A method and apparatus for screen printing a sequence of accurately registered images on a plurality of sheets or objects such as T-shirts use a primary register platen supported by a platen support table. The primary register platen may be moved in a horizontal plane relative to the platen support table, and repositionably secured thereto. Each object to be printed is temporarily fastened to separate secondary register platen, which may be quickly placed in a precisely repeatable overlying relationship to the primary register platen, and quickly removed therefrom. The apparatus includes a transparent register plate which may be quickly placed in an overlaying relationship to an object on a secondary register platen, in a precisely repeatable position relative to said platen support table, and quickly removed therefrom. A screen frame pivotable in vertical plane and fastened to the platen support table is pivoted down into overlying contact with the upper surface of the transparent register plate, and a test image printed on the surface. The screen frame is then tilted away, permitting repositioning and securing the primary register platen to align the image with a desired printing position on the surface of the object affixed to a secondary register platen attached to the primary support platen. The transparent register plate is then removed, permitting the surface of the object to be printed. Since each secondary platen bearing an object is removably installable on the apparatus in a precisely repeatable position, each object may be printed with a precisely registered image.
A bifurcated platen assembly is used to improve screen printing operations by providing parallel spaced apart platens instead of a single platen. The platens occupy the same space as a conventional platen but allows the simultaneous printing on two garment portions or two garments such that alignment problems are eliminated and the operator is able to increase through put production. The platen assembly is movable through a ninety degree arc to facilitate printing on different garments with appropriate screens.
A screen printing apparatus includes a plurality of novel printing mechanisms, one each at the outer end of a radially disposed support arm having a first, elbow joint and attached at the inner end of the arm to a vertically disposed, rotatable hub. Each printing mechanism includes a screen frame clamp pivotably mounted at a second, vertically pivotable wrist joint to a base section, allowing pivotability of a screen held in the clamp. The base section has attached at an outer end thereof an alignment bar having a plurality of upwardly protruding registration pins. A transparent calibration plate has holes therethrough adapted to insertably receive the registration pins, in an overlying relationship to an object to be printed on a platen beneath the calibration plate. A yoke plate attachable at an adjustable height and radial distance to the support arm supports the base section at a releasably clampable position adjustable in a horizontal plane relative to an object to be printed, thereby allowing a proof image to be printed on the calibration plate, the screen pivoted upwards on its wrist joint, and the base section, alignment bar and attached calibration plate moved in any direction in a horizontal plane required to bring the proof image into precise registration with a reference point or image on the object to be printed, clamped in that position, and the calibration plate removed, whereupon a precisely aligned image may be printed on an object on the platen.
A system, apparatus and method of screen printing and embroidering a workpiece in a single workpiece holder is disclosed. The workpiece is secured in a hoop that is interchangeably mountable to a screen printing machine and an automated embroidery machine. The hoop is mounted in a first hoop sash or holder on the screen printing machine, screen printed, and removed from the first hoop holder. The hoop is then mounted in a second hoop sash or holder on the automated embroidery machine such that the hoop centers and rotationally aligns the workpiece during embroidery without having to remove the workpiece from the hoop between operations.
In a press type stencil printing device in which a press plate holding a stencil printing plate is pivotably mounted to a base carrying a print sheet receiver placed thereon so that the stencil printing plate is pressed onto a print sheet placed on the print sheet receiver, a transparent or semi-transparent positioning print sheet is pivotably mounted to be selectively overlapped on the print sheet receiver, and the print sheet receiver is fastened to the base by a fastener which allows minute adjustment of the printing sheet receiver in two dimensions on the base relative thereto.
An apparatus for making multi-color silk screen prints on dimensionally unstable material such as T-shirts includes a platen, to which the shirt is adhesively affixed, that is removable from the remainder of the apparatus with a shirt attached to it without loss of registry between the shirt and silk screens carried by the apparatus when the platen is reinstalled on the apparatus. This permits moving the platen from one apparatus to another thereby printing more colors than would be possible with either apparatus alone. The apparatus also permits removing the shirt from the apparatus to perform a non-silk screen process between the printing of colors. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the removal of the platen is accomplished by dividing the platen into a bottom piece that is attached to the remainder of the apparatus and a top piece that is releasably attached to the bottom piece. Matching pins and holes in the platen pieces permit their separation and rejoinder without loss of registry, and also secure the two platen pieces immovably with respect to one another.
