Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Marc C Piscitello

Christopher J Sobaszek

Gregory B Olejniczak

Graham P Vlcek

Sean M O'Neil

Peter P Dell'Aquila

Steve Waszkowiak

Jesse Darley

Christopher Thomas Schaafsma

Samuel Peterson

Gerald L Voegele

Jesse C Darley

Sean M O'neil

Peter P Dell'aquila

Peter P DELL'AQUILA

Sean M O'NEIL

Samuel Petersen

A printing system includes carriage assemblies, a preparation station, a printing station, and a selection station. The carriage assemblies receive flexible bodies and are coupled to a conveyance assembly that moves the carriage assemblies along a direction of travel. The preparation station receives the flexible bodies from the loading station and manipulates the flexible bodies to at least partially flatten printing surfaces of the flexible bodies. The printing station prints images on the flexible bodies. The selection station examines the images on the flexible bodies and selects one or more of the flexible bodies based on the images. The selection station also individually grips and removes selected flexible bodies from the carriage assemblies and conveys the selected flexible bodies to a first collection location while the other flexible bodies remain on the carriage assemblies and are conveyed to a different, second collection location.

System and method for printing on a flexible body

An auto alignment pad printer for transferring print to an associated object includes a frame, a fixture for supporting the associated object and a clich&#xe9; operably mounted to the frame. The clich&#xe9; includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink in the etched region. An ink cup is configured to deposit ink into the etched region. A pad applicator includes a pad support having at least one pad thereon. The pad is adapted to move into and out of contact with the etched region to receive ink from the etched region and to contact an object to transfer the received ink to the object. A pad applicator alignment assembly includes a first set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the clich&#xe9; and/or the frame near to the clich&#xe9;, and a second set of cooperating projections and receivers mounted to the pad applicator and to the fixture for supporting the object. The first set of cooperating projections and receivers are configured to position the pad for precise movement into contact with the clich&#xe9; to receive ink from the clich&#xe9;. The second set of cooperating projections and receivers are configured to position the pad for precise movement into contact with the object to transfer the received ink to the associated object.

Auto aligning pad printer

Growing community of inventors

Carol Stream, IL, United States of America

Marc C Piscitello