SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN IMAGE ON AN ARTICLE
First Claim
1. A system for printing images on an object, the system comprising:
- a housing;
a rod driven by a first motor;
an object rotating subsystem positioned about the rod and arranged for reciprocal movement, the object rotating subsystem comprising;
a spindle; and
,a second motor operatively connected to the spindle and configured to rotate the object in a first rotational direction and/or a second rotational direction;
a vacuum source operatively connected to the spindle;
a plurality of printheads;
a curing lamp; and
,a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads, the first motor, the second motor, the curing lamp, the controller configured to operate the first motor, the second motor, the plurality of printheads, and the curing lamp,wherein the plurality of printheads are configured to eject a first marking material onto the object and the second motor rotates the object in the first and/or second rotational direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for printing images on an object, the system including, a housing, a rod driven by a first motor, an object rotating subsystem positioned about the rod and arranged for reciprocal movement, an object rotating subsystem that includes a spindle and a second motor connected to the spindle and configured to rotate the object in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction. The system further including a vacuum source connected to the spindle, a plurality of printheads, a curing lamp, and a controller connected to the plurality of printheads, the first motor, the second motor, the curing lamp, the controller configured to operate the first motor, the second motor, the plurality of printheads, and the curing lamp, wherein the plurality of printheads are configured to eject a first marking material onto the object and the second motor rotates the object in the first or second rotational direction.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for printing images on an object, the system comprising:
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a housing; a rod driven by a first motor; an object rotating subsystem positioned about the rod and arranged for reciprocal movement, the object rotating subsystem comprising; a spindle; and
,a second motor operatively connected to the spindle and configured to rotate the object in a first rotational direction and/or a second rotational direction; a vacuum source operatively connected to the spindle; a plurality of printheads; a curing lamp; and
,a controller operatively connected to the plurality of printheads, the first motor, the second motor, the curing lamp, the controller configured to operate the first motor, the second motor, the plurality of printheads, and the curing lamp, wherein the plurality of printheads are configured to eject a first marking material onto the object and the second motor rotates the object in the first and/or second rotational direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of printing an image onto an object comprising:
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creating a negative pressure with a vacuum source operatively connected to a spindle; securing the object to a carrier, operatively arranged to rotate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction; rotating the object with a first motor in the first rotational direction a first rotational distance; sensing with at least one optical sensor a location of a first protrusion on an external surface of the object while the object is rotating; stopping the rotation of the object in the first rotational direction; rotating the object with the first motor in the second direction a second rotational distance, the second rotational distance is based on the location of the first protrusion; displacing a printhead carrier with a second motor to a first position determined by the location of the first protrusion; and printing an image onto the external surface of the object with a plurality of printheads arranged on the printhead carrier. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification