Inkcups ICN-B100, Руководство пользователя

Страница: 4 / 46

INKCUPS PAD PRINTERS ICN-B100
¤
All rights reserved by Inkcups Now Corporation Page 3
V:91719
Learning about Pad Printing
APPLICATIONS OF PAD PRINTING
Transfer pad printing or tampo printing, commonly known as pad printing, is an "indirect offset
gravure" printing process. It was originally used in the watch making industry in Switzerland
to decorate watch faces. Pad printing has now developed to a point where it is one of the
major methods of printing and decorating the surfaces of objects like:
™ Gifts and premiums: pens, keychains, lighters
™ Sport items: golf balls, golf tees
™ Computer items: computer case, keyboards, keypads, mouse
™
Electrical items: mobile phones, telephones, cameras, radio, TV case.
™ Leisure items: CD
PRINCIPLES OF PAD PRINTING
The basic process is very simple. The design to be printed is etched into a flat block, the
printing plate. This etching is filled with ink by the inking mechanism. A smooth flexible
silicone rubber pad takes up most of the ink from the plate and transfers it to the components.
INKING THE PLATE
There are various methods of inking the plate. The most
common is an open inking mechanism. Other methods will be
shown later in this chapter. The ink is first spread across the
plate and a doctor blade comes down onto the plate, the
blade retracts taking the excess ink off the plate and leaving
ink in the etched areas. The thinners evaporate from the ink
remaining in the etched areas and its surface becomes sticky.
The pad comes down onto the plate and the surface rolls
across the ink.
Chapter
1