METHOD AND APPARATUS OF DECORATING A METALLIC CONTAINER BY DIGITAL PRINTING TO A TRANSFER BLANKET

• US 20180046114A1
• Filed: 08/10/2017
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ball Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ball Corporation
• Inventors: Stowitts, Adam P.S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,754,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0131 for transferring a pattern to a second base
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/1605 using at least one intermediate support G03G15/1625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6591 characterised by the recording material, e.g. plastic material, OHP, ceramics, tiles, textiles details transferring the toner pattern onto particular materials G03G15/1625
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00523 Other special types, e.g. tabbed

Abstract

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying a decoration to an exterior surface of a metallic container, comprising:

a transfer blanket;

an electrophotographic system in a predetermined alignment with respect to the transfer blanket, the electrophotographic system operable to convey a toner material to the transfer blanket; and

a feed unit to move the metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket to transfer the toner material from the transfer blanket to the exterior surface of the metallic container to form the decoration.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toner material includes a least one of a carrier and a colorant.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer blanket is at least one of a continuous loop of material and a plurality of individual blanket segments.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of electrophotographic systems each operable to convey one or more of a different color of toner material and a different decoration to the transfer blanket.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning system to remove residual toner material from the transfer blanket after the metallic container contacts the transfer blanket.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a curing unit to at least partially cure the toner material.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transfer blanket comprises a plurality of individual loops of material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one tensioning device to adjust a tension of the transfer blanket.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tension of the transfer blanket is selected to counteract a force received from the metallic container during the transfer of the toner material to the container exterior surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrophotographic system includes a conductor, a charging element, an exposure element, and a developer unit which supplies the toner material.

11. A method of forming a decoration on an exterior surface portion of a cylindrical container, comprising:

transferring a decorating material from a digital print unit to a transfer blanket of a decorator, the decorating material comprising at least one of an ink and a toner material;

providing the cylindrical container;

positioning the cylindrical container in a feed unit of the decorator; and

moving the exterior surface portion of the cylindrical container into contact with the transfer blanket, wherein the decorating material is transferred from the transfer blanket to the exterior surface portion of the cylindrical container.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the transfer blanket comprises a plurality of individual blanket segments.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the individual blanket segments are operable to match a rate of rotation of the cylindrical container positioned in the feed unit.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the transfer blanket is a continuous loop of material.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the decorator further comprises one or more of a cleaning system and a curing unit to at least partially cure the decorating material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the curing unit is operable to cure one or more of a toner material, a UV curable ink, a water-based ink, and a mineral oil based ink.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the feed unit includes a plurality of mandrels operable to rotate.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein a tensioning device is in operable contact with the transfer blanket, wherein the transfer blanket maintains a predetermined tension.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein transferring the decorating material from the digital print unit further comprises:

charging a conductor of the digital print unit, wherein the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system;

exposing selected portions of the conductor to light to form a latent decoration;

transferring a decorating material to the latent decoration, wherein the decorating material is a toner material; and

transferring the decorating material from the conductor to the transfer blanket.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating, by a control system, the decoration; and

sending a signal, by the control system, to the digital print unit, wherein the signal causes the digital print unit to transfer the decorating material to the transfer blanket.