Abstract: In a process and apparatus for decorating an article, printing ink or electrostatic charges is or are applied in dependence on a digital program in dot form to the article carried by a holder, with individual dots going together to at least form a partial pattern or image. In the case of the latent pattern formed by electrostatic charges, it is then brought into contact with ink particles to form the decoration. In both cases the article is transported along a transportation path through at least one print station provided with an inkjet print head or an ionographic print head, the print head being controllable in dependence on the digital program. The individual nozzles or the electrodes of the respective print head are actuated in accordance with the digital program which is called up for example in dependence on the transportation movement of the article.

Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed. A housing has an interior chamber and a door. A press has a base fabricated of a rigid material and with an upper surface. The press has a raisable platen with a lower surface fabricated of a resilient material. A support plate is positionable on the upper surface of the base for the receipt of an object. A transfer sheet has printing material positioned upon the object. Drive mechanisms urge the platen downwardly into contact with the transfer sheet with the object, plate and base there beneath. Heating components located within the platen generate heat. Cooling components located within the base lower the temperature of the object after the transfer of images.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carrier for use with a printer that can support irregularly shaped substrates having a top surface. The carrier includes first and second planar members. The first planar member has top and bottom surfaces, a thickness, and an inner edge that conforms to an irregularly shaped outer edge of a substrate. The second planar member has a top surface that is coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member. A recess, defined by the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member, is adapted to receive the substrate such that top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for transferring a conductive picture (12) to an irregular surface of a mobile phone casing (4) for shielding the mobile phone casing from electromagnetic radiation. It also relates to the printing color used for the conductive picture and tampon pads (5) used for the transferring of the conductive printing color to the phone casing (4). Conductive partial pictures (7) are printed on the irregular surface of the casing (4) step by step by means of tampon pads until the complete conductive picture (12) is achieved. The tampon pad has a shape corresponding to the surface of the phone casing. The printing color has a composition, which facilitates the adhering on the tampon pad. The invention also describes a method for printing an electric circuit pattern on a phone casing (4) by using the above mentioned tampon pads and printing color.

Abstract: Method for pad-printing a substantially cylindrical chip having opposing faces and a side, the method comprising forming a first decoration, including a section for at least a portion of the side of the chip, radially deforming the section to form a second decoration, providing an ink plate with the second decoration, moving a pad coaxially into contact with the ink plate such that the second decoration transfers to the pad and moving the pad coaxially into contact with the chip such that the second decoration transfers to the side to print the section on the side, wherein a contraction coefficient of the radially deforming is determined, for a given straight-sided chip and a given pad, by marking a chip model using a positioning ink plate centered on an axis of the chip, the positioning ink plate bearing a pattern comprising closely-spaced concentric circles.

Abstract: A golf ball marking tool. The tool includes a receiving portion adapted to receive a portion of the golf ball, a gripping portion adapted to grip the golf ball, and a guide surface configured to define a marking position on the golf ball. The tool may also include an opening to facilitate disengagement of the ball from the gripping portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing images on a convex surface of an object includes an ink jet print head having a supply of ink and located in a printing position relative to the object, the ink jet print head including means for ejecting ink along a first axis which intersects the center of the convex surface at the printing position and holds the object. The apparatus rotates the object about a second and third axes which intersect at the center the convex surface during printing, and controls rotation and the ink jet print head to cause the ink jet print head to eject ink along the first axis onto different positions of the convex surface to form an image on the object.

Abstract: A method for finishing a golf ball comprising the steps of providing a golf ball having a three-dimensional dimpled surface; preparing the surface for receiving at least one indicia; providing a digital image having at least one color; providing a multi-layered pad-printing substrate having at least one layer; etching the image into the at least one layer of the substrate with a laser; distributing a layer of ink over the etched substrate; providing at least one pad for transferring the ink from the substrate to the three-dimensional surface; and transferring the image from the substrate to the dimpled surface of the golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball marking tool. The tool includes a receiving portion adapted to receive a portion of the golf ball, a gripping portion adapted to grip the golf ball, and a guide surface configured to define a marking position on the golf ball. The tool may also include an opening to facilitate disengagement of the ball from the gripping portion.

Abstract: A golf ball is provided which bears a mark having a distinct appearance unrealizable by only changing in tint. Ink can be prepared by mixing one or more than two components which can afford luster such as pearl particles, shell particles, mica particles and the like in an ink medium. Thereafter the ink can be used for marking the surface of the golf ball by an indirect printing used with a transfer printing film or a direct printing such as a pad printing, a screen printing and the like. The composition of the ink is 5 to 150 parts by weight of the mica, pearl particles and the like. The mica, the pearl particles and the like are employed for flat forms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus orient, position and spin print indicia on pellet shaped articles, such as pharmaceutical capsules and the like. More specifically, the method and apparatus use a rotating pick-up drum that receives and transports the pellet shaped articles to a rotating positioning drum that is synchronized with the pick-up drum. The positioning drum receives the pellet shaped articles from the pick-up drum and properly aligns the pellet shaped articles so that they may be transferred to a rotating printing drum which is also synchronized with the positioning drum. The printing drum contains a vacuum source that maintains the pellet shaped articles within pockets as the pellet shaped articles are passed through a printing station. The printing station contains a movable printing roller capable of being moved toward and away from the printing drum such that the printing roller accurately spin prints indicia onto the pellet shaped articles.

Abstract: A printer for printing onto substrates includes a housing that mounts a movable carrier for the substrates such as a compact disc or digital versatile disc. The carrier for the substrate is driven relative to the printhead while printing takes place, and a platen is provided to urge the substrate toward the printhead for printing and to a position to space the substrate from the printhead when raised surface areas of the substrate underlie the printhead. The force applied by the platen can be varied as a function of the position of the substrate as well, in addition the carrier can be driven at a variable speed selected as a function of the length of the line being printed.

Abstract: A device for a imprinting bottle closures has a feeder, a conveyance device, a printing station and removal and unloading equipment. The conveyance device has a holder for gripping the bottle closures around their periphery. The holder is configured as a nest and may be made up of at least two jaws, one of which may have a bottle closure locating surface. One of the jaws may be movable under adjustable spring pressure. The jaws may also grip over only a part of the height of the periphery of the bottle closure.

Abstract: A disk adapter A is equipped with first and second adapter halves 1 and 2 to be detachably disposed in a disk-placing dented portion 54 provided in a disk tray 53 of a label printer 51. One of the adapter halves 1 and 2 is movable relative to the other thereof in accordance with a movement of a disk pushing member 55 provided in the disk tray 53. When the disk tray 53 is inserted into a printer main body 52, the aforementioned one of the adapter halves is moved in a direction that the one of the adapter halves approaches the other thereof by the disk pushing member 55, whereby the optical disk D is held by and between both the adapter halves 1 and 2.

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

Abstract: A curved-surface printing method applicable to a member exposed to a high-temperature closed atmosphere and a lamp unit to which such a method is applied. A transfer film formed by printing a transfer ink on a water-soluble film is floated on water in a water tank and then an object in the form of an extension, adapted to be arranged in a lamp unit, is downwardly pressed against the transfer film, resulting in the transfer ink being, by water pressure, transferred to the object by curved-surface printing. An activator coated on the transfer film prior to the transfer printing contains a plasticizer selected from dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). A volatilization promoting drying treatment for volatilizing the platicizer is carried out after the transfer printing.

Abstract: The invention involves the use of a novel offset-printing process to apply the gasket seal on microdisplay arrays in a wafer scale manufacturing process. Gasket seal material is applied to an anilox roll, which has a matrix pattern of indentations or cells at a fixed line screen spacing and depth which corresponds to the desired height of the gasket material prior to contact with the glass layer. The amount of gasket material transferred to the substrate is controlled by the volume of the cells of the anilox roll. The anilox roll continuously rotates and excess material not filling in the cells is removed from the roll by a doctor blade. A letterpress, attached to a print roll, rolls in contact with the anilox roll and material is transferred from the anilox roll onto the letterpress. Raised portions of the letterpress apply a gasket design to the substrate in accordance with the matrix of multiple microdisplay devices.

Abstract: An imaging system is disclosed. A housing has an interior chamber and a door. A press has a base fabricated of a rigid material and with an upper surface. The press has a raisable platen with a lower surface fabricated of a resilient material. A support plate is positionable on the upper surface of the base for the receipt of an object. A transfer sheet has printing material positioned upon the object. Drive mechanisms urge the platen downwardly into contact with the transfer sheet with the object, plate and base there beneath. Heating components located within the platen generate heat. Cooling components located within the base lower the temperature of the object after the transfer of images.

Abstract: A transferring tray for a printing apparatus for printing on one major surface of a recording media having disc shape, wherein the printing apparatus includes, a carriage having a printing head, reciprocating in a main scanning direction, a transferring unit transferring the recording media in a sub scanning direction, a detecting unit detecting the recording media being transferred by the transferring unit, and a recording unit printing on the one major surface of the recording media, the transferring tray including: a tray body having a rectangular plate shape made of a material which is not detected by the detecting unit; a detected portion formed on either one of two major surfaces of the tray body, being detectable by the detecting unit; and a mounting portion having a mounting recess such that the one major surface of the recording media comes up to substantially same level as one of the major surfaces of the tray body when the recording media is mounted on the transferring tray.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of semi-automatically transferring a dye sublimation print to a polymer coated article. Process steps include efficiently applying a combination heater and pressure applicator to a dye sublimation print and the outer surface of the polymer coated article for a preselected period of time and automatically withdraws the combination heater and pressure applicator, to avoid overheating, upon reaching the preselected period of time.

Abstract: In the marking apparatus in which the marking tool is vibrated by piezoelectric body vibrator and characters are engraved onto the objective material, the detection means detects the amplitude of piezoelectric body vibrator as the DC signal, and the drive control means adjusts the frequency of the drive signal so that the level of the DC signal detected by detection means is within a predetermined range, and drives piezoelectric body vibrator, and by appropriately adjusting the frequency to drive piezoelectric body vibrator, drives piezoelectric body vibrator with a predetermined amplitude. Accordingly, because the amplitude of piezoelectric body vibrator can be kept within a constant range, the stable resonance can be conducted. Further, the resonance can be conducted without being influenced by the resonance frequency of the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing golf tees and similar nail-shaped objects has a rack (4) for forming a row of tees (2) with two rails (18, 19) on which the tees (2) rest with their heads (16) and between which they hang downward with their points (15), a conveying means (5) with an endless carrying device (21) having entrainers (22, 23) disposed side by side in pairs and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the carrying device (21) at a distance which is greater than the length of a tee (2), and a printing apparatus (6) for printing the tees (2) lying on the upper run (7) of the conveying means carrying device (21), the turning end (24) of the conveying means (5) being so disposed relative to the rack (4), and the conveying means (5) having such a circulating direction (25), that the particular entrainer pair (22, 23) at the turning end (24) is moved from the bottom to the top between the rails (18, 19) to engage under the head (16) of the foremost tee (2) of the row facing the turning end (24) and place i

Abstract: A method of coding a high-speed object having a lateral travel path with a multi-digit production series number is disclosed. A first marking member and a second marking member are provided, with the second marking member positioned vertically adjacent the first marking member. A plurality of marking locations are defined and a group of marks are applied along each of the plurality of marking locations. The quantity of marks in each group represents a respective digit of the multi-digit series number.

Abstract: The method of printing an integral design on the leaves of a blind with one round of processing includes setting up printing plates for designs expected to be printed, and then the designs on these printing plates are compressed by a printing roller and printed on the leaves at the same time. Next, these leaves with printed designs on them are dried, collected and tied up, possible to produce by a large number with one round of processing, to lower processing cost and greatly beautify leaves of a blind.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a shape recognition section for obtaining three-dimensional shape data about a surface shape of a three-dimensional object by measurement or the like; an ejection section for ejecting ink toward the three-dimensional object; a scanning section for causing the ejection section to scan relative to the three-dimensional object; and a control section for controlling an operation of the ejection section and/or the scanning section in accordance with information about inclination of the surface of the three-dimensional object, the information being indicated in the data obtained by the shape recognition section. The printing apparatus performs printing in accordance with the information obtained by measurement on the surface inclination of the object to achieve a high-quality printing process.

Abstract: An optical article including at least one optical fiber and a printable layer connected to the optical fiber. The printable layer including randomly spaced printed ink shapes for avoiding or controlling optical attenuation. A method and an apparatus for making optical articles with the randomized ink shape spacings are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a handy type foil printer capable of performing printing operation easily with one hand and achieving an effective use of a print film. A film roll is accommodated detachably within a casing that is sized to be operable by one hand and has an opening for printing. The film roll is a print film that consists of a base film and a foil removably adhered thereon and is processed in the form of a long tape and rolled. A printing roller is arranged at the opening, exposing a part of its circumferential surface. The print film drawn out from the film roll is wound by a winding roller via the outer circumferential surface of the printing roller. Holding the casing in one hand, pressing and rotating the printing roller on the original character and/or diagram depicted with an adhesive ink can print the foil on the character and/or diagram.

Abstract: A printing machine includes a circular contour printing table which has a plurality of object-stations regularly distributed around its periphery each adapted to receive an object to be printed and which, rotatable stepwise about an axis, moves the object-stations successively to a loading station, to a plurality of workstations each including a printing system, and to an offloading station. A system for turning over the objects includes a first transfer arm which picks up an object on the printing table and puts it down on an overturning shovel, turns it over and puts it down at a receiving station. A second transfer arm picks up the turned-over object at the receiving station and puts it back down on the printing table.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on dimensionally stable individual articles has a conveyor arrangement for conveying the articles, along which printing stations and other treatment stations are arranged. The articles such as CDs are fed in a magazine in the form of a stack to a separating station and individually separated and then each fitted into a respective receiving means of the conveyor arrangement. The printed articles are removed in a removal station from the respective receiving means and fed to a magazine in a collecting station. A conveyor belt conveys the magazines both through the separating stations and also through the collecting station, the conveyor belt conveying the empty magazines from the separating station into the collecting station. At least one stepwise circulating transfer arrangement forms a second conveyor path along which are arranged the separating station, the respective receiving means disposed in the receiving station for the printed article, and the collecting station.

Abstract: A disk handling system includes a housing, a turntable and a telescoping elevator pin. The turntable mounts on the housing for holding disks. The turntable includes a disk dispenser, which dispenses disks form the turntable. A telescoping elevator pin mounts on the housing, and telescopes to move disks dispensed from the disk dispenser. A mechanical linkage and motor actuate the elevator pin. According to one aspect of the invention, the handling system includes a disk recorder and the elevator pin moves disks from the turntable to the disk recorder. According to another aspect of the invention, the handling system includes a printer and the elevator pin moves disks form the turntable to the printer.

Abstract: A curved-surface printing method applicable to a member exposed to a high-temperature closed atmosphere and a lamp unit to which such a method is applied. A transfer film formed by printing a transfer ink on a water-soluble film is floated on water in a water tank and then an object in the form of an extension adapted to be arranged in a lamp unit is downwardly pressed against the transfer film, resulting in the transfer ink being, by water pressure, transferred to the object by curved-surface printing. An activator coated on the transfer film prior to the transfer printing contains a plasticizer selected from dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). A volatilization promoting drying treatment for volatilizing the platicizer is carried out after the transfer printing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a printer having a device for printing a data carrier. It is proposed providing the data carrier with at least one transponder chip and equipping the printer with a device for driving the transponder chip. This makes it possible to print the data carrier simultaneously or sequentially and to write data into, or read data out of, the transponder chip.

Abstract: This invention provides a support for a carton which supports said carton during printing comprising a flat portion which is inserted into said carton. This invention further provides a method of printing on a carton comprising the steps of supporting said carton with a support comprising a flat portion; and printing on said carton.

Abstract: The present invention provides a printing process for forming a pattern on an earplug. More specifically, the earplug may be orientated and transferred to a printing device which forms the pattern on the earplug. The printing device may comprise an ink jet printer. The pattern may be formed of any number of colors and may comprise a custom logo, printed text decorative pattern or any other pattern.

Abstract: A device for inscribing a mark on a circumference of a golf ball is disclosed. The device is a rigid hollow cylindrical member of selected internal diameter with internal and external surfaces, and with a closed end and an open end. The open end has an open end surface having a bevel on an edge adjacent the hollow cylindrical member internal surface. The hollow cylindrical member selected internal diameter is sized to accept and support a golf ball with the golf ball circumference positioned adjacent the cylindrical member open end bevel edge. A user supports a golf ball on the hollow cylindrical member open end, and inscribes a visible mark on at least a portion of the golf ball circumference with a marking device. Also disclosed is a method of using the novel device.

Abstract: A compact disc handler includes a picker elevator containing a helically threaded lead screw journaled for rotation about a vertical axis and having a traveling nut thereon to which a disc picker arm is attached. A guideway in the tower cooperates with the picker arm to constrain the picker arm from rotating until reaching a predetermined height elevator. Using this design, a CD can be retrieved from an input hopper, placed in a label printer or other CD publishing/playing device and upon completion of same operation on the disc, it is transported by rotation to an output hopper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus orient, position and spin print indicia on pellet shaped articles, such as pharmaceutical capsules and the like. More specifically, the method and apparatus use a rotating pick-up drum that receives and transports the pellet shaped articles to a rotating positioning drum that is synchronized with the pick-up drum. The positioning drum receives the pellet shaped articles from the pick-up drum and properly aligns the pellet shaped articles so that they may be transferred to a rotating printing drum which is also synchronized with the positioning drum. The printing drum contains a vacuum source that maintains the pellet shaped articles within pockets as the pellet shaped articles are passed through a printing station. The printing station contains a movable printing roller capable of being moved toward and away from the printing drum such that the printing roller accurately spin prints indicia onto the pellet shaped articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus orient, position and spin print indicia on pellet shaped articles, such as pharmaceutical capsules and the like. More specifically, the method and apparatus use a rotating pick-up drum that receives and transports the pellet shaped articles to a rotating positioning drum that is synchronized with the pick-up drum. The positioning drum receives the pellet shaped articles from the pick-up drum and properly aligns the pellet shaped articles so that they may be transferred to a rotating printing drum which is also synchronized with the positioning drum. The printing drum contains a vacuum source that maintains the pellet shaped articles within pockets as the pellet shaped articles are passed through a printing station. The printing station contains a movable printing roller capable of being moved toward and away from the printing drum such that the printing roller accurately spin prints indicia onto the pellet shaped articles.

Abstract: A method for etching a pad-printing cliché and printing an image therefrom on a golf ball comprising providing a film positive of an image; placing the film positive on a pad-printing cliché having a variable relief photocurable pre-polymer surface; curing the pre-polymer that is not blocked by the film positive; removing the film positive from the polymer surface; washing the pad-printing cliché for a first predetermined time sufficient to remove any uncured pre-polymer, such that the pad-printing cliché has the image etched into the pre-polymer surface, the etched image having a substantially homogeneous bottom surface that is free of protrusions formed by screens, normally required for variable relief material, heating the pre-polymer for a second predetermined time sufficient to fully dry the pre-polymer; further curing the pre-polymer exposed by the washing step; providing a golf ball having a dimpled surface; distributing a layer of ink over the etched image in the pad-printi

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer having a print head and a media support platform that is displaced relative to the print head, the media support platform having a rigid support surface for a media item having a non-rectangular configuration such as a compact disk, the support platform having a mask with a cutout substantially in the shape of the non-rectangular disk, the mask and media item combining to form a contact surface for the print head to uniformly distribute a constant force of the print head in a uniform pressure across the mask and media item during printing, the mask providing, in addition, a holding apparatus for the media item which is contacted by a displaceable retainer pin urging the media item against the edge of the mask with the print head avoiding contact with the retainer pins on the printing area, the printer having a mechanism to displace the retainer pin and sense whether a media item is properly placed in the cutout and retained by the retaining apparatus.

Abstract: A printer has a substrate carrier that is a planar membrane driven through the printer solely by friction drives. The planar membrane is completely removable from the printer, and can be adapted to support a substrate of desired configuration and held against locating surfaces while it is being driven through the printer by the friction drive. The friction drive comprises at least one set of rollers including a drive roller on one side of the carrier and a resiliently mounted roller on the other, and also includes a rotating resilient platen that is resiliently urged against a printhead for providing a reaction force for the friction drive while printing occurs.

Abstract: A transfer device with which the hollow bodies to be printed in a printing machine may be transferred from a supply conveyor means to a capstan plate associated with the printing device. Since the hollow bodies are supplied by the supply conveyor means with a distance between them, which is smaller than the pitch of the receiving capstans of the capstan plate serving to accept the hollow bodies, a transfer rotor is placed in between, which possesses holding units, which perform the hollow body transfer as part of a pitch matching operation. A similar arrangement may also be employed to transfer already printed hollow bodies from the capstan plate to a removal conveyor means.

Abstract: Apparatus for marking a contoured surface having complex topology. The apparatus comprises a movable marker for marking the surface and a sensor disposed in sensing relationship to the surface for sensing contour of the surface. A controller interconnecting the marker and the sensor is also provided for actuating the marker and for controllably moving the marker relative to the surface in response to the contour sensed by the sensor, so that the marker follows the contour of the surface at a predetermined distance therefrom and marks the surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus orient, position and spin print indicia on pellet shaped articles, such as pharmaceutical capsules and the like. More specifically, the method and apparatus use a rotating pick-up drum that receives and transports the pellet shaped articles to a rotating positioning drum that is synchronized with the pick-up drum. The positioning drum receives the pellet shaped articles from the pick-up drum and properly aligns the pellet shaped articles so that they may be transferred to a rotating printing drum which is also synchronized with the positioning drum. The printing drum contains a vacuum source that maintains the pellet shaped articles within pockets as the pellet shaped articles are passed through a printing station. The printing station contains a movable printing roller capable of being moved toward and away from the printing drum such that the printing roller accurately spin prints indicia onto the pellet shaped articles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for decorating cylindrical articles using direct rotary screen printing of a UV radiation curable composition in various predetermined patterns and registrations. A rotary screen printing assembly is arranged in either a horizontal or vertical orientation to achieve production rates of about at least 250 articles per minute, and up to 1000 articles per minute. The UV radiation curable compositions are at least partially cured between a plurality of screen printing workstations using a UV radiation source.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object printing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a shape recognition section for obtaining three-dimensional shape data about a surface shape of a three-dimensional object by measurement or the like; an ejection section for ejecting ink toward the three-dimensional object; a scanning section for causing the ejection section to scan relative to the three-dimensional object; and a control section for controlling an operation of the ejection section and/or the scanning section in accordance with information about inclination of the surface of the three-dimensional object, the information being indicated in the data obtained by the shape recognition section. The printing apparatus performs printing in accordance with the information obtained by measurement on the surface inclination of the object to achieve a high-quality printing process.

Abstract: A method for printing on traffic signs, comprising the following process sections: storage of a pattern in digitized form of a traffic sign to be created by means of a reading device and transmission of said pattern to a printer; printing the stored pattern on a hot stamping foil by means of a printer, preferably in a mirror-inverted way on the surface of the hot stamping foil coated with a hot-melt adhesive; conveyance of the printed hot stamping foil to a laminating device by means of a foil guide, and heat laminating of the printed hot stamping foil to a reflecting sheet, which is preferably laminated to the front side of a sign blank, by means of the laminating device, heat laminating preferably being performed by means of heated stamps or heated stamp rolls either on a point or over a surface.

Abstract: A stamping device, simple in application and construction, is disclosed for transferring an image to an irregularly surfaced object. The stamping device includes a frame having an upper region capable of receiving a surface of an object to be printed and a transfer medium mounted across the upper region of the frame for receiving an image from a stamp and transferring the image to the surface of the object. The design of the stamping device enables users to transfer an image from a stamp block to an irregularly surfaced object with increased precision and without complex procedures and machinery. Furthermore, the stamping device enjoys a simplistic and collapsible design, which promotes compact transport and storage of the device.

Abstract: A hose preparation apparatus and method therefor including a supporting device for supporting at least one hose. A printing device is positioned adjacent to the supporting device for printing a symbol on a hose supported by the supporting device. A trimming device is positioned adjacent to the supporting device for trimming a hose supported by the supporting device. The apparatus and method can also include a clipping apparatus, a capping apparatus and an inspecting apparatus.

Abstract: Ticking for the production of mattress covers is preprinted with a plurality of different patterns by a computer controlled printer that prints in response to pattern data communicated from a control computer. The pattern data is organized and communicated by the computer so that a print head, for example, can scan the ticking material, such as in rows across the width of a web, and print different patterns. For example, different border panels can be oriented along a web and positioned side-by-side across a web and each printed with a different pattern. Top and bottom panels having corresponding patterns can be printed on the same or a different web. Identifying data for matching the panels of a mattress product can be provided in data files in the same or a different computer or can be printed on the fabric along with the patterns on the panels.