Abstract: A multi-station screen printing apparatus includes a base member; a plurality of platens, each for supporting a substrate to be printed, the platens mounted radially in a rotatable manner about the base member; and a plurality of print heads mounted radially and non-rotatably about the base member above the platens. A first print head is mounted in a vertically pivotable manner and a second print head is mounted in a non-pivotable manner.

Abstract: A process progress display device includes a stencil making block which displays a progress status of a stencil making process, a printing block which displays a progress status of a printing process, a stencil making stop bar which displays whether or not an entire process is to be stopped at an end of the stencil making process, and a printing stop bar which displays whether or not the entire process is to be stopped at an end of the printing process.

Abstract: A multi-station screen printing apparatus includes a base member; a plurality of platens, each for supporting a substrate to be printed, the platens mounted radially in a rotatable manner about the base member; and a plurality of print heads mounted radially and non-rotatably about the base member above the platens. A first print head is mounted in a vertically pivotable manner and a second print head is mounted in a non-pivotable manner.

Abstract: Various manufacturing techniques may be employed to construct an appliqué for use in an instrument cluster. In one commonly employed technique, an appliqué may be formed by applying different colored ink layers onto a surface of a polycarbonate sheet using a silk screen printing. In some instance, an edge of an underlying ink layer may cause a visible step line on the face of the appliqué. To reduce or eliminate these visible step lines, an outer boundary area of the printing layers invention are defined as a dispersing dot pattern.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes at least an upstream and a downstream printing section, as seen in the direction of sheet conveyance, each including a print drum and a press roller for pressing a sheet against the print drum. An intermediate conveyor, positioned between the upstream and downstream printing sections, conveys the sheet from the former toward the latter. A dual master, formed with a first and a second image, is wrapped round the print drum of the upstream printing section. This printing section includes a refeeding device, a path selector, and a switching device.

Abstract: A carousel screen printing machine which includes a stationary column supporting a plurality of print heads; a rotatable carousel mounted on said column supporting a plurality of pallet support arms and drive means located at or above said carousel for indexed movement of said carousel about said stationary column. Indexation and registration is achieved using bushes on the carousel rotor to cooperate with complementary pins at an indexing station and at a registration station. The location of the motor makes the machine more stable during rotation and is easier to access. The registration and indexing system is simpler and uses fewer parts than in the prior art. In one embodiment an additional print head is used in association with a dual purpose load unload station.

Abstract: Screen printing systems and methods are disclosed which enables a user to employ the screen printing process to decorate a non-traditional surface. The screen printing method includes the step of laying out a first screen on a surface. The first screen is imprinted with a first design. The method further includes the steps of securing the first screen to the surface; applying a first color to the surface through the first screen; and removing the first screen.

Abstract: A print carousel for color images having a plurality of radial arms carrying objects to be printed incrementally reaching a corresponding number of work stations by sequential incremental rotation of the carousel by a certain angle, a silk-screen printing ink-pot functionally installed in several of said work stations alternately to work stations of drying/polymerization of respective silk-screen printing ink or paste applied in the work station precedingly reached by the object to be printed, has at least one of said work station equipped with a supporting structure for a color digital plotter mounted on slides running on radially oriented guides, from an outermost limit position to an innermost limit position.

Abstract: A controller for motor activation providing accurate and repeatable position changes by pressing and releasing a push button switch. Repeatable position changes are made in an advance direction by triggering a digital counter for a predetermined number of cycles of a reference clock signal. Backlash in retard motion of the motor is reduced by similarly asserting a retard motor input for an amount of time determined by another digital counter with a following advance correction made automatically after the retard signal is applied, by applying a predetermined retard-advance movement amount, as again counted by a digital counter. The advance binary amount, the retard binary amount and the retard-advance binary amount of set through binary switch inputs to respective counters to count the respective time periods (TG3, TG1, and TG2).

Abstract: A coloring book for method is provided creating a picture 51 by different layered stencils with the steps of: Lining up the border stencil holes 21 or holes marked for lining up, then coloring each stencil page for each individual color of the picture. When all colors or pages are colored the master page 20 will have a completed picture 51.

Abstract: A method of making screen printing frames can include, in certain illustrative embodiments, affixing at least two frames to one another, applying a masking film to both frames, exposing the frames, removing the unhardened emulsion in the meshes, and separating the frames from one another for deployment in a screen printing apparatus. This exemplary process can be used to create images in substantially complete registration with one another on frames having different mesh counts. Stated another way, these embodiments permit the use of multiple frames to print different inks through different meshes in a single pass to form images in substantially complete registration with one another. In certain preferred embodiments, a screen printing apparatus can include two frames, each having a mesh with a different pitch, wherein the frames are adapted to receive different inks and held in fixed register during a screen printing operation.

Abstract: An exposure unit and a work piece support table are interchangeably mounted on an elongated, horizontal support arm. The support arm is a part of a screen-printing machine that includes a post to which one end of the support arm is connected. The post includes a rotor to which a plurality of printing screens are attached. The rotor is rotated to successively place the printing screens above the exposure unit. After the printing screens are exposed, they are removed from the rotor and washed to remove from them an unexposed portion of a coating that was applied to the printing screen. This unexposed portion of the coating is washed away, leaving a positive image on the screen where the washed away material was once located. This positive image reason will pass ink. After the printing screens have been prepared, the exposure unit is removed from the support arm and is replaced on the support arm by a work piece supporting table. A work piece is positioned on the table.

Abstract: A screen-printing method for use in IML hot press, die cutting, and injection molding is disclosed to print first, second, and third (special) colors of a four-color printing with ink mixtures containing different printing inks and a hardening agent with a bonding agent, and then to perform ex-design first, second and third screen printings, and then to process the semi-finished printing work thus obtained through a hot work die treatment, a die-cutting process, and an injection-molding process so as to obtain the desired finished product.

Abstract: A method of making screen printing frames can include, in certain illustrative embodiments, affixing at least two frames to one another, applying a masking film to both frames, exposing the frames, removing the unhardened emulsion in the meshes, and separating the frames from one another for deployment in a screen printing apparatus. This exemplary process can be used to create images in substantially complete registration with one another on frames having different mesh counts. Stated another way, these embodiments permit the use of multiple frames to print different inks through different meshes in a single pass to form images in substantially complete registration with one another. In certain preferred embodiments, a screen printing apparatus can include two frames, each having a mesh with a different pitch, wherein the frames are adapted to receive different inks and held in fixed register during a screen printing operation.

Abstract: A method of making a glow in the dark puff heat transfer material and a composition of glow in the dark puff heat transfer material are presented in this invention. Unlike many prior art heat transfer methods, the heat transfer method utilized in the present invention adheres to OSHA regulations 29 CFR 1910.1017. The process of making the glow in the dark puff heat transfer material comprises the steps of applying one or more layers of a specific glowing material between the colors layers. The composition comprises specific amounts of a glow clear base, glow puff material, translucent inks, and an effective amount of glowing material. A printable adhesive base may be added to the composition if the glowing material is not mixed with the glow clear base or with the glow puff material. The composition is printed on a paper substrate and cured through a conventional dryer.

Abstract: A screen frame (24) is detachably connected to a support frame structure (22, 124, 134) by locator pins (46, 118) and locator pin sockets (56, 112, 136). An elongated support arm (26) supports either a light box (34) or a work piece support (36) in a proper position relative to the print frame (24). The light box (34) and the work piece support (36) are interchangeable on the support arm (26).

Abstract: A hybrid stencil printing apparatus comprises: a stencil-making/printing unit configured to perforate a stencil sheet corresponding to a desired image, to wind the stencil sheet around an outer peripheral surface of a print drum, and to transfer a printing medium to the print drum with pressure and the printing medium is printed; an other-method image-formation unit configured to print the printing medium transferred on the same transfer passage as the stencil-making/printing unit according to a different printing method from the stencil-making/printing unit; and an image-formation unit selection-unit configured to input an original digital image, to determine a attributes of each image portion of the inputted original digital image, and to allocate each image portion selectively to the stencil-making/printing unit or the other-method image-formation unit based on the determination result.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multicolored steel sheet having multiple colors, designs or patterns on its surface and a manufacturing system for carrying out the same are provided.

Abstract: An electrostatic printing apparatus according to the present invention rubs powdery ink into a screen having a predetermined printed pattern formed therein, and applies a voltage between the screen and an object so as to attach the powdery ink to the object. A plurality of screens (34a-34d) are provided so that the plurality of screens are movable to a position located above the object (1). The plurality of screens (34a-34d) are provided so as to be rotatable about a shaft (46). The screens (34a-34d) are rotated about the shaft (46) to move the screens (34a-34d) to the position located above the object (1).

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: Printing apparatus for objects to be printed, in particular textile objects, ceramic, paper, plastic or the like, having a circular indexing table which rotates about a vertical axis and has a rotary drive, having at least one pallet carrier arranged on the circular indexing table and in each case having a pallet that can be arranged on the pallet carrier, at least one printing unit arranged above the pallets circulating around the vertical axis, the printing unit and the pallet being arranged such that they can move relative to each other in the vertical direction, and the pallet carrier arranged on the circular indexing table assuming a plurality of electrically indexable, stepwise predefinable rotary positions with respect to the printing unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a puff heat transfer, a puff transfer composition, and a method of making a puff transfer composition. The puff transfer composition, i.e., ink, is actually loaded with the color. In particular, the transfer composition comprises effective amounts of a transfer base material, at least one pigment concentrate, and a puff base material. The transfer base material and the pigment concentrate may be mixed together and then loaded into the puff base material to form the transfer composition. The transfer composition may be deposited on a transfer sheet to make the heat transfer. The transfer sheet may be a substrate that is treated with QUILLON™. By using a substrate sheet that is treated with QUILLON™, the puff of the present invention has an improved, velvet-like feel when the transfer sheet is removed.

Abstract: An extendable auto printing and drying machine is constructed to include two end tables, and adjustable number of rectangular machine tables alternatively reversely arranged between the end tables, each rectangular machine table having a printer and dryer unit formed of a printing module and a drying module at two sides, a transmission chain loop provided in the rectangular machine tables and the end tables rotatable by an external motor drive, and a plurality of carriages respectively installed in transmission chain loop, the carriage each having a workpiece carrier adapted to carry a respective workpiece for printing and drying by the printing modules and drying modules of the printer and dryer units of the rectangular machine tables when the transmission chain loop rotated.

Abstract: A printer capable of printing a multicolor image with a single pass of a paper or similar recording medium includes a plurality of print drums. Drum drive gears each are mounted on a particular print drum such that the print drum is replaceable. The print drums are interlocked to each other by rotatable members including relay gears meshing with the drum drive gears, timing pulleys fixed to the relay gears, a timing belt, and pulleys for adjustment. Each rotatable member has teeth the number of which is selected such that the number of rotations of the rotatable member to occur in a single period of the print drums is an integral multiple of the number of rotations of the print drums.

Abstract: A hybrid stencil printing apparatus comprises: a stencil-making/printing unit configured to perforate a stencil sheet corresponding to a desired image, to wind the stencil sheet around an outer peripheral surface of a print drum, and to transfer a printing medium to the print drum with pressure and the printing medium is printed; an other-method image-formation unit configured to print the printing medium transferred on the same transfer passage as the stencil-making/printing unit according to a different printing method from the stencil-making/printing unit; and an image-formation unit selection-unit configured to input an original digital image, to determine a attributes of each image portion of the inputted original digital image, and to allocate each image portion selectively to the stencil-making/printing unit or the other-method image-formation unit based on the determination result.

Abstract: A paper jam detection system for a folding machine includes an interval signal generator for generating an interval signal which assumes ON and OFF levels alternately according to cutting intervals of a cutting cylinder; a signature detection mechanism including reflection plates each having a light reflection surface and being arranged circumferentially at an outer circumferential surface portion of a jaw cylinder and a photoelectric sensor adapted to generate a reflection plate detection signal upon detection of the reflection plate; and a control unit for outputting a paper jam signal on the basis of the interval signal and the reflection plate detection signal.

Abstract: In a rotary screen printing apparatus, a method and apparatus are disclosed for converting a printing station into a cleaning station. A cleaning attachment replaces either the squeegee or the flood bar, or both, in a conventional print station.

Abstract: A printing machine for printing a substrate web, which printing machine comprises at least one printing module, such a printing module being provided with an impression roller and ink application means, the ink application means comprising a cylindrical element, which cylindrical element extends parallel to the impression roller and abuts against the impression roller at a contact line with interposition of the substrate web, the cylindrical element being arranged to apply a desirable ink printing pattern to the substrate web, wherein a relevant printing module is provided with a circumferential bearing which engages an outer surface of a relevant cylindrical element, which can be brought into a locking position and into an exchange condition, the circumferential bearing being arranged to receive cylindrical elements intended for different printing techniques, such as silk-screen printing, flexographic printing, letterpress printing, intaglio printing, offset printing and the like.

Abstract: A printing control apparatus for controlling a stencil printing machine (50, 100), wherein a stencil sheet, which is made on the basis of image data, is wound around a printing drum (25; 125, 126) with which a print sheet (34; 141) is held in pressured contact to perform a stencil printing operation, provides the stencil printing machine with image data representative of an image to be reproduced as an object, and printing order information representative of a page order in which the printing operation is performed using image data, an ink color for the printing drum to be used, and a timing in which one printing drum is replaced with another one. In accordance with the printing order information, the ink color contained in image data is detected and an order for each page to be printed is determined on the basis of a user's print request to execute the printing operation according to the page order and to reduce the number of times the printing drum is replaced with.

Abstract: A printer capable of printing a multicolor image with a single pass of a paper or similar recording medium includes a plurality of print drums. Drum drive gears each are mounted on a particular print drum such that the print drum is replaceable. The print drums are interlocked to each other by rotatable members including relay gears meshing with the drum drive gears, timing pulleys fixed to the relay gears, a timing belt, and pulleys for adjustment. Each rotatable member has teeth the number of which is selected such that the number of rotations of the rotatable member to occur in a single period of the print drums is an integral multiple of the number of rotations of the print drums.

Abstract: A printer capable of printing a multicolor image with a single pass of a paper or similar recording medium includes a plurality of print drums. Drum drive gears each are mounted on a particular print drum such that the print drum is replaceable. The print drums are interlocked to each other by rotatable members including relay gears meshing with the drum drive gears, timing pulleys fixed to the relay gears, a timing belt, and pulleys for adjustment. Each rotatable member has teeth the number of which is selected such that the number of rotations of the rotatable member to occur in a single period of the print drums is an integral multiple of the number of rotations of the print drums.

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 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 stencil printing machine is provided as including first and second printing drums 25 and 26 carrying thereon respective screens30, a press drum 27 located in close proximity to the printing drums and a stencil making unit 9. In a control method, the stencil making unit 9 supplies a perforated stencil sheet 11a onto a selected printing drum 25 and a non-perforated stencil sheet 11b onto a non-selected printing drum 26, wherein a print sheet 41 clamped to the press drum 27 is transferred along an outer periphery of the press drum 27 to allow the perforated stencil sheet of the first printing drum 25 to transfer printing ink with a first color to the print sheet 41 while the non-perforated stencil sheet mounted onto the second printing drum prevents printing ink to be transferred to the print sheet 41.

Abstract: On each of plural printing drums (25, 26) in a stencil printing machine (1), a stencil sheet (11) made corresponding to printing data is rolled. The machine (1) for a stencil printing process, in which a printing paper is pressed on each printing drum and the used stencil sheet is disposed, has a mode designation section (101) and a controller (102). The section (101) designates whether or not a stencil printing process is performed for plural printing information including common printing data. The control section (102) controls the stencil making process, the stencil disposing process, and the stencil printing process for the printing information. When the printing information includes common printing data, the controller (102) controls the printing drum on which the stencil sheet for the common printing data is rolled so that the stencil making and disposal processes are not performed.

Abstract: A user PC 120 for controlling a stencil printing machine 1, having a plurality of exchangeable printing drums, wherein respective printing drums are mounted with respective perforated stencil sheets which are formed by a stencil-making processing section 104 on the basis of image data, and a print sheet is held in press contact with the plural printing drums to perform a stencil printing process with first and second stencil-printing processing sections 105, 106 is disclosed as having a registering function to register printing ink colors to be used for printing with the respective printing drums by enabling reading-in of a printer driver and to store useable ink color information, a function to produce display data to display contents of the ink-color designating information produced by the designating section for the respective printing drums.

Abstract: A method of forming a cellular material or “core” by immersing the core in water until it is sufficiently flexible to be molded around a tool into the required shape and then drying the formed core such that the core then retains that shape.

Abstract: In an apparatus for printing on dimensionally stable individual articles such as glass or plastic bottles, using screen printing, the articles each carried by a respective holder are transported along a transport path by a continuously circulating transport device. At least one treatment station and at least two transfer stations are associated with the transport path, one transfer station acting as a feed station and the other as a removal station for the articles. During a printing operation on an article the article is rotated about its longitudinal axis in a first direction which is governed by the printing procedure and the transport direction, and then after conclusion of the printing operation the article is rotated back into its initial position by rotation about its longitudinal axis in the opposite direction, so that the position of the article in angular terms about its longitudinal axis can be accurately defined and controlled.

Abstract: A stencil printing method of the present invention intentionally transfers a smaller amount of ink from an upstream print drum to a paper sheet than from a downstream print drum to the same paper sheet such that images printed on the paper sheet one above the other have the same density at the end of a printing cycle. The method obviates a density difference and the roll-up of a paper sheet ascribable to retransfer particular to a single pass, color printing system. A stencil printer for practicing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for displacing an article including first and second pallets for holding and transporting an article between two process stations; an H-bar assembly for receiving the first and second pallets at one of the two process stations; wherein, in operation, a process is performed on the articles while the first and second pallets are received by the H-bar assembly, the pallets then being transported to the second process station where a second process is performed on the articles.

Abstract: The present invention is a puff heat transfer, a puff transfer composition, and a method of applying a puff heat transfer. The puff transfer composition, i.e., ink, is actually loaded with the color. In particular, the transfer composition comprises a puff base material and at least one pigment concentrate. The puff base material is preferably included in an amount of at least about 85% by weight. On the other hand, the pigment concentrate is preferably in a total amount of about 15% by weight or less. The transfer composition is deposited on a transfer sheet to make the heat transfer. The transfer sheet is a substrate that is preferably treated with quillon. By using a substrate sheet that is treated with quillon, the puff of the present invention has an improved, velvet-like feel when the transfer sheet is removed.

Abstract: A process of screen printing images on a substrate which effectively diminishes the Moire effect and other screen printing process distortions. The process utilizes specific screen angles for printing each process ink color, the application of UV light to set the ink on the substrate and the automated transfer of the substrate between printing and drying stations.

Abstract: A printer capable of printing a multicolor image with a single pass of a paper or similar recording medium includes a plurality of print drums. Drum drive gears each are mounted on a particular print drum such that the print drum is replaceable. The print drums are interlocked to each other by rotatable members including relay gears meshing with the drum drive gears, timing pulleys fixed to the relay gears, a timing belt, and pulleys for adjustment. Each rotatable member has teeth the number of which is selected such that the number of rotations of the rotatable member to occur in a single period of the print drums is an integral multiple of the number of rotations of the print drums.

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: A printer capable of printing a multicolor image with a single pass of a paper or similar recording medium includes a plurality of print drums. Drum drive gears each are mounted on a particular print drum such that the print drum is replaceable. The print drums are interlocked to each other by rotatable members including relay gears meshing with the drum drive gears, timing pulleys fixed to the relay gears, a timing belt, and pulleys for adjustment. Each rotatable member has teeth the number of which is selected such that the number of rotations of the rotatable member to occur in a single period of the print drums is an integral multiple of the number of rotations of the print drums.

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: A printer capable of printing a multicolor image with a single pass of a paper or similar recording medium includes a plurality of print drums. Drum drive gears each are mounted on a particular print drum such that the print drum is replaceable. The print drums are interlocked to each other by rotatable members including relay gears meshing with the drum drive gears, timing pulleys fixed to the relay gears, a timing belt, and pulleys for adjustment. Each rotatable member has teeth the number of which is selected such that the number of rotations of the rotatable member to occur in a single period of the print drums is an integral multiple of the number of rotations of the print drums.

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: A variable height print table arrangement for a screen printing apparatus which includes a plurality of rotatable lower level outwardly extending spider arms which support corresponding support pallets or tables on which apparel or other textile substrates to be screen printed are placed. The rotatable lower level outwardly extending spider arms are lowered and raised using a mechanical drive, such as an electrical servomotor or an electrical stepper motor, which is capable of lowering and raising the rotatable lower outwardly extending level spider arms a predetermined variable distance. The variable height print table arrangement for a screen printing apparatus also includes a counterbalance arrangement, preferably using a compression spring, which reduces the effective weight of the rotatable lower level outwardly extending spider arms and allows a smaller mechanical drive to be used.

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 multicolor stencil printer including print drums each storing an ink of a particular color, pressing members each positioned and configured to move into contact with a particular one of the print drums to nip a recording medium for printing and move out of the contact to transport the recording medium toward downstream, and holding devices each assigned to a particular one of the pressing members for holding the particular one of the pressing members out of the contact with the particular one of the print drums, wherein in a color selective mode, the print drums and the pressing members selectively cooperate to nip the recording medium such that the holding devices assigned to unused pressing members hold the unused pressing members away from the print drums associated cooperatively with the unused pressing members.