Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Tracy Kucaba

Dana Pulvino

Robert W Hitchcock

Paul Konrath

Jared Herring

Christopher Thomas Schaafsma

Robert Hitchcock

Danny R Hessert

Kevin B Sharp

Richard H Schulz

Sam Peterson

Christopher T Schaafsma

A method is provided that includes acquiring positional information regarding a pallet being translated on a conveyance system with an encoding sensor disposed proximate to the conveyance system. The method also includes receiving, with at least one processor, the positional information from the encoding sensor. Further, the method includes determining timing information using the positional information. The timing information corresponds to when a substrate disposed on the pallet will be in a print zone of a print head. The method further includes controlling the print head to print on the substrate when the substrate is in the print zone and passing beneath the print head.

Apparatuses and methods for high-resolution printing

A system is provided that includes a print head, a conveyance system, an encoding sensor, and at least one processor. The print head defines a print zone, and is configured to print on objects within the print zone. The conveyance system passes through the print zone, and is configured to translate a pallet through the print zone. The encoding sensor is disposed proximate to the conveyance system, and is configured to be oriented toward the pallet and to acquire positional information regarding the pallet. The at least one processor is operably coupled to the print head and the encoding sensor, and is configured to: receive the positional information from the encoding sensor; determine timing information corresponding to when a substrate disposed on the pallet will be in the print zone; and control the print head to print on the substrate when the substrate is in the print zone.

A liquid supply assembly for use with a printing system of a type in which a liquid is deposited from the liquid supply assembly in a receiving region on a plate and any excess of the liquid in the receiving region is scraped from the plate by the liquid supply assembly. To this end, the liquid supply assembly employs a reusable cup, a disposable cup insert and a scraping element. As assembled, the reusable cup includes a reusable liquid reservoir, the disposable cup insert includes a temporary liquid reservoir holding the liquid within the reusable liquid reservoir, and the scraping element includes a conduit facilitating a flow of the liquid held by the temporary liquid reservoir through the conduit to the plate.

Disposable cup insert for pad printing and decorating

A rotating clich&#xe9; pad printer includes a frame, a flat clich&#xe9; operably mounted to the frame, an ink cup configured to reside on the clich&#xe9; and a pad applicator. The clich&#xe9; includes at least one etched region and is adapted to receive ink thereon in the etched region. The ink cup is configured to reside on the clich&#xe9; and to deposit ink into the at least one etched region. The clich&#xe9; and ink cup are rotatably movable relative to one another. The pad applicator includes at least one pad adapted to move into and out of contact with the at least one etched region to receive ink from the etched region. The pad is further configured to contact an associated object to transfer the received ink to the associated object.

Rotating clich&#xe9; pad printer

A roller pad printer for printing on an associated object includes a frame, a flat clich&#xe9; operably mounted to the frame for receiving and a resilient roller pad operably mount to the frame for rolling contact, at a first location and in a first direction along the clich&#xe9;, to receive ink transferred from the clich&#xe9;. The roller pad is adapted for rolling contact with the object, at a second location and in a second direction, to transfer the ink from the roller pad to the object.

Roller pad printer and method for printing

An ink supply system is used with a printer of the type in which ink is deposited in an engraved receiving region on a clich&#xe9; plate and is scraped from the plate leaving ink in the receiving region. The ink supply system includes an ink cup having a hollow interior defining an ink reservoir and defining an outer edge. The outer edge has a doctor blade formed thereon for engaging and scraping the plate. The ink cup has an inlet and an outlet. A pump has a suction side and a discharge side with the suction side in flow communication with the cup outlet for drawing ink from the cup. A viscosity controller is in flow communication with the pump discharge and receives ink from the pump. A flow conduit extends between the viscosity controller and the ink cup for providing a flow of ink from the viscosity controller to the ink cup. The pump draws ink from the cup to create a negative pressure within the cup and the negative pressure within the cup draws ink from the viscosity controller to the ink cup through the flow conduit.

Growing community of inventors

South Elgin, IL, United States of America

Tracy Kucaba