Machine for the automatic printing of hollow plastic articles or the like

Claim 1

A MACHINE FOR THE AUTOMATIC PRINTING, BY MULTICOLOR OR MULTI-LINE PRINTING, OF HOLLOW PLASTIC ARTICLES BY THE SCREEN PRINTING PROCESS COMPRISING AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT DISPOSED IN AN ELONGATED LOOP, SUPPORTS ON SAID BELT IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP ADAPTED TO HOLD SAID ARTICLE, AT LEAST A FIRST AND A SECOND PRINTING STATION ASOCIATED WITH SAID LOOP, A FIRST DRYING SYSTEM LOCATED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND PRINTING STATION FOR DRYING THE WET PRINTING INK ON ARTICLES COMMING FROM SAID FIRST PRINTING STATION, AN EJECTOR SYSTEM LOCATED BETWEEN SAID SECOND PRINTING STATION AND SAID FIRST PRINTING STATION FOR REMOVING ARTICLES WITH WET PRINTING INK COMING FROM SAID SECOND PRINTING STATION, A SECOND DRYING SYSTEM LOCATED OUTSIDE THE LOOP OF SAID ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT, A CONVEYOR FOR CONDUCTING SAID ARTICLES FROM THE EJECTOR SYSTEM TO SAID SECOND DRYING SYSTEM AND CLAMPING MEANS AT EACH PRINTING STATION FOR CENTERING SAID ARTICLE AND INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED BEARER WHICH ENGAGES THE ARTICLE AROUND THE ENDLESS CONVEYOR BELT, SAID U-SHAPED BEARER HAVING A FREE ARM AND A FIXED ARM, SAID CLAMPING MEANS FURTHER COMPRISING A CENTERING MANDREL DISPOSED ON SAID FREE ARM AND A RETAINER MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID FIXED ARM, SAID RETAINER MEANS INCLUDING A CUP-SHAPED PLATE COMPLEMENTARY IN SHAPE TO THE ARTICLE, SAID CUP-SHAPED PLATE BEING CAPABLE OF BEING RECIPROCATED IN RELATION TO SAID CENTERING MANDREL, SAID RETAINER MEANS FURTHER COMPRISING MEANS TO RECIPROCATE SAID CUP-SHAPED PLATE TO CLAMP AND CENTER THE ARTICLE GENERALLY BETWEEN THE ARMS OF SAID U-SHAPED BEARER.