DEVICE FOR TREATING PACKAGES, AND PRESSURE SEGMENT FOR USE IN A DEVICE OF THIS TYPE

• US 20140223857A1
• Filed: 07/12/2012
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Original Assignee: KHS GmbH (Salzgitter AG)
• Inventors: Schach, Martin, Reiniger, Markus, Preckel, Katrin, VAn de Wynckel, Werner
• Granted Patent: US 10,538,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/131.2
• 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 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/543 with multiple inkjet print heads B41J2/17503, B41J2/2103 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/00 Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 65/003 Packaging lines, e.g. general layout

Abstract

An apparatus for treating packages by applying furnishing features to the packages includes pressure segments, each of which is configured as a fully functional assembly unit having at least one ink-jet print head. The furnishing features are polychrome printed images.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. An apparatus for treating packages by applying furnishing features to said packages, said furnishing features comprising polychrome printed images, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pressure segments, each of which is configured as a fully functional assembly unit having at least one ink-jet print head.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a package inlet, a package outlet, a transport-and-treatment element that can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis, wherein said transport-and-treatment element comprises a plurality of treatment positions on which packages, at least during said treatment, are handled, and a package transport section on which for the purpose of treating, packages are moved in a transport direction from said package inlet to said package outlet, wherein said package transport section is formed at least in part by said transport-and-treatment element, wherein said pressure segments are arranged interchangeably on a rotor that can be driven to rotate about said machine axis, wherein each of said treatment positions comprises a pressure segment, and wherein handling comprises at least one of centered and moved under control.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said pressure segments each comprise a radiating device for drying and/or curing ink, said radiating device being configured to radiate at least one of infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and microwave radiation.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said print heads are adjustable, and wherein adjustable comprises at least one of movable along said machine axis and pivotable relative to said machine axis.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said pressure segments each comprise a pressure balancing tank for storing ink, and a pump system for feeding said ink and for discharging surplus ink.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each pressure segment comprises control electronics for triggering said print head.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each pressure segment comprises a positioning drive for the adjustment of said print head.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each pressure segment comprises a coupling unit for establishing an electrical connection and a fluid connection between said pressure segment and a coupling unit on said rotor.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein each pressure segment comprises mechanical centering-and-holding elements on said pressure segment.

31. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising dummy segments disposed between pressure segments, wherein said dummy segments match said pressure segments in shape and size, wherein said dummy segments do not constitute a treatment position.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising an additional transport-and-treatment elements, each of which can be driven to rotate about a vertical machine axis, said additional transport-and-treatment elements being adjacent to one another for transporting a package, wherein said package transport section is formed at least in part by said additional transport-and-treatment elements.

33. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said package transport section is constituted by a plurality of transport-and-treatment elements adjacent to one another for transport purposes, each of which can be driven to rotate treatment positions about a vertical machine for treatment of packages.

34. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising holding-and-centering units for handling packages, wherein each holding-and-centering unit comprises a primary part and a secondary part, wherein said primary part is held at a respective treatment position during treatment of a package, wherein said secondary part engages functional elements necessary for handling said package during treatment thereof, wherein said secondary part comprises a gripper for holding said package, and wherein handling comprises at least one of holding a package, centering a package, aligning a package, moving a package, rotating a package, and pivoting a package at a treatment position during treatment thereof

35. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a puck transport section, where said holding and centering units each comprise a puck, wherein each puck picks up a package at said package inlet, wherein after having picked-up a package, each puck is moved with said picked-up package, along said package transport section from said package inlet to said package outlet, wherein, at said package outlet, said puck releases said picked-up package, and wherein, after having released said picked-up package, said puck enters said puck transport section and is returned from said package outlet back to said package inlet.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein each treatment position is configured for controlled holding and releasing of said pucks.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein each treatment position further comprises a holder configured as a carrier for holding a holding-and-centering element, wherein said holder is height-adjustable in a direction of said machine axis.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a radiating device for drying and/or curing ink, said radiating device being configured to radiate at least one of infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, and microwave radiation.

39. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said print head is adjustable for at least one of movement in a direction along said machine axis and pivoting relative to said machine axis.

40. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a pressure balancing tank for storing ink, and a pump system for feeding said ink and for discharging surplus ink.

41. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a coupling unit for establishing an electrical connection and a fluid connection between said pressure segment and a coupling unit on a rotor.

42. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said pressure segment comprises a solenoid array that forms a stator of a rotary drive for a holding-and-centering unit that holds a package, and an incremental sensor for scanning a coding of a holding and centering unit, and a holder for controlled holding and releasing of a package.