Multi-station rotary screen printer having support for holding a cap during printing

摘要

Improvements in a rotary screen printer that operates with a stepper motor for indexing the screen printer. The stepper motor provides a positive rotation and locating of the printing arms. The stepper motor can also have a controlled acceleration and deceleration speed while it indexes. The stepper motor further drives a spur gear to improve the drive ratio from the stepper motor to the indexing arms. The rotary screen printer uses pneumatic cylinders to operate the screening arms. Pneumatic cylinders are controllable for the downward force by adjusting pressure regulator(s) and the stroke by adjusting either limit switches or mechanical stops. Each station is interchangeable to accommodate the printing requirements of each job. Each station can be operated as a screen printing station, a drying station, a pad printer, and the number of stations can be changed by reprogramming the number of steps between each station stop.

主权项

1. A rotary screen printer for a cap having a bill, a front portion and a rear portion, the rotary screen printer comprising:
a multi-station rotary printer; said multi-station rotary printer indexes a carousel with a stepper motor drive from a central hub through a plurality of stations; said multi-station rotary printer further includes a plurality of support arms that extend from the central hub; said multi-station rotary printer further includes at least one pneumatic station for application of ink or dye, and further including a cap pallet for supporting the cap during printing, said cap pallet comprising:
a pallet attachment arm connected to a pair of U-brackets and to a pair of stretcher support brackets;said pair of U-brackets connected to a cap platen and to a pair of vertically positioned dash keepers;said pair of stretcher brackets having a stretcher bar that extends below said pair of vertically positioned dash keepers;said stretcher bar being connected to a pair of stretcher brackets through a pivoting axis,whereby when the cap is installed on the cap pallet, said vertically positioned dash keepers are brought over the bill of the cap, the cap platen supports the front portion of the cap, and the back portion of the cap is secured under said stretcher bar such that said stretcher bar placed inside the cap stretches the cap to keep the cap under tension during printing.