Apparatus for simultaneously decorating both sides of a three dimensional article

Claim 2

Apparatus for decorating three dimensional articles, comprising in combination: support means for holding a three dimensional article to be decorated, said support means comprising a ring structure having frusto conical opposite side surfaces converging inwardly toward each other to define planar opposite side margins and a centrally open space; means carried by said support means for positioning an article within said open space and in inwardly spaced relation to said opposite side margins; a pair of resilient diaphragm means; means for applying a pattern of decorating material to one side of each diaphragm means; means for engaging said diaphragm means respectively against the opposite side margins of said support means with the patterned surfaces thereof facing each other; and means for evacuating the interior of said support means to engage said patterned surfaces of said diaphragm means against the respective side surfaces of the support means and into intimate contact with said article so that the two diaphragm means together decorate the entire outer surface of the article.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for positioning an article projects radially inwardly from said ring structure to leave an open area substantially surrounding the positioned article within which area said diaphragm means engage in face-to-face contact.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for pressurizing the interior of said support means to separate said diaphragm means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ring structure comprises two hollow rings each of triangular shape in cross section; said means for evacuating being in communication with the interiors of said hollow rings and each ring having circumferentially spaced apertures around its inner apical edge.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 including a pair of tables disposed on opposite sides of said support means and lying in planes parallel to the axis of said ring structure; said means for engaging moving each diaphragm means between a position lying on an associated table and a position against the associated side margin of said support means; said means for applying being movable across each diaphragm means when lying on its associated table.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said ring structure is vertically disposed and said tables are horizontally disposed.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 including Carrier means rotatably mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis laterally offset with respect to and above said tables; said support means being mounted on said carrier means on one side of such rotational axis; and a second support means mounted on said carrier on the other side of such rotational axis.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support means is disposed vertically and said means for engaging moves each diaphragm means between a horizontal position below and to an associated side of the support means and an upwardly swung position engaging the support means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means for applying engages said diaphragm means while they are in their horizontal positions.

Claim 11

Apparatus for decorating three dimensional articles, comprising in combination: a ring presenting an outer marginal edge and an inner marginal edge with a frusto conical wall surface extending inwardly from said outer to said inner marginal edge; a pair of diametrically opposed positioning members projecting inwardly from said inner marginal edge and having spaced apart portions engaging respectively the top and bottom of an article to be decorated whereby substantially one half of the outer side surface of the article lies between the plane containing said inner marginal edge and the plane containing said outer marginal edge of the ring; resilient diaphragm means for engaging said outer marginal edge with one surface thereof facing the article; means for applying a pattern of decorating material to said one surface of said diaphragm means; means cooperating with said diaphragm means when engaged with said ring to form an isolated space bounded on one side by said one surface of the diaphragm means; and means for evacuating said space to force said diaphragm means marginally against said conical wall surface of the ring and against said positioning members into intimate contact with said half of the outer side surface of the article.

Claim 12

Apparatus for decorating three dimensional articles, comprising in combination: a ring presenting an outer marginal edge and an inner marginal edge with a frusto conical wall surface extending inwardly from said outer to said inner marginal edge; a pair of diametrically opposed positioning members projecting inwardly from said inner marginal edge and having spaced apart portions engaging respectively the top and bottom of an article to be decorated whereby substantially one half of the outer side surface of the article lies between the plane containing said inner marginal edge and the plane containing said outer marginal edge of the ring; resilient diaphragm means for engaging said outer marginal edge with one surface thereof facing the article; means for applying a pattern of decorating material to said one surface of said diaphragm means; means cooperating with said diaphragm means when engaged with said ring to form an isolated space bounded on one side by said one surface of the diaphragm means; and means for evacuating said space to force said diaphragm means marginally against said conical wall surface of the ring and against said positioning members into intimate contact with said half of the outer side surface of the article.