CA2179528A1 - Screen material made of wire, method and device for the production thereof, and a sleeve made of such screen material - Google Patents
Screen material made of wire, method and device for the production thereof, and a sleeve made of such screen materialInfo
- Publication number
- CA2179528A1 CA2179528A1 CA 2179528 CA2179528A CA2179528A1 CA 2179528 A1 CA2179528 A1 CA 2179528A1 CA 2179528 CA2179528 CA 2179528 CA 2179528 A CA2179528 A CA 2179528A CA 2179528 A1 CA2179528 A1 CA 2179528A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- wire
- screen
- screen material
- material according
- sections
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
- B41C1/00—Forme preparation
- B41C1/14—Forme preparation for stencil-printing or silk-screen printing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21F—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE
- B21F27/00—Making wire network, i.e. wire nets
- B21F27/08—Making wire network, i.e. wire nets with additional connecting elements or material at crossings
- B21F27/10—Making wire network, i.e. wire nets with additional connecting elements or material at crossings with soldered or welded crossings
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
- B21F—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF METAL WIRE
- B21F27/00—Making wire network, i.e. wire nets
- B21F27/12—Making special types or portions of network by methods or means specially adapted therefor
- B21F27/18—Making special types or portions of network by methods or means specially adapted therefor of meshed work for filters or sieves
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Wire Processing (AREA)
- Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
- Filtering Materials (AREA)
Abstract
Screen material made of wire intended in particular for screen printing cylinders, in which the holes (4) are bounded in such a way by wire pieces (1) which are joined to each other locally (2) that an at least virtually flat non-woven screen surface is obtained, adjacent wire sections (3) each comprising two or more wire pieces (1) which extend preferably uncrossed in substantially the same direction; method and device for the production thereof.
Description
WO 9~tl7306 PC~IN194100315 ~17952g Screen material made of Wile, method and device for the production thereof, and a sleeYe made of such screen o material.
The present invention relate5 in the f irst place to a screen material made of wire, intended in particular for screen printing.
Such a material is known and i5 generally made by 5 weaving, braiding, knitting or the like of a wire-type material .
The f inal screen printing material is obtained by pattern-wise masking of the holes, for example masking the holes with a light-sensitive lacquer or the like, and then 10 pattern-wise exposure of the lacquer, following which the exposed or non-exposed parts (~r~n~li nq on the type of lacquer) are removed. The holes can also be masked with a lacquer and, after it has cured, the lacquer is burnt away pattern-wise by means of a laser or the like.
During screen printing a printing medium, such as ink, is forced by means of a squeegee through the holes of such a screen onto a substrate to be printed.
The printing quality with these woven, knitted or braided screen materials is unsat;~f~l t~ry for many applications, since the surface is relatively uneven and r hAnn~l c can form between the screen wires and the substrate to be printed, which gives rise to loss of contour ~l.aL~ , due to undesirable running of the printing medium over the ~ub~LLc-te.
Screen printing screens which do not have the abv~ tioned disadvc...Lc-Jes are thin-walled flat metal plates or s~ml ~cc thin-walled metal cylinders provided with holes. This material can be made by providing a thin metal plate or a thin ~ 11 ed metal cylinder with a light-30 sensitive lacquer coating, which is exposed accordiny to the desired hole pattern and developed, following which an etching operation is carried out in order to obtain the holes. This screen material can also be grown by electroplating on ~I conducting substrate which has been 217g528 provided suitably pattern-wise with an insulating lacquer.
For this latter operation a roller to which lac~uer is applied locally, or a roller provided in a pattern-wise manner with small holes in which the lac~uer is applied, is used.
However, the above techni~ues are fairly complex, envirnn -nt~l ly unfriendly and expensive.
The object of the present invention is to provide a screen material made of wire which has the advantageous printing properties of the last-mentioned metal screens, but which can be made simply and cheaply and from a multiplicity of materials. To this end, the screen material according to the invention is characterized in that the holes are bounded in such a way by wire pieces which are joined to each other locally that an at least virtually flat non-woven screen surface is obtained.
The screen material according to the invention can be produced cheaply f rom a very wide variety of types of wire, and both the dimensions and the shape of the hQles can be set, while an at least virtually flat screen surface i8 always obtained. As discussed earlier, this is desirable in particular in the case of screen printing. The method for producing the screen material is environmentally friendly, since no etching or electroforming is required.
From W0-91/17006, a mesh material for security windows and doors is known, made of preformed steel bars, which are joined to form a planar assembly. This material is not meant to be used as, nor is it suited f or, screen materials for screen printing as it comprises relatively 3 0 large mesh holes . It is designed to be an obstacle against inf ringing f orces .
The screen material according to the invention is not restricted to screen printing, although it is essential that it can be used as screen material for screen printing.
It can also be used suitably for, for example, filtration, without the screen material being affected by contamination which is difficult to remove, as in the case of woven, braided or similar screen material. The screen material according to the invention is also suitable for use as ~MENDED SHEEr - 2a -heat-resistant filters, for example for flue gas filtration, as wirè skeletons for catalyst compositions, for use as embossing equipment and for all other purpose6 for which screen material can be used. ~he screen material 5 itself can also be applied to a support, following which the holes are f illed with Lacquer and a screen material can be grown by means of electro~?lating techniques on the screen material according to the invention, in order to produce ~he AMENDED SHEET
The present invention relate5 in the f irst place to a screen material made of wire, intended in particular for screen printing.
Such a material is known and i5 generally made by 5 weaving, braiding, knitting or the like of a wire-type material .
The f inal screen printing material is obtained by pattern-wise masking of the holes, for example masking the holes with a light-sensitive lacquer or the like, and then 10 pattern-wise exposure of the lacquer, following which the exposed or non-exposed parts (~r~n~li nq on the type of lacquer) are removed. The holes can also be masked with a lacquer and, after it has cured, the lacquer is burnt away pattern-wise by means of a laser or the like.
During screen printing a printing medium, such as ink, is forced by means of a squeegee through the holes of such a screen onto a substrate to be printed.
The printing quality with these woven, knitted or braided screen materials is unsat;~f~l t~ry for many applications, since the surface is relatively uneven and r hAnn~l c can form between the screen wires and the substrate to be printed, which gives rise to loss of contour ~l.aL~ , due to undesirable running of the printing medium over the ~ub~LLc-te.
Screen printing screens which do not have the abv~ tioned disadvc...Lc-Jes are thin-walled flat metal plates or s~ml ~cc thin-walled metal cylinders provided with holes. This material can be made by providing a thin metal plate or a thin ~ 11 ed metal cylinder with a light-30 sensitive lacquer coating, which is exposed accordiny to the desired hole pattern and developed, following which an etching operation is carried out in order to obtain the holes. This screen material can also be grown by electroplating on ~I conducting substrate which has been 217g528 provided suitably pattern-wise with an insulating lacquer.
For this latter operation a roller to which lac~uer is applied locally, or a roller provided in a pattern-wise manner with small holes in which the lac~uer is applied, is used.
However, the above techni~ues are fairly complex, envirnn -nt~l ly unfriendly and expensive.
The object of the present invention is to provide a screen material made of wire which has the advantageous printing properties of the last-mentioned metal screens, but which can be made simply and cheaply and from a multiplicity of materials. To this end, the screen material according to the invention is characterized in that the holes are bounded in such a way by wire pieces which are joined to each other locally that an at least virtually flat non-woven screen surface is obtained.
The screen material according to the invention can be produced cheaply f rom a very wide variety of types of wire, and both the dimensions and the shape of the hQles can be set, while an at least virtually flat screen surface i8 always obtained. As discussed earlier, this is desirable in particular in the case of screen printing. The method for producing the screen material is environmentally friendly, since no etching or electroforming is required.
From W0-91/17006, a mesh material for security windows and doors is known, made of preformed steel bars, which are joined to form a planar assembly. This material is not meant to be used as, nor is it suited f or, screen materials for screen printing as it comprises relatively 3 0 large mesh holes . It is designed to be an obstacle against inf ringing f orces .
The screen material according to the invention is not restricted to screen printing, although it is essential that it can be used as screen material for screen printing.
It can also be used suitably for, for example, filtration, without the screen material being affected by contamination which is difficult to remove, as in the case of woven, braided or similar screen material. The screen material according to the invention is also suitable for use as ~MENDED SHEEr - 2a -heat-resistant filters, for example for flue gas filtration, as wirè skeletons for catalyst compositions, for use as embossing equipment and for all other purpose6 for which screen material can be used. ~he screen material 5 itself can also be applied to a support, following which the holes are f illed with Lacquer and a screen material can be grown by means of electro~?lating techniques on the screen material according to the invention, in order to produce ~he AMENDED SHEET
2 ~ ~ 9 5 2 8 PCrlrll9410031~
abovementioned thin walled metal products provided with holes .
The wire used in the screen material according to the invention is not particularly restricted, and can be of 5 round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular or other desired cross-section, and it could even be approximately strip-like .
In the present description, joining wires to each other "locally" should be understood as meaning both point-lO wise and over some distance, 6ince - as will be explained later - a very wide variety of screen types can be obtained through selection of a pattern of joining points, i.e.
points set up at a distance from each other, or groups of points set up adjacent to each other, or continuous joining 15 over a fairly great distance.
Adjacent wire 6ections, each comprising two or more wire pieces, preferably extend ul..;Lussed in substantially the same direction.
Wire pieces should be understood as those wire parts extending between two joining points. Wire sections comprise a plurality of wire pieces.
Making adjacent wire sections run ul--iLos~d gives rise to a ~ , at least virtually flat screen surface which has adv~ L---J - printing properties.
When a part of the screen material of the above-mentioned ` 'i- - L according to the invention is ~yA~n;n~
more closely, wire s-~ct; nnC running substantially parallel to each other and joined locally to each other are clearly visible .
abovementioned thin walled metal products provided with holes .
The wire used in the screen material according to the invention is not particularly restricted, and can be of 5 round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular or other desired cross-section, and it could even be approximately strip-like .
In the present description, joining wires to each other "locally" should be understood as meaning both point-lO wise and over some distance, 6ince - as will be explained later - a very wide variety of screen types can be obtained through selection of a pattern of joining points, i.e.
points set up at a distance from each other, or groups of points set up adjacent to each other, or continuous joining 15 over a fairly great distance.
Adjacent wire 6ections, each comprising two or more wire pieces, preferably extend ul..;Lussed in substantially the same direction.
Wire pieces should be understood as those wire parts extending between two joining points. Wire sections comprise a plurality of wire pieces.
Making adjacent wire sections run ul--iLos~d gives rise to a ~ , at least virtually flat screen surface which has adv~ L---J - printing properties.
When a part of the screen material of the above-mentioned ` 'i- - L according to the invention is ~yA~n;n~
more closely, wire s-~ct; nnC running substantially parallel to each other and joined locally to each other are clearly visible .
3 0 The screen holes can be f ormed in many ways, but the screen material i8 advantageously made of zigzag wire s~ ~ ;nnCI which are joined to each other locally at the tips. Such a material can be yL~,-luced in a 6imple and L~L~ ;hl~ manner, as will be ~;crl-C5~ below. Zigzag 35 should be understood as being a sawtooth shape, a 5;~ C~ Al shape, a flattened sawtooth shape, or an illt '; ate f orm of these .
According to another a6pect of the invention the material comprises at least two groups of wire sections, , , . _ .. . . . . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21'`~9~2~
the wire sections in each grD,~l~ running substantially parallel, and crossing those of another group at one side, while the wire sections are joined in such a way to each other at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging that an at least virtually flat screen surface is obtained.
In the case of this embodiment a non-woven material in which each group of wires extending in a particular direction lies at one side of another group of wires is obtained. This embodiment again provides a flat screen surface, as is desirable in the case of screen printing in particular .
Per se it is known from FR-A-2188501 to produce non-woven screen materials, comprising several layers of wires which extend parallelly. These layers of wire are not joined by welding/merging, but by electroplating. Further said material, therefore, consists of more layers and is not f lat .
In particular, the wires are linear in this embodiment, so that the number of holes per linear cm of screen material, and thus the dimensions of the holes, can be regulated in a simple manner. It will be clear that squarQ openings are obtained with two groups of linear wires, while with three groups of wires triangular and even pentagonal and hexagonal openings can also be obtained.
The wire material used for the screen material according to the present invention is not particularly restricted, but this material and the method of j oining of the wire pieces to each other are preferably selected in such a way that the screen material finally obtained is dimenæionally stable. This ensures that, for example, a rotary screen printing cylinder made from the above-mentioned screen material, or a screen plate, does not deform in an~undesirable and irregular manner, thus becoming unusable or producing uneven printing results.
The wire of the screen material is advantageously made of a weldable material, and is particularly advantageously made of an electrically conducting material.
Metal wire is preferred, because of its electrical conductivity and durability, since screen material made of AIUENOED SHEET
- 4a -metal wire can easily be additiorlally reinforced by electroplating, preferential or otherwise, or it can be coated with a corrosion-resistant metal or provided with a coating for ar,other purpose.
~he screen rrLaterial according to the in~rention preferably has at least 15 holes per linear cm, and more AhlENDED SHEET
` ~ 2179S28 preferably has at least so holes per linear cm. Such screen materials are particularly suitable for screen printing.
The invention also provides a cylinder made of screen material, intended for rotary screen printing, which cylinder is characterized in that the screen material is a screen material according to the invention.
The invention further provides a method for the production of a screen material according to the invention, which method is characterized in that wire sections are laid next to one another, the wire sections are joined to each other locally, and the screen holes are then formed through deformation of the wire sections. Depending on the way in which the wires are j oined, the wires are laid at a æhort distance from each other or against each other. For example, where soldering techniques are used, in the case of which material is fed in at the position of the joint, a certain distance between the wire parts . will not present a problem, while if laser welding is used, the wire sections preferahly rest against each other.
In another embodiment the method for the production of a screen material according to the invention i9 characterized in that wire sections are preformed and then joined pointwise locally to optionally preformed wire sections .
Both methods provide a screen material ~nade of wire sectlons which extend uncrossed and essentially in the same direction .
The wire sections are preferably joined to each other on a support, it being particularly preferable for the support used to be a roller. P, cylindrical screen material can be obtained in this way. For this purpose, one or more optionally pre~ormed wires are wound around the roller, the number of wires, the cross-æectional dimension of the wires in s~uestion and the winding method determining the pitch. Unclosed ring-shaped wire sections can also be laid on the roller and then joined locally, and the screen holes are finally formed.
In particular, the wire sections are joined to each other locally through laser welding, in which case the ~ENoED SHEE~ ' ~1~9528 WO 9~/17306 PCTIN194/00315 ' laser can operate continuously or intermittently ( in a pulsed manner). Apart from welding, all kinds of other joining tprhniqupe such as soldering, gluing, merging etc.
may be mentioned.
The invention also provides a method for the production of a screen material according to the invention, which r~ethod is characterized in that groups of wire ~Pct i nnC are laid in s~lrcP~cin~ on a support at an angle relative to each other, the wires being laid in such a way per group that they run substantially parallel to each other at some distance from each other, following which the wire sPrtinnC are joined to each other at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging.
Here again, for the production of a SPAml PCC
cylinder made of screen material it is preferable to wind wires onto a roller, in which case the distance between the wires of each group, and thus the number of holes per linear cm of the screen mal:erial finally ~L-,-Iuced, can be set by setting the pitch o~ wires to be wound. Fusion and/or merglng can be carried out under the influence of t. _ ~ILUL~= increase and/or E,L.:anuL~: increase or t_e like.
In the case of this method it is preferable to subject the screen material to a flattening operation, for example, planing, polichin~ or gauging, after proA1lr~;nn.
In order to simplify the abovementioned fusion and/or merging, the wire sec~i nnC of at least one group are preferably made of plastic. If desired, after completion of the screen material, such plastic wire parts can be provided with a metal layer in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
In order to give a~ditional strength to the screen material according to the invention, or to coat it for another purpose, it is preferable to carry this out by electroplating tPrhniqllPc which are known to those skilled in the art. A tPrhniqllP suitable for this purpose is pref erential growth of a metal layer .
The wire material used in the method according to the invention is preferably a hardenable or curable material. Examples are metals which can be hardened by, for WO 95/17306 217 9 ~ 2 g PCT1~194100315 example, nitriding, or cuL-able plastics. The above is particularly advantageous if the wire has to be wound, for example, prior to joining, so that some flexibility of the wire is desirable. The ability to be hardened or cured 5 makes it pnC~ihlP to give the final product the required strength, dimensional stability, hardness or wear resistance .
The invention also provides a screen material which is obt~;n~ by subjecting a screen material according lO to the invention to electrolysis in an electrolysis bath, which bath contains at least one organic ~ _ ' with at least one u..s.Lu~4Led bond which does not belong to a =C-S=O
group, and has the properties of a class-two brightener, the 9p~-nin~C in the final screen material essentially ~:UL L ~ ; n~ to the openings in the starting screen material. In this rnnn~t tinn reference is made to 20 ~rpli~n~'s EP-B-0 038 104, which r1icclns~c a method for preferential growing of a metal on a screen skeleton in an electrolytic bath. With this method the growth can take place essentially at right angles to the plane of a screen.
The invention fur1:her provides a wire material, 25 comprising essentially linear wire ~ert;nnc which are joined to each other locally, which material is intended ~or use in the pro~ rtinn of a screen material according to the invention. In the ca5e of this wire material the screen holes have not yet been formed through deformation of the 30 wire sections, but all wire sections lie essentially next to each other.
The invention finally provides a device for the rnnt; n--nl1c production of wire material according to the invention, at least comprising a frame with a wire support, 35 wire feed means for feeding wire se~ ~; nn~c to the wire support, and joining means for ~oining the wire sections to each other locally. Such a device according to the invention can be d~cign~ in di~ferent ways.
Preferably the wire support is ~l~cign~ as a 40 rotatable roller, driving means being present to rotate ~17g528 said roller, so that wire can be wound onto said roller.
More preferably 6aid roller is DU~ Jl Led at one end only and a circumferential stop is present near said supported end.
Advantageously the wire feed means comprise at least one wire reel feeding wire continuou61y.
Thus, wire can be wound onto the roller in such a manner, that the wire is wound onto the roller between the wire already present on the roller surface, and the circumferential stop near the supported end. Thereby, the wire present on the roller is pu6hed to the UIIDII,UUUl Ltd end. Before leaving the roller, the wire sections are ~oined to each other locally, e.g. by welding or the like.
It will be clear, that the shape of the roller is not critical, and depends on the final application of the material p, u~ ed. In the case of cilindrical screens for rotary screen printing a roller with a circular cross 3ection is preferred, although other cross section are also feasible for other purposes.
2 0 In another aspect of the device according to the invention, the wire support is designed as at least two rotatable support wheels with radially extending projections, and with a common axis, driving means being present to rotate said wheels. In this case advantageously the wire feed means comprise at least one wire reel feeding wire cnn~;m~n~ y~ and whereby reciprocating means are present to guide the wire from one wheel to another, and around the projections.
The wheels are provided with radially extending projections, being spikes, pins or the like, such that the wire can be carried between the wheels in a zig-zag winding around the respective projections on the wheels.
That is, the wire is guided to a wheel, bent around a pro; ection of said wheel, guided to the other wheel and bent around a projection of the respective wheel back to the ~irst wheel again etc. The means which guide the wire rrom one wheel to another need to reciprocate, whereas the wheels rotate, which movements together position the wire in a zig-zag condition between the wheels. This will be ~1 79528 . 9.. , l l ~
explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.
Pre:Eerably the j oining means are designed as a movable laser welding device.
The wire material produced with the device 5 according to the invention must be deformed, to open the screen holes. This can be achieved by drawing in the correct direction. In the case of a cylindrical product this opening of the holes can be advantageously achieved by a device for~forming screen holes in a cylindrical product 10 made of wire material according to the invention, at least comprising a frame with a screen-hole-opening-element, comprising a conical bore, and moveable mounting means for pulling the cylindrical product through the conical bore in the direction in which the diameter of the ~ore decreases, 15 in which the conical bore and the mounting means are designed in such a way, that at least a portion of the cylindrical product can rotate relative to the screen-hole-opening- element .
The invention will be explained in greater detail 20 below with reference to the appended drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of screen material according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows the screen material according to Fig.
1 which has been subj ected to additional de~ormation in the 25 horizontal direction;
Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the screen material according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment o~ the screen t~r; i~l according to the invention with zigzag wires and 3 o linear wires;
Fig. 5 shows yet another embodiment o~ the screen material according to the invention with rectangular holes;
Figs. 6 a-e show examples of wire cross-sections;
Fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic view of adjacent, 35 contacting wire sections with round cross-section which are welded to each other;
Fig. 8 shows a section of Fig. 7 along the line VIII-VIII;
Fig. 9 shows screen material according to the A~liENDED SffEEr ~ 528 - 9a -invention, obtained by formin~ the holes o~ the welded AMENDED SHEET
WO 95/17306 ~ 1 7 ~ 5 2 8 PCrlNI~ 0315 material according to Fig. 7;
Fig. lo shows a diagrammatic view of wire s~innc with oval cross-section which have been welded to each other locally;
Fig. ll shows a section of Fig. 10 along the line XI-XI;
Fig. 12 shows screen material according to the invention which has been obtained by forming the holes of the welded material according to Fig. 10;
Fig . 13 shows an ~ ' i L of screen material according to the invention with crossing wires;
Fig. 14 shows a section of Fig. 13 along the line XIV--XIV;
Fig. 15 shows a section of Fig. 13 along the line XV-XV;
Fig. 16 shows a diagrammatic view of a device ~or producing a ~in~lcsirlAl wir~;
Fig. 17 shows a diagrammatic view of a device for winding wire around a roller and joining adjacent wires locally;
Fig. 18 shows a diagr~mmatic view of the winding of A plurality of wires;
Fig. l9a shows a diagrammatic view of a continuously operating device for the pro~ t;nn of screen material according to the invention prior to the formation of the holes;
Fig. l9b shows a section of the bearing arm with wound and welded cylindrical material;
Fig. l9c shows a section of another ~nho~; ~ of the bearing arm from Fig. l9a;
Fig. 20 shows a diagrammatic view of a device for f orming screen holes; and Fig. 21 shows a diagrammatic view of a continuously operating device for the prsr~ t;nn of flat screen material according to the invention prior to the formation of the holes .
Fig. 1 shows a first: ' '; of a screen material accordihg to the inventiorl made o~- iron wire, with wire pieces 1 and junction points 2. A wire section 3 is -W0 95117306 2 1 7 ~ ~ ~ 8 ~ = PCTJN194~00315 indicated by hatching. In the case of this . i ~ of the screen material, wire sections 3 comprising several wire pieces 1 are ~oined lto each other by welding at junction points 2 . This - ; L can be ,uL u~ ced by 5 placing linear wire sections 3 next to one another, then joining them point-wise in a suitable manner, for example by laser welding, and subjecting the material thus formed to a tensile force e6sentially at right angle6 to the wire secttonc, in order to form the 6creen hole6 4. Wire 10 8~rt 1 nn-: 3 which have been provided bef orehand with a zigzag 6hape can al60 be welded to each other at the tip6, with the re6ult that the Eormation of the holes i6 not n~ c_", y, Fig. 2 6how6 the ~aterial according to Fig. l with 15 the ~ormation of the hole6 being cnnti n-1~d through drawing in the horizontal direction in the figure, 60 that the screen holes 4 have become lozc.-y_ shaped.
Fig. 3 6how6 an: `i L of the 6creen material according to the invention in which the wire section6 5 are 20 cim--niAAl and are made oE wire pieces 6 which bound screen hole8 7. The ~in---oi~l wire sections 5 are joined to each other at the tips at 8.
Fig . 4 show6 anotl~er ~ho~l i L of the 6creen material according to the invention, comprising wire 25 6~rtinn~ 9 and lO with respective wire piQces ll and 12.
~he wire s~r~innc g are linear, and the wire ~ectinnC lO
are ~inll~oirlAl~ It will be clear that thi6: ~i-cannot be ~Ludu~-:d by placing wire 6~ctionc next to each other, joining them point-wi6e, and then forming the screen 30 hole6, but that the wire 6ectinnC lO must be provided with the aLu~c inn~l sinusoidal shape prior to being joined to the wire 6ections ll.
Fig. 5 shows an ~ i t ~:ULL~ in~ to Fig. 1 with wire s~-rti onC 14, which comprise two types of wire 35 pieces 15 and 16 respectively of differing lengths which bound rDrtAn~lAr screen 11oles 17. This ~ho~i- L can be obtained by laying wire sections next to one another and joinir~s them point-wise in ~ suitable patter1~.
In the light of t1le above, it will be clear that WO 95tl7306 PCr/N~94/00315 2~ 9528 `
the shape and rli- -ion~: of the screen holes can be varied in a very wide variety of ways through selection of the wire thirknQr~, the wire material, the position of the junction points, the aperture of the screen holes etc.
The wire shape used in the screen material ~ccording to the invention is not very restricted. Figs.
6a-e show a round, square, triangular, rectangular and oval wire ~.v~ 3e:_Lion, all of which are suitable for use in the invention. The triangular and oval :LV~ s~_LiOns are preferable, the latter being mo6t preferable. Use of a triangular wire .;Lvs~ Lion will produce a screen with an approximately conical hole shape at one side, which during use of the screen easily releases material to be screened and does not become blocked when material is ~-lrPl i ~d to the flat side, r ' hin~ which is also an a~vc.nLaye during use for screen printing. Use of an oval vLvcia s~ction ~. vduC:t~6 a screen material which is very similar to the screen materials obtained by electroplating and d i ~r~ ^d in the introductory section of the description, which screen materials have particularly good printing properties .
Fig . 7 shows metal wire s~rti ~ n~ 18 placed next to one another and having weld points 19, a section of which is shown along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 8. If the 25 inteL~ vl.e.;Led wire sections 18 from Fig. 7 are deformed in the direction indicated by the arrows, the ~LL~-~LuLæ
indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9 i8 obtained, with screen holes 20. It will be clear that the shape of the holes can be suitably varied, as was ~ ~r~ o~ earlier.
Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically wire sections 21 situated adjacent to each other and i~lLeL r l ~d over ~ome length at 2 2 .
Fig. 11 shows a sectional view along the line XI-XI
in Fig. 10, in which it can be seen clearly that the wire s~c~rnP~ have an oval ~;Lv:i8 G~_Lion.
Pig. 12 shows a preferred ~mho~li L of screen material according to the invention, which is obtained by subjecting the wire material according to Fig. lo to a tensile force in the direction of the arrows, so that the WO 95~17306 2 1 ~ 8 PCTIN194100315 screen holes are formed. These hc~Y~rlnAl screen holes, in particular in combination with an oval wire L:L~I5s-s~_Lion, have very advantageous characteristics for screen printing, since hf-Y~ l holes approach the traditional shape of 5 screen printing stencils, ~md optimum distribution of screen holes is also obtained over the surface, with additional strength compared with differently shaped holes.
The wire pieces 21' are joined to each other over a short length by weld points. It will be clear that a lO smaller number of weld points situated further apart or a continuous weld can also be used. A wire piece 21' comprises a wire section going out from the centre of a weld to the centre of an adjoining weld in the same wire section 21. If the h~YA~-~n~l ~Lru~ LuLe from Fig. 12 is 15 stretched (opened) further, an ~ccDnti ~lly r~-rt~ng~ r hole shape will be obtained, the holes being arranged in a staggered manner (brickwork ~LL.~.LULe).
For the joining of metal wires, a soldering medium such as tin, lead, lead-tin, brass, silver or the like can 20 also be fed in during the welding, with or without a flux.
Of course, a . 0LL~ in~ t~ hniql-~ can also be used for joining wires made of other materials.
Fig . 13 shows another ` ' i ~ of screen material according to the invention, showing two groups of wire 25 seoti nnc 24 and 25 which are joined to each other at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging, through which screen holes 26 are formed.
Figs . 14 and 15 show the s~ n~ l view along the line XIV-XIV and the line XV-XV. As i8 clear, a screen 30 material with an erE^-ti~l ly flat screen surface is also obtained in the case of this ~ L.
The joining of such crossing wires can be carried out by te~~hniq~ which are known to those skilled in the art. For eYample, the wires can merge with each other at 35 the crossing points through welding or the like, or through the application of PLe~UL;' locally at raised ' ~LUL~
or otherwise, i . e. by setting up the groups of wire SëCtiOnS 24 and 25 so that they cross each cther and then e~sing them between heated or unheated ~LeS~uLè plates _ _ _ _: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ WO 95/17306 PCrlr;194100315 z~952a or the like. A lauartz lamp can also be used for forming connections at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging .
ThQ material of the wire used for the screen 5 material according to the invention is not very limited, but in particular f or the production of screen printing material it is preferable to use metal wire, since the latter i8 easily joined locally by welding by means of, for example, a laser, and any curves made in advance in metal 10 wire are tli io~Al ly stable. Examples of suitable metals are: iron, steel, copper, nickel, ~1~ ill~ etc.
In the i- L shown in Fig. 13 it is preferable for at least one of the groups to be made of plastic, so that the _ is simplified through merging at the 15 position of the crossing points.
The screen material according to the invention can be subjected to additional coating steps after its pro~lrtin~, for example in order to strengthen it. For instance, after its surface has been made rl nAIlr~inq if 20 desired, in the case of plastic wire, the screen material can be plated with a suitable metal in a known manner.
After prof'~llrtinn and before possible lli7ation~
the material can also be subjected to a flattening operation, in order to remove uneven points. Examples are 2 S planing, pol i s:h i n g ~ gauging etc .
Fig. 16 shows diagrammatically a device with two gear wheels 27 and 28, between which a wire 29 is conveyed by way of guide rollers 30 and 31. A zigzag-shaped wire is nh~:~inc-d by driving the ab-.. inn~S gear wheels 27, 28 in the direction indicated. If the wire is a metal wire, it may if desired be subjected to a heat LL~S!i; ' after the deformation operation, in order to give the wire inn~l gtability, as a result of the hardening properties of the chosen material.
Fig. 17 shows diagrammatically a device for the production of screen material according to the invention, in which a wire 33 is wound around a roller 32. The roller is rotate~ in the direction of th~ arrow, and the wire ~3 is drawn off a reel 34. During the windins, the reel 34 can .
WO 9S/l7306 Z~ ~ 7 9 ;r~ 2 8 ; PC1~194l00315 be moved parallel to the roller 32 in the direction of winding. Reference number 35 indicates a moving laser device which locally welds the wire 33 wound around the roller 32. The laser device advantageously comprises positioning means which can comprise a tracer for dQt~ormininr~ the mutual position of the weld points in relation to the wire sections, on the basis of which the position of the laser can be set by means of suitable laser ~. L means. After the roller 32 has been provided with wire 33 over its full length and local welding has been carried out, the material thus ~lodu~ ed is removed from the roller 32 and subjected to a tensile force in the lengthwise direction, as a result of which the length of the cylinder increases, the diameter decreases, and the screen holes are formed. It will be clear that the r~ rti nn in diameter or the increase in length of the screen cylinder and the hole shape and hole size depend on the mutual position and rli -ionc of the junctions, the wire diameter and the degree of deformation.
If the wire 33 is conveyed through the device of Fig. 16 prior to winding, the final material need not be subjected to a deformation treatment. The mutual positioning of the tips o E the already wound wire relative to the wire yet to be wound can be regulated by regulating the wire tension in a suitable manner in the inlet during winding .
Fig. 18 shows the same roller 32, winding here taking place simultaneously with a plurality of wires 33, of the same or different type and shape, as a result of which the surface of the ~oller can be covered with wire more quickly at the same speed of rotation. During winding involving a plurality of wires in this way, the winding pitch will increase for each individual wire.
The result of this is that when the screen holes are formed in the screen material removed from the roller 32 after welding, by a tensile force in the lengthwise direction, the material will have an inherent twist. This mean~ that during drawing at thP ends o~ th~ screen cylinder, at least one of the attachment ~ - Ls must be Wo 95117306 ~ ~ PCT/NL941003l5 ~79~28`
set up in a rotatable manner.
Fig. l9a shows diagrammatically a device for the continuous production of screen material according to the invention. It contains a reel 34 from which wire 33 i5 unreeled. Although one reel is shown, it is, of course, po~sihle, aS ~1iFC~lcc~ earlier, for a plurality of wires to be wound simultaneously.
Reference number 35 shows a drive - -niF- of a mandrel 36, onto which the wire 33 is wound. The wire 33 i8 guided through a wire feed control unit 37 to the mandrel 36. The wire 33 is guided between a stationary stop 38 and the already wound material, with the result that during the winding the already wound material is forced to the left in the f igure . During the abovementioned . . , the wire is welded locally by means of a laser 40 set up in a fixed position. Many types of lasers are suitable for this purpose . DPrPn~l ~ ng on the wire pitch, the winding speed, the type of weld and the weld pattern, the laser can operate continuously or intermittently.
The mandrel 36 used is preferably illL-:L ~ J-~ble, ~o that cylinders 39 of different diameters, with the same number of standard ~ L (pattern repeat ) and UL-Ji~ cLion shape6, can be ~L~-Iuced.
Different .:Lo~ e_Lion 6hapes should be u..~e~Lood as 25 meaning oval, triangular, square etc. croSs-sectinnc.
Reference number 41 indicates a movable trestle, which by means of a bearing arm 42 serves to support the material 39 moving from the roller 36.
The bearing arm 42 of the trestle 41 is preferably 30 in the form of a freely rotating roller, and more preferably the beariny arm is ~ n~d in such a way that it has several freely rotatable rollers ~iRr~5~-1 around the inner periphery of the cylinder ~Lcduced, so that the cylinder material ~L~,-luced can be supported at several 35 points. Fig. l9b shows a section of the bearing arm 42 from Fig. l9a with cylindrical material 39 which has been produced. Fig. l9c 6hows a preferred _ ir L of the b~aring arm 42 in section, which has four supporting rollers 44 for supporting the material 39. The mutual W0 95ll7306 PCrlr~194~00315 ~ ~9;~2~
position of the rollers advantageously is adjustable.
With the device Acrnr~l;n~ to the invention the pitch can be regulated by, for example, placing a ring-shaped stop with an oval ~:L~JSS section at a suitable angle 5 around the mandrel.
Reference number 43 indicates diagrammatically a cutting device which also moves along and serves to cut off a certain length of material after it has formed. After cutting, said cylindrical material can be moved by mean& of 10 the trestle 41. Thereafter, the arm of another trestle can be placed in the material 39 moving off the roller 36. ~he supporting arm 42 on the trestle 41 can be suitably adjusted in height, for e~ample by means of a screw spindle 45 or the like.
Lengths of the cylindrical material to be obtained can also be separated from each other in another way. For ex~mple, if the laser is i~ LLU~Led for some time after a certain period of operation of the device, a number of windings of wire are not welded. This number can be 20 sala~to~ in such a way that at a suitable moment the cylindrical material already ~-.,duced can be removed from the mandrel, in which case the wound wire material not welded is drawn as a coil and can be severed. The advantage of this is that only one wire need be cut through, as 25 against the _ l eta severing of a cylinder.
Fig. 20 shows diagrammatically a device for forming screen holes, comprising a forcing device 46 as a screen-hole-opening element. With this device 46 the material 39 in which screen holes are not yet formed is forced, as 30 shown diayL tically at 47, in the direction of the arrow, as a result of which the screen holes are formed in the material 39, as indicated at 48. It will be clear that the drawing section (not shown) by means of which the material 39 is moved through the forcing device or the 35 forcing device itself must be set up in a rotatable manner, since a certain degree of rotation, ~laran~lin~ on the method of winding the wire (or wires), will occur during the formation of the screen hol~. It may be advanL~yc:ous during the formation of the holes by means of the forcing Wo 95/17306 PCr/NL94/00315 21795~8 device 4 6 to set up a support element in the product, in order to be able to carry out this operation in a L C.~L ~,ducible manner .
If in a prnA~rtinn process large numbers of wire 5 cylinders whose holes haYe not yet been formed are being produced, in successive wire cylinders the 5creen holes can be formed to a gradually increasing extent, which means that successively cylinders with slightly decreasing t~L are produced and can be pushed into one another.
10 The ~Lcl]lD~uL ~ILion and storage thereof is thus greatly simplified. The screen holes in the desired final form can then be made in these cylinders at a desired time. The same applies for wire material wound in the lengthwise direction of a roller, where the rli ~ L increases and the length 15 de~:L ?_-- during formation of the screen holes.
In the case of cylindrical screen material the wire can also be wound in the lengthwise direction of a roller, in which case projections, for example, such as pins, can be present around the periphery at the ends of the roller, 2 0 so that the wire can be wound to and f ro in the lengthwise direction. For winding in the lengthwise direction, the wire can also be wound so as to cross over the end f aces of the roller. When such a cylinder made of wire material is welded locally, during formation of the screen holes a Z5 di~meter increase and a length reduction of the cylinder will be the result, contrasting with what has been described above. For this operation it is pnc:cihl~ to u5e, for example, an ~y~An~lAhl~ core, or the wound wire material can be moved in the oppo6ite direction over the f orcing 30 device 46 from Fig. 20, in order to form the screen holes.
For the production of the: i- L of the screen material according to Fig. 13 in cylindrical form, a wire can be wound at such a pitch in one direction around a support, as shown, for example, in Fig. 17 ar 18, that wire 35 8~ctinn~ pn~l~rl at a distance from each other are nht;~in~ following which the same wire may if desired be wound over the f irst group of wire sections in the opposite direction with UULL ~ lin~ d~sired pitch. Furthermore, several groups of wires can be wound, following which the _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ W0 9S/17306 ` ' ;` pCl~g410031S
wires are joined to each other at the crossing points by means of suitable techniques known to those skilled ln the art, such as welding or pressing at elevated t~ elLUL~
through fusion and/or merging.
By means of the method described above, screen material according to the invention can be pL u~luuc:~l with a very wide range of numbers of holes per linear cm and of hole shapes, while f lat screens can also be produced in a CuLL~ nq manner. These can be ~Lu~luc;Qd directly or by cutting open cylinders according to the invention in the lengthwise direction.
It is also pointed out that although essentially symmetrical screen materials are described above, the invention is not limited thereto, since any desired deformed wires can be joined to each other in any desired way, 80 that flat screen material is obtained with any desired shape of holeg and any degired tl1 -ion~, which can be a~lv~-lL~g~uu~ ror certain applications. The so-called moiré efrects in particular are au~.ess~d in this case.
Screen material can also be ~Lu~lucea in flat form by laying wire sections which may consist of one and the same wire next to each other on a flat support, then joining them locally, and s~ ntly forming the screen holes.
Finally fig. 21 shows a diagrammatic view of a continuously operating device for the production of flat screen material according to the invention, prior to the formation of the holes. Said device comprises at least two rotatable support wheelS 50, 51 with a common axis 52 and radially extending projections designed as pins 53. These pins 53 arQ shown in an enlarged view A in fig. 21.
The wheels support endless belts 55 and 56 provided with op~nin.'JS 57 into which the pins 53 fit. It will be clear that the belts are endless belts and guided over an additional pair of driving wheels (not shown), also comprising pins or the like.
A guide bar 58 is present forming the reciprocating means to guide a wire 60 from wheel 51 to wheel 50 and back, around the respective pinc 53. Thus, a 2ig-zag - L of the wire is provided. The driving means of said WO 95/17306 PCr/NL94/00315 guide pin are not shown for clarity reasons.
The wire 60 is unreeled from a reel 61 provided with a slip-coupling 62 to provide the necessary wire tension .
65 schematically shows a laser welding device which is moveable along a slit 66 ln guide means 67. In the la6er welding device a laser beam 68 i8 passed through a focussing optic 6g and impacts on the zig-zag wire material at a focal point 70. Very close to said focal point 70 a 10 wedge 71 is present, which is 6hown in the enlarged cross-section B. Said wedge 71 can be moved in the direction of the arrow 72 to move the wire section 73 against the wire material 74 already locally welded in the direction of arrow 78. Said wedge 71 is provided with drive means (not 15 shown) to follow the ~c L of the focal point of the laser welding device, assuring that at the focal point the wires are positioned against each other for accurate welding .
The wire material 75 being locally welded is 20 supported by the driving belts 55 and 56 and further by an additional ~U~ 2rVL belt 76 driven by a drive roller 77 and another CV1L 1~.,...1;nq drive roller, not shown.
Por the purpose of clarity only the i LallL
details are shown in fig. 21 and of course many modifications can be made.
The drive belts 55 and 56 do not only drive the wheels 50 and 51, and support the wire material 75, but also assure that the welded wire material 75 is removed from the pins 53.
Preferably mean6 are present between the guide bar and the reel 61 to te for differences in length of the wire 60 fed to the pins of the wheels, due to the reciprocating ~ L of the guide bar 58. This can be achieved by moving the reel 61 together with the guide bar 58, or by spring loaded wheels or the like.
After mal-u~a-LuL.: of the wire material 75 the screen holes can be opened by suitable deformation of the material as ~iiccllcserl with reference to earlier figures.
According to another a6pect of the invention the material comprises at least two groups of wire sections, , , . _ .. . . . . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21'`~9~2~
the wire sections in each grD,~l~ running substantially parallel, and crossing those of another group at one side, while the wire sections are joined in such a way to each other at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging that an at least virtually flat screen surface is obtained.
In the case of this embodiment a non-woven material in which each group of wires extending in a particular direction lies at one side of another group of wires is obtained. This embodiment again provides a flat screen surface, as is desirable in the case of screen printing in particular .
Per se it is known from FR-A-2188501 to produce non-woven screen materials, comprising several layers of wires which extend parallelly. These layers of wire are not joined by welding/merging, but by electroplating. Further said material, therefore, consists of more layers and is not f lat .
In particular, the wires are linear in this embodiment, so that the number of holes per linear cm of screen material, and thus the dimensions of the holes, can be regulated in a simple manner. It will be clear that squarQ openings are obtained with two groups of linear wires, while with three groups of wires triangular and even pentagonal and hexagonal openings can also be obtained.
The wire material used for the screen material according to the present invention is not particularly restricted, but this material and the method of j oining of the wire pieces to each other are preferably selected in such a way that the screen material finally obtained is dimenæionally stable. This ensures that, for example, a rotary screen printing cylinder made from the above-mentioned screen material, or a screen plate, does not deform in an~undesirable and irregular manner, thus becoming unusable or producing uneven printing results.
The wire of the screen material is advantageously made of a weldable material, and is particularly advantageously made of an electrically conducting material.
Metal wire is preferred, because of its electrical conductivity and durability, since screen material made of AIUENOED SHEET
- 4a -metal wire can easily be additiorlally reinforced by electroplating, preferential or otherwise, or it can be coated with a corrosion-resistant metal or provided with a coating for ar,other purpose.
~he screen rrLaterial according to the in~rention preferably has at least 15 holes per linear cm, and more AhlENDED SHEET
` ~ 2179S28 preferably has at least so holes per linear cm. Such screen materials are particularly suitable for screen printing.
The invention also provides a cylinder made of screen material, intended for rotary screen printing, which cylinder is characterized in that the screen material is a screen material according to the invention.
The invention further provides a method for the production of a screen material according to the invention, which method is characterized in that wire sections are laid next to one another, the wire sections are joined to each other locally, and the screen holes are then formed through deformation of the wire sections. Depending on the way in which the wires are j oined, the wires are laid at a æhort distance from each other or against each other. For example, where soldering techniques are used, in the case of which material is fed in at the position of the joint, a certain distance between the wire parts . will not present a problem, while if laser welding is used, the wire sections preferahly rest against each other.
In another embodiment the method for the production of a screen material according to the invention i9 characterized in that wire sections are preformed and then joined pointwise locally to optionally preformed wire sections .
Both methods provide a screen material ~nade of wire sectlons which extend uncrossed and essentially in the same direction .
The wire sections are preferably joined to each other on a support, it being particularly preferable for the support used to be a roller. P, cylindrical screen material can be obtained in this way. For this purpose, one or more optionally pre~ormed wires are wound around the roller, the number of wires, the cross-æectional dimension of the wires in s~uestion and the winding method determining the pitch. Unclosed ring-shaped wire sections can also be laid on the roller and then joined locally, and the screen holes are finally formed.
In particular, the wire sections are joined to each other locally through laser welding, in which case the ~ENoED SHEE~ ' ~1~9528 WO 9~/17306 PCTIN194/00315 ' laser can operate continuously or intermittently ( in a pulsed manner). Apart from welding, all kinds of other joining tprhniqupe such as soldering, gluing, merging etc.
may be mentioned.
The invention also provides a method for the production of a screen material according to the invention, which r~ethod is characterized in that groups of wire ~Pct i nnC are laid in s~lrcP~cin~ on a support at an angle relative to each other, the wires being laid in such a way per group that they run substantially parallel to each other at some distance from each other, following which the wire sPrtinnC are joined to each other at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging.
Here again, for the production of a SPAml PCC
cylinder made of screen material it is preferable to wind wires onto a roller, in which case the distance between the wires of each group, and thus the number of holes per linear cm of the screen mal:erial finally ~L-,-Iuced, can be set by setting the pitch o~ wires to be wound. Fusion and/or merglng can be carried out under the influence of t. _ ~ILUL~= increase and/or E,L.:anuL~: increase or t_e like.
In the case of this method it is preferable to subject the screen material to a flattening operation, for example, planing, polichin~ or gauging, after proA1lr~;nn.
In order to simplify the abovementioned fusion and/or merging, the wire sec~i nnC of at least one group are preferably made of plastic. If desired, after completion of the screen material, such plastic wire parts can be provided with a metal layer in a manner known to those skilled in the art.
In order to give a~ditional strength to the screen material according to the invention, or to coat it for another purpose, it is preferable to carry this out by electroplating tPrhniqllPc which are known to those skilled in the art. A tPrhniqllP suitable for this purpose is pref erential growth of a metal layer .
The wire material used in the method according to the invention is preferably a hardenable or curable material. Examples are metals which can be hardened by, for WO 95/17306 217 9 ~ 2 g PCT1~194100315 example, nitriding, or cuL-able plastics. The above is particularly advantageous if the wire has to be wound, for example, prior to joining, so that some flexibility of the wire is desirable. The ability to be hardened or cured 5 makes it pnC~ihlP to give the final product the required strength, dimensional stability, hardness or wear resistance .
The invention also provides a screen material which is obt~;n~ by subjecting a screen material according lO to the invention to electrolysis in an electrolysis bath, which bath contains at least one organic ~ _ ' with at least one u..s.Lu~4Led bond which does not belong to a =C-S=O
group, and has the properties of a class-two brightener, the 9p~-nin~C in the final screen material essentially ~:UL L ~ ; n~ to the openings in the starting screen material. In this rnnn~t tinn reference is made to 20 ~rpli~n~'s EP-B-0 038 104, which r1icclns~c a method for preferential growing of a metal on a screen skeleton in an electrolytic bath. With this method the growth can take place essentially at right angles to the plane of a screen.
The invention fur1:her provides a wire material, 25 comprising essentially linear wire ~ert;nnc which are joined to each other locally, which material is intended ~or use in the pro~ rtinn of a screen material according to the invention. In the ca5e of this wire material the screen holes have not yet been formed through deformation of the 30 wire sections, but all wire sections lie essentially next to each other.
The invention finally provides a device for the rnnt; n--nl1c production of wire material according to the invention, at least comprising a frame with a wire support, 35 wire feed means for feeding wire se~ ~; nn~c to the wire support, and joining means for ~oining the wire sections to each other locally. Such a device according to the invention can be d~cign~ in di~ferent ways.
Preferably the wire support is ~l~cign~ as a 40 rotatable roller, driving means being present to rotate ~17g528 said roller, so that wire can be wound onto said roller.
More preferably 6aid roller is DU~ Jl Led at one end only and a circumferential stop is present near said supported end.
Advantageously the wire feed means comprise at least one wire reel feeding wire continuou61y.
Thus, wire can be wound onto the roller in such a manner, that the wire is wound onto the roller between the wire already present on the roller surface, and the circumferential stop near the supported end. Thereby, the wire present on the roller is pu6hed to the UIIDII,UUUl Ltd end. Before leaving the roller, the wire sections are ~oined to each other locally, e.g. by welding or the like.
It will be clear, that the shape of the roller is not critical, and depends on the final application of the material p, u~ ed. In the case of cilindrical screens for rotary screen printing a roller with a circular cross 3ection is preferred, although other cross section are also feasible for other purposes.
2 0 In another aspect of the device according to the invention, the wire support is designed as at least two rotatable support wheels with radially extending projections, and with a common axis, driving means being present to rotate said wheels. In this case advantageously the wire feed means comprise at least one wire reel feeding wire cnn~;m~n~ y~ and whereby reciprocating means are present to guide the wire from one wheel to another, and around the projections.
The wheels are provided with radially extending projections, being spikes, pins or the like, such that the wire can be carried between the wheels in a zig-zag winding around the respective projections on the wheels.
That is, the wire is guided to a wheel, bent around a pro; ection of said wheel, guided to the other wheel and bent around a projection of the respective wheel back to the ~irst wheel again etc. The means which guide the wire rrom one wheel to another need to reciprocate, whereas the wheels rotate, which movements together position the wire in a zig-zag condition between the wheels. This will be ~1 79528 . 9.. , l l ~
explained in more detail with reference to the drawing.
Pre:Eerably the j oining means are designed as a movable laser welding device.
The wire material produced with the device 5 according to the invention must be deformed, to open the screen holes. This can be achieved by drawing in the correct direction. In the case of a cylindrical product this opening of the holes can be advantageously achieved by a device for~forming screen holes in a cylindrical product 10 made of wire material according to the invention, at least comprising a frame with a screen-hole-opening-element, comprising a conical bore, and moveable mounting means for pulling the cylindrical product through the conical bore in the direction in which the diameter of the ~ore decreases, 15 in which the conical bore and the mounting means are designed in such a way, that at least a portion of the cylindrical product can rotate relative to the screen-hole-opening- element .
The invention will be explained in greater detail 20 below with reference to the appended drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of screen material according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows the screen material according to Fig.
1 which has been subj ected to additional de~ormation in the 25 horizontal direction;
Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the screen material according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows yet another embodiment o~ the screen t~r; i~l according to the invention with zigzag wires and 3 o linear wires;
Fig. 5 shows yet another embodiment o~ the screen material according to the invention with rectangular holes;
Figs. 6 a-e show examples of wire cross-sections;
Fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic view of adjacent, 35 contacting wire sections with round cross-section which are welded to each other;
Fig. 8 shows a section of Fig. 7 along the line VIII-VIII;
Fig. 9 shows screen material according to the A~liENDED SffEEr ~ 528 - 9a -invention, obtained by formin~ the holes o~ the welded AMENDED SHEET
WO 95/17306 ~ 1 7 ~ 5 2 8 PCrlNI~ 0315 material according to Fig. 7;
Fig. lo shows a diagrammatic view of wire s~innc with oval cross-section which have been welded to each other locally;
Fig. ll shows a section of Fig. 10 along the line XI-XI;
Fig. 12 shows screen material according to the invention which has been obtained by forming the holes of the welded material according to Fig. 10;
Fig . 13 shows an ~ ' i L of screen material according to the invention with crossing wires;
Fig. 14 shows a section of Fig. 13 along the line XIV--XIV;
Fig. 15 shows a section of Fig. 13 along the line XV-XV;
Fig. 16 shows a diagrammatic view of a device ~or producing a ~in~lcsirlAl wir~;
Fig. 17 shows a diagrammatic view of a device for winding wire around a roller and joining adjacent wires locally;
Fig. 18 shows a diagr~mmatic view of the winding of A plurality of wires;
Fig. l9a shows a diagrammatic view of a continuously operating device for the pro~ t;nn of screen material according to the invention prior to the formation of the holes;
Fig. l9b shows a section of the bearing arm with wound and welded cylindrical material;
Fig. l9c shows a section of another ~nho~; ~ of the bearing arm from Fig. l9a;
Fig. 20 shows a diagrammatic view of a device for f orming screen holes; and Fig. 21 shows a diagrammatic view of a continuously operating device for the prsr~ t;nn of flat screen material according to the invention prior to the formation of the holes .
Fig. 1 shows a first: ' '; of a screen material accordihg to the inventiorl made o~- iron wire, with wire pieces 1 and junction points 2. A wire section 3 is -W0 95117306 2 1 7 ~ ~ ~ 8 ~ = PCTJN194~00315 indicated by hatching. In the case of this . i ~ of the screen material, wire sections 3 comprising several wire pieces 1 are ~oined lto each other by welding at junction points 2 . This - ; L can be ,uL u~ ced by 5 placing linear wire sections 3 next to one another, then joining them point-wise in a suitable manner, for example by laser welding, and subjecting the material thus formed to a tensile force e6sentially at right angle6 to the wire secttonc, in order to form the 6creen hole6 4. Wire 10 8~rt 1 nn-: 3 which have been provided bef orehand with a zigzag 6hape can al60 be welded to each other at the tip6, with the re6ult that the Eormation of the holes i6 not n~ c_", y, Fig. 2 6how6 the ~aterial according to Fig. l with 15 the ~ormation of the hole6 being cnnti n-1~d through drawing in the horizontal direction in the figure, 60 that the screen holes 4 have become lozc.-y_ shaped.
Fig. 3 6how6 an: `i L of the 6creen material according to the invention in which the wire section6 5 are 20 cim--niAAl and are made oE wire pieces 6 which bound screen hole8 7. The ~in---oi~l wire sections 5 are joined to each other at the tips at 8.
Fig . 4 show6 anotl~er ~ho~l i L of the 6creen material according to the invention, comprising wire 25 6~rtinn~ 9 and lO with respective wire piQces ll and 12.
~he wire s~r~innc g are linear, and the wire ~ectinnC lO
are ~inll~oirlAl~ It will be clear that thi6: ~i-cannot be ~Ludu~-:d by placing wire 6~ctionc next to each other, joining them point-wi6e, and then forming the screen 30 hole6, but that the wire 6ectinnC lO must be provided with the aLu~c inn~l sinusoidal shape prior to being joined to the wire 6ections ll.
Fig. 5 shows an ~ i t ~:ULL~ in~ to Fig. 1 with wire s~-rti onC 14, which comprise two types of wire 35 pieces 15 and 16 respectively of differing lengths which bound rDrtAn~lAr screen 11oles 17. This ~ho~i- L can be obtained by laying wire sections next to one another and joinir~s them point-wise in ~ suitable patter1~.
In the light of t1le above, it will be clear that WO 95tl7306 PCr/N~94/00315 2~ 9528 `
the shape and rli- -ion~: of the screen holes can be varied in a very wide variety of ways through selection of the wire thirknQr~, the wire material, the position of the junction points, the aperture of the screen holes etc.
The wire shape used in the screen material ~ccording to the invention is not very restricted. Figs.
6a-e show a round, square, triangular, rectangular and oval wire ~.v~ 3e:_Lion, all of which are suitable for use in the invention. The triangular and oval :LV~ s~_LiOns are preferable, the latter being mo6t preferable. Use of a triangular wire .;Lvs~ Lion will produce a screen with an approximately conical hole shape at one side, which during use of the screen easily releases material to be screened and does not become blocked when material is ~-lrPl i ~d to the flat side, r ' hin~ which is also an a~vc.nLaye during use for screen printing. Use of an oval vLvcia s~ction ~. vduC:t~6 a screen material which is very similar to the screen materials obtained by electroplating and d i ~r~ ^d in the introductory section of the description, which screen materials have particularly good printing properties .
Fig . 7 shows metal wire s~rti ~ n~ 18 placed next to one another and having weld points 19, a section of which is shown along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 8. If the 25 inteL~ vl.e.;Led wire sections 18 from Fig. 7 are deformed in the direction indicated by the arrows, the ~LL~-~LuLæ
indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9 i8 obtained, with screen holes 20. It will be clear that the shape of the holes can be suitably varied, as was ~ ~r~ o~ earlier.
Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically wire sections 21 situated adjacent to each other and i~lLeL r l ~d over ~ome length at 2 2 .
Fig. 11 shows a sectional view along the line XI-XI
in Fig. 10, in which it can be seen clearly that the wire s~c~rnP~ have an oval ~;Lv:i8 G~_Lion.
Pig. 12 shows a preferred ~mho~li L of screen material according to the invention, which is obtained by subjecting the wire material according to Fig. lo to a tensile force in the direction of the arrows, so that the WO 95~17306 2 1 ~ 8 PCTIN194100315 screen holes are formed. These hc~Y~rlnAl screen holes, in particular in combination with an oval wire L:L~I5s-s~_Lion, have very advantageous characteristics for screen printing, since hf-Y~ l holes approach the traditional shape of 5 screen printing stencils, ~md optimum distribution of screen holes is also obtained over the surface, with additional strength compared with differently shaped holes.
The wire pieces 21' are joined to each other over a short length by weld points. It will be clear that a lO smaller number of weld points situated further apart or a continuous weld can also be used. A wire piece 21' comprises a wire section going out from the centre of a weld to the centre of an adjoining weld in the same wire section 21. If the h~YA~-~n~l ~Lru~ LuLe from Fig. 12 is 15 stretched (opened) further, an ~ccDnti ~lly r~-rt~ng~ r hole shape will be obtained, the holes being arranged in a staggered manner (brickwork ~LL.~.LULe).
For the joining of metal wires, a soldering medium such as tin, lead, lead-tin, brass, silver or the like can 20 also be fed in during the welding, with or without a flux.
Of course, a . 0LL~ in~ t~ hniql-~ can also be used for joining wires made of other materials.
Fig . 13 shows another ` ' i ~ of screen material according to the invention, showing two groups of wire 25 seoti nnc 24 and 25 which are joined to each other at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging, through which screen holes 26 are formed.
Figs . 14 and 15 show the s~ n~ l view along the line XIV-XIV and the line XV-XV. As i8 clear, a screen 30 material with an erE^-ti~l ly flat screen surface is also obtained in the case of this ~ L.
The joining of such crossing wires can be carried out by te~~hniq~ which are known to those skilled in the art. For eYample, the wires can merge with each other at 35 the crossing points through welding or the like, or through the application of PLe~UL;' locally at raised ' ~LUL~
or otherwise, i . e. by setting up the groups of wire SëCtiOnS 24 and 25 so that they cross each cther and then e~sing them between heated or unheated ~LeS~uLè plates _ _ _ _: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ WO 95/17306 PCrlr;194100315 z~952a or the like. A lauartz lamp can also be used for forming connections at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging .
ThQ material of the wire used for the screen 5 material according to the invention is not very limited, but in particular f or the production of screen printing material it is preferable to use metal wire, since the latter i8 easily joined locally by welding by means of, for example, a laser, and any curves made in advance in metal 10 wire are tli io~Al ly stable. Examples of suitable metals are: iron, steel, copper, nickel, ~1~ ill~ etc.
In the i- L shown in Fig. 13 it is preferable for at least one of the groups to be made of plastic, so that the _ is simplified through merging at the 15 position of the crossing points.
The screen material according to the invention can be subjected to additional coating steps after its pro~lrtin~, for example in order to strengthen it. For instance, after its surface has been made rl nAIlr~inq if 20 desired, in the case of plastic wire, the screen material can be plated with a suitable metal in a known manner.
After prof'~llrtinn and before possible lli7ation~
the material can also be subjected to a flattening operation, in order to remove uneven points. Examples are 2 S planing, pol i s:h i n g ~ gauging etc .
Fig. 16 shows diagrammatically a device with two gear wheels 27 and 28, between which a wire 29 is conveyed by way of guide rollers 30 and 31. A zigzag-shaped wire is nh~:~inc-d by driving the ab-.. inn~S gear wheels 27, 28 in the direction indicated. If the wire is a metal wire, it may if desired be subjected to a heat LL~S!i; ' after the deformation operation, in order to give the wire inn~l gtability, as a result of the hardening properties of the chosen material.
Fig. 17 shows diagrammatically a device for the production of screen material according to the invention, in which a wire 33 is wound around a roller 32. The roller is rotate~ in the direction of th~ arrow, and the wire ~3 is drawn off a reel 34. During the windins, the reel 34 can .
WO 9S/l7306 Z~ ~ 7 9 ;r~ 2 8 ; PC1~194l00315 be moved parallel to the roller 32 in the direction of winding. Reference number 35 indicates a moving laser device which locally welds the wire 33 wound around the roller 32. The laser device advantageously comprises positioning means which can comprise a tracer for dQt~ormininr~ the mutual position of the weld points in relation to the wire sections, on the basis of which the position of the laser can be set by means of suitable laser ~. L means. After the roller 32 has been provided with wire 33 over its full length and local welding has been carried out, the material thus ~lodu~ ed is removed from the roller 32 and subjected to a tensile force in the lengthwise direction, as a result of which the length of the cylinder increases, the diameter decreases, and the screen holes are formed. It will be clear that the r~ rti nn in diameter or the increase in length of the screen cylinder and the hole shape and hole size depend on the mutual position and rli -ionc of the junctions, the wire diameter and the degree of deformation.
If the wire 33 is conveyed through the device of Fig. 16 prior to winding, the final material need not be subjected to a deformation treatment. The mutual positioning of the tips o E the already wound wire relative to the wire yet to be wound can be regulated by regulating the wire tension in a suitable manner in the inlet during winding .
Fig. 18 shows the same roller 32, winding here taking place simultaneously with a plurality of wires 33, of the same or different type and shape, as a result of which the surface of the ~oller can be covered with wire more quickly at the same speed of rotation. During winding involving a plurality of wires in this way, the winding pitch will increase for each individual wire.
The result of this is that when the screen holes are formed in the screen material removed from the roller 32 after welding, by a tensile force in the lengthwise direction, the material will have an inherent twist. This mean~ that during drawing at thP ends o~ th~ screen cylinder, at least one of the attachment ~ - Ls must be Wo 95117306 ~ ~ PCT/NL941003l5 ~79~28`
set up in a rotatable manner.
Fig. l9a shows diagrammatically a device for the continuous production of screen material according to the invention. It contains a reel 34 from which wire 33 i5 unreeled. Although one reel is shown, it is, of course, po~sihle, aS ~1iFC~lcc~ earlier, for a plurality of wires to be wound simultaneously.
Reference number 35 shows a drive - -niF- of a mandrel 36, onto which the wire 33 is wound. The wire 33 i8 guided through a wire feed control unit 37 to the mandrel 36. The wire 33 is guided between a stationary stop 38 and the already wound material, with the result that during the winding the already wound material is forced to the left in the f igure . During the abovementioned . . , the wire is welded locally by means of a laser 40 set up in a fixed position. Many types of lasers are suitable for this purpose . DPrPn~l ~ ng on the wire pitch, the winding speed, the type of weld and the weld pattern, the laser can operate continuously or intermittently.
The mandrel 36 used is preferably illL-:L ~ J-~ble, ~o that cylinders 39 of different diameters, with the same number of standard ~ L (pattern repeat ) and UL-Ji~ cLion shape6, can be ~L~-Iuced.
Different .:Lo~ e_Lion 6hapes should be u..~e~Lood as 25 meaning oval, triangular, square etc. croSs-sectinnc.
Reference number 41 indicates a movable trestle, which by means of a bearing arm 42 serves to support the material 39 moving from the roller 36.
The bearing arm 42 of the trestle 41 is preferably 30 in the form of a freely rotating roller, and more preferably the beariny arm is ~ n~d in such a way that it has several freely rotatable rollers ~iRr~5~-1 around the inner periphery of the cylinder ~Lcduced, so that the cylinder material ~L~,-luced can be supported at several 35 points. Fig. l9b shows a section of the bearing arm 42 from Fig. l9a with cylindrical material 39 which has been produced. Fig. l9c 6hows a preferred _ ir L of the b~aring arm 42 in section, which has four supporting rollers 44 for supporting the material 39. The mutual W0 95ll7306 PCrlr~194~00315 ~ ~9;~2~
position of the rollers advantageously is adjustable.
With the device Acrnr~l;n~ to the invention the pitch can be regulated by, for example, placing a ring-shaped stop with an oval ~:L~JSS section at a suitable angle 5 around the mandrel.
Reference number 43 indicates diagrammatically a cutting device which also moves along and serves to cut off a certain length of material after it has formed. After cutting, said cylindrical material can be moved by mean& of 10 the trestle 41. Thereafter, the arm of another trestle can be placed in the material 39 moving off the roller 36. ~he supporting arm 42 on the trestle 41 can be suitably adjusted in height, for e~ample by means of a screw spindle 45 or the like.
Lengths of the cylindrical material to be obtained can also be separated from each other in another way. For ex~mple, if the laser is i~ LLU~Led for some time after a certain period of operation of the device, a number of windings of wire are not welded. This number can be 20 sala~to~ in such a way that at a suitable moment the cylindrical material already ~-.,duced can be removed from the mandrel, in which case the wound wire material not welded is drawn as a coil and can be severed. The advantage of this is that only one wire need be cut through, as 25 against the _ l eta severing of a cylinder.
Fig. 20 shows diagrammatically a device for forming screen holes, comprising a forcing device 46 as a screen-hole-opening element. With this device 46 the material 39 in which screen holes are not yet formed is forced, as 30 shown diayL tically at 47, in the direction of the arrow, as a result of which the screen holes are formed in the material 39, as indicated at 48. It will be clear that the drawing section (not shown) by means of which the material 39 is moved through the forcing device or the 35 forcing device itself must be set up in a rotatable manner, since a certain degree of rotation, ~laran~lin~ on the method of winding the wire (or wires), will occur during the formation of the screen hol~. It may be advanL~yc:ous during the formation of the holes by means of the forcing Wo 95/17306 PCr/NL94/00315 21795~8 device 4 6 to set up a support element in the product, in order to be able to carry out this operation in a L C.~L ~,ducible manner .
If in a prnA~rtinn process large numbers of wire 5 cylinders whose holes haYe not yet been formed are being produced, in successive wire cylinders the 5creen holes can be formed to a gradually increasing extent, which means that successively cylinders with slightly decreasing t~L are produced and can be pushed into one another.
10 The ~Lcl]lD~uL ~ILion and storage thereof is thus greatly simplified. The screen holes in the desired final form can then be made in these cylinders at a desired time. The same applies for wire material wound in the lengthwise direction of a roller, where the rli ~ L increases and the length 15 de~:L ?_-- during formation of the screen holes.
In the case of cylindrical screen material the wire can also be wound in the lengthwise direction of a roller, in which case projections, for example, such as pins, can be present around the periphery at the ends of the roller, 2 0 so that the wire can be wound to and f ro in the lengthwise direction. For winding in the lengthwise direction, the wire can also be wound so as to cross over the end f aces of the roller. When such a cylinder made of wire material is welded locally, during formation of the screen holes a Z5 di~meter increase and a length reduction of the cylinder will be the result, contrasting with what has been described above. For this operation it is pnc:cihl~ to u5e, for example, an ~y~An~lAhl~ core, or the wound wire material can be moved in the oppo6ite direction over the f orcing 30 device 46 from Fig. 20, in order to form the screen holes.
For the production of the: i- L of the screen material according to Fig. 13 in cylindrical form, a wire can be wound at such a pitch in one direction around a support, as shown, for example, in Fig. 17 ar 18, that wire 35 8~ctinn~ pn~l~rl at a distance from each other are nht;~in~ following which the same wire may if desired be wound over the f irst group of wire sections in the opposite direction with UULL ~ lin~ d~sired pitch. Furthermore, several groups of wires can be wound, following which the _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ W0 9S/17306 ` ' ;` pCl~g410031S
wires are joined to each other at the crossing points by means of suitable techniques known to those skilled ln the art, such as welding or pressing at elevated t~ elLUL~
through fusion and/or merging.
By means of the method described above, screen material according to the invention can be pL u~luuc:~l with a very wide range of numbers of holes per linear cm and of hole shapes, while f lat screens can also be produced in a CuLL~ nq manner. These can be ~Lu~luc;Qd directly or by cutting open cylinders according to the invention in the lengthwise direction.
It is also pointed out that although essentially symmetrical screen materials are described above, the invention is not limited thereto, since any desired deformed wires can be joined to each other in any desired way, 80 that flat screen material is obtained with any desired shape of holeg and any degired tl1 -ion~, which can be a~lv~-lL~g~uu~ ror certain applications. The so-called moiré efrects in particular are au~.ess~d in this case.
Screen material can also be ~Lu~lucea in flat form by laying wire sections which may consist of one and the same wire next to each other on a flat support, then joining them locally, and s~ ntly forming the screen holes.
Finally fig. 21 shows a diagrammatic view of a continuously operating device for the production of flat screen material according to the invention, prior to the formation of the holes. Said device comprises at least two rotatable support wheelS 50, 51 with a common axis 52 and radially extending projections designed as pins 53. These pins 53 arQ shown in an enlarged view A in fig. 21.
The wheels support endless belts 55 and 56 provided with op~nin.'JS 57 into which the pins 53 fit. It will be clear that the belts are endless belts and guided over an additional pair of driving wheels (not shown), also comprising pins or the like.
A guide bar 58 is present forming the reciprocating means to guide a wire 60 from wheel 51 to wheel 50 and back, around the respective pinc 53. Thus, a 2ig-zag - L of the wire is provided. The driving means of said WO 95/17306 PCr/NL94/00315 guide pin are not shown for clarity reasons.
The wire 60 is unreeled from a reel 61 provided with a slip-coupling 62 to provide the necessary wire tension .
65 schematically shows a laser welding device which is moveable along a slit 66 ln guide means 67. In the la6er welding device a laser beam 68 i8 passed through a focussing optic 6g and impacts on the zig-zag wire material at a focal point 70. Very close to said focal point 70 a 10 wedge 71 is present, which is 6hown in the enlarged cross-section B. Said wedge 71 can be moved in the direction of the arrow 72 to move the wire section 73 against the wire material 74 already locally welded in the direction of arrow 78. Said wedge 71 is provided with drive means (not 15 shown) to follow the ~c L of the focal point of the laser welding device, assuring that at the focal point the wires are positioned against each other for accurate welding .
The wire material 75 being locally welded is 20 supported by the driving belts 55 and 56 and further by an additional ~U~ 2rVL belt 76 driven by a drive roller 77 and another CV1L 1~.,...1;nq drive roller, not shown.
Por the purpose of clarity only the i LallL
details are shown in fig. 21 and of course many modifications can be made.
The drive belts 55 and 56 do not only drive the wheels 50 and 51, and support the wire material 75, but also assure that the welded wire material 75 is removed from the pins 53.
Preferably mean6 are present between the guide bar and the reel 61 to te for differences in length of the wire 60 fed to the pins of the wheels, due to the reciprocating ~ L of the guide bar 58. This can be achieved by moving the reel 61 together with the guide bar 58, or by spring loaded wheels or the like.
After mal-u~a-LuL.: of the wire material 75 the screen holes can be opened by suitable deformation of the material as ~iiccllcserl with reference to earlier figures.
Claims (32)
1. Screen material made of wire, suitable for screen printing, characterized in that the holes (4; 7; 13; 17;
20; 23; 26) are bounded in such a way by wire pieces (1; 6 11, 12; 15, 16; 18'; 21') which are joined to each other locally that an at least virtually flat non-woven screen surface is obtained.
20; 23; 26) are bounded in such a way by wire pieces (1; 6 11, 12; 15, 16; 18'; 21') which are joined to each other locally that an at least virtually flat non-woven screen surface is obtained.
2. Screen material according to claim 1, characterized in that adjacent wire sections (3; 5; 9, 10; 14; 18, 21), each having two or more wire pieces (1; 6; 11, 12; 15, 16;
18'; 21'), extend uncrossed in substantially the same direction.
18'; 21'), extend uncrossed in substantially the same direction.
3. Screen material according to claim 1 or 2, characterized ir. that the screen material is made of zigzag wire sections which are ]oined locally to each other at the tips.
4. Screen material according to claim 1, characterized in that the material comprises at least two groups (24, 25) of wire sections, the wire sections in each group (24, 25) running substantially parallel, and crossing those of another group (24, 25) at one side, and in that the wire sections (24, 25) are joined in such a way to each other at the crossing points through fusion and/or merging that an at least virtually flat screen surface is obtained.
5. Screen material according to claim 4, characterized in that the wires are substantially linear.
6. Screen material according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wire material and the method of joining are selected in such a way that the screen material is dimensionally stable.
7. Screen material according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wire of the screen material is made of a weldable material.
8. Screen material according to claim 7, characterized in that the wire of the screen material is made of an electrically conducting material
9. Screen material according to claim 8, characterized in that the wire of the screen material is made of metal.
10. Screen material according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material has at least 15 holes per linear cm.
11. Screen material according to claim 10, characterized in that the material has at least 50 holes per linear cm.
12. Cylinder made of screen material intended for rotary screen printing, characterized in that the screen material is a screen material according to one or more of the preceding claims.
13. Method for the production of a screen material according to one or more of claims 1-3, 6-11, characterized in that wire sections are laid next to one another, the wire sections are joined to each other locally, and the screen holes are then formed through deformation of the wire sections.
14. Method for the production of a screen material according to one or more of claims 1-4, 6-11, characterized in that wire sections are preformed and then joined point-wise to optionally preformed wire sections.
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the wire sections are joined to each other on a support.
16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that a roller is used as the support.
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that one or more optionally preformed wires are wound around the roller.
18. Method according to one or-more of claims 13-17, characterized in that the wire sections are joined to each other locally through laser welding.
19. Method for the production of a screen material according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that groups of wire sections are laid in succession on a support at an angle relative to each other, the wires being laid in such a way per group that they run substantially parallel to each other at some distance from each other, following which the wire sections are joined to each other at crossing points through fusion and/or merging.
20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the wire sections of at least one group are made of plastic.
21. Method according to one or more of claims 13-20, characterized in that the screen material is subjected to a flattening operation after production.
22. Method according to one or more of claims 13-21, characterized in that the screen material is plated.
23. Screen material which is obtained by subjecting a screen material according to one or more of claims 1-11 to electrolysis in an electrolysis bath, which bath contains at least one organic compound with at least one unsaturated bond which does not belong to a group, and has the properties of a class-two brightener, the openings in the-final screen material essentially corresponding to the openings in the starting material.
24. Wire material (39; 75) comprising essentially linear wire sections which are joined to each other locally, for use in the production of a screen material according to one or more of claims 1-3, 6-11
25. Device for the continuous production of wire material according to claim 24, at least comprising a frame with a wire support, wire feed means for feeding wire sections to the wire support, and joining means for joining the wire sections to each other locally.
26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the wire support is designed as a rotatable roller (36), driving means (35) being present to rotate said roller (36), so that wire can be wound onto said roller (36).
27. Device according to claim 26, characterized in that said roller (36) is supported at one end only and that a circumferential stop (38) is present near said supported end.
28. Device according to one or more of claims 25-27, characterized in that the wire feed means comprise at least one wire reel (34) feeding wire (33) continuously.
29. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the wire support is designed as at least two rotatable support wheels (50, 51) with radially extending projections (53) and with a common axis (52), and that driving means are present to rotate said wheels (50, 51).
30. Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the wire feed means comprise at least one wire reel (61) feeding wire (60) continuously, and that reciprocating means (58) are present to guide the wire (60) from one wheel to another and around the projections (53).
31. Device according to one or more of the claims 25-30, characterized in that the joining means are designed as a moveable laser welding device (40; 65)
32. Device for forming screen holes in a cylindrical product made of wire material according to claims 1-12, at least comprising a frame with a screen-hole-opening element (46) comprising a conical bore, and moveable mounting means for pulling the cylindrical product through the conical bore in the direction in which the diameter of the bore decreases, in which the conical bore and the mounting means are designed in such a way, that at least a portion of the cylindrical product can rotate relative to the screen-hole-opening-element (46).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NL9302237 | 1993-12-22 | ||
| NL9302237A NL9302237A (en) | 1993-12-22 | 1993-12-22 | Wire sieve material, method of manufacturing it, and a sleeve made of such a sieve material. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2179528A1 true CA2179528A1 (en) | 1995-06-29 |
Family
ID=19863301
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2179528 Abandoned CA2179528A1 (en) | 1993-12-22 | 1994-12-13 | Screen material made of wire, method and device for the production thereof, and a sleeve made of such screen material |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0735953A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH09507042A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU680580B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2179528A1 (en) |
| NL (1) | NL9302237A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995017306A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP4645305B2 (en) * | 2005-05-25 | 2011-03-09 | Ｔｄｋ株式会社 | Screen printing plate and method for producing the same, method for producing electronic component using screen printing plate |
| FR2886180B1 (en) * | 2005-05-27 | 2007-07-13 | Snecma Moteurs Sa | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BONDED FLAG CONSISTING OF METALLIC MATRIX CERAMIC YARNS, DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE BONDED FLOOR METHOD OBTAINED BY THE METHOD |
| JP4620139B2 (en) * | 2008-03-27 | 2011-01-26 | 大日本印刷株式会社 | Manufacturing method of color filter |
| DE102009040083A1 (en) * | 2009-09-04 | 2011-03-10 | Stadtmüller, Uwe | Method and device for welding in the joint area a point or short line contact having parts and joining device |
| JP5325839B2 (en) * | 2010-06-16 | 2013-10-23 | 株式会社コベルコ科研 | Mesh material for screen printing |
| DE102013005685A1 (en) * | 2013-04-03 | 2014-10-09 | Robert Kopetzky | Method and forming device for a wire shaped article and wire shaped article |
| CN117086486B (en) * | 2023-10-20 | 2024-01-30 | 苏州镭扬激光科技有限公司 | Laser cutting and welding integrated equipment for metal woven mesh |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2188501A5 (en) * | 1972-06-05 | 1974-01-18 | Auclair Georges | |
| NL8002197A (en) * | 1980-04-15 | 1981-11-16 | Stork Screens Bv | METHOD FOR ELECTROLYTICALLY MANUFACTURING A SIEVE, IN PARTICULAR CYLINDER-SIEVE, AND Sieve |
| JPS6119386A (en) * | 1984-07-05 | 1986-01-28 | Daicel Chem Ind Ltd | Screen printing method |
| WO1991017006A1 (en) * | 1988-10-26 | 1991-11-14 | Prestend Pty. Limited | Steel security mesh |
-
1993
- 1993-12-22 NL NL9302237A patent/NL9302237A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1994
- 1994-12-13 WO PCT/NL1994/000315 patent/WO1995017306A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1994-12-13 JP JP7517329A patent/JPH09507042A/en active Pending
- 1994-12-13 CA CA 2179528 patent/CA2179528A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-12-13 AU AU12042/95A patent/AU680580B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1994-12-13 EP EP95903038A patent/EP0735953A1/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0735953A1 (en) | 1996-10-09 |
| AU1204295A (en) | 1995-07-10 |
| NL9302237A (en) | 1995-07-17 |
| AU680580B2 (en) | 1997-07-31 |
| JPH09507042A (en) | 1997-07-15 |
| WO1995017306A1 (en) | 1995-06-29 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| DE3244869C2 (en) | ||
| DE69831004T2 (en) | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A FORM FROM SHAPED PLATES AND A FORM PLATE MADE FROM A FLAT PLATE | |
| EP1590557B1 (en) | Method and tool for producing structured sheet metal layers, and catalyst support | |
| DE3028769C2 (en) | ||
| DE1446859A1 (en) | Apparatus for generating a pattern appearing in a surface and method for producing this apparatus | |
| EP0650754B1 (en) | Filter septum | |
| WO2013029901A1 (en) | Method and device for joining transfer or laminating film webs | |
| CA2179528A1 (en) | Screen material made of wire, method and device for the production thereof, and a sleeve made of such screen material | |
| US4776383A (en) | Apparatus for producing strip-like or foil-like products | |
| DE2128729B2 (en) | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING STENCILS FOR PRINTING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS | |
| DE3835818A1 (en) | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONNECTING ANCHOR WRAPPING WIRE TO THE SLATS OF A HOOK COLLECTOR | |
| DE60303128T2 (en) | METHOD FOR FORMING WITH A LASER OF HOLLOW ROOMS IN A MOLDING FORMING OF HOOK-SHAPED FASTENING ELEMENTS | |
| HUE028752T2 (en) | Method for making a filter and filter | |
| DE202016101299U1 (en) | die | |
| DE60320681T2 (en) | REGENERATOR, METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE REGENERATOR, SYSTEM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF THE REGENERATOR AND STIRLING-COOLING MACHINE | |
| EP0147013B1 (en) | Perforating screen and method of making it | |
| US4604156A (en) | Method of fabricating a cylindrical multilayer screen | |
| DE102008023963A1 (en) | Laser beam absorbing support helix and method and apparatus for making the same | |
| DE102018107868A1 (en) | Wire-based additive manufacturing system and process | |
| DE112007001818T5 (en) | Method of partial plating, laser plating device and plated material | |
| DE2166679A1 (en) | PRESSURE ROLLER | |
| WO2006000117A1 (en) | Method for the production of a bimetallic saw blade, saw band, or circular saw blade, and input stock for a saw blade or saw band | |
| EP1820252B1 (en) | Device and method for winding a disk rotor for a disk rotor motor | |
| US4585156A (en) | Screen fabrication | |
| DE112004001927T5 (en) | Microporous filter |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |