Exatec, LLC

Bien Trong Bui

Keith D Weiss

Thomas V Cutcher

Eric F J M Van Der Meulen

Jason Beaudoin

Eric Van Der Meulen

A screen printing apparatus for printing images onto a three dimensional surface of a substrate. The apparatus includes a screen formed of a flexible mesh material and having porous image portions that allows passage of a printing medium through it. A shaping assembly including a plurality of shapers that are movable between retracted and extended positions. In their extended positions, the shapers are engaged with the screen assembly and generally cause screen to generally conform to the three dimensional surface of the substrate. A squeegee, that is flexible and conformable to the three dimensional surface, is drawn along screen and forces at least some of the printing medium through the porous portion of the screen and onto the three dimensional surface.

Screen printing apparatus

The present invention involves a method of transferring a membrane image to an article. The method comprises providing a printed decoration to be applied onto a low surface energy membrane. The low surface energy membrane has a hardness level of greater than 70 durometer Shore A and a surface energy of up to 25 mJ/m. The method further includes applying a predetermined pressure with a pressure device to force the printed decoration through a screen onto the low surface energy membrane. The pressure device has a hardness of up to 70 durometer Shore A. The method further includes forming the low surface energy membrane to the geometry of the surface of the article and applying pressure between the membrane and the article to transfer the membrane image from the membrane to the article.

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Howell, MI, United States of America

Bien Trong Bui