Patent GB-827954-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to means for printing or decorating articles of ware
Inventor: MURRAY GUY LESLIE
IPC: B41F17/00
Filed: 1954-11-18
Abstract: 827,954. Printing-machines. MURRAY CURVEX PRINTING Ltd. Nov. 17, 1955 [Nov. 18, 1954], No. 33404/54. Class 100(2) Printing on curved surfaces; platen machines. An automatic machine for printing or decorating articles, comprises carrying means for a resilient pad, support means for a plate carrying the design to be printed on the article, means for effecting relative movement between the carrying means and the support, means to cause the pad to be applied to and withdrawn from the plate bearing the design and then to the article, and means for applying paint or ink to the plate and for removing excess therefrom operating in timed relation to the relative movement between the carrying means and support means. The machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 is operated pneumatically. A rectangular base 11 is supported by a pair of horizontal guide rails 12 having feet 13. Columns 14 carry a vertically adjustable bridge piece 15 carrying a cylinder 17 having a plunger 18 and rod 19. A plate 20 attached to the rod 19 and guided by engagement with the columns 14 carries screwed rods 22 which pass through apertures in the bridge piece 15; the rods 22 carry nuts 23 which determine the stroke of the plunger 18 and rod 19. The plate 20 carries a resilient pad 24. A plate 25 having an intaglio design is carried by a table 26 slidable along the guide rails 12. A similar table 27 also slidable along the guide rails 12 carries the article 28 to be printed. The tables 26, 27 are reciprocated by one or more pneumatic cylinders. As shown the tables 26, 27 are reciprocated by a pneumatic cylinder 30 having a plunger 33 and rod 34 secured to an arm 35 in timed relation with vertical movements of the pad 24. Inking apparatus. An ink trough 43 is carried by a rod 42 actuated by a plunger 41 slidable in a pneumatic cylinder 40. The cylinder 40 is adjustable along rails 38. The ink trough 43 deposits a line of ink or paint on the plate 25 and is then withdrawn upwardly by the rod 42 urged upwardly by a spring 41a. Spreading of paint or ink and removal of excess from the plate 25 is effected by a doctor blade 44 rocked about a transverse shaft 45, to engage the plate 25, by an arm 50 pivoted to a rod 49 actuated by plunger 48 within a pneumatic cylinder 47. Operation. In operation, a valve 60 is closed manually such that a piston in a valve 61 is moved, by air pressure from a pipe 78, to connect a pipe 51 with an air supply 75. The plunger 18 is moved downwardly to lower the pad 24 into engagement with the article to be printed. The plate 20 actuates a plunger 79 of a valve 64 on completion of its downward stroke such that air is admitted from the supply 75 to the cylinder 40 thereby lowering the ink trough into engagement with the plate 25. The valve 62 is then actuated by a build up of air pressure in a regulator 63, thus returning the valve 61 to its original position to cause raising of the plunger 18 and pad 24. The plunger 79 is released, thereby venting cylinder 40 and permitting the spring 41a to retract the ink trough 43. As the plate 20 rises a trigger 66 thereon actuates a valve 65 which operates valves 73 and 72 to admit air through a pipe 50 to the cylinder. The plunger 33 and tables 26, 27 are thereupon moved to the right. During this movement the cylinder 47 causes downward movement of the doctor blade 44 by actuation of a valve 57 connected to the air supply 75, the valve 57 being actuated by a trigger 55 on the table 26. A valve 69 is then opened by engagement of a cam 70 with a roller 71, thus reversing the valve 61 to cause downward movement of the pad 24 into contact with the plate 25 now beneath the pad. A plunger 80 is actuated by the table 27 at its limit of right hand movement, thus causing reversal of the plunger 33 through actuation of the table. The build up of air pressure in a regulator 63 causes reversal of the valve 61, thereby causing raising of the pad 24. While the tables 26, 27 move to the left the valve 69 is actuated to reverse the valve 61 and thus repeat the cycle of operations. The table 26 contacts a plunger 74a of a valve 74, thereby causing actuation of valves 72, 73, thus causing the tables 26, 27 to move to the right. Automatically operated means may be provided for loading articles on and removing them from the table 26. In a modification, Fig. 4, not shown, the valves 61a, 72a and 64a are actuated by cams on a continuously rotating shaft. In a further modification, Figs. 5 to 8, not shown, the valves 61, 72, and 64 are actuated by solenoids which are energized upon closure of limit switches operated by the travel of the tables 26, 27 and the plate 20. In a further modification, the tables 26 and 27 may be replaced by a rotatable table having angularly separated stations for supporting the plate bearing the design to be printed and a number of articles to be printed. According to the Provisional Specification, the machine may print in several colours in which case separate designcarrying plates are provided. For example, for printing articles in five different colours a rotatable or reciprocable support carries five separate plates each bearing an appropriate part of the design. The articles to be printed are also carried by a support which may rotate or reciprocate. The two supports are actuated in timed relation by automatic control means to ensure correct registration of each portion of the design. Five separate resilient pads, one for each colour, are operated in synchronism with the supports by means of a single or five separate pneumatic cylinders. The first plate is moved after application of the appropriate paint or ink, beneath the corresponding pad and is then withdrawn to permit the pad to descend and print the first colour on the article. The supports for the plates and articles then move into positions for printing the second colour and then the remaining colours. If desired, all the colours may be printed on one article whilst it remains stationary. Alternatively, several articles on the support may be printed in one colour before printing in second and successive colours. Specifications 735,637 and 736,312 are referred to.