Multi-color multiple offset single impression screen printer

Claim 2

A screen printing apparatus for printing articles coMprising: a plurality of screen printing stencils each adapted for use with a different ink medium; a plurality of intermediate color supports wherein each color support is positioned beneath each screen printing stencil and in cooperative relationship therewith for receiving a printed image, respectively; said intermediate supports each having a surface constructed of a material with an adhesion to transfer the image from its corresponding said screen printing stencil thereto; a single collective color support comprising a circulating belt having a substantially flat image transfer surface and being disposed for cooperative contact with each of said intermediate color supports so as to receive thereon a collective printed image of each of the printed images on each of said intermediate color supports and in contact with an article to be printed, the latter having a substantially flat article surface, and for transferring said collective printed image to said article in a single printing contact operation of said collective support with said article; said collective support having a surface constructed of a material with a slightly greater adhesion that the surfaces of each of said intermediate color supports so that substantially all of the image is transferred from each of said intermediate supports to said collective support and to the article to be printed; a displaceable roller adjacent said belt and opposite said article to be printed; wherein said image is printed onto said flat article surface from said flat image transfer surface of said collective support while said surfaces are stationary by the application of rolling transfer pressure by said displaceable roller, whereby articles of substantially flat surface are printed.

Claim 3

A screen printing apparatus for printing articles comprising: a plurality of screen printing stencils each adapted for use with a different ink medium; a plurality of intermediate color supports constituting rollers having aligned axes of rotation, wherein each color support is positioned beneath each screen printing stencil and in cooperative relationship therewith for receiving a printed image, respectively, said intermediate color supports each having a surface constructed of a material with an adhesion to transfer the image from its corresponding said screen printing stencil thereto; a single collective color support constituting a circulating belt, defining a substantially flat top run adjacent said intermediate color supports and parallel to said axes of rotation, said belt including a plurality of plates and being disposed for cooperative contact with each of said intermediate color supports so as to receive thereon a printed image of each of the printed images on each of said intermediate color supports and in contact with an article to be printed for transferring said collective printed image to said article in a single printing contact operation of said collective support with said article; said collective support having a surface constructed of a material with a slightly greater adhesion than the surfaces of each of said intermediate color supports so that substantially all of the image is transferred from each of said intermediate supports to said collective support and to the article to be printed; said collective support is subjected to intermittent motion in a first direction parallel to said axes of rotation, and the respective printed image is transferred from each of said intermediate supports to said collective support during a rotation movement of said rollers perpendicular to said first direction during a halt in said intermittent motion, and wherein said transfer is effected by each of said rollers traveling in the direction of said rotation movement perpendicular to said first direction in rolling contact across said plates of said collective support, whereby comparatively long and greater number of constituent images and colors can be printed on articles.

Claim 4

A screen printing apparatus for printing articles comprising: a plurality of screen printing stencils each adapted for use with a different ink medium; a plurality of intermediate color supports constituting rollers having aligned axes of rotation, wherein each color support is positioned beneath each screen printing stencil and in cooperative relationship therewith for receiving a printed image, respectively, said intermediate color supports each having a surface constructed of a material with an adhesion to transfer the image from its corresponding said screen printing stencil thereto; a single collective color support constituting a circulating belt, defining a substantially flat top run adjacent said intermediate color supports and parallel to said axes of rotation, said belt including a plurality of plates and being disposed for cooperative contact with each of said intermediate color supports so as to receive thereon a printed image of each of the printed images on each of said intermediate color supports and in contact with an article to be printed for transferring said collective printed image to said article in a single printing contact operation of said collective support with said article; said collective support having a surface constructed of a material with a slightly greater adhesion than the surfaces of each of said intermediate color supports so that substantially all of the image is transferred from each of said intermediate supports to said collective support and to the article to be printed; said collective support is subjected to intermittent motion in a first direction parallel to said axes of rotation, and the respective printed image is transferred from each of said intermediate supports to said collective support during a rotation movement of said rollers perpendicular to said first direction during a halt in said intermittent motion, and wherein said transfer is effected by each of said rollers traveling in the direction of said rotation movement perpendicular to said first direction in rolling contact across said plates of said collective support, whereby comparatively long and greater number of constituent images and colors can be printed on articles.

Claim 5

Apparatus According to claim 2 in which said plates define a flat image transfer surface of said collective support, the latter having a substantially vertical oriented run; wherein said article is disposed substantially vertical adjacent said substantially vertical oriented run during the transfer of said printing images.