# US 5,699,732 A · Combination stretch screen and its production method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,699,732 A - Document ID: US5699732A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/519,955 - Filed: 1995-08-28 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1994-08-31 - Assignees: Micro-Tec Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Yasushi Sano - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5699732A ## CPC - B41C 1/14: for stencil-printing or silk-screen printing - B41F 15/36: flat - B41C: PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES (photomechanical processes for producing printing surfaces G03F; photoelectrical processes for producing printing surfaces G03G) - B41F: PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L) ## Abstract This invention is aimed at achieving a high-tension combination stretch screen. First, a print screen-mesh is bonded to a supporting screen-mesh at a bonding area. Then a portion of the supporting screen-mesh overlapping the print screen-mesh is removed. Then a new supporting screen-mesh is bonded to the bonding area, and again, a portion of the supporting screen-mesh overlapping the print screen-mesh is removed. Doubly fixed supporting screen meshes thus provide sufficiently increased tension to the print screen-mesh. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combination stretch screen, comprising: (a) a screen frame; (b) two supporting screen-meshes, each supporting screen-mesh being fixed to the screen frame; and (c) a print screen-mesh which is supported by the two supporting screen-meshes, wherein the two supporting screen-meshes at least partially overlap each other along a center portion of at least one edge of the print screen-mesh. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combination stretch screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two supporting screen-meshes overlap each other along each edge of the print screen-mesh. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The combination stretch screen of claim 1, wherein each of the two supporting screen-meshes has a bonding portion adjacent an edge facing a center portion of the screen frame; and wherein the print screen-mesh has a bonding area therearound to affix the print screen-mesh to the bonding portions of the two supporting screen-meshes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The combination stretch screen of claim 3, wherein the print screen-mesh has the bonding area at each side of the print screen-mesh, and wherein the print screen-mesh is affixed between the two supporting screen-meshes by the bonding areas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The combination stretch screen of claim 4, wherein the print screen-mesh is a metallic screen-mesh. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The combination stretch screen of claim 5, wherein the metallic screen-mesh is a stainless steel screen-mesh. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The combination stretch screen of claim 5, wherein one of the two supporting screen-meshes is one of polyester screen, a nylon screen and a stainless steel screen, and wherein another of the two supporting screen-meshes is one of a polyester screen, a nylon screen and a stainless steel screen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The combination stretch screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two supporting screen-meshes overlap entirely. ### Claim 9 A production method for a combination stretch screen, comprising steps of: (a) attaching a print screen-mesh to a first supporting screen-mesh; and (b) attaching a second supporting screen-mesh to the print screen-mesh such that the first and second supporting screen-meshes at least partially overlap each other along a center portion of at least one edge of the print screen-mesh. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The production method of claim 9, wherein the print screen-mesh attaching step includes steps of: (a) stretching the first supporting screen-mesh on a screen frame; (b) affixing the print screen-mesh to the first supporting screen-mesh; and (c) removing a portion of the first supporting screen-mesh where the first supporting screen-mesh and the print screen-mesh overlap; and wherein the second supporting screen-mesh attaching step includes steps of: (d) stretching the second supporting screen-mesh on the screen frame; (e) affixing the second supporting screen-mesh to the print screen-mesh; and (f) removing a portion of the second supporting screen-mesh where the second supporting screen-mesh and the print screen-mesh overlap. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The production method of claim 10, wherein the second supporting screen-mesh stretching step and the second supporting screen-mesh affixing step are executed simultaneously. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The production method of claim 10, wherein the print screen-mesh affixing step bonds the print screen-mesh at a center of the first supporting screen-mesh using a first bonding area around the print screen-mesh, and wherein the second supporting screen-mesh affixing step bonds the second supporting screen-mesh to a second bonding area around the print screen-mesh, wherein the first and second bonding areas are on opposite sides of the print screen mesh and may be overlapping. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The production method of claim 10, wherein the print screen-mesh affixing step bonds the print screen-mesh using a first bonding area on the print screen-mesh, wherein the second supporting screen-mesh affixing step bonds the second supporting screen-mesh using a second bonding area on the print screen-mesh which is a different area from the first bonding area. ### Claim 14 A screen print machine comprising a combination stretch screen for screen printing, wherein the combination stretch screen includes, (a) a screen frame; (b) two supporting screen-meshes, each supporting screen-mesh being fixed to the screen frame; and (c) a print screen-mesh which is supported by the two supporting screen-meshes, wherein the two supporting screen-meshes at least partially overlap each other along a center portion of at least one edge of the print screen-mesh. ### Claim 15 A reinforcement method for an existing stretch screen wherein the existing stretch screen includes a screen frame, and a print screen-mesh supported by the screen frame, comprising steps of: (a) stretching a reinforcement screen-mesh on the screen frame of the existing stretch screen; (b) affixing the reinforcement screen-mesh to the print screen-mesh; and (c) removing a portion of the reinforcement screen-mesh where the reinforcement screen-mesh and the print screen-mesh overlap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The reinforcement method of claim 15, wherein the stretching step and the affixing step are executed simultaneously. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The reinforcement method of claim 15, wherein the existing stretch screen is a combination stretch screen which has a supporting screen-mesh supporting the print screen-mesh, and wherein the affixing step includes a step of bonding the reinforcement screen-mesh to a bonding area of the print screen-mesh. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The reinforcement method of claim 17, wherein the stretching step and the affixing step are executed simultaneously.