Digital cliche pad printing system and method

• US 9,821,546 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2010
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Schaafsma, Christopher T., Sobaszek, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): OLAMIT, JUSTIN N
• Application Number:
  US12/685,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,871 Days
• Field of Search: 101 41, 101 42- 44
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 1/003 the relief or intaglio pattern being obtained by imagewise deposition of a liquid, e.g. by an ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/001 Pad printing apparatus or machines

Abstract

A digital cliché pad printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic support medium, a material deposition jetting device for depositing a curable material onto the support in a desired pattern, the desired pattern having at least one void space, means for curing the material in the desired pattern, the cured material defining a cliché having a top surface, an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface and a pad configured to contact the cliché to transfer ink from the void space to the pad the pad also configured to move into contact with an object to which the ink is transferred. A digital cliché media and method are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A digital cliché

pad printing system comprising;

a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic, elongate, continuous flexible support member, the support member formed from a paper tape, foil or polymeric material;

a fluid jetting device for depositing a UV curable fluid onto the continuous support member in a desired pattern, the UV curable fluid adhered to the continuous support member, the desired pattern having at least one void space, the at least one void space having a shape defining a desired graphic to be transferred to an object;

a UV energy source for curing the fluid in the desired pattern, the cured fluid defining a cliché

having a top surface;

an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface; and

a pad configured to contact the cliché and

receive the ink from the void space, the received ink forming the desired graphic to be transferred, the pad further configured to move into contact with the object and transfer the desired graphic to the object,

wherein the conveyor conveys the continuous support member from the fluid jetting device to the pad, through the UV energy source and the ink delivery system.

2. The digital cliché

pad printing system in accordance with claim 1 including a controller for controlling the deposition device.

3. The digital cliché

pad printing system in accordance with claim 1 including a dispenser for dispensing the continuous support member and a take up for taking up the continuous support member following printing.

4. The digital cliché

pad printing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ink delivery system includes an ink cup and a doctor blade for delivering ink to the cliché and

depositing ink in the at least one void space, and for wiping excess ink from the cliché

.

5. A method for pad printing comprising the steps of:

dispensing a substantially non-elastic, elongate, continuous flexible support member from a dispenser along a conveyance path, the support member formed from a paper tape, foil or polymeric material;

depositing a UV curable fluid onto the continuous support member, the UV curable fluid deposited in a desired pattern, adhered to the continuous support member, and defining at least one void space, the at least one void space having a shape defining a desired graphic to be transferred to an object;

subjecting the UV curable fluid to UV energy to cure the fluid to define a cliché

having a top surface;

filling the at least one void space with an ink and wiping ink from the top surface of the cliché

;

contacting a printing pad with the cliché

to receive the ink on the printing pad from the void space, the received ink forming the desired graphic to be transferred; and

contacting the printing pad with the object to transfer the desired graphic from the printing pad to the object, wherein a conveyor conveys the continuous support member along the conveyance path from the dispenser through the step of contacting the printing pad with the object.

6. The method for pad printing in accordance with claim 5 wherein the UV curable fluid is deposited by jetting the fluid onto the support member.

7. The method for pad printing in accordance with claim 5 including the step of winding the support element following the step of contacting the printing pad with the cliché

to transfer the ink form the void space to the printing pad.