Pad printing machine

A pad printing system comprising:

• a first sub-assembly comprising a printing plate support, the first sub-assembly being movable in a first direction;
• a second sub-assembly comprising an ink cup support, the second sub-assembly being movable in a second direction parallel to the first direction;
• a third sub-assembly comprising a printing pad support, the third sub-assembly being movable in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction;
• a fourth sub-assembly comprising an object carrier configured to accommodate an object to be printed, the fourth sub-assembly being movable in a fourth direction;
• a first platform having a first surface along which the first sub-assembly is movable;
• a second platform having a second surface along which the fourth sub-assembly is movable, the second platform being separated from the first platform by a distance in the third direction;
• a first linear actuator mechanically connected with said first sub-assembly to move the first sub-assembly relative to the second sub-assembly;
• a second linear actuator mechanically connected with said second sub-assembly to move the second sub-assembly relative to the first sub-assembly;
• a third linear actuator mechanically connected with said third sub-assembly to move the second sub-assembly relative to the first sub-assembly;
• and
• a fourth linear actuator mechanically connected with said fourth sub-assembly to move the fourth sub-assembly relative to the third sub-assembly,
• wherein
• the first linear actuator has a range of motion that causes the printing plate support to intersect an axis of movement of the third sub-assembly along the third direction, and
• at least one of the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, the third linear actuator, or the fourth linear actuator comprises an inverted planetary roller threaded drive.

A pad printing system, comprising:

• a rotatable platform;
• a pad printing machine on the rotatable platform, the pad printing machine comprising:
• a first sub-assembly comprising a printing plate support, the first sub-assembly being movable in a first direction;
• a second sub-assembly comprising an ink cup support, the second sub-assembly being movable in a second direction parallel to the first direction;
• a third sub-assembly comprising a printing pad support, the third sub-assembly being movable in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction;
• a first platform having a first surface along which the first sub-assembly is movable;
• a second platform having a second surface along which the fourth sub-assembly is movable, the second platform being separated from the first platform by a distance in the third direction;
• a first linear actuator mechanically connected with said first sub-assembly to move the first sub-assembly relative to the second sub-assembly;
• a second linear actuator mechanically connected with said second sub-assembly to move the second sub-assembly relative to the first sub-assembly;
• and
• a third linear actuator mechanically connected with said third sub-assembly to move the second sub-assembly relative to the first sub-assembly;
• and
• a printing station adjacent the rotatable platform, the printing station comprising:
• a fourth sub-assembly comprising an object carrier configured to accommodate an object to be printed, the object carrier being movable in a fourth direction;
• and
• a fourth linear actuator mechanically connected with said fourth sub-assembly to move the object carrier relative to the third sub-assembly in the fourth direction;
• wherein at least one of the first linear actuator, the second linear actuator, the third linear actuator, the fourth linear actuator, or the fifth linear actuator comprises an inverted planetary roller threaded drive.