Printing head for multi-stroke screen printing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9511583-B2
Application number	US-201514874653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 5, 2015
Priority date	Feb 22, 2008
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

A screen printing apparatus is described. The apparatus has a plurality of radial arms each having a printing head associated therewith. A target area is in alignment with at least one of the printing heads wherein a design is applied to a target article at the target area by the printing head. A means for providing relative movement between the target area and the printing head provides multiple passes between a squeegee associated with the printing head and the target area. A means for providing a pressure between the squeegee and the target area is regulated such that a first pressure between the squeegee and the target area on a first stroke is not equal to a second pressure between the squeegee and the target area on a subsequent second stroke.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A printing head for an automated screen printing machine, the printing head comprising:
a squeegee operatively engaged by a source of pressure transferring a downward force to the squeegee as it moves across a screen during each stroke to deposit printing fluid on a fabric target; and
a controller for varying a force applied by the source of pressure to the squeegee from a first applied downward force applied during a first stroke to a second applied downward force applied during a subsequent stroke, and the first applied downward force is not equal to the second applied downward force.

2. The printing head of claim 1 wherein the first applied downward force is greater than the second applied downward force.

3. The printing head of claim 1 wherein the first applied downward force is less than the second applied downward force.

4. The printing head of claim 3 further comprising:
a flood bar adjacent the squeegee operatively engaged by a source of pressure.

5. The printing head of claim 1 wherein the controller is a digital type or an analog type.

6. The printing head of claim 5 wherein the digital type uses a digital voltage regulator, frequency modulator, or a pulse width modulator.

7. The printing head of claim 5 wherein the analog type uses an analog signal representative of voltage or current.

8. The printing head of claim 1 further comprising a pressure gauge adjacent the printing head.

9. The printing head of claim 1 further comprising a control panel for selecting the first applied downward force and the second applied downward force.

10. The printing head of claim 1 wherein the controller regulates the number of strokes of the squeegee.

11. The printing head of claim 1 wherein the source of pressure is a piston, gears, cams, screws, levers, or servo-motors.

12. The printing head of claim 1 wherein the source of pressure is a piston.

13. The printing head of claim 1 further comprising a means for accessing the controller remotely.

14. The printing head of claim 13 wherein the means for accessing the controller remotely includes a personal computing device, or a personal digital assistant.

Assignees

• M & R Printing Equip Inc
• M & R Printing Equip Inc

Inventors

• Biel Boguslaw
• Zupancic Joel
• Hoefken R Luis Miguel

Classifications

• B41F15/44 Primary

  Squeegees or doctors · CPC title

• B41M1/12

  Stencil printing; Silk-screen printing · CPC title

• B41F15/0863 Primary

  with a plurality of flat screens mounted on a turntable · CPC title

• B41F15/42

  comprising squeegees or doctors · CPC title