A processing machine is configured, in particular, as a printing machine and has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of typically hollow bodies. The processing stations for the processing of the bodies are arranged in an operating chamber each at different positions, in a state in which they are lined up in a row in the direction of transport of the bodies which are to be processed. The processing stations are arranged in the same horizontal plane in the operating chamber. A body which is to be processed, or which has been processed, is transported from one processing station to the next processing station beneath that horizontal plane in which the individual processing stations are arranged. A plurality of simultaneously operated, or simultaneously operable, handling devices are provided in the operating chamber. Each handling device is provided for transporting at least one body which is to be processed, or which has been processed. At least two of the handling devices, which are arranged in the same operating chamber and are simultaneously operated, or are at least simultaneously operable, are arranged in different horizontal planes arranged vertically one above the other and are each moved, or at least are capable of being moved, horizontally in the respective plane.

A processing machine has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of articles. A plurality of the processing stations are each configured in the form of a printing unit. The processing stations, which are provided for processing the articles, are each arranged at different positions. At least one handling device is provided for transporting at least one of the articles which is to be processed. The handling device has a drive which is controlled by a control device and, which handling device, by the use of this drive, can be displaced from one processing station, in which the respective article is processed, to at least one next processing station for processing this article. The processing machine has a learning phase and a production phase. Provision is made for a memory device, which is connected to the control device, to store, in the learning phase, position-related values of the relevant handling system, those position-related values being determined by the use of a calibration travel executed by the relevant handling system for a certain processing procedure. Following the changeover of the processing machine from its learning phase to its production phase, the drive of the relevant handling device is controlled by the control device such that the relevant handling device assumes, one after the other, the positions previously stored for it in the memory device in the learning phase.

A processing machine has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of articles. A plurality of the processing stations are each configured in the form of a printing unit. The processing stations, which are provided for processing the articles, are each arranged at different positions. At least one handling device is provided for transporting at least one of the articles which is to be processed. The handling device has a drive which is controlled by a control device and, which handling device, by the use of this drive, can be displaced from one processing station, in which the respective article is processed, to at least one next processing station for processing this article. The processing machine has a learning phase and a production phase. Provision is made for a memory device, which is connected to the control device, to store, in the learning phase, position-related values of the relevant handling system, those position-related values being determined by the use of a calibration travel executed by the relevant handling system for a certain processing procedure. Following the changeover of the processing machine from its learning phase to its production phase, the drive of the relevant handling device is controlled by the control device such that the relevant handling device assumes, one after the other, the positions previously stored for it in the memory device in the learning phase.

A printer according to an embodiment includes a holding part and a printing part. The holding part holds a print substrate having a curved surface in a state where the print substrate is pressed and elastically deformed so that a curvature of the curved surface is small. The printing part performs silkscreen printing on a print surface of the print substrate held by the holding part.

A printing object surface has a cross-sectional shape curving along a printing advancing direction. The printing advancing direction is defined as a Y-axis, a direction orthogonal to the Y-axis and belonging to the cross-section is defined as a Z-axis, and a direction around an axis orthogonal to a Y-Z plane is defined as a -axis. A squeegee is disposed so as to be movable in the respective Y-, Z- and -axis directions. Information indicating a mutual relationship among respective Y-, Z- and -axis positions is obtained. The relationship is a relationship that enables performing printing while maintaining or substantially maintaining an angle formed by a direction tangent to a printing position in the printing object surface in the Y-Z plane and the squeegee. Printing is executed while the respective Y-, Z-, -axis positions of the squeegee relative to the printing object surface are controlled according to the obtained information.

A printing object surface has a cross-sectional shape curving along a printing advancing direction. The printing advancing direction is defined as a Y-axis, a direction orthogonal to the Y-axis and belonging to the cross-section is defined as a Z-axis, and a direction around an axis orthogonal to a Y-Z plane is defined as a -axis. A squeegee is disposed so as to be movable in the respective Y-, Z- and -axis directions. Information indicating a mutual relationship among respective Y-, Z- and -axis positions is obtained. The relationship is a relationship that enables performing printing while maintaining or substantially maintaining an angle formed by a direction tangent to a printing position in the printing object surface in the Y-Z plane and the squeegee. Printing is executed while the respective Y-, Z-, -axis positions of the squeegee relative to the printing object surface are controlled according to the obtained information.

Provided is a printing plate, containing: a screen plate having an opening pattern; and, a frame body to which the screen plate is fixed, in which the screen plate includes at least one curved part and is relatively movably fixed to the frame body.

Provided is a printing plate, containing: a screen plate having an opening pattern; and, a frame body to which the screen plate is fixed, in which the screen plate includes at least one curved part and is relatively movably fixed to the frame body.

The present invention relates to a curved surface screen printing apparatus performing printing on a surface to be printed of a base material having a curved surface, including: a screen plate formed with a pattern and arranged above the base material; a squeegee which is disposed above the screen plate and applies an ink to the surface to be printed of the base material through the screen plate; and a base material moving mechanism which moves the base material along a vertical plane and is capable of swinging the base material with respect to an axis orthogonal to the vertical plane.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for stencil printing a layer on or onto a printing surface with a stencil comprising applying a stencil with a first part and a second part to the printing surface and applying a layer of material to the printing surface through the stencil. The first part and the second part cover a non-continuous region of the printing surface.