl or leather surface using silk screen ink techniques for a high resolution permanent image transformation, especially useful on objects having a course or roughened surface, such as a football, basketball, or the like, wherein an image is applied to a rough surface by an improved silk screening type method resulting in a sports ball having a multi-colored reproduction of the image on the ball exterior.

Abstract: A multiple station automated cap printer includes a plurality of printing heads mounted in fixed circumferentially spaced relationship to one another and are vertically movable between a raised non-printing position and a lowered printing position. A plurality of printing mandrels are disposed in fixed circumferentially spaced relationship to one another and rotatably mounted about a vertical axis between releasably fixed and precisely aligned positions below a respective one of the printing head. The mandrels include a cylindrical cap receiving platen which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation extending in a radial direction relative to the rotational path of the mandrel. Each mandrel includes a trolley frame which carries the cylindrical platen in a linear path which mirrors the linear path of travel of a squeegee mounted within each of the printing heads while the platen is rotated through an arcuate distance equal to the linear path of travel of the squeegee.

Abstract: The invention is a take-off apparatus for removing sheets of stock from the bed of a screen printing press where the apparatus accommodates variations in the shape, position and size of the stock and includes a carriage member slidably mounted to a take-off frame which travels from a pick-up point through a drop-off point, and adjustable gripper bars mounted to the carriage member for gripping the stock at the pick-up point and for releasing the stock at the drop-off point. To accommodate variable arrangements of the forward edge, each gripper bar of the invention is adjustable on the carriage member laterally for selective positioning of the gripper bars along and longitudinally for selective positioning of the gripper bars at a forward edge of the stock.

Abstract: A stamp apparatus prevents a used stencil plate from being used again for making a plate. The apparatus includes a reflective photo sensor that determines if thermal paper of the currently set stencil plate is colored from a past plate-making process. On detecting the colored thermal paper, the sensor prompts an LCD to give an alarm display warning the user of the used stencil plate. Alternatively, a retractable projection interferes with insertion of a used stencil plate. In both cases, the stamp apparatus remains disabled until the used stencil plate is removed. This protects the stamp apparatus from getting soiled or damaged by spilled ink from the used stencil plate set inadvertently by the user.

Abstract: A method of screen printing water-based chemical compositions is provided, where the water-based chemical compositions are virtually solventless, that is, having less than 12% volatile organic solvents when press ready, and the method produces screen printed substrates that are weather-resistant and have excellent color retention.

Abstract: A stencil kit for applying decorative patterns and designs to architectural structures in which the kit includes one or more stencil templates fabricated from a closed-cell foam sheet with pattern and design cut-outs through which paint is applied to the surface of the architectural structure, the foam sheet having a contact side with a temporary stick adhesive for adhering the template to the surface of the architectural structure, and a top side with a surface allowing removal of misapplied paint, the stencil kit also including paint and stipple brushes for application of the patterns and designs.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing a viscous material onto a surface of a board through the medium of a screen having openings therein. The apparatus comprises a viscous material dispenser (S) of the type having a box-like housing (A) in which a chamber (5) for containing the material and a slit-like bottom aperture (3) communicating therewith are provided. A pair of blades (2A, 2B) depend from the housing (A) on opposite sides of the bottom aperture (3). A rear wall (8) of the housing (A) comprises a fixed upper wall section (8A) and a lower flap wall section (8B) swingably and slidably connected thereto and depending therefrom. The lower flap wall section (8B) defines the rear side of the bottom aperture (3). One of said blades which serves as a squeegee blade is fixed to the flap wall section.

Abstract: An improved squeegee for screen printing a thick film ink onto a substrate of a microelectronics circuit in order to form a thick film on the substrate. The squeegee is specifically configured to eliminate the creation of voids in a thick film deposited using the squeegee by enhancing the flow characteristics of the thick film ink as it is forced through a printing screen by the squeegee. Improved flow characteristics are achieved be appropriately configuring the cross-sectional profile of the squeegee in order to localize the printing forces on the ink at the working edge of the squeegee, in order to prevent ink ahead of the working edge from prematurely filling the openings in the screen.

Abstract: A squeegee apparatus for a screen printing machine wherein the vertical operation rod being connected to the moving shaft of the air cylinder fixed to the horizontal movement plate of the squeegee drive section, the cushion member being provided between the vertical operation rod and the vertical movement support rod of the squeegee holder, and the guide posts having stoppers at their top ends being provided on the vertical movement support rod which are slidably inserted through the guide sleeves of the vertical operation rod.

Abstract: The stencil printing device of the present invention comprises a mixing unit for receiving the first liquid from the first liquid storage container and the second liquid from the second liquid storage container, and producing printing ink by mixing the two liquids, a printing ink supply passage for conducting the printing ink produced by the mixing unit to an ink squeegee unit of a printing drum, ink amount sensor for detecting the amount of the printing ink in the ink squeegee unit, and ink supply control unit for controlling the amount of the printing ink that is supplied from the mixing unit to the ink squeegee unit according to the amount of printing ink detected by the ink amount sensor. Thus, a relatively large number of prints can be made with each bottle of printing ink so that the frequency of replacing the ink bottle may be reduced.

Abstract: A master making device incorporated in a stencil printer. The operation for feeding the leading edge of a web or stencil toward a master clamper provided on a print drum is assigned to a platen roller. When the web is to be wrapped around the print drum, the operation for causing the web to form a slack and the operation for applying a tension to the web are implemented only by a tension member which selectively blocks or unblocks a web passageway.

Abstract: A device for suspending a squeegee in a cylindrical screen of a rotary screen printing machine, in which the cylindrical screen is accommodated with both ends in drive and support units, and in which the squeegee extends in the lengthwise direction inside the cylindrical screen, comprises two squeegee supports, each disposed near one of the drive and support units, and each provided with an accommodation opening for the accommodation of one end of the squeegee. At the side facing the inside of the cylindrical screen, one of the squeegee supports is provided with a guide element for guiding an end of a squeegee into the accommodation opening when the squeegee is being mounted in the cylindrical screen.