CAN DECORATOR APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20160001546A1
• Filed: 02/20/2014
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology Incorporated (Crown Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Crown Packaging Technology Incorporated (Crown Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: HUGHES, Grahame, ROSELAAR, Katherine
• Granted Patent: US 10,022,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/006 for printing on curved surfaces not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/22 by rolling contact
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 31/16 Continuous, e.g. endless, band apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 31/20 Ink-removing or collecting devices
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 33/00 Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices arrangements of counting devices in platen presses B41F1/00 , B41F1/58; arrangements of counting devices in cylinder presses B41F3/84; ink supply or metering devices B41F31/02
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/06 Lithographic printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/14 Multicolour printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/40 Printing on bodies of particular shapes, e.g. golf balls, candles, wine corks sublimation or volatilisation of pre-printed design B41M5/035
• CPC Class Codes: B41P 2217/14 Machines with constructions allowing refurbishing, converting or updating existing presses

Abstract

Apparatus for decorating a can body. The apparatus comprises a can body conveying mechanism (1) for conveying can bodies (2) to a printing zone (3), a blanket wheel (4) comprising a plurality of blanket segments (6) and, affixed to each blanket segment, a blanket (7) having a printing surface, the blanket wheel being configured to bring blanket printing surfaces into contact with can bodies within said printing zone, and a plurality of ink stations (5) each comprising a printing plate (31) configured to contact the printing surfaces of passing blankets in order to impart an ink image to the printing surfaces, such that a composite ink image is formed on each blanket printing surface and is printed onto a can body upon contact of the blanket printing surface and the can body within the printing zone. The apparatus is configured such that at least one of the blankets has a surface height variation across its printing surface representing a secondary image to be transferred to can bodies with which the blanket comes into contact. A drive mechanism (32) is provided for causing the printing plates to rotate and a drive mechanism controller for varying the rotational speed of the printing plates to synchronise the positions of the printing plates with blankets onto which ink images are to be transferred.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. An apparatus comprising:

a can body conveying mechanism for conveying can bodies to a printing zone;

a blanket wheel comprising

a plurality of blanket segments and,

affixed to each blanket segment, a blanket having a printing surface, the blanket wheel being configured to bring blanket printing surfaces into contact with can bodies within said printing zone; and

a plurality of ink stations each comprising a printing plate configured to contact the printing surfaces of passing blankets in order to impart a primary ink image to the printing surfaces, such that a composite ink image is formed on each blanket printing surface and is printed onto a can body upon contact of the blanket printing surface and the can body within the printing zone,

wherein, each blanket comprises a secondary image within a surrounding area of lower or reduced height allowing the secondary image to be printed on a can body as a positive image, and wherein the printing plate is configured such that said surrounding area lies wholly within a region of the primary ink image that is unprinted onto the blanket.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein:

at least one of the blankets has a surface height variation across its printing surface representing a secondary image to be transferred to can bodies with which the blanket comes into contact;

said blankets or at least a layer of said blankets presenting the printing surface are removably attached to respective blanket segments and each blanket and or blanket segment is provided with alignment features in order to allow the blankets and blanket segments to be correctly aligned such that, for each blanket printing surface, a composite ink image is correctly aligned with a secondary image; and

said alignment features comprising printed or scored features on the printing surface of a blanket.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising an alignment device, the alignment device being removably attachable to a blanket segment of the plurality of blanket segments, the alignment device further comprising an alignment surface against which a blanket can be positioned in order to allow the blankets and blanket segments to be correctly aligned such that, for each blanket printing surface, a composite ink image is correctly aligned with a secondary image.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alignment surface is single edged such that the blanket is supported at its trailing edge and a machine side of the blanket segment, flush fit to the trailing edge and with its lateral position determined by a profiled bar of the alignment device.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alignment surface is double edged such that the blanket is supported at its trailing edge and the machine side of the segment, flush fit to both edges.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alignment device is “

zero edge” and

the blanket is supported away from its trailing edge and the machine side of the segment, with both timing and lateral position of the blanket being determined by profiled “

bars/stops”

of the alignment device.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alignment device comprises scribe lines provided on both the blanket and the blanket segment so as to indicate the correct position.

22. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alignment device comprises location pins in low relief, with corresponding punch holes in an adhesive and webbing layer of the blanket

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said alignment device comprises a non-contact alignment device.

24. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the blankets each comprise a section of a continuous blanket belt that is secured around the periphery of the blanket wheel, on top of the blanket segments.