Patent ID: 8561535
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: B41F,B41M,B41P

Abstract:
1. A method of screen printing on 3 D glass articles, comprising: (a) providing a 3D glass article having a first 3D surface with a first surface profile and a second 3D surface with a second surface profile, the first 3D surface and the second 3D surface being separated by a thickness of glass; (b) providing a fixture having a 3D fixture surface with a fixture surface profile matching the second surface profile; (c) providing a screen having a design, a squeegee, and an ink; (d) supporting the 3D glass article on the fixture by mating the second 3D surface with the 3D fixture surface; (e) positioning the screen at a plane a distance above the first 3D surface; (f) depositing the ink on the screen; (g) positioning the squeegee at a selected orientation relative to the plane; and (h) pushing the ink through the screen onto the first 3D surface by simultaneously contacting the squeegee with the screen, traversing the squeegee in a linear direction, maintaining the orientation of the squeegee relative to the plane, and locally deflecting the screen from the plane to the first 3D surface, and locally conforming the screen to the first surface profile by the squeegee during the traversing movement of the squeegee in the linear direction.