Method and apparatus for printing digital images on plastic bottles

• US 6,135,654 A
• Filed: 03/16/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Jennel, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, Jr., Charles H.
• Application Number:
  US09/039,646
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 101/35, 101/38.1, 347/6, 347/106, 400/61, 400/76, 400/70
• US Class Current: 400/61
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/286 on boxes
• 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: B41M 5/0047 by ink-jet printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0064 on plastics, horn, rubber, or other organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0081 using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/025 for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging

Abstract

A method and apparatus for printing digital graphic images directly onto a bottle. First, an electronically storable and retrievable digital image is generated. Next, the digital image is transferred to a printing site. Finally, the digital image is digitally printed directly onto bottle at the printing site. The step of digitally printing the digital image directly onto packaging material can include digitally printing the digital image directly onto a preformed bottle, such as a PET bottle. The ink can be provided as a UV-reactive ink, in which instance the UV-reactive ink, after the step of printing, can be cured by exposure to UV light. The present invention allows for full color digital graphic images to be printed directly onto the surface of a bottle.

Claims

1. A method of printing a plurality of digital images of graphic designs on a series of bottles for containing a flowable food product, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a series of conveyed, moving bottles having an exterior surface and a flowable food contact surface;

generating an electronically storable and retrievable preselected digital image of a two-dimensional graphic design to be printed on each of the series of conveyed, moving bottles, the preselected digital image of the two-dimensional graphic design capable of being substituted for by another of the plurality of digital images of two-dimensional graphic designs, the plurality of digital images of two-dimensional graphic designs generated at a computer site;

transferring the preselected digital image of the two-dimensional graphic design to a stationary inkjet printer having a stationary print head at a printing site;

passing each of the series of conveyed, moving bottles through the printing site at a predetermined rate; and

jetting an ink through an inkjet printhead directly onto the exterior surface of each of the series of conveyed, moving bottles to print the preselected digital image of the two-dimensional graphic design directly onto the exterior surface as each of the series of conveyed, moving bottles passes through the printing site at the predetermined rate thereby creating a series of conveyed, moving bottles printed with the two-dimensional graphic design.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of jetting an ink through an inkjet printhead further comprises jetting a first color of ink through a first inkjet printhead and then jetting a second color of ink through a second inkjet printhead.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising corona treating the exterior surface of the bottle.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising flame treating the exterior surface of the bottle.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising plasma treating the exterior surface of the bottle.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising transferring the bottle to a filling and sealing machine and filling the bottle with a product and sealing at the filling and sealing machine.

7. An apparatus for printing a plurality of digital images of graphic designs on a series of conveyed, moving bottles, each having an outer surface, the bottles configured for storing a flowable material, the apparatus comprising:

a computer for generating an electronically storable and retrievable preselected digital image of a two-dimensional graphic design to be printed on the packaging, the preselected digital image of the two-dimensional graphic design capable of being substituted for by another of the plurality of digital images of two-dimensional graphic designs, the plurality of digital images of two-dimensional graphic designs generated at a computer site;

means for transferring the digital image of a graphic design from the computer site to a stationary printing site;

a conveyor for moving the series of conveyed, moving bottles for a flowable material through the printing site at a predetermined rate;

a stationary inkjet printer having a stationary printhead for jetting an UV-reactive ink onto a surface of each of the conveyed, moving bottles for a flowable material to print the digital image of the two-dimensional graphic design onto the surface of each of the conveyed, moving bottles as each of the bottles moves through the stationary printing site at the predetermined rate creating bottle for a flowable material with an indelible two-dimensional graphic design thereon; and

means for curing the UV-reactive ink through exposing the UV reactive ink to UV light,

wherein the digital image of a two-dimensional graphic design is transferred to the printing site substantially contemporaneously with the jetting an ink through the inkjet printhead to print the preselected digital image of a graphic design directly onto the surface of each of the bottles for storing a flowable material, and wherein the preselected digital image of the two-dimensional dimensional graphic design is substituted with another of the plurality of digital images of two-dimensional graphic designs at the same rate as the predetermined rate of moving of each of the bottle through the printing site.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a plurality of inkjet printheads for jetting an UV-reactive ink onto a surface of each of the bottles for a flowable material to print a full color digital image of a graphic design onto the surface of each of the bottles.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plurality of inkjet printheads includes a printhead for printing cyan ink, a printhead for printing magenta UV reactive ink, and a printhead for printing yellow ink.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a pre-treatment device for pre-treating each of the bottles prior printing to increase the surface energy of each of the bottles.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a filling machine for filling and sealing each of the newly printed bottles.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the curing means is a UV lamp.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of supplies of ink for each of the inkjet printheads, each of the supplies of ink in flow communication with their respective inkjet printhead.

14. An apparatus for printing a digital color image of a two-dimensional graphic design on a series of conveyed, moving bottles for a flowable material, the apparatus comprising:

a supply of bottles;

means for conveying each of the bottles at a predetermined rate;

a stationary printing site;

at least a first stationary inkjet printhead for printing a first color UV reactive ink directly onto the surface of each of the bottles;

at least a second stationary inkjet printhead for printing a second color UV reactive ink directly onto the surface of each of the bottles; and

a curing device for curing the first and second UV reactive inks through exposure to UV radiation,

wherein the digital color image of the two-dimensional graphic design is transferred to the printing site substantially contemporaneously with the jetting of the inks through the first and second inkjet printheads to print the preselected digital color image of the graphic design directly onto the surface of each of the bottles for storing a flowable material, and wherein the preselected digital color image of the two-dimensional graphic design is substituted with another of the plurality of digital color images of two-dimensional graphic designs at the same rate as the predetermined rate of moving of each of the bottle through the printing site.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a third inkjet printhead for printing a third color UV reactive ink directly onto the surface of each of the bottles.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 further comprising a fourth inkjet printhead for printing a fourth color UV reactive ink directly onto the surface of each of the bottles.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a pre-treatment device for pre-treating each of the bottles prior printing to increase the surface energy of each of the bottles.