HIGH SPEED DIGITAL CYLINDER PRINTER

• US 20190329569A1
• Filed: 04/25/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James M. Jeter
• Original Assignee: James M. Jeter
• Inventors: Jeter, James M.
• Application Number:
  US16/394,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20190329569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/20 on articles of uniform cross-section, e.g. pencils, rulers, resistors
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/325 by selective transfer of ink from ink carrier, e.g. from ink ribbon or sheet
• 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: B41P 2219/43 Three-dimensional articles

Abstract

A digital printing system (1) that eliminates the use of printing plates and specially mixed inks, thereby eliminating lost production time caused by the need to change plates as well as cleaning and resupplying inking systems in conventional systems.

Claims

1. A digital cylinder printing system comprising:

a continuous motion container handler to move each cylindrically-shaped container having an image printed thereon through a series of color stations via a mandrel supported by a rail guide assembly; and

said image being printed on said container via electrophotography wherein said series of color stations comprises a white color station, a cyan color station, a magenta color station, a yellow color station, a black color station, a spot station and a clear station.

2. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 1 further comprising:

a rail guide mounting assembly supporting said mandrel and a mandrel servo motor that rotates said mandrel as the rail guide mounting assembly is moved through the series of color stations.

3. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 1 wherein:

said mandrel is supported by a mandrel support block containing a mandrel trip mechanism.

4. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 3 wherein:

each mandrel support block is guided by a linear bearing rail guide mounting assembly supported by a common disc assembly mounted to a main shaft assembly.

5. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 4 wherein:

said common disc assembly rotates about the main support shaft assembly which is driven by a support shaft servo motor.

6. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 1 wherein:

at least one image is printed on said container using variable data produced from a color separated image.

7. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 2 wherein:

said rail guide mounting assembly comprises a front cam follower and a rear cam follower which engage a front grooved cam track and a rear grooved cam track, respectively.

8. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 7 wherein:

said front cam follower and rear cam follower have a series of curved profiles which correspond to each color station.

9. A digital cylinder printing system comprising:

a continuous motion container handler to move each cylindrically-shaped container having an image printed thereon through a series of color stations via a mandrel supported by a rail guide assembly;

said image being printed on said container via electrophotography wherein said series of color stations comprises a white color station, a cyan color station, a magenta color station, a yellow color station, a black color station, a spot station and a clear station; and

a rail guide mounting assembly supporting said mandrel and a mandrel servo motor that rotates said mandrel as the rail guide mounting assembly is moved through the series of color stations.

10. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 9 wherein:

said mandrel is supported by a mandrel support block containing a mandrel trip mechanism.

11. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 10 wherein:

each mandrel support block is guided by a linear bearing rail guide mounting assembly supported by a common disc assembly mounted to a main shaft assembly.

12. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 11 wherein:

said common disc assembly rotates about the main support shaft assembly which is driven by a support shaft servo motor.

13. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 9 wherein:

at least one image is printed on said container using variable data produced from a color separated image.

14. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 9 wherein:

said rail guide mounting assembly comprises a front cam follower and a rear cam follower which engage a front grooved cam track and a rear grooved cam track, respectively.

15. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 14 wherein:

said front cam follower and rear cam follower having a series of curved profiles which correspond to each color station.

16. A digital cylinder printing system comprising:

a continuous motion container handler to move each cylindrically-shaped container having an image printed thereon through a series of color stations via a mandrel supported by a rail guide assembly;

said image being printed on said container via electrophotography wherein said series of color stations comprises a white color station, a cyan color station, a magenta color station, a yellow color station, a black color station, a spot station and a clear station;

a rail guide mounting assembly supporting said mandrel and a mandrel servo motor that rotates said mandrel as the rail guide mounting assembly is moved through the series of color stations;

said mandrel is supported by a mandrel support block containing a mandrel trip mechanism; and

each mandrel support block is guided by a linear bearing rail guide mounting assembly supported by a common disc assembly mounted to a main shaft assembly.

17. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 16 wherein:

said common disc assembly rotates about the main support shaft assembly which is driven by a support shaft servo motor.

18. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 16 wherein:

at least one image is printed on said container using variable data produced from a color separated image.

19. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 16 wherein:

said rail guide mounting assembly comprises a front cam follower and a rear cam follower which engage a front grooved cam track and a rear grooved cam track, respectively.

20. The digital cylinder printing system of claim 19 wherein:

said front cam follower and rear cam follower have a series of curved profiles which correspond to each color station.