US2540326A

US2540326A - Screen printing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2540326A
Application number: US1199A
Authority: US
Inventors: Farwell Harry Russell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-01-08
Filing date: 1948-01-08
Publication date: 1951-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-06

Description

Feb. 6, 1951 v H. R. FARWELL 2,540,326

SCREEN PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 6, 1951 H. R. FARWELL 2,540,326

SCREEN PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1948 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 MENTOR. [[a Iggy ifwaaZZ/rwdi 6, 1951 H. R. FARWELL 2,540,326

SCREEN PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5g INVENTOR.

15 W V/ fiarzgwfiediarwefl, 142 2/ m 'r Patented Feb. 6, 1951 I z'jme I soRE'EN'PRiNTmdAPPARAT S" rats lilis eil miivn; Q'vi'iiic'y', ni;

Amman I This inventioii'relat'es to ascreenprinting aidparatus, and, more particularly, to a screen printing apparatus'in which a screen fi'rinting frame unit having plvlrali tyof characters" thereon is so disposed that it may be readily utilizecl'ti) print individually selectedcha'racters on 'a; desired object. I.

Such a' device'is'p'afticularly' useful where itis desired teprint'a 'large'nymber'of objects, each with difierent copy; The'silk scre'en'methedeff printing has not been Sldhlitedtdthis ty e Of'wicilk in the past hecauseof'th necessity of precarin'g a separate screen for e'ach'obje'ct"tobefprintedj Because of this factfitha's 'cften eenmsieeedg nornical to"d o such lettriii'gbi" printing memes by brush, since the cost of preparing" a'sep'ara't stencil fer each type Of'sign hasheeh 'prehibitiVe Nevertheless, it' would be highly aqvan a'gbqs to be able to utilize the silk screen typ of'p I 1: ing in werk such assi'gnprinti'ng since the'nn ished product has many: desirable marines; as uniformity of characters:long lifeandtlie like? Applicant has already inventedone forni'ofa device designed to perinit' the use of silk printing for thistyp'e omen:- This'fo rn iis' dis} clesed in abplicants ce-pending"ap blication Serial No. 701,649, f led Octobe r'fl, 124 which tured into Patent Noi. 2,532,802, Dc ei1n] c er 111.950."v The invention which is the subject matter of th'is application however is believed to'heaisnps'tantial improvement thereoyer, a'ncl inore reaglilylends' itself to being adapted to almost completely automatic operation. I II k I I Although the embodiment of the intention felisclosed in the drawings is designed for mannal Q- elaiidn, i a 'flie lr en w th? .d i-qe could be made at'leastsemkai toinatic jwith very little modification, and abplicanflclces not wish to be limited in this disclosure to'onli the'rnah uallybperated form shown. I II It is therefore an'objeclt oi thi'sjinventionito provide a screen printing ap'parat is ntilizlingja rotatable silkscreen printing frame having a m.-

alitv o i bi fii re niw PIQK means of quickly'and accurate y'printing selectegl ha ter i dWRhi H fin.iih ;'nf ei Qt x alignnient on an'object properlydisposed' thereon to conform to 'anyciesired cc15y. I I

It is a furtherebject of this inventionto'pro? vide a screen printing apparatus which has a movable printing base adaptecllto slipport an oo' J'ect to be printed, which base 'aiitemat" any moves the distance requiregl'to jai'odiicethefpreiief spacing between indiifi'd ial' characters after each such character is printed.

r3 8,1943, Serial No. 1,199

(cum-L126) H n is aii'additid' ial object of this invention to provide a screen printing" apparatus which unnzes a substantially circular screen printing" frame which 'is normally" disposed in spaced relation to" afp'rinting base'andwhichhas'a'plnrality of characters thereon, and which includes means for moving'the portionof the screen cntainihg'a olesired'character 'intb contact with the object te be printed disposed on the 'p'rintin'gloasefso'thatany desired ccmbinati'on'of' characters may reatiilif be printea on thatob'ject. I I II 4 I It is still another object' topro'vide a" screen printing apparatus in which the screen printing frame may be easili ah'd qiiickly' rerncved fo i' cleaning: orreb1aceinent I; 'v/hich has an improved and simplified e'scabment mechanism which allows 'alljspaciiig between individual character's t6 be 'prodiiced' automatically and which maybe easily adj ustec'lfofldifiei'ent spacing as ds'irel; which is simple in construction "and operation, which may be pi ddi' 'ced' at a lrelatively 1 w best; which forms each character in a uniform and accurate manner; and which can produce 'a veliune of piihtdfobjtseth wimmee em copy, at a fraction of'the cost of printingthm' manually with a' brush or witli'typel I I I r a urther' bjectsanaadvantages ofthis inveneon 'will become eyidem as the description pro ceeds, and frqfii'a'n'eliainination of theiac'co rn' pahy'i ng dia'wii lgswhich' illiistrate' one embodiment'of the inveflt ioii and in which similarniimeifa'ls' l'fei to 'sifn'ilai arts th lbil ghout the Selferal Views." I

Inth drawings? I Fig. l is a perspective View of a screen "printmg'a 'pamtus embcd'ying the iniieht'ion; I Fig; 2'is "a' fraginentary side eleiiation'; partly iii'cioss" section, "showing the movable: printing" base; the rctatable silkscreen printing immune the printing mechanism. I 3 is a plan view f om-above of the ap aratusw'ith thelSlcfeei'i pliltgdliii g frame ren'ibVe-ii.

Fig; 4 is'a' fragme tary side elevation shewing the escai ement mech nism;

Fig. 5 is airagmentaryfside elevation, partlyin cross section'showing the control ine'hanismfoi releasingith'e'escapement' mechanism; r M

Fig. 6 isa rfagniem'ai'y detaifview in elevation and partly ir'fcrbs's' sectitihiof the squee ee guide, the screen 'pHntingt-r'ame and the movable piinting" base, the guide and semen being shown in pr'i'ntingpositioh. I

Fi g.' '7 is affra'iifieiitaiy erspective vie'wbf the sqiiegegmag" I I I I I I I rectangular supporting base It] which may be adapted to be placed on a supporting table, or may be of any suitable table-like construction itself. This supporting base has the track I2 thereon extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the base and projecting beyond one end of the base a distance suiTicient to allow the movable printing base I4 to be moved laterally in that direction so that it is clear of the rotatable silk screen frame indicated generally by the numeral IS. The track I2 has the two grooves I8 in the upper surface thereof along the two upper edges of the track. The rollers 21 secured to the printing base It at its four corners are adapted to ride in these two grooves l8 and to allow the printing base to be moved laterally along the track I2.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the circular silk screen frame i6 is mounted to rotate about the pin 22 which is, in turn, supported by the mounting block 26. The outer rim 32 of the frame I6 is also supported by the three

rollers

26, 28 and 30, which are mounted on the mounting blocks 34, 36 and 38, respectively. The outer rim 32 serves as a support for the silk screen All which, in turn, has the hub :22 mounted at the center thereof. The silk screen ill has a plurality of characters 44 disposed thereon in spaced relation having their vertical axes coincidental with radii of the frame It. These characters may be letters disposed thereon in alphabetical order and punctuation marks, or the like. The silk making up the screen 40 is treated with a suitable compound so that it is impervious to the passage of liquid such as the usual printing mediums used in silk screen work, except in the areas defined by the characters M. The screen 40, in addition, is drawn tautly across the rim 32, but is sufficiently flexible so that a portion of it may be depressed sufficiently to come into contact with an object properly placed on the movable printing base I4, such as the sign 46 shown in Fig. 2.

Adjacent the inner edge of the outer rim 32 of the screen printing frame 16 is the upstanding circular notched flange 38. The notches are centered on the vertical axes of the characters 44 and are adapted to receive the aligning member 52 which protrudes from one end of the guide member 54. The flange-portions 55 which are disposed between notches 59 have their upper extremities rounded 01? and are so shaped that the notches 48 become progressively narrower toward their base, the bases being of a width suincient to allow the aligning member 52 to fit snugly therein.

The guide member 5 which is shown in more detail in Figures 6 and 7, is pivotally mounted on the support 58, mounting plates 60 being slotted so that the guide member 5a may be adjusted to any desired heights within the limits of the slots. The control member 62 is secured to the rear of the guide member 54 and projects beyond the supporting member 58 and has the spring member 64 secured to the end which so projects beyond the supporting member 58. The other end of the spring member 6 5 is secured to the base of the supporting member 58, as best shown in Fig. 4. This arrangement insures that the guide member E l is normally maintained in spaced relation to the silk screen frame I6 but the guide member may be moved into contact with the screen lll by depressing the forward end 66 of the control member 62. As shown in Fig. 6, such a depression of the control member 62 will cause the guide member 54 to distort a portion of the 4 screen 40 sufficiently for the screen to be moved into contact with the sign 48 on the printing base I I.

The movement of the guide member Ed in an upward direction is limited by other members which are operatively connected to it, which members will subsequently be described.

At the same time the guide member 54 is so depressed the aligning member 52 must enter into one of the notches 59 in the flange and when it has so entered into one of these notches, the character 44 which has its vertical axis aligned with that particular notch is automatically centered in the opening 68 in the guide member 5i.

As shown in Fig. 2, the squeegee 70 is pivotally mounted on the arm l2 which is, in turn, pivotal- 1y mounted on one end of the arm M, the opposite end of the latter arm being pivotally secured to the support member 58. The arms 74 and 72 are so disposed and the adjustable wing nut 86 on the bolt 82, which extends horizontally from the support 58 through the arm 14, is normally so adjusted that the tip 76 of the squeegee will rest in the well 18 of the guide member 5 1 when the squeegee it! is moved to its rearmost position.

The rear end of the guide member 54 has the arm 84 secured thereto and extending downwardly toward the supporting base Ili, as best shown in Fig. 4. The lower end of the arm as is pivotally secured to one end of the arm 36 extending substantially parallel with the supporting base Iil and the opposite end of this latter arm is pivotally secured to one end of the arm 88 which is, in turn, mounted to pivot on and parallel to the supporting base It] around the pivot member 90. The opposite end of the arm 88 is pivotally secured to one end of the arm 92, the opposite end of which is pivotally secured to the arm as. The opposite end of the arm 94 is rigidly mounted on the vertical arm of the L-shaped support member 96 which carries the stop members 98 and I538. The support member 96 is pivotally mounted to one end of the arm I82 which, as shown in Fig. 5, is pivotally mounted on the support member I34. The arm I82 normally rests on the fixed arm I86 which extends upwardly from the supporting base It but is adapted to be raised therefrom by a depression of the front end of the control member I08 which is pivoted on the support IIB mounted on the supporting base it, and which has pivotally secured to its inner end the arm H2 which is, in turn, pivotally secured to the arm I02.

As described above, the spring member 54 normally urges the end 66 of the arm 62 in an upward direction and the tension of the spring can be adjusted by varying the screw eye in or out of the arm 62, which eye is best shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The stop member 98 is pivotally mounted on the horizontal arm of the L-shaped support member 96 and has one end of the spring member II4 secured thereto, the other end of the spring member being secured to the same arm of the support member 56 in such a way that the stop member is normally urged away from the vertical arm of this support member 96. The stop member 98 is limited in its pivotal movement in the direction it is urged by the spring member ,I I4 by the stop member I I6 which is moun ed on the base of the vertical arm of the L-shaped support member 96. The stop member $10, on the other hand, is rigidly mounted on the vertical arm of the L-shaped support member 96 in spaced relation to the pivoted stop member 93.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5:, the support member 98 isnorm-ally-supported by the arms: I 0.2 and IE6 ata height which allowsthe-stop members 98 and I68 to intercept the-lugs II'B-and I 20 extending tangentially in opposite directions from diametrically opposite points on the surface of the escape member I22.

However, the supporting member 96 is adapted to be pivoted about the end of the supporting arm IE2 by movement of a train of. arms 84:, 86, 88, 92 and 94, which are, in turn, activatedby the control member $2-secured-to the guide mem-- ber 54. This pivotal movement: of thesupport member 95 and which, in turn, -causes a like pivotal movement of the stop;.members 9B and I80 allows the escapemember I22 to rotate a predetermined amount between such pivotal movements. The escape member I22 isnormally urged to rotate in a counterclockwise. directionasviewed in Fig. 1 bythe flexiblelines I23 and l24 which are wound on the reduced portion I26 thereof and which extend over the pulleys I28 and I36 respectively which are mounted on the protruding end of the track I2. The weights I32 and l34 are secured to theendsof the two lines I 23 and I24 respectively, the weight I34 being substantially greater than the weight. I32. The line I36 is wound in a clockwise direction around the reduced portion I26of the'escape member I22 and the line I23 is wound in a counterclockwise direction thereon, asviewed in Fig. 1. In addition, the line I24. is secured to the underside of shown in Figures 2 and 3. arrangement the movable printing. base I4 is normally urged toward the pulleys I28 and IMF and the escapement member I22 is urged to revolve in a counterclockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1.

When the supporting member 96,.however, is at rest in its normal position. (that is, when the outer end 66 of thecontrol'member 62 is in its uppermost position) oneof the lugs I I8 or I 20 is, intercepted by. the .stop member. 98, as vshown in Fig. 4. This prevents. the escapemember' I22 from rotating which,- in turn, .prevents1themovable printing base I .4:from1moving.:-- However, when the outer endBSiofcthe control member 52 isv depressed the guidesmember 54 is pivoted downwardly; which, in. turn, causes. the: lower end of the arm 84 to move rearwardly toward thesupport member 58; this, in turn, .causesxthe arm 86 to also move in that direction; this causes the left end of .the arm 88, as viewed in Fig. 1, to also move in that direction and since this arm is pivoted at 90, such a movementlof .the left end of the arm 83 causes the right end of the arm 8M0 move in the opposite direction; this, in turn, causesthe arm ,92 to move toward the front end of the supporting base II], as,;viewed-in Fig. 1, which movementof the arm 92 causes thelower end of the arm 94 to pivot outwardly; this movement of the arm 94 causestheouterend of the supporting member 96 to pivot upwardly. This upward movement of the outer end ofthe sup- When the outer end of thecontrol member 62 6 which, in turn, causes the guide member: 54 to pivot upwardly, the supportingmember 56' p'iv ots in the opposite direction, the movement be" ing transmitted through the

arms

84, 86, 8-8;-92 and 94 in substantially the same manner as -previously described, but in-the oppositedirection. This pivoting of the support member 96 causesthe stop member I to move out of registry withthe lug H3 or I28, and since the stop member 98- has been pivoted away from the vertical arm of the support member 96 it'no longer is' in a position to intercept one of the lugs I I8 and I2 0, and the escape member I22 is therefore allowed to rotate until the lug opposite to that released by the stop member 5% is intercepted by the sto'p member 98, the latter being pivoted toward the vertical arm of the support member SB'until-i-t assumes the same'position thatit originallyh'eldi before the initial movement'of the-control member 82. The rotation of theescape' member I2 2, in turn, has allowed the movable printing base to move a predetermined distance towardthe projecting end of the track I2, which dis'tanceis' that desired between characters." If the control member 62 is subsequently depressed and released, the printing base I4 'will'again move the same predetermined distance, and this movement will occur until the printing base: is moved out of association with the screen printing frame I6, or until the printing base abutsthe pulleys I28 and 538 If'it is desired to change the distance that the printing base is moves in one halfrevolution of the escape member I22, this latter membermay be easily and quickly replaced with one hav ing a difierent diameter at the point where the-two flexible lines are woundthereon. If greatersp'acing is desired, the escape member will have a larger diameter, whereas substituting one: with a smaller diameter will reduce the'siz'e of the spacing.

If it is desired to'move the printingbase-14' other than by a depression and release of the control member 62, the escape mechanism can be released-by a depression of-theouter end of the arm Edi which, in turn, causes the arm ill2 to be raised so that the stop members 38' and I 683* are no longer in a position 'to intercept the lugs H8 and i2l-on the escape member I22, as previously described.

In-actual operation the operator of the device first places the material to be stenoiled, such as a sign or the like, on the movable printing base I4. Any convenient method for holding the material to be printed on this base maybeused, such as metal clips on the upper surface-of the printing base, or by use of a vacuum or'elect'ro- I4 isthen moved to the correct starting-position.-

A smallquantity of slow drying silk screenprinting ink has been placed in the-well l8 in the guide member 54, and since the inkis highlyviscous it is normally held from flowing toward the opening 68 in the guide member 54 by-the lower end of the squeegee it which normally rests on the bottom of the well it near the opening 6&- when. not in use.

it is capable of being moved freely back andforth within the trough. With an ink supply so disposed in the guide member 54 and the object to Although the squeegee. fitssnugly in the trough I 36 in theguide member 54,-

7.. be printed in proper alignment with the screen printing frame Hi, the operator may now rotate the screen l6 until the first desired character is substantially aligned with and directly below the guide member 54. The control member 62 may then be pressed which, in turn, will cause the guide member 54 to pivot downwardly toward the screen 40 and, as it does so, the aligning member 52 will enter into the notch i the flange 48 which is aligned with the character previously selected, as described above. As the aligning member 52 moves into registry with the base of this notch, the frame [6 will be automatically adjusted so that the character selected is in registry with the opening 68 in the guide member 54. When the guide member 54 comes into contact with the screen 40 and is subsequently further depressed, the portion of the screen 40 immediately adjacent the guide member 54 will be distorted in a downward direction, as shown in Fig. 6. Since the screen 43 is normally disposed only a relatively short distance above the object 46, such a downward distortion of the screen 40 will cause it to come into contact with this object, as shown in Fig. 6. The guide member 54 and the screen 40 will then be held in such a position through proper pressure on the control member 62, and when so held the operator of the apparatus may lift the squeegee 18 from the guide member 54 and move it in a forward direction until it is between the opening 68 and the aligning member 52. The squeegee is then lowered until the tip 16 thereof comes into contact with the base of the trough I36 immediately in front of the open ing 68. The squeegee may then be moved rearwardly so that the tip 16 passes across the portion of the screen 46 exposed through the opening 88 and back to its original position in the well Hi. When the squeegee tip 16 is lifted from the well i8 as described, a small amount of ink clings to it and a portion of this ink is subsequently forced through the screen 4!! according to the configuration of the character in that portion of the screen framed by the opening 68.

It will be recalled that when the control member 62 is depressed the supporting member 95 is pivoted in such a way that the lug previously intercepted by the stop member 98 is moved into contact with the stop member 190. After the ink has been forced through the screen 40, as described, the control member 62 is allowed to return to its original position, which, in turn, allows the lug on the escape member I22 to escape from the stop member H30, so that the movable printing base i4 is allowed to move one letter space so that the object being printed is in position to receive the next character. This operation may be repeated as often as is necessary to print the desired characters on the object 46.

As previously mentioned, the normal height of the guide member 54 above the printing base l4 may be adjusted by shifting the plate 80 as desired by loosening the wing nuts I38. At the same time the height of the printing frame I6 may be adjusted by replacing the Washer 140 with a washer of a different thickness. The frame I6 may also be removed from the apparatus for cleaning or the like by'lifting it with its collar 42 from the pivot 22.

As previously stated, at least some of the operations of the apparatus may be rather readily made automatic, such as the required movement of the squeegee 10. It would be relatively easy to construct a device in which the movement of 8. the arm 12 and the squeegee could be made to take place automatically as soon as the control member 62 reached its lowest point. Such an arrangement would allow the operator to utilize his right hand entirely for adjustments of the frame l6 while simultaneously operating the control member 62 with his left hand. Obviously it also would be possible to modify the device so that the control member 62 could be operated with a foot pedal, and if the movement of the squeegee 10 were also automatic, then the operator would have both hands free to make adjustments in the position of the frame 16 or for any other desired activity.

In the drawing and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A screen printing apparatus comprising a supporting base, a movable printing base adapted to support an object to be printed, a screen printing frame unit rotatably supported at a plurality of points on the periphery thereof substantially parallel to and in closely spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, said screen being relatively flexible, guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base adapted to bring a, selected portion of said screen into contact with an object supported by said printing base, means for automatically aligning said selected portion of said screen with relation to said guide member and said movable printing base as said guide member is operated to move said selected portion into contact with said object, and means for causing a suitable printing medium to be deposited on said object through said portion of said screen in the form of one of said characters.

2. In a screen printing apparatus having a substantially circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported at its periphery on a supporting base in close association with a movable printing base, the combination of a guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base adapted to be moved into abutment with selected portions of the screen in said rotatable frame unit so that said portions are placed in any desired order on an object disposed on said movable printing base, a plurality of characters disposed in spaced relation on said screen coincident with radii of said frame unit, said portions each containing one of said characters and means activated by the movement of said guide means adapted to move said printing base a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction so that said portions of said screen are placed on said object at spaced intervals.

3. A screen printing apparatus comprising a supporting base, a movable printing base adapted to support an object to be printed, a substantially circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported substantially parallel to and in closely spaced relation to said printing base, the screen in said frame unit being relatively flexible and having a plurality of characters in spaced relation thereon disposed coincident with radii of said frame unit, guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base for selectively and individually distorting portions of said screen so that said portions are brought into contact with an object supported by said printing base, each ofsaid portions having adesired character included therein, and means activated bythe movement of said guide means adapted to move said printing base a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction.

4. A screen printing apparatus comprisingv a supporting base, a printing base movably disposed on said Supporting base, said printing base being adapted to support an object to be printed, a substantially circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported substantially parallel to and in closely spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, a guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base adapted to distort a selected portion of said screen so that said portion-is brought into contact with an. object supported by said printing base, means for automatically aligning said selected portion of said screen with relation to said guide member. and said movable printing base as said guide member is operated to move said. selected. portion into contact with said object, and means for applying a suitable printing medium to said object through said selected portion of said screen in the form of one of said characters.

5. A screen printing apparatus comprising a supporting base, a printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and adaptedto support an object to be printed, a substantially circular screen printing frameunit rotatably supported in spaced relation to said printing base, the screen in said'frame unit being relatively flex ble and having a plurality ofcharacters in spaced relation thereon disposed coincident with radii of said frame unit, means for. applying a suitable printing medium to an object on said printing base through selected portions of said screen, said port ons each containing one of said characters, and a guide means for said applying means, said guide means being adapted to be moved against said selected portions of said; screen to move said portions of said screen .individually into contact with said object, said guide means being pivotally mounted on said supporting base normally in spaced relation to said frame unit.

6. A screen printing apparatus of the character described in claim 5, further com rising means adapted to normally urge said printing base to move in one direction on said supporting base, means operatively connected to said guide means adapted to permit said printing base to move a predetermined distance in said direction each time said guide means is moved against released from contact with said portions of said screen.

'7. A screen printing apparatus of the character described in claim 6, further characterized in that said means operatively connected to said guide means comprises pair of spaced-stop members, a pivotally mounted support for said stop members, means for converting the movementof said guide means into a pivotal movement of said support, and a rotatable escape memberadapted tobenormally held against rotation by one of said stop members, flex ble means adapted to be wound on said escapement member and secured to said printing base so that movement of said supporting base causes said escapement member to rotate, said pivotal movement of said support for said stop members allowing said escapement member to rotate a predetermined amount.

8. A screen printing apparatus comprising a supporting base, a printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and being adapted to support an object to be printed, a substantially circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported in spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, a guide means pivotally mounted on-said supporting base, tension means normally maintaining said guide means in spaced relation to. said frame unit, a control member disposed on said guide means, said guide means being adapted to move a selected portion ofsaid screen into contact with the object supported by said printing base when said control member is properly operated, means for applying a suitable printing medium. to said object to said selected portion of said screen in the form of one of said characters, means adapted to urge said printing base to move in one direction on said supporting base and escapement means operatively connected to and activated by the movement of said guide means adapted to allow said printing base to move a predetermined distance in said direction when said guide means is so moved against and released from contact with said portion of said screen.

9.' In a screen printing apparatus of the character described having a supporting base, a printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and adapted to support an object to be printed, and an escapement mechanism adapted to allow said printing base to move a predetermined distance when activated, the combination of a substantially circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported in spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, a guide means adapted to move a selected portion of said screen into contact with an object supported by said printing base, means for applying a suitable printing medium to said object through said selected portion of said screen in the form of one ofsaid characters, means normally urging said printing base to move in one direction on said supporting base and a pivotal connection between said escapement mechanism and said guide means adapted to operate said escapement mechanism so that when said guide means is operated to move a selected portion of said screen into contact with an object supported by said printing base,- said printing base is thereafter permitted to move a predeterm ned distance in the direction it is normally urged to move.

10. In a screen printing apparatus of the character described having a supporting base, a printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and adapted to support an object to be printed, the combination of a circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported at a plurality of' points on its periphery substantially parallel and in closely spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, a guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base adapted to move'a selected portion of said screen including one of said'characters' into contact with an object supported by said printing base, a reservoir in said guide means adapted to hold a supply of a suitable printing medium, an opening in said reservoir adapted to expose the character on said selected portion of said screen, and means for applying said medium to said object through said opening and said selected portion of said screen in the form of said character, said last named means being pivotally mounted on said said reservoir in spaced relation to said opening.

11. In a screen printing apparatus of the character described having a supporting base, a printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and adapted to support an object to be printed, and an escapement mechanism adapted to allow said printing base to move a predetermined distance when activated, the combination of a circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported at a plurality of points on its periphery substantially parallel and in closely spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, a guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base adapted to move a selected portion of said screen including one of said characters into contact with an object supported by said printing base, a reservoir in said guide means adapted to hold a supply of a suitable printing medium, an opening in said reservoir adapted to expose the character on said selected portion of said screen, and means normally urging said printing base to move in one direction on said supporting base and connecting means between said escapement mechanism and said guide means adapted to control said escapement mechanism so that when said guide means is operated to move a selected portion of said screen into contact with an object supported by said printing base, said printing base is thereafter permitted to move a predetermined distance in the direction it is normally urged to move.

12. In a screen printing apparatus of the character described having a supporting base, a printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and adapted to support an object to be printed, and an escapement mechanism adapted to allow said printing base to move a predetermined distance when activated, the combination of a circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported at a plurality of points on its periphery substantially parallel and in closely spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, a guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base adapted to move a selected portion of said screen into contact with an object supported by said printing base, means for automatically aligning the selected portion of said screen with relation to said guide member and said movable printing base as said guide member is operated to move said selected portion into contact with said object, a reservoir in said guide means adapted to hold a supply of a suitable printing medium, an opening in said reservoir adapted to expose the character on said selected portion of said screen, and means normally urging said printing base to move in one direction on said supporting base and connecting means between said escapement mechanism and said guide means adapted to control said escapement mechanism so that when said guide means is operated to move a selected portion of said screen into contact with an object a mined distance in the direction it is normally 'urged to move.

13. In a screen printing apparatus having a sup-porting base, a movable printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and adapted to support an object to be printed and a screen printing frame unit having a plurality of characters thereon movably supported substantially parallel to and in closely spaced relation to said printing base, the combination of a guide means pivotally mounted on said supporting base adapted to move aselected portion of said screen including one of said characters into contact with an object supported by said printing base, a reservoir in said guide means adapted to hold a Supply of a suitable printing medium, an opening in said reservoir adapted to expose the character on said selected portion of said screen, and means for applying said medium to said object through said opening and said selected portion of said screen in the form of said character, said last named means being pivotally mounted on said supporting base and adapted to normally rest in said reservoir in spaced relation to said opening.

14. A screen printing apparatus comprising a supporting base, a movable printing base movably disposed on said supporting base and adapted to support an object to be printed, a circular screen printing frame unit rotatably supported in spaced relation to said printing base, a plurality of characters on the screen of said frame unit, a guide means adapted to move a selected portion of said screen into contact with an object supported by said printing base, means for applying a suitable printing medium to said object through said selected portion of said screen in the form of one of said characters, means adapted to normally urge said printing base to move in one direction on said supporting base, a pivotally mounted dog support member, a dog rigidly securedthereto, a second dog pivotally mounted thereon, .a dog stop member mounted on said support member, a resilient member normally urging said second dog against dog stop memher, a rotatable escapement member normally adapted to be intercepted by one of said dogs, :means operatively connecting said dog support member to said guide means so that said dog support member is pivoted when said guide means is moved and a control member adapted to move said dog support member at will so that said dogs are moved out of cooperative relation with said escape member.

H. RUSSELL FARWELL.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 257,423 Williamson l May 2, 1-882 465,905 Webb Dec. 29, 1891 2,369,6Q2 Petty et a1 Feb. 13, 1945