Method and apparatus for printing metallic beverage container bodies
First Claim
1. A method of consecutively decorating a plurality of substantially identical metallic beverage container bodies using a dry offset decorating apparatus without manufacturing interruption wherein each of the metallic beverage container bodies has an open end separated from a closed end by a circumferential side wall, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first image transfer blanket comprising;
a first ink receiving surface having a first unique design element in high relief relative to directly adjacent portions of the first ink receiving surface bordering the first unique design element and a second unique design element in low relief within the first ink receiving surface, the first ink receiving surface having a length greater than or equal to a circumferential length of a first metallic beverage container body plus a length of an arc of the first metallic beverage container body subtending an angle of 15°
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providing a second image transfer blanket comprising;
a second ink receiving surface having a third unique design element in high relief relative to directly adjacent portions of the second ink receiving surface bordering the third unique design element and a fourth unique design element in low relief within the second ink receiving surface, wherein the third unique design element is unique relative to the first design element on the first image transfer blanket, the second ink receiving surface having a length greater than or equal to a circumferential length of a second metallic beverage container body plus a length of an arc of the second metallic beverage container body subtending an angle of 15°
;
sequentially indexing each of the plurality of substantially identical metallic beverage container bodies to a printing site on the dry offset decorating apparatus;
engaging a circumferential side wall of the first metallic beverage container body with the first ink receiving surface of the first image transfer blanket and rotating the first metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall at least 6.6 radians while engaged with the first ink receiving surface and along a length of the first ink receiving surface greater than a circumferential length of the first metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall; and
engaging a circumferential side wall of the second metallic beverage container body with the second ink receiving surface of the second image transfer blanket and rotating the second metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall at least 6.6 radians while engaged with the second ink receiving surface and along a length of the second ink receiving surface greater than a circumferential length of the second metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pair of metallic beverage container bodies is sequentially decorated in a direct single file queue by a dry offset rotary metallic beverage container decorator. A container body has a common design element, a first unique design element in a first color, and a second unique design element in a second color on its outer surface. The first unique design element is located within a boundary of the second unique design element. A second container body has the common design element, a third unique design element in the first color, and a fourth unique design element in the second color on the outer surface. The third unique design element is unique relative to the first and second design elements. The third unique design element is located within a boundary of the fourth unique design element.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of consecutively decorating a plurality of substantially identical metallic beverage container bodies using a dry offset decorating apparatus without manufacturing interruption wherein each of the metallic beverage container bodies has an open end separated from a closed end by a circumferential side wall, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first image transfer blanket comprising; a first ink receiving surface having a first unique design element in high relief relative to directly adjacent portions of the first ink receiving surface bordering the first unique design element and a second unique design element in low relief within the first ink receiving surface, the first ink receiving surface having a length greater than or equal to a circumferential length of a first metallic beverage container body plus a length of an arc of the first metallic beverage container body subtending an angle of 15°
;providing a second image transfer blanket comprising; a second ink receiving surface having a third unique design element in high relief relative to directly adjacent portions of the second ink receiving surface bordering the third unique design element and a fourth unique design element in low relief within the second ink receiving surface, wherein the third unique design element is unique relative to the first design element on the first image transfer blanket, the second ink receiving surface having a length greater than or equal to a circumferential length of a second metallic beverage container body plus a length of an arc of the second metallic beverage container body subtending an angle of 15°
;sequentially indexing each of the plurality of substantially identical metallic beverage container bodies to a printing site on the dry offset decorating apparatus; engaging a circumferential side wall of the first metallic beverage container body with the first ink receiving surface of the first image transfer blanket and rotating the first metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall at least 6.6 radians while engaged with the first ink receiving surface and along a length of the first ink receiving surface greater than a circumferential length of the first metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall; and engaging a circumferential side wall of the second metallic beverage container body with the second ink receiving surface of the second image transfer blanket and rotating the second metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall at least 6.6 radians while engaged with the second ink receiving surface and along a length of the second ink receiving surface greater than a circumferential length of the second metallic beverage container body circumferential side wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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16. A method comprising:
- consecutively decorating a plurality of substantially identical metallic beverage container bodies using a dry offset decorating apparatus without manufacturing interruption wherein each of the metallic beverage container bodies has an open end separated from a closed end by a circumferential side wall by over-rotating first and second metallic beverage container bodies 6.6 radians against lengths of first and second ink receiving surfaces on first and second image transfer blankets, respectively, which are greater than circumferential lengths of each of the metallic beverage container bodies, wherein a first metallic beverage container body first engages an ink-bearing leading edge of a first unique design element in high relief and wherein a first edge of the first unique design element is separated from a first edge of a common design element on the first ink receiving surface by a low relief portion of the first ink receiving surface and wherein the first metallic beverage container body further engages an ink-bearing portion of the first ink receiving surface comprising the common design element thereon, and wherein a second unique design element on the first ink receiving surface is in low relief between the first edge of the common design element and the first edge of the unique design element, wherein a first art associated with the first unique design element overlies a second art associated with the second design element and the first art is located completely within a surface area of the second art.
Specification