Surface Tracking Rotary Pad Printing Apparatus and Method

• US 20080289521A1
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian A. Brown, Lloyd Douglas Clark
• Original Assignee: Brian A. Brown, Lloyd Douglas Clark
• Inventors: Clark, Lloyd Douglas, Brown, Brian A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/216
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/001 Pad printing apparatus or machines
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0015 for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing selective coating B41J2/2114
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/0057 where an intermediate transfer member receives the ink before transferring it on the printing material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material

Abstract

In one aspect of a first embodiment, a rotary pad printing system comprises a controller (400), an image source (498) that provides an image to the controller, a rotary pad (200) that is urged to rotate by a first motive source, a monochrome or color ink source or applicator such as an inkjet (215), and an actuator (235, 730). The system has the ability to print onto a flat or uneven surface (410). The controller actuates the ink source, causing it to deposit an ink image (202) onto a rotating pad wheel (200). As the surface moves, the wheel is held in contact with the surface by an actuator (235) or arm (705). As the wheel turns in contact with the surface, the ink image comes into contact with the surface and transfers to it, thereby printing the ink image onto a flat or uneven surface.

Claims

1. A pad printing system, comprising:

an image source capable of supplying an image,

a controller,

a pad, said pad being rotatably mounted,

a source of ink,

an applicator capable of applying said image containing said ink to said pad,

an actuator,

an object having a surface,

said controller being arranged to receive said image from said image source and cause said applicator to apply said image to said pad,

whereby when said actuator causes said pad to rotate in contact with said surface, said image is transferred from said pad to said surface, thereby printing said image onto said surface.

2. The system of claim 1, further including at least one treatment station capable of applying a coating to said surface.

3. The system of claim 1, further including at least one station capable of applying to said surface at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of ionizing radiation, electromagnetic radiation, heat, gas, and ultrasound.

4. The system of claim 1, further including encoder means wherein said encoder means is arranged to report the position of said object to said controller in order that said controller can cause said ink source to apply said image to said pad prior to transfer of said image to said surface.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said ink source is supplied with ink of at least one color.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the shape of said surface is selected from the group consisting of flat, uneven, and sloped.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said pad is made of elastomeric materials selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, caoutchouc, latex, gelatin, and alginate.

8. The system of claim 1, further including a load cell capable of sensing at least one force component acting on said pad to said controller.

9. A method for pad printing, comprising:

providing an image source capable of supplying an image,

providing a controller,

providing a pad, said pad being rotatably mounted,

providing a source of ink,

providing an applicator capable of applying said image containing said ink to said pad,

providing an actuator,

providing an object having a surface,

causing said controller to receive said image from said image source,

causing said applicator to apply said image to said pad, and

causing said actuator to urge said pad to rotate in contact with said surface,

whereby said image is transferred from said pad to said surface.

10. The method of claim 9, further including at least one treatment station capable of applying a coating to said surface.

11. The method of claim 9, further including at least one station capable of applying to said surface at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of ionizing radiation, electromagnetic radiation, heat, gas, and ultrasound.

12. The method of claim 9, further including encoder means wherein said encoder means is arranged to report the position of said object to said controller in order that said controller can cause said ink source to apply said image to said pad prior to transfer of said image to said surface.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said ink source is supplied with ink of at least one color.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the shape of said surface is selected from the group consisting of flat, uneven, and sloped.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said pad is made of elastomeric materials selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, caoutchouc, latex, gelatin, and alginate.

16. A system for pad printing, comprising:

an image source capable of supplying an image,

controller means,

a pad, said pad being rotatably mounted,

a source of ink,

applicator means capable of applying said image containing said ink to said pad,

a conduit for conveying said ink from said source to said applicator means,

actuator means,

an object having a surface,

said controller means being arranged to receive said image from said source and cause said applicator means to apply said image to said pad,

whereby when said actuator means causes said pad to rotate in contact with said surface, said image is transferred to said surface.

17. The system of claim 16, further including at least one treatment station capable of applying a coating to said surface.

18. The system of claim 16, further including at least one station capable of applying to said surface at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of ionizing radiation, electromagnetic radiation, heat, gas, and ultrasound.

19. The system of claim 16, further including encoder means arranged to report the position of said object to said controller in order that said controller can cause said ink source to apply said image to said pad prior to transfer of said image to said surface.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said ink source is supplied with ink of at least one color.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the shape of said surface is selected from the group consisting of flat, uneven, and sloped.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein said pad is made of elastomeric materials selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, caoutchouc, latex, gelatin, and alginate.