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Can decorator apparatus and method

  • US 10,022,953 B2
  • Filed: 02/20/2014
  • Issued: 07/17/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:

  • a can body conveying mechanism for conveying can bodies to a printing zone;

    a blanket wheel comprising;

    a plurality of blanket segments and,a plurality of blankets, each blanket affixed to a corresponding blanket segment, each blanket having a printing surface, the blanket wheel being configured to bring each blanket printing surface into contact with a can body within said printing zone; and

    an ink station comprising a printing plate configured to contact the printing surfaces of passing blankets in order to impart a primary ink image to the printing surfaces of the plurality of blankets, the primary ink image including a composite ink image and a primary unprinted region that is unprinted onto the blanket, the primary ink image is adapted to be formed on at least one blanket printing surface and is adapted to be printed onto a can body upon contact of the at least one blanket printing surface and the can body within the printing zone,wherein, each blanket printing surface comprises a secondary image surrounded by a secondary unprinted region having a lower or reduced height with respect to the blanket printing surface such that the secondary image is adapted to be printed on a can body as a positive image, and wherein the printing plate and the at least one blanket are configured such that said secondary unprinted region lies wholly within the primary unprinted region of the primary ink image that is unprinted onto the blanket.

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