Multicolor offset screen printing apparatus

Claim 1

A screen printing apparatus for printing articles comprising: a plurality of screen printing means, each screen printing means adapted for using a different color and indicia from that used by the others; a plurality of intermediate color carriers, one color carrier for each screen printing means, said color carriers positioned beneath the screen printing means and in cooperative relationship therewith for receiving the indicia; a toothed support member for said plurality of screen printing means; a gear member arranged on each color carrier and operatively connected thereto, each of said color carriers comprising a silicone rubber coated roller, each gear member meshing with the toothed support member; means for moving the toothed support member relative to the rollers to impart the color indicia from each of said plurality of screen printing means onto its corresponding roller; stop means for selectively preventing movement of the rollers with said toothed support member and permitting a relative rolling engagement between the rollers and the screen printing means as the rollers receive their respective indicia; means for lifting the screen printing means upward out of engagement with the respective rollers, and means for moving the rollers relative to said toothed support member with engagement between the toothed support member and the roller gears, whereby the rollers can respectively impart their color indicia upon the article by a rolling engagement with said article.