Digital Printing Plastic Containers

• US 20080117248A1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uptergrove, Ronald L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,625,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/16
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/377 Cooling or ventilating arrangements
• 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: B41M 5/0088 by ink-jet printing

Abstract

A container having a non-planar external surface and a digital image printed thereon by ink droplets is provided. The ink droplets may vary in diameter from about 10 to about 200 microns and the droplets may range from about 200 to about 1200 drops per inch. Methods for digital printing plastic containers are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A plastic container comprising:

a container having a non-planar external surface with a digital image printed thereon by droplets of ink, wherein the ink droplets vary in diameter from 10 to 200 microns and wherein the droplets of ink range from 200 to 1200 drops per inch.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the droplets of ink vary in diameter from 30 to 90 microns.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein the droplets of ink range from 300 to 1200 drops per inch.

4. A container according to claim 1, wherein the droplets of ink are spread out on the container surface and portions of droplets overlap with adjoining droplets.

5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the droplets of ink are provided in a grid pattern.

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein the grid pattern is defined by a calculated or anticipated droplet disbursement.

7. A container according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the edges of the droplets of ink is from about 5 to about 25 degrees.

8. A container according to claim 1, wherein the angle of the edges of the droplets of ink is from about 12 to about 15 degrees.

9. A container according to claim 1, wherein the digital images have multiple colors.

10. A container according to claim 1, wherein portions of adjacent droplets of ink overlap to provide one or more process colors.

11. A container according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the droplets of ink are UV curable.

12. A container according to claim 1, wherein the droplets of ink define a pre-determined image on the container surface.

13. A container according to claim 1, wherein individual droplets of ink have varying diameters.

14. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a base coat.

15. A container according to claim 14, wherein the base coat is a digitally printed base coat.

16. A container according to claim 14, wherein the digital image is printed on at least a portion of the base coat.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the entire digital image is printed on the base coat.

18. A container according to claim 16, wherein a portion of the base coat forms a portion of the digital image.

19. A container according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the surface of the container provides a portion of the color forming part of the digital image.

20. A container according to claim 1, wherein the container external surface is a curved external surface.

21. A method for printing digital images on plastic containers, comprising:

providing a hollow plastic container having a non-planar external surface;

moving the container along a track past a digital printing location having a plurality of movable print heads that provide droplets of ink, the droplets of ink having a diameter from 10 to 200 microns and the droplets of ink ranging from 200 to 1200 drops per inch; and

printing a digital image on the non-planar container surface by applying the droplets of ink to the container surface.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the droplets of ink are applied to the container surface while the container is moving.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein a plurality of containers are provided in series.

24. A method according to claim 21, including scanning the container surface prior to moving the container past the digital printing location.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the scanning develops container surface data, the container surface data is communicated to the print heads, and at least a portion of the communicated data is used to control the distance between a portion of the print heads and the container surface to be printed.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the container surface data includes surface curvature data.

27. A method according to claim 21, wherein during the printing process, the print heads are moved to maintain a substantially constant distance between a portion of the print heads dispensing ink and the container surface to be printed.

28. A method according to claim 21, wherein during the printing process, the print heads are moved to maintain a 1 mm±

0.3 mm standoff distance between a portion of the print heads dispensing ink and the container surface to be printed.

29. A method according to claim 21, wherein the ink is maintained in the print heads at a temperature of about 40°

C. to about 50°

C. for application of the droplets of ink.

30. A method according to claim 21, wherein the container external surface is a curved external surface.

31. A method according to claim 21, wherein the container surface is scanned by laser scanning.

32. A method according to claim 21, wherein the containers are moved at a constant velocity.

33. A method according to claim 21, wherein the containers are moved at a non-constant velocity, the velocity of the containers is measured and communicated to the print heads, and the movement of the print heads and application of droplets of ink is coordinated with respect to the measured velocity.

34. A method according to claim 21, wherein the printed digital image is cured after printing.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the image is printed by UV curable ink.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein the printed image is cured by UV light.

37. A method according to claim 34, wherein the image is cured 0.5 seconds to 5 seconds after droplets of ink contact the container surface.

38. A method according to claim 21, wherein the droplets of ink spread out on the container surface and at least a portion of the droplets of ink overlap with adjoining droplets.

39. A method according to claim 21, wherein the angle of the edges of the droplets of ink ranges from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.

40. A method according to claim 21, wherein the angle of the edges of the droplets of ink ranges from about 12 degrees to about 15 degrees.

41. A method according to claim 21, wherein the digital images have multiple colors.

42. A method according to claim 21, wherein individual droplets of ink have varying diameters.

43. A method according to claim 21, including the step of applying a base coat on the container.

44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the digital image is provided on at least a portion of the base coat.

45. A method according to claim 43, wherein the base coat is printed on the container.

46. A method according to claim 43, including pre-treating the container prior to applying the base coat.

47. A method according to claim 21, including scanning the digital image following printing to determine if the digital image meets established criteria.