Abstract: A stencil printing apparatus for printing a workpiece web at a printing station has a support on which the workpiece web is to be located so that a pattern can be printed on it in a plurality of successive printing operations. A magazine is located above the support at the printing station and accommodates a plurality of vertically stacked flat-screen stencils, and an arrangement is provided for serially withdrawing some or all of the stencils from the magazine, moving them to printing position above the workpiece web, and then returning them serially back to the magazine.

Abstract: An improved low cost screen printing apparatus for printing on both flat and curvilinear objects. Two vertically aligned shafts support the printing head and, by following the pivotal motion of a rocker arm, raise and lower the printing head relative to the object being printed with a straight vertical displacement, resulting from the controlled movement of the upper shaft by the rocker arm which drives the upper shaft through an elongated slot. The squeegee assembly operates in a timed relationship with the raising and lowering of the screen head to alternatively raise and lower the squeegee assembly concurrently with the raising and lowering of the screen so that the squeegee and flood bar are retained in an operative position and parallel to the screen surface during both print and flood cycles. When the screen and squeegee assembly are in the raised position, the squeegee assembly and screen frame are selectively connectable to a reciprocating carriage, for printing either curvilinear or flat objects.

Abstract: A method of printing a carpet with `flat bed` carpet printing apparatus is described incorporating a plurality of screens or other printing heads comprising moving the carpet in a number of steps beneath the screens or heads and preventing at least one of the screens or heads from printing at least once during each printing sequence or pattern repeat.

Abstract: The method and decorated article comprising glassware such as bottles and drinking tumblers is set forth. Halftone printing of a plurality of different colors is employed to produce a composite graphic display on the surface of the glass. Precise alignment is utilized in order to register the halftone printing screens for each color that is deposited on the glass surface. The opaque enamels employed in the decorative process are carefully balanced with respect to each other to obtain the desired color hues. The deposition angles for the alignment of the halftone dots is controlled to minimize the undesirable moire effect.

Abstract: A squeegee blade for a thick film printing apparatus is held between horizontally compressing holder plates. One of the holder plates is integrally formed with a member for attachment to the pressure printing apparatus. The other holder plate attaches to the first one. The squeegee presents a sharp corner edge exposed from the holding plates and provision is made for varying the angle of attack for different inks used in the film printing process.

Abstract: Stencilling apparatus having a trough type fluid scoop positioned behind, parallel to, and spaced from the stencilling squeegee, the scoop being pivotally shiftable through a scooping motion to scoop up excess fluid after the squeegee is elevated. The pivotal shifting is from a first scoop position wherein an edge of the scoop serves as a flow coater to a second position wherein the scoop retains the fluid scooped.

Abstract: An improved low cost screen printing apparatus for printing on both flat and curvilinear objects. Two vertically aligned shafts support the printing head and, by following the pivotal motion of an arm, raise and lower the printing head relative to the object being printed with a straight vertical displacement, resulting from the controlled movement of the upper shaft cooperating with arcuate channels formed in the end supports. The squeegee assembly operates in a timed relationship with the raising and lowering of the screen head to alternately lower the squeegee and raise the flood bar for forcing ink through the screen in the print cycle and raise the squeegee and lower the flood bar to flood the screen on the return cycle. When the screen is in the raised position, the squeegee assembly and screen frame are selectively connectable to a reciprocating carriage, for printing either curvilinear or flat objects.

Abstract: A screenprinting machine has at least one printing station past which an object to be printed travels in a path, and which includes a movable printing screen and a cooperating movable squeegee. A fixed rack extends along this path, and an arrangement is provided which engages and rotates the object to be printed and which includes a gear which meshes with the rack. A drive is provided for moving the squeegee at a constant rate of speed, and another arrangement serves to vary the speed of movement and the stroke of the printing screen in dependence upon the peripheral speed of the rotating object.

Abstract: A screen printing machine comprising a transporting mechanism supporting thereon a material to be printed for transporting the material continuously or intermittently to a printing operation zone is disclosed in which a lifting device is used to bring the material to be printed into contact with a screen and a squeegee member. The printing machine includes a screen disposed in the printing operation zone above a running passage for the material to be printed and a squeegee member disposed to squeeze out a printing paste or ink through the screen onto the material to be printed.

Abstract: A device for treating a web or the like adapted for screen printing including a magnetizable wiping roller or squeegee mounted on a working carriage, a printer's blanket carrying the web, a magnetic beam disposed below the printer's blanket, and rails rollably supporting the magnetic beam. The magnetizable wiping roller is urged towards the web through movement of the working carriage in the longitudinal direction of the printers blanket, and guided thereover by the magnetic beam in the course of printing on the web. The web is stationary during treatment. An electric motor is provided for moving the magnetic beam and the motor drives at least one drive wheel engageable with the rails for moving the beam. Speed and position of the wiping roller is determined by a sensor arrangement responsive to deviation of the working carriage from the magnetic beam path.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the phase of a flat screen in an automatic flat screen printing machine, which comprises a supporting member for supporting a flat screen, a supporting and driving system for supporting said screen supporting member in such a state that the screen supporting member can be moved in the lengthwise direction of the machine, at least one adjustment screw mechanism for connecting said screen supporting member to said screen supporting and driving system, a phase adjustment driving mechanism for turning said screw mechanism to displace said screen supporting member in the lengthwise direction of the machine.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly for stencilling apparatus employing cooperative front and rear panels astraddle the squeegee, the panels being shiftable between (1) an extended condition away from the squeezee and in which such cooperatively form an open bottom chamber for the stencilling fluid about the squeegee, and also the rear panel serves as a flow coater and the front panel serves as a fluid barrier, and (2) a retracted position at the squeegee to close the fluid chamber about the squeegee. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to stencilling apparatus, and more particularly to a stencilling assembly with control of the stencil fluid.In recent years, several developments have been made in squeegee assemblies of stencilling apparatus to obtain better control of the stencil fluid characteristics during continued stencilling.

Abstract: Continuous, automatic printing of ordinary fabrics and cloths and screen printing of papers, films, metal foils and metal sheets is disclosed. Printing is accomplished by contacting a squeegee member, to which the printing paste or ink has been applied, with the material to be printed through a flat screen (stencil).The material to be printed is fed continuously at a constant speed in a supported state to a printing operation zone. The flat screen is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction at the same speed and in the same direction and in contact with the material to be printed. The squeegee is scanned from one end of the flat screen to the other to effect the printing operation. The contact between the flat screen and material to be printed is released just before the squeegee member arrives at the other end of the screen. The screen and squeegee member are then moved to their original position so that the operation may be repeated.

Abstract: A doctoring device for a printing block such as a screen stencil. The doctor profile frictionally holds the doctor blade which is both reversible and replaceable. An elastomer profile may be provided to resiliently support a portion of the doctor blade adjacent its working edge.

Abstract: Silk screen printing apparatus comprising the usual silk screen frame hingedly secured to suitable support base, and having an inking-squeegee reciprocally movable with respect to the silk screen frame for alternately applying ink to the silk screen and squeegeeing the ink onto the media being printed during the printing operation; a flood bar maintained in a position of close proximity to the surface of the silk screen in one direction of movement of the inking-squeegee for applying ink to the silk screen; a squeegee maintained in a position of close proximity to the surface of the silk screen during movement of the inking-squeegee in an opposite direction for pressing the ink through the silk screen during a printing operation; pin devices carried by the inking-squeegee for automatically pivoting the silk screen frame about the hinged connection in one direction of movement of the inking-squeegee for elevating the silk screen to facilitate removal of the printed media and isertion of the next succeeding med

Abstract: An automatic screen printing machine is disclosed in which a squeegee and doctor blade are synchronized with the vertical position of a reciprocating receiving roller carried by a lifting frame. The squeegee and doctor blade are positioned by rack gears on a common support mounted for reciprocation on a fixed longitudinal frame and driven by a mutual pinion which is operated by a link arm extended from the pressure roller.

Abstract: A feed and takeoff assembly particularly adapted for use in connection with a printing press to automatically transfer generally flat stock from a first position to a print position and to a delivery position, having a frame, a transfer carriage mounted for movement along the frame, a single elongated feed gripper mounted near one end of the transfer carriage and disposed transversely to the path of travel of the carriage along the frame, and a low profile delivery gripper mounted near the opposite end of the transfer carriage for movement therewith along the frame. The single elongated feed gripper is capable of repeated precisely registered movement along the frame through a spring-biased cam-operated guide means. The delivery gripper acts to remove an entire sheet of printed stock at a desired time by a cam-operated opening and closing of pivotally mounted upper and lower jaws.

Abstract: A silk screen printing process and apparatus in which a silk screen having a porous figure printing area may be divided by partitions into compartments for different types or colors of ink. The printing operation is performed by a rapid upward acceleration of the silk screen and sheet on which the printing is to be performed, thereby causing the ink to flow through the porous printing area of the screen as a result of inertia. Various types of apparatus may be used to perform the process, one consisting of a platen on which the sheet and silk screen are placed, and a hammer type element which strikes the underside of the platen to produce the upward acceleration.

Abstract: Stencilling apparatus having a print and flow action relative to a combination squeegee and flow coater assembly, wherein excess stencilling fluid ahead of the squeegee can flow through the assembly, by flow over the squeegee into a control reservoir behind the squeegee and ahead of the trailing flow coater, and a controlled layer of the fluid flows from the reservoir beneath the lower edge of the flow coater onto the underlying stencil screen.

Abstract: A flexible squeegee for use in round or irregularly shaped screen-printing frames, whose design permits it to sweep all, or substantially all, of the screen surface.

Abstract: A hand-held, manually-operated device for dispensing a viscous liquid in conjunction with a wiping action. Downward pressure on a handle causes expression of viscous material through one or more perforations or orifices in a flexible seal which is in abutting relationship with a surface to which the material is to be applied. As the device is slid across such surface the flexible seal provides both a sealing and a wiping action. When downward pressure is released, an expansion gap is created within the device, thereby relieving expression forces.

Abstract: An apparatus for silk screen printing of circuit boards is provided which comprises a motor driven shaft having three cams keyed thereto which control the positioning of a silk screen and the movement of a squeegee. The latter is controlled relative to the screen so that the squeegee makes forward and return printing movements over the screen so as to print two circuit boards per shaft revolution. Two of the aforementioned cams respectively drive first and second slide members. The second slide carries the squeegee and is mounted on the first slide at right angles thereto. The first and second slides cooperate so as to cause the movement of the squeegee to describe a pattern roughly in the shape of a figure eight as the squeegee comes into printing engagement with the screen and then is lifted over and behind the inking compound at the end of both the forward and return printing strokes.

Abstract: Improved squeegee apparatus for screen printing of carpets and other materials. A reservoir for receiving printing liquid is supported in spaced apart relation with a printing screen having a perforated pattern design therein. A squeegee head having screen-contacting sealing members is suspended from the reservoir with a flexible interconnection allowing the squeegee to ride along the screen surface, as the screen and the squeegee head undergo relative movement during printing. The squeegee head is provided with pressure reactive surfaces which adjust the screen-engaging force of the squeegee head, and also the sealing of the sealing surfaces, in response to pressure of the printing liquid in the reservoir. The present squeegee apparatus is especially useful for rotary screen printing of carpets.

Abstract: The variable pattern screen printer includes a support frame defining a central opening and a plurality of elongated patterned printing screens movable through the support frame across the opening. The individual printing screens are independently moved along their lengths to select the desired pattern and ink is applied through the screens to a work product. The pattern carried by the printing screens can be a series of numbers or letters or a combination thereof, or any other design series.

Abstract: An arrangement on screen printing machines, particularly rotary screen printing machines, in which the dyestuff is taken from a dye pan and passed through the apertures in a screen and is applied onto the web of goods to be treated, which comprises a dye shutter disposed in the penetration zone for the dyestuff on the side of the screen remote from the weg of goods, to be closed when the machine is stopped.

Abstract: A process for forming credit cards in which encoded information is screen printed on a plastic sheet. In the process, a photographic film is placed in contact with a surface having film exposure means positioned with respect to the surface. Locating means are formed on the film and the film is positioned on the surface through the locating means. Thereafter, small predetermined coded spaces are exposed on the film and the exposed film is developed to provide coded darkened spaces corresponding to the exposed coded spaces.The developed film is placed against a silk screen having first positioning means which coact with the locating means on the film to position the film with respect to the silk screen. The screen is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion and light is shone on the screen through the film to expose the emulsion except at the coded darkened areas.The screen is washed to provide a coded screen having openings corresponding to the exposed coded spaces on the film.

Abstract: In a stencil screen printing system, submersion transfer apparatus for forcing fluid through the pattern screen, including an elongated member with downwardly depending end supports having therebetween a strand submersed in the coating fluid e.g. printing ink. The elongated member is fitted in place of the conventional squeegee on a stencil screen press, so that the submerged strand is positioned in contact with the upper surface of the stencil screen during the print stroke to force fluid such as ink through the pattern of the mesh screen.

Abstract: A stencilling printer with a flow coater specially mounted to sense viscosity of stencil fluid flowing from a reservoir between the flow coater and the squeegee, the flow coater being shiftable and operably associated with a supply of viscosity-altering liquid for controllably altering the viscosity of stencil fluid in the reservoir.

Abstract: A dyestuff applicator, located inside a cylindrical printing screen, comprises a horizontal tube which supports an axially extending dyestuff-distributing member immediately overlying the inner screen surface. The distributing member, or at least a membrane-shaped bottom thereof, is under pressure of the liquid dyestuff supplied to the tube at a superatmospheric pressure equivalent to a head of at least 1000 mm water. To insure full effectiveness of this pressure over the length of an outlet zone in the bottom of the distributing member, the body of liquid overlying that zone within the applicator should have a cross-section exceeding in at least one dimension 1.5% of the length of a flow path as measured from a point of entry of the dyestuff into the space containing that body of liquid.

Abstract: A stencil printing, coating or coloring machine has a flexible hollow metal cylinder in contact with the stencil, and a perforate strip in the area of contact between the stencil and cylinder. The ends of the cylinder are sealed by deformable covers, and the interior of the cylinder is at least partially filled with printing, coating or coloring material.

Abstract: A screen printing press having a support frame, a printing frame pivotally mounted on the support frame and angularly movable relative thereto, a carriage assembly mounted on a pair of spaced support arms mounted on the printing frame, a single drive arm pivotally mounted on the support frame and connected by a drive rod to the carriage assembly to move the carriage assembly relative to a printing screen during a printing cycle, and a carriage assembly actuating means having an actuator channel mounted on spaced parallel legs for movement toward and away from a support arm in generally parallel relationship thereto, an actuating lever mounted for movement along said actuator channel having one end attached to a parallelogram mounting bracket on the carriage assembly on which a squeegee and flood bar are mounted so that upon movement of the actuator channel, the positions of the squeegee and flood bar are reversed, and a control lever pivotally and slidably mounted on the support frame and operatively connecte

Abstract: A dyestuff applicator, located inside a cylindrical printing screen, comprises a horizontal ink tube which supports an axially extending ink-distributing member with freedom of relative mobility in a vertical axial plane of the tube. The distributing member, resting on the inner screen surface, forms a discharge slot communicating with the interior of the tube through a multiplicity of conduits closely spaced along the tube axis, the conduits being disconnectable from the slot with the aid of an axially slidable or rotatable shutter common to all the conduits and lodged in the distributing member. This distributing member is weighted down by the pressure of the ink in an overlying space, or by springs or fluid cushions inserted between that member and the tube.

Abstract: A dyestuff applicator, overlying an area of a movable printing screen through which dyestuff is to be fed to a substrate, comprises a horizontal supply tube which supports an axially extending dyestuff-distributing member with freedom of relative movement in a vertical axial plane of the tube. The distributing member, resting under pressure on the screen, forms a discharge slot communicating with the interior of the tube through a multiplicity of conduits closely spaced along the tube axis, the conduits being disconnectable from the slot with the aid of a slidable or rotatable shutter lodged in the distributing member and controlled by an external actuator mounted on the supply tube.

Abstract: A screen processing machine has a frame supporting a printing screen which is capable of upward or downward movement. The frame pivots along one side thereof transverse to the longitudinal direction of transverse of a carriage, while the opposite side of the frame has lifting means provided in the carriage which are formed from two rigid laterals or sides having transverse end pieces and which form a cradle wherein the frame is situated. The frame is reinforced with two rigid heads, solidly fixed thereto at the external portion of the sides thereof transverse to the advance direction of the carriage. Such heads form elements wherein supports from which the frame is suspended are solidly fixed. The frame has parallel guides along which aligned supports slide, each one of which a vertical column which constitutes a guide element for lifting devices supporting a squeegee or stripper bridge.

Abstract: In a standard screen printing machine a linkage assembly is provided for connecting the screen support and the printing bed support in such a manner that the screen support is movable into and out of an operative position. The link arrangement is selectively connected to the screen support to provide, in the alternative, movement according to a parallel linkage arrangement or tilting movement about an axis of the linkage assembly.

Abstract: A mechanical squeegee apparatus directed for use with and mounted on a stencil screen printing device. The apparatus includes a longitudinal support bar and a lateral support bar which is mounted for movement along the longitudinal bar and which extends transversely thereof and over said screen. A squeegee is mounted on the lateral bar for free movement along its length and for substantially free rotational movement relative to the lateral bar on an axis vertical and perpendicular to that of the lateral bar. The free lateral movement and the substantially free rotational movement allows the squeegee to be used to sweep ink from the side edges of the screen toward the center without the use of an intermediary device such as a hand-held card or scraper.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing on the exterior surface of a generally round container such as a plastic or glass bottle or the like includes several stations that perform or cooperate to print the container. The stations are in line with each other and preferably are in line with both the production fabricating and the production filling lines of the container as well. There are four basic sections, the first of which is the loading section that successively receives and transports the individual containers towards a printing station. Before reaching the printing station, the containers may be flame-treated. After being imprinted, the containers, which up until this time are in horizontal condition pass through a first drying section and then are automatically rotated 90.degree. to a vertical position prior to entering the production filling line. When necessary, a second drying station may be provided immediately downstream of the 90.degree. turn mechanism and just prior to entering the filling production line.

Abstract: A squeegee assembly for use on a screen printing machine which includes a squeegee holder and associated squeegee blade having a liquid filled tubular member for exerting a liquid or hydraulic pressure on the squeegee blade in a manner whereby the pressure exerted by the squeegee blade is equalized along the entire length thereof and to provide the squeegee blade with the flexibility necessary to conform to a printing surface. The assembly may also include a piston and cylinder assembly to vary the liquid pressure exerted on the squeegee blade and/or a contour bar through which the liquid pressure is transmitted to the squeegee blade.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a screen printing machine having an oval track or rail about which a series of pallets supporting a work piece are indexed from station to station. The arrangement is such that the pallets travelling about the oval rail are always disposed or maintained in a common plane. A printing head assembly having one or more color stations is operatively associated for movement into and out of printing relationship with one or more of the pallets as the pallets are indexed and maintained in a common plane.