DIGITAL PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD

• US 20170087872A1
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company LLC (Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Stolle Machinery Company LLC (Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Vella, Anthony J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,696,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/002 Supports of workpieces in machines for printing on hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/006 for printing on curved surfaces not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/18 on curved surfaces of articles of varying cross-section, e.g. bottles, lamp glasses
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/28 for printing on curved surfaces of conical or frusto-conical articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/30 for printing on curved surfaces of essentially spherical, or part-spherical, articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• 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

A decorator assembly is provided. The decorator assembly includes a number of independent ink stations. Each independent ink station is disposed adjacent to the path of travel of the mandrels.

Claims

11. A decorator assembly comprising:

a number of mandrels and a number of independent ink stations;

each mandrel structured to rotate about a longitudinal axis;

said mandrels'"'"' longitudinal axes disposed generally in a plane;

each said independent ink station disposed adjacent to the path of travel of said mandrels; and

each independent ink station includes a number of digital print head assemblies.

12. The decorator assembly of claim 11 wherein each digital print head assembly is disposed in a cantilever configuration.

13. The decorator assembly of claim 11 wherein:

each independent ink station includes a number of print head drive assemblies;

each said print head drive assembly operatively coupled to an associated digital print head assembly and structured to move said associated digital print head assembly between a longitudinal first position and a longitudinal second position; and

wherein each said digital print head assembly path of travel extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of an adjacent mandrel.

14. The decorator assembly of claim 11 wherein:

each said independent ink station includes a track, a carriage and a print head;

each said carriage traveling over an associated track; and

each said carriage supporting an associated print head.

15. The decorator assembly of claim 14 wherein said decorator assembly is structured to apply ink to a can body, and wherein:

each digital print head assembly includes a number of modules;

said number of modules includes a number of design modules;

each design module having an associated pattern; and

wherein the digital print head assembly reads a design module and applies an ink according to the pattern associated with that design module.

16. The decorator assembly of claim 11 wherein each independent ink station includes a collar assembly.

17. The decorator assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said mandrels have a path of travel;

each collar assembly includes a collar element and a print head drive assembly;

each collar element includes a hollow, generally cylindrical body including a center axis;

wherein each collar element body inner radius is larger than the outer radius of a mandrel; and

said print head drive assembly structured to move said collar element from a first position, wherein said collar element is positioned outward from said mandrel path of travel and a second position, wherein said collar element is positioned about said mandrel that is stopped adjacent to an independent ink station.

20. The decorator assembly of claim 11 wherein

each independent ink station includes a number of print head radial positioning assemblies;

and

each said print head radial positioning assembly operatively coupled to an associated digital print head assembly and structured to move said associated print head assembly between a radial first position and a radial second position.

18-1. decorator assembly of claim 18 wherein each print head assembly has a spray direction that is generally radial to a mandrel longitudinal axis when a mandrel is stopped adjacent to an independent ink station.