Silk screen printing onto the front panel of a cap

Abstract

A silk screen cap printing device has a saddle secured to a frame member for mounting a cap for printing. The saddle has a flat platen which supports the front panel of the cap and is further designed to provide interior supports to the cap thereby blocking it. This blocking prevents creases along the front panel and serves to maintain the cap in position during printing. A means for mounting the cap in the same position upon the saddle each time is provided by a registration plate which is secured to the frame in a spaced-apart perpendicular relationship to the platen and defines a channel between the platen and the plates for receiving the sweatband of the cap. Also connected to the frame is a silk screen which is adapted to move between an advanced position wherein the silk screen contacts the front panel of the cap which is mounted upon the saddle and a retracted position wherein the silk screen is withdrawn for changing caps.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A cap printing device for silk screen printing into the front panel of a cap of the type having a sweatband and a bill comprising: a frame member;   a saddle secured to the frame member for mounting the cap for printing, said saddle having a flat platen which supports the front panel of the cap when the cap is so mounted;   a registration plate against which the bill of the cap presses when the cap is mounted on the saddle, said registration plate being secured to the frame in a spaced-apart perpendicular relationship with the platen, the space between the registration plate and the platen defining a channel for receiving the sweatband of the cap; and   a means for movably securing a silk screen to the frame for movement between an advanced position wherein the silk screen contacts the front panel of a cap mounted on the saddle and a retracted position wherein the silk screen is withdrawn for changing caps.   
     
     
       2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the saddle includes means for blocking a cap mounted thereon. 
     
     
       3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the blocking means includes a pair of side forming members connected to the platen in an opposed relationship to one another for shaping the sides of a mounted cap. 
     
     
       4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the blocking means further includes a rear forming member for shaping the top of a cap. 
     
     
       5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the platen has four edges, a front edge closest to the registration plate, a rear edge furthest from said registration plate, and two side edges connecting the ends of the front edge to the ends of the rear edge, and wherein said saddle further comprises: a bottom support over which the rear portion of the cap is fitted when the cap is mounted on the saddle for printing; and   a retention bar aligned beneath the rear edge between the flat platen and the bottom support to prevent the top of the cap, which spans the space between the rear edge and the bottom support, from creasing inwardly.   
     
     
       6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the side edges are rounded. 
     
     
       7. The invention of claim 6 further comprising a pair of side panels each extending downwardly from one of the rounded edges to prevent creasing along the sides of the cap when it is mounted on the saddle. 
     
     
       8. The invention of claim 7 further comprising a means for biasing the silk screen to its retracted position. 
     
     
       9. A method of silk screen printing onto the front panel of a cap having a bill and a sweatband comprising the following steps: mounting the cap on a saddle having a flat platen for supporting the front panel of the cap so that its sweatband overhangs the platen;   pressing the bill of the cap against a registration plate positioned in a spaced-apart perpendicular relationship with the platen;   positioning the sweatband in the space between the platen and the registration plate;   pulling the rear of the cap so as to stretch its front panel across the platen; and   silk screen printing on the front panel of the cap.   
     
     
       10. The invention of claim 9 comprising the further step of blocking the mounted cap before printing. .Iadd. 
     
     
       11.  A cap printing device for screen printing onto front panel of a cap of the type having a sweatband and a bill comprising: a frame member;   a substantially flat platen operatively attached to the frame member for mounting the front panel of a cap when the cap is mounted thereon;   means for blocking a cap mounted on said platen, said blocking means including a pair of side forming surfaces operatively connected to the platen in an opposed relationship to one another for shaping the sides of a mounted cap so that tension is applied evenly across the platen; the blocking means further comprising a rear forming member for shaping the top of a cap, and said rear forming member comprising an edge of said platen forming a non-linear edge surface for engaging a cap; and wherein said platen comprises a linear edge opposite said non-linear edge, said linear and non-linear edges being disposed between said side forming members of said platen; and   means for movably securing the screen in operative association with said frame for movement between an advanced position wherein the screen contacts the front panel of the cap mounted on the platen and a retracted position wherein the screen is withdrawn for changing caps. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A cap printing device for screen printing onto front panel of a cap of the type having a sweatband and a bill comprising:   a frame member;   a substantially flat platen operatively attached to the frame member for mounting the cap for printing, said flat platen supporting the front panel of a cap when the cap is mounted thereon; and   blocking means for blocking a cap mounted on the platen, said blocking means comprising a rear forming member for shaping the top of a cap mounted on the platen so that tension is applied evenly across the platen, said rear forming member comprising an edge of said platen forming a non-linear surface for engaging a cap; and wherein said platen comprises a   
     
     
        linear edge opposite said non-linear edge. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13.  A cap printing device for screen printing onto the front panel of a cap of the type having a sweatband and a bill comprising: a frame member;   a substantially flat platen operatively attached to the frame member for mounting the cap for printing, said flat platen supporting the front panel of a cap when the cap is mounted thereon; and   said flat platen including a front substantially straight edge over which the sweatband of the cap is placed during printing, and a beveled second edge opposite said front edge, said beveled second edge having beveled portions comprising a supporting shape generally similar to the shape of the crown of the cap so that when the cap is placed over the platen and pulled taut, the tension is fairly evenly distributed and creases will not be formed across the front panel of the cap when a screen is moved into operative association with a cap on said platen. .Iaddend.