Screen printing method and apparatus
OwnerRonald C. Andersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A direct printing method and apparatus includes one or a plurality of machines for printing indicia in single or multiple colors on a substrate, such as a cap or a T-shirt. The method involves forcing ink in the form of a viscous composition under pressure through a pattern in a screen in contact with the substrate. The apparatus includes means for holding the substrate, means for providing the contact between the screen and the substrate, and means for supplying air to the ink for a time and at a pressure appropriate to force the ink through the screen pattern to form a non-distorted detailed design on the substrate.
Claims20
A method of printing indicia on successive substrates comprising:
- (a) providing a pattern on a screen of a housing forming a gas chamber, said pattern corresponding to the indicia to be printed;
- (b) providing a mass of ink in the form of a viscous composition on one surface of the screen within the housing;
- (c) contacting a substrate to be printed to the opposite surface of the screen;
- (d) providing a constant gas pressure to said ink within said gas chamber;
- (e) forcing ink from said ink mass under said constant gas pressure for a predetermined time through said screen pattern and onto said substrate to directly print said indicia on said substrate;
- (f) the pressure in said chamber being maintained at substantially the constant gas pressure between the printing of successive substrates.
Apparatus for printing indicia on successive substrates comprising at least one printing machine having:
- (a) means for mounting a substrate to be printed;
- (b) means forming a gas chamber for mounting a screen for contact of one surface of the screen by said substrate during printing;
- (c) ink in the form of a viscous composition on the opposite surface of said screen;
- (d) means for providing a constant gas pressure to said ink within said gas chamber;
- (e) means for forcing said ink under said constant gas pressure for a predetermined time through said pattern in said screen and onto said substrate to directly print said indicia thereon;
- (f) the pressure in said chamber being maintained at substantially the constant gas pressure between the printing of successive substrates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.