Screen Printing Pallet Assembly for Multi-Machine Registration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current screen printing machines are limited in the number of colors they can apply to a textile due to the number of printing heads or stations, and transferring a printed textile between machines while maintaining registration is difficult, if not impossible, leading to imperfect prints.
Innovation Solution
A method and pallet assembly system that synchronizes the position of pallet assemblies between two screen printing machines, allowing a printed garment to be transferred while maintaining registration with the print heads, using a subassembly with adjustable registration systems for precise alignment and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single screen printing machine with multiple printing heads is used, then the number of colors that can be printed is limited by the number of stations, but the machine structure remains relatively simple
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the screen printing process into multiple independent modules (first screen printing machine, second screen printing machine, pallet assemblies) that can be operated separately but coordinated together. Each machine handles a portion of the total colors, allowing expansion of printing capability without requiring all printing heads to be in one machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The pallet assembly serves as an intermediary carrier that transfers the substrate between different screen printing machines while maintaining registration. The registration system on the pallet acts as a mediator to ensure positional accuracy during transfer, enabling multi-color printing beyond single-machine capabilities.
2Quantity of substance
If a substrate is transferred between two separate screen printing machines, then the number of colors can be expanded beyond one machine's capacity, but maintaining registration between machines becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The registration system on the pallet assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism that ensures precise positioning of the substrate relative to print heads on different machines. The registration features (marks, alignment mechanisms) mediate the transfer process to maintain registration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual alignment and positioning methods with automated registration systems that use mechanical guides, alignment marks, and controlled movement mechanisms to achieve precise registration automatically during the transfer process.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment is used to position the substrate on each machine, then registration can be achieved, but the process becomes very time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The registration system is pre-configured on the pallet assembly before the substrate is placed. Registration marks and alignment features are established in advance, so that when the substrate is transferred to the second machine, the alignment process is significantly reduced or eliminated.
Solution Approach 2:
The registration system enables the substrate and pallet to self-align through pre-established registration marks and mechanical guides. The system performs its own alignment function without requiring extensive manual intervention, reducing alignment time while maintaining precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of screen printing positionally synchronizes a plurality of pallet assemblies on a first screen printing machine with a plurality of pallet assemblies on a second screen printing machine. A screen printed garment having a properly aligned first image received from the first screen printing machine is transferred on a portion of one of the pallet assemblies on the first screen printing machine to one of the plurality of pallet assemblies on the second printing machine. The properly aligned first image on the garment is in proper positional alignment with a screen printing head on the second screen printing machine such that a second image complimentary to the first image is printed on the garment in proper position on the garment relative to the first image without user intervention to positionally locate the first image relative to the screen printing head on the second machine.