# US 10,245,823 B2 · Method for preparing a screen printing screen

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- Number: US 10,245,823 B2
- Document ID: US10245823B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/440,391
- Filed: 2017-02-23
- Published: 2017-06-08
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-15
- Assignees: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
- Applicants: M&R Printing Equipment, Inc.
- Inventors: Andrew L. Oleson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245823B2

## CPC

- B41C 1/147: {by imagewise deposition of a liquid, e.g. from an ink jet; Chemical perforation by the hardening or solubilizing of the ink impervious coating or sheet}
- B41F 15/10: for multicolour printing
- B41F 15/34: Screens, Frames; Holders therefor
- B41M 1/12: Stencil printing; Silk-screen printing
- G03F 1/50: Mask blanks not covered by G03F1/20 - G03F1/34; Preparation thereof
- G03F 7/12: Production of screen printing forms or similar printing forms, e.g. stencils
- G03F 7/2018: {Masking pattern obtained by selective application of an ink or a toner, e.g. ink jet printing}
- B41M 2205/14: Production or use of a mask
- B41C: PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES (photomechanical processes for producing printing surfaces G03F; photoelectrical processes for producing printing surfaces G03G)
- B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L)
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)
- G03F: PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR; (phototypographic composing devices B41B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; electrophotography, sensitive layers or processes therefor G03G)

## Abstract

A system or machine is disclosed which takes pre-stretched emulsion coated screens, digitally prints thereon and exposes them before further processing and use in a screen printing machine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of preparing a screen for a screen printing machine comprising the steps of:
providing a housing having an inkjet print applicator in fluid communication with a reservoir holding a supply of an ultraviolet light blocking agent, a screen support structure in operative alignment with the inkjet print applicator and a source of ultraviolet light in operative alignment with the screen support structure;
loading a pre-stretched screen formed from a mesh, the screen having an ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating on a first surface thereof onto the screen support structure of the housing;
providing a first relative movement between the screen support structure and the inkjet print applicator on the housing while the pre-stretched screen is on a screen bed;
printing a quantity of the ultraviolet light blocking agent to select regions of the ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating the pre-stretched screen during the providing a first relative movement step to prevent curing of the ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating in the select regions when subsequently exposed to an ultraviolet light;
providing a second relative movement between the screen support structure and the source of ultraviolet light subsequent to the first relative movement;
exposing the ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating on the screen and the ultraviolet light blocking agent printed on the screen in the select regions to the source of ultraviolet light on the housing during the providing a second relative movement step to cure the ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating on the screen other than in the select regions; and,
removing the ultraviolet blocking agent and the ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating in the select regions after the exposing step to enable a textile ink to pass through the mesh of the screen in the select regions during a textile printing operation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
receiving a digitally encoded design for printing by the print applicator.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of loading a pre-stretched screen having an ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating on a first surface thereof onto the screen support structure of the housing comprises loading the screen onto a screen bed of the housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the exposing step occurs during the providing a first relative movement step.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
removing the pre-stretched screen from the housing after the printing and exposure steps;
spraying the pre-stretched screen; and,
drying the pre-stretched screen.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the loading step comprises ensuring the screen is registered in the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the loading step comprises locking the screen to the housing at three points.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
pivoting the source of ultraviolet light to an up position prior to the step of receiving a pre-stretched screen; and,
pivoting the source of ultraviolet light to a down position after the step of receiving a pre-stretched screen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the exposing step includes the step of maintaining a distance between the source of ultraviolet light and the screen at less than 1 inch.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the printing step includes the step of maintaining a distance between the print applicator and the screen at less than 1½ millimeters.

### Claim 11

A method of preparing a screen for a screen printing machine comprising the steps of:
providing a housing having a print applicator in fluid communication with a reservoir holding a supply of an ultraviolet light blocking agent, a screen support structure in operative alignment with the print applicator and a source of ultraviolet light in operative alignment with the screen support structure;
loading a pre-stretched screen having an ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating a first surface thereof onto the screen support structure of the housing;
pivoting the source of ultraviolet light to an up position prior to the step of loading a pre-stretched screen;
pivoting the source of ultraviolet light to a down position after the step of loading a pre-stretched screen;
providing a first relative movement between the screen support structure and the print applicator on the housing while the pre-stretched screen is on a screen bed;
printing a quantity of the ultraviolet light blocking agent to the ultraviolet light sensitive emulsion coating the pre-stretched screen during the providing a first relative movement step; and,
exposing the ultraviolet light sensitive coating and the ultraviolet light blocking agent printed on the screen to the source of ultraviolet light on the housing.