GB463590A - A method of and apparatus for decorating the surfaces of articles - Google Patents

Abstract

463,590. Printing processes. OXVAR, Ltd. (Oxford Varnish Corporation) March 13, 1936, No. 7576. [Class 100 (ii)] In a method of decorating articles in the form of open frames by an offset printing process, comprising first applying the offset design to a flexible print-carrying band, then causing the band to pass over a distorting roll with the print outwardly exposed, the distortion of the band conforming to the contour of the article to be decorated, the article is rotated about the band. The work W is supported in an open frame 27, Fig. 1, running freely on ball bearings 28 on a table 10 which is pierced at 29 to permit the approach of the printing assembly 8. The table 10 is carried by screw posts 11, and nuts 12 which are coupled by a sprocket chain 15 may be adjusted for height by a handle 17. A platen roller 31 abuts the workframe 27 and is driven through a splined gear 35 by a motor 22. The offset printing belt 30, preferably of congealed glue and glycerine backed by rubber and reinforced, passes round rollers 70, 71 carried by a member 65 adjustably mounted on a member 51 which slides in guides on a pivoted head 40. The head may be tilted by a pinion 59a and rack 59 and clamped by a device 42 working in a slot 41. The member 51 is slid in the head 40 by rack 55 and pinion 57. A shaft 85 on the member 51 is driven through flexible and extensible members 87, 89 from the motor 22. Through a sprocket chain 83, Fig. 2, the shaft 85 drives a keyed shaft 62 carrying the design cylinder 63, and thence by means of gears 95, 116 an inking shaft 115, and by gears 95, 96 and a sprocket chain 99 the shaft 73 of the roller 71. The shaft 115 carries ink, by means of an archimedean screw 111 from a tank 110 to the design cylinder 63, which may be axially adjusted by means of a tilting yoke 140, adjusted by set screw 143. The member 65 slides in guides 66 and is adjusted by a screw 72. The roller 71 is carried by a yoke 75 pivoted to the member 65 so that it can be clamped in different positions by a screw 76, to adjust the tension of the belt 30 and to facilitate its removal. Slack in the sprocket chain is taken up by a wheel 102. The shaft 73 of the roller 70 is in two sections and the lower end is carried in a bracket 67a keyed to the member 65 and clamped by an abutment 67b, so that the roller can be easily removed. The rollers 70, 71 are provided with bevelled edges to prevent ink-smear and to centre the belt 30, and the roller 71 has a central depression 105 into which the belt can be drawn to a varying extent by varying tensions, and two ridges 106 to assist in guiding the belt. Scraper blades 126, 128 on rockers 122, 124, Fig. 2, are provided for the design cylinder 63 and the belt respectively and are held in contact by a spring 129. A screw shaft 130, Figs. 2, 5, is driven from the gear wheel 95 and carries cam 135 coupled to it by means of a spring 137. When the machine is started the inertia of the cam causes it to ride up the shaft 130 so that rollers 123a, 125a on the rockers 122, 124 fall onto a narrower portion of the cam and permit the scrapers to come into active position.. When the machine stops the spring 137 returns the cam and lifts the scrapers out of action. Either or both of the ornamenting and work-supporting assemblies may be adjustable horizontally. In an alternative construction the work support may have an external rib, running in a groove in the platen roller 31. The Specification comprises also a masking-device for the workpiece which now forms the subjectmatter of Specification 463,614. Specification .319,282, [Class 100 (ii)], also is referred to.