Electrostatic screen process printing

Claim 1

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface and can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the a article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 2

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface and can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the a article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 3

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface that can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of shifting movement of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantiaLly thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 4

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface that can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of shifting movement of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantiaLly thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 5

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the surface of revolution of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 6

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the surface of revolution of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 7

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis of rotation; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the surface of revolution of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink by a feeding roller disposed within the entire surface of revolution of said screen, maintaining the feeding roller in tangential contact with the interior of the surface of rEvolution of said screen for application of ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 8

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis of rotation; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the surface of revolution of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink by a feeding roller disposed within the entire surface of revolution of said screen, maintaining the feeding roller in tangential contact with the interior of the surface of rEvolution of said screen for application of ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 9

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface and can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the curvilinear surface of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 10

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface and can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the curvilinear surface of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 11

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface and can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of shifting movement of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the curvilinear surface of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists betWeen the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact to the screen.

Claim 12

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen which has a curvilinear surface and can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of shifting movement of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the curvilinear surface of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists betWeen the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact to the screen.

Claim 13

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the surface of revolution of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 14

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the surface of revolution of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 15

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the surface of revolution of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink by a feeding roller disposed within the entire surface of revOlution of said screen, maintaining the feeding roller in tangential contact with the interior of the surface of revolution of said screen for application of ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 16

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said central axis, with a screen having a complete surface of revolution and which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the surface of revolution of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink by a feeding roller disposed within the entire surface of revOlution of said screen, maintaining the feeding roller in tangential contact with the interior of the surface of revolution of said screen for application of ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 17

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be shifted with respect to the annular surface of said article wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the screen to move in a tangential plane which lies in the line of closest approach, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in substantially a thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas of said screen and propelled by said electrostatic field thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 18

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be shifted with respect to the annular surface of said article wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the screen to move in a tangential plane which lies in the line of closest approach, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in substantially a thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas of said screen and propelled by said electrostatic field thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 19

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being sUbstantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 20

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being sUbstantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 21

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis with an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the surface of revolution of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 22

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having its surface of revolution about said axis with an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of closest approach and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article so that the surface of revolution of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 23

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be shifted with respect to the annular surface of said article wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the arcuate face of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of contact in direct contact with all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in substantially a thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverSe to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas of said screen and propelled by said electrostatic field thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 24

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be shifted with respect to the annular surface of said article wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis and in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the arcuate face of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of contact in direct contact with all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in substantially a thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverSe to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas of said screen and propelled by said electrostatic field thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 25

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a curvilinear screen which can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the curvilinear surface of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of contact in direct contact with all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 26

The method of electrostatically screen process printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a curvilinear screen which can be arcuately shifted about an axis of movement, said screen also being curved with respect to said axis wherein the screen has an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and the curvilinear surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of shifting movement in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the curvilinear surface of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of contact in direct contact with all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of contact, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 27

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having a surface of revolution about said axis with an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the surface of revolution of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 28

The method of electrostatically screen process printing an article having a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said central axis, with a screen which can be arcuately rotated about an axis of rotation, said screen also having a surface of revolution about said axis with an arcuate face to match the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article; said method comprising establishing an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, establishing an axis of rotation of said article concentric with its central axis, in a position so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said article and to the annular surface of said screen, rotating said article about its central axis so that the annular surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, establishing the axis of rotation of said screen along a line which is parallel to the surface of the article to receive the ink and in the same plane as the line of instantaneous tangential contact and axis of rotation of said article, arcuately rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of the article and causing the surface of revolution of the screen to pass through and maintain contact with said article at the line of instantaneous tangential contact, maintaining all points on the screen at the elemental line of closest approach equidistant from all opposed points on the article at the elemental line of closest approach, and feeding a quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through opened areas and propelled by said electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact with the screen.

Claim 29

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 30

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 32

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen instantaneously passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 33

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen instantaneously passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 35

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen instantaneously passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means disposed within the annular surface of revolution of said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen, said last-named means including a feeding roller in rolling tangential contact with the interior surface of revolution of said screen for delivering the ink in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 36

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen instantaneously passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means disposed within the annular surface of revolution of said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen, said last-named means including a feeding roller in rolling tangential contact with the interior surface of revolution of said screen for delivering the ink in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 37

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means operativEly associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 38

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, and means operativEly associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 40

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of contact and maintains instantaneous contact with the article thereat, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 41

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of contact and maintains instantaneous contact with the article thereat, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 43

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to thE rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of contact and maintains instantaneous contact with the article thereat, and means disposed within the annular surface of revolution of said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen, said last-named means including a feeding roller in rolling tangential contact with the interior of the surface of revolution of said screen for delivering the ink in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 44

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to thE rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of contact and maintains instantaneous contact with the article thereat, and means disposed within the annular surface of revolution of said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen, said last-named means including a feeding roller in rolling tangential contact with the interior of the surface of revolution of said screen for delivering the ink in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 45

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on curvilinear articles, said apparatus comprising base means, means for supporting said article on said base means and being arcuately shiftable about an axis, a screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable with respect thereto, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means operatively mounted on said base means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for arcuately shifting said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the shifting movement of the article, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line closest approach to the screen.

Claim 46

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on curvilinear articles, said apparatus comprising base means, means for supporting said article on said base means and being arcuately shiftable about an axis, a screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable with respect thereto, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means operatively mounted on said base means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for arcuately shifting said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the shifting movement of the article, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line closest approach to the screen.

Claim 47

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on curvilinear articles, said apparatus comprising base means, means for supporting said article on said base means and being arcuately shiftable about an axis, a screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable with respect thereto, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means operatively mounted on said base means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for arcuately shifting said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the shifting movement of the article, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of contact with the screen.

Claim 48

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on curvilinear articles, said apparatus comprising base means, means for supporting said article on said base means and being arcuately shiftable about an axis, a screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable with respect thereto, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means operatively mounted on said base means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for arcuately shifting said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the shifting movement of the article, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of contact with the screen.

Claim 49

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatiVely mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having a substantially flat printing surface mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable in a plane, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the flat printing surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in a tangential plane which passes through the elemental line of closest approach and in timed relation to the rotation of said article, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink only along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 50

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatiVely mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having a substantially flat printing surface mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable in a plane, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the flat printing surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in a tangential plane which passes through the elemental line of closest approach and in timed relation to the rotation of said article, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink only along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 51

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink only along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensionaL area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 52

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink only along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensionaL area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 53

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen instantaneously passes through the elemental line of closest approach, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink only along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 54

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the annular surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen instantaneously passes through the elemental line of closest approach, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of closest approach and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink only along the line of closest approach and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 55

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having a substantially flat printing surface mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable in a plane, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the flat printing surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of said article and in a tangential plane which passes through the elemental line of instantaneous contact and maintains contact with the article thereat, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficientLy wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 56

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having a substantially flat printing surface mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable in a plane, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the flat printing surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of said article and in a tangential plane which passes through the elemental line of instantaneous contact and maintains contact with the article thereat, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficientLy wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 57

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 58

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis, said screen having a surface which is curvilinear about said last-named axis, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of closest approach to said screen is parallel to the curvilinear surface of said screen, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for arcuately shifting said screen about its axis of arcuate shiftable movement in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the curvilinear surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of closest approach, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 59

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of contact and maintains instantaneous contact with the article thereat, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 60

An apparatus for electrostatically printing on articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution about said axis; said apparatus comprising base means, support means operatively mounted on said base means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an annular surface of revolution mounted in relation to said article and being rotatable about an axis, the axis of rotation of said screen being coincident with the central axis of the surface of revolution of said screen, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, said support means having its axis of rotation established so that a line of contact exists between the annular surface of said screen and the annular surface of said article, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for rotating said screen about its axis of rotation in timed relation to the rotation of said article so that the annular surface of the screen passes through the elemental line of contact and maintains instantaneous contact with the article thereat, a shield stationarily mounted on said base means and having a narrow slit forming a printing gap interposed between said screen and article, said slit being positioned at the elemental line of contact and being sufficiently wide to permit passage of ink along the line of contact and sufficiently small to prevent overspray of ink and uneven ink deposition, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 61

An apparatus for electrostatically printing an article having a central axis and a hyperbolic surface of revolution, said apparatus comprising means for supporting said article and for rotating said article about its central axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis with respect to said article, said screen also having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the open portions of the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article so the screen tangentially approaches and departs from the article thereby forming an elemental line of closest approach, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of closest approach are equidistant from all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of closest approach, the axis of revolution of said screen being substantially parallel in at least one plane to the line of closest approach, and means for rotating said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches and departs from the screen, thereby causing printing to occur along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 62

An apparatus for electrostatically printing an article having a central axis and a hyperbolic surface of revolution, said apparatus comprising means for supporting said article and for rotating said article about its central axis, a curvilinear screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable through an arc about an axis with respect to said article, said screen also having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the open portions of the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article so the screen tangentially approaches and departs from the article thereby forming an elemental line of closest approach, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of closest approach are equidistant from all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of closest approach, the axis of revolution of said screen being substantially parallel in at least one plane to the line of closest approach, and means for rotating said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches and departs from the screen, thereby causing printing to occur along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 63

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of closest approach are equidistant from all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of closest approach, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in a tangential pLane which passes through the elemental line of closest approach and in timed relation to the rotation of said article, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 64

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of closest approach are equidistant from all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of closest approach, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an instantaneous elemental line of closest approach and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in a tangential pLane which passes through the elemental line of closest approach and in timed relation to the rotation of said article, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the elemental line of closest approach, where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of elemental closest approach and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of closest approach to the screen.

Claim 65

An apparatus for electrostatically printing an article having a central axis and a hyperbolic surface of revolution, said apparatus comprising means for supporting said article and for rotating said article about its central axis, a screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable with respect thereto, said screen having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the open portions of the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article so the screen tangentially approaches, instantaneously contacts and departs from the article thereby forming an elemental line of contact, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of contact are in direct contact with all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of contact, and means for rotating said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, instantaneously contacts and departs from the screen, thereby causing printing to occur along the elemental line of contact between the article and the screen.

Claim 66

An apparatus for electrostatically printing an article having a central axis and a hyperbolic surface of revolution, said apparatus comprising means for supporting said article and for rotating said article about its central axis, a screen mounted in relation to said article and being shiftable with respect thereto, said screen having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen where the ink is passed through the open portions of the screen and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic field, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of the article so the screen tangentially approaches, instantaneously contacts and departs from the article thereby forming an elemental line of contact, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of contact are in direct contact with all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of contact, and means for rotating said article so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, instantaneously contacts and departs from the screen, thereby causing printing to occur along the elemental line of contact between the article and the screen.

Claim 67

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of closest approach are equidistant from all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of closest approach, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of said article and in a tangential plane which passes through the elemental line of instantaneous contact and maintains contact with the article thereat, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic fIeld, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.

Claim 68

An apparatus for electrostatically printing articles which have a central axis and an annular surface of revolution which is hyperbolic about said axis; said apparatus comprising support means for supporting said article and being rotatable about an axis, a screen having an arcuate surface which matches the hyperbolic surface of revolution of said article, means for creating an electrostatic field between said screen and said article, means for positioning the article so that all points of the article at the elemental line of closest approach are equidistant from all opposed points of the screen at the elemental line of closest approach, means for rotating said article about its axis of rotation so that the surface to receive the ink tangentially approaches, forms an elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact and tangentially departs from the screen, means for shifting said screen in timed relation to the rotation of said article and in a tangential plane which passes through the elemental line of instantaneous contact and maintains contact with the article thereat, and means operatively associated with said screen for feeding a selected quantity of electroscopic ink to said screen in a substantially thin flat line only along the line of instantaneous contact where relative movement exists between the surface of the screen and the thin flat line, said thin flat line being substantially equal to the dimension of the screen which is transverse to the direction of movement of said screen and occupying a small dimensional area of the screen in the direction of movement of the screen, and where the ink is passed through the screen only at the line of tangential contact and propelled toward said article by the electrostatic fIeld, thereby causing printing to occur only along the elemental line of instantaneous tangential contact.