Printing apparatus and method for manufacturing can on which image is formed

• US 10,124,604 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altemira Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Showa Aluminum Can Corporation (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ojima, Shinichi, Ikeda, Kazunori, Kashiwazaki, Tetsuo, Suwa, Asumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Polk, Sharon A
• Application Number:
  US15/121,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20160355025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,352 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/18 on curved surfaces of articles of varying cross-section, e.g. bottles, lamp glasses
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/023 with reduced dimensions
• 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 3/40733 Printing on cylindrical or rotationally symmetrical objects, e. g. on bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/543 with multiple inkjet print heads B41J2/17503, B41J2/2103 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/00 Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data , e.g. computer output printersprinting or plotting combined with another operation, e.g. with conveying, G06K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 15/021 Adaptations for printing on specific media

Abstract

The printing apparatus is provided with two inkjet heads that eject ink of the same color as in a first cyan inkjet head (20C1) and a second cyan inkjet head (20C2). The first cyan inkjet head (20C1) and the second cyan inkjet head (20C2) are disposed so that the respective positions in the conveyance direction of the can (10) differ from each other and are disposed so that the positions in the axial direction of the can (10) differ from each other. A first magenta inkjet head (20M1) for ejecting magenta ink is provided at a position adjacent to the second cyan inkjet head (20C2) in the axial direction of the can (10).

Claims

1. A printing apparatus comprising:

a conveyance unit that conveys a can in a cylindrical shape along a predetermined conveyance route, the cylindrical shape of the can defined by an outer circumferential surface extending in an axial direction of the can; and

an image formation unit that forms an image composed of a plurality of colors onto the outer circumferential surface of the can on the conveyance route by use of a plurality of inkjet heads prepared for the respective colors, wherein,

among inkjet heads included in the plurality of inkjet heads, each of same-color inkjet heads ejecting ink of same color is disposed at a position different from one another in a conveyance direction of the can, and is disposed at a position, which is also a position against the can when image formation onto the can is performed, different from one another in the axial direction of the can and along the axial direction of the can, the each of the same-color inkjet heads performing image formation onto a partial region of the can in the axial direction thereof, and,

at an adjacent location that is adjacent to at least one same-color inkjet head in the axial direction of the can, among the individual same-color inkjet heads included in the same-color inkjet heads, an inkjet head that ejects ink of a color different from the same-color inkjet head toward the can is provided,

wherein the conveyance unit is configured to convey the can in the conveyance direction on the predetermined conveyance route between each of the different positions of the same-color inkjet heads,

wherein the printing apparatus is capable of simultaneously ejecting to the same can both the same color ink and the ink of the color different from the same-color ink, and

being disposed at the position different from one another in the conveyance direction of the can means that the can must be conveyed by the conveyance unit in the conveyance direction for each of the same-color inkjet heads to eject the same color ink on the can.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

a same-color inkjet head group is configured with a plurality of the same-color inkjet heads,

a plurality of the same-color inkjet head groups are provided to correspond to the plurality of colors that compose the image, respectively,

the plurality of provided same-color inkjet head groups are disposed at positions different from one another in the conveyance direction of the can, and

each of the same-color inkjet head groups is disposed such that, at the adjacent location of a same-color inkjet head positioned at a most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the can, among the same-color inkjet heads included in one of the same-color inkjet head groups positioned at an upstream side in the conveyance direction of the can, a same-color inkjet head included in one of the other same-color inkjet head group positioned at the downstream side, which is also a same-color inkjet head positioned at a most upstream side in the conveyance direction, is positioned.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the plurality of colors composing the image include black, and

the same-color inkjet head group ejecting black ink is disposed at a most downstream side in the conveyance direction of the can.

4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, when image formation onto the can is performed, each of the individual same-color inkjet heads included in the same-color inkjet head group is positioned just above the can and ejects ink in a vertically downward direction, to perform image formation onto the can.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when image formation onto the can is performed, each of the individual same-color inkjet heads included in the same-color inkjet head group is positioned just above the can and ejects ink in a vertically downward direction, to perform image formation onto the can.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, when image formation onto the can is performed, each of the individual same-color inkjet heads included in the same-color inkjet head group is positioned just above the can and ejects ink in a vertically downward direction, to perform image formation onto the can.

7. A printing apparatus comprising:

a rotation unit that rotates a can in a cylindrical shape in a circumferential direction, the cylindrical shape of the can defined by an outer circumferential surface extending in an axial direction of the can; and

an image formation unit that forms an image composed of a plurality of colors onto the outer circumferential surface of the can rotated by the rotation unit by use of a plurality of inkjet heads prepared for the respective colors, wherein,

among inkjet heads included in the plurality of inkjet heads, each of same-color inkjet heads ejecting ink of same color is disposed at a position different from one another in a rotation direction of the can, and is disposed at a position different from one another in the axial direction of the can to perform image formation onto a partial region of the can in the axial direction thereof, and,

at a position that is both adjacent to at least one same-color inkjet head in the axial direction of the can and the same as the same-color inkjet head in the circumferential direction of the can, among the individual same-color inkjet heads included in the same-color inkjet heads, an inkjet head that ejects ink of a color different from the same-color inkjet head toward the can is provided, and

the image formation unit is configured to form the image composed of the plurality of colors on the outer circumferential surface of the can during a single rotation of the can about its axis in the circumferential direction.

8. A method for forming an image on a can, the method comprising:

conveying a can in a cylindrical shape along a predetermined conveyance route, the cylindrical shape of the can defined by an outer circumferential surface extending in an axial direction of the can; and

forming an image composed of a plurality of colors onto the outer circumferential surface of the can on the conveyance route by use of a plurality of inkjet heads prepared for the respective colors, wherein,

among inkjet heads included in the plurality of inkjet heads, each of same-color inkjet heads ejecting ink of same color is disposed at a position different from one another in a conveyance direction of the can, and is disposed at a position, which is also a position against the can when image formation onto the can is performed, different from one another in the axial direction of the can and along the axial direction of the can, the each of the same-color inkjet heads performing image formation onto a partial region of the can in the axial direction thereof, and,

at an adjacent location that is adjacent to at least one same-color inkjet head in the axial direction of the can, among the individual same-color inkjet heads included in the same-color inkjet heads, an inkjet head that ejects ink of a color different from the same-color inkjet head toward the can is provided,

wherein the can is conveyed in the conveyance direction on the predetermined conveyance route between each of the different positions of the same-color inkjet heads, and

wherein the printing apparatus is capable of simultaneously ejecting to the same can both the same color ink and the ink of the color different from the same-color ink, and

being disposed at the position different from one another in the conveyance direction of the can means that the can must be conveyed by the conveyance unit in the conveyance direction for each of the same-color inkjet heads to eject the same color ink on the can.

9. A method for forming an image on a can, the method comprising:

rotating a can in a cylindrical shape in a circumferential direction, the cylindrical shape of the can defined by an outer circumferential surface extending in an axial direction of the can; and

forming an image composed of a plurality of colors onto the outer circumferential surface of the rotating can by use of a plurality of inkjet heads prepared for the respective colors, wherein,

among inkjet heads included in the plurality of inkjet heads, each of same-color inkjet heads ejecting ink of same color is disposed at a position different from one another in a rotation direction of the can, and is disposed at a position different from one another in the axial direction of the can to perform image formation onto a partial region of the can in the axial direction thereof, and,

at a position that is both adjacent to at least one same-color inkjet head in the axial direction of the can and the same as the at least one same-color inkjet head in the circumferential direction of the can, among the individual same-color inkjet heads included in the same-color inkjet heads, an inkjet head that ejects ink of a color different from the same-color inkjet head toward the can is provided, and

wherein the image composed of the plurality of colors is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the can during a single rotation of the can about its axis in the circumferential direction.