The invention relates generally to transfer pad printing systems, and more particularly to pad printing plates and methods therefor.
Transfer pad printing is a process of transferring ink images formed on etched printing plates, known as cliches, onto products with printing pads. Transfer pad printing is particularly suitable for printing on non-flat or irregular surfaces, for example on golf balls.
One known type of pad printing plate comprises a hardened and relatively thick steel plate, for example about 10 mm thick with a Rockwell C scale hardness of approximately 65. A surface of the steel plate is ground and polished, or lapped, to provide a relatively flat and smooth surface on which an image is formed or etched by means well known in the art.
The referenced hardened and relatively thick steel pad printing plates have the advantage of being very durable with an operating life expectancy of over one million or more printing cycles. These hardened thick steel pad printing plates however are costly to manufacture, particularly the grinding and lapping operations performed thereon. The plates also have a very high raw material cost. Moreover, these plates are heavy and bulky, and thus difficult to handle and costly to ship and store.
Another known type of pad printing plate comprises a relatively thin metal foil disposed on a base substrate. Thin metal foil plates however are relatively soft, with a Rockwell C scale hardness of about 44, and thus have a comparatively limited life expectancy.
An object of the present invention is to provide novel transfer pad printing systems, pad printing plates, combinations thereof and methods therefor that improve upon and overcome problems in the art.
Another object of the invention is to provide novel transfer pad printing systems, pad printing plates, combinations thereof and methods therefor that are economical.
A further object of the invention is to provide novel transfer pad printing systems and pad printing plates therefor having reduced weight and relatively good durability.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide novel transfer pad printing systems and pad printing plates therefor comprising a metal plate having a Rockwell C scale hardness not less than approximately 55 and a thickness between approximately 0.015 inches and approximately 0.020 inches.
Another more particular object of the invention is to provide novel transfer pad printing plates and methods therefor comprising etching an image on an upper surface of a metal plate having a Rockwell C scale hardness not less than approximately 55 and a thickness between approximately 0.015 inches and approximately 0.020 inches, and mounting a lower surface of the metal plate on a mounting surface of a base plate.
These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent upon careful consideration of the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the accompanying Drawings, which may be disproportionate for ease of understanding, wherein like structure and steps are referenced generally by corresponding numerals and indicators.