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

• US 20180164719A1
• Filed: 02/09/2018
• Published: 06/14/2018
• 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 10,739,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/002 Supports of workpieces in machines for printing on hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/22 by rolling contact
• 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 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/012 with intermediate transfer member
• 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 3/413 for metal
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/06 Lithographic 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: B41M 2205/10 Post-imaging transfer of imaged layer; transfer of the whole imaged layer
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/12 Transfer pictures or the like, e.g. decalcomanias processes for producing decorative surface effects B44C1/00; B41M5/0256 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/00 Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein by using light-sensitive materials G03; electrography, magnetography G03G ; repeatedly usable boards or tablets for writing or drawing B43L1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0047 by ink-jet printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0058 on metals and oxidised metal surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0088 by ink-jet printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0256 the transferable ink pattern being obtained by means of a computer driven printer, e.g. an ink jet or laser printer, or by electrographic means
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/03 by pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0081 using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/0131 : for transferring a pattern to a second base
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/161 : with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/225 : using contact-printing
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/50 : Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control sequencing control G03G21/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6585 : by using non-standard toners, e.g. transparent toner, gloss adding devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/6588 : characterised by the copy material, e.g. postcards, large copies, multi-layered materials, coloured sheet material
• 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

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. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying decorations to exterior surfaces of metallic containers, comprising:

a transfer blanket;

a digital print unit in a predetermined alignment with respect to the transfer blanket, the digital print unit operable to convey a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form at least a portion of a first decoration and a second decoration on the transfer blanket;

a first feed unit to move a first metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket to transfer the first decoration from the transfer blanket to an exterior surface of the first metallic container; and

a second feed unit to move a second metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket to transfer the second decoration from the transfer blanket to an exterior surface of the second metallic container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the decorating material includes a least one of an ink and a toner material.

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 digital print units each operable to convey one or more of a different color of decorating material and a different decoration to the transfer blanket.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a curing unit positioned downstream from the plurality of digital print units, the curing unit configured to cure the decorating material conveyed by the plurality of digital print units to the transfer blanket.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the curing unit is operable to cure decorating material on an exterior surface of a metallic container.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus includes a temperature control device operable to adjust a temperature of the transfer blanket.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a viscosity of the decorating material is altered when the temperature control device adjusts the temperature of the transfer blanket.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system comprising a conductor, a charging element, an exposure element, and a developer unit which supplies the decorating material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein digital print unit is an inkjet print head and the decorating material is an ink.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further including one or more of a thermal system and a UV system configured to adjust a viscosity of the ink.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first feed unit is aligned with a first image transfer position of the apparatus and the second feed unit is aligned with a second image transfer position of the apparatus.

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

transferring a decorating material from at least two digital print units to a transfer blanket of a decorator such that the decorating material forms a decoration on the transfer blanket, the decorating material comprising at least one of an ink and a toner material;

curing the decoration on the transfer blanket with a curing unit;

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 decoration is transferred from the transfer blanket to the exterior surface portion of the cylindrical container.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transfer blanket comprises one of:

a plurality of individual blanket segments; and

a continuous loop of material.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising at least one of:

pivoting a transfer blanket segment with respect to a blanket wheel of the decorator; and

altering a distance between a transfer blanket segment and the blanket wheel.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transferring more of the decorating material from the at least two digital print units to the transfer blanket to form a second decoration on the transfer blanket;

providing a second cylindrical container;

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

moving an exterior surface portion of the second cylindrical container into contact with the transfer blanket at a position downstream from the feed unit, wherein the second decoration is transferred to the exterior surface portion of the second cylindrical container.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein transferring the decorating material from the at least two digital print units further comprises:

charging a conductor of a first of the at least two digital print units, wherein the first digital print unit is an electrophotographic system;

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

transferring the 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.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating, by a control system, the decoration; and

sending a signal, by the control system, to the at least two digital print units, wherein the signal causes the at least two digital print units to transfer the decorating material to the transfer blanket.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the curing unit is positioned downstream from the at least two digital print units.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising heating the transfer blanket to a predetermined temperature.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting a viscosity of the decorating material supplied to at least one of the at least two digital print units, wherein the decorating material is an ink.

22. A decorator for decorating metallic containers, comprising:

a blanket wheel operable to rotate;

spokes extending generally radially from the blanket wheel, each spoke having a distal end spaced from the blanket wheel;

a transfer blanket segment interconnected to a distal end of each spoke;

a digital print unit configured to convey a decorating material to the transfer blanket segments as the blanket wheel rotates the spokes past the digital print unit, the decorating material to form a decoration on each transfer blanket segment; and

a feed unit to move a metallic container into contact with a transfer blanket segment to transfer the decoration to an exterior surface of the metallic container.

23. The decorator of claim 22, wherein a distance between the blanket wheel and the transfer blanket segments at the distal end of each of the spokes is adjustable.

24. The decorator of claim 23, wherein one or more of:

a length of each spoke is adjustable; and

each spoke can be retracted at least partially into the blanket wheel.

25. The decorator of claim 22, wherein the spokes can pivot relative to the blanket wheel.

26. The decorator of claim 25, wherein each spoke includes a first section interconnected to the blanket wheel and a second section including the distal end, wherein the first section is pivotally interconnected to the second section.

27. The decorator of claim 22, wherein the distal ends of the spokes are moveable with respect to the blanket wheel such that:

a first transfer blanket segment interconnected to a first spoke and a second transfer blanket segment interconnected to a second spoke are separated by a first distance proximate to the digital print unit; and

the first and second transfer blanket segments are separated by a second distance proximate to the feed unit.