Apparatuses for Printing on Generally Cylindrical Objects and Related Methods

• US 20120274695A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: INX International Ink Company (Sakata INX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: INX International Ink Company (Sakata INX Corporation)
• Inventors: LaCaze, John R., Lambert, James, Finan, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,926,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/16
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/002 Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0021 using irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0022 using convection means, e.g. by using a fan for blowing or sucking air
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 29/02 Framework
• 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

An ink jet printer for printing on an at least partially cylindrical objects comprises one or more printheads positioned above a line of travel and a carriage assembly configured to hold an at least partially cylindrical object axially aligned along the line of travel and to position said object relative to the printheads, and then rotate the object relative to said one or more printheads. The printer also includes a curing device located along the line of travel and configured to emit energy suitable to cure the deposited fluid.

Claims

1. An ink jet printer for printing on an at least partially cylindrical objects comprising:

a plurality of printheads in communication with a fluid supply and positioned with respect to an axis along which an at least partially cylindrical object is to be conveyed, each of said plurality of printheads being controlled to selectively deposit fluid upon a surface of said object in accordance with a pre-determined image, and wherein a first printhead is axially displaced with respect to a second printhead;

a curing device located along said axis and configured to emit energy suitable to cure fluid deposited upon the surface of said object; and

a carriage assembly configured to hold said object and to axially convey said object along said axis, axially position said object relative to said plurality of printheads, and to rotate said object relative to said plurality of printheads, and to axially position said object relative to said curing device.

2. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein said carriage assembly is configured to convey said object bi-directionally along said axis and wherein said plurality of printheads is controlled to selectively deposit fluid upon said surface of said object when said object is conveyed in either direction.

3. The ink jet printer of claim 2, wherein said curing device is configured to emit said energy when said object is conveyed in either direction.

4. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein said carriage assembly further comprises a mandrel having a free end dimensioned to be inserted into a hollow cylindrical object, said mandrel being coupled to a rotating drive shaft.

5. The ink jet printer of claim 3, wherein said mandrel further defines a chamber having an opening at said free end, said chamber in fluid communication with a conduit such that a substantial vacuum may be created within said chamber sufficient to draw said object against said free end.

6. The ink jet printer of claim 1, wherein said plurality of printheads comprises a print tunnel arranged in an arch above said axis.

7. The ink jet printer of claim 6, further comprising at least two print tunnels arrayed in tandem along said axis.

8. The ink jet printer of claim 6, wherein said carriage assembly is configured to convey said object bi-directionally along said axis and wherein said plurality of printheads is controlled to selectively deposit fluid upon said surface of said object when said object is conveyed in either direction.

9. The ink jet printer of claim 8, wherein said curing device is configured to emit said energy when said object is conveyed in either direction.

10. The ink jet printer of claim 9, further comprising a generally cylindrical mandrel having a free end dimensioned to be inserted into a hollow cylindrical object and supported by said carriage assembly such that it is axially aligned along said axis, said mandrel being coupled to a rotating drive shaft.

11. The ink jet printer of claim 10, wherein said mandrel further defines a chamber having an opening at said free end, said chamber in fluid communication with a conduit such that a substantial vacuum may be created within said chamber sufficient to draw said object against said free end.

12. The ink jet printer of claim 3, wherein said carriage assembly further comprises opposing clamping and holding assemblies configured to hold a partially cylindrical object axially aligned with the line of travel, said holding assembly being coupled to a rotating drive shaft.

13. The ink jet printer of claim 12, wherein said carriage assembly further comprises a centering guide for maintaining lateral alignment of said object.

14. The ink jet printer of claim 13, wherein said plurality of printheads comprises a print tunnel arranged in an arch above said axis.

15. The ink jet printer of claim 14, further comprising at least two print tunnels arrayed in tandem along said axis.

16. The ink jet printer of claim 15, wherein said curing device is configured to emit said energy when said object is conveyed in either direction.

19. The ink jet printer of claim 2, wherein said computer-based system is configured to control said curing device such that said device selectively emits said energy when said object is moved in either direction.

17. A computer-controlled apparatus for printing aimage on an at least partially cylindrical object, said image being represented in computer-readable media, said apparatus comprising:

a carriage assembly for supporting an at least partially cylindrical object, moving said object along an axis, and rotating said object about said axis;

a plurality of printheads positioned with respect to said axis, each of said plurality of printheads configured to selectively deposit fluid upon a surface of said object, and wherein a first printhead is axially displaced with respect to a second printhead;

a curing device located along said axis and configured to emit energy suitable to cure fluid deposited upon the surface of said object; and

a computer-based system in communication with said carriage assembly, said plurality of printheads and said curing device, said computer-based system being configured with control logic control position of the carriage assembly along said axis, rotation or said object, deposition of said fluid through said printheads, and emission of energy, in accordance with said image.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said computer-based system is configured to move said carriage assembly bi-directionally along said axis and to selectively control said plurality of printheads to deposit fluid upon said surface of said object when said object is moved in either direction.