Programmable pad printing apparatus and method

A programmable printing apparatus comprising:

• an articulated mechanical arm including a plurality of connected arm sections having power-operated rotatable joints therebetween;
• a printing member carried by said articulated mechanical arm;
• programmable control means connected to said articulated mechanical arm for controlling the motion thereof in order to bring the printing member into operative relationship with a surface to be printed;
• an engraved printing plate;
• and
• means for inking and scraping said printing plate;
• wherein:
• said printing member comprises a deformable transfer pad capable of transferring a wet ink image from the printing plate to the surface to be printed;
• said control means is effective to control the movement of the articulated mechanical arm in a manner such that the transfer pad is brought first into contact with the inked printing plate in order to pick up a wet ink image therefrom, and is then brought into contact with the surface to be printed in order to deposit the image thereon;
• said articulated mechanical arm carries, in addition to the printing member, means for engaging said inking and scraping means;
• and
• said control means is effective to cause the articulated mechanical arm to operate the inking and scraping means with said engaging means prior to bringing the transfer pad into contact with the printing plate.

A programmable printing apparatus comprising:

• an articulated mechanical arm including a plurality of connected arm sections having power-operated rotatable joints therebetween;
• a printing member carried by said articulated mechanical arm;
• programmable control means connected to said articulated mechanical arm for controlling the motion thereof in order to bring the printing member into operative relationship with a surface to be printed;
• an engraved printing plate;
• and
• means for inking and scraping said printing plate;
• wherein:
• said printing member comprises a deformable transfer pad capable of transferring a wet ink image from the printing plate to the surface to be printed;
• said control means is effective to control the movement of the articulated mechanical arm in a manner such that the transfer pad is brought first into contact with the inked printing plate in order to pick up a wet ink image therefrom, and is then brought into contact with the surface to be printed in order to deposit the image thereon;
• and
• said engraved printing plate is adapted for printing a single color component of a multicolor image;
• and further comprising at least one additional printing plate for printing a different color component of a multicolor image and means for inking and scraping said additional printing plate, said control means being effective to control the movement of the articulated mechanical arm in a manner such that the transfer pad is brought into contact with said printing plates at different times in order to deposit different color components of a multicolor image at the same location on a surface to be printed.