Patent ID: 8800441
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: B41F

Abstract:
1. An improved screen printing squeegee blade for use in a mechanical screen printing press for applying ink to a substrate during a printing stroke, comprising: a blade body having a first end, a second end, a top portion spaced apart from a screen of the mechanical screen printing press, a bottom portion adapted for contacting the screen of the mechanical screen printing press along at least one printing edge, a front face, a back surface, and a buckle control channel formed in one of the front face and the back surface of the blade, the buckle control channel being spaced apart from the at least one printing edge a sufficient distance that the buckle control channel hinges horizontally along the length of the blade above the zone of contact between the blade and the ink during a printing stroke, wherein the buckle control channel is curved along its length, the curved buckle control channel defines a channel formed in one of the front face and back surface of the squeegee blade, the curved buckle control channel extends from the first end to the second end of the blade in an arc with the channel extending closer to the bottom portion of the blade in the center portion of the blade than at the first end and second end of the blade.