Extendable gripping means for unloading an article from a screen printing machine

Abstract

A new apparatus and methods for automatically unloading or removing an article from a printing machine, and preferably transferring the same to a suitable drying surface is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus includes a support frame, an extendable gripping means attached to the support frame for engaging the article, and a conventional controller for controlling operation of the extendable gripping means. Additionally, at least one platen attached to the printing machine in a manner allowing the extendable gripping means to vertically extend from the support frame to an area of the platen(s) is also disclosed. To permit gripping of the articles, the platen are notched at the area corresponding to the extendable gripping means.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of screen printing. Particularly, the present invention relates to an automatic method and apparatus for unloading or removing an article from a printing machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Printed indicia for applying to items of clothing, such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, golf shirts, shorts, hats, and the like, as well as other cloth and paper goods, such as banners, posters, bags, flags, and the like, have become very popular over the last 20 years. Boutiques specializing in printing fanciful and textual indicia such as slogans, college names, sports team names and logos, licensed characters, and the like, on these various media, are commonly seen in stores across the country. The indicia available at these stores can be pre-printed on a substrate and applied with a heated press by operators at such boutiques to any of the aforementioned items purchased by a consumer, or they can be screen printed directly onto the items for later purchase.

In the screen printing process, a stencil screen is typically blocked (called "masked" in the industry) to embody the desired indicia and is then placed over the item to be printed. Ink of one color is then added to the screen surface and flooded onto the indicia by a flood bar of conventional design. The ink may be of any type well-known in the industry for screen printing. After the ink is flooded onto the screen, the ink is squeegeed through the screen interstices onto the item, leaving ink of the desired color where the interstices in the screen are unblocked. The squeegee can be of any type known in the art.

After the item is printed on, it is moved to a station where one or more operators transfer the article to a drying rack, conveyor surface leading to a dryer, or the like. This requires quick and deft handling by the operator because the cycling of the printing machine may print a shirt every four to six seconds. Further, as the articles are typically adhered to the platen with an adhesive, the article must be lifted at an angle to break the adhesive seal without smudging the print on the article.

The quick, repetitive movement may take its toll on the operator after some amount of time. Therefore, it is advantageous to automate such a repeatable process. A few reasons for automatically unloading an article from a printing surface of a printing machine are: (1) to allow printing machine operators to concentrate on other areas of printing; (2) to diminish the likelihood of ruining printed articles; (3) to increase the repeatability of the exact placement of unloaded articles; and, (4) to reduce injury risk to printing machine operators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, new methods and apparatus for unloading or removing an article from a printing machine, and preferably transferring the same to a suitable drying surface are provided. One embodiment of the disclosed apparatus includes a support frame, an extendable gripping means attached to the support frame for engaging the printed article, and a controller for controlling operation of the extendable gripping means.

Additionally, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide at least one platen attached to the printing machine in a manner allowing the extendable gripping means to vertically extend from the support frame to an area of the platen(s). To permit gripping of the articles, the platen are notched at the area corresponding to the extendable gripping means.

Alternatively, the platen may include a ledge at the area corresponding to the extendable gripping means. This ledge also allows the supported article to be gripped by the gripping means. The extendable gripping means may take a variety of forms including as a pair or numerous pairs of automatic jaws. Each automatic jaw corresponds to a ledge or notch of the platen.

It is an aspect of the present invention to prevent, or at least minimize, the ruining of the printed indicia by maintaining the article in a taut manner as it is unloaded from the printing machine. Accordingly, the present invention includes a telescoping rod for each vertically extending pair of automatic jaws. Preferably, the jaws, via the telescoping rods, will move diagonally upward from two ends of the article to slightly stretch the article upon lifting.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a method of automatically unloading a printed article from a screen printing machine. Accordingly, in the disclosed method the article is positioned for printing on a platen having opposing first and second ends and at least one notch or a ledge on each of the two opposing ends. After the article is printed upon, it is automatically engaged with a gripping means at an area corresponding to each notch or ledge on the platen. The article is lifted from the platen with the gripping means at each engaged area simultaneously. This lifting from both ends of the article maintains tautness in the printed portion of the article as it is lifted from the platen.

These and other aspects of the present invention set forth in the appended claims may be realized in accordance with the following disclosure with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an automatic printing machine illustrating the relative positioning of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a close-up perspective view of a pair of automatic jaws extending toward a notched platen,

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a partial platen equipped with an alternative ledge on one end; and

FIGS. 3 through 8 are side elevation views of an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the unloading and delivery of an article to a second surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, this disclosure describes, in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Referring generally to the appended FIGS. 1-8, the process of a screen printing operation using the present invention can be more readily understood. The disclosed automatic unloader is generally referenced by the number "10" in the following disclosure and drawings. Other components are similarly and consistently numbered throughout. While the present invention is particularly designed for automatic rotary and oval printing machines, such as, for example, the CHALLENGER.TM. and the GAUNTLET.TM., and their progeny, manufactured by M&R Printing Equipment, Inc. of Glen Ellyn, Ill., other such automatic printing systems may be capable of adaptation for implementation of the system as well.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present automatic unloader 10 is generally attached to a printing machine 50 at an "open" station. An "open" station is defined as a station of the printing machine 50 which is not used for printing, drying, or any other purpose uncooperative with the unloading of articles. It is not necessary to create the "open" station on existing printing machines, since such station are typically provided for manual unloading operations replaced by the present automatic unloader 10. The "open" station is preferably just after the last printing station of the printing machine 50. In this way, the usual operation of the printing machine 50--rotating the platen carousel 52 in a clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion from a first to a last printing station--need not be changed. The present invention can be readily retrofit to such existing printing machines, as will be understood from the following disclosure.

The automatic unloader 10 is used to unload an article 20 from a screen printing machine 50 and place the articles 20 onto a second surface 40, such as a dryer rack, conveyor surface, or the like (FIGS. 1 and 8). The second surface 40 is preferably positioned to be adjacent the unloader 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The unloader 10 includes a support frame 12, an extendable gripping means 14 attached to the support frame 12 for engaging the printed article 20, and a conventional controller 30 for controlling the operation of the extendable gripping means 14.

The support frame 12 is preferably a radial arm of the printing machine 50, as shown in FIG. 1, made from an extruded aluminum, aluminum alloy, or any other strong, lightweight material. The support frame 12 is preferably channeled and extends a substantial distance from attachment to the printing machine 50. This extension allows an unloaded article to be placed directly onto the second surface 40 where the article 20 can be dried or cured before packaging. Additionally, the support frame 12 may include at least one spacer bar 13, preferably two spacer bars 13a and 13b, for providing adequate spacing between paired gripping means 14.

The extendable gripping means 14 is preferably at least one pair of jaws 15, more preferably two pair of jaws 15, but most preferably four pair of jaws 15. In one preferred embodiment, the jaws 15 are operated using conventional pneumatic, hydraulic, electronic, or mechanical (e.g., a conventional stepper motor and conventional servo) controls to alternate between a closed position (FIG. 3) and an open position (FIG. 4). The gripping pressure of the jaws 15 should be sufficient to grip and hold a relatively thin article (a single layer of material, for instance) under a given amount of lateral strain.

Where multiple pairs of jaws 15 are used it is advantageous to group them together by two's, as shown in FIG. 2A. For instance, the use of four pair of jaws is preferably configured having two pair of jaws 15a on a front spacer bar 13a and two pair of jaws 15b on a rear spacer bar 13b. The two spacer bars 13a and 13b are arranged a distance apart and attached to a drive mechanism (not shown) within the channel of support frame 12. The drive mechanism moves the spacer bars 13a and 13b, and thus the jaws 15, horizontally back and forth between a position above the platen 16 and a position above the second surface 40. The channel of the support frame 12 serves as a guide track 26 to this movement. The drive mechanism may be a continuous belt and pulley, a chain and sprocket, or any other conventional track capable of such reciprocating motion. Any conventional power plant, such as a motor, may be used to actuate the drive mechanism.

In order to reach the platen 16, each pair of jaws 15 is preferably capable of being vertically extended, via a telescoping rod 17, from a body portion 19 toward the platen 16, as shown in FIG. 4. The telescoping rod 17 may allow extension up to about two feet (24 inches) or more. Longer extensions, of course, may require additional support to insure the structural integrity of the mechanism.

The phrase "vertically extended" is meant to include jaws extending in a direction having a vertical component. In is not intended to exclude jaws, such as those of the present embodiment, which also extend in a direction having a horizontal component, as well. The horizontal component of extension is a result of the angle of attachment of the jaws 15 to the spacer bars 13a and 13b. This angle of attachment (.theta.) may be within the range of from about 10.degree. to about 80.degree. relative to a line perpendicular to the support frame 12, as shown in FIG. 2A. Having the jaws 15 in a raised set position, as shown in FIG. 3, allows the jaws 15 to be maintained out of the way of the rotating carousel 52 until needed.

The angle of attachment (.theta.), allowing lifting of the article 20 along the same angle, serves a two-fold function. First, in placing the articles 20 onto the printing machine platen 16, an adhesive is typically applied to keep the article from moving about as the carousel 52 turns. After printing, the article 20 can be quite attached to the platen 16 as a further result of the pressure applied during printing. In order to remove the article 20 quickly it is preferably lifted on an angle to break the contact between the article 20 and the platen 16.

Second, by permitting the slight horizontal travel of the jaws 15 upon retraction, the jaws 15 stretch the article 20 to maintain a taut printed indicia. As a means for creating and maintaining this taut printed indicia, the present invention uses the four jaws 15 and the angle of attachment (.theta.). These features help to prevent wrinkling, overlapping, creasing, or otherwise ruining the printed indicia of the article 20.

The platen 16 of the present embodiment includes four (4) notched areas or notches 22--FIG. 2 shows two notched areas 22 on one end of the platen 16--corresponding to the placement of the four jaws 15 and overlapped by the printed article 20. That is, as the jaws 15 are extended toward the platen 16, they encounter the article 20 at the four notched areas. While the present embodiment shows the notched areas 22 along a front edge of the platen 16, it is intended that these notches 22 may be alternately placed about the platen 16 with similar adjustment made to the extending jaws 15, and remain within the scope of the appended claims.

Upon closing the jaws 15, as shown in FIG. 5, the jaws 15 grip or engage the printed article 20 at the notched areas 22. As the jaws 15 are retracted, as shown in FIG. 6, the two pair of jaws 15a pull the article 20 slightly in one direction, while the two pair of jaws 15b pull the article 20 slightly in a substantially opposite direction. At this point the printed indicia is held taut from four points of the article 20 preventing accidental transfer of ink on the article 20.

In an alternative design, the platen 16 may comprise a ledge 24 at the areas corresponding to the jaws 15, as shown in FIG. 2B. The ledge 24 would preferably be a short relatively thin protrusion from the underside of the platen 16. The ledge 24 would serve to extend a sufficient portion of the article 20 to be gripped by the jaws 15. They need not extend the full length or width of the platen 16, just a sufficient amount to extend the article 20 as needed.

The jaws 15, telescoping rods 17, and spacer bars 13a and 13b are elements known to those skilled in the respective mechanical arts, and may include an infinite variety of designs which achieve the desired results. Movement and control of these devices is preferably administered by a programmable controller 30, such as presently used to operate the printing machine 50. In their simplest form, each device has two alternate positions: the jaws 15 may be open or closed; the telescoping rods 17 may be extended or retracted; and, the spacer bars 13a and 13b may be positioned over the platen 16 or over the second surface 40.

In operation, the varied combinations of the alternate positions in the proper order, achieves the desired goal, as illustrated in TABLE 1 below. Naturally, intermediate steps may be added to the present operations to accomplish other tasks, such as inspection of printed articles, alternate delivery points of printed articles, and the like.

TABLE 1______________________________________Operation Positions for Automatic Jaws,Telescoping Rods, and Spacer Bars Telescoping Rod Spacer BarOperation Jaw Position Position Position______________________________________No article - set open retracted over platenpositionapproach platen open extended over platenengage article closed extended over platenlift article closed retracted over platenmove article closed retracted over 2.sup.nd surfaceapproach surface closed extended over 2.sup.nd surfacedeliver article open extended over 2.sup.nd surfaceprepare for return open retracted over 2.sup.nd surfacereturn - set open retracted over platenposition______________________________________

The method of one embodiment for automatically unloading an article from a screen printing machine includes first positioning the article 20 for printing on the notched platen 16. Then printing on at least a portion of the article 20 to produce a printed article. The printed portion may cover a very small area of the article, or it may cover a substantial portion of the article. After printing, the article 20 may be automatically engaged with a gripping means at an area corresponding to each notch 22 on the platen 16, and then lifted from the platen 16 with the gripping means at each engaged area simultaneously.

To prevent ruining the printed article, it is necessary to maintain the tautness in the printed portion of the article as it is lifted from the platen 16. In the preferred embodiment, the tautness is maintained by moving the gripping means in a direction having a horizontal component. Preferably, there are two separate gripping means, and the gripping means corresponding to the notch 22 on the first end of the platen 16 are moved in a direction having a horizontal component substantially opposite the horizontal component of the direction moved by the gripping means corresponding to the notch 22 on the second end of the platen 16. That is, the article is slightly stretched between the two gripping means, as shown in FIG. 6.

The article 20 can then be moved with this maintained tautness to a delivery position, as illustrated by FIG. 7. The method is furthered by automatically placing the article onto a second surface, as illustrated by FIG. 8. The second surface may be a drying surface or conveyor for taking the article 20 through a curing device or the like.

Because the automatic jaws 15 are spaced in a fixed relation, and the guide track 26 insures an exact path of travel with each article 20, the placement of the article on the second surface 40 is essentially identical each time. This allows further automation to be employed after the articles are dried to fold, package, tag, and box the printed articles for distribution.

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A device for unloading an article from a screen printing machine comprising:

a support frame mounted to the printing machine and including a guide track;

extendable gripping means for engaging the article including a first pair and a second pair of automatic jaws space apart on the guide track; and,

a controller for controlling operation of the extendable gripping means.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one platen attached to the printing machine, and wherein the extendable gripping means is configured to move vertically from the support frame to meet a corresponding area of a surface of the at least one platen.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one platen is notched at the corresponding area of the surface of the at least one platen.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one platen comprises a ledge at the corresponding area of the surface of the at least one platen.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the first pair of automatic jaws move vertically to a position proximate a first end of the platen and the second pair of automatic jaws move vertically to a position proximate a second end of the platen.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the gripping means further comprise a first telescoping rod for vertically extending the first pair of automatic jaws and a second telescoping rod for vertically extending the second pair of automatic jaws.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a track for guiding horizontal movement of the gripping means.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the extendable gripping means vertically extend at an angle relative to the track.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the angle is within the range of about 10.degree. to about 80 .degree..

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the extendable gripping means vertically extend a distance within the range of from about 0 inches to about 24 inches.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the gripping means are operated by a pneumatic device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the gripping means are operated by a hydraulic device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the gripping means are operated by an electronic device.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the gripping means include a servo motor.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the automatic jaws are operated by a pneumatic device.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the automatic jaws are operated by a hydraulic device.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the automatic jaws are operated by an electronic device.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the automatic jaws include a servo motor.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the first pair of automatic jaws move vertically to a position proximate a first end of a platen attached to the printing machine and the second pair of automatic jaws move vertically to a position proximate a second end of the platen.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the gripping means further comprises telescoping rods for vertically moving each of the automatic jaws.

21. A device for unloading an article from a screen printing machine comprising:

a support frame attached to the printing machine;

at least a first and second pair of movable automatic jaws to the support frame for engaging the article wherein the support frame includes a track for guiding horizontal movement of the automatic jaws, and the first pair of automatic jaws are spaced apart on the track from the second pair of automatic jaws;

at least one platen for supporting the article during printing having a notched surface corresponding to the at least one pair of automatic jaws; and

a controller for controlling operation of the automatic jaws.

22. The device of claim 21, including at least two pair of automatic jaws, wherein at least a first pair of automatic jaws vertically extend proximate a first end of the notched platen and at least a second pair of automatic jaws vertically extend proximate a second end of the notched platen.

23. The device of claim 21, further comprising means for maintaining a taut printed area on the article.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the means for maintaining a taut printed area comprises at least two pair of automatic jaws, wherein at least a first pair of automatic jaws vertically extend proximate a first end of the notched platen to engage the article and at least a second pair of automatic jaws vertically extend proximate a second and opposite end of the notched platen to engage the article.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the support frame includes a track for guiding horizontal movement of the extendable automatic jaws.

26. A method of automatically unloading an article from a screen printing machine comprising the steps of:

positioning an article for printing on a platen having opposing first and second ends and at least one notch on each of the two opposing ends;

printing on at least a portion of the article to produce a printed article;

automatically engaging the article at a notch on the platen with a gripping means;

lifting the engaged article from the platen simultaneously at each notch with the gripping means; and

maintaining a relative tautness in the printed portion of the article as it is lifted from the platen by moving the gripping means in a direction having a horizontal component.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the gripping means corresponding to the notch on the first end of the platen moves in a direction having a horizontal component substantially opposite the horizontal component of the direction moved by the gripping means corresponding to the notch on the second end of the platen.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of automatically placing the article onto another surface after the step of lifting the article.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of curing the article after lifting the article from the platen.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of curing the article after automatically placing the article onto another surface.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of automatically engaging is accomplished by pneumatic gripping means.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of automatically engaging is accomplished by hydraulic gripping means.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of automatically engaging is accomplished by mechanical gripping means.

34. A method of automatically unloading an article from a screen printing machine comprising the steps of:

positioning an article for printing on a platen having opposing first and second ends and a ledge on each of the two opposing ends;

printing on at least a portion of the article to produce a printed article;

automatically engaging the article with a gripping means at an area corresponding to each ledge on the platen;

lifting the article from the platen with the gripping means at each engaged area simultaneously; and

maintaining a relative tautness in the printed portion of the article as it is lifted from the platen by moving the gripping means in a direction having a horizontal component.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the gripping means corresponding to the ledge on the first end of the platen moves in a direction having a horizontal component substantially opposite the horizontal component of the direction moved by the gripping means corresponding to the ledge on the second end of the platen.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of automatically placing the article onto another surface after the step of lifting the article.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of curing the article after automatically placing the article onto another surface.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of curing the article after lifting the article from the platen.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of automatically engaging is accomplished by pneumatic gripping means.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of automatically engaging is accomplished by hydraulic gripping means.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of automatically engaging is accomplished by mechanical gripping means.

42. A device for unloading an article from a screen printing machine comprising:

a support frame attached to the printing machine including a guide track;

gripping means mounted to the guide track for engaging the article and thereafter moving the article in a direction having both a vertical component and a horizontal component so as to maintain a relative tautness in the article while the article is being moved; and,

a controller for controlling operation of the gripping means.

43. The device of claim 42, further comprising at least one platen attached to the printing machine, and wherein the gripping means is configured to vertically extend from the support frame to meet a corresponding area of a surface of the at least one platen.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the at least one platen is notched at the corresponding area of the surface of the at least one platen.

45. The device of claim 43, wherein the at least one platen comprises a ledge at the corresponding area of the surface of the at least one platen.

46. A method of automatically unloading an article from a screen printing machine comprising the steps of:

positioning an article for printing on a platen having opposing first and second ends and at least one notch on each of the two opposing ends;

printing on at least a portion of the article to produce a printed article;

automatically engaging the article at a notch on the platen with gripping means including a first pair of automatic jaws spaced apart on a guide track from a second pair of automatic jaws; and

lifting the engaged article from the platen simultaneously at each notch with the first and second pairs of automatic jaws.