Screen printing machine

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• suspension arrangements supporting said squeegee mechanisms from said second arms for movement to and fro over the printing screens;
• piston and cylinder devices connected between said suspension arrangements and said first arms for effecting the to and for movement of said squeegee mechanisms;
• and
• air brakes for braking the to and fro movement of said squeegee mechanisms, said piston and cylinder devices including piston rods extending through said air brakes and said air brakes each comprising a pair of brake members formed with cylindrically curved braking surfaces at opposite sides of a respective one of said piston rods and air passages for supplying compressed air to said brake members so as to urge said braking surfaces into frictional braking contact with the opposite sides of respective one of said piston rods.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• a stop mounted on said support structure for limiting the upward movement of said first arm structure towards said second arm structure;
• a height adjustment mechanism connected to said stop for adjustably raising and lowering said stop and thereby adjusting the limit of the upward movement of said first arm structure;
• and
• said height adjustment mechanism including a manually adjustable member, which is readily accessible from the exterior of said screen printing machine, for operating said height adjustment mechanism.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• a shock absorber connected between said support structure and said indexing mechanism;
• and
• said shock absorber comprising a cylinder, an elongate piston slidable to and fro in said cylinder and a plurality of fluid outlet openings spaced apart along said cylinder for permitting hydraulic fluid to escape from said cylinder in response to sliding of said piston within said cylinder towards one end of said cylinder, and said piston being dimensioned to successively block said outlet openings as said piston slides into said cylinder.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• and
• said indexing mechanism comprising an indexing arm mounted for pivotation about said vertical support and having a free end, a piston and cylinder device connected between said indexing arm and said support structure for effecting pivotation of said indexing arm;
• a connector member at the free end of said indexing arm and an actuator on said free end of said indexing arm for raising said connector member into drive transmitting engagement with successive ones of said first arms.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• said printing screen supports each comprising a screen holder for holding a printing screen;
• a support arrangement carrying said screen holder;
• and an adjustment mechanism between said support arrangement and the respective one of said second arms, said adjustment mechanism comprising means for adjustably displacing said support arrangement longitudinally and transversely of its respective second arm;
• said screen holder comprising a pair of spaced screen supports for supporting opposite edges of the printing screen;
• and
• said support arrangement being provided with adjustable connectors between said screen supports and said support arrangement to allow said screen supports to be adjusted in position relative to one another and to said support arrangement.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• and
• said second arms each comprising a first arm member extending radially outwardly of said vertical support, a second arm member extending radially outwardly of said vertical support and downwardly and outwardly inclined towards said first arm member, releasable fasteners for securing said second arm member to said first arm member and an adjustment mechanism connected between said first and second arm members and adjustable to displace said second arm member in position along said first arm member while said fasteners are released.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• and
• said squeegee mechanisms each comprising a squeegee which is slidable in contact with one of the printing screens;
• a carriage movable along a respective one of said second arms and carrying said squeegee for movement to and fro over the printing screen, said squeegee having a pair of mutually angularly disposed squeegee blades, and a pivotal connection between said squeegee and said carriage, said pivotal connection permitting pivotation of said squeegee about an axis parallel to said squeegee blades for bringing said squeegee blades alternately into contact with said printing screen during the to and fro moments, respectively, of said carriage;
• a piston and cylinder device mounted on said carriage and connected to said carriage and said squeegee, said piston and cylinder device being operable to pivot said squeegee about said axis, and an adjustable stop mechanism adjustably limiting the pivotation of said squeegee by said piston and cylinder device.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carded on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• and
• said squeegee mechanism including a squeegee which is slidable in contact with one of the printing screens, a carriage movable along a respective one of said second arms and carrying said squeegee for movement to and fro over said printing screen and a vertically adjustable connection between said squeegee and said carriage, said vertically adjustable connection comprising a cylindrical threaded member extending downwardly from said carriage, a manually rotatable adjustment ring member in threaded engagement with said cylindrical threaded member, and a slide member carrying said squeegee, said slide member being supported on said ring member for vertical displacement upon rotation of said ring member about said cylindrical threaded member.

A screen printing machine, comprising:

• a support structure for supporting said machine on a floor;
• said support structure comprising a vertical support having a vertical axis;
• a first arm structure;
• a bearing arrangement co-axial with said vertical cylindrical support and supporting said first arm structure for rotation about the vertical axis;
• said first arm structure comprising a plurality of first arms equiangularly distributed about the vertical axis;
• said first arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis and having free outer ends;
• printing screen support platens carried on said free outer ends of said first arms;
• a second arm structure mounted on said vertical support above said first arm structure;
• said second arm structure comprising a plurality of second arms equiangularly distributed about said vertical axis;
• said second arms extending radially outwardly of said vertical axis above said first arm structure and having free outer ends;
• said second arms carrying, at said free outer ends thereof, squeegee mechanisms and printing screen supports for holding printing screens below said squeegee mechanisms;
• an indexing mechanism connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to rotate said first arm structure stepwise around the vertical axis so as to position said printing screen support platens in succession in registry with said squeegee mechanisms;
• a lifting device connected between said first arm structure and said support structure and operable to displace the former to and from a raised position;
• interengageable pairs of connectors provided on said first and second arms, respectively, at locations adjacent and radially inward of said printing screen supports and operable to forcibly connect said first arms to said second arms on displacement of said first arm structure into the raised position, and thereby to counteract bending of said arms during the operation of said squeegee mechanisms;
• said screen printing machine further comprising:
• suspension arrangements supporting said squeegee mechanisms from said second arms for movement to and fro over the printing screens;
• piston and cylinder devices connected between said suspension arrangements and said first arms for effecting the to and for movement of said squeegee mechanisms;
• and
• air brakes for braking the to and fro movement of said squeegee mechanisms, said piston and cylinder devices including piston rods extending through said air brakes and said air brakes each comprising a pair of cylindrically curved brake members at opposite sides of a respective one of said piston rods and air passages for supplying compressed air to said brake members so as to urge said brake members against the opposite sides of respective one of said piston rods;
• a stop mounted on said support structure for limiting the upward movement of said first arm structure towards said second arm structure;
• a height adjustment mechanism connected to said stop for adjustably raising and lowering said stop and thereby adjusting the limit of the upward movement of said first arm structure;
• and
• said height adjustment mechanism including a manually adjustable member, which is readily accessible from the exterior of said screen printing machine, for operating said height adjustment mechanism;
• a shock absorber connected between said support structure and said indexing mechanism;
• said shock absorber comprising a cylinder, an elongate piston slidable to and fro in said cylinder and a plurality of fluid outlet openings spaced apart along said cylinder for permitting hydraulic fluid to escape from said cylinder in response to sliding of said piston within said cylinder towards one end of said cylinder, and said piston being dimensioned to successively block said outlet openings as said piston slides into said cylinder;
• said indexing mechanism comprising an indexing arm mounted for pivotation about said vertical support and having a free end, a piston and cylinder device connected between said indexing arm and said support structure for effecting pivotation of said indexing arm;
• a connector member at the free end of said indexing arm and an actuator on said free end of said indexing arm for raising said connector member into drive transmitting engagement with successive ones of said first arms;
• said printing screen supports each comprising a screen holder for holding a printing screen;
• a support arrangement carrying said screen holder;
• and an adjustment mechanism between said support arrangement and the respective one of said second arms, said adjustment mechanism comprising means for adjustably displacing said support arrangement longitudinally and transversely of its respective second arm;
• said screen holder comprising a pair of spaced screen supports for supporting opposite edges of the printing screen;
• said support arrangement being provided with adjustable connectors between said screen supports and said support arrangement to allow said screen supports to be adjusted in position relative to one another and to said support arrangement;
• said second arms each comprising a first arm member extending radially outwardly of said vertical support, a second arm member extending radially outwardly of said vertical support and downwardly and outwardly inclined towards said first arm member, releasable fasteners for securing said second arm member to said first arm member and an adjustment mechanism connected between said first and second arm members and adjustable to displace said second arm member in position along said first arm member while said fasteners are released;
• said squeegee mechanisms each comprising a squeegee which is slidable in contact with one of the printing screens;
• a carriage movable along a respective one of said second arms and carrying said squeegee for movement to and fro over the printing screen, said squeegee having a pair of mutually angularly disposed squeegee blades, and a pivotal connection between said squeegee and said carriage, said pivotal connection permitting pivotation of said squeegee about an axis parallel to said squeegee blades for bringing said squeegee blades alternately into contact with said printing screen during the to and fro moments, respectively, of said carriage;
• a piston and cylinder device mounted on said carriage and connected to said carriage and said squeegee, said piston and cylinder device being operable to pivot said squeegee about said axis, and an adjustable stop mechanism adjustably limiting the pivotation of said squeegee by said piston and cylinder device;
• and
• said squeegee mechanism including a squeegee which is slidable in contact with one of the printing screens, a carriage movable along a respective one of said second arms and carrying said squeegee for movement to and fro over said printing screen and a vertically adjustable connection between said squeegee and said carriage, said vertically adjustable connection comprising a cylindrical threaded member extending downwardly from said carriage, a manually rotatable adjustment ring member in threaded engagement with said cylindrical threaded member, and a slide member carrying said squeegee, said slide member being supported on said ring member for vertical displacement upon rotation of said ring member about said cylindrical threaded member.