US2739529A - Apparatus for decorating or printing on ceramic articles with different colors - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1956 J. v. FERNANDEZ 2,739,529

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING ON CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DIFFERENT COLORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1954 J05 e VaZz'elaFer/zxg i BY M7 ATTORNEY March 27, 1956 J. v. FERNANDEZ 2,739,529 APPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING ON CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DIFFERENT COLORS Filed Dec. 22, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2 ,4 la lllllllfiil llllllllj INVENTOR JoseValoelal lswzanxiez ATTORNEY March 1955 J. v. FERNANDEZ 2,739,529

APPARATUS FOR DECORATING OR PRINTING ON CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DIFFERENT COLORS Filed Dec. 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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X f w A TT'OANEY articles by a silk screen method wherein the apparatus APPARATUS FOR DECORATING R PRINTING 0N CERAMIC ARTICLES WITH DWFERENT CGLQRS Iiose Valiela Fernandez, New York, N. Y.

Appiication December 22, 1954, Serial No. 477,077

Claims. (Cl. 101-115) This invention relates to an apparatus for decorating or printing on concave or convex surfaces of ceramic articles with different colors.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for printing on the surfaces of ceramic for printing the difierent colors is combined into a single machine so that the ultimate work resulting from the machine will be the equivalent of three individual machines whereby to save on labor and to increase production of ceramic articles printed with a silk screen stencil.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for and a method of decorating ceramic articles having concave or convex surfaces with two different colors wherein the printer in operating the machine does not have to handle or touch the plate between the different color printings.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for printing and decorating ceramic articles which incorporates the use of a rotating table adapted to be rotated to position the ceramic articles between the working stations and the loading and discharge station, and wherein simultaneously, two of the ceramic articles can be worked upon with the rotating table turned to one location, the table being turned to move the ceramic article from one station where it has been printed with one color, to another station where it will be printed by the other color, but permitting the different colors to be transferred on the different ceramic articles at the same time and at one position of the rotary table.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for printing patterns on ceramic articles wherein the movements required by the operator are kept to a minimum and automatically upon locking the transfer member over the ceramic article, the air valve to efiect the expansion of the rubber transfer sheet is operable.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a printing apparatus and method of printing ceramic articles, having the above objects in mind and with different colors, which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate, durable, compact, accurate, little opportunity for break age and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying 60 drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the machine looking upon the front thereof and with the silk screen devices at the ends or" the table and removed from their operating stations;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the printing apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one end of the printing apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the 2,739,529 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 silk screen device and as viewed on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the locking member for the rotary table and as viewed on line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through the center of the machine and in particular through the rotary table with the plate holding devices being positioned to support the ceramic article or plate and with illustration made as to the plate being printed with the rubber sheet expanded into the top or concave face of the plate to effect the printing operation;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the rotary table and of the plate holding device;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally on line 99 of Fig. 8 and through the plate holding device;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 8 and through the finger retaining members for the plate or ceramic article to be printed;

Fig. 11 is an arcuate sectional view taken generally on line 1111 of Fig. 8 and of the spring retracting means for the plate holding device.

Referring now particularly to the figures, 15 indicates generally a supporting table having end legs 16 and 17 and a top 18 sufliciently long to permit the arrangement of two silk screen printing operations. Intermediate the length of the table is a base support 18 upwardly from which there is extended a shaft 19. This shaft 19 extends through a longitudinally extending brace 20 that in turn supports a vertical guide or bearing 21 having balls 22 over which a central projection 23 of a rotatable table 24- rides. The table 24 is held in place upon the shaft 19 by a washer 25 and a bolt 26. This rotary table is rotated by hand and by one of the or erators who inserts and removes the ceramic article and who will be located at the rear of the machine. The rotating table 24 is generally of triangular shape and has three ceramic plate retaining devices 27, 2S and 29 which are 120 degrees apart. The rotating table is so arranged that one of the devices will lie in the rear of the table 15 upon each onethird rotation of the turret or rotating table 24. The table 24 will be rotated by hand by the operator who will place a plate or ceramic article 30 in the device which happens to be in position in rear of the table 15. The table 24 will be restrained in such a position so that work can be performed upon the plates in the other two devices that lie under the main table 15 by a retaining latch 32, Figs. 2 and 6, having a detent ball 33 adapted to enter a depression 3 in the table 24. There are three of these detents 3 2 in the periphery of the table 24 located 120 de rees apart. The latch 32 is urged toward the side of the table 2 by a compression spring 35 reacting between a support 36 and a fixed collar 37. The support 35 has an upstanding stop plate 353 which supports the latch. This support 36 is in the form of a bracket which can be attached to the rear face of the base 18 as indicated at 3% In the table 24 are three openings 41 for receiving the plate retaining device. The plate retaining device has the depressed bottom 42 that extends down through the opening and is axially aligned with respect to the center thereof and with respect to the center of plate 30 which is to be printed, and a peripheral portion 43. The centering is effected by means of adjusting screws 44 disposed in the portion 42-. Access is bad to adjusting screws 44 through the side openings 45 in thc wall of the depending portion 42 and from the top of the device when an adjustable supporting plate 46 is removed. This supporting plate is supported on the upper end of an adjustable screw 47 that is adjustable throughthe central boss portion 48 of the depending bottom 42.

The peripheral portion 43 has openings 49 and 50 and -1 thatextend radially through the top of the peripheral portion 43 and which servert-o retain and guide respectively gripping fingers 52, 53, 54that engage the edge of the plate when it is disposed upon the supporting plate 46. These fingers are operated by a ring 55 that has three inclined slots 56, 57 and 58 that respectively receive pins 59, 60 and 61 that extend upwardly from the respective fingers 52, 53 and 54. This operating ring 55 has a radially extending handle 62 that is grasped by the operator and pulled respectively against action of three tension springs 63 respectively located in slots in the peripheral portion 43, of arcuate shape, and as indicated at 64. Each spring is anchored by a pin 65 to the operating ring 55 and to the peripheral portion 43 of u the device by apin 66, Fig. 8. When the operating ring 55 is released after having rotated the same against the action of the spring 63, the fingers 52, 53 and 54 will move inwardly to grip the edge of the plate 30 so as to center the same upon the supporting plate 46 and to hold the same while the printing operation is being effected thereupon. Each of the devices 27, 28 and 29 are so constructed as above related.

With'the ceramic articles in place in the centering and retaining devices, the table is rotated so that one such ceramic article will be located at one side of the table 15 and the other ceramic article will be located at the other side of the table. The equipment on the opposite sides of the table will now be described. As this equipment is identical, it will suffice to set forth only one set. I

The equipment on the opposite side of the table is worked in an identical manner except from the different direction, and in both instances toward the center of the table 15.

On the left side of the table, as shown in Fig. 2, there are three stations 70, 71 and 72. A silk screen device 73 will normally overlie the station 70. This silk screen device, as shown in Fig. 4, comprises a bottom frame member '74 over the underside of which is stretched a silk screen stencil 75 having eight penetrating openings 76 forming a part of the pattern or design to be printed upon the ceramic plate and a top clamping frame 7'7 that is secured to the bottom frame to retain the folded in ends of the silk screen 75 by thumb bolt means 78, located at the sides of the frames. Each side of the silk screen device 73 has a handle 79. These handles are gripped to move the silk screen device 73 along the table top to station 71 Where there is located a hingeable member 81 connected to a pivot axle 82 and hingeable out of and into a square opening 83.

This plate 81 has an opening 84 in which is located a rubber transfer sheet 85. An over-center spring 86 is connected between the outer end of an arm 87 extending from the pivot hinge 82 and the bracket 88 on the runner 20, of table 15, Fig. l.

The upper frame 77 of the silk screen device has depending projections 88 and 89, Fig. 5, which respectively extend into parallel grooves 90 and 91 on the front and forward edges of the table top 18. These grooves run along station 71 and serve to guide the silk screen device 73 to the proper position over the rubber transfer sheet 85 of the hingeable transfer device 81.

The inner side of the frame has adjustable stops 92 and 93 that will respectively abut fixed stops 94 and 95 on the table top in the manner as indicated in Fig. 4.

When the silk screen device 73 is in position over the rubber sheet transfer device 81, ink is rubbed into the pattern opening 76 by a squeegee 96 having a rubber strip 97 and two handles 98. The pattern will thus be transferred to the rubber sheet 85.

The hingeable transfer device 81 has a frame 100 to which a bottom plate 101 is secured by means of a fastening ring 102 and fastening bolts 103. The hingeable transfer device is supported in an opening 104 in the table top 18 upon adjustable screws 105 and 1% extending upwardly from and through the transversely A compressed air pipe 116 extends through bottom plate 182 into the space below the perforated plate 109 to supply air to the transfer device in order to expand the transfer sheet 85 to conform to the shape of the ceramic plate when the transfer device has been rotated or hinged to an inverted position as shown in Fig. 7 for the purpose of transferring the pattern from the transfer sheet to the dish 30. This is done first against the action of the counter-spring 86 but upon'the same being disposed over the ceramic plate, as shown in Fig. 7,

the counter spring 86 will act to hold the transfer sheet device down upon the ceramic plate retaining device 28.

In order to prevent the accumulation of air under the rubber sheet 85, a floating tubular structure 117 is provided. This floating tubular structure serves as an exhaust opening or exit for any air that may have been trapped between the under sheet and the surface of the ceramic plate which is to be printed. This floating tubular structure has an inner tube 118 and an outer tube 119 which are clamped to the rubber sheet 85 and as rubber sheet 85 is expanded, the device 117 will be drawn through the perforated plate 109 and a spacing sleeve The hingeable transfer sheet device 81, when it is hinged over from station 71 to station 72, is hinged through an opening 121 in the table top and onto one of the ceramic plate retaining devices 27, 28 or 29. When this has been effected, the latch 122 hinged on the table top 18 is swung to a position over the bottom of the transfer device in the manner shown in Fig. 7. This latch has an arm 123 with a contacting roller 12410 permit a frictionless means for engagement with the clamping ring 102 on the bottom plate 101.

At this time a valve 125 accessible to the operator at the left side of the machine and at the head thereof is turned to an open position so that compressed air is sent through a pipe line 126 to the hose 116 so that therubber sheet 85 is expanded as illustrated in Fig. 7. The valve 125 is supplied with compressed air through a pipe line 128 extending from a compressor 129 supported on the floor under the table 15. As soon as the patternhas been transferred to the ceramic plate, the latch 122 is turned to release the transfer device so that it can be hinged from the station 72 to the station 71 in position to receive another supply of ink from the silk screen device 73. The

rotating table 24 will be turned to locate the plate just printed to the station at the right side of the machine so as to receive through a similar arrangement and process another pattern formed of a different color ink. The plate which may have been printed with a different color ink by another operator stationed at the rear of the machine and at the right side thereof who can operate valve 130 to effect the printing operation from the transfer .sheet device at the right side of the machine after a latch 122' has been operated to secure the rubber transfer sheet device upon the plate retaining device which happens to be located at the right side of the machine and upon the rotatable table 24. When the plate retaining device is positioned in the rear of the machine, the operator mayremove the ceramic plate and replace the device with another ceramic plate to be printed with the two different colors.

The right side of the machine has the same devices including a silk screen device 73 and a rubber sheet transfer device 81 having a rubber sheet 85'. A hose 116' the sides of the table supplies the transfer device 81' with air as the valve 130 is turned to the on position. Other parts of the devices on the right side of the machine are the same as those already described, and further description of these parts at the right side of the machine is not believed to be necessary.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a color printing machine for ceramic articles having concaved or convex surfaces wherein two different colors can be applied and wherein the operators of the machine can produce three times what may be produced with three individual and separate machines. It will be seen that this is effected through the use of a rotating table having ceramic plate retaining and supporting devices which can be rotated in succession under the left and right sides of the table and to a position at the rear of the table where a ceramic plate can be removed after having been printed and replaced with a new plate to be printed.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles comprising two elongated tables, each of which having three stations therealong, a silk screen arrangement on each table and means for guiding the same between two stations thereof, two of said stations having an opening therein, a rubber sheet transfer assembly hingedly conuected between the openings to be positioned to receive the pattern from the silk screen arrangement then to be positioned to transfer the pattern to the ceramic article, a rotary article supporting table having three angularly spaced article receiving devices thereupon, means for positioning said article supporting devices in succession under the transfer openings of said table, whereby inks of different colors may be printed upon the ceramic articles while the ceramic articles are retained in the supporting devices and without removal therefrom.

2. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined in claim 1, and locking means adjacent the transfer openings to lock the rubber transfer assemblies in their printing positions.

3. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined in claim 2, and air control means for the respective rubber transfer sheet assemblies located adjacent said tables, control means for one table being on the front of the apparatus and the control means for the other being at the rear of the apparatus.

4. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined in claim 1, and adjustable supporting stops for supporting the hinged transfer assembly when in the position for receiving the pattern from the silk screen arrangement.

5. A silk screen printing apparatus for ceramic articles as defined in claim 1, and said article supporting devices including a member having a depressed bottom, said rotary table having an opening therein for receiving the depressed bottom of said member, and angularly spaced adjusting screws in the depressed bottom and engageable with the wall of the opening to position said member within the opening of the rotary table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,178,259 Kjell Oct. 31, 1939 2,229,346 Shurley Jan. 21, 1941 2,335,840 Hebenstreit Nov. 30, 1943 2,652,771 Fernandez Sept. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 211,719 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1924

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