Printing – Stenciling – Stencil and work support
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-17
2001-06-05
Yan, Ren (Department: 2854)
Printing
Stenciling
Stencil and work support
C101S127100, C101SDIG029
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240841
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a retractable registration system for aligning a screen printing frame and screen in a printing machine, and more particularly to a registration system that retracts under the pallet allowing ease of insertion of a substrate, such as a shirt, without removing the registration system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the majority of screen printing operations, more than one color is used to create the desired image. The use of more than one color results in using several screens, one for each color, wherein each screen has the associated image for that color. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the images from each screen align properly so that the associated colors align properly. This is typically done by ensuring that the screen is properly aligned in a frame and aligning the frame, such as a roller frame, to a platform, such as a pallet, which receives the article that is to receive the image.
One conventional method is to remove the pallet from the screen printing machine and install a fixture that has a series of pins. These pins are used to align the screen printing roller frame and screen in the machine. The screen printing roller frame is mounted on a flat bar having a hole and a slot in which to receive the pins, therein aligning the frame on the pallet. With the screen aligned, a frame holder having a U-shaped channel is secured to the screen printing roller frame, typically by lowering a bracket into engagement with the frame. With the frame secured in the frame holder, the frame and the pallet are moved relative to each other to separate them by either lowering the pallet or raising the frame with the frame holder. Depending on the type of machine either the pallet or the frame holders are rotated and another screen is inserted on the fixture and aligned with a second frame holder. After alignment of all the screens with the frame holder, the printer removes the fixture from the machine and reinstalls the pallet used for printing.
One of the shortcomings, in addition to the time required to remove the pallet and install the fixture, is that the installation and removal of the pallet and the fixture results in wear to those parts used to secure the fixture or pallet to a pallet arm. In addition, the printer must have a location to store the fixture when not being used to align the screen printing roller frame.
It is desired to have a registration system that would allow for quick registration of a screen printing roller frame and screen and in addition allow the registration means to retract without removal from the machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a retractable registration apparatus mounted on a printing machine for aligning a screen printing frame with an image platform. The apparatus has a pair of registration mechanism, such as pins, for coupling with the screen printing frame and a registration appendage which carries the registration mechanism. The registration appendage is rotatably mounted to the printing machine for allowing rotation of the registration appendage from a registration position to a retracted position. A locking mechanism, such as a detent, retains the appendage with the registration mechanism in the exact registration position.
In a preferred embodiment, the retractable registration apparatus has a pair of registration appendages, each appendages has an arm and a finger extending from the arm. Each arm has at least two sections with a substantially square cross-section along a longitudinal axis of the arm and at least two other sections along the longitudinal axis, having a circular cross-section inscribed within the square cross-section. A pair of mounting brackets are associated with each of the arms. The mounting brackets each have a substantially square opening extending through the bracket for slideably receiving the substantially square cross-section of the arm. The substantially square openings each have a pair of side walls. The pair of mounting brackets are mounted to the lower surface of the image platform so that one of the side walls of each of the brackets are aligned in the same plane and are parallel to the center line. Each arm has a track formed within the arm, and one of the mounting brackets associated with the arm has a guide pin projecting into the arm for guiding the movement of the arm. The track has portions with a longitudinal component for movement of the arm in a translational movement and has portions having a radial component for rotation of the arm about the longitudinal axis. Each finger extending from the arm has at least one registration pin for registration with the screen frame. The apparatus has a means for retaining the arms and the registration pins in the retracted position, and means for retaining in the exact registration position, the arms and the registration pins for aligning the screen frame.
In other preferred embodiments, the retractable registration apparatus has a pair of registration appendages. Each appendage has an arm and a finger portion extending from the arm. The finger portion has at least one registration mechanism, such as pin, for coupling with the screen printing frame The arm is pivotably mounted to a plate. The plate is mounted to a lower mounting surface of the image platform, pallet. The arm in one preferred embodiment rotates horizontally from the retracted position to the registration position and the finger rotates relative to the arm. The arm in another preferred embodiment rotates vertically from the retracted position to the registration position and the finger is part of the arm and does not rotate relative to the rest of the arm.
In another preferred embodiment, the retractable registration apparatus has a registration appendage. The registration appendage has an arm and a transverse bar. The transverse bar is secured to the arm and carries a pair of registration mechanisms, such as a pair of registration pins for engaging the printing screen frame. The arm is pivotable mounted to the pallet arm for rotation between the registration position and the retracted position. The arm has a pair of parallel bars. A stop is located between the bars of the arm for positioning the arm and at least one detent mechanism for engaging a bracket carried by the image platform.
One object, feature and advantage of the present invention is that the image platform, such as a pallet, does not have to be removed from the machine in order to install a fixture to align the screen printing roller frame, therein reducing the added wear on the mechanism retaining the pallet to the machine.
Another object, feature and advantage of the present invention in several embodiments resides in the fingers in the retracted position under the pallet do not interfere with the insertion of an article such as a shirt onto the image platform for printing.
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McKeever Thomas A.
Newman Don
Seidel Gonda Lavorgna & Monaco, PC
Stretch Devices, Inc.
Yan Ren
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