Printed seamless can and method of producing the same

• US 8,899,718 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TOYO Seikan Kaisha Limited
• Original Assignee: TOYO Seikan Kaisha Limited
• Inventors: Yamada, Koji, Hayashi, Kenji, Murakami, Shigenobu, Kanayama, Zen
• Primary Examiner(s): JACKSON, JUANITA DIONNE
• Application Number:
  US13/825,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 347/20, 347101-107
• US Class Current: 347/20
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/22 by rolling contact
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 19/001 with means for coating or laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 19/007 with selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet or thermal printers
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 23/04 by heat drying, by cooling, by applying powders B41F23/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• 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 3/42 Two or more complete typewriters coupled for simultaneous operation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/44 Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/04 Flexographic printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/06 Lithographic printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/18 Printing one ink over another
• 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 5/0088 by ink-jet printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/02 Dusting , e.g. with an anti-offset powder for obtaining raised printing such as by thermogravure B41M7/0027, B41M7/0036, B41M7/0045, B41M7/0054, B41M7/0072, B41M7/0081, B41M7/009 take precedence; Varnishing devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing B41F23/00, B41L23/00
• CPC Class Codes: B41P 2233/52 for registering

Abstract

To provide printed seamless cans in small lots having many kinds of designs, the printed seamless cans excellently reproducing the density of the area solidly printed all over the surface and forming vivid images.

[Means for Solution] A printed seamless can forming at least a printed layer and a finishing varnish layer on at least the body portion on the outer surface of the seamless can, the printed layer having an image formed by the plate-type printing and an image formed by the ink-jet printing, and being covered with the finishing varnish layer.

Claims

1. A printed seamless can forming at least a printed layer and a finishing varnish layer on at least the body portion on an outer surface of the seamless can,

said printed layer having an image formed by a plate-type printing and an image formed by an ink-jet printing, and being covered with the finishing varnish layer.

2. The printed seamless can according to claim 1, wherein said seamless can has a white coating formed on the outer surface thereof.

3. The printed seamless can according to claim 1, wherein an anchor coating is formed under said printed layer.

4. The printed seamless can according to claim 1, wherein said printed layer has a portion where the image formed by the plate-type printing is overlapped by the image formed by the ink-jet printing.

5. The printed seamless can according to claim 1, wherein on part of the image of said printed layer formed by the plate-type printing, a mark for positioning the can is formed for conducting the ink-jet printing.

6. The printed seamless can according to claim 5, wherein said mark for positioning the can is formed at a position that is concealed in the double-seaming after the step of double-seaming the can and the lid together.

7. A method of producing a printed seamless can by forming a printed layer on at least the body portion on an outer surface of the seamless can by a plate-type printing and by an ink-jet printing and, thereafter, forming a finishing varnish layer on the printed layer by applying a finishing varnish thereon.

8. The method of producing a printed seamless can according to claim 7, wherein the image formed by said ink-jet printing is false-cured for every feed of ink of each color by the ink jet, and is fully cured after the inks of all colors are fed.

9. The method of producing a printed seamless can according to claim 8, wherein said false-curing is conducted simultaneously with the feed of ink of each color or immediately after the feed of ink of each color but before the feed of ink of a next color.

10. The method of producing a printed seamless can according to claim 7, wherein said printed layer is formed by conducting the ink-jet printing after the plate-type printing has been conducted.

11. The method of producing a printed seamless can according to claim 10, wherein said ink-jet printing is so conducted as to form a portion that overlaps the image formed by the plate-type printing.

12. The method of producing a printed seamless can according to claim 7, wherein on part of the image of said printed layer formed by the plate-type printing, a mark for positioning the can is formed for conducting the ink-jet printing.

13. The method of producing a printed seamless can according to claim 10, wherein the image formed by said plate-type printing is false-baked prior to the ink-jet printing.

14. The method of producing a printed seamless can according to claim 7, wherein said seamless can has a white coating and/or an anchor coating on the outer surface thereof.