Processes and machines for decorating articles of manufacture

• US 10,040,313 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Allen, Matthew Richard, Cassoni, Robert Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Gross, Carson
• Application Number:
  US14/506,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20150096661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2040/0012 with special decorative arrangements or form
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4073 Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/40731 Holders for objects, e. g. holders specially adapted to the shape of the object to be printed or adapted to hold several objects
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/40733 Printing on cylindrical or rotationally symmetrical objects, e. g. on bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/00 Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects decorating textiles D06Q
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/10 Applying flat materials, e.g. leaflets, pieces of fabrics paperhanging B44C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 3/025 Superimposing layers to produce ornamental relief structures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

Processes and machines for decorating exterior surfaces of elongated, three-dimensional, discrete articles of manufacture, with decorative indicia and textural patterns.

Claims

1. A process for decorating an article of manufacture, the process comprising:

providing an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface, which includes an exterior side surface, at least part of which is offset from the longitudinal axis, wherein said exterior side surface comprises a textural pattern-receiving portion of said exterior side surface, and said pattern-receiving portion has a curvature when viewed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture further comprising an indicium disposed on the exterior side surface at a particular location;

providing a predetermined textural pattern of raised portions and open areas, to be applied to the exterior side surface;

providing one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which includes a linear deposition axis, wherein points along the pattern-receiving portion of the exterior side surface of said article of manufacture are in alignment with said linear deposition axis, and said points on said article of manufacture are spaced different distances away from the linear deposition axis when measured perpendicular to said linear deposition axis at different locations along the longitudinal axis of the article of manufacture; and

depositing one or more layers of a material to form the predetermined textural pattern of raised portions on at least a portion of the exterior side surface, by using the one or more pattern deposition devices, while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis and while the one or more pattern deposition devices are stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the layers is deposited according to a common registration, which is based on the particular location, wherein the raised portions have an overall height of 10-500 microns and are separated by open areas.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the providing of the article includes providing the article, which includes the exterior side surface, wherein about all of the portion of the exterior side surface has an overall cross-sectional shape that is selected from the group including:

continuously rounded and polygonal with rounded corners.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein about all of the portion of the exterior side surface of the article of manufacture has an overall cross-sectional shape that is polygonal with rounded corners.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the providing of the article includes providing the article, which includes the exterior side surface, wherein the indicium is a contact-type indicium.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the providing of the article includes providing the article, which includes the exterior side surface, wherein the indicium is a hot stamped indicium.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the providing of the article includes providing the article, which is a primary package for a disposable consumer product.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the providing of the article includes providing the article, which is a primary package for a cosmetic product.

8. The process of claim 1, including aligning the article, with respect to at least one of the pattern deposition devices, such that a surface profile of the portion of the exterior side surface is substantially parallel with the linear deposition axis of that pattern deposition device.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein:

the providing of the deposition devices includes providing two non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices; and

the depositing includes depositing the one or more layers by using each of the pattern deposition devices, while each of the pattern deposition devices is stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the depositing includes depositing 2-20 layers of the material.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the depositing includes depositing one or more layers of the material, which is a material that is curable with ultra-violet light.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the depositing includes depositing one or more layers of the material, which is an acrylate based ink.

13. The process of claim 1, wherein the depositing includes rotating the article through at least one complete revolution.

14. The process of claim 1, wherein the depositing includes depositing while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis, through at least one complete revolution.

15. The process of claim 1, wherein:

the depositing includes depositing the one or more layers of the material, such that the one or more layers of material do not overlap the indicium;

the providing of the article including providing the article, which includes the indicium, which is disposed within a first part of a particular longitudinal portion of the exterior side surface; and

the depositing includes depositing the one or more layers of the material, within a second part of the particular longitudinal portion of the exterior side surface, which is non-overlapping with the first part.

16. The process of claim 1, including determining the particular location by using a non-contact sensor configured to detect a presence of at least a portion of the indicium.

17. The process of claim 1, including determining the particular location, based on a location of a mechanical feature of the article.

18. The process of claim 1:

including, providing an article holder, configured to hold the article in alignment, with respect to at least one of the pattern deposition devices, and configured to rotate the article around the longitudinal axis;

wherein, the providing of the article includes providing the article, while the article is being held by the article holder; and

including, determining the particular location, based on an angular position of the article holder.

19. The process of claim 18, including:

applying the indicium on the exterior side surface at the particular location; and

continuously holding the article in a fixed relationship with respect to the article holder, from the applying of the indicium through the depositing of the one or more layers.

20. The process of claim 1, including pinning at least a portion of each of the layers of the material, after the layer is at least partially deposited, but before depositing any subsequent layer of the material.

21. The process of claim 1, wherein the exterior side surface of the article of manufacture defines a curved, roll face.

22. A process for decorating an article of manufacture, the process comprising:

providing an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface, which includes an exterior side surface, at least part of which is offset from the longitudinal axis, wherein said exterior side surface comprises a textural pattern-receiving portion of said exterior side surface, and said pattern-receiving portion has a curvature when viewed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture further comprising an indicium disposed on the exterior side surface at a particular location;

providing a predetermined textural pattern of raised portions and open areas, to be applied to the exterior side surface;

providing one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which includes a linear deposition axis, wherein points along the pattern-receiving portion of the exterior side surface of said article of manufacture are in alignment with said linear deposition axis, and said points on said article of manufacture are spaced different distances away from the linear deposition axis when measured perpendicular to said linear deposition axis at different locations along the longitudinal axis of the article of manufacture;

depositing one or more layers of a material that is curable with ultra-violet light to form the predetermined textural pattern of raised portions on at least a portion of the exterior side surface, by using the one or more non-contact pattern deposition devices, while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis and while the one or more pattern deposition devices are stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the layers is deposited according to a common registration, which is based on the particular location, such that the one or more layers of material do not overlap the indicium, wherein the raised portions have an overall height of 10-500 microns and are separated by open areas; and

pinning at least a portion of each of the layers of the material, after the layer is at least partially deposited, but before depositing any subsequent layer of the material.

23. A process for decorating an article of manufacture, the process comprising:

providing an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture with a longitudinal axis and an exterior surface, which includes an exterior side surface, at least part of which is offset from the longitudinal axis, wherein said exterior side surface comprises a textural pattern-receiving portion of said exterior side surface, and said pattern-receiving portion has a curvature when viewed perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said article of manufacture further comprising an indicium disposed on the exterior side surface at a particular location;

providing a predetermined textural pattern of raised portions and open areas, to be applied to the exterior side surface in registration with said indicium, wherein said indicium and said predetermined textural pattern are different in type and/or in the processes used to create the indicium and the predetermined textural pattern;

providing a machine for decorating the article of manufacture, said machine comprising;

an indexing sub-assembly, comprising;

at least one article holder, configured to;

hold in a fixed relationship, an elongated, three-dimensional, discrete article of manufacture; and

rotate an article that is being held; and

at least one angular encoder, configured to detect an angular position of an article that is being held and rotated by the article holder, wherein the indexing sub-assembly is configured to move with an indexing movement within the machine to move the at least one article holder through each of a plurality of indexed positions, including;

a registration indexed position with respect to a registration sub-assembly; and

a deposition indexed position with respect to a deposition sub-assembly; and

a registration sub-assembly comprising a sensor configured to detect a presence of a feature on an article that is being held by the article holder in the registration indexed position, wherein the registration sub-assembly is mounted to the machine separate from the indexing sub-assembly;

a deposition sub-assembly comprising one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which is configured to deposit one or more layers of a material onto an exterior side surface of an article that is being held by the article holder in the deposition indexed position and that is being rotated by the article holder, wherein the deposition sub-assembly is mounted to the machine separate from the indexing sub-assembly; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the angular encoder, and the one or more pattern deposition devices; and

the controller is configured to;

receive a detection signal from the sensor;

receive an angular position from the angular encoder; and

to send instructions to the one or more pattern deposition devices, to deposit one or more layers of material in a predetermined textural pattern, onto an exterior side surface of an article that is being held in the deposition position and rotated by the article holder;

providing one or more non-contact, linearly arrayed, depositing-on-demand, pattern deposition devices, each of which includes a linear deposition axis, wherein points along the pattern-receivirg portion of the exterior side surface of said article of manufacture are in alignment with said linear deposition axis, and said points on said article of manufacture are spaced different distances away from the linear deposition axis when measure perpendicular to said linear deposition axis at different locations along the longitudinal axis of the article of manufacture; and

depositing one or more layers of a material to form the predetermined textural pattern of raised portions on at least a portion of the exterior side surface, by using the one or more pattern deposition devices, while the article rotates around the longitudinal axis and while the one or more pattern deposition devices are stationary with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each of the layers is deposited according to a common registration, which is based on the particular location, wherein the raised portions have an overall height of 10-500 microns and are separated by open areas.