METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL PRINTING ONTO INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES IN A RUN OF BOTTLES WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL BOTTLES IN THE RUN HAVE AT LEAST ONE VARYING DIMENSION DUE TO MANUFACTURING TOLERANCES, THE METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING MORE CONSISTENT ARTWORK ON INDIVIDUAL CONTAINERS IN THE RUN OF CONTAINERS

• US 20090205516A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Till, Volker
• Granted Patent: US 8,256,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/39
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/18 on curved surfaces of articles of varying cross-section, e.g. bottles, lamp glasses
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/22 by rolling contact
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/00 Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the circumferential printing onto individual bottles in a run of bottles where the individual bottles in the run have at least one varying dimension due to manufacturing tolerances, the method and apparatus providing more consistent artwork on individual containers in the run of containers. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Claims

1. A method of printing artwork onto beverage bottles and filling beverage bottles in a beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage filling material, said method compensating for variations, due to manufacturing tolerances, in circumferences and heights of individual bottles of a nominally similar size to provide a consistent aesthetic appearance of continuous, non-overlapping, uninterrupted artwork, three hundred sixty degrees around the circumference of printed bottles, thereby providing seamless artwork, without a gap or overlap, and all parts of the artwork positioned on each printed bottle at a predetermined position with respect to other parts of the artwork, for the bottles in a filling run of bottles, said beverage bottling plant comprising:

a printing machine comprising a print head configured to print artwork three hundred sixty degrees around the circumference of empty bottles;

a first conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move empty bottles from a supply of bottles to said printing machine;

a beverage filling machine comprising a plurality of beverage filling positions, each beverage filling position comprising a beverage filling device for filling bottles with liquid beverage filling material;

said filling devices comprising an apparatus configured to introduce a predetermined flow of liquid beverage filling material into the interior of bottles to a predetermined level of liquid beverage filling material;

a second conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to move bottles from said printing machine to said filling machine;

a closing machine being configured to close filled bottles;

a third conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to transfer filled bottles from said filling machine to said closing machine; and

a fourth conveyor arrangement being configured and disposed to transfer closed bottles from said closing machine;

said method of printing and filling beverage bottles comprising the steps of;

moving a first empty bottle from said supply of bottles to said printing machine;

sensing, to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, at least one circumferential dimension of the outer periphery of the first bottle to be printed by said printing machine;

sensing, to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, at least one height dimension, transverse the circumferential dimension, of the outer periphery of the first bottle to be printed by said printing machine;

transmitting the at least one sensed circumferential dimension and the at least one sensed height dimension of the first bottle to a controller;

calculating at least one first artwork length, to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, the at least one first artwork length being based upon said at least one sensed circumferential dimension and being calculated to dispose the first artwork about the circumference of the first bottle to provide continuous, non-overlapping, uninterrupted artwork, three hundred sixty degrees around the first bottle thereby providing seamless artwork, without a gap or overlap, and all parts of said first artwork positioned on the first bottle at a predetermined position with respect to other parts of said first artwork, for the first bottle;

calculating at least one first artwork height, to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, the at least one first artwork height being based upon said at least one sensed height dimension and being calculated to dispose the first artwork about the circumference of the first bottle to provide a consistent aesthetic appearance;

printing the first artwork onto the first bottle, the first artwork being adjusted to comprise the at least one first calculated artwork length and the at least one first calculated artwork height;

said printing step comprising moving at least one of said first bottle and said print head, with respect to one another;

moving the first bottle from said printing machine to said filling machine with said second conveyor arrangement;

filling the first bottle with a predetermined amount of liquid beverage filling material with said filling devices;

transferring the first filled bottle from said filling machine to said closing machine with said third conveyor arrangement;

closing the first bottle with said closing machine;

transferring the closed first bottle from said closing machine with said fourth conveyor arrangement; and

repeating the steps of printing and filling beverage bottles for subsequent bottles in a run of beverage bottles of a nominally similar size.

2. A method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers, said method compensating for variations in at least one dimension of individual containers to compensate for tolerances in manufacturing, which containers vary in at least one of a circumferential dimension and a height dimension, transverse the circumferential dimension, said method comprising the steps of:

both of a) and b);

a) sensing at least one circumferential dimension of a portion of a first container;

determining at least one circumferential dimension of a first printing based upon said at least one sensed circumferential dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one circumferential dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing; and

b) sensing at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container;

determining at least one height dimension of said first printing based upon said sensed at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one height dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container, said first printing being adjusted to comprise said at least one determined circumferential dimension and said at least one determined height dimension;

said printing step comprising moving at least one of said first container and a print head configured for printing, with respect to one another; and

continuing the process for subsequent containers.

3. A printing machine for printing onto containers configured to operate according to the method of claim 2, wherein said printing machine comprises:

both of a) and b);

a) means for sensing at least one circumferential dimension of a portion of a first container;

means for determining at least one circumferential dimension of a first printing based upon said at least one sensed circumferential dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one circumferential dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

b) means for sensing at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container;

means for determining at least one height dimension of said first printing based upon said sensed at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one height dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

means for printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container, said first printing being adjusted to comprise said at least one determined circumferential dimension and said at least one determined height dimension; and

means for continuing the process for subsequent containers.

4. A printing machine for printing onto containers configured to operate according to the method of claim 2, wherein said printing machine comprises:

both of a) and b);

a) apparatus configured to sense at least one circumferential dimension of a portion of a first container;

apparatus configured to determine at least one circumferential dimension of a first printing based upon said at least one sensed circumferential dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one circumferential dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

b) apparatus configured to sense at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container;

apparatus configured to determine at least one height dimension of said first printing based upon said sensed at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one height dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

apparatus configured to print said first printing onto said portion of said first container, said first printing being adjusted to comprise said at least one determined circumferential dimension and said at least one determined height dimension; and

apparatus configured to continue the process for subsequent containers.

5. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 2, wherein said first printing comprises at least one of a), b), c), and d):

a) a first predetermined part of said first printing disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to another predetermined part of said first printing, said predetermined angle being measured about the circumference of said first container;

b) a first predetermined part of said first printing disposed at a predetermined distance from another predetermined part of said first printing, said predetermined distance being measured about the height of said first container;

c) a first predetermined pixel of said first printing disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to another predetermined pixel of said first printing, said predetermined angle being measured about the circumference of said first container;

d) a first pixel of said first printing disposed at a predetermined distance from another predetermined pixel of said first printing, said predetermined distance being measured about the height of said first container.

6. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 2, wherein said step of printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container further comprises printing three hundred sixty degrees about the circumferential dimension of said first container.

7. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 6, wherein said first printing is continuous and non-overlapping.

8. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 7, wherein said step of printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container further comprises moving at least one of:

said first container and at least one print head, with respect to one another.

9. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 8, wherein said step of printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container further comprises printing in a direction substantially parallel to said at least one sensed height dimension of said portion of said first container.

10. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 9, wherein said method further comprises a) or b):

a) maintaining a selected distance between said at least one print head and said first container;

or

b) adjusting a distance between said at least one print head and said first container.

11. A method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers, said method compensating for differences in at least one dimension of containers, which containers differ in at least one of a circumferential dimension and a height dimension, transverse the circumferential dimension, said method comprising the steps of:

at least one of a) and b);

a) sensing at least one circumferential dimension of a portion of a first container;

determining at least one circumferential dimension of a first printing based upon said at least one sensed circumferential dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one circumferential dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

b) sensing at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container;

determining at least one height dimension of said first printing based upon said sensed at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one height dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing; and

printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container, said first printing being adjusted to comprise at least one of said at least one determined circumferential dimension and said at least one determined height dimension.

12. A printing machine for printing onto containers configured to operate according to the method of claim 11, wherein said printing machine comprises:

at least one of a) and b);

a) means for sensing at least one circumferential dimension of a portion of a first container;

means for determining at least one circumferential dimension of a first printing based upon said at least one sensed circumferential dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one circumferential dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

b) means for sensing at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container;

means for determining at least one height dimension of said first printing based upon said sensed at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one height dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing; and

means for printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container, said first printing being adjusted to comprise at least one of said at least one determined circumferential dimension and said at least one determined height dimension.

13. A printing machine for printing onto containers configured to operate according to the method of claim 11, wherein said printing machine comprises:

at least one of a) and b);

a) apparatus configured to sense at least one circumferential dimension of a portion of a first container;

apparatus configured to determine at least one circumferential dimension of a first printing based upon said at least one sensed circumferential dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one circumferential dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing;

b) apparatus configured to sense at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container;

apparatus configured to determine at least one height dimension of said first printing based upon said sensed at least one height dimension of said portion of said first container, said at least one height dimension being determined to position one part of said first printing at a predetermined position on said first container with respect to another part of said first printing; and

apparatus configured to print said first printing onto said portion of said first container, said first printing being adjusted to comprise at least one of said at least one determined circumferential dimension and said at least one determined height dimension.

14. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 11, wherein said method comprises both of said steps of a) and b).

15. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 11, wherein said first printing comprises at least one of a), b), c), and d):

a) a first predetermined part of said first printing disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to another predetermined part of said first printing, said predetermined angle being measured about the circumference of said first container;

b) a first predetermined part of said first printing disposed at a predetermined distance from another predetermined part of said first printing, said predetermined distance being measured about the height of said first container;

c) a first predetermined pixel of said first printing disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to another predetermined pixel of said first printing, said predetermined angle being measured about the circumference of said first container;

d) a first pixel of said first printing disposed at a predetermined distance from another predetermined pixel of said first printing, said predetermined distance being measured about the height of said first container.

16. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 11, wherein said step of printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container further comprises printing three hundred sixty about the circumferential dimension of said first container.

17. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 16, said first printing being continuous and non-overlapping.

18. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 17, wherein said step of printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container further comprises moving at least one of:

said first container and at least one print head, with respect to one another.

19. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 18, wherein said step of printing said first printing onto said portion of said first container further comprises printing in a direction substantially parallel to said at least one sensed height dimension of said portion of said first container.

20. The method of operating a printing machine for printing onto containers of claim 19, wherein said method further comprises a) or b):

a) maintaining a selected distance between said at least one print head and said first container;

or

b) adjusting a distance between said at least one print head and said first container.