Apparatus and process for T-shirt/garment screen printing

Abstract

A screen assembly is provided for screen printing and includes a screen with a perimeter frame and a tray covering the frame. The tray includes a central opening with an inner peripheral lip or edge which press fits against the screen to keep ink from contacting the frame during the screen printing process. After printing, the tray is removed from the frame so that the assembly can be cleaned and reused. The assembly and its method of use eliminates the need for conventional taping of the screen and frame.

Claims

1. A screen assembly for screen printing, comprising: a frame; a screen mounted to the frame and having a perimeter edge; a tray having an outer perimeter to fit over the frame and an inner perimeter residing within the frame over the screen and being open within the inner perimeter; the inner perimeter including an upright sidewall which matingly engages into the frame for a snap fit connection between the tray and the frame; the inner perimeter including a horizontal lip to contact the screen, and; whereby the snap fit provides pressure between the lip and the screen to form a seal and thereby prevent ink from leaking along the screen perimeter edge and accessing the frame.

2. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray extends inwardly from the frame and over the top of the screen.

3. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray is one piece.

4. The screen assembly of claim 1 the tray has a contour to sealingly engage the screen.

5. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame and screen are free from tape.

6. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame and the tray have matching profiles.

7. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray includes upper extensions extending beyond the frame for gripping by an operator to remove the tray from the frame.

8. The screen assembly of claim 7 wherein the upper extensions are located on at least two corners of the tray.

9. The screen assembly of claim 1 wherein the tray is reusable.

10. A screen printing assembly, comprising: a screen having an upstanding perimeter frame; a plastic tray snap fit downwardly into the frame on top of the screen by mating upright walls on the tray and the frame, and extending inwardly to engage an upper surface of the screen and provide a seal without the use of tape to prevent ink from migrating beneath the tray.

11. The screen printing assembly of claim 10 further comprising tabs on the tray extending outwardly beyond the frame to facilitate release of the snap fit between the tray and the screen.

12. The screen printing assembly of claim 10 wherein the tray and the frame are free from additional mechanical fasteners to secure the tray and frame together.

13. The screen printing assembly of claim 10 wherein the frame and the tray have mating contours to provide the snap fit between the frame and the tray.

14. The screen printing assembly of claim 13 wherein the mating contours extend substantially 360 degrees.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a screen printing machine with a screen assembly mounted therein, including a frame and the tray of the present invention, and ready to receive ink for printing.

(2) FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of the screen printing tray for use on one exemplary type of framed screen, according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the tray shown in FIG. 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is an end elevation view of the tray shown in FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the tray shown in FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the tray.

(7) FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of one corner of the tray.

(8) FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the profile of the tray.

(9) FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a second embodiment of the tray, according to the present invention.

(10) FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the second embodiment tray.

(11) FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the second embodiment tray.

(12) FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the second embodiment tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(13) A reusable tray 10 is designed for use in screen printing as a substitute for taping the screen and frame juncture. The inside perimeter edge of the screen 12 and the frame 14 is covered by the tray 10 to prevent ink from entering the juncture or crack between the screen 12 and the frame 14, where there is no emulsion on the screen. With the tray 10 mounted on the frame 14, the screen assembly 16 can be used for both an automatic machine and manual screen printing processes.

(14) The screen 12 and the frame 14 are conventional.

(15) The tray 10 has a shape and profile matching the shape and profile of the frame 14. It is understood that the frame may take various shapes and forms, such that the tray also has matching or coordinating shapes and forms to mount on the frame. In the preferred embodiment, the tray 16 is made of a lightweight plastic or composite material which allows the tray 10 to be snap fit onto the frame 14 for quick and easy mounting and removal. Thus, for the rectangular frame 14 shown in the photographs, the tray, has a matching rectangular size and shape. In other embodiments, the tray may be mounted on the frame by other means, such as clips, clamps, snaps, hook and loop materials, and other fasteners which allow quick and easy assembly and disassembly of the tray to and from the frame.

(16) In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-8, the tray 10 has a sidewall 20 and a front wall 22 defining an inside pocket or recess 24 which matches the exterior shape or profile of the frame 14. The front wall 22 of the tray 10 extends inwardly and terminates in a flange or lip 26 which engages the screen 12 when the tray 10 is mounted on the frame 14. The tray 10 has an enlarged central opening 28 to allow ink to be applied to the screen 12. The tray 10 fits onto the frame 14 so that the flange or lip 26 is pressed against the screen 12. The tray contour creates the necessary pressure between the lip 26 and the screen to seal the tray to the screen, and thereby prevent leakage of ink to the frame 14 at the screen edges, without the use of tape. The corners 30 of the tray 10 may extend beyond the corners of the frame 14 so that a user can grip the tray 10 for mounting and removal to and from the frame 14.

(17) The screen assembly 16 can be used in an automatic screen printing machine, such as shown in FIG. 1, or can be used for manual screen printing. After the shirts, garments, or other objects have been printed, the assembly 16 can be removed from the machine. Then, the tray 10 can be quickly and easily removed from the frame 14. The interior flange or lip 26 maintains the outer perimeter of the screen 12 in a clean condition without ink getting to the frame 14. The screen 12 can then be rinsed and cleaned for future use.

(18) The tray 10 eliminates the need to apply tape before the printing process and eliminates removal of tape after the printing process. The tray 10 can be easily cleaned for use in subsequent printing operations. Thus, the tray 10 saves significant time and costs.

(19) A second embodiment of a tray 10A is shown in FIGS. 9-12. The tray 10A is substantially similar to the tray 10 shown in FIGS. 2-8, except of the shape of the tray corners. The tray 10 has a slightly curved profile for the edge or sidewall 20, while the tray 10A has a square profile for the sidewall 20A. The trays 10 and 10A will fit the most common frames used in the screen printing industry, one of which has a curved or rounded profile and the other of which has a square profile.

(20) The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.