Continuous-motion decorating machine of the screen and squeegee type

A continuous-motion decorating machine of the screen and squeegee type which comprises a continuously movable article-conveyor for carrying the articles to be decorated from a loading position substantially horizontally past a printing position to an unloading position;

• a screen and squeegee type printing unit located along the article conveyor at the printing position and comprising a relatively fixed screen support which supports a screen substantially horizontally at a level above the article conveyor so that the articles will be moved continuously under the screen successively by the article conveyor, means for lifting the succesive articles moved by the continuously-moving article conveyor into engagement with the horizontally supported screen at its lower side;
• an article-support conveyor carrying a plurality of successively-spaced article-engaging supports below the level of the horizontally supported screen for continuous movement into engagement with the successive articles as they are lifted into contact with the horizontal screen, and a squeegee conveyor carrying a plurality of successively spaced squeegees for continuous vertical movement above the screen successively downwardly into and upwardly out of wiping contact with the horizontally supported screen at its upper side as the articles are moved into successive engagement with the screen at its lower side by the continuously-moving article conveyor, said article conveyor being an endless horizontally-movable chain conveyor, means for continuously driving the said article chain conveyor, spindle assemblies including article chucks pivoted to the chain conveyor at successive intervals for transverse swinging movement, a cam along the path of movement of the article chain conveyor engaged by cam followers on the spindle assemblies for swinging each successive spindle chuck from substantially vertical dependent article-receiving relationship at the loading position to a substantially horizontal relationship below the screen and then back to a substantially vertical relationship at the unloading position of the conveyor during the continuous movement of the chain;
• said lifting means comprising a second cam disposed along the first cam at a position below said screen support to be successively engaged by the cam followers on the spindle assemblies;
• each chuck of the spindle assembly being rotatably mounted and including a gear by which it is rotated and a rack along the screen support for engaging and rotating each gear when the chuck and article carried thereby are lifted by said lifting means, said article chain conveyor being disposed on sprockets to provide straight runs of chains, said printing unit being located along one of said straight runs and said squeegee conveyor thereof comprising an endless continuously-driven chain conveyor mounted for vertical movement on sprockets to move the squeegees over the article chain conveyor;
• and a loader and unloader unit along a straight run of the said article chain conveyor, said loader and unloader unit including a continuously-driven transfer chain conveyor disposed on sprockets and which supports and presents upright articles successively to the continuously moving chucks on the article chain conveyor at the loading position and receives upright articles therefrom at the unloading position;
• said article chain conveyor having a horizontal straight run with which the loader and unloader unit is associated and another horizontal run with which the printing unit is associated, said continuously-driven transfer chain conveyor of the loader and unloader unit having a horizontal run at a lower level than the associated run of the article chain conveyor chain and movable in cooperation therewith, a continuously movable loader transfer carrier cooperating with the said transfer conveyor and driven in synchronism therewith to continuously move successive upright articles therefrom and present them to the successive chucks on said continuously moving article chain conveyor and a second substantially identical transfer carrier for receiving the upright articles successively from the continuously moving article chain conveyor, each of said transfer carriers including vertically movable transfer platforms moved in timed relationship to movement of said article chain conveyor, said article chain conveyor and said transfer chain conveyor each being composed of links pivoted together at successively spaced pivot points, means for compensating for chordal action as the chain conveyors pass around their respective sprockets, said means comprising eccentrics at each of said pivot points which turn as the links pass around the sprockets to vary the pitch of the successive links;
• means for continuously driving the transfer chain conveyor in synchronism with the article chain conveyor;
• said squeegee chain conveyor being composed of links pivoted together at successively spaced points and having a lower run located at a level above the horizontal run of the article chain conveyor;
• said article-support chain conveyor being composed of links pivoted together at successively spaced points and being mounted on sprockets to provide an upper run below the level of the horizontal run of the article chain conveyor;
• each of the squeegee chain conveyor and article-support conveyor chains being provided with means for compensating for chordal action as the chains pass around their respective sprockets, said means comprising sprocket-engaging eccentrics at each of said pivot points which turn as the links pass around the sprockets to vary the pitch of the successive links;
• means for driving the squeegee chain continuously;
• means for driving the article-support chain continuously;
• means for synchronizing the drives of said chains with the drive for the article chain conveyor;
• said squeegee conveyor chain being supported by its sprockets for movement in a closed vertical path with a lower horizontal run adjacent and above the level of the horizontal run of the article chain conveyor and above the screen;
• means for supporting squeegees in depending vertical position at successive intervals on said squeegee conveyor chain, and means for keeping the squeegees in said depending vertical position at all times during their travel with said squeegee chain.