Front head for carousel screen printing machine

An apparatus for securing a screen printing frame in a printing machine comprising:

• a beam extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a mounting head located at an end of the beam, the mounting head having a channel for receiving the screen printing frame;
• the mounting head having a frame, the frame having an apex and a base, the apex of the frame being pivotably mounted to the beam for pivoting the mounting head between an open raised position in which the channel is retracted from the screen printing frame and a closed lowered position in which the channel is engageable with the screen printing frame;
• a retainer for securing the frame in the lowered position;
• a first plate carried by the base of the frame;
• a second plate slideably located on the first plate;
• a plurality of adjustment mechanisms for adjustably moving the second plate relative to the first plate;
• and
• the channel being carried by the second plate.

An apparatus for securing a screen printing frame in a printing machine comprising:

• a retainer for holding the screen printing frame;
• a mounting head carried by the printing machine;
• a pair of slidable plates carrying the retainer;
• a pair of first adjustment mechanisms, each first adjustment mechanism being interposed between the mounting head and one of the slidable plates for moving the one slidable plate and the retainer relative to the mounting head;
• a second adjustment mechanism interposed between the pair of first adjustment mechanisms and the mounting head for moving the pair of first adjustment mechanisms and the pair of slidable plates relative to the mounting head;
• at least one of the first adjustment mechanisms having a stop for locating a zero position for the first adjustment mechanisms.

An apparatus for securing a screen printing frame in a printing machine comprising:

• a beam extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a mounting head located at an end of the beam, the mounting head having a channel for receiving the screen printing frame;
• the mounting head having a frame, the frame having an apex and a base, apex of the frame being pivotably mounted to the beam for pivoting the head between an open raised position in which the channel is retracted from the screen printing machine and a closed lowered position in which the channel is engageable with the screen printing frame;
• a retainer for securing the frame in the lowered position;
• a first plate carried by the base of the frame;
• a second plate slideably located on the first plate;
• a plurality of adjustment mechanisms for adjustably moving the second plate relative to the first plate, a first adjustment mechanism and a second adjustment mechanism being generally parallel to each other and capable of moving the second plate in the longitudinal and yaw directions relative to the first plate, a third adjustment mechanism being generally perpendicular to the first and second adjustment mechanisms for moving the second plate in the lateral direction relative to the first plate;
• at least one of the adjustment mechanisms having a zero setting means for setting the relative positions of the plates to a designated zero position;
• and
• a channel carried by the second plate for receiving the screen printing frame.

A method of aligning a screen printing frame carrying an image in a printing machine comprising the following steps:

• placing the screen printing frame in a rear "C" shaped channel of the printing machine;
• rotating a front mounting head of the printing machine to a lowered engaged position;
• placing the screen printing frame in a front "C" shaped channel of the front mounting head;
• securing the front mounting head to a stop;
• positioning the screen printing frame in the front "C" shaped channel using alignment means;
• securing the screen printing frame in the front "C" shaped channel;
• zeroing a plurality of adjustment mechanisms interposed between a pair of sliding plates on the front mounting head;
• preventing relative movement between the sliding plates by tightening a plurality of lock mechanisms on the front mounting head;
• securing the screen printing frame in the rear "C" shaped channel;
• checking the alignment of images carried by the screen printing frame;
• and
• realigning if necessary by detaching the screen printing frame from the rear "C" shaped channel;
• loosening the plurality of lock mechanisms;
• adjusting at least one of the adjustment mechanisms;
• re-tightening the plurality of lock mechanism;
• and
• securing the screen printing frame in the rear "C" shaped channel.