MACHINE FOR PRINTING CONTAINERS

• US 20130269551A1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Till GMBH (BGO Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Till GMBH (BGO Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH)
• Inventors: Till, Volker
• Granted Patent: US 9,193,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/40.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 15/0872 for printing on articles having essentially cylindrical surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 16/0086 for printing on articles with cylindrical surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/30 for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• 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

Described is a machine for printing containers such as bottles or cans, with a plurality of treatment stations, on which printing heads and if applicable further devices required for the pre-treatment and post-treatment of the containers are provided, with a carrier for a plurality of containers, which are arranged next to one another on the carrier. In the process it is provided that the carrier can be transported via a conveyor belt from one treatment station to the next, in that a plurality of treatment stations each are arranged in line next to one another substantially transversely to the conveyor belt, in that the carrier is arranged substantially transversely to the conveyor belt and in that the treatment stations and the carrier can be moved relative to one another in substantially vertical direction. Instead of the conveyor belt, a rotary device can also be provided.

Claims

1. A machine (1) for printing containers such as bottles or cans, with a plurality of treatment stations (7), on which printing heads (12) and if applicable further devices required for the pre-treatment and re-treatment of the containers (1) are provided, with a carrier (3) for a plurality of containers (2), which are arranged on the carrier (3) next to one another, characterized in that the carrier (3) can be transported via a conveyor belt (6) from one treatment station (7) to the next, in that in each case a plurality of treatment stations (7) are arranged in series next to one another substantially transversely to the conveyor belt (6), in that the carrier (3) is substantially arranged transversely to the conveyor belt (6) and in that the treatment stations (7) and the carrier (3) can be moved relative to one another substantially in vertical direction.

3. The machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier (3, 34) can be lifted off the conveyor belt (6) or the rotary device (33) towards the top.

4. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality, in particular four to seven printing heads (12) are arranged annularly about the container (2) in a treatment station (7b, 32).

5. The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the printing heads (12) are attached to a retaining plate (13) annularly aligned with respect to one another.

6. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the carrier (3, 34) turntables (4) for receiving the containers (2) are provided, wherein the containers (2) are preferentially held on the turntables (4) through or vacuum.

7. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that along the machine (1) a fixed vacuum channel (15) or a plurality of fixed vacuum channels (15) is/are arranged from which the vacuum for attracting the containers (2) by suction is fed.

8. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (3, 34) with the turntables (4) for receiving the containers (2) is embodied hollow and a vacuum by way of laterally arranged end plates (17) running in guides (16) of the vacuum channel (15) is transmitted from the one fixed vacuum channel (15) or the plurality of fixed vacuum channels (15) to the carrier (3, 34).

9. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a centring device (5), which in particular can be placed onto the container (2), can be lifted off, lowered and/or rotated and if required driven by means of a motor or rotary drive (9).

10. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that above the carrier (3, 34) on the treatment stations (7, 32) motors or rotary drives (9) assigned to the containers (2) are provided, which on lifting the carrier (3) are lifted off through the containers (2) arranged on said carrier along their longitudinal axis, centre the containers (2) through their own weight and thus also transmit the rotary drive force onto the container (2).

11. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one row of treatment stations (7c, 32) comprises one or a plurality of cover/s (14), which can be closed off through the turntables (4) if required.

12. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one row or a plurality of rows of treatment stations (7c, 32) have a common cover (14), which can be closed off through the carrier or carriers (3).

13. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier (3, 34) can be mechanically braced against the treatment station (7, 32) for example through an eccentric clamp.

14. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality, in particular two to four rows of the same type of treatment stations (7, 32) are arranged one after the other.

15. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the treatment stations (7, 32) are fastened to the floor separately from the transport system (6, 33).

2. The machine (30) for printing containers such as bottles or cans, with a plurality of treatment stations (32), on which printing heads (12) and if applicable further devices required for the pre-treatment and re-treatment of the containers (1) are provided, with a carrier (34) for a plurality of containers (2), which are arranged on the carrier (34) next to one another, characterized in that the carrier (34) can be transported from one treatment station (32) to the next via a rotary device (33), wherein it rotates about a rotary centre (31), in that in each case a plurality of treatment stations (32) are arranged in series next to one another substantially radially to the rotary centre (31), in that the carrier (34) is substantially arranged radially to the rotary centre (31) and in that the treatment stations (32) and the carrier (34) can be moved relative to one another in the substantially vertical direction.