CAN DECORATOR MACHINE, INK STATION ASSEMBLY THEREFOR, AND CAN DECORATING METHOD EMPLOYING SAME
First Claim
1. An ink station assembly for a can decorator machine structured to decorate a plurality of cans, the ink station assembly comprising:
- an ink fountain structured to provide a supply of ink;
a fountain roll structured to receive said ink from the ink fountain;
a distributor roll;
a ductor roll being cooperable with the fountain roll and the distributor roll to transfer said ink from the fountain roll to the distributor roll;
a number of oscillator rolls each having a longitudinal axis and being structured to oscillate back and forth along said longitudinal axis;
a number of transfer rolls each cooperating with at least one of the oscillator rolls;
a printing plate cylinder including a printing plate; and
a single form roll cooperating with the printing plate cylinder to apply said ink to the printing plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ink station assembly is provided for a can decorator machine. The ink station assembly includes an ink fountain providing a supply of ink, a fountain roll, a distributor roll, a ductor roll cooperable with the fountain roll and the distributor roll, a number of oscillator rolls having longitudinal axis and oscillating back and forth along such axis, a number of transfer rolls cooperating with the oscillator rolls, a printing plate cylinder including a printing plate, and a single form roll cooperating with the printing plate cylinder to apply the ink to the printing plate. The diameter of the single form roll is greater than the diameter of the printing plate cylinder such that the printing plate cylinder makes a complete revolution before the single form roll makes a complete revolution. Accordingly, no portion of the single form roll contacts the printing plate more than once per revolution.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ink station assembly for a can decorator machine structured to decorate a plurality of cans, the ink station assembly comprising:
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an ink fountain structured to provide a supply of ink; a fountain roll structured to receive said ink from the ink fountain; a distributor roll; a ductor roll being cooperable with the fountain roll and the distributor roll to transfer said ink from the fountain roll to the distributor roll; a number of oscillator rolls each having a longitudinal axis and being structured to oscillate back and forth along said longitudinal axis; a number of transfer rolls each cooperating with at least one of the oscillator rolls; a printing plate cylinder including a printing plate; and a single form roll cooperating with the printing plate cylinder to apply said ink to the printing plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A can decorator machine for decorating cans, the can decorator machine comprising:
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a blanket wheel including a plurality of image transfer segments and a blanket disposed on the image transfer segments, the blanket being structured to transfer an image to a corresponding one of the cans; and a plurality of ink station assemblies, each of said ink station assemblies comprising; an ink fountain providing a supply of ink, a fountain roll receiving said ink from the ink fountain, a distributor roll, a ductor roll being cooperable with the fountain roll and the distributor roll to transfer said ink from the fountain roll to the distributor roll, a number of oscillator rolls each having a longitudinal axis and being structured to oscillate back and forth along said longitudinal axis, a number of transfer rolls each cooperating with at least one of the oscillator rolls, a printing plate cylinder including a printing plate, the printing plate being cooperable with a corresponding one of the image transfer segments of the blanket, and a single form roll cooperating with the printing plate cylinder to apply said ink to the printing plate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of decorating cans using a can decorator machine, the can decorator machine comprising a blanket and a plurality of image transfer segments, the method comprising:
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(a) providing an ink station assembly, the ink station assembly comprising; a drive assembly, an ink fountain for supplying ink, a fountain roll for receiving said ink from the ink fountain, a distributor roll, a ductor roll being cooperable with the fountain roll and the distributor roll to transfer said ink from the fountain roll to the distributor roll, a number of oscillator rolls each having a longitudinal axis and being structured to oscillate back and forth along said longitudinal axis, a number of transfer rolls each cooperating with at least one of the oscillator rolls, a printing plate cylinder including a printing plate, and a single form roll cooperating with the printing plate cylinder, (b) operating the drive assembly to move at least one of the fountain roll, the distributor roll, and the oscillator rolls to transfer ink from the ink fountain to the single form roll, (c) coating the printing plate of the printing plate cylinder with ink from the single form roll, (d) rotating the blanket to bring the printing plate into contact with the blanket at or about a corresponding one of the image transfer segments, (e) creating an image on the blanket, (f) engaging the blanket with a corresponding one of the cans, and (g) transferring the image to the can. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification