US2810340A

US2810340A - Silk screen printing machine

Info

Publication number: US2810340A
Application number: US485645A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur W Saunders
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1955-02-02
Filing date: 1955-02-02
Publication date: 1957-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 1974-10-22

Description

arm

Oct. 22, 1957 Filed Feb. 2, 1955 A. w. SAUNDERS 2,810,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 22, 1957 A. w. SAUNDERS SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1955 A. W. SAUNDERS SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Oct. 22, 1957 Filed Feb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 22, 1957 A. w. SAUNDERS 2,810,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q a E k E 07/ k em $2 ,Jiw f %7oq4/ @775/veeg/ Oct. 22, 1957 w, SAUNDERS 2,810,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 22, 1957 Y A. w. SAUNDERS 2,310,340

SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet e United States atent SILK SCREEN PRINTING MACHINE Arthur W. Saunders, Round Lake, Ill.

Application February 2, 1955, Serial No. 485,645

4 Claims. (Cl. 101-126) This invention relates to a printing machine and, in particular, to a silk screen printing machine arranged for vertical printing.

While forms of silk screen printers are found in the art, these have been found to have disadvantageous limitations in operational efiiciency in the production of the printed material. The means for insertion and removal of the printing stock material have proven ineflicient. Further, the inking mechanisms presently found in the art do not provide completely satisfactory means for application of the ink through the screen and storage of the ink supply therein. Where the printer is designed for oneman operation, the disadvantages indicated cumulatively retard production efiiciency.

The principal features of my invention, therefore, is the provision of a new and improved silk screen printing machine arranged to provide improved efficiency in the printing operation.

Another feature is the provision of a new and improved silk screen printing machine arranged for the printing of the stock in a vertical plane.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a vertical silk screen printer having vertically movable inking means and a stock supporting platen adapted to pivot to a position away from the vertical so as to receive the stock and pivot to the vertical position to bring the stock into printing position engagement with the screen.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide a vertical silk screen printer having new and improved inking means comprising an ink reservoir having an ink transferring squeegee extending outwardly from the lower portion thereof and an ink flow control blade disposed adjacent said squeegee and movable to a position wherein it contacts the squeegee to prevent ink flow from the reservoir during the non-printing portion of the printing operation.

Yet another feature is the provision of a silk screen printer having new and improved oscillatory drive means provided with a unidirectionally rotating member, a crank arm having one end pivotally eccentrically connected to the rotating member, a first toothed rack fixedly secured to the printer frame, a second toothed rack spaced from and extending parallel to the first rack and movably carried by the frame, and a toothed wheel pivotally secured to another end of the crank arm and having meshing engagement with both racks reciprocatorily to move the second rack.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of a silk screen printer having new and improved registering means which is accurate and easily operable and which comprises a positionally adjustable silk screen frame support whereby said frame carrying a silk screen may be positioned laterally and longitudinally relative to the printing stock supporting platen.

Various other features and advantages of this invention .will .be apparent from thefollowing description 2 taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a vertical silk screen printer embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the silk screen frame register adjustment means, right-hand side;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the drive means taken approximately along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the stock supporting guide means in the position assumed when the platen is disengaged from the frame;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the guide means in the position assumed when the platen is in printing position in engagement with the frame;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken ap proximately along the line 88 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken approximately along the line 99 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the drive means taken approximately along the line 1010 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the .inking mechanism taken along the line 1212 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a sectional View taken along the line 1313 of Fig. 3 showing the inking mechanism in the ink applying position; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 13 but with the inking mechanism flow control blade in the cutoff position and the silk screen frame in the released position.

Referring now to the drawings and, in particular to Fig. 1, a silk screen printing machine embodying my invention may be seen wherein a reciprocatory drive means 25, comprising a unidirectionally rotating motor, suitable drive belting, and a rack and pinion, is mounted on a horizontally disposed frame 20. Fixedly secured to the mid-portion of the frame are vertically extending support means 35. Slidably mounted on the support means is an inking mechanism 40 which is reciprocatorily vertically moved by a connecting means 30 adapted to co-operate with the driving means to provide linear oscillatory motion. The inking mechanism comprises an ink reservoir having a squeegee blade adapted to engage the silk screen for printing therethrough and a control blade adapted to stop the flow of ink from the reservoir to the squeegee during the non printing portion of the operation.

A generally vertically disposed frame .50 adapted to carry a silk screen 70 is pivotally secured to the frame 20 by positioning means 55 adapted to allow both vertical and horizontal adjustment of the silk screen frame.

This frame is arranged to extend parallel and adjacent to the support means 35 so that the inking mechanism squeegee may have ink transferring contact with the silk screen mounted thereon over the operative portion of the inking mechanism upward vertical movement, thereby effecting the deposition of ink on'the printing stock in the 'silk screen printing manner. ..Also carried by the frame 20 is the printing stock carrying platen member 60 which is arranged to position the stock in contact with the silk screen for printing and which is further arranged to pivot to a released position for insertion or removal of the stock from the platen.

The drive means The specific arrangement and construction of the drive means 25 may be best seen in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 10. A unidirectionally rotating motor 26 is fixedly secured to a transversely extending portion a of frame 20 and is I provided with a pulley and belt power transmitting drive 26a having a driven pulley 26a mounted on a horizontally extending shaft 26b. Shaft 26b is journalled in bearings 26b which are fixedly attached to a partial housing 21. attached to a left-hand longitudinal member 20c of frame 20. Housing 21'comprises an open ended rectangular frame adapted generally to enclose a portion of drive means 25.

Intermediate the ends of shaft 26b is provided a worm gear 260. A mating worm wheel 26d is mounted fast on a shaft 26d which is rotatively mounted on the frame and housing. Wheel 26a has meshing engagement with the worm gear 26c and is rotated unidirectionally thereby. Ecccntrically mounted on the worm wheel is a pin 26d" and a crank arm 27 is pivotally connected thereto at one end 27a. At the opposite end 2717 of the crank arm is pivotally mounted a pinion 27c. A fixed rack 28 is secured to the frame member 20c by studs 28a and extends longitudinally along the frame member. Spaced below and extending parallel to the fixed rack is a movable rack 29 carried in a channel 20b secured to the frame. The spacing between the racks is such that the pinion 27c will have meshing engagement with a downwardly extending toothed portion 28b of the upper fixed rack and an upwardly extending toothed portion 29a of the lower movable rack.

As the unidirectionally rotating drive motor 26, through the drive 26a with driven pulley 26a, shaft 26b, and worm gear 260, causes the worm wheel 26d to rotate unidirectionally, the crank arm 27 will be forced by pin 26d to impart a longitudinal reciprocating motion to the pinion 27c. As the rack 28 is positionally immovable, the pinion will rotate and cause the movable rack 29 to move longitudinally. The motion thus transmitted will have a magnitude twice that of the longitudinal motion of the pinion.

The support means, inking means and connecting means As seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the vertical support means comprises a pair of spaced, vertically extending members 36, each secured at the lower end to the left horizontal frame mmeber 200 by studs 36a and a similar pair of vertically extending spaced members 37 secured at their lower ends to right horizontal frame member 20d by studs 37a. Resultant spaces 36b and 3712 between the support members provided a guide channel for mounting the inking mechanism 40. A horizontally extending support member 38 is fixedly secured to the top portion of members 36 by studs 38a and similar support member 39 is secured to the topportion of vertical members 37 by studs 39a. A brace member 3511, extending horizontally between the support members, is secured at one end to support member38 and at the opposite end to support member 39, atfording rigidity and stability to the support means 35.

Inking mechanism 40, as best seen in Figs. 1, 3 and 11 to 14, comprises two vertically extending

end members

41 and 41 spaced apart by and fixedly secured to opposite ends of a horizontal support 42. The length of the support is somewhat less than the spacing between the vertical support means 35 so that the end members extend parallel to and adjacent the

supports

36 and 37. A slide block 43 is secured to each of the end members by studs 43a, extending outwardly from the members and through the spaces 36b and 3712. Slide blocks 43 each comprise a spacer block 43b extending outwardly from the end member, a first slide guide plate 430 abutting block 43b and provided with an outer surface slidingly engaging the inner surface of the vertical support member, a second slide guide plate 43d in sliding engagement with the outer surfaces of the support members, and a pair of ball bearings 43e mounted on the studs 43a intermediate the guide plates and in the space be- 4 tween the vertical supports. The bearings are preferably siightly smaller in diameter than the width of the spaces 36b and 37b so that a rolling action will be had against either one of the adjacent support members. As the studs 43a, on which the rollers are mounted, are spaced part, the inking mechanism will be constrained against pivotal rotation while vertical reciprocatory movement will be readily allowed. The guide plates are preferably formed of a wear resistant material such as brass to allow ease of operation and minimum maintenance. The assembly is secured by threading nuts 43a" on the outwardly extending portion of the studs 43 against the outer surface of plate 43d. The inner end of the studs 43a is provided with a flanged end portion 43a adapted to retain a slide plate 44 which is mounted between the flanged end and the inner surface of the end member.

Slide plates 44 are provided with two spaced vertically extending slots 44a arranged to receive the studs 43a while allowing limited vertical movement of the slide plates. The stud flanged portion 43a extends sufficiently laterally of the openings to retain the plates in juxtaposition to the end members. Each plate is provided with a horizontally disposed bottom surface 441) and a horizontally disposed top surface 44c. A portion 44d, of the top surface, is cut away to allow clearance thereof with support 42 and other members to be later described.

Extending between the slide plates is the ink transferring element 45 comprising a support 45a fixedly secured at opposite ends to the slide plates intermediate the slots 44a. The support extends forwardly angularly downwardly. An intermediate support 45b is fixedly secured along one edge to the support 45a and similarly extends angularly downwardly. At the lower portion of support 45, a squeegee blade 450 formed of a resilient material such as neoprene, is secured. The screen engaging outer portion 450 of the squeegee blade extends slightly beyond the front edge of the

end members

41 and 41 to allow inking engagement with the silk screen when supported in the printing position.

The upper portions of the horizontal support 42 adjacent each of the end members are provided with leaf springs 42a. Immediately forward of the support 42 is a control blade mechanism 46. This mechanism is secured to the end members by L-shaped supports 46a pivotally mounted thereon by pins 46a. A horizontally arranged portion 46a" extends slightly above the end of support 42 and is contacted by the springs 42a which urge the mechanism 46 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 13 and 14-. A vertical blade support member 46b is secured to the rear portion of a vertically extending portion 46a of support 46 and extends transversely between the

end members

41 and 41 Support 42 extends laterally between the end members immediately adjacent support member 4612 and acts to limit the clockwise pivotal movement of the control blade mechanism. A thin control blade 46d is attached to the lower portion of the support 46b also extending laterally between the end members. The pivotal movement of the support 46a will cause the lower end of the blade 46d to be positioned alternatively as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

Thus, it can be seen that the ink transferring element 45 and slide plates 44 define an open-sided reservoir in which printing ink may be placed and allowed to flow downwardly and outwardly over the squeegee blade edge 45c onto and through the silk screen 70. The control blade being disposed slightly above the squeegee blade in the released position, as seen in Fig. 13, serves further partially to enclose this reservoir and, to some extent, control the flow of ink therefrom over the squeegee blade. When the control blade and ink transferring element are moved to the non-printing position as seen in Fig. 14, further ink flow is prevented. In my improved vertically operative inking mechanism, therefore, is provided means for storing the ink supply, controlling its flow during the printing operation and preventing the non-printing portion of the operation.

The connecting means 30, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, 10, 13 and 14, comprises a pinion 31 mounted on a transversely extending horizontal shaft 32 which is journalled in suitable bearings on frame members 20c and 20d so as to have meshing engagement with the movable rack tooth portion 29a. Non-rotatively mounted on the shaft 32 are

driver sprockets

32a and 32a. Extending parallel to shaft 32 and fixedly secured to support

members

38 and 39 is a shaft 33. Driven

sprockets

33a and 33a are freely mounted on this shaft in alignment with the driver sprockets on shaft 32.

Chains

34 and 34 are provided for interconnecting sprocket 32a with sprocket 33a and sprocket 32a with sprocket 33a.

Connecting links

34a and 34a are provided in the chains and are secured to the ink transferring element support 45a by screws 45a. Thus, vertical reciprocatory motion may be imparted by the chain to the ink transferring element 45, and as the support 45a is secured to the slide plates 44, the motion will be imparted to the plates and the end members to which the plates are secured. Lateral movement of

sprockets

33a and 33a is prevented by the maintenance of the spacing between chains effected by the securing of the

links

34a and 34a to the ink transferring element.

As indicated previously, the slide plates have limited vertical movement .relative to the end members due to the engagement of the studs 43a secured to the end members with the elongated slots 44a of the slide plates. To assure proper positioning of the slide plate relative to the end members, a ball catch mechanism 47 is provided as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. Mechanism 47 comprises a flat spring 47a secured at one end to the outer portion of the end member. The opposite end of the spring is provided with a ball engaging rounded portion 47a. A spherical ball 47b is retained in a hole 41a in the end member. Slide plate 44 is provided with spaced,

arcuate recesses

44e and 44e adapted to receive and yieldingly hold a portion of the ball 47b to prevent relative movement between'the slide plate. and the end member. Recess 44a is located so as to position the slide plate bottom portion 44b adjacent the bottom of the end member while recess 44a is located to position the slide plate top surface 44c adjacent the top of the end member.

Upper stops 48 are secured to the vertical support members and are positioned to allow the upper surface of the endmember to contact it at the upper limit of its vertical travel. The connecting means 30 causes the ink transferring element and slide plates, on which the transferring element is mounted, to continue their upward travel a small amount after the end members are stopped. The force acting to move the slide plate relative to the end member is thusly increased so that the ball 47b'will be forced from the recess 44e against the pressure of spring 47a. When he slide member has moved upwardly to the point where the studs 43a contact the bottom of the slots 44a, the ball 47b will engage the recess 44e, holding the slide plate in the upper position.

Lower stops 49 are mounted on the vertical support members, positioned so as to have their upper portion contact the lower surfaces of the end members at the bottom limit of travel thereof. With the end members prevented from further downward motion, connecting means 30 will act to move the slide plate downwardly until the studs 43a engage the upper portion of the slots 44a and the bottom surface 44b of the slide plate is aligned with the bottom of the end member. This positional transfer is accompanied by the transferring of the ball 47b from the recess 44e to the recess 44c.

Adjustable stops 48a are mounted on the

vertical support members

36 and 37 near their upper ends and are positioned to contact the horizontal portion of L-shaped flow during screw 48a which is positionally adjustable by threading to cause the pivoting of the support 46 ina counterclockwise direction as seen in Figs. 13 and 14 against action 1 of spring 42a so as to cause the control blade 46d to move the upper limit of travel. This stop is provided with a described, blade portion 450' will contact the rear portion of the control blade, thus preventing further flow'of ink over portion 450'.

1 T hesilk screen frame and positioning means As best seen in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 6 to 9, the silk screen supporting frame 50 is secured to the longitudinal frame members 20c and 20d by positioning means 55.- Frame 50 comprises a rectangular outer frame member. 51 having vertically extending side portions 51a and horizontally extending top portion 51b and bottom portion 510. A continuous groove 52 is provided in the rear surface of the frame members to receive the peripheral portions of the silk screen 70 placed on the frame. A cord 52a is provided to clamp the edges of the silk screen in the groove and hold the silk screen taut during the printing operation. Other suitable means for holding the screen to the frame similarly may be utilized for this purpose. It should be noted here that the placement of the screen on the frame is opposite that normally found in the art, in that herein the design side of the screen is placed in-v wardly of the screen frame.

Pivotally mounted on the outer side of the frame 20 by studs 56a are adjustment plates 56. Stud 56a is positioned intermediate the ends of the plate. A vertically extending groove 56b is provided at the forward end of the plate and a wing bolt 57 is passed through the groove and secured to frame 20c. Secured near the rear end of the plate 56 is a stud 58 which extends through the plate, through a vertically extending groove 20e'in the frame member and terminates in a recess 51d provided in the bottom portion of frame member 51. Groove 20e is provided with suflicient width to allow ready movement of the stud 58 therethrough and recess 51d is made to allow pivotal movement of the frame on a non-threaded stud end portion 58a retained therein. A nut 58b is carried by the stud 58 and abuts the adjustment plate 56 so as to lock the stud positionally horizontally.

Pivotal rotation of the plate 56 causes stud 58 to raise or lower the frame 50 carried thereby, thus allowing for vertical register of the silk screen mounted on the frame. Longitudinal adjustment of the studs 58 allows for horizontal register of the silk screen. As the positioning means are provided on both the left and righthand side of the printing machine, it is necessary that both be adjusted to effectuate the repositioning.

As seen in Fig. 1, frame 50 is maintained in a relatively vertical position by frame support means 53 comprising supports 53a secured to the

vertical support members

36 and 37 and extending horizontally forwardly, and stops 53b and 53c secured to the supports 53a. Stops 53b and 530 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the frame top 51b. Stops 53b are positioned so that the rear portion of the frame top 51b will abut them when the frame is in the printing position with the silk screen 70 disposed for contact with the squeegee blade 450. The stop 53's is positioned forwardly on the support 53a so as to allow the frame to pivot away from the printing position and permit the silk screen to move from engagement with the squeegee. This movement is relatively small as the clearance between the squeegee blade and the screen need only be suflicient to allow the control blade 46d to be interposed therebetween as seen in Fig. 14; i a

The platen member.

The outside dimensions of the platen are somewhat smaller than the internal dimensions of the frame 50 so that the platen may be positioned therewithin, with the platen surface in juxtaposition to the silk screen 70 carried by the frame. The platen comprises a block, preferably of a material such as wood, to which the printing stock 71 is secured for the printing operation. Studs 61c allow for adjustment of the positioning of the platen so as to provide uniform contact between the stock and the silk screen in the printing position.

The lower portion of the platen is provided with a plurality of guide members 63 adapted to receive the stock and hold it for printing thereon. These guides, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, comprise a rod 63a having a flanged end 63b and a retaining screw 630 secured to the opposite end. A tension spring 63d is mounted on the rod adjacent the screw 630, with the rod extending through a bushing 63c mounted in the platen 62. Spring 63d acts to urge rod 63a so as to move the flanged end 63]) away from the platen and allow the insertion of the stock therebetween.

When the platen member is positioned so as to bring the platen into juxtaposition with the silk screen, the flanged end of the guide members will contact the silk screen and move the rod 63a forwardly, causing the flanged portion 63b to contact the stock 71 and hold it tightly against the platen.

When the platen member is pivoted to the printing position, it is retained therein by a pair of latch members 64 comprising horizontal bars 64a pivotally secured to the vertical support members, and provided in the forward portion with a notch 64b adapted to engage the handle 61b. A cross bar 64d extending laterally is secured at its ends to each of the latch members to form a unified assembly maintaining positional relationship of the two latch members. Springs 65 are secured at one end to the bars 64 rearwardly of the pivotalattachment to the vertical support member and at the other end to the vertical support members. The cross bar 64d is disposed adjacent the connecting means chain; mounted on the chain is a contact member 34b which is positioned to strike the under portion of the bar end when the inking mechanism has reached the upper limit of its travel. This acts to pivot the notched end of the bar downwardly and release the platen member which will pivot by action of gravity outwardly, allowing ready access to the platen surface for removal and insertion of the printing stock. The leading edge 640 of the bar 64 is charnfered to guide the platen handle thereover and into the notch 64b, thereby allowing ready manual latching of the platen in a vertical position.

Drive control means The control of the drive means motor 26 is obtained through the useof two switches 66 and 67. Switch 66 is mounted on the frame member 20c and is provided with an actuating means 66a adapted to be contacted by a lever 61d secured to the bottom portion of the supporting frame 61. This lever actuates the switch when the platen member is in the vertical or printing position, thereby starting the motor 26 and causing the drive means and connecting means to move the inking mechanism to efiect a printing operation. Switch 67 is mounted on the vertical support member 36 and is provided with an actuating means 67a which is contacted by the slide spacer block 43b in its upward travel so as to close the Operation The operation of my vertical silk screen printer is automatic upon placement of the printing stock on the platen member and the pivoting thereof into the frame so that the stock will have engagement with the silk screen mounted thereon. The stock is first manually placed on the platen member 62 and allowed to abut the guides 63 which are properly positioned on the platen for printing. The platen member is then pivoted to the vertical position wherein the guide members will be pressed by the silk screen forwardly so as to cause the flange to contact and securely hold the stock. The switch 66 is actuated by the lever 61d at this time, closing the circuit to the motor 26. The inking mechanism 40, having been positioned adjacent switch 67 when its downward travel Was stopped on the previous cycle, will be moved downwardly by action of the motor drive means and the connecting means through

chains

34 and 34.

The downward motion is accomplished by motor 26 acting through the drive 26a and pulley 26a to rotate worm wheel 26d and draw crank arm 27 rearwardly. Pinion 27c attached to the crank arm end will act to move the movable rack 29 also rearwardly. As pinion 31 is meshed with the toothed portion 29a of the movable rack, it will act to rotate

driver sprockets

32a and 32a clockwise as seen in Fig. 1 and move the forward portion of the

chains

34 and 34 downwardly carrying the inking mechanism correspondingly downwardly.

"the actuation of switch 66 is accomplished slightly prior to the complete closing of the platen so that the downward travel of the inking mechanism, which is for a relatively short distance, is accomplished normally prior to the complete closing of the platen within the frame. The purpose of this is to allow the withdrawal of the control blade mechanism 46 from the space between the end of the squeegee blade 45c of the ink transferring element 45 and the silk screen 70 where it had been positioned on the previous cycle to hold the ink on the squeegee blade as seen in Fig. 14. This withdrawal, as indicated previously, is accomplished by the bottom edge of the end member striking lower stop 49 and preventing further downward travel of the end member. The chain traverses a small amount further downwardly so as to move the slide plates 44 downwardly relative to the end members and cause the studs 43a to abut the upper end of the slots 44 as seen in Fig. 13. As the ink transferring element 45 is thus moved down relative to the end members, the control blade 46d being supported on the end members will become disengaged from the outer squeegee blade portion 450' and ink will be allowed to flow over the squeegee blade under the control blade and onto the silk screen which will have been placed in the vertical printing position by the now completed closing of the platen acting to move the silk screen carrying frame from abutment with stops 53b to abutment with stops 53c. Spring 42a will act to maintain the control blade mechanism 46 in this withdrawn position during the upward printing cycle.

Pinion 27c will now be driven by the crank arm in the opposite direction (to the right in Fig. 1) so as to move the inking mechanism upwardly by action of the movable rack and connecting means. As the inking mechanism moves, the squeegee blade portion 45c contacts the silk screen as seen in Fig. 13 and applies ink thereto so as to print upon the stock held immediately forwardly of the silk screen by the platen 62. As inking mechanism 40 nears the upper limit of its travel, the horizontal portion 46a of L-shaped support 46a contacts adjustable stop 48a, thereby pivoting the control blade mechanism 46 and forcing the lower end of blade 46d tightly against silk screen 70. Further upward travel of inking mechanism 40 causes abutment of the end members 41' with upper stops 48, which causes ink transferring element 45 to move upwardly relative to the end members allowing squeegee blade edge 450' to contact the rear portion of the control blade 46d, thereby preventing further flow of ink from the squeegee blade. Stop 34b, mounted on the chain, now contacts latch member 64 so as to pivot it and release platen member 60 allowing it to pivot forwardly. The platen member release, in turn, allows frame 50 to pivot forwardly a small amount until its top portion 51b abuts stop 53b, thereby releasing silk screen 70 from engagement with control blade 46a.

The switch 67, having been actuated by the inking mechanism on its upward travel so as to maintain the circuit to the motor after the platen member 60 has been allowed to pivot forwardly and open switch 66, now acts to allow the drive and connecting means to move the inking mechanism downwardly. When the slide spacer block 43b recontacts the actuating member 67a, switch 67 is operated to open the circuit to the motor and further movement is prevented until the aforedescribed cycle is repeated by the manual operation of the platen member.

The registration of the printing is readily accomplished in my invention by the manual operation of the positioning means as follows. For vertical adjustment, wing nuts 57 are loosened and the adjusting plates 56 pivoted by studs 56a to move the frame to the desired position, whereupon the wing nuts are tightened. Horizontal register is accomplished by inwardly threading one of the studs 58 while outwardly threading the opposite stud so as to move the frame 50 horizontally. The studs are then secured in the desired position by tightening nuts 58b so as to maintain the horizontal registration.

My invention comprises a silk screen printer having simple construction which allows improved printing and production efiiciency. The means for registration of the printing are simple and effective and the printer may be utilized for one-man operation with optimum results.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a silk screen printing machine having a frame, printing registering means comprising in combination; a silk screen supporting member; a plate member pivotally secured to the frame and arranged to move in a vertical plane; adjustable means mounted on the frame and removably engaging the plate member for securing the plate to the frame in any of a plurality of positions; and a member secured to the plate member and adapted to be longitudinally moved parallel to the axis of pivoting of the plate and having a portion in pivotal engagement with the silk screen supporting member.

2. In a silk screen printing machine operating means comprising in combination: a frame; oscillatory drive means mounted on the frame and having a unidirectionally rotating motor; vertically extending support means mounted on the frame; inking means vertically movably mounted on the support means to have a printing movement and a non-printing movement, and provided with switch actuating means; connecting means extending between drive means adapted vertically to reciprocate the inking means; a first switch adapted to be actuated by said actuating means and adapted to control the electrical circuit to the motor; a movable stock carrying platen member having switch actuating means; a second switch arranged to be operated by the pIaten member actuating means and to further control the electrical circuit to the motor, whereby said motor may be operated to actuate the drove means and move the inking mechanism automatically when the platen member is moved to a printing position, and said motor is automatically stopped when the inking means is moved to a non-printing position.

3. A silk screen printing machine comprising in combination: a frame; oscillatory drive means mounted on the frame and having a uni'directionally rotating electric motor; vertically extending support means mounted on the frame; inking means vertically movably mounted on the support means and having an ink flow control blade and a switch engaging block member; connecting means extending between the drive means and the inking means adapted reciprocatorily, vertically to move the inking means on the vertical support means; a silk screen supporting member mounted on the frame and extending vertically in juxtaposition to the support means and arranged to allow mounting of a silk screen thereon to have ink transferring engagement with the inking means; a platen movably secured to the frame and adapted to removably support material to be printed in contact with the silk screen for printing on the material, said platen having a switch actuating lever mounted thereon; a first switch mounted on the vertical support means, adapted to be actuated by the inking means block so as to close the circuit to the electric motor on the upward travel of the inking mechanism and open the circuit to the motor on the downward travel of the inking mechanism; a second switch mounted on the frame and adapted to be actuated by the platen lever when the platen is moved to the printing position to close the circuit to the motor and when the platen is moved to the non-printing position open the circuit to the motor, said switches acting in combination to cause the motor to operate the drive and the connecting means so as to automatically cause the inking mechanism to move upwardly in ink transferring engagement with the silk screen when the platen is closed, engage a stop at the upper limit of the vertical travel to move the ink control blade to an ink flow stopping position and to move the inking mechanism downwardly, stopping it automatically.

4. A silk screen printing machine comprising in combination: a frame; oscillatory drive means having unidirectionally rotating member mounted on the frame, a

crank arm having one end pivotally eccentrically connected to the rotating member, a first tooth rack fixedly secured to the frame, a second tooth rack spaced from and extending parallel to the first rack and movably carried by the frame and a toothed wheel pivotally secured to another end of the crank arm and having meshing engagement with both racks reciprocatorily to move said second rack; vertically extending support means mounted on the frame; inking means comprising an ink reservoir having end members movably secured to the support means, ink transferring means slidably secured to said reservoir member and provided with a connecting element, a squeegee extending outwardly from the ink reservoir, an ink flow control blade movably mounted on the end member having a portion disposed adjacent said squeegee arranged to be movable to a position where it contacts the squeegee and prevents ink flow from the reservoir, first stop means mounted on the vertically extending support means adapted to engage the ink transferring means at the upper and lower limits of travel to cause the ink transferring means to move relative to the end members; second stop means mounted on the vertically extending support means adapted to move the control blade at the upper limit of travel to the ink flow preventing position; connecting means extending between the drive means and the inking means adapted to engage the drive means and the connecting element and reciprocatorily, vertically move the inking means; a silk screen supporting member mounted on the frame and extending in juxtaposition to the support means, and arranged to allow mounting of a silk screen thereon to have ink transferring engagement with the inking means; and a platen movably secured to the frame and adapted to support material to be printed in contact with the silk screen for printing on the material.

References Cited in the file of this patent 12 Flockhart Dec. 20, 1932 Parmele July 10, 1934 Wade Ian. 8, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS France Dec. 30, 1953