CA2369134A1 - Flexible stamp apparatus for printing three-dimensional spherical or curved objects - Google Patents
Flexible stamp apparatus for printing three-dimensional spherical or curved objects Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2369134A1 CA2369134A1 CA002369134A CA2369134A CA2369134A1 CA 2369134 A1 CA2369134 A1 CA 2369134A1 CA 002369134 A CA002369134 A CA 002369134A CA 2369134 A CA2369134 A CA 2369134A CA 2369134 A1 CA2369134 A1 CA 2369134A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pad
- pressure
- printing
- air
- spherical
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 27
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 claims 2
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007649 pad printing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 5
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- AYFVYJQAPQTCCC-GBXIJSLDSA-N L-threonine Chemical compound C[C@@H](O)[C@H](N)C(O)=O AYFVYJQAPQTCCC-GBXIJSLDSA-N 0.000 description 2
- BSFODEXXVBBYOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 8-[4-(dimethylamino)butan-2-ylamino]quinolin-6-ol Chemical compound C1=CN=C2C(NC(CCN(C)C)C)=CC(O)=CC2=C1 BSFODEXXVBBYOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000004058 Amaranthus quitensis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 240000003939 Amaranthus quitensis Species 0.000 description 1
- 101150106671 COMT gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 241001272567 Hominoidea Species 0.000 description 1
- 101000652359 Homo sapiens Spermatogenesis-associated protein 2 Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 101000642464 Homo sapiens Spermatogenesis-associated protein 2-like protein Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 102100030254 Spermatogenesis-associated protein 2 Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 235000018087 Spondias lutea Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 101150007148 THI5 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 241000607479 Yersinia pestis Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000003608 fece Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 235000015250 liver sausages Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000003376 silicon Chemical class 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F17/001—Pad printing apparatus or machines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F17/30—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
Abstract
Apparatus for printing three-dimensional objects, particularly objects havin g a substantially spherical shape, comprising a pad for printing by means of p ad printing, wherein said pad has a silicon shape with a determined thickness, which is mounted on a hollow pad holder (1) made of an undeformable material which constitutes an isolated space together with said silicon shape (2), which is supplied with compressed air and which is connected to a pressure vessel by means of a main element (4) provided therefor through an opening (3), characterised in that the apparatus is arranged in open loop, wherein there is provided an additional separate aperture (8) for a separate inlet a nd outlet of air (3, resp. 8), with a pressure regulating unit (6) enabling to keep the pressure in the pad greater than or at a preset level P, wherein sa id pressure regulating unit (6) regulates the compressed air which enters the regulator through a supply main (7).
Description
Flexible ~tamo apparatus lot or~ntih~e diiv~ensionaf ~sohericat or curoe~i obiects F~>~ta of ftie iriverifiori s This invention re~tat~es to a fieicible stamp apparat~rs for arirtttng thr~s dirriertsiorral spherical and/or curved objects.
E
tt is presently. f~r~ov~n: tv~ use..a~, k~oNora~half. si:lican: sphet~cal~.
shape for printin~g-to spherical objects, such as toy balls. This silicon shape has a thickness of about 2 cm and it is mounted on a hollow flexible stamp or pad holder. The silicon shape /n~ .4'r NL..~. w. ~.,. ' ~ ~ ~ .w' ~' iw . "~ ..~ ..
anti fPie pad fiofde~ ~t~ designated ti~~eaffer as''tiie pad".
'f~ie pac holder is ~mede lof ~a'ii 'undefiorma6l~e iraterial arid has,the shape of a iirt;~ifi.
1~- I:t form$ r'..ari~th. tile. siliEVr~ shade;' anvherr~eticaolly closed space ha~in~ only one aperture as contact with the outside. ~t this sole aperture, a flexible tube having a sufficiently great diameter is connected to a pressure vessel. Said p~essi.i~e vessel is iiof ~ep~eserifed of scale. Ttlis pressure vessel need's f~ have a volume whieh can contain 10 to 1'a0 times the volume of the' pad ivdeed_ The 2o pressure vessel is yet generally kept under a light over-pressure by means of a separate pressure regulator.
....: ~,.;,... .~;_.._...;
i'tiis co'rsstruCtion serves for keeping ~f~e ~pressui~ in tie -pad as co'n'stant as possible.d~t~i~irg the-pFir~ti~g=cy~,: Iradeed~a pressdre variaftivn in tMe p~d~ rest~l~s in is the dilatation or the retraction of the silicon part. Owing, to this, the image on the silicon part becomes bigger or smaller with a bad printing qualityr on the printed ,... _ spliencal objects. 'i'fie diffa~~enttime's of the ~pr~nting cycle of tf,e ~p~ria~ art show subsequerwtty a rest positierr wherein t+te presst~r~ iw the pad is e~af~ to the one in the pressure vessel. This pressure is designated hereafter with the reference P.
30 ~,' Ttia pad is moved ~~oiii fYie r~st pbsition to safe object to tie priiifed iii 2 ri3tatiiae ~mower~rtent siccordtng to ~arnow f vnd ~it 'bends aver the abject to ~be printed. The air in the pad is ~pressecJ to ~thi5 pressu~~e ve's'sel tiir0ugfi tfie flexible tutee. Hovivr2rier, despite the fact tfiat the volume ,of the pressure v~esset is se~era9 times greater than the content of the pad, this displacement of air volumes yet results in a slight increase of the pressure in the pad and vessel, which is designated hereafter by s ftie i~ef~~e~c~ P':
After this, flie pad retu~iis to ~s drigiriaf sfafe according fo tti~~
c~i~ecfio~ of a~o~ir F
i:e: to tt~e ~re~st position. The air vow moves 'back from the pres~sUre vessel to the pad. The pressure in the system now becomes greater than P, which is referred to to hereafter with P", but during this part of the cycle, the latter decreases again so as to becoime pre' ssu~e 'P again.
Ttie a5ove-merifio~ed kiioi~rn sjrsfem is a c1~osed circuit HrUiefieiri ffie air, vi~iich is pressed orrt of the pad during the printing ~nd inking stage; goes back to the is pressure vessel- When the pad goes back to its original position, the air returns to the pad again from the pressure vessel.
The great ~ad~ia~tage of this system consists in that despite the fiact that the woluiiie o#~ t~he.pFessore vesseh is~ sepal times greaEer tha~rt the vofn~me of tt~e pad; there is 2o still a small pressure variation, i.e. P, P', P", which affects unfavourably the printing quality during the pad action on the objects to be printed.
~'h~is invention a~im~s at remec#iating the above-mentioned drawbaek. Thus in this zs invention, a hollow pad as above is used, wherein instead of using a Closed circuit, the pad is now incorporated in an open circuit according to the invention.
No~~i~rittistanding that tote -aPpa~~atus aCCO~ding to tfi~e iriventioti Vitas a lovvei' air eansu~rnptfon; it yei enables defiermiving the pressure in the pad in a~ vary accurate 3o busy at each time of the printing cycle- This is a very important parameter for printing at least partially spherical objects, particularly in connection with the ~~iifiting quality tfie~eofi, ~tfie iii'ipo~t~nc~ w'rlie~eof ii'~C~~~~~~ ~~
noriva'cJ~y~ ~tfi~
recadirernents sets for the prirrtang qdality acre a+ways becoming stronger:
Fur~he~ -properties aiid particula~itii's a~~ defined i~n t>'i'e appended claims.
Some exemplary embodiments of the system according to the invention are described hereafter in the light of the appended drawings.
Tfiis iriveiitiori ~IsCi relates fo ~ ~~(iEess fog pnntiiig of level;
~~i~ialfy spfi~erica7 to andfor curved thre~ dimensional objects. It is to be ~~derstood that a substantially differentiating elem~nt in this invention consists in that an open loop is used here and not a closed loop, wherein in addition the inlet side and the outlet ~ .' of the pad are rrreai~y separated ~f~o'ii eacfi ot~ier. Tha~k~ ~~o ~t~ns Specific p roce's~
aeoording to tire in en~twn~ a rerrrarkably higtrer printang quality is achieve.
Is Brief den _" ~ ,a, : - i~;ini Fig~rre 9 is a scherraalsic represerrtatiar: of a closed pate sygter~r for printing spherical objects such as known from the prior art.
Figures 2a to 2c are schematic representations of the various steps and states of 2o ftie knovuri SySterri dung a tcomplet~) virofkimg cycle.
~Figtrre 3 is a schematicrepresentation of an open system with a pad f~r printing spherical objects according to the invention.
Figure 4 is the functional representation of the schematic view of the apparatus eccoi'ding fo ftie iwenrtiom according tc Figure 3, ~s Figures ~a to 4e fepresent in a schematic way tl~e various steps and states Qf the apparatus acxording to the invention as represented in Figure 4 in its basic embodiment.
Figure 5 is tfie ~ep~eseiitation bf a ~~~st alte~~ative of tf~e a~ppa~afus wiith pad ~~dr print+ng spherical objects ataco~rding to the invention as r~epreserrte~d sche~mati~Ny 3o in a basic embodiment in fiigure 4.
Figure 6 is th~ representation of a further alternative of the apparatus with pad for ptiritirig spii~eriCel objects acco~dirig to tfie iweritio~.
E
tt is presently. f~r~ov~n: tv~ use..a~, k~oNora~half. si:lican: sphet~cal~.
shape for printin~g-to spherical objects, such as toy balls. This silicon shape has a thickness of about 2 cm and it is mounted on a hollow flexible stamp or pad holder. The silicon shape /n~ .4'r NL..~. w. ~.,. ' ~ ~ ~ .w' ~' iw . "~ ..~ ..
anti fPie pad fiofde~ ~t~ designated ti~~eaffer as''tiie pad".
'f~ie pac holder is ~mede lof ~a'ii 'undefiorma6l~e iraterial arid has,the shape of a iirt;~ifi.
1~- I:t form$ r'..ari~th. tile. siliEVr~ shade;' anvherr~eticaolly closed space ha~in~ only one aperture as contact with the outside. ~t this sole aperture, a flexible tube having a sufficiently great diameter is connected to a pressure vessel. Said p~essi.i~e vessel is iiof ~ep~eserifed of scale. Ttlis pressure vessel need's f~ have a volume whieh can contain 10 to 1'a0 times the volume of the' pad ivdeed_ The 2o pressure vessel is yet generally kept under a light over-pressure by means of a separate pressure regulator.
....: ~,.;,... .~;_.._...;
i'tiis co'rsstruCtion serves for keeping ~f~e ~pressui~ in tie -pad as co'n'stant as possible.d~t~i~irg the-pFir~ti~g=cy~,: Iradeed~a pressdre variaftivn in tMe p~d~ rest~l~s in is the dilatation or the retraction of the silicon part. Owing, to this, the image on the silicon part becomes bigger or smaller with a bad printing qualityr on the printed ,... _ spliencal objects. 'i'fie diffa~~enttime's of the ~pr~nting cycle of tf,e ~p~ria~ art show subsequerwtty a rest positierr wherein t+te presst~r~ iw the pad is e~af~ to the one in the pressure vessel. This pressure is designated hereafter with the reference P.
30 ~,' Ttia pad is moved ~~oiii fYie r~st pbsition to safe object to tie priiifed iii 2 ri3tatiiae ~mower~rtent siccordtng to ~arnow f vnd ~it 'bends aver the abject to ~be printed. The air in the pad is ~pressecJ to ~thi5 pressu~~e ve's'sel tiir0ugfi tfie flexible tutee. Hovivr2rier, despite the fact tfiat the volume ,of the pressure v~esset is se~era9 times greater than the content of the pad, this displacement of air volumes yet results in a slight increase of the pressure in the pad and vessel, which is designated hereafter by s ftie i~ef~~e~c~ P':
After this, flie pad retu~iis to ~s drigiriaf sfafe according fo tti~~
c~i~ecfio~ of a~o~ir F
i:e: to tt~e ~re~st position. The air vow moves 'back from the pres~sUre vessel to the pad. The pressure in the system now becomes greater than P, which is referred to to hereafter with P", but during this part of the cycle, the latter decreases again so as to becoime pre' ssu~e 'P again.
Ttie a5ove-merifio~ed kiioi~rn sjrsfem is a c1~osed circuit HrUiefieiri ffie air, vi~iich is pressed orrt of the pad during the printing ~nd inking stage; goes back to the is pressure vessel- When the pad goes back to its original position, the air returns to the pad again from the pressure vessel.
The great ~ad~ia~tage of this system consists in that despite the fiact that the woluiiie o#~ t~he.pFessore vesseh is~ sepal times greaEer tha~rt the vofn~me of tt~e pad; there is 2o still a small pressure variation, i.e. P, P', P", which affects unfavourably the printing quality during the pad action on the objects to be printed.
~'h~is invention a~im~s at remec#iating the above-mentioned drawbaek. Thus in this zs invention, a hollow pad as above is used, wherein instead of using a Closed circuit, the pad is now incorporated in an open circuit according to the invention.
No~~i~rittistanding that tote -aPpa~~atus aCCO~ding to tfi~e iriventioti Vitas a lovvei' air eansu~rnptfon; it yei enables defiermiving the pressure in the pad in a~ vary accurate 3o busy at each time of the printing cycle- This is a very important parameter for printing at least partially spherical objects, particularly in connection with the ~~iifiting quality tfie~eofi, ~tfie iii'ipo~t~nc~ w'rlie~eof ii'~C~~~~~~ ~~
noriva'cJ~y~ ~tfi~
recadirernents sets for the prirrtang qdality acre a+ways becoming stronger:
Fur~he~ -properties aiid particula~itii's a~~ defined i~n t>'i'e appended claims.
Some exemplary embodiments of the system according to the invention are described hereafter in the light of the appended drawings.
Tfiis iriveiitiori ~IsCi relates fo ~ ~~(iEess fog pnntiiig of level;
~~i~ialfy spfi~erica7 to andfor curved thre~ dimensional objects. It is to be ~~derstood that a substantially differentiating elem~nt in this invention consists in that an open loop is used here and not a closed loop, wherein in addition the inlet side and the outlet ~ .' of the pad are rrreai~y separated ~f~o'ii eacfi ot~ier. Tha~k~ ~~o ~t~ns Specific p roce's~
aeoording to tire in en~twn~ a rerrrarkably higtrer printang quality is achieve.
Is Brief den _" ~ ,a, : - i~;ini Fig~rre 9 is a scherraalsic represerrtatiar: of a closed pate sygter~r for printing spherical objects such as known from the prior art.
Figures 2a to 2c are schematic representations of the various steps and states of 2o ftie knovuri SySterri dung a tcomplet~) virofkimg cycle.
~Figtrre 3 is a schematicrepresentation of an open system with a pad f~r printing spherical objects according to the invention.
Figure 4 is the functional representation of the schematic view of the apparatus eccoi'ding fo ftie iwenrtiom according tc Figure 3, ~s Figures ~a to 4e fepresent in a schematic way tl~e various steps and states Qf the apparatus acxording to the invention as represented in Figure 4 in its basic embodiment.
Figure 5 is tfie ~ep~eseiitation bf a ~~~st alte~~ative of tf~e a~ppa~afus wiith pad ~~dr print+ng spherical objects ataco~rding to the invention as r~epreserrte~d sche~mati~Ny 3o in a basic embodiment in fiigure 4.
Figure 6 is th~ representation of a further alternative of the apparatus with pad for ptiritirig spii~eriCel objects acco~dirig to tfie iweritio~.
Figure 7 is the ~ep~~sentation of a stili ~fiuit~e~ alternative ofi tie appatatus with p~~
f~c printing-spherical objects acdord~rrg to tshe irrvent~on.
~esc~iir~t s. Figure.'hsl~ws-an appa~retras withr a~ pad holder 1~ arnd a so-catfed~
slliovne shape 2' which are comparable to the present prior art. Ho~rever, in this pad holder 1, there is provided in addition to a traditional aperture 3 an additional aperture 8, resulting Y... ..n ' ~ .. . . . L r. i t ~n t~a~ the ~ysferri ptese~fs sepa~afe ape~fures for the infel3 df tfie air-ahd respectively the outlet 8 of the sir through a conduit 4~, ~resp. 4' provided therefor. 'A
to fast and accurate pressure regulating unit B vrhich is incorporated in the inlet 4 causes the pressure in the pad 25 never to fall under a preset level established at pfe'ssure P. T1i~~~~a~ tfie ji~essu~r~ ~regulati'~g 'unit adjusts tfi~
corttpfessed aiT ~w>'iich er~ers t#~e nagulator 6 t~hrough~ ar sd~pply flexible tire 7 a~a~ing to F.
A~n~ aocd~rai~
and fast over-pressure valve 9 is connected to the outlet ~ =. 8 of the pad holder i3 25 at the outlet hole 8. ~s soon as the pressure in the pad 25 becomes greater f~ia~ fh~ p~esef value o~ ffie pTessu~e ~, tiie overpressure valve 9 vinlt 6loui oft' ~accordivg to 6' to the outer ~a~ir 40 through the ou#let 1 a.
DifiFererif em~odimenfs ara desc~i6ed' ~iefeiiiaRe~ affe~ ~f~e Pii~ti~iimary~
desc~ipfioii ~o of how the above rJescribed basic embodi~rnent of fibs opparat~s ~aocording to the invention works.
.r: ' . .: ia.~:.... ~ .. . ~.~:~ ~~y;,:. w a .v.~..n.~; ' Figure 4a s~iows f~ie a'ppaiatus in pest pos~f~on rep~esenEed by ~. Tfi~~e is a consfiant pressure P ~iv th~ pad v5: $oth the vpres~sure ~regt~lating system 6 and the zs oust-pressure valve 9 are in a closed position.
.:.
Figure 4$ s~ovris ~o~iv ttie pad 25 ~inoVe's downwards according ~o arrow H
at5d fr"ow it bends over the object ~t3~ to~ t~2 printed (state B~. The air in fihe~ pad ~S i~s pressed out of the pad according to G through the aver-pressure value 9 to the outside 3o according to the arrow direction G'. The pressure in the pad thus remains P~essur~ P.
Figure 4c shop the su6sequeiit ystate C ~w~e~ein ttie paid 25 goes up~ardfp again aocording~ to-- H; i.>e: to the rest position A:- The over pressr~re valve 9 got r~sed and the pressure regulating unit 8 enters into action. The pressure regulating unit 6 will keep the pressure at pressur~ P by blowing the right quantities of air in the pad ~5:
~_ ~_ _. ,.....
aespife fhe f~cf fhaf tile sysfein ~ccor~iiig to fhe iniierifioti Corisum~s mope air, enables defermini~ng very ~occ~rately the pressure in the pad ~S ~at each tine of the printing cycle. This is a very important parameter for printing spherical obiects 30, to particularly with respect to the printing quality thereof, the more that nowadays ever sf~oiig~~'printing quality~~equi~errierits get i-mposecJ.
Dii'fe~eiit embodl~ients arid atferiiativ~s o~tfie apparatus acco~dirtg fo ttie iwe~fiors are deserlbe~d hereirtefiter witf~ figures 6 to ~: The sele~ctien of a par#icular is embodiment depends on various factors, such as printing speed, cost of the system and desired accuracy of the printing.
An ~alteTnative of tfia system wsiitfi ~pg~i~ 25 ~w'itii -mechanical valves '6, 9 ~as d~escii6ed above briftgs a solution t8 t-he above-rnen~tivned~ retttlrrement for frncdr'ng accurate 2o and quick valves which are yet able to supply the required flow provided that an additional pilot valve 13 is incorporated in the system as shown on Figure 5.
fn this' Figure, said piiolvalve 13 is coW ecfed t~i~ectfy on flie air supply main ~
tfi~rough a cor~nprassed air conda~it 11. ~Fvrther said pi~le~t valve 1 S ~is also di~ctly 25 connected to the pad 25, particularly the pad holder 1, through a measuring tube 12. Said pilot valve is also directly connected to said pressure regulating unit S
ttiiaugh a coritwol ~pre'ssute conduit 1d.
The lat~e~ a'Ite~n'afive ffiu's sfiovirs a pad 2~wv~f~ mecfiarficai ~ralves s, g and a pilot 3Q reatve 13; wherein thi~sw pi4ot vaHre- is~ fed t~voug~h t~h~ cerrfpressed asr corrda~it 11.
Through the measuring tube 12 the pressure in the pad 2S is measured by the pilot v~(ve 13 aW ~ttie ~pressUre regulating system 6 is controlled tfi~ougfi tfii3 conti~l pressure c~and~uit 1~:
Figuee 6 stiov;is a ~iirt~~er= alternative of fi~'i~e system vrtiicfi comprises a pad ~5 vv~ii s pre~ssu~re sensors 19 ;end an electroniaal contfol unit 18: ane or a pluraii#y of pressure sensors 19 are incorporated in this alternative of the system at the pad 25, particularly the pad holder 1, with a direct connection to an electronical control r. r. ~.
unit ~8 thrbugh a co~ridu'it ~17. S2~id elect~ortical comt~ol -unit 18 iS iii turn connected to an eteetranieal baive 6 at the admtssfio~ side on the one-hand and with a ova=
to pressure valve 9 of the same type as above on the other hand, in each case through a respective signal carrier 15 and 16.
..y,~"..y L 5:.:. ~: ~. (tw.~, n.~...~..w '. .. . ,. . . J.n:
The eleLtroiiical 'pressure sensor 19 measures confmuously tFie ~ig~it pressure of the pad z5; virhrerein thus infarma~ion ~ taken rip ~n the sensor signal s tl~et is is delivered by said pressure sensor 19.
This alte~rla'five of embodme~f shows at~ the input sine betvire~n tfie pad 25 arid the i~p~rt 7 a simple prfessu~re regulator v~ with a ~buifer vessel ~0 streamdownwardly of the supplied compressed air, which is incorporated in the 2o supply main ~, wherein a nonreturn valve 21 is provided at the inlet of the pad 25.
At the output V .y' ~~ ~ofi said pad, there is ~p~oVice'd tfi~e same outlet orancfi as in ~t(1e above alternatives; i.~e,~ t~it~ an over-pfessc~re~ valde 9:
2s rtne secsor signal S is traiisr'riitt~d to sn electronic ct5rtfial unit 18, sucfi e5, e.g. a PAC; a micro-oarftrc~lter; a Plr,' arreiectforNCah regrxiator,v anc~
tt~like:~. I~ case ti~e~
measured pressure lies under the programmed value, an electronic valve 6 is open~d by a signal s, along the conduit 15 in order to admit compressed air in the pad 2~5 tli~ough th"e suppl~i main. Iri case tti~e pr~ssure iri tfie pad 25 is g~eafe~ than 3o the value progra~mnte~d- irr t#~e oontroi ut~lt 18; another eigrt8l s2 is se~tt~ t~ tote electrical desserating valve 9 through the conduit 16.
Figure 7 shows a still further alterntive of embodiment which comprises a pad i I, with a buffer vessel and a nonretum valve. In this embodiment, the same over pressure valve 9 is used as in the basic embodiment above as shown in Figures and 3 to 4c. However, the inlet is supplied here through a simple pressure I
s regulator 22 which builds up a preset pressure in said buffer vessel 20 in between the printing cycles. An nonretum valve 21 prevents the air which is pressed out of i the pad 25 during a printing stage from returning to the buffer vessel 20, since this i would increase the pressure in the buffer vessel. The air pressed out of the pad I leaves the system through the over-pressure valve 9 as above. The supply main 4 io has a sufficient diameter so as to be able to supply the required air flow each time i the pad goes up again away from the printed object 30 after an inking or printing cycle.
It is further yet possible to use combinations of the embodiments described above, is wherein it is to be understood that said combinations fall within the scope of . protection of this application.
The process for printing surfaces of an object by means of the above-described apparatus consists in first pressing the pad against an initially inked surface, in an 20 open loop, whereupon the half spherical surface of the pad, which is in close contact with this inked surface, is flattened so that the figures to be printed are transferred on the surface of the pad, in subsequently removing said pad from the original surface in order to enable the latter to recover its initial half spherical shape again, and in subsequently pressing said pad against the three dimensional 2s spherical andlor curved surface in such a way that said pad encompasses at least a spherical or curved part of said object, and in bringing the pad surface bearing the inked figure in contact with the surface of said object, thereby to transfer this inked figure on the desired spherical or curved part of the receiving object.
i I
AMENDED SHEET
f~c printing-spherical objects acdord~rrg to tshe irrvent~on.
~esc~iir~t s. Figure.'hsl~ws-an appa~retras withr a~ pad holder 1~ arnd a so-catfed~
slliovne shape 2' which are comparable to the present prior art. Ho~rever, in this pad holder 1, there is provided in addition to a traditional aperture 3 an additional aperture 8, resulting Y... ..n ' ~ .. . . . L r. i t ~n t~a~ the ~ysferri ptese~fs sepa~afe ape~fures for the infel3 df tfie air-ahd respectively the outlet 8 of the sir through a conduit 4~, ~resp. 4' provided therefor. 'A
to fast and accurate pressure regulating unit B vrhich is incorporated in the inlet 4 causes the pressure in the pad 25 never to fall under a preset level established at pfe'ssure P. T1i~~~~a~ tfie ji~essu~r~ ~regulati'~g 'unit adjusts tfi~
corttpfessed aiT ~w>'iich er~ers t#~e nagulator 6 t~hrough~ ar sd~pply flexible tire 7 a~a~ing to F.
A~n~ aocd~rai~
and fast over-pressure valve 9 is connected to the outlet ~ =. 8 of the pad holder i3 25 at the outlet hole 8. ~s soon as the pressure in the pad 25 becomes greater f~ia~ fh~ p~esef value o~ ffie pTessu~e ~, tiie overpressure valve 9 vinlt 6loui oft' ~accordivg to 6' to the outer ~a~ir 40 through the ou#let 1 a.
DifiFererif em~odimenfs ara desc~i6ed' ~iefeiiiaRe~ affe~ ~f~e Pii~ti~iimary~
desc~ipfioii ~o of how the above rJescribed basic embodi~rnent of fibs opparat~s ~aocording to the invention works.
.r: ' . .: ia.~:.... ~ .. . ~.~:~ ~~y;,:. w a .v.~..n.~; ' Figure 4a s~iows f~ie a'ppaiatus in pest pos~f~on rep~esenEed by ~. Tfi~~e is a consfiant pressure P ~iv th~ pad v5: $oth the vpres~sure ~regt~lating system 6 and the zs oust-pressure valve 9 are in a closed position.
.:.
Figure 4$ s~ovris ~o~iv ttie pad 25 ~inoVe's downwards according ~o arrow H
at5d fr"ow it bends over the object ~t3~ to~ t~2 printed (state B~. The air in fihe~ pad ~S i~s pressed out of the pad according to G through the aver-pressure value 9 to the outside 3o according to the arrow direction G'. The pressure in the pad thus remains P~essur~ P.
Figure 4c shop the su6sequeiit ystate C ~w~e~ein ttie paid 25 goes up~ardfp again aocording~ to-- H; i.>e: to the rest position A:- The over pressr~re valve 9 got r~sed and the pressure regulating unit 8 enters into action. The pressure regulating unit 6 will keep the pressure at pressur~ P by blowing the right quantities of air in the pad ~5:
~_ ~_ _. ,.....
aespife fhe f~cf fhaf tile sysfein ~ccor~iiig to fhe iniierifioti Corisum~s mope air, enables defermini~ng very ~occ~rately the pressure in the pad ~S ~at each tine of the printing cycle. This is a very important parameter for printing spherical obiects 30, to particularly with respect to the printing quality thereof, the more that nowadays ever sf~oiig~~'printing quality~~equi~errierits get i-mposecJ.
Dii'fe~eiit embodl~ients arid atferiiativ~s o~tfie apparatus acco~dirtg fo ttie iwe~fiors are deserlbe~d hereirtefiter witf~ figures 6 to ~: The sele~ctien of a par#icular is embodiment depends on various factors, such as printing speed, cost of the system and desired accuracy of the printing.
An ~alteTnative of tfia system wsiitfi ~pg~i~ 25 ~w'itii -mechanical valves '6, 9 ~as d~escii6ed above briftgs a solution t8 t-he above-rnen~tivned~ retttlrrement for frncdr'ng accurate 2o and quick valves which are yet able to supply the required flow provided that an additional pilot valve 13 is incorporated in the system as shown on Figure 5.
fn this' Figure, said piiolvalve 13 is coW ecfed t~i~ectfy on flie air supply main ~
tfi~rough a cor~nprassed air conda~it 11. ~Fvrther said pi~le~t valve 1 S ~is also di~ctly 25 connected to the pad 25, particularly the pad holder 1, through a measuring tube 12. Said pilot valve is also directly connected to said pressure regulating unit S
ttiiaugh a coritwol ~pre'ssute conduit 1d.
The lat~e~ a'Ite~n'afive ffiu's sfiovirs a pad 2~wv~f~ mecfiarficai ~ralves s, g and a pilot 3Q reatve 13; wherein thi~sw pi4ot vaHre- is~ fed t~voug~h t~h~ cerrfpressed asr corrda~it 11.
Through the measuring tube 12 the pressure in the pad 2S is measured by the pilot v~(ve 13 aW ~ttie ~pressUre regulating system 6 is controlled tfi~ougfi tfii3 conti~l pressure c~and~uit 1~:
Figuee 6 stiov;is a ~iirt~~er= alternative of fi~'i~e system vrtiicfi comprises a pad ~5 vv~ii s pre~ssu~re sensors 19 ;end an electroniaal contfol unit 18: ane or a pluraii#y of pressure sensors 19 are incorporated in this alternative of the system at the pad 25, particularly the pad holder 1, with a direct connection to an electronical control r. r. ~.
unit ~8 thrbugh a co~ridu'it ~17. S2~id elect~ortical comt~ol -unit 18 iS iii turn connected to an eteetranieal baive 6 at the admtssfio~ side on the one-hand and with a ova=
to pressure valve 9 of the same type as above on the other hand, in each case through a respective signal carrier 15 and 16.
..y,~"..y L 5:.:. ~: ~. (tw.~, n.~...~..w '. .. . ,. . . J.n:
The eleLtroiiical 'pressure sensor 19 measures confmuously tFie ~ig~it pressure of the pad z5; virhrerein thus infarma~ion ~ taken rip ~n the sensor signal s tl~et is is delivered by said pressure sensor 19.
This alte~rla'five of embodme~f shows at~ the input sine betvire~n tfie pad 25 arid the i~p~rt 7 a simple prfessu~re regulator v~ with a ~buifer vessel ~0 streamdownwardly of the supplied compressed air, which is incorporated in the 2o supply main ~, wherein a nonreturn valve 21 is provided at the inlet of the pad 25.
At the output V .y' ~~ ~ofi said pad, there is ~p~oVice'd tfi~e same outlet orancfi as in ~t(1e above alternatives; i.~e,~ t~it~ an over-pfessc~re~ valde 9:
2s rtne secsor signal S is traiisr'riitt~d to sn electronic ct5rtfial unit 18, sucfi e5, e.g. a PAC; a micro-oarftrc~lter; a Plr,' arreiectforNCah regrxiator,v anc~
tt~like:~. I~ case ti~e~
measured pressure lies under the programmed value, an electronic valve 6 is open~d by a signal s, along the conduit 15 in order to admit compressed air in the pad 2~5 tli~ough th"e suppl~i main. Iri case tti~e pr~ssure iri tfie pad 25 is g~eafe~ than 3o the value progra~mnte~d- irr t#~e oontroi ut~lt 18; another eigrt8l s2 is se~tt~ t~ tote electrical desserating valve 9 through the conduit 16.
Figure 7 shows a still further alterntive of embodiment which comprises a pad i I, with a buffer vessel and a nonretum valve. In this embodiment, the same over pressure valve 9 is used as in the basic embodiment above as shown in Figures and 3 to 4c. However, the inlet is supplied here through a simple pressure I
s regulator 22 which builds up a preset pressure in said buffer vessel 20 in between the printing cycles. An nonretum valve 21 prevents the air which is pressed out of i the pad 25 during a printing stage from returning to the buffer vessel 20, since this i would increase the pressure in the buffer vessel. The air pressed out of the pad I leaves the system through the over-pressure valve 9 as above. The supply main 4 io has a sufficient diameter so as to be able to supply the required air flow each time i the pad goes up again away from the printed object 30 after an inking or printing cycle.
It is further yet possible to use combinations of the embodiments described above, is wherein it is to be understood that said combinations fall within the scope of . protection of this application.
The process for printing surfaces of an object by means of the above-described apparatus consists in first pressing the pad against an initially inked surface, in an 20 open loop, whereupon the half spherical surface of the pad, which is in close contact with this inked surface, is flattened so that the figures to be printed are transferred on the surface of the pad, in subsequently removing said pad from the original surface in order to enable the latter to recover its initial half spherical shape again, and in subsequently pressing said pad against the three dimensional 2s spherical andlor curved surface in such a way that said pad encompasses at least a spherical or curved part of said object, and in bringing the pad surface bearing the inked figure in contact with the surface of said object, thereby to transfer this inked figure on the desired spherical or curved part of the receiving object.
i I
AMENDED SHEET
Claims (6)
1. Apparatus for printing three dimensional objects, particularly objects having a substantially spherical shape, comprising a pad for printing by means of pad printing, wherein said pad is made of silicone with a determined thickness and shape, which is mounted on a hollow pad holder (1) made of an undeformable material which constitutes an isolated space together with said silicone shape (2), which is supplied with compressed air and which is connected to a pressure vessel by means of a main element (4) provided therefor through an opening (3), characterised in that the apparatus is arranged in open loop wherein there is provided an additional separate aperture (8) for a separate inlet and outlet of air (3, resp. 8), with a pressure regulating unit (6) enabling to keep the pressure in the pad greater than or at a preset level P, wherein said pressure regulating unit (6) regulates the compressed air which enters the regulating unit (6) through a supply main (7).
2. Apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that there is provided an over-pressure valve (9) which is connected to the outlet (8) of the pad holder (1) through a discharge conduit (4').
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the pad is provided with a pilot valve (13) which is fed through a compressed air main (11), and with a measuring unit (12) for measuring the pressure in the pad and controlling the pressure regulating unit (6) through a control pressure conduit (14), which mutually connects the pilots valve (13) and the pressure regulating unit (6).
4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said pad (25) comprises pressure sensors (19) for measuring the pressure of the pad (25), wherein the signal (s) delivered by said sensors (19) is transmitted to the electronical control unit (18).
5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said pad (25) comprises a buffer vessel (20) and a nonreturn valve (21 ), wherein the inlet is provided with a pressure regulator (22) which builds up a preset pressure between the printing cycles in said buffer vessel (20) and wherein said nonreturn valve (21 ) prevents the air which is pressed out of the pad from returning to the buffer vessel (20) during a printing stage, wherein subsequently the air pressed out from the pad leaves the apparatus through the over-pressure valve (9), and wherein the supply main (4) has a sufficient diameter for supplying the needed air flow each time the pad returns to its rest position (A) after an inking or printing cycle.
6. Process for printing surfaces of an object by means of an apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, consisting in first pressing the pad in an open circuit against an initially inked surface, whereupon the half spherical surface of the pad, which is in close contact with this inked surface, is flattened so that the figures to be printed are transferred on the surface of the pad, in subsequently removing said pad from the original surface in order to enable the latter to recover its initial half spherical form again, and in subsequently pressing said pad against the three dimensional spherical and/or curved surface in such a way that said pad encompasses at least a spherical or curved part of said object, and in bringing the pad surface bearing the inked figure into contact with the surface of said object (30) thereby to transfer this inked figure on the desired spherical or curved part of the receiving object.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| BE9900245A BE1012658A6 (en) | 1999-04-08 | 1999-04-08 | DEVICE with pad for printing spherical objects. |
| BE9900245 | 1999-04-08 | ||
| PCT/BE2000/000032 WO2000061371A1 (en) | 1999-04-08 | 2000-04-10 | Flexible stamp apparatus for printing three-dimensional spherical or curved objects |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2369134A1 true CA2369134A1 (en) | 2000-10-19 |
Family
ID=3891858
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002369134A Abandoned CA2369134A1 (en) | 1999-04-08 | 2000-04-10 | Flexible stamp apparatus for printing three-dimensional spherical or curved objects |
Country Status (12)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6604458B1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1171305B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2003524538A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE226142T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU4094500A (en) |
| BE (1) | BE1012658A6 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2369134A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE60000617T2 (en) |
| EA (1) | EA003123B1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2187461T3 (en) |
| PT (1) | PT1171305E (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2000061371A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6776100B2 (en) | 2001-12-21 | 2004-08-17 | Thomas V. Cutcher | Method and apparatus for transferring an image to a substrate |
| US6796241B2 (en) * | 2002-05-31 | 2004-09-28 | José Luis Catalán | Method and apparatus for producing images on eggs |
| US20150217893A1 (en) * | 2007-04-05 | 2015-08-06 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Label Processor |
| US8151704B2 (en) * | 2008-02-21 | 2012-04-10 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd | Method for printing on spherical object and pad to be used therefor |
| PL2607250T3 (en) * | 2009-07-27 | 2017-07-31 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Assembly and method for applying a label |
| JP5914360B2 (en) | 2010-01-28 | 2016-05-11 | エーブリー デニソン コーポレイションＡｖｅｒｙ Ｄｅｎｎｉｓｏｎ Ｃｏｒｐｏｒａｔｉｏｎ | Labeling machine belt system |
| KR101025250B1 (en) * | 2010-10-22 | 2011-03-29 | 나준하 | Printer for streetlight globe and globe using the same |
| EP2885216A2 (en) * | 2012-08-16 | 2015-06-24 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Label processor |
| DE102012021206A1 (en) | 2012-10-30 | 2014-04-30 | Uts Biogastechnik Gmbh | Fermenter of a biogas plant |
| ITMI20132054A1 (en) | 2013-12-10 | 2015-06-11 | Tosh Srl | PRESS APPARATUS WITH PAD. |
| JP2016068412A (en) * | 2014-09-30 | 2016-05-09 | 株式会社Ｓｃｒｅｅｎホールディングス | Pad printing transfer pad, pad printing device, and pad printing method |
| CN113022114B (en) * | 2021-03-17 | 2022-06-28 | 清华大学 | Transfer printing stamp and preparation method and using method thereof |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2748696A (en) * | 1951-06-13 | 1956-06-05 | Murray Lilian | Printing or decoration of ceramic or other ware |
| US2904916A (en) * | 1957-03-11 | 1959-09-22 | Gladding Mcbean & Co | Apparatus for placing a desing on a three dimensional porous carrier |
| US3868901A (en) * | 1972-05-22 | 1975-03-04 | Interspace Corp | Apparatus for mechanical contact in printing on ceramic tableware |
| US3756165A (en) * | 1972-05-22 | 1973-09-04 | Interpace Corp | Method for printing on ceramic tableware |
| JPS5937234B2 (en) * | 1977-01-17 | 1984-09-08 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Curved surface printing method and printing device |
| US4511425A (en) * | 1983-06-13 | 1985-04-16 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Heated pad decorator |
| ES8703346A1 (en) | 1985-07-31 | 1987-03-01 | Unice Sa | Device for printing spherical objects and the like. |
-
1999
- 1999-04-08 BE BE9900245A patent/BE1012658A6/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
2000
- 2000-04-10 DE DE60000617T patent/DE60000617T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-04-10 WO PCT/BE2000/000032 patent/WO2000061371A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-04-10 PT PT00920288T patent/PT1171305E/en unknown
- 2000-04-10 ES ES00920288T patent/ES2187461T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-04-10 EA EA200101048A patent/EA003123B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-04-10 EP EP00920288A patent/EP1171305B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-04-10 AU AU40945/00A patent/AU4094500A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-04-10 JP JP2000610676A patent/JP2003524538A/en active Pending
- 2000-04-10 US US09/958,388 patent/US6604458B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2000-04-10 AT AT00920288T patent/ATE226142T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-04-10 CA CA002369134A patent/CA2369134A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ATE226142T1 (en) | 2002-11-15 |
| DE60000617D1 (en) | 2002-11-21 |
| PT1171305E (en) | 2003-03-31 |
| WO2000061371A1 (en) | 2000-10-19 |
| JP2003524538A (en) | 2003-08-19 |
| US6604458B1 (en) | 2003-08-12 |
| ES2187461T3 (en) | 2003-06-16 |
| EP1171305B1 (en) | 2002-10-16 |
| BE1012658A6 (en) | 2001-02-06 |
| EA200101048A1 (en) | 2002-08-29 |
| EP1171305A1 (en) | 2002-01-16 |
| EA003123B1 (en) | 2003-02-27 |
| DE60000617T2 (en) | 2003-06-12 |
| AU4094500A (en) | 2000-11-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |