PRINT STATION WITH A SCREEN FRAME ELEVATION MECHANISM AND SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE THEREOF

Abstract

Print station (1) for a screen printing machine, said print station (1) having a screen frame (14) and a print base (8) for receiving a product (10, 10A) to be screen printed through said screen print frame (14), said print station (1) comprising a screen frame elevation mechanism comprising a first shaft (6) and wherein the screen frame (14) is rotatable about said first shaft (6), wherein said first shaft (6) is movable between a first and a second position, such that the screen frame (14) is translationally moveable relative to the print base (8) when the screen frame (14) is in a printing position relative to the print base (8), further comprising a rotatable circular-section second shaft (5), wherein the first shaft (6) is solidly fixed to the second shaft (5) and the first shaft rotation axis is offset from the second shaft rotation axis. Also, a method of operating the print station (1) for a screen printing machine, comprising: lowering, or raising, the screen frame (14) into, or from, a printing position relative to the print base (8) by simultaneously rotating the screen frame (14) about said first shaft (6) and also moving said first shaft (6) such that the screen frame (14) moves translationally relative to the print base (8).

Claims

1. A print station for a screen printing machine, the print station comprising: a screen frame; a print base for receiving a product to be screen printed through the screen frame, a screen frame elevation mechanism comprising a circular-section first shaft, wherein the screen frame is rotatable about the first shaft and wherein the first shaft is movable between a first and a second position such that the screen frame is translationally moveable relative to the print base when the screen frame is in a printing position relative to the print base, a rotatable circular-section second shaft, wherein the first shaft is solidly fixed to the second shaft and the first shaft rotation axis is offset from the second shaft rotation axis such that the first shaft is translationally moveable by rotation of the second-shaft.

2. The print station according to claim 1, wherein the screen frame is movable relative to the print base in two movement sections, a first movement section having the screen frame rotationally movable relative to the print base and a second movement section having the screen frame translationally moveable relative to the print base.

3. The print station according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft comprises two separate shaft parts located at opposite ends of the second shaft.

4. The print station according to claim 1, comprising an actuator and an arm radially coupled to the second shaft such that the second shaft is rotatable about itself by the actuator.

5. The print station according to claim 1, wherein the first shaft is located at a first end of the screen frame and the print station comprises an actuator coupled to a second end of the screen frame such that the screen frame is rotatable about the first shaft by the actuator.

6. The print station according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator and is coupled to the screen frame through a rod.

7. The print station according to claim 1, wherein the print station is a flatbed screen print station.

8. Print station according to claim 1, wherein the actuator or actuators are pneumatic, electric or hydraulic.

9. The print station according to claim 1, wherein the print base and screen frame project from a print station main body.

10. The screen printing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of print stations.

11. the screen printing machine according to claim 10, wherein the print bases of the respective print stations are interchangeable between print stations such that a specific product laid on a print base may be printed through multiple screen frames.

12. The screen printing machine according to claim 11, wherein the printing stations are arranged in a circular, oval or linear layout.

13. A method of operating a print station for a screen printing machine, comprising: lowering or raising a screen frame into or from, a printing position relative to a print base by rotating the screen frame about a first shaft and, substantially simultaneously, also translationally moving the first shaft such that the screen frame moves translationally relative to the print base.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of moving the screen frame relative to the print base in two movements, wherein a first movement comprises moving the screen frame rotationally relative to the print base and a second movement comprises moving the screen frame translationally relative to the print base.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of translationally moving the first shaft by rotating the second shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The following figures provide schematic representations of preferred embodiments for illustrating the description and should not be seen as limiting the scope of invention.

[0043] FIG. 1A corresponds generally to a side view of the printing station in an initial position.

[0044] FIG. 1B corresponds generally to a side view of the printing station in a working position.

[0045] FIG. 1C generally corresponds to the actual application of illustration 1A in a real machine prototype.

[0046] FIG. 1D generally corresponds to the actual implementation of illustration 1B a real machine prototype.

[0047] FIG. 1E illustrates a first shaft 6 and a rotatable M3 second shaft 5, wherein the first shaft is solidly fixed to the second shaft and the rotation axis about the first shaft 6 is offset from the second shaft 5 rotation axis, such that said first shaft 6 is translationally movable M1 between a first and a second position, in this case with the first shaft 6 in a first position.

[0048] FIG. 1F corresponds to FIG. 1E with the first shaft 6 in a second position.

[0049] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show the invention advantages and how it solves specific problems:

[0050] FIG. 2A corresponds to print base top view 7, supporting article to print 10 and printed decorative motif 11.

[0051] FIG. 2B illustrates perfect printing 3D operation, with layers alignment and with no offset 12 on printed decorative motif.

[0052] FIG. 2C illustrates printed layers forming offset 12 after several printing operations. This offset is produced with existing elevation mechanism in the market.

[0053] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the advantage of avoiding product contamination.

[0054] FIG. 3A corresponds to print base top view 8 supporting article to print 10 and printed decorative motif 11. The article is dimensional larger them printing base 8, and part of article will fallen outside the print base 10A.

[0055] FIG. 3B corresponds to a printing station 1 in working position, screen printing frame 14 in printing position. The article 10 and 10A disposed on the print base ready to receive the decorative motif by screen printing process. The article is dimensional larger them printing base 8, then of the article 10A is fallen outside the print base 8.

[0056] FIG. 3C printing station 1 on initial (raised) position, with the screen printing frame 14 in the initial (raised) position. During the elevation process M1 vacuum zone is formed between the serigraphic or screen printing frame 14 and the fallen article 10A. Is generated a vacuum area 15 forcing the fallen article move to top 16 of the decorative motif 11, causing the article contamination defect 17 outside the printable area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] It is disclosed an automatic mechanism comprising an elevation translational movement mechanism between an initial position and working position applied to printing stations on screen printing machines.

[0058] The disclosed mechanism defines a translational movement M1 moving the screen printing frame 14, in this cause fixedly joined with a printing station arm 1, in reference to printing base 8. The movement M1, is defined by the substantially simultaneous, or subsequent, movement M2 and M3 driven by actuators 3 and 4, move the printing station arm 1 from an initial position, shown in FIG. 1A, to the working position, shown in FIG. 1B, and it is to be noted that movement M1 can be made alternately in both directions.

[0059] The present disclosure also relates to a radial screen printing machine, in particular for textile application, machine that is provided with printing stations comprising the elevation/rotation automatic mechanism disclosed in the present invention.

[0060] The disclosure namely solves two problems on existing machines at market. Eliminates the offset problem 12 during the process of producing 3D printing (FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C), and eliminates the problem of article contamination due suction 10A to decorative motif on articles exceeding the print base 8 (FIG. 1A, 1B, 1C).

[0061] The present disclosure also relates to a process of transferring printing ink, or other textile processes, in screen printing machines, using the disclosed print station elevation movement process in reference to a printing base.

[0062] The present disclosure includes a elevation mechanism, defined by translation movement M1 between the initial position 1A and working position 1B. The elevation mechanism is implemented to printing stations (1, 7, 8, 13, 14) used in screen printing machines. The elevation mechanisms defines the movement M1, and allows printing station arm movement between initial position and working position without a supporting shaft related to printing machine main body. The prior art shaft is replaced by an eccentric mechanism comprising two collinear off-centred shafts 5 and 6. The eccentric mechanism allows application in all types of screen printing machines available in the market.

[0063] The eccentric mechanism allows the elimination the offset problem 12 during the process of producing 3D printing jobs (FIGS. 2a, 2B and 2C).

[0064] The eccentric mechanism also eliminates the article contamination problem due article suction 10A preventing the article bending to the top of the decorative motif (FIG. 3A, 3B, 3C).

[0065] The present invention mechanism contains, a printing station arm 1 integrated in a screen printing machine, a print base 8 fixed to a base support 7, said printing station arm being is attached to the printing machine main body by eccentric mechanism 5, 6. Depending on application, the screen printing machines allows the possibility to install one or several print stations with no maximum limit.

[0066] The printing station arm 1 is connected to actuator 3 by means of an arm 2 and fixed to machine main body by an eccentric mechanism formed by the parts 5, 6.

[0067] The present disclosure also relates to an automatic mechanism defined by elevation translational movement M1 between the initial position 1A and working position 1B applied to printing stations 1 on screen printing machines.

[0068] The mechanism defines a translational movement M1 moving the screen printing frame 14 in reference to the printing base 8. The movement M1 can be defined by its substantially simultaneous, or subsequent, movement M2 and M3 driven by actuators 3 and 4, moving the screen printing frame 14, translationally, from its initial position, shown in FIG. 1A, to the working position, shown in FIG. 1B, and it is to be noted that movement M1 can be made alternately in both directions.

[0069] The present disclosure also relates to a radial screen printing machine, in particular for textile application, machine that is provided with printing stations comprising the elevation/rotation automatic mechanism disclosed in the present invention.

[0070] The actuator 3 moves the screen printing frame, fixedly joined with a print station arm 1, through a linear actuator movement M2, between the initial position 1A and working position 1B, about a shaft 6.

[0071] The actuator 4 moves the lever 9 through a linear motion forcing the eccentric mechanism center 6 to move through the linear movement M1 of the shaft 6 from the initial position 1A to the working position 1B. In fact, the M1 movement is not strictly linear according to the illustrated embodiments, nor is it necessarily so or necessarily not so, but the movement is such to allow a translational movement of the shaft 6 between the two mentioned positions.

[0072] The actuators 3 and 4 can be actuated simultaneously by the electronic actuator, but individual activation is also possible when simultaneous movement is not required or necessary, for example for subsequent movements, i.e. staggered so that they do not occur at the same time.

[0073] The print station arm 1 itself does not have a fixed axis of rotation, such in the actuator arm 2 or on eccentric mechanism 5, 6. The printing station arm 1 is prepared to define movement M1 between two positions, initial position 1B and working position 1A.

[0074] The term comprising whenever used in this document is intended to indicate the presence of stated features, integers, steps, components, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

[0075] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that unless otherwise indicated herein, the particular sequence of steps described is illustrative only and can be varied without departing from the disclosure. Thus, unless otherwise stated the steps described are so unordered meaning that, when possible, the steps can be performed in any convenient or desirable order.

[0076] The disclosure should not be seen in any way restricted to the embodiments described and a person with ordinary skill in the art will foresee many possibilities to modifications thereof.

[0077] The above described embodiments are combinable. The following claims further set out particular embodiments of the disclosure.