US3673954A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Silk screening apparatus
Assignee: Amole Inc
•
Filing: 1969-03-14
•
Granted: 1972-07-04
•
Expires: 1989-03-14
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for silk screening a halftone color photograph onto a container having an arcuate outer surface. Precise index marks are provided on the color art work and are utilized through the preparation of the silk screens and the setup of the screening apparatus to provide precise alignment as required to silk screen properly the several different colors onto the bottle. The machine has improved adjustments which allow the screens to be easily and quickly precisely aligned during setup so that the color halftone can be printed without overlap of the dots except where desired. The apparatus also includes automatic means for loading the bottle in position, for inflating the same, and for indexing each bottle to a precise location at the commencement of the screening stroke so that each color screen has the same relative position to the bottles.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis A Lala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:44
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F17/00; B41F17/08; B41F17/14; B41F17/20; B41F17/22; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
Apparatus for screen printing the cylindrical surface of bottles including carriage means for supporting screen printing articles, fixture means for holding bottles for rotation about their central axis, said fixture means including an annular ring adapted to engage a portion of the bottles for supporting them for rotation about their central axis, indexing means cooperating with a corresponding index means formed in a portion of each bottle for orienting the bottles to a predetermined angular position, said indexing means being disposed within said annular ring, means for causing relative movement between said fixture means and said indexing means, said means including drive means for rotating said annular ring relative to said indexing means, said drive means including a drive wheel, an idler wheel disposed between said drive wheel and the outer surface of said ring, and means supporting said idler wheel for pivotable movement from a first position, where the idler wheel transmits driving force from said drive wheel to said ring, to a second position, where the idler wheel discontinues said driving force, when resistance is encountered by said ring when said indexing means engages the index means formed in the bottles, further drive means for rotating said bottles and for moving said carriage at the same speed as the surface of the bottles, and means for applying ink through the screen printed articles onto the surface of the bottleS.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
Apparatus for screen printing the cylindrical surface of bottles including carriage means for supporting screen printing articles, fixture means for holding bottles for rotation about their central axis, said fixture means including an annular ring adapted to engage a portion of the bottles for supporting them for rotation about their central axis, indexing means cooperating with a corresponding index means formed in a portion of each bottle for orienting the bottles to a predetermined angular position, said indexing means being disposed within said annular ring, means for causing relative movement between said fixture means and said indexing means, said means including drive means for rotating said annular ring relative to said indexing means, said drive means including a drive wheel, an idler wheel disposed between said drive wheel and the outer surface of said ring, and means supporting said idler wheel for pivotable movement from a first position, where the idler wheel transmits driving force from said drive wheel to said ring, to a second position, where the idler wheel discontinues said driving force, when resistance is encountered by said ring when said indexing means engages the index means formed in the bottles, further drive means for rotating said bottles and for moving said carriage at the same speed as the surface of the bottles, and means for applying ink through the screen printed articles onto the surface of the bottleS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indexing means includes a pin pivotally mounted on a shaft driven by said further drive means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said further drive means includes means for providing angular adjustment between said indexing means and said carriage means thereby facilitating positioning of said bottles during the initial set up of said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indexing means includes a pin mounted for rotation by said further drive means, said pin being adjustable in a radial direction within said fixture means to accommodate bottles of different dimensions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including anti-bounce means between said fixture means and said further drive means to prevent said bottle from rebounding due to the resilience of the bottle when said indexing means engages the corresponding index means of the bottle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for screen printing the cylindrical surface of resilient bottles including carriage means for supporting screen printing articles, fixture means for holding bottles for rotation about their central axis, said fixture means including chuck means engageable with the open end of the bottles, means for introducing a predetermined volume of air into the interior of each bottle to hold them rigid thereby to facilitate the application of ink thereto while preventing distortion after prolonged installation on said apparatus, indexing means cooperating with a corresponding index means formed in a portion of each bottle for orienting the bottles to a predetermined angular position, means for causing relative movement between said fixture means and said indexing means, said means including drive means for rotating said bottles and means for disconnecting said drive means when the bottles reach said predetermined angular position, further drive means for rotating said bottles and for moving said carriage at the same speed as the surface of the bottles, and means for applying ink through the screen printed articles onto the surface of the bottles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
177 words
Apparatus for screen printing the cylindrical surface of resilient bottles including carriage means for supporting screen printing articles, fixture means for holding bottles for rotation about their central axis, said fixture means including chuck means engageable with the open end of the bottles, means for introducing a predetermined volume of air into the interior of each bottle to hold them rigid thereby to facilitate the application of ink thereto while preventing distortion after prolonged installation on said apparatus, indexing means cooperating with a corresponding index means formed in a portion of each bottle for orienting the bottles to a predetermined angular position, means for causing relative movement between said fixture means and said indexing means, said means including drive means for rotating said bottles and means for disconnecting said drive means when the bottles reach said predetermined angular position, further drive means for rotating said bottles and for moving said carriage at the same speed as the surface of the bottles, and means for applying ink through the screen printed articles onto the surface of the bottles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a plurality of screen printing articles are placed on said carriage means, each screen printing article being used in succession to print a different color on said bottles, each screen printing article including index marks which when aligned with said carriage, create a superimposed image on said bottles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said screen printing articles are each mounted on a frame and wherein said index marks include means defining holes in said frames which cooperate with pins on said carriage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for applying ink through said screen printing articles includes a squeegee having vertically spaced grooves along the length thereof which extend upwardly from the lower edge to provide flexibility and to allow the entire lower edge of the squeegee to hold said screen printing articles against rough portions of the cylindrical surface of the bottles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an apparatus for screen printing the cylindrical surface of semi-rigid bottles, said apparatus including carriage means for supporting screen printing plates, fixture means for holding the bottles for rotation about their central axis, said fixture means including indexing means cooperating with corresponding index means formed in a portion of each bottle for orienting the bottles to a predetermined angular position, means for supplying air to the interior of the bottles to hold them rigid, means for rotating said fixture means and for moving said carriage means at the same speed as the surface of the bottles, and means for applying ink through said screen printing plate onto the surfaces of the bottles, the improvement comprising means for introducing a predetermined volume of air into the interior of the bottles to hold them rigid thereby to minimize distortion after prolonged installatiOn on said apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an apparatus for screen printing the cylindrical surface of semi-rigid bottles, said apparatus including carriage means for supporting screen printing plates, fixture means for holding the bottles for rotation about their central axis, said fixture means including indexing means cooperating with corresponding index means formed in a portion of each bottle for orienting the bottles to a predetermined angular position, means for supplying air to the interior of the bottles to hold them rigid, means for rotating said fixture means and for moving said carriage means at the same speed as the surface of the bottles, and means for applying ink through said screen printing plate onto the surfaces of the bottles, the improvement comprising means for introducing a predetermined volume of air into the interior of the bottles to hold them rigid thereby to minimize distortion after prolonged installatiOn on said apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |