Patent ID: 6257136
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: B41F

Abstract:
Apparatus for decorating workpieces, said apparatus including the combination of:a conveyor having a plurality of workpiece supports arranged successively, each workpiece support including a drive arm to rotate a workpiece supported about a longitudinal axis of the workpiece;at least two decorating stations arranged at spaced apart locations along said conveyor each for applying a decoration to each workpiece, each decorating station including a screen drive operative to linearly reciprocate a decorating screen to provide at least one screen cycle and either a second screen cycle or a screen return cycle for simultaneously decorating resident workpieces at each of said decorating stations, each decorating station further including a squeegee moveable to an operative position to maintaining line contact between said decorating screen and a resident workpiece for applying decoration to a resident workpiece at each of said decorating stations;a drive arm restraint engaged with each drive arm of the workpiece supports while moved by said conveyor between said decorating stations to maintain an orientation of a workpiece relative to a decoration screen at a first of said decorating station in the same orientation relative to a decorating screen at a second of said decorating stations;a drive coupled to said conveyor for intermittently advancing workpieces supported by said workpiece supports to said decorating stations, said drive being operative to maintain a workpiece at each of said decorating stations during a dwell period for decorating the resident workpieces at said decorating stations; andeach of said first and second decorating stations further including a workpiece rotator to engage with a drive arm of a workpiece support coupled by a drive controller to the screen drive thereof to rotate a decoration receiving surface of a resident workpiece workpieces at both of said first and second decorating stations being rotated by the workpiece rotators thereof with linear travel of both of the decorating screens during said one screen cycle, the drive controller of each of said first and second decorating stations being operable to uncouple the workpiece rotator thereof from the screen drive thereof after said one screen cycle to allow compensation for operating clearances of the workpiece rotator and screen drive of each of said first and second decorating stations and thereby maintain the integrity of said orientation of a workpiece before said second screen cycle or prior to a repeat of said one screen cycle.